On Stipend for Nigerian Youth

By Everistus Onwuzurike

In the build-up to the 2015 general elections, the All Progressives congress (APC) promised Nigerians a lot of good things if voted into power. Obviously, these are benefits that Nigerians have not enjoyed from previous administrations. It was not surprising that Nigerians swooped on the gospel of change propagated by the party. Of particular interest is the N5,000 stipend which the party pledged to lift the 25million unemployed youths in Nigeria.

There is also the promise of one-meal-a-day for all primary school pupils which invariably expands the frontiers of food production and bolsters the prospects of job creation in an economy faced with the crumbling impact of global oil glut and a weakened currency.

The Vice President, Prof YemiOsinbanjo, had recently re-instated the commitment of the APC-led administration to deliver its campaign promises by paying N5000 to the unemployed youths and vulnerable people in the country. As a matter of fact, the promise is apt, considering the bleak prospects of job creation and the rise in unemployment in the third quarter of 2015. It would be an understatement to say that the unemployment rate is indeed alarming. And since the success of any nation lies in the hands of the youths, this is enough reason why this government should take youths-centric policies seriously. The N5000 stipend is a great feat that can be achieved through proper strategic planning, painstaking implementation and constant evaluation.

We live in a country where corruption has assumed an anti-social proportion until the renewed onslaught against the scourge by President Buhari.

The monthly allowance, set to be launched in 2016, means the federal government has little or no time to make effectively determine the scale and dimension of unemployment in the country. One sad truth the government must realise is that the population of unemployed youths in Nigeria is far above the projected twenty five million. Again, that’s a serious indictment on our poor statistics.

The APC-led government must also institute measures to ensure that only the unemployed and vulnerable people benefit from this scheme. To do otherwise defeats the essence of the project. The government must equally determine how long the project would last, especially from the purview of sustainability. We have witnessed excellent initiatives blown away by the winds of time just on the score of inability to sustain them.  The government must put all hands on deck for it to effectively carry out its good intentions for the teeming unemployed youths in Nigeria.

Going by what we have had in the past, there has been the disturbing issue of ghost workers receiving their monthly remuneration, reaping from where they have not sown. This is another issue the federal government must look into before embarking on payment of this stipend. A repeat of the ghost workers’ phenomenon prevalent in the civil service must not be allowed to rub off on this project.

Again, the federal government must not be carried away by the excitement of this socialist scheme. There are bunch of slobs around who prefer not to work. Such persons deserve no empathy and should be technically screened out of the scheme. How the government arrives at this is a question it must urgently answer. Even the Holy Bible urge that those who refuse to work should not be accorded the grace of a meal. The benefits should be enjoyed only by those who are willing and available to when the opportunity shows up.

Therefore we must do everything possible to remain the largest economy in Africa and still remain one of the fastest growing in the world. Any stipend spent on someone who is not ready to work is a loss to the common good of our economy. It is interesting to know that the government wants to pay attention to the plight of the unemployed.

Finally, unemployment produces a number of negative consequences on individuals and the larger society. The anxiety, uncertainty and worry that unemployment ca

Mountain Top varsity’ll produce morally sound graduates — VC

THE Vice Chancellor of Mountain Top University, MTU, Ibafo, Ogun State, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, has said the newly established varsity is a dynamic center of academic excellence for the production of top-rate morally sound graduates of distinction who will be globally competitive for outstanding impact on local and global development.

Speaking at a press conference to herald the commencement of academic activities of the institution owned by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Ayolabi said MTU, is born for the progress of Nigeria, Africa and the world and is open to people of all faith who must abide by the rules and regulations of the church.
Ayolabi, who is the first African to be honoured as the 2015 Honorary Lecturer to the Middle-East and Africa by The Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), the international umbrella body for all Geophysicists, said “150 of the 270 students who passed the post-UTME have registered. Though admission is open to people from different religions but they would have to abide by our rules and regulations. Though there would be no stipulated dress code but student would have to dress responsibly to conform to the image of God.

