PUBLIC SHAME: MEET THE EDO TEACHER WHO CAN'T READ OWN CREDENTIALS

It was a drama of sorts during the verification exercise of primary school teachers' certificates in
Edo State on Tuesday as one of the teachers in the state, Mrs. Augusta Odemwingie, could not
read a sworn affidavit she tendered as part of her credentials.
Mrs. Odemwingie teaches at Asologun Primary School, Ikpoba Okha local government area of
Benin City, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who paid an unscheduled visit to the State Staff
Training Centre venue of the exercise was appalled that a teacher could not read, saying "if you
can't read, what do you teach the pupils? What do you write on the board?"
The Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Patrick Ikosimi,
who was also at the screening to monitor the exercise, said the woman's failure was "an
embarrassment."
On arrival at the centre, the governor took time to peruse some of the teachers' credentials and
documents presented.
When Mrs. Odenwingie took her turn during the exercise, the governor who listened to her
defence asked her to read the affidavit she presented.
She stuttered and read the affidavit as if a kindergarten was learning to read, to the
consternation of everybody around.

EDUCATION CRISIS: ANOTHER ASUP STRIKE MAY BEGIN SOON

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) announced the decision to
suspend the nationwide strike on July 16, 2013. Unfortunately, it has just been a pause.
ASUP is gearing for another industrial action, which would commence after next week, and would
be indefinite.
The union made the appropriate statement on August 13, 2013, Tuesday during the mass protest
to 'save public education' in Lagos.
"The suspension of the strike will expire next week and up till now government has not done any
single thing in the agreement," said Chibuzo Asomugha, ASUP's National President.
After 81 days of inactivity in polytechnics across Nigeria, the union decided to suspend the
strike following the level of progress made in negotiations with the government.
ASUP said that it suspended the strike to allow the Senate Joint Committee on Education to
liaise with relevant government agencies with a view to tackling the union's demands within one
month.
Among ASUP's demands include the need for constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal
Polytechnics; migration of the lower cadre to CONTISS 15 salary scale; and the "worrisome
condition" of state-owned polytechnics in the country.
"Government should stop paying lip service to public education," said Mr. Asomugha. "The closer
you get to this people in government, the more you lose hope."

'WE CAN'T MEET YOUR DEMANDS' - FG TELLS ASUU

Hopes of quick resolution of the present face-off between the Federal Government and the
Academic Staff Union of Universities were dashed on Tuesday as the Minister of Finance, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the government has no resources to meet the union demands.
Foreclosing possible truce to the five-week old industrial action that has paralysed academic
activities in the nation's ivory towers, Okonjo-Iwela said the striking university lecturers were
asking for N92 billion in extra allowances, maintaining that government lack means of picking
the bill.
Speaking in Minna at the annual National Council on Finance and Economic Development
meeting, the minister said that ASUU demand was coming at a time government was making
efforts at reducing the structure of public expenditures.
The theme of the meeting is: "Restructuring Nigeria's Finances." She said, "At present ASUU
wants the government to pay N92 billion in extra allowances when resources are not there and
when we are working to integrate past increases in pensions.
We need to make choices in this country as we are getting to the stage where recurrent
expenditures take the bulk of our resources and people get paid but can do no work."
She declared that if the demands of the university lecturers are met and "we continue to pay
them salaries and allowances we will not be able to provide infrastructure in the universities."
The minister argued that when she assumed office "the share of recurrent expenditure in our
total budgets had increased astronomically. " "In fact recurrent expenditures accounted for about
77.2 per cent of the federal budget and we are now working to re-balance this ratio," the
minister added.

NGF BATTLE: JANG, AMAECHI MAY STEP DOWN

Strong indications emerged from the Monday meeting by President Goodluck Jonathan and governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP
that governors Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State who both chair
two Secretariats of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, NGF will step down.
According to a source at the meeting which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential
Villa, Amaechi who emerged as Chairman of the NGF for his second term in May after an election
held at the Rivers State Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja after scoring 19 votes to defeat Jang of Plateau
State who polled 16 votes will drop the position as well as Jang for peace to return to the family
of the party

FLAVOUR STUNS NEW YORK IN SMASHING CONCERTS

Flavour N’abania just concluded his US Tour 2013. The sold out tour saw him perform live with
his live band in Dallas Tx, Houston Tx, Maryland MD, and New York NY.
He performed some of his old hits and fresh tracks from his “Blessed” album and put up a
great show.
The tour is presented by Big A Entertainment and African Muzik Magazine, two entities that are
committed to promoting African Music outside the borders of Africa.