President Buhari Declares Free Tertiary Education in Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that there will
be free education for science, technology and education
students in tertiary institutions.
Buhari gave the assurance yesterday while presenting the
2016 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National
Assembly.
Buhari stressed that this would indeed mark a historic
milestone for us as a nation.
He said his administration would unveil a conditional cash
transfer programme for the poorest and most vulnerable.
The president said the full programme would be presented in
the coming weeks and that it would  be home-grown public
primary school feeding.
“Furthermore, through the office of the Vice President, we
are working with various development partners to design an
implementable and transparent conditional cash transfer
program for the poorest and most vulnerable.
“This program will be implemented in phases. Already, the
compilation of registers of the poorest persons is ongoing,”
he said.
He explained that “in the coming weeks, we will present the
full programme which will include our home-grown public
primary school feeding and free education for science,
technology and education students in our tertiary
institutions.”
“Indeed, this will mark a historic milestone for us as a
nation,” he said.

Wonder as Gov. Mimiko’s Men Dump PDP For APC

Two former supporters of Ondo State
Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Senator Ayo
Akinyelure, and Dr Pius Osunyikanmi, have
dumped the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) for the All Progressives Congress
(APC).
Akinyelure represented Ondo Central,
Mimiko’s senatorial district, in the 7th
National Assembly.
Osunyikanmi was Mimiko’s personal
assistant and commissioner for Health
under the late Governor Adebayo Adefarati.
He also served the governor in other
capacities such as special assistant, senior
special assistant and commissioner for
Education. He was special adviser on
International Relations to President
Goodluck Jonathan before becoming the
director-general of the Technical Aids Corp.
Akinyelure and Osunyinkami, in a statement
yesterday, said they left the PDP with their
supporters because of the need to support
the change agenda of the President
Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
The statement read: “We are most delighted
to announce our formal declaration for the
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo
State. This declaration, which has ignited
the fire of passionate endorsements across
the state, followed our historic
disengagement from the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).”
They said their decision was taken after
several months of wide consultations with
their esteemed leaders, constructive
constituents, fervent followers and very
distinguished admirers from the length and
breadth of Ondo State.
“The mood in Ondo State, as clearly
expressed in the last general election,
shows that the people truly want a change.
In spite of the fact that we have a PDP
government in the state, our people voted
massively for President Mohammadu Buhari
of the APC. That situation has not changed.
In fact, the calls for total change at all levels
of governance in the state are getting more
stringent due to the failure of the PDP-led
state government to deliver democracy
dividends to the people.

Universities Workers Plans Strike as FG Sacks 2000

The Senior Staff Association of the Nigerian Universities
has called for an indefinite strike on December 24, 2015 to
protest a recent decision of the Federal Government to sack
2,000 university workers across the country by January,
2016.
The National President of SSANU, Mr. Samson Ugwoke,
said during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday that the
National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, and the
National Universities Commission had written letters of
termination to 2,000 members of staff of the universities.
Ugwoke said that the senior staff union of the universities
had already dispatched letters to the Ministry of Education,
the NUC and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages
Commission to withdraw the letters of termination issued to
varsity workers of the University of Ilorin, Federal University
of Technology, Akure, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto
and others.
He said that SSANU also urged the Education Ministry and
the other agencies to ensure immediate withdrawal of
similar letters to vice chancellors to terminate the
appointment of personnel of university staff primary
schools.
He said the letter dated December 17, 2015 also copied
President Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Senate,
Bukola Saraki, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Mr. Yakubu Dogara, the Minister of Labour and
Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige and others.
Ugwoke added that the 2,000 workers affected in the
planned retrenchment exercise were drawn from 31
universities and were employed by the councils of the
various institutions to make the requisite contribution to
educational development in the institutions and the society
over the years.
The SSANU leader noted that the directive to sack the
workers who are expected to leave service in January 2016
was contained in a circular said to have been written and
signed by a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Education,
Mr. E.O Fayemi, on behalf of the minister.
He stated further that the circular dated April 21, 2015, was
attached with a memorandum and report from the National
Salaries, Income and Wages Commission dated March 2014
and February 2014 respectively.
According to him, the commission responded to the circular
by directing the removal of personnel of staff schools and
other institutions affiliated to the universities from the
payroll.
He said, “The implementation of this directive would be a
gross violation and breach of the SSANU/FGN 2009
Agreement, which explicitly stated that the University shall
bear full capital and recurrent cost of University Staff
primary schools.
“It is further shocking to note that till date, the Federal
Ministry of Defence still funds the capital and recurrent
costs of over 100 Army Children Schools, Command
Children Schools, Navy Primary Schools and Air Force
Schools; while the Ministry of Police Affairs still funds its
Police Children Schools, all from the Federal Treasury.
“We are surprised that an agency of government, the
National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, could
continue with this callous, wicked, insensitive and ill-
intentioned agenda, despite our calls, letters, press
releases and publications on the issue.
“With the advent of the administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari, we had written series of public and
confidential letters on same with no positive response.”
He said that 90 per cent of the pupils of the university staff
schools were children of the staff of the institutions
stressing that the schools were established alongside other
academic components of the universities in some cases.
The unionist said SSANU had to give the December 24,
2015 deadline to the Federal Government as part of the
efforts to prevent the over 2000 workers of the universities
from being sacked.
Several efforts by Saturday PUNCH to get the response of
ASUU National President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, was resisted
because he said, “I am out of the country and you don’t
expect me to answer you from abroad.”
Also when contacted, the Special Assistant (Media) to the
Minister of State for Education, Anthony Akuneme, directed
our correspondent to the office of the Education Minister,
Adamu Adamu.
But several calls and SMS to the Assistant Director of Press
in the Education Ministry, Abdul Onu, were not replied.

