Strike: Nigerian students give ASSU, FG January 5 ultimatum

 

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said that both the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) must resolve their differences and end the long-overdue strike before January 5, 2021.

The union made this known in a statement released on Sunday, Dec. 20

Comrade Sunday Asefon, the student association president threatened that if both parties don’t oblige by the given date, the association would take strategic actions.

“The Federal Government and ASUU will face the students and tell us why we have to suffer this much,” he said.

The union president said the ongoing strike is the longest in the history of the university in Nigeria. He explained that the strike has been long enough to be called off saying it is ridiculous that both the FG and ASUU have not found a common ground yet.

The unending nature of the strike the president noted has left students with no choice but to do all it can to bring an end to the strike.

Asefon also noted that NANS should have a third party representative in every FG and ASSU meeting for posterity sake and transparency in leadership.

The student union president again expressed delight over the safe release of the 344 abducted schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State.

He said The welfare and safety of Nigerian students across all the 36 states and diaspora is one of his priorities and as long as he remains the revolutionary President of NANS.

- PM NEWS

NBS: Prices of food items rising, household incomes not steady

 

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says prices of most food items increased in November 2020, while income remain unsteady for many households across Nigeria.

According to NBS report, titled: ‘Selected food prices watch (November 2020)’, average prices of one dozen of agric eggs (medium size) increased year-on-year (YoY) by 6.64 percent and month-on-month (MoM) by 1.42 percent to N494.72 in November 2020 from N487.81 in October 2020.

It also indicated that the average price of 1kg of imported rice increased YoY by 23.46 percent and MoM by 3.71 percent to N549.98 in November 2020 from N530.32 in October 2020.

Similarly, the average price of 1kg of yam tuber increased YoY by 16.26 percent, however, it decreased MoM by 2.72 percent to N236.25 in November 2020 from N242.87 in October 2020.

Other food items that soared high in terms of price between October 2020 and November 2020 were: beans; beef (boneless); bread; fish: fresh and smoked catfish, and mackerel; evaporated milk; groundnut oil, vegetable oil, and palm oil; Irish potato; onion; tomatoes; maize (white); chicken; rice (ofada and local); and wheat flour.

Also, in NBS COVID-19 impact monitoring report for October 2020, it disclosed that the share of respondents who were working remained stable in October 2020 (at 87 percent of respondents).

However, it (findings from the survey) provides further evidence that income remains precarious for many households.

“If household income continues to be precarious, this may limit the investments households are able to make in education and health services for their members, even if schools fully reopen and the government supports more testing and vaccination,” the report read.

- THECABLE

psychotic !! Boko Haram: Be thankful for small mercies you receive from Buhari Govt – Presidency tells Nigerians

 

The Presidency has asked Nigerians to be thankful for the little mercies shown to them by the President Muhammadu government and emphasize on them instead of finding faults.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this on Channels Television’s Sunday politics.

He said Nigerians should be thankful that bombings by Boko Haram insurgents no longer happen on a daily basis in the country.

Adesina stated this while responding to the complaints by Nigerians over the rising insecurity in the country.

He recalled that there was a time in Nigeria when bombs would go off for about 6 times in a single day, insisting that since Buhari became President, the killings had reduced.

Asked if security had improved under the current government, the presidential aide said, “Yes, there are times, a week, two weeks even a month that you don’t have all these things happening.

“There was a time in the immediate past when they happened daily several times. You talked of one bombing within three or four days.

“There was a time in this country when bombs went off like firecrackers every day.

“There could be five, six bombings in one day. Now, you can have two, three months with no single case of bombing.

“Let’s be thankful for small mercies. Any mercies we receive, let’s be thankful for it and let’s not dwell on negatives alone.

“Life is taking the rough and smooth together. So, sometimes we see when things go on for days, for weeks with no negative developments, let us emphasise those ones… We have challenges, but these are not the constants in the country.”

About 344 students from the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State were abducted from the boarding school over a week ago.

They were, however, returned on Friday, having spent exactly one week in the kidnappers’ den.

- DAILY POST

Nigerian banks migrate to new cheque standards, old ones expire 31 Dec.

