Injustices, poverty pushing many Nigerians into crime – ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has declared that injustices meted to Nigerians by the political class has forced many of them to wage war against the country.

ASUU National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, who made this declaration on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also disclosed that Nigeria will continue to battle insecurity unless President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration addressed the problems of injustice in the country.

He said injustices to Nigerians by the ruling class included destruction and neglect of public utilities, including education, roads, health and high rate of unemployment.

Ogunyemi who, disclosed that the UNILORIN 49 lecturers sacked unjustly by the University of Ilorin had established a Foundation for Justice, stated that the union will continue to fight against oppression in the academia and by government against the education sector in Nigeria.

He noted that no country experienced peace where the majority were poor and exploited, while the minority and in particular the political class fed fat on public money for their self aggrandisement and family.

Ogunyemi while speaking further said it remained a sad commentary that the Buhari government continued to allocate miserable money to fund education in Nigeria.

DAILY POST learnt that the UNILORIN 49 academics were unjustly sacked by the University of Ilorin in 2001 for participating in the National strike of ASUU but got reinstated by the Supreme Court.

Three of these lecturers died in the course of the legal battle which lasted eight years.

Ogunyemi who frowned at this sad development noted that oppression was found everywhere with daily denial of democratic rights to Nigerians by the political class and the agents of the state “via unlawful arrests, denial of freedom to association, failure to keep lawful agreements, non-payment of salaries, allowances and pensions”.

“In view of the sad ubiquity of oppression in our nation, oppression is everywhere.

“However, the decision of the victimised group, UNILORIN 49 to establish a foundation to assist similarly victimised persons and groups is unique in the history of labour struggles in Nigeria.

“Justice is the only condition for peace in Nigeria. When there is an injustice there will not be peace. No country can be at peace or succeed in an atmosphere of oppression and injustice. No such country can foster a true sense of belonging”, he said.

Chairman of the Foundation, Professor Taiwo Oloruntoba Oju stated that “The so called war on corruption in the country cannot succeed in an atmosphere of social and economic injustice of jobless and unpaid citizens, of unpaid and oppressed workers and journalists, of uneducated and oppressed men and women and of marginalised and dehumanised citizenry.

“Justice is the first condition for peace and development”. - Daily Post

Benin Republic withdraws Globacom’s operating licence

Benin’s telecommunications regulator has withdrawn the operating licence of Globacom, Nigerian mobile telecommunications company.

According to a report by Reuters, Globacom and the regulators could not agree on new terms of the contract.
Autorite De Regulation Des Communications Électroniques Et De La Poste (ARCEP)-Benin, the regulator in the country, said it took the decision after negotiations with Glo Mobile Benin to renew its licence failed.

The regulator said the company refused new conditions imposed by the government.
The new terms of contract include an increase in the cost of the licence.
According to statistics on ARCEP’s website, Glo Mobile Benin had over 1.6 million subscribers in 2015.

Established on August 29, 2003, Globacom is Nigeria’s second largest telecommunications operator. It has operations in other West African countries namely Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire.
Other subsidiaries of the company include Glo Gateway, Glo 1 Enterprise Solution and Glo Mobile Ghana.

The company made history in Nigeria when it became the first GSM operator to implement per second billing.
Globacom is one of the companies that made it to the final five bidders for the ownership of 9mobile.

9mobile, which was formerly known as Etisalat, is currently in talks with investors after major investors pulled out earlier in the year. - Cable Nigeria

Ghetto republic !!! 2018 budget heavily padded, full of errors – Nigerian Senate

The Nigerian Senate has observed that the 2018 budget was “heavily padded, inconsistent, full of errors and inaccuracies.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who made this revelation at the plenary, yesterday, said, the executive arm must sit up, warning that disaster was lurking if the 2017 budget was not rolled over to 2018.

“Truly, it is very disheartening and disappointing because we know how much we have put into the budget process,” he said.

