ASSU- All Universities Established By Jonathan Are Illegal

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has described as illegal all the 16 universities and other higher institutions established by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying they lack the necessary legal backing and so may be living on borrowed time.

This remark was made by the union's National President, Dr. Issa Fagge Nasir, while commenting on the recent conversion of four colleges of education to universities by the Federal Executive Council, FEC. Nasir, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, described the conversion as an assault on the Acts establishing the colleges, adding that universities are not only established via executive fiats but through thorough consultations with stakeholders and deep understudy of the pros and cons of such decisions.

He said, "Our quarrel with the government is that universities are not just established by executive fiats like this administration is doing.

So the Federal Government is only compounding the problems already bedeviling the education sector and I wonder if the incoming administration will allow this to stand.

"Strictly speaking, the Federal Government is not respecting its own laws, and I wonder how you just transmute an institution without looking at its laws.

What happens to its staff, facilities and infrastructure?" The ASUU president also queried the release of N500 million each to the four new universities as take-off grant, saying the money alone cannot be enough for staff training not to talk of infrastructural upgrade.

He said academic institutions like universities are the bedrock for
national development and so are not run without defined mandate and vision, and that using them to achieve political gains will only further compound the nation's problems.

He, therefore, called on the incoming administration to critically assess these decisions and make impartial judgment that will benefit the mass of the people and return the country's education sector's lost glory.

Jennifer Lopez Is Headed to Las Vegas! American Idol Judge "So Excited" to Announce New Residency

Jennifer Lopez is headed to Las Vegas!

After teasing a "HUGE" announcement earlier in the day, the American Idol judge finally shared her big news Tuesday night. She's getting a residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino!

"So excited!!!" she shared on her Instagram with a video announcement. "This is going to be the show I've always dreamed of creating. #JloVegas."

Beginning Jan. 20, 2016, the international icon will perform her biggest hits for what we can only assume will be a sold-out crowd.

"I've been preparing for this moment my entire life," Lopez said in a statement.

"The show is going to be a multifaceted high energy Jenny from the Block party, mixing all aspects of what my fans and I love--Dance, Hip Hop, Latin and Pop. It's going to be the show I've always dreamt of creating."

Tickets for the first 20 performances will go on sale to the public on Saturday.

Lopez will be performing select dates in January, February, May and June.

"As a chart topping recording artist, world-class actress and best-selling author, Jennifer Lopez is the perfect addition to the exciting lineup at The AXIS, further solidifying Planet Hollywood as the city's destination for premier live entertainment," Planet Hollywood shared. "Jennifer's show will be the perfect combination of a cutting-edge production spectacular and an extraordinarily fun night-out, all centered around a supremely talented international superstar."

Rumors that the "On the Floor" and "Dance Again" singer was considering a residency in Las Vegas first circulated in October when "initial conversations" began.

Lopez joins a slew of A-lists stars who have earned special gigs in the famous city.

Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Celine Dion and Olivia Newton-John have earned great success (and ticket sales) thanks to separate residencies at various resorts.

The timing comes just as Fox announced American Idol would begin its final season next January. Lopez is expected to remain one of the judges as she balances the reality competition show and new performance gig.

We should have known Lopez had big plans to "Live It Up" after her TV gig ended.

‘Invitations for May 29th inauguration sent’

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo are to take the president elect and his, Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osibajo on a tour of the Presidential Villa on the 28th of May, 2015 as part of the final activities for the handing over ceremony.

. FROM LEFT: FORMER HEAD OF STATE, GEN. ABDULSALAMI ABUBAKAR; FORMER MILITARY PRESIDENT IBRAHIM BABANGIDA; FORMER PRESIDENT, ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI; FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN; FORMER HEAD OF STATE, GEN. YAKUBU GOWON; FORMER HEAD OF STATE AND PRESIDENT-ELECT, GEN. MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND FORMER HEAD OF INTERIM NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, CHIEF ERNEST SHONEKAN, AFTER THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY

Governors of Niger and Benue state, Babangida Aliyu and Gabriel Suswam who addressed state House after yesterday's National Council of state meeting said the council also approved a template for subsequent handover and take over.

Governor Aliyu said that the Council also ratified the programme of both the transition committees of the outgoing government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the incoming administration of president elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari for final transmission of power on May 29.

According to him, yesterday's meeting was a valedictory session for President jonathan.

He said that that 28th May remains the handover of notes to the incoming government at a dinner while 29th is the inauguration proper.

