ASUU May Call Off Strike Next Week

There are indications that the on-going strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities might be called off next Thursday.

Governor of Benue State, Mr Gabriel Suswam who dropped this hint Friday said ASUU and the Federal Government had reached agreements on all the contentious issues that led to the industrial action except two.

Suswam who was appointed as Chairman of the Needs Assessment Implementation Committee of the Federal Government said after next Thursday's deliberations between his Committee and the various agencies of government funding tertiary education, all the contentious issues would likely be resolved.

Speaking to news men in Abuja after attending a meeting between the Federal Government's delegation and ASUU, Suswam said that agreements had been reached by both parties on all issues except two.

Said he: "We reached agreements on all issues except two. These two issues are those of earned allowances of lecturers and intervention for the federal universities. These are the only issues that are still outstanding."

The Benue Governor further said he believed that by next week after his Committee would have arrived at an agreement on all the issues, ASUU would call off the strike.

He continued: "The SGF would meet with the leadership of ASUU on the issue of earned allowances by next Monday.

Then my committee which is dealing with the issue of the needs assessment of the universities would meet again next Thursday and take another look at all the infrastructural deficits which the federal universities are facing.

If you go to our universities, you would agree that they are facing infrastructural deficits and that is why my committee would meet with all the funding agencies next Thursday for the purpose of prioritizing all the projects that need to be executed. We are going to invite all the agencies that are involved in the funding of the universities including the Central Bank of Nigeria."

Suswam further stated that the issues on agreements have been reached include: those of retirement age for university lecturers- which has now been increased from 65 to 70 years; the constitution of the governing councils of the universities which has already been done by the Government; the setting up of a pension administrator and the issue of persuading companies operating in the country to set up research centers in the universities.

Said he: "As far as I am concerned, if the issues concerning intervention and earned allowances are resolved next week, then the strike could be called off"

Among those who attended the meeting were Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Labour, Hon. Emeka Wogu, Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayatu Rufai and President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge.

Trailer Crushes Taxi In Ibadan, Kills 3

A trailer yesterday crushed a taxi in Ibadan, killing the driver and two passengers.

The vehicle, which was carrying granite, was reportedly coming from the Ojoo end of the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway when it skidded off the road due to a brake failure near the Iwo Road interchange axis of the expressway.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, told our reporter that the accident occurred about 1pm. He said the driver, on discovering the brake has failed, tried to use a structure beside the road to stop the vehicle, but he ran into the taxi, whose driver was dropping passenger.

According to the source, the trailer crushed the taxi, killing the driver and two passengers, dragging the cab until it hit a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) parked by the road. The SUV was slightly damaged as it was hit from behind. It tore the taxi into two.

The Nation learnt that on discovering the consequence of his action, the driver and his two assistants bolted to avoid being lynched by sympathisers.

Confirming the accident, Oyo State police spokesperson Mrs. Olabisi Ilobanafor said three people died.She said policemen visited the scene and towed the taxi and the SUV to a nearby station for further investigation.

According to her, the victims have been taken to the mortuary.Mrs. Ilobanafor said the trailer driver has been arrested.

Police Rescue Eight-month-old Baby Sold By Grandmother

Men of the Plateau State Police Command have rescued an eight-month old baby girl, who was allegedly sold by her grandmother in Jos, Plateau State.

Our correspondent learnt that the baby was sold in Jos few weeks ago, but was rescued in Onitsha, Anambra on Wednesday.She was rescued by men of the 'A' Division of the state police after a complaint by the mother and a tip-off by some members of the public.

A police source told our correspondent that the mother of the baby was allegedly impregnated by her boyfriend while she was

Umoru Musa Stabbed by Kunle Oyebanji

The police at Idimu Police Division have arrested and charged a 24-year old man, Kunle Oyebanji, before Ejigbo Magistrates' Court, in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, for allegedly stabbing a retailer, Umoru Musa, over N10 cigarette.
Oyebanji was charged with assault and refusing to pay for a stick of cigarette to Musa who sells provisions at 1, Pipeline Street, Idimu, Lagos.

