National News Wednesday, December 4, 2013 1. Govt extends deadline for reopening of universities • Teachers defy Presidency, shun classes NBA urges withdrawal of ultimatum Reps plan fact-finding mission abroad PENGASSAN faults sack threat AS the Federal Government’s deadline for them to resume work expires Wednesday, university teachers have opted to continue with their strike rather than going to classes without their demands being met. The government gave the teachers up till today to return to work or be sacked. But they were defiant Tuesday as they insisted that they would continue with the strike. Apparently, the hard-line stance of the teachers yesterday made the government to shift the deadline for the reopening of all public universities from December 4 to 9. The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, who disclosed the extension at a media briefing, stated that the move was to enable the teachers make adequate preparations for the burial of former ASUU President, Prof. Festus Iyayi. The funeral activities of the late don are scheduled for between December 5 and 7. Okojie said that the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, had received the formal notification letter of the burial. The Guardian, front pg, cont on pg4 2. PDP in fresh move to remove Amaechi, 4 other govs Seeks friendly judge to grant exparte order. We re seeking peace-Metuh ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, working in league with elements in the presidency has commenced moves to remove five governors who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, it emerged last night. The move Vanguard learnt, was the outcome of deliberations by close associates of President Goodluck Jonathan who are working to weaken the opposition against a possible second term for the president. At the centre of the move Vanguard learnt last night, is a court action aimed at removing the five governors through an exparte court order to the effect that the seats occupied by the governors belong to the party and not the governors as individuals. On obtaining the court order, it was learnt that the governors would immediately be removed from office pending the outcome of appeals that they might lodge. Vanguard, pg14 3. You’re peddling falsehood, Okonjo-Iweala replies Amaechi The war of words between the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, seems not to be over as the minister has described the latest call for her probe by the governor as a campaign of falsehood against her person. Amaechi had called on the House of Representatives to probe the Minister of Finance and Minister of Water Resources, Stella Ochekpe over the alleged seizure of the World Bank and African Development Bank loans approved by the National Assembly for the state. He had said, “The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is using her position to undermine the safety and health of the people of Rivers State. I can’t afford to give all Rivers people bottled water, but all I can assure you is to ensure the provision of potable water. “But the Minister of Finance has refused to release it and I think I should put that before you (House Committee on Water Resources). They want Rivers people to die.” Okonjo-Iweala while replying in a statement issued on Tuesday night said it was “unfortunate that Amaechi is persisting in his outrageous and totally illogical campaign of falsehood” against her person. The Punch, from the net 4. Nigeria at war –Defence Minister •Outrage trails attack on military formation •Jonathan has no security agenda –APC Govs With the latest siege posed by early Monday’s Boko Haram attack on the Nigerian Air Force Base in Maiduguri, Supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku, declared in Abuja on Tuesday that Nigeria is in a state of war, fighting enemies that do not wear uniform. He said such enemies could be identified as the musketeer. Speaking at a press conference on the activities lined up for 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations (AFRDC), Maku said the Defence Headquarters in Abuja has despatched a team of senior military officers to the Borno State capital with a mandate to assess the extent of damage caused by the insurgents’ bomb attack on the Air Force Base in the town that claimed several lives and left three military helicopters damaged. Daily Independent, pg2 5. Jonathan directs Customs Service to takeover destination inspection of imports President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the transition of Destination Inspection Service from contracted Scanning Service Providers (SSPs) to the Nigeria Customs Service, effective December 1, 2013. The ministry of finance said on Tuesday that with this directive, Nigeria Customs Service has taken over full processing of all import transactions to Nigeria in accordance with the amended Import Guidelines of the Destination Inspection Scheme. Consequently, all Scanning Service Providers (Cotecna, SGS and Global Scan) cease to approve new Form M, issue Risk Assessment Report (RAR) or perform scanning operations for goods imported into Nigeria. BusinessDay, front pg, cont pg4 6. Air Force deploys more jets to fight Boko Haram • Air chief in Borno .APC governors to President: reassess your strategy More fighter jets were deployed in Maiduguri, the troubled Borno State capital, yesterday as troops battled fleeing Boko Haram insurgents. As at press time last night, many insurgents had been killed in air raids but the casualty figure was unknown. The Defence Headquarters said ground troops were counting the dead. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, relocated yesterday to Maiduguri to co-ordinate the assault against the insurgents, who stormed the city on Monday to attack the Air Force Base and the airport.Besides, a team raised by the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ibrahim Ola Sa’ad, went on a stock-taking mission to Maiduguri. The team, which was led by the Director of Operations at the Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Psakr, also included the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade. Daily Independent, pg10 Business News 7. FG supports power generating firms with N50bn The Federal Government on Tuesday endowed N50bn in escrow accounts of three Nigerian banks to support the efforts of power generation companies. The Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, who signed the agreement with the three banks in Abuja, said the money would be a buffer for losses that the GenCos could suffer in the process of power transmission. The Punch, pg27 8. 75% tokunbo levy: Stakeholders warn against effect on economy Stakeholders in the maritime industry have kicked against the recent introduction of 75 percent levy on imported fairly used vehicles, popularly called “Tokunbo,” warning that the new policy would have adverse effect on the nation’s economy. The stakeholders explained that the policy will not only lead to diversion of these cargoes to neighbouring countries, but will also deprive Nigerians from driving cars and as a result, there are moves to protest against the policy by stakeholders this week. Vanguard, pg21 World/Regional News 9. Delta Assembly passes 2013 Appropriation Amendment Bill Delta State House of Assembly, yesterday, in Asaba, passed the state’s 2013 Appropriation Amendment Bill authorizing the spending of re-ordered N58.2 billion. The passage of the bill followed the presentation of the report by the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Daniel Mayuku. Vanguard, pg12 10. I never denied smoking Marijuana – Clinton In an interview with Fusion TV’s Jorge Ramos on Tuesday, Clinton said he “never denied” smoking marijuana. “I didn’t say I was holier than thou, I said I tried. I never denied that I used marijuana,” Clinton said. President Obama has been open about the fact that he experimented with both marijuana and cocaine when he was younger. Ramos asked if Clinton were running now if he would answer questions about his drug use differently. Clinton said the original answer he gave during his presidential campaign in 1992 had been twisted by the media. The Punch, from the net
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 13:30:12 +0000
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