Governor Aliyu said there will also be a lunch and a gala night on the same day of the inauguration.

Explaining further on the issue of the handover notes on May 28, governor Aliyu said that "it is only a technicality. One is inauguration, the formality of the new president taking over. Technically, the 29th is for the man taking over."

He said "For handing over documents, you don't wait until that 29th because after the inauguration, the transition committee may continue. If you recall, when President Jonathan came on board, he inaugurated the Genetal Danjuma's committee to look at all the documents that were handed over to them and make recommendations. So it is a continuous thing."

"The handing over of documents from the outgoing President to the incoming President will take place on the 28th and the inauguration on the 29.

"Invitations have been sent out to all the presidents of African
countries including presidents and prime ministers of the G8, multilateral heads like the United Nations, Commonwealth, ECOWAS, African Union. We expect a beautiful ceremony on the 29th.

"We also reiterated that there will be no African time. This idea of inviting people and the invitee arrives before the inviter is not good for us. And therefore we must set examples for people to follow as leaders and those of us we organise this event we must stick to the details of the timing of the activities." He added.

In his remark, Governor Suswan noted that during the meeting, council decided that going forward, there should be proper templates in which all transition committees must follow on handover to new administrations.

"The council decided that henceforth there has to be a template in which transition will follow, we have never had it. This is the first time one is going to be developed, so that there is no speculation as to what needs to be done as everything will be in a template.

"There is a transition whether it is from the same party to the same party or from one party to another. It is the same template. You will recall that we have never had a template in which to follow and how we go about our transition but what is going to happen this time around is going to be permanent."

During the council meeting, the National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki also briefed members on the security situations in the country among which was the issue of Boko Haram and the level of successes recorded so far by security forces.

Suswan who briefed on the security issue said, the present administration has handled the insecurity in the north east to a level that would give less problem to the incoming government.

He said " the summary of what the NSA presented to council was to say that Nigeria is now better prepared than it was three years back in fighting any form of insurgency because outside the immediate surrounding countries, the international community have also keyed in to giive serious assistance.

"So moving forward is not going to be like what happened before where these insurgents had a fiilled day where our military where put in a bad light. Our military is well equipped now, there is better training for them to cope with terrorism. Terrorism was alien to this country and so once it came, we needed to counter the terrorists.

"That has been done and so Nigeria is fully ready as a country to fight any insurgency moving forward. But that the incoming administration will pick up from the solid foundation that has been laid in addressing security challenges, there is a new ways of doing things and he believes that the incoming administration will have less problems than the outgoing administration."

According to the Benue State governor, "So Nigerians should have confidence that insurgency will soon be a thing of the past and he assured Council of State that before May 29th at least, the enclaves which is Sambisa forest will be properly combed and anihiliated and that will at least put paid to the incessant gorrila style attacked that have been raging in the past."

Council also deliberated on the of Fulani herds men which he noted needs to looked into the incoming administration.

"There is a document that states what needs to be done that will reduce the clashes which has resulted to a number of IDPS in places like Niger, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa. These are places you have incessant clashes between the herdsmen and farmers. Suswan noted.

Yesterday's meeting was attended by all living former heads of state and most state governors or their representatives.

President Elect, Muhammadu Buhari was also attending the National Council of state meeting for the second time in three months after a long spell of absence.

He attended the council of state meeting late january where it was decided that the elections be rescheduled to allow the military enough time to reclaim some areas lost to Boko Haram in the North East.

Yesterday's meeing was the first since Buhari defeated president Jonathan in the March Presidential elections.

Former presidents and heads of state in attendance at tuesday's meeting are, Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Ernest Shonekan.

The National Council of state comprises the President, former presidents, former chief Justices of the Federation, state governors, the attorney General of the federation and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

Photos from the Thanksgiving & Farewell service in honour of Pres. Jonathan & First Lady

Finally a photo of our First Lady since the elections in March. A Thanksgiving & Farewell service was held in honour of President Jonathan & First Lady, Patience Jonathan today May 10th at Church of the Advent, Abuja...
See more photos

“I AM IMPRESSED WITH INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT HERE” Governor Fayose Commends EKSU Management

On Thursday, 17th April 2015, individuals from the Management group of Ekiti State University, EKSU drove by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oladipo Aina sat tight for the entry of the Visitor to the University, His Excellency, Dr Ayodele Fayose.

The Management group had before gotten the notification of a crisis visit of the Governor, which was his first since he got to be Governor in a prominent constituent triumph which denoted his second advancing as Ekiti State Governor.

