About 40 students were killed on Sunday morning in Gujba College of Agriculture in Yobe State following an attack by gunmen suspected to be the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
Eye witness account told People2People Nigeria that the students were shot in their hostels and classrooms while fleeing from the attackers.
The remains of the students found dead after the incident have been deposited at the General Sanni Abacha Hospital and more are still been expected at press time.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Friday, September 06, 2013
ASUU Strike: NANS Threatens To Shut Down Private Universities
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have threatened to shut down private universities in the country in what they believe to be an institution for the children of the high and mighty in the society as a way of compelling the federal government to take a more urgent action in resolving the stalemate between government and ASUU.
While addressing gathering of students at a peaceful demonstration in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Thursday, Mr. Steven Adara, a student leader in Ekiti State University (EKSU), said that those in government and some prominent Nigerians were not helping in the resolution of the two month old strike as they were always sending their children to private institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
"We will mobilize ourselves and ensure that we disrupt academic activities in most of the private schools, because it is the sons and daughters of te affluence that are in these schools," he said.
Speaking on behalf of Nigerian Students, the Director of Action and Mobilisation, NANS South-west, Mr. Asefon Sunday, pointed out that between 2000 and 2011, the Nigerian government earned about N48.48 trillion from the sale of crude oil alone against N3.10 trillion earned between 1979 and 1999.
"With this tremendous upswing in the revenue at the disposal of the federal government, one would have expected such to translate to commensurate improvement in the quality of Nigeria's public education as well as other social services".
While addressing gathering of students at a peaceful demonstration in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Thursday, Mr. Steven Adara, a student leader in Ekiti State University (EKSU), said that those in government and some prominent Nigerians were not helping in the resolution of the two month old strike as they were always sending their children to private institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
"We will mobilize ourselves and ensure that we disrupt academic activities in most of the private schools, because it is the sons and daughters of te affluence that are in these schools," he said.
Speaking on behalf of Nigerian Students, the Director of Action and Mobilisation, NANS South-west, Mr. Asefon Sunday, pointed out that between 2000 and 2011, the Nigerian government earned about N48.48 trillion from the sale of crude oil alone against N3.10 trillion earned between 1979 and 1999.
"With this tremendous upswing in the revenue at the disposal of the federal government, one would have expected such to translate to commensurate improvement in the quality of Nigeria's public education as well as other social services".
ASUU: Universities Gets N130 Billion Intervention Fund
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| Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka |
Also, another N30 billion has been released to be shared among 36 federal institutions in the country as contained in a written letter to institutions by the committee appointed by the Federal Government, headed by the Secretary to Government of Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK),Professor Boniface Egboka said on Thursday in Awka, Anambra State that out of the N100 billion released for infrastructural development, UNIZIK got N3.050 billion and out of the N30 billion also released by Government to pay lecturers earned allowances which has been the contending issue between the Federal Government and ASUU, UNIZIK got N1.184 billion.
The Vice Chancellor also said that Nnamdi Azikiwe University has not received the mandatory N500 million take-off grant since its establishment in 1991, adding that the institution had been working with its internally generated revenue which had helped it in the 60 percent development of the institution.
He added that the tenacity of ASUU and other unions had made it possible for the assistance. He however thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for his efforts in ensuring that the face-off between the government and ASUU is amicably resolved.
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Boko Haram: 20 Civilian Killed In Borno
The Islamic insurgent, Boko Haram, came back with a fury on Thursday and launching attacks on two communities in Borno State, killing about 20 people by men suspected to be members of the sect.
The Attacks was on schools, hospitals and some homes in Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai Local Government, about 73 kilometres from Maiduguri and Bulabulin Ngawra village in Konduga Local Government Area, about 45 kilometres from the state capital.
The terrorist which were said to be about 40, armed with Ak47 rifles, ambushed and killed the vigilance youths also known as "civilian JTF" after which the military men engaged them.
The terrorist also laid ambush to the Damboa-Maiduguri road, which was reopened two weeks ago, where they were believed to have killed five people.
Eyewitness said, "The Boko Haram sect member attacked us because of how our volunteers have succeeded in curtailing their atrocities in our area".
Some residents in Maiduguri said: "We saw two Hilux patrol vehicles of the military conveying bodies and injured heading towards University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), but we could not ascertain whether they were victims of the latest attack in Nganzai or Bullabulin Ngwara".
On Wednesday it was gathered that, the "civilian JTF" and the military had arrested 14 suspected terrorist with arms and ammunition in Blunkutu ward, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) premises and Sulimantai ward of the Maiduguri metropolis.
The suspect were said to have sneaked into the hospital through the perimeter fence, before the youths sighted them with rifles and ammunition at about 10.35am on Wednesday.
"The suspect disguised as injured and sick persons with rifles hidden under their flowing gowns. They perforated the barbed wires; before entering the hospital premises to seek medical attention. The vigilance youths saw the suspects and arrested them on the spot, before handing them to us here."
The military spokesman in Borno Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said he was not aware of the incidents. He promised to get back to reporters after compiling his report.
