Do Your Goals Conflict with Your Personality?

Since today is the Last Day of the 4th month of the year, it’s a good time to update your goals. How are you doing so far with the goals you set (or refreshed) at the beginning of the year? Are you making good progress? Are you drifting or stuck? Did you fail to set intelligent goals to begin with?

In my experience, choosing the right goals to begin with is incredibly important if you want to make real progress and enjoy that wonderful feeling of flow. So let me share some of my recent discoveries on how to set goals more consciously.

The Classical Approach

In the past I used to set goals with a focus on covering the different areas of my life. I’d set goals for my health, work/business, contribution, finances, social life, relationships, personal growth, spiritual path, etc. This worked okay for the most part, and I maintained this approach for many years. I even wrote some articles recommending this approach.

This wasn’t an approach I devised. It was basically something I inherited from various personal development books I read. The approach seemed sound, so I used it by default. Initially I couldn’t see anything wrong with it.

However, as I continued using this approach I often felt myself getting stuck or sidetracked. Sometimes I’d look at my goals, and while they seemed pretty intelligent on the surface, I

Again, Mohammed Abacha Not in Court to Plea to New Charges

The trial of Mohammed, son of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, for unlawfully receiving about N446.3 billion allegedly stolen from government's coffers between 1995 and 1998, was again stalled yesterday as he failed to appear in court on the grounds of ill health.

Mohammed was to be arraigned before Justice Mamman Kolo of an Abuja High Court on a nine-count charge. The case was adjourned until yesterday to enable him plea to the charge.

When the case was called yesterday, his counsel, Mr. Reuben Atabo, told the court that his client received the hearing notice and that he was ready to clear his name but he took ill and was unable to come to the court. He therefore asked for an adjournment.

Atabo said: "My Lord, we wish to inform the court that about four days ago, the accused took ill and he was rushed to a hospital. "The accused absence today (yesterday) is neither deliberate nor an attempt to run away from his trial. "The accused was diagnosed with blood pressure and severe chest pain. Doctors have prescribed some drugs for him and recommended two weeks bed rest."

Atabo submitted a medical report in support of his oral application for adjournment. He further urged the court to fix another date to enable his client attend to his trial. However, counsel to the federal government, Mr. Daniel Enwelum, said he would reluctantly concede to the oral application for adjournment since it was a medical issue.

Justice Kolo said although he was reluctant to allow another adjournment, he agreed to it because it had to do with Mohammed's health. He adjourned the case until June 18 for arraignment.

At the last hearing of the case, the counsel, who represented Abacha, Mr. Abdullahi Haruna,

Zimbabwe Local Female Rapists Inspire Hollywood Drama Series

The story of Zimbabwe's female rapists that pounce on male hitch hikers has found its way into Hollywood through an American drama television series called Being Mary Jane.

The series centres on the life of successful talk show host, Mary Jane Paul played by Gabriella Union.

At her job, Mary Jane and friend Kara work as journalists and are among the production team.

While Mary Jane wants to do stories that trouble her about the black community, big shots at the network don't think it is worth it.

After getting great ratings for her story on women raping men in Zimbabwe, Mary Jane gets her golden opportunity.

In the female rapists episode, the talk show host, Mary Jane, discusses at length the men-raping and sperm-harvesting phenomena.

She brings on experts to give their take on the issue while bringing to light that Zimbabwe's judiciary does not recognise concept. When a woman rapes a man here, it is treated as

Must Read: LAW OF ATTRACTION

The Law of Attraction simply says that you attract into your life whatever you think about.  Your dominant thoughts will find a way to manifest.  But the Law of Attraction gives rise to some tough questions that don’t seem to have good answers.  I would say, however, that these problems aren’t caused by the Law of Attraction itself but rather by the Law of Attraction as applied to objective reality.

Here are some of those problematic questions (all are generalizations of ones I received via email):

• What happens when people put out conflicting intentions, like two people intending to get the same promotion when only one position is available?
• Do children, babies, and/or animals put out intentions?
• If a child is abused, does that mean the child intended it in some way?
• If I intend for my relationship to improve, but my spouse doesn’t seem to care, what will happen?