“Each student will be provided with a mobile learning device on gratis with 24 hour access to our e-library resources and the laboratories and lecture rooms are equipped with digital learning facilities. Tuition for Art students isN450,000 while Science students would pay N570,000 and this covers hostel accommodation, medical and mobile device.”

In line with NUC approval, academic activities would commence for 2015/16 session with College of Basic and Applied Sciences and College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences.

173 ex-Corps members receive Presidential appointment letters to Civil Service

Federal Government, Monday, gave letters of employment to 173 ex-Corps members for immediate appointment into the various ministries in the Civil Service. The Federal Civil Service Commission [FCSC] officially handed over appointment letters to the 173 ex-National Youth Service Corp [NYSC] who served in 2012, 2013 and 2014 for distinguishing themselves during their service years.

Buhari-NYSC
Presenting the letters to the recipients in Abuja, FCSC Chairman, Deaconess Joan Ayo commended the awardees for exhibiting exemplary conduct and discipline throughout their years in service. ”You are a special breed, congratulations for this achievement. You did not only excel in the Universities but even in your NYSC.
It shows you are hard working that is why you have been able to distinguish yourselves among your peers”. She said: “Your appointment is on merit and that is why it has nothing to do with the federal character principle.  “Your selection is devoid of political influence. It has nothing to do with political affiliation.
“You are a special breed and I really congratulate you. You have exemplified good character and hard-work. It is natural for you to display integrity and patriotism, and that is why you are here.” Ayo admonished the new appointees to sustain the character that earned them the award “and even improve on it”.

”You have also displayed high sense of integrity, while others were sleeping, you were just there to contribute your quota to the survival and development of the nation. Few months ago, you were made to undergo various induction training by this commission, all geared towards preparing you for the task ahead. Today, as we present to you these letters, you are expected to visit the office of your state commissioner for proper documentation”.
Out of the total of 173 members, 164 got Presidential Awards while the remaining nine were introduced into the scheme via the aegis of Hope Alive, a brainchild of the NYSC. It will be recalled that the Presidential awards was earlier bestowed on the corps members in March this year following the announcement made by Former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja following an induction course which the Corp members undertook two months ago.
However, Deaconess Ayo explained that the delay in the appointment to the awardees and the nine Hope Alive members was due to the change in government. The NYSC Hope Alive Initiative is a public/private sector partnership (PPP) aimed at bringing succour to corps members who suffer permanent disability during service.
According to Director General of the NYSC, Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, “The initiative is also designed “to give hope to future corps members that the scheme and indeed this great nation will not abandon those who may suffer similar fate in the course of national service”.
This indeed is a worthy initiative. In the past, youth corps members who sustain injuries leading to permanent disabilities during their service were subjected to post-service emotional and psychological trauma as they were neglected by the same society they were mobilised to serve.
In his remarks, NYSC DG told the awardees to see themselves as a mirror of good conduct through which people see the imperative of service to humanity. Olawunmi stressed that the federal government is committed to protecting all serving corps members and even taking care of any unforeseen circumstances that might arise during their service year.
He however prayed that no evil would be-fall them, stressing the Buhari’s government determination to put them and their welfare at the centre of his administration.
On the nine members who sustained severe injuries during their service years, the NYSC boss quoted President Buhari saying, “No Nigerian youth will be abandoned.” He assured prospective NYSC members that the scheme would continue to ensure that the corps members who distinguished themselves during the service year would be adequately compensated.

IBB Varsity Gets N6bn TERTFUND Intervention

The Vice Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai, Prof Mohammad Nasir Maiturare has disclosed that the university has received N6 billion intervention fund from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TERTFUND) since its inception .

Prof Maiturare disclosed this at the weekend when he was conducting journalists round some of the TERTFUND projects at the university’s Centre for Applied Science and Technology Research (CASTER) at Lapai

He stated that the most important aspect of the interventions were in the areas of provision of hi-tech equipment needed for research and that TERTFUND provided the school with state of the art laboratories facilities.