Narrating what happened, Musa said Oyebanji usually buys provisions from him on credit. But after some months, Musa said he stopped selling to him when he refused to pay his debts and threatened him whenever he asked for his money.

On the fateful day, Musa said the suspect came to his kiosk and demanded for a stick cigarette but he refused to sell to him. But instead of leaving, Musa alleged that Oyebanji forcefully picked the cigarette and smoked at the kiosk.

Musa alleged that Oyebanji refused to pay for the cigarette when he demanded for his money. Instead, Oyebanji became angry and questioned Musa for asking him for the money.

In annoyance it was alleged that Oyebanji brought out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Musa several times.

When Musa began to bleed and slump, Oyebani allegedly fled from the scene of the incident.

The matter was reported at Idimu Police Division, while Musa was rushed to a nearby hospital in the area.

Oyebanji was later arrested and charged to court.

When he was arraigned in court, he pleaded not guilty.

Oyebanji admitted that he went to Musa's kiosk to buy cigarette on credit but he promised to pay him.

He said the problem began when Musa insisted that he must pay him before leaving the kiosk .

Oyebanji said he explained to him that he had no money on him but Musa insisted on collecting his money.

The suspect said the argument resulted in exchange of words and a fight between them.

The presiding magistrate, Mr P. E. Nwaka, granted Oyebanji bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till 14 August.

Zambia To Block Facebook, Twitter In Country Revealed by Zambia President

Zambia's President Michael Sata reportedly plans to block social networking sites Facebook and Twitterin the country.

The president's parallel intelligence system is allegedly making this move after realising that some unfavourable stories on blocked websites are 'filtering through the two social media for domestic consumption.'

This new move follows the president's recent decision to block the media websites Zambian Watchdog, and Zambia Reports, and the Xavier Chungu-led parallel intelligence is targeting to block a third internet based media channel, the Crossfire Blogtalk Radio.

President Sata recently unleashed a crack-down on media houses and arresting journalists who carry reports on stories which impact threaten his hold on power.

Am In Love Again! Ghanaian Star Yvonne Nelson Admits She’s No Longer Single via Twitter

Well, as the Naija Star Iyanya and Ghanian Star Yvonne Nelson breakup tales have begun to die down, the Ghanaian actress has got a scoop for us about her love life. Earlier today, the beautiful actress took to her Twitter page to announce that she's no longer single.

Check on it!

Okk so I guess I'm not single anymore …….hahahaha mum was even complaining…..lol….SOoooo inlove

Photos: Two-Headed Baby Born In India

A boy has been born in India with two heads and one body.

CBS reports that the infant is a conjoined dicephalic parapagus twin,
a rare condition which more commonly affects girls, often causing them
to be stillborn.

The little boy reportedly has two nervous systems but only one rib
cage and shoulder girdle. His two backbones are fused at the pelvis,
and doctors say he needs further tests to see if he has other
conjoined organs.

He is being cared for at the J K Lone Hospital in Jaipur City. The
Daily Mail reports his medical team there are confident he will
survive despite the seriousness of his condition.

In 2011, a Brazillian woman gave birth to conjoined twins – the second
such birth in Brazil that year. Her doctors did not plan to separate
the babies. In February 2004, a baby was born in the Dominican
republic with two heads. The BBC reported at the time that the little
girl – Rebeca Martinez – initially came through an 11-hour operation
to remove the live head of her partially-formed twin, but later died
from surgery-related complications.


The Hensel twins, Brittany and Abigail are a famous example of
conjoined children who have survived into young adulthood – they
shared their story on the TLC reality TV series 'Abby & Brittany', and
showed how they live independent and fulfilled lives despite sharing a
liver, large intestine and colon, three kidneys, one bladder, one set
of reproductive organs, one pelvis and two legs.