The Attacks was on schools, hospitals and some homes in Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai Local Government, about 73 kilometres from Maiduguri and Bulabulin Ngawra village in Konduga Local Government Area, about 45 kilometres from the state capital.
The terrorist which were said to be about 40, armed with Ak47 rifles, ambushed and killed the vigilance youths also known as "civilian JTF" after which the military men engaged them.
The terrorist also laid ambush to the Damboa-Maiduguri road, which was reopened two weeks ago, where they were believed to have killed five people.
Eyewitness said, "The Boko Haram sect member attacked us because of how our volunteers have succeeded in curtailing their atrocities in our area".
Some residents in Maiduguri said: "We saw two Hilux patrol vehicles of the military conveying bodies and injured heading towards University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), but we could not ascertain whether they were victims of the latest attack in Nganzai or Bullabulin Ngwara".
On Wednesday it was gathered that, the "civilian JTF" and the military had arrested 14 suspected terrorist with arms and ammunition in Blunkutu ward, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) premises and Sulimantai ward of the Maiduguri metropolis.
The suspect were said to have sneaked into the hospital through the perimeter fence, before the youths sighted them with rifles and ammunition at about 10.35am on Wednesday.
"The suspect disguised as injured and sick persons with rifles hidden under their flowing gowns. They perforated the barbed wires; before entering the hospital premises to seek medical attention. The vigilance youths saw the suspects and arrested them on the spot, before handing them to us here."
The military spokesman in Borno Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said he was not aware of the incidents. He promised to get back to reporters after compiling his report.
Meeting ASUU's Demand Can Destabilize Nigeria - FG
The Federal Government yesterday said that government's programs may be halted if the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and those in other sectors were fully met.
Addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Nigeria's President in Abuja, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said government has been spending so much on tertiary education and urged ASUU to reconsider its demand since other sectors need intervention.
"The country belongs to all of us. If we all insist that every sector's problems must be completely solved, we will down tools, we will not work, then the country will stop working. If we say every problem we face in this country, we will not work until it is resolved, then I'm sure there is no sector that will work.
"It is our country, we are partners with ASUU, we are friends, they are our patriots and we understand the critical roles the university teachers are playing to create a new society we are hoping to have. But at the same time, we have to put the nation first.
"I know all of us desire more from the system, but the truth is that there are limitations and from the limitations we have, we believe ASUU really needs to do a rethink and ensure that we reopen our universities because we are feeling the pains of our children being at home.
"Government has priorities; education remains the number one priority and will continuously remain the number one priority of a developing country like Nigeria. There is no way we can avoid it. The quality of human capital is going to determine the future of our country. But at the same time, when you look at the environment today, we are dealing with power supply, railway that has broken down many years ago.
"We're dealing with roads, creating an enabling environment for the industries to prosper. There is no area today that you touch that you do not have an urgency for the government to deal with.
"I just want to say that it is unfortunate that our students are still at home. It is very sad because the Federal Government has done so much in the last three years for education. People can compare the statistics. When we were on the Good Governance Tour and we got to the University of Benin, we saw 37 projects completed, including the new Senate chambers built under this administration. Most of the projects were carried out through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
"There is no federal university today that does not have multiple projects. There is no federal university at the moment, including polytechnics and colleges of education, even state polytechnics, we are funding them," Labaran Maku said.
Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, insisted that the Federal Government has done its best to finance education, but ASUU has been giving the public wrong impressions that government is doing nothing on the 2009 agreement that was signed.
Addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Nigeria's President in Abuja, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said government has been spending so much on tertiary education and urged ASUU to reconsider its demand since other sectors need intervention.
"The country belongs to all of us. If we all insist that every sector's problems must be completely solved, we will down tools, we will not work, then the country will stop working. If we say every problem we face in this country, we will not work until it is resolved, then I'm sure there is no sector that will work.
"It is our country, we are partners with ASUU, we are friends, they are our patriots and we understand the critical roles the university teachers are playing to create a new society we are hoping to have. But at the same time, we have to put the nation first.
"I know all of us desire more from the system, but the truth is that there are limitations and from the limitations we have, we believe ASUU really needs to do a rethink and ensure that we reopen our universities because we are feeling the pains of our children being at home.
"Government has priorities; education remains the number one priority and will continuously remain the number one priority of a developing country like Nigeria. There is no way we can avoid it. The quality of human capital is going to determine the future of our country. But at the same time, when you look at the environment today, we are dealing with power supply, railway that has broken down many years ago.
"We're dealing with roads, creating an enabling environment for the industries to prosper. There is no area today that you touch that you do not have an urgency for the government to deal with.
"I just want to say that it is unfortunate that our students are still at home. It is very sad because the Federal Government has done so much in the last three years for education. People can compare the statistics. When we were on the Good Governance Tour and we got to the University of Benin, we saw 37 projects completed, including the new Senate chambers built under this administration. Most of the projects were carried out through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
"There is no federal university today that does not have multiple projects. There is no federal university at the moment, including polytechnics and colleges of education, even state polytechnics, we are funding them," Labaran Maku said.
Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, insisted that the Federal Government has done its best to finance education, but ASUU has been giving the public wrong impressions that government is doing nothing on the 2009 agreement that was signed.
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