According to him the university usually go to other universities for research but with the various intervention from the fund, and the acquisition of the hi-tech equipment, the researches could be carried out in-house.

“ Though we are new university but when it comes to researches , we are reckoned with, we are fortunate in that regard.”

LASU reverses increased acceptance fee

The Lagos State University (LASU) has reversed the increased acceptance fee for the newly admitted students from N20, 000 to N10, 000.

Mr Adeyemi Onikoro, President, Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU)‎, confirmed development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

Onikoro‎ said that the university’s authority had updated the website for the new students to pay N10, 000 as against N20, 000.

“From our investigation, the new students’ ‎have started paying the N10, 000 as revised,’’ he said.

NAN reports that LASU ‎authorities had in November increased the acceptance fee for the newly admitted students from N10, 000 to N20, 000 and indigeneship fee from N1, 000 to N5, 000.

However, LASUSU had demanded a ‎reversal of the fee with immediate effect to prevent students’ unrest. ‎

Onikoro said while the acceptance fee was reverted, the indigeneship fee had yet to be reversed from N5, 000, to N1, 000.

He said the students union was still negotiating with the university management on the reversal of the indigeneship fee to prevent uprising from the Lagos State ‎indigenes.

“The implication of a refusal by the management ‎not to reverse the indigeneship fee, is that the Lagos State indigenes will be paying more than the non-indigenes in their state owned university,’’ he said.

According to Onikoro, the indigeneship fee‎ must also be reversed so that it will not escalate into community rancour.

“This is not an issue affecting only the students union alone but the National Association of Lagos Indigenes Students (NALIS) and ‎the Lagos State traditional rulers will also seek redress,’’ he said.
‎
Onikoro lauded the management’s effort to reverse the acceptance fee, and urged it to do the needful by reversing the indigeneship fee also.

UNILAG Extends The Deadline For UTME/DE Final Enrolment Exercise 2015/2016

This is to inform all newly admitted undergraduate students who have been fully screened, that they should report at the Staff School Hall, Multipurpose Hall C and Main Auditorium Foyer, University of Lagos from Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 4, 2015 for final enrolment as from 9.00 a.m. Candidates are advised to follow the underlisted final enrolment schedule strictly.

All candidates UTME / DE are expected to fill the underlisted documents ONLINE and submit two (2) copies to the Registration Officers:

Completed and duly signed Students BiodataCompleted and duly signed Students Information Form (SIF)Payment Acknowledgement Receipt.

All candidates are advised to adhere strictly to the time table as shown below:

FINAL ENROLMENT EXERCISE SCHEDULE

DATE FACULTY/COLLEGE COURSES VENUE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2015.ARTS ENGLISH

STAFF SCHOOL HALL

BUSINESS ADMIN.ACCOUNTINGCOLLEGE OF MEDICINEMBBS, NURSING, DENTISTRYEDUCATIONENGLISH, EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (G & C) , BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, HOME ECONOMICSENGINEERINGCHEMICAL ENGINEERING,ENVIRONMENTAL SC.ESTATE MANAGEMENTLAWLAWPHARMACYPHARMACYSCIENCECOMPUTER SCIENCE, FISHERIES, GEOLOGY, ZOOLOGYSOCIAL SCIENCESECONOMICSDATEFACULTY/COLLEGECOURSESVENUETUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015.ARTSPHILOSOPHY

MULTI-PURPOSE HALL C

BUSINESS ADMIN.BUSINESS ADMIN. AND IRPMCOLLEGE OF MEDICINEMBBS, PHYSIOLOGY, MEDICAL LAB.EDUCATIONECONOMICS , BUSINESS , MATHEMATICS AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGYENGINEERINGCIVIL ENGINEERING, PETROLEUM AND GAS ENGINEERINGENVIRONMENTAL SC.URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNINGLAWLAWSCIENCEFISHERIES, ZOOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, GEOPHYSICSSOCIAL SCIENCESGEOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL WORKDATEFACULTY/COLLEGECOURSESVENUETHURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015.ARTSHISTORY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