Senator Saraki noted the submissions of senators over their discoveries of poor budget implementation in 2017 and inconsistencies in the claims by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government during the budget defence sessions.

“By now, 2017 budget should have been implemented by up to between 40 and 60 per cent, but this has not been the case. This makes it very difficult for us, we cannot turn into magicians. I continue to appeal that you work within what you have and let us do our best to ensure that we have a budget that is in the interest of Nigerians.

“The executive on their part should sit up and not just make rhetoric, but get down to work. If 2017 budget items are not rolled over to 2018 that is a disaster. Let the executive show some seriousness towards the budget exercise.”

The outflow of outrage followed a point of order raised by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South, who queried the submissions made by the MDAs during the budget defence sessions.

According to Na’Allah, the pronouncements made by the President and his aides on the execution of the budget was not reflective in the submissions being made by heads of the MDAs.

“When we suspended plenary, it was with the idea that the committees will swing into action so we can have a tentative date to pass the budget. From what I have seen, we might run into troubled waters. If we have not appreciated what the problems are, it is important for Nigerians to come here and understand what the problem is.

“The template we are using will continue to create problems for us. It was created during the Military era. The template cannot work in our country today. From reports we have had, it is obvious that we have problems. We need to know what the problems are. If we have a 2017 budget that has not been executed today and we are considering the 2018 budget, it means there is a problem.”

Contributing, to the motion, Senator Barnabas Gemade, APC, Benue North East suggested that the consideration of the 2018 budget be suspended and that the lifespan of the current 2017 budget be extended till end of March of 2018.

“What we have seen is far from the 40 per cent capital project implementation we were told. In many MDAs, budget performance is hovering between 12 to 15 percent.

“In early November, the borrowing plans were brought, and we approved it. They said they were going to release more funds. As of now, we cannot say if that is true.”

On his part, Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West said the 2018 budget proposal was “garnished with deception.”

“Enough is enough. We must ensure that the 2017 budget is properly implemented. We must ensure that the budget is an elitist. What they have brought to us is a just a proposal. We need to give Nigerians a budget that will benefit Nigerians,” he said.

Upon the submissions, the President of the Senate, Senator Saraki summed up the contributions with an admonishment that the executive should get its acts together. - Daily Post

Malabu scandal : Italian court orders trial of Shell, Eni

An Italian court has approved the prosecution of Royal Dutch Shell and Eni in the controversial sale of OPL 245 oil block.

OPL 245 is located in an extremely rich oilfield in the Niger Delta, estimated to worth half a trillion dollars.

The sale of the block has been replete with allegations of graft amid lawsuits.

A judge in Milan ordered that Claudio Descalzi, an Eni executive, and his predecessor, Paolo Scaroni, should be tried on allegations of impropriety in the deal.

The trial is expected to commence on March 5.

But Eni has distanced its directors from any misdeed in the purchase of the lucrative oilfield.

“Eni’s Board of Directors has reaffirmed its confidence that the company was not involved in alleged corrupt activities in relation to the transaction,” the Italian firm said in reaction to the court ruling.

“Eni expresses its full confidence in the judicial process and that the trial will ascertain and confirm the correctness and integrity of its conduct.

“Claudio Descalzi was not involved in the alleged illegal conduct.”

OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu in 1998 at a time the beneficial owners were Dan Etete, then minister of petroleum resources who approved the licence, and Mohammed Abacha, son of the head of state at the time.

Their identities as the beneficial owners were later publicly revealed after the death of Sani Abacha, which effectively terminated his military regime.

It was revoked in 2001 by President Olusegun Obasanjo and awarded to Shell same year, but was revoked again in 2006 and returned to Malabu following an out-of-court settlement.

President Goodluck Jonathan finally restored the block to Malabu in 2010 in a $1.3 billion deal.

But the deal has become a subject of litigation as Shell and ENI paid $1.1 billion to acquire the field from Malabu and $210 million to the federal government as signature bonus.