The Governor and his company landed for what the Governor depicted as a private appraisal of formative work in the University ten years after he went to his last authority function at EKSU as the Visitor to the University.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oladipo Aina and the EKSU group got the guest at the University entryway and the voyage through tasks both finished and continuous began from the school of medication.

Teacher Oladipo Aina who performed the capacity of the Tour Guide educated the Governor that his organization finished the multi million naira restorative library which has been depicted as the best in West Africa, Vice-Chancellor included that accreditation groups from the NUC and the Medical Dental Council of Nigeria were inspired with the infrastructural offices on ground at the College of Medicine including the therapeutic understudies Hostel, Laboratories and Departmental structures.

The Governor's escort proceeded onward to the recently built school of Postgraduate Studies, the continuous reproduction of the University Library, the progressing development of Faculty of Management Sciences, Faculties of Science and Social Sciences. Governor Fayose ceased and reviewed development acts and also imparted proposals to the foremen on location.

The Visitor recognized the astonishing structural work at the new Faculty of Education, Entrepreneurship Center and the continuous development of the multimillion naira understudies inn which is a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement. The Vice-Chancellor brought up the excellent understudies union building gave by an Alumnus of the University, Hon. Kingsley Kuku who is the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Amnesty. The voyage through the undertakings spread managed the Visitor an uncommon chance to witness the phenomenal formative accomplishments recorded in three and a half years initiative of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina who had worked an open entryway and vision driven organization.

The Governor in his comments, lauded Prof. Aina drove administration group for its judicious administration of assets including that he was inspired with the striking development in under four years of authority in EKSU.

Senator Fayose guaranteed the University group that he would constitute another Governing Council for the Institution soon

TWO EKSU STUDENTS GET SCHOLARSHIP FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY American Company (CAMAC)

Cameroon – American Company (CAMAC) a Nigerian-based Allied Energy Company has awarded scholarship to two EKSU students in Geology Department and Mechanical Engineering.

The recipients are Adebayo Abiodun. Samuel who is currently on top of his class in the 400 level Geology class with a Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) of 4.08, Adebayo has maintained a consistent academic progress since his 100 level days.

The second scholarship recipient, Aderemi Adebayo Ayobami is the best 200 level student in Mechanical Engineering Department.

Presenting the two students to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina who was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Ibiyinka Ogunlade, the Head of Department, Geology, and Head of Department, Mechanical Engineering, Dr. O. C. Ademilua and Dr. I. O. Oluwaleye respectively described the students as focused and brilliant who gave extraordinary attention to their studies.

The Executive Director, Corporate services of CAMAC, Mr. Olayide Olufemi said Ekiti State University was among selected Universities in Nigeria chosen for their Academic track record across all fields especially in Geology and Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Olufemi said the petroleum company has awarded similar scholarship to University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) with Ekiti State University as the fourth institution in the hierarchy of benefitting Universities.

The Assistant General Manager, Legal services of the company, Miss Gbemi Bamigboye presented each of the recipients a cheque of one hundred thousand naira each.

The Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Prof. Ibiyinka Ogunlade thanked the company for its benevolence, adding that students of Ekiti State University has distinguished themselves recently in various international and national competitions.

Prof. Ogunlade also presented the team from CAMAC Petroleum Company with gifts while she urged the award recipients to keep the flag flying. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) Prof. Victor Olufemi Adeoluwa in his remarks noted that the scholarship award further revealed the academic strength of Ekiti State University students…

Scarcity: Nigerians buy fuel for N200 per litre

The scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol has yet to abate throughout the country as at Saturday.

Investigations by our correspondents showed that long queues of vehicles still swarmed the few fuel stations which had the product all over the country while outlets which did not have remained under lock and key.

Residents of Jos, the Plateau State capital and its environs are still witnessing long queues of vehicles as fuel scarcity enters its second week.

Most of the filling stations, in Jos, the Plateau State capital and environs, especially major markers remained without supplies throughout the week, as their independent counterparts made brisk business by selling fuel well above N200 per litre.

In Osun State on Saturday, motorists queued for hours at some of the very few fuel stations selling petrol at N87 per litre.

Our correspondent observed that in Osogbo, the state capital, filling stations sold a litre of petrol between N120 to N150 while many stations did not open to customers.

In Imo, the devastating effect of scarcity of fuel in the country has given opportunity to petroleum marketers in Imo state to hike their pump prices between N105 to N150 per litre.