Female Student Raped by 5 Students During Initiation into Cultism in Delta

Five students of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka,
are now in the custody of the Nigeria Police, Abraka
Division, for their alleged involvement in cult activities.
A female student, identified as Omojevbe Tracy Ngozi, was
also arrested after she was caught being raped as part of
the initiation process into Viqueen secret cult.
The names of the five suspects were given as Chukwudi
Ejiede, 22; Emeka Otulugbuke 21; Ogbem Danul, 20;
Winifred Eyefian, 22 and Ziya George, 21.
Narrating how they were arrested, the Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, in a
statement, said the incident happened on December 14 at
about 6:30 p.m.
She said the DPO, Abraka Division, received a tip-off that
the sound of a lady's cry was coming from an uncompleted
building in a bush around the railway line in Abraka.
According to her, members of a patrol team were
dispatched to the scene and caught the five suspects as
well as the lady being raped as part of cult initiation in the
building.

Yuletide: Don’t expose yourself to rape, police warn women

The Ogun Police Command have warned women
especially young girls to apply caution while seeking fun
during the yuletide, saying rape cases may soar higher
in the state during the festive period.
The spokesman of the Ogun Police Command, Mr
Muyiwa Adejobi, told The Nation that with the approach
of yuletide, there is the possibility that rapists would
want exploit the mood of the season to lure
unsuspecting fun – seeking ladies and girls to where
they could be raped.
Adejobi advised ladies to avoid hanging out with
strangers or pass through unfamiliar or dark pathways
by night during the yuletide.
He also cautioned them against wearing revealing attires
when going out, consumption of beer or wine and going
out with new acquaintances as that could exposed them
to the risk of sexual assault by persons with inclinations
for gang rape during the yuletide.
Meanwhile, the command has appointed Chief
Superintendent of Police(CSP) Gbenga Megbope as the
new head of the Special Anti Robbery Squad in the state.

AAUA to Graduate 18 First Class Students

Eighteen graduands of the Adekunle Ajasin University
Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) will be awarded first class
degree certificates at this year’s convocation
ceremony of the institution.

Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo
State, Nigeria, will graduate 4,310 at the 6th
Convocation Ceremony of the institution which will
hold on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th, December,
2015. Of this number, 18 graduands will receive First
Class Degrees.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefu, gave the
revelation during the Press Conference kick-starting
the Convocation Ceremony.

Ajibefun, who took over as the VC of the institution in
January 2015, said 787 of the graduating students
earned Second Class Upper Division, 2,500 obtained
Second Class Lower Division, 702 made Third Class
while 46 had pass.
He said apart from those graduating with first degree,
130 would take master’s degree, 20 will bag Ph.D
while 107 would take Diplomas.
The vice-chancellor said four eminent Nigerians, who
have distinguished themselves would be conferred
with honourary doctoral awards.

AAUA to Honour Akinwumi Adesina,Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Others

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefu, gave the
revelation during the Press Conference kick-starting
the Convocation Ceremony.

He gave the name of those to be honoured as the
President of the African Development Bank and
immediate past Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr.
Akinwumi Adesina, the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom in
Ondo State, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, Chief Bisi
Ogunjobi and a Professor of History, Prof. Bolanle
Awe.
Ajibefun said he had since he resumed 11 months ago
had been consolidating and improving on the
achievements he met on ground and which the
university tick.
He said the university has had six peaceful and
unbroken academic calendar and which made the
university very attractive to many admission seekers.

Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo
State, Nigeria, will graduate 4,310 at the 6th
Convocation Ceremony of the institution which will
hold on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th, December,
2015. Of this number, 18 graduands will receive First
Class Degrees.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefu, gave the
revelation during the Press Conference kick-starting
the Convocation Ceremony.

Adekunle Ajasin University Approved Academic Calendar 2015/2016

Below is the approved Academic Calendar of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba for the 2015/2016 academic session;

Week 1: Dec. 13th -19th, 2015 - Resumption of fresh students - Resumption of 400 Level students (Post
SIWES)

Week 2: Dec. 20th -26th, 2015 - Resumption, Screening,
Registration continue. - Orientation for fresh students -Resumption and Registration for returning Students

Week 3: Dec. 27th, 2015 - 2nd Jan., 2016 - Faculty based course exposition - Vice Chancellor’s Test - Lecture begin for fresh students

Week 4: Jan. 3rd – 9th, 2016 - 1st Continuous Assessment Test - Lectures continue

Week 5: Jan. 10th- 16th, 2016 - Lectures Continues - End of Registration & Closure of Edu-Portal

Week 6: Jan. 17th- 23rd, 2016 - Lectures Continue - Matriculation

Week 7: Jan. 24th – 30th, 2016 - Resumption of 300/400 Level Education Students - Senate (Examinations) -
Lectures Continue

Week 8: Jan. 31st – 6th Feb, 2016 - 2nd Continuous Assessment Test - Lectures Continue

Week 9: Feb. 7th – 13th Feb, 2016 - Lectures Continue

Week 10: Feb. 14th – 20th Feb, 2016 - Lectures Continue

Week 11: Feb. 21st – 27th Feb, 2016 - 3rd Continuous Assessment Test

Week 12: Feb. 28th – 5th March, 2016 - Lectures Continue

Week 13: March 6th – 12th March, 2016 - Lectures Continue

Week 14: March 13th – 19th March, 2016 - Lectures Continue

Week 15: March 20th – 26th March, 2016 - End of Lectures

Week 16: March 27th – 2nd April, 2016 - Revision for all Students

Week 17: April 3rd – 9th April, 2016 - First Semester Examinations Begin

Week 18: April 10th – 16th April, 2016 - First Semester Examinations Continue

Week 19: April 17th – 23rd April, 2016 - First Semester Examinations End Saturday 23rd April, 2016
- Students to vacate Campus Halls of Residence

SUMMARY
Registration - Two (2) weeks
Lectures - Thirteen (13) weeks
Revision - One (1) week
Examinations - Three (3) weeks
Total - Nineteen (19) weeks

All Public Holidays will be observed accordingly. First Semester Break: Saturday, April 23rd – Sunday, 8th
May, 2016 (2 weeks).

Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio Sacked From The Senate

The Federal Court of Appeal announced today that violations to the Electoral Act during the senatorial election between Mr. Akpabio and the All Progressives Congress candidate Inibehe Okori informed their ruling.

According to SaharaReporters, the Senate Minority Leader for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Godswill
Akpabio, has been sacked today. Mr.
Akpabio is a Senator representing Akwa
Ibom State, and is the former two term
governor of that State.

The Court of Appeal ordered a rerun election in Akwa Ibom State in 90 days.

AAUA Bans All Students Paramilitaries as Cadet Members Beats Student to death

Ewaweron Oluwamuyiwa popularly known as Mafuge a 400 level student of Psychology in Adekunle Ajasin University died today after he was beaten by a set of Cadet members led by former CO Adedoyin Adeola popularly known as (Iron Body). He was attacked in the early hours of Monday the 30th of November about 1am during his Villa (Shanghai Villa) day.

According to reports he was already sleeping when Iron body and his boys barged into his room and started beating him, it was when he started gasping that the beating stopped and he was rushed to Iwaro General Hospital by the same people beating him.

They told the Doctor they saw him at the road side that he was drunk. He has been in Coma until his demise today. Reports says he was transferred to a hospital in Ondo then OAUTHC/UCH where he had two surgeries before he finally died. Presently, Adedoyin Adeola (Iron Body) is no where to be found, the SSS are presently investigating the case,

According to the Dean of Students Affairs Dr. Bolanle Ogungbamila, Paramilitary organizations in AAUA are banned till further notice. This is because the recent activities of these organizations run contrary to the extant rules and regulations of the university. Students are to remain calm. He said some of the perpetrators have been arrested. The university management is on top of the situation.

The Student Union has released a statement advising Iron Body to surrender to any police station and placed the
Cadet Base under lock.

The question on everybody’s lips is what has Mafuge done to deserve such beating that led to his death from Iron body and his boys.