Both payments were made to a federal government account, leading to suspicion that Shell and ENI did not want to be directly involved with Malabu because of corporate governance issues.

Italian prosecutors believe Shell and ENI executives knew government officials were going to be bribed from the payments for their roles in getting the deal approved. - Cable Nigeria

Kim Jong-un 'executes official in charge of nuclear test site'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly executed the official responsible for the country's nuclear test site. 

Park In-young was the chief of Bureau 131, a division of the ruling Workers Party of Korea's Central Committee tasked with supervising military facilities such as the Punggye-ri nuclear test facility and the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.

 The official was dismissed and then executed as part of a recent purge, an unnamed North Korean defector told Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.

Two potential reasons were given for the reported execution.

Mr Park could have been blamed for North Korea's sixth and most powerful nuclear test being delayed, the defector said. The test was originally planned to take place in Spring, but was pushed back to 3 September due to delays in tunnel construction.

 Experts have warned a series of tremors and landslides near the nuclear test facility probably mean the country's latest nuclear blast has destabilised the region, and the Punggye-ri nuclear site may not be in use much longer.

Chinese scientists have warned that if the whole mountain collapsed, radiation could escape and drift across the region.

It is also possible Mr Park was held responsible for the reported collapse of a tunnel in October, which killed around 200 people, though North Korea has denied the reports.

 It comes a week after another high-ranking North Korean official, Hwang Pyong-so, was reportedly expelled from the party for taking bribes.

The military boss' deputy, Kim Won-hong, was also said to have been detained and sent to a prison camp.  - The Independent

Bristol City manager buys £450 bottle of wine to share with Jose Mourinho

Lee Johnson, the Bristol City manager  is a big fan of Man United boss Jose Mourinho and is hoping to spend some time with him after their clubs meet in the Carabao Cup quarter-final this evening.

In fact, Johnson has had a bottle of Mourinho’s favourite wine, Barca Velha Red 2004, imported from Portugal for the pair to share once the final whistle blows.

Speaking about his admiration for Mourinho and his desire to pick his brains, Johnson told the BBC:

“I hope [to have a chat with him]. I spent £450 on a bottle of wine! I have had to raid my little girl’s piggy bank! It is being flown in especially from Portugal. We have done the due diligence and realised Jose likes this particular bottle that has to be poured by an expert. 

"So hopefully he’ll come in and have a little chat with me and I’ll try to pick his brain for five or 10 minutes. He’s absolutely at the top of his game, with world-class managerial qualities. Any young coaches like myself of course naturally try to emulate coaches like that.”

If things go to plan, the 36-year-old will be meeting Mourinho twice more next season as he hopes to get Bristol City into the Premier League. 

Johnson is earning major plaudits for his work with The Robins. Not only have his side knocked out three Premier League club – Watford, Stoke and Crystal Palace – in the League Cup, they also sit in third place in the Championship, just four points behind Cardiff City in second.

- Read Sports

Brexit transition should last until 2020 - EU

The European Commission said on Wednesday that a Brexit transition period during which Britain must obey EU rules should last until the end of 2020.

The development comes after EU leaders last week signed off on the first stage of Brexit negotiations, ending more than a year of stalemate over Britain's bill for leaving the bloc, as well the fate of the Irish border and EU expatriates.

Unveiling the EU executive branch's new negotiating guidelines, chief negotiator Michel Barnier said that during the transition period Britain would remain part of the bloc's single market, which includes freedom of immigration for EU nationals.

It would also be subject to the European Court of Justice, while playing no role in decision-making in the bloc during the transition period lasting from the day Britain leaves the union on March 29, 2019.

Britain had indicated that it wanted a longer transition period of around two years -- three months longer than the new EU deadline.

"The transition period is useful and will enable Britain to get prepared for the kind of challenges that they will have to face, and to prepare also for the complications of the new relationship," Barnier told a press conference in Brussels as he unveiled new Brexit negotiating guidelines.

