Michael Ojuroye Initiative (Ngo)

post your comment...

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE 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 #92 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...

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE BENIN CITY — IT was drama, Tuesday, at the venue of the verification of certificates of primary school teachers in Edo State, as a teacher in Asologun Primary School, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state, Mrs. Augusta Odemwinge could not read a sworn affidavit she purportedly tendered as part of her credentials. The state governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, who paid an unscheduled visit to the state Staff Training Centre, venue of the exercise, said “if you can’t read, what do you teach the pupils, what do you write on the board?” Chairman of the state Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr. Patrick Ikosimi, who was also at the screening to monitor the exercise, said that the woman’s failure was “an embarrassment.” On arrival at the centre, the governor took time to peruse some of the teacher’s 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...

BY: FUNMI OJUROYE – Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood said at least 100 people were killed and over 2,000 injured Wednesday in a police crackdown on two major protest camps held by supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. “100+ dead & 2000+ wounded,” Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad said on Twitter. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the tolls. Egypt grounds all trains to prevent protests moving outside Cairo. Egypt’s interior ministry said security forces have “total control” over the smaller of two protest camps in an operation Wednesday to clear away supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi. Al-Nahda Square was “totally under control” and “police forces have managed to remove most of the tents in the square,” the ministry said. A security official told AFP that dozens of Morsi supporters had been arrested with the help of residents from the area.