AUDITORIUM FOYER

BUSINESS ADMIN.INSURANCECOLLEGE OF MEDICINEMEDICAL LAB, MBBS, PHYSIOTHERAPY.EDUCATIONHISTORY, EARLY CHILDHOOD, IGBO, ADULT EDUCATIONENGINEERINGELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING SURVEYING AND GEO-INFORMATICSENVIRONMENTAL SC.BUILDINGSCIENCEMATHEMATICS, PHYSICS, MARINE BIOLOGY, BOTANYSOCIAL SCIENCESMASS COMMUNICATIONDATEFACULTY/COLLEGECOURSESVENUEFRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015.ARTSFRENCH, RUSSIAN, LINGUISTICS YORUBA AND IGBO

AUDITORIUM

FOYER

BUSINESS ADMIN.ACTUARIAL SCIENCECOLLEGE OF MEDICINEMBBS, RADIOGRAPHY, NURSING PHARMACOLOGYEDUCATIONHUMAN KINETICS AND HEALTH EDUCATION, CRS, IRS, PHYSICSENGINEERINGCOMPUTER ENGINEERING,ENGINEERINGMETALLURGICAL & MAT. ENGINEERINGENVIRONMENTAL SC.QUANTITY SURVEYINGLAWLAWSCIENCECOMPUTER SCIENCE, CELL BIOLOGY, MICROBIOLOGY, BOTANYSOCIAL SCIENCESPSYCHOLOGY

UNIUYO Freshers Screening Halted as NASU Goes on Indefinite Strike

Academic activities have come to a standstill at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) after members of the institution’s chapter of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) embarked on a strike action.

Last week, the NASU members were seen carrying out a campus-wide demonstration. The demonstration was to protest the failure of the University to honour their demands. 

As a result, the freshers screening exercise has been suspended indefinitely in all faculties including PG school. 

The University is expected to make an official statement addressing this issue and possibly postponing the Screening exercise in due time. 

OAU shut down indefinitely over student protest

The Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, have shut down the school indefinitely following last Friday and yesterday’s student protest over poor welfare. The students are protesting lack of water and other basic amenities in the school hostels.

Seven students killed, 21 injured in Kano dormitory fire

At least seven students died, while 21 others were injured in a night fire at Government Girls Secondary School, Jogana, 20 kilometers from the city of Kano.

Hospital and school officials confirmed the deaths of the seven female students, saying their bodies were deposited at Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital.

A source at the school told PREMIUM TIMES the fire occurred at the biggest hostel of the school when the students were sleeping, and that the cause of the fire was still not known.

The Executive Secretary of Secondary Schools Management Board, Husaini Ganduje, also confirmed death of seven students in the fire, saying those who sustained injuries were currently receiving treatment.

A statement Sunday night by Usman Bello, the director of press to the deputy governor, Hafiz Abubakar, said the fire had been put under control in the night, and the affected students were rushed to hospital.

“Firemen have quenched the fire that broke out at the hostel of the Government Girls Secondary School Jogana,” the statement said.

“The students were evacuated to their classes and those affected were rushed to Gezawa and Sir Sanusi Hospital.

“The special adviser to the governor on education Dr. Bakari Ado Hussaini and management of Kano State Senior Secondary Schools all mobilized to the school and were coordinating with the state deputy governor and commissioner of Education Prof. Hafiz Abubakar.

“The commissioner of health has also mobilized health personnel to attend to the victims of the incident,” the statement added.

Another source at the emergency unit of Murtala Mohammed Hospital told PREMIUM TIMES that most of the students died of suffocation and stampede, not burns

From Premium times