Formal talks on a transition period are due to start in January, with negotiations on the future relationship between Britain and the EU, including steps towards an eventual trade deal, in March.

The guidelines spell out in detail how Britain would be required to follow EU rules, including new laws, and for the first time spell out exactly how long the commission believes the transition should last.

"The transitional arrangements should apply as from the date of entry into force of the Withdrawal Agreement and should not last beyond 31 December 2020," the guidelines said.

 - 'Rather hostile' -

As she presses for the quick transition deal, Prime Minister Theresa May faces opposition from hardline eurosceptics in her Conservative Party over the EU's terms.

May has already accepted in theory the continued jurisdiction of the ECJ and that London will have no legal basis to conclude its own trade deals during the period.

Influential pro-Brexit lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg slammed this demand as "rather hostile", leaving the UK "no more than a vassal state, a colony, a serf of the European Union".

May insisted to British lawmakers on Monday that the transition is necessary as it would provide continuity for businesses and individuals until the future relationship could be resolved.

She repeated that Britain would be leaving the EU's single market and customs union, but said the transition arrangements were "a practical matter that most people will understand and appreciate".

The next phase comes as Barnier ruffled feathers in London on Tuesday with a warning that any ties after Brexit would inevitably result in Britain's financial companies losing full rights to trade across the bloc.

This was a consequence of "the red lines that the British have chosen themselves. In leaving the single market, they lose the financial services passport," Barnier told a group of European newspapers. - AFP

Council tax bills could rise up to 5.99% a year as government relaxes cap

Local authorities are to be allowed to raise council tax by up to 5.99% next year, after a further relaxation of the government-imposed cap to address shortfalls in funding for social care.

Families across the UK could see their bills rise by up to £100 a year as a result of the announcement, which will also see councils increasing the charge without holding local referendums.

The move, which has been widely criticised and called “woefully inadequate” by leaders in the social care sector, could see the average band D council tax bill rising to £1,653.30. 

Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, said all councils would be able to raise council tax by up to 2.99% next year to fund local services, which is 1% more than this year. On top of this, 152 councils, which includes all London boroughs, unitary and metropolitan authorities and county councils, will be able to increase it by an additional “precept” 3% to fund social care services.

The minister also announced that 10 councils – Berkshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Kent & Medway, Leeds, Lincolnshire, Solent, Suffolk and Surrey – would be involved in a pilot scheme allowing them to retain 100% of business rates raised locally, along with new powers for police and crime commissioners to raise council tax. 

Javid told the House of Commons that raising the cap would give local authorities “the independence they need to help relieve pressure on local services” while “recognising the need to keep spending under control”.

Andrew Gwynne, the shadow minister for Communities, said that the package was “piecemeal”. He criticised Javid for failing to set out a “sustainable plan” for the future of social care.

Margaret Willcox, the president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, described it as “a further blow” for the sector as it awaits longer-term proposals to resolve its funding crisis with a consultative green paper expected next summer.

It would also likely mean that councils with the highest levels of disability were likely to benefit least from the rise, she said, as they tend to be in disadvantaged areas where the tax base is low.

Willcox said: “Allowing councils to increase council tax by 1% next year is woefully inadequate to address the funding gap facing adult social care, raises least funding in the areas of greatest need and is not the best solution to address the impending crisis facing the sector.

“With no fresh funding injection, an increasing number of older and disabled people will not get the care and support they desperately need.

“By the end of this financial year, £6bn will have been cut from councils’ adult social care budgets since 2010 – with need for our services growing all that time.”

The Local Government Association said it would raise just £250m a year towards a funding gap expected to reach £5.8bn by 2020. Its chairman, Lord Porter, warned that councils were approaching “a financial breaking point which will threaten the existence of some local services”.