The scarcity of fuel in Oyo State reached a new level on Saturday in Ibadan and other towns in the state as pump price of petrol hit N160 per litre in a few fuel stations that had the product.

In Rivers State, though petroleum products were not scarce, the price had gone beyond the N87 per litre official price.

While some filling stations sold petrol at N120 per litre, others sold between N110 and N115 a litre.

Independent petrol stations in satellite towns in Abuja sold fuel between N120 and N140 per litre on Saturday.

Only the major petrol stations like Conoil, Total, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and a few others, dispensed fuel at the N87 per litre regulated price on Saturday.

In Enugu, though there was no scarcity, petrol sold on Saturday far above N87.

The fuel scarcity in Kwara State especially in Ilorin metropolis has started to abate. Long queues of vehicles have started disappearing in the capital city as many of the petrol stations that lacked the product few days had resumed sales of petrol to buyers.

Ciara shares throwback pic of herself right after giving birth

They are actually stills from her new video 'I Got You' dedicated to her 6month old son, Future Zahir. In the video, Ciara shared precious moments with fans, including one that shows her cradling her son in hospital right after giving birth.

She also shared a video of her parents reaction when she told them she was 6 months pregnant. Ciara's parents Jackie and Carlton Harris shouted with joy when their daughter told them she was giving them their first grandchild. About the song, Ciara said

"This song is very precious to me as it's dedicated to my son. I cried in the process of recording it. The album truly marks one of the most special times in my life"

I’m going back to school after Villa – Sambo’s wife

Wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Sambo, on Saturday in Abuja, said she would go back to the classroom to acquire more knowledge after the expiration of her husband's tenure on May 29.

She also advised Nigerians to pray for the incoming administration of President- elect Muhammadu Buhari.

According to her, she will continue to remain accessible, even though she did not disclose which institution or course of study she intends to pursue.

Hajia Sambo, a graduate of Political Science from the Bayero University, Kano, spoke at a ceremony organised in her honour by the Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women at the National Mosque, Abuja.

The CMWIN said they were honoring Hajia Amina and the wife of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Hajia Aisha Mohammed, for their strive towards uplifting humanity.

The group also hailed them for being pious and not allowing the demands of office to sway them from the right path.

She said there could be times in future when the demand of her academic engagements would not allow her to honour invitations to public engagements.

"I will like to continue to leave my doors open in case you will call on me. In case I say I am having exams (I am going back to school); so, do not be offended, I might be studying, but be assured that I will always be with you," Hajia Sambo stated.

She added that all was now set for the inauguration of the first Islamic Library in Nigeria, which is located in Kaduna State, urging the women to strive to donate a book each to the facility.

She commended the Muslims for their support for the current administration, and called on them to extend the same hand of fellowship to the incoming administration of Buhari.

The vice president's wife however begged the women to forgive any real or imagined shortcomings of the outgoing administration, assuring them of her continued support even as a private citizen.

"I want to assure you that on my part, in my own little way, I will continue to be of service to humanity. I will continue to help the less-privileged in the society, the downtrodden, the physically challenged, and most importantly, to my Deen .

Please, always pray for the incoming administration," she said.

What do you guys think of this post by actress Ronke Oshodi Oke

She posted this photo of a random guy she met on the road and wrote that. What do y'all think?

Photos: 8 year old boy found in suitcase at Spanish border

How can you risk your child's life this way? An 8-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast survived several hours locked in a suitcase, bundled in a fetal position, as his family tried to smuggle him into Spain. But they didn't succeed as police officers discovered him in the suitcase via scan on Thursday May 7 in El Tarajal, a terrestrial point of entry at Spain's border with Morocco. The boy, who is now in Spanish custody, is believed to have spent many hours in the pink, medium-sized polyester suitcase, pressed against a few personal belongings.

"He was shocked when we opened the suitcase to see so many people looking at him," a Spanish police spokesman told CNN. He also said the boy is in good condition.

The police spokesman said police officers in El Tarajal became suspicious when a 21-year-old woman, a Moroccan National, showed signs of nervousness as she attempted to cross the border wheeling the suitcase down the street.

"Our officers asked her if she needed help as the wheels began to give in," the spokesman said.

Suspecting a drug smuggling case, police brought the suitcase in for an x-ray. That is when they found the boy.

He was immediately taken to a state child custodian and awaits judicial process, the official said.

A man who is apparently his father, identified as A.O., was arrested a few hours after the boy was found. The man, who has permanent residency in Spain, awaits formal charges.

The spokesman said this is the first time they have found this type of smuggling, in which a child was locked into a container.