The strike may be called off next week when ASUU will present the MoU to its National Executive meeting, NEC.
Wednesday 11 December 2013
Strike: FG/ASUU sign MoU
The strike may be called off next week when ASUU will present the MoU to its National Executive meeting, NEC.
Oshiomhole presents N159.213bn 2014 budget
Tagged “Budget of Renewed Hope”, which is aimed at taking the state to the next level, the budget is N5.088 billion higher than the 2013, budget which stood at N154,125 billion.
The budget which is aimed at opening up the state economy for rapid socio-economic development is made up of N85,595 billion or 53.76% Capital Expenditure and N73.617billion or 46.24% Recurrent Expenditure.
On funding the budget, the Governor said the government hopes to get N115.589 billion as revenue; N65.331 billion as statutory receipts; N25.095 billion from Internally Generated Revenue, N4.899 billion from Aids and Grants; N8.246 billion from VAT, N6.423 from Excess Crude Account and N5.595 billion from Capital Receipts.
Road projects will take the lion share of the budget amounting to N24 billion of the Capital expenditure; followed by education which takes N15 billion; flood and erosion control/environmental protection takes N10.295 billion; health N8 billion; Agriculture, Housing and Urban Planning take N1.5billion each.
Expatiating on the Health Sector, Oshiomhole said “the government plans to complete the construction and equipping of the new accident and emergency 200 bed ward complex at the Central Hospital, Benin City, completion and furnishing of the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Block D of the new Secretariat complex to provide permanent accommodation for the Ministry.
While reviewing the state’s 2013 budget, Oshiomhole said “In 2013, revenue performance was affected by the reduction in the Personal Income Tax leading to a big drop in our Internally Generated Revenue to the tune of N500 million monthly. The drop in the allocation from the Federation Account arising from the alleged oil theft has also adversely affected the revenue profile of the State.”
He however noted that despite the challenges, “I am delighted to report that we have remained faithful to our wage obligations despite the dwindling allocations and inflows from federal sources, which led to delay in payment of salaries by some more buoyant States and even the Federal Government.
“We have equally honoured our pensions and gratuity commitments. As at the end of September, 2013, we have disbursed N2.942 billion to pensioners and towards the liquidation of inherited gratuity liabilities.
“On the whole, we have sustained our policy of financial prudence and budget discipline which has kept the cost of governance within reasonable limits and ensured that more resources are channelled to capital expenditures and welfare enhancing projects.”
Responding, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe said the House would expedite action on the budget proposals. He noted that the Governor’s reading of the budget on the floor makes the First reading according to the Assembly rules.
Obasanjo accuses Jonathan of destroying Nigeria
In a 18-page letter to President Jonathan, obtained by Premium Times, Obasanjo said, “Nigeria is bleeding and the hemorrhage must be stopped.”
The letter noted that Jonathan had failed to deliver on his promises to the Nigerian people, to stem corruption, promote national unity and strengthen national security.
Obasanjo observed that President Jonathan had betrayed the mandate of the Nigerian people who voted him to power, and had, instead, been pursuing selfish, personal and political interests based on advice he received from unpatriotic aides.
Obasanjo, wrote that Jonathan had become terribly divisive and clannish, destroying his own party, polarising the country along regional and religious lines and ridiculing Nigeria in the comity of nations.
“It would be unfair to continue to level full blames on the Chairman (Tukur) for all that goes wrong with the party,” Mr. Obasanjo said. “The chairman is playing the tune dictated by the paymaster (Jonathan). But the paymaster is acting for a definitive purpose for which deceit and deception seem to be the major ingredients.
“Up till two months ago, Mr. President, you told me that you have not told anybody that you would contest in 2015. I quickly pointed out to you that the signs and the measures on the ground do not tally with your statement. You said the same to one other person who shared his observation with me. And only a fool would believe that statement you made to me judging by what is going on. I must say it is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honorable path.”
Obasanjo continued, “For you to allow yourself to be “possessed”, so to say, to the exclusion of most of the rest of Nigerians as an “Ijaw man” is a mistake that should never have been allowed to happen. Yes, you have to be born in one part of Nigeria to be Nigerian if not naturalized but the Nigerian President must be above ethnic factionalism. And those who prop you up as of, and for ‘Ijaw nation’ are not your friends genuinely, not friends of Nigeria nor friends of ‘Ijaw nation’ they tout about.
“To allow or tacitly encourage people of ‘Ijaw nation’ to throw insults on other Nigerians from other parts of the country and threaten fire and brimstone to protect your interest as an Ijaw man is myopic and your not openly quieting them is even more unfortunate.
Obasanjo also asked the National Assembly to rise up and take decisive action over the recent allegation in the country that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, failed to remit billions of dollars in proceeds of crude oil sales to the federation account.
“This allegation will not fly away by non-action, cover-up, denial or bribing possible investigators,” Mr. Obasanjo told the President. “Please deal with this allegation transparently and let the truth be known.
“The dramatis personae in this allegation and who they are working for will one day be public knowledge. Those who know are watching if the National Assembly will not be accomplice in the heinous crime and naked grand corruption. May God grant you the grace for at least one effective corrective action against high corruption which seems to stink all around you in your government.”