The conservative peer said: “Years of unprecedented central government funding cuts have left many councils beyond the point where council tax income can be expected to plug the growing funding gaps they face. Local government faces an overall funding gap of £5.8bn by 2020.”

Calling for the abolition of the referendum trigger, Lord Porter said: “While some councils will receive extra funding next year, the government needs to provide new funding for all councils over the next few years so they can protect vital local services from further cutbacks.”

 Others were critical of the cap being lifted. John O’Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliancepressure group said it “beggars belief” that Javid was allowing council tax to rise at a time of below-inflation pay rises.

He said: “With wage growth stagnating and the cost of living on the rise, it beggars belief that politicians are asking for powers to take even more of people’s hard-earned money.

 “Council tax has already nearly doubled in the last decade so it isn’t fair to ask residents to plug the gaps in their finances, especially when we know that council tax already hits the poorest hardest. Councils should instead continue to root out waste and scrap any item of spending that does not help provide an essential service.”

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “This settlement strikes a balance between giving councils the ability to make decisions to meet pressures and ensure that our most vulnerable in society get the support they need while protecting residents against excessive council tax bill rises.” - The Guardian

SARS made up of soldiers who have been trained to kill, says Falana

Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) is made up of members of the armed forces who are trained to kill.

Falana said the SARS operatives accused of extra-judicial killings and brutality are trained soldiers.

In an interview on TVC, the rights advocate spoke on the demand by Nigerians for SARS to be scrapped.

“SARS was actually created by the defunct military junta. It is made up of members of the mobile police unit and the armed forces,” Falana said during the interview monitored by TheCable Wednesday morning.

“In other words, armed troops have been legally engaged since 1991 in the maintenance of law and order in our country. From my investigations, the killings are essentially carried out by those who have been trained to kill.”

According to Falana, soldiers must be taken out of SARS and the training of police officers must be revamped, else things will not change.

“You must remove soldiers from SARS. Let me be honest with you, this system is not going to abolish SARS. They can’t abolish SARS. It’s not possible. There is no way you are going to abolish SARS under the present arrangement whereby you are going to have a field day for armed robbery suspects, kidnap suspects, slave drivers and human traffickers,” he said.

“At the police college, during training, police recruits are humiliated and dehumanised. By the time they come out, they want to have it back on the society that has degraded them.”

Falana said SARS alone should not be criticised, saying their actions are replicated by the police across the country.

He described the parading of criminal suspects as illegal and wondered by “big men” accused of crimes are never paraded.

He said: “But you cannot single out the SARS from the general extortion by policemen and women, police stations in the country. For instance, it’s not just the armed SARS that is involved in these criminal actions. When armed robbery suspects are arrested, they are forced through unprecedented torture to make incriminating statements.

“The next stage is to parade them before the media. You don’t parade a big man but you parade the poor. In those press conferences, media men and women are allowed to subject them to cross-examination which shouldn’t be because we have court judgements, not less than five, which say that parade of suspects is illegal.”

Falana further said the reason why the violations of human rights persist in the country is largely due to the indifference of Nigerians.

“Nigerians generally are used to moving on, Our rights are violated are we just move on,” he said.

“We must form organisations and human rights units in our churches, mosques and communities to protect the rights of Nigerians. These units will take up the human rights violation of their members. Nigerians must start to take advantage of their rights under the law.”

Falana also charged the media to boycott the parade of suspects. - Cable Nigeria

My wife grabs my testicles, scrotum anytime we fight – Man cries out in court

A Customary Court sitting in Igando, Lagos State on Tuesday dissolved the five-year marriage between Chukwuma Onwumere and his wife, Obianuju.

The union was dissolved over the threat to the petitioner’s life as the respondent was accused of twisting his testicles anytime they had a fight.

The president of the court, Moses Akinniyi, delivering his final verdict, said the estranged couple was tired of the marriage, adding that all efforts to reconcile them had failed.