These questions seem to weaken the plausibility of the Law of Attraction.  Sometimes people answer them by going pretty far out.  For example, it’s been said by LoAers that a young child experiences abuse because s/he intended it or earned it during a past life.  Well, sure… we can explain just about anything if we bring past lives into the equation, but IMO that’s a cop-out.  On the other hand, objective reality without the Law of Attraction doesn’t provide satisfactory answers either — supposedly some kids are just born unlucky.  That’s a

How To Decide When To End A Long Relationship

Relationships are among of the most complex aspects of our lives, particularly long-term relationships such as marriage. Your relationships can elevate you to new heights or drag you down into the dumps.

But what if you’re somewhere in the middle?

What if your relationship is pretty good, like a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10? Should you stay, openly committing to that relationship for life? Or should you leave and look for something better, something that could become even better?

This is the dreadful state of ambivalence. You simply aren’t sure one way or the other. Maybe what you have is good enough and you’d be a fool to abandon it in search of a new relationship you may never find. Or maybe you’re seriously holding yourself back from finding a truly fulfilling relationship that would serve you well the rest of your life. Tough call.

Fortunately, there’s an excellent book that provides an intelligent process for overcoming relationship ambivalence. 

It’s called Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay by Mira Kirshenbaum. I read this book many years ago, and it completely changed how I think about long-term relationships.

First, the book points out the wrong way to make this decision. The wrong way is to use a balance-scale approach, attempting to weigh the pros and cons of staying vs. leaving. Of course, that’s what everyone does. Weighing the pros and cons seems logical, but it doesn’t provide you with the right kind of information you need to make this decision. There will be pros and cons in every relationship, so how do you know if yours are fatal or tolerable or even wonderful? The cons tell you to leave, while the pros tell you to stay. Plus you’re required to predict future pros and cons, so how are you going to predict the future of your relationship? Who’s to say if your problems are temporary or permanent?

Kirshenbaum’s solution is to dump the balance-scale approach and use a diagnostic approach

Self Discipline

This week I’ll be blogging a series on self-discipline. New posts on this topic will appear every day Mon-Fri. In this series I’ll be focusing on what I call the five pillars of self-discipline.

The Five Pillars of Self-Discipline

The five pillars of self-discipline are: Acceptance, Willpower, Hard Work, Industry, and Persistence. If you take the first letter of each word, you get the acronym “A WHIP” — a convenient way to remember them, since many people associate self-discipline with whipping themselves into shape.

Each day of the series, I’ll explore one of these pillars, explaining why it’s important and how to develop it. But first a general overview….

What Is Self-Discipline?

Self-discipline is the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of your emotional state.

Imagine what you could accomplish if you could simply get yourself to follow through on your best intentions no matter what. Picture yourself saying to your body, “You’re overweight. Lose 20 pounds.” Without self-discipline that intention won’t become manifest. But with sufficient self-discipline, it’s a done deal. The pinnacle of self-discipline is when you reach the point that when you make a conscious decision, it’s virtually guaranteed you’ll follow through on it.

Self-discipline is one of many personal development tools available to you. Of course it is not

SHOCK: WHY We Cut Off the Cleric’s Nose, Ears – Couples Confessed

A Cleric, Mr Ahmad’ nose and ears have been cut off by the parent of the little he sexually abused. The incident occurred in northern Afghanistan.

According to the police spokesman, Javid Basharat, He said: “when the couple invited the Ahmad, for dinner in Jar-e-Khoshk village in Baghlan-e-Markazi district. “They tied his arms and legs and cut his nose and ears off with a knife” Basharat said.”

However, the cleric and the couple have been arrested. Basharat also said that, the couple have confessed immediately, claiming that, they cut his nose and ears off in retaliation for their daughter’s abuse”. While Ahmad, confessed to abusing the girl three months ago

I Will Defeat PDP In 2015 Governorship Election – Okorocha

The Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has given reasons that propelled him to take Ndi-Igbo especially the people of the state, Imo, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, stating that some Igