NUC suspends part-time programmes in varsities

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has suspended all part-time programmes run by universities in the country. Announcing this, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, said the commission wanted to streamline part-time programmes such that it would accommodate not more than 20 per cent of the students in universities and stop the establishment of satellite campuses.

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Insecurity: More heads to roll - Jonathan

Barely four days after the National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen. Andrew Azazi, and the Defence Minister, Dr. Bello Mohammed, were sacked, President Goodluck Jonathan has said that more heads will roll. Declaring open a week-long retreat for senators in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, Jonathan, assured that he would continue to reorganise and reposition the security apparatus of the country to address the insecurity challenges currently facing the nation.

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Saraki still alive

The rumoured death of Dr. Olusola Saraki is untrue, the Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Media and Strategies, Raheem Adedoyin, has said. Adedoyin said in a Facebook message that the second Republic Senate leader is “alive and kicking.” Rumours of the purported death of the strongman of Kwara politics, 79, had gained ground within and outside the state.

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Security: Govs demand state police, intervention fund image

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has called for a special intervention fund to assist state governments in the fight against terrorism particularly in the northern states. The governors also identified the increasing need for state police as a strategy for combating the rising insecurity in the country. Rivers State governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who read the communiqué after the meeting yesterday at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, said that state governments are currently overstretched in funding security and called for a special intervention fund from the Federal Government, especially to the states that are most affected.

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Expectant mum, six others electrocuted in Ibadan

Tragedy struck at Apata-Ganga area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday morning as a high-tension live cable fell and killed about seven people. The incident, which occurred at the popular Agbekoja market, Apata, claimed the lives of seven people, including an expectant mum and a nursing mother. The traders were said to be busy transacting businesses at the vegetable section of the farmers’ market, when the wire suddenly fell on them at about 6.am.

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Okotie’s church confirms divorce

Household of God Ministry has released an official statement, announcing the dissolution of the marriage of its founder/General Overseer, Pastor Christopher Akpoborie Okotie, to Stephanie Henshaw. Okotie has been under fire since announcing his separation from Stephanie, his wife of four years, at the end of service last Sunday.” Okotie had previously divorced his first wife, Teena.

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PFN expels pastor over alleged adultery

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Ughelli North Chapter, Delta State, has, expelled Rev. Lucky Utakpa Oghenemiroro of God’s Gifted Ministry International for allegedly impregnating a woman outside wedlock and re-marrying. Handing the letter of expulsion to the church, chairman of PFN in the area, Rev. Emman Eredoro, the Secretary, Dr. Mereh Wariri and other executives, said they had exhausted all efforts to make Oghenemiroro “retrace his steps but to no avail,” adding that the marriage between him and his wife was still subsisting.”

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Court halts Ogun council polls

A Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) from conducting the local government elections pending the determination of a suit before it. At the resumed hearing of the case, Justice Charles Achibong, said that counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, had written to the court to stand down the matter

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Labour threatens to shut Mainstreet Bank over sack of 800 workers

NUBIFIE, the union of Nigeria’s bank workers, has threatened to shut Mainstreet Bank Plc, formerly Afribank Plc, over Friday’s sack of no fewer than 800 workers despite the Federal Government’s directive to the management of the bank and organised labour to maintain status quo pending resolution of labour issues between the management and labour. The sack came few days after the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and Productivity at a meeting in Abuja with the organised labour and management of the bank on the outstanding gratuity of staff of the defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc.

Photo Caption
NUC Scribe, Prof. Julius Okojie