He said, “Since both parties consented to the dissolution of their marriage, this court has no choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The court pronounced the marriage between Mr. Chukwuma Onwumere and Mrs. Obianuju Onwumere dissolved today (Tuesday); both parties, henceforth, cease to be husband and wife.

“Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrance and molestation.”

Chukwuma had earlier told the court that his wife was a threat to his life.

He said, “My wife had wanted to kill me by always grabbing my testicles anytime we were fighting.

“Apart from twisting my scrotum, she was always hitting me with dangerous weapons over trivial issues.

“She once cut me with a machete on my head during one of our fights.”

The 43-year-old petitioner said his wife was in the habit of going out and returning at will, adding that each time he cautioned her, she would engage him in a fight.

The woman, Obianuju, in her submission denied all the allegations leveled against her by the petitioner.

She said her husband was actually a threat to her life.

“My husband was always beating me; all the scars on my body were as a result of his battering. There was a day he beat me and one of my teeth went off.

“There was also a night while sleeping that I saw my husband with a charm in his hand, moving round my bed and reciting some incantations.

“I quickly stood up from the bed, but he left my room and placed the charm at my doorstep,’’ the 34-year-old woman said.

The mother of two said her husband moved her belongings to her village on the allegation that she had witchcraft.

“My husband took my property to my parents, saying that he was told by a spiritualist that I am a witch.

“He told my parents that he was no longer interested in our marriage,” she said. - Daily Post

Arsenal business 'disgusting' - Ian Wright

Wright thinks the way Arsenal have handled the contract situations of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez has been "disgusting business", and believes the latter should be sold in January as he looks "disinterested" this season.

Ozil and Sanchez have been two of Arsenal's key players over the last few seasons yet both are entering the final six months of their contracts and will be free to negotiate with European clubs from January.

While Ozil has been one of Arsenal's better performers this season, Sanchez, who came close to leaving last summer, has been below his best.

Former Arsenal striker Wright said on The Debate: "It is terrible business for Arsenal, for a club that is accused of being a business to allow two players like that to run their contracts down.

"Sanchez on top form is easily a £100m player. Ozil on top form is worth £70m to £80m. Arsenal are letting that go. It is disgusting business on the management side for Arsenal.

"How are you going to sell players like that in January for £25m? It is like people are laughing at you. Manchester City could find £25m in the car seat or something. And you're going to get Sanchez for that kind of money? For it to get to this point where they can be offered that kind of money…and why would you offer £60m when they are free in a few months?

"With the way that Sanchez is playing and having seen him be substituted in recent times, something that never used to happen, I would probably take the hit on him now because it looks like the towel has gone in and his heart isn't in it now."

Arsene Wenger said recently that he thinks Ozil is keen to stay at Arsenal and is showing some of his best form since signing for the club in 2013.

"The cynics will say he has hit form at the right time for him," said Wright. "He's running down a contract and is linked with other clubs. He's on a free. It's very lucrative for him if he can see that out.

"I think it is more lucrative for him to leave and go somewhere where he thinks he can get Champions League football and might challenge for more trophies.

"It is a cynical view to have but it is very hard to be excited about a player that you need and know there is a good chance that they are going to leave. It is very hard because the kind of form he is showing is what we wanted to see from him and now it is happening we might be losing him."

While it could be argued that Ozil is playing for a move away, Wright added: "At least he is putting in a shift to help the team win points. But Sanchez you might as well recoup whatever money you can in January because he does not look interested." - Sky Sports

Jesus agrees new contract with Man City

Gabriel Jesus has agreed a new Manchester City contract, less than a year since he made his debut for the club,  Goal  can reveal.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed such a fine start to his City career that Sergio Aguero, the club's all-time record goalscorer, is no longer assured of a starting spot.

The Brazil striker signed from Palmeiras in the summer of 2016 but only joined up with the Blues in January, following the culmination of the Brazilian season.

City have been keen to tie their top assets to new deals ahead of next summer’s World Cup, and following Jesus’ start to life in England they believe his profile will rise even further following the tournament in Russia.