 

Nigerian banks are migrating in the New Year, into brand new cheque standards, on the order of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

From 1 January 2021, the old cheques will expire, said the First Bank in a notification to customers.

Access Bank also told customers that the old cheques will not be accepted after 30 December.

The new cheques come with unique features.

They have expiry dates and also have cheque digit included on the MICR code line.

The CBN has been working on moving to the new standard since 2018.

According to a 9 December circular sent to all deposit money banks, accredited cheque printers and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System [NIBSS], only new cheques will be allowed in the clearing system from I January.

The circular was signed by Sam C. Okojere, director Banking Services Department.

The circular, however, gave some banks, which are unable to meet the 31 December switchover three months of grace, to comply.

This will be allowed, if reasons for non-compliance were found to be satisfactory by the CBN management.

But the CBN said it will embark on a full enforcement of the new cheque standards by 1 April, 2021.

- PM NEWS

Nigeria posts 920 new COVID-19 cases, death toll hits 1.218

 

Nigeria reported six new COVID-19 related deaths on Saturday, taking the death toll to 1,218.

The NCDC also reported 920 new cases of COVID-19, more than the 850 posted on Friday and far from the existing record of 1,145 cases.

The new figure has taken the overall cases to 77,933.

According to data released by NCDC, Lagos accounted for 308 cases, a third of the new cases announced.

The upsurge in the COVID-cases in Nigeria’s commercial capital has justified the restrictions announced Friday by Governor Sanwo-Olu.

The governor has also contracted the virus and is undergoing treatment.

Abuja posted the second highest figure of 207, after Lagos.

Kaduna was next in line with 179 cases.

According to the data, the active cases are now 8,931, while the discharged people are 67,784.

“Our discharges today include 115 community recoveries in Kaduna State and 104 community recoveries in Lagos State managed in line with guidelines”, the NCDC stated.

Here is a breakdown of the new cases

Lagos-308
FCT-207
Kaduna-179
Plateau-46
Niger-43
Adamawa-26
Sokoto-18
Rivers-16
Yobe-15
Enugu-13
Kano-13
Ogun-12
Delta-10
Edo-5
Osun-3
Oyo-3
Anambra-2
Ekiti-1

77,933 confirmed
67,784 discharged
1,218 deaths

- PM NEWS

QUOTA SYSTEM PRODUCT !! Bello, Nigeria’s nominee to ICC, well beaten, secures only 5 out of 110 votes

 

Ishaq Usman Bello, chief judge of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, has failed in his bid to be elected as a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated Bello as Nigeria’s candidate on June 20.

Bello polled 12 votes, with only Milandou Prosper, nominee from the Republic of Congo, scoring lower out of 117 in the first round of the election held on Thursday.

In the second round, Bello garnered only five votes out of 110 votes.

The ICC advisory committee on the nomination of judges had earlier ranked Bello low in October, giving the indication that he may not be selected in the final election.

Although the FCT chief judge has a master’s degree in international criminal law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the ICC said Bello lacked knowledge of the workings of the court.

Only Korner Joanna and Lordkipanidze Gocha, nominees of the United Kingdom and Georgia respectively, were elected judges out of the 18 candidates.

Six judges were supposed to be elected to fill one-third of the court’s 18 judicial seats.

- THECABLE

LaLiga: Pele reacts as Messi equals his record

 

Brazil football legend, Pele, has congratulated Barcelona’s Lionel Messi for matching his goalscoring record at a single club.

Messi netted his 643rd for the Catalans as they drew 2-2 with Valencia on Saturday.

That figure matches Pele’s record with Santos in official competition, although the Brazilian scored many more in friendlies and tours.

Messi is also Barca’s all-time highest scorer.

With the 33-year-old set to break his record this season, Pele has now spoken of his admiration for Messi.

“When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path,” the 80-year-old wrote on Instagram.

“Like you, I know what it’s like to love wearing the same shirt every day. Like you, I know that there is nothing better than the place we feel at home.

“Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel. But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona.

“Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, unfortunately will be increasingly rare in football. I admire you very much, @leomessi.”

- DAILY POST