The former president also wrote that he was ready for any backlash his letter would provoke.
“Knowing what happens around you most of which you know of and condone or deny, this letter will proke cacophony from hired and unhired attackers but I will maintain my serenity because by this letter, I have done my duty to you as I have always done, to your government, to the party, PDP, and to our country, Nigeria…,” Mr. Obasanjo said.
“I have passed the stage of being flattered, intimidated, threatened, frightened, induced or bought… Death is the end of all human beings and may it come when God wills it to come.”
Most Powerful Militaries in Africa
The Global Fire Power ranking, or GFP, measures countries’ military strength and assigns a power index number in order to compare them to other countries. Many factors are taken into consideration, and smaller countries can compete with larger ones due to points given for refinement and technological advancement.
Just seven African countries are ranked by the GFP. An inadequate amount of information is available to compare other countries that are not included. Based on available information, the following countries represent the most powerful militaries on the African continent in 2013, according to GlobalFirepower.com.
Numbers reflect each country’s power index, derived from a unique algorithm developed by GFP. A perfect score is a 0.0000. The lower the number, the stronger the military, and bonuses and penalties are added to country scores as needed.
1. Egypt – Power Index: 0.7569
Egypt is put over the top with regard to military strength due to the sheer size of its armed forces. Nearly 500,000 personnel serve on its active frontline force, far surpassing all of its African neighbors, as well as its nearly 10,000 armored fighting vehicles, 60,000 logistical vehicles, 900 aircraft, and large oil reserve from which to draw. Again, the military has been somewhat undermined in the wake of the Egyptian Revolution, but some argue that its increased role in government has made it stronger than ever. Whether or not this is a cause for celebration or concern will remain hotly debated for some time to come.
2. Ethiopia – Power Index: 1.1725
As a landlocked country, Ethiopia has focused its resources on developing its army and air force to an impressive degree (the GFP doesn’t penalize landlocked countries for not having a naval force). Several hundred thousand personnel make up its current force, and they have significant numbers of land and air systems at their disposal. Furthermore, an enormous population that is fit for service allows Ethiopia to maintain the capacity to turn out an even larger fighting force, and gives the country one of the greatest militaries on the continent.
3. South Africa – Power Index: 1.2582
As it hasn’t been embroiled in an international military conflict for some time, South Africa uses its highly advanced military for more peacekeeping and international cooperation purposes. Its aircraft and naval vessels are notoriously well-equipped with the latest technology, and though the country has less than 100,000 active frontline personnel, it has the capabilities and manpower for much more. Add to that a vast array of land system technology, and the South African military is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
4. Nigeria – Power Index: 1.3441
Due to its size, it’s no surprise that several hundred thousand troops comprise the Nigerian Armed Forces, through its army, navy, and air force. Like Algeria, an abundant domestic oil supply eases the financial burden to be involved in military conflict, and it has more than 1,400 armored vehicles, 360 tanks, and 6,000 logistical vehicles at its disposal, as well as nearly 300 aircraft and 25 high-powered naval vessels.
5. Algeria – Power Index: 1.4107
As Algeria has a large maritime border, it has developed all of its military capabilities to an impressively modern degree, including its land, sea, and air forces. Algeria’s active frontline personnel numbers more than 127,000 troops and it has nearly 2,000 armored fighting vehicles at its disposal. Algeria also has the added benefit of its own oil reserves, allowing it to use its own fuel to power tanks, aircraft carriers, naval vessels, and more.
6. Kenya – Power Index: 1.6237
Kenya has established itself as a vital participant in international peacekeeping missions, and is able to do so due to a high merchant marine strength and an enormous labor force – resulting in high available manpower. Though it doesn’t possess as much of its own equipment, its role as a member of international teams allows the Kenyan military to share resources with other countries, strengthening its own capabilities at the same time.
7. Libya – Power Index: 1.8428
The strength of Libya’s military comes mainly from its large cache of equipment, despite a relatively small number of active troops. Further hampering Libya’s abilities is the continuing violence and unrest stemming from the revolution begun in 2011 which has yet to see a stable government emerge from it. Regardless, the country still has available 2,500 armored fighting vehicles, 500 tanks, 600 towed artillery pieces, 6,500 logistical vehicles, and much more.
‘LOTS OF CHEQUES THAT SOME PEOPLE DONATED BOUNCED’- OJB GRANTS FIRST INTERVIEW!
Read from the excerpt below: What were your thoughts when you were told you would undergo a kidney transplant? It was scary because I find it hard to take an injection let alone cutting the body for surgery. I didn’t really welcome it but with time I had no choice than to give in to the idea and hope for the best. What do you have to say about the controversies that surrounded donations towards your kidney transplant? Well, there are well meaning and bitter people in Naija.
Most people were just complaining and these people didn’t even donate. All the figures flying in the air then were just fake and make-belief from different angles because if we had the money we wouldn’t have the governor donate N16million. Lots of cheques that some people donated bounced. I don’t want to mention names and when we called them to come for their cheques they didn’t come for it. We didn’t want to talk about it in the media because it was about.
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