He will soon earn approximately £150,000 per week at a basic level, which is more than double his current pay packet.

That figure will be topped up with a number of performance-related bonuses, such as minimum games played in a season, and bonuses should City win trophies.

The new contract is expected to run until 2023.

Jesus is yet to put pen to paper on his new deal but senior City sources have told Goal that all parties have reached a total agreement, including a renegotiation of the striker's image rights. Official confirmation is expected in the New Year. - Goal

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City are also close to agreeing a new deal with midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, as first reported by Goal in October . 

How to make getting out of bed in the morning easier - Sleep expert

Getting out of bed is a hard enough as it is, so when it’s cold and dark outside, staying snuggled under a warm duvet seems like a far more inviting prospect. 

Unfortunately though, for the majority of us hibernating throughout winter just isn’t an option as work and the dreaded school run wait for no man. 

So, what can you do to prevent hitting that snooze button half-dozen times?

Luckily, Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, a physiologist and sleep therapist, has shared some top tips from her book, Fast Asleep Wide Awake, that will help you get out of bed in the morning, even when you don’t want to. 

Plan the night before

In the interest of starting the day off on the right foot, Ramlakhan says the best thing to do is prepare everything the night before so you’re ready to get going from the moment you wake up.

“Tell yourself and others that you’re going to get up. Get things ready the night before – your clothes, your breakfast bowl etc.,” she explains.

“I set my laptop up and left it exactly where I planned to work in the morning.”

Convince yourself that you can

If you’re constantly telling yourself that you’re not a morning person, it’s time to change that. Instead of grumbling about how awful it is to get up, “tell yourself how much you’re looking forward to waking up in the morning and keep saying it. Self-suggestion is very powerful,” Ramlakhan adds.

Put the heating on

While body temperature is important to get a good nights sleep, it also plays a big factor in your ability to get out of bed in the morning. To avoid the temptation of snuggling under the duvet to stay warm, “set up the heating to come on 10 minutes or so before you get up,” Ramlakhan suggests.

Let some light in

Starting your day with a good dose of sunlight resets your circadian rhythm and sends a “let’s wake up” message to your brain. As such, Ramlakhan says you should “go to bed with blinds partly open or invest in an alarm that mimics sunlight gradually, such as a Lumi Clock, to wake you up at times of the year when it tends to still be dark.”

Ban technology from the bedroom

Ramlakhan also suggests having an “electronic sundown” at least 30-45 minutes before you go to bed including turning off the TV and avoiding your phone. “This reduces anxiety levels and stops the bran from being over stimulated by the dopamine produced when you bombard the brain with blue light and information,” she says.

“Leave your devices out of the bedroom and don’t check the time during the night. It’s normal to wake during the night but if you have a tendency to wake up, check the time and then fret it will stop you getting back to sleep.”

Eat and drink the right things

Before you hit the hay it’s important to avoid alcohol or caffeine as “both will stop you achieving the pure deep sleep that you need in order to wake up feeling energised and optimistic.”

Ramlakhan suggests avoiding caffeine after 4pm, as the half-life of it is 5 hours. This means, “if you have a cup of coffee at 6pm, you will still have half the amount in your system at 11pm.”

Similarly, try drinking water as soon as you wake up as this will hydrate your cells and brain to get your energy moving. “Eating breakfast within 30 minutes of getting up will also raise your metabolism and entrain the body to start the day with more energy,” she adds.

Be optimistic

One of the most important things that will help you get out of bed in the morning is to ensure that you have something to look forward that day.

“We all have days when we wake up feeling less than great but if this is happening all the time then you need to take a good hard look at your life situation and ask yourself ‘What do I care about and how can I get more of it?’” Ramlakhan says.

“It’s a brave question to ask yourself but it will set you on the journey of finding out what you really want to wake up to in the mornings – and living the life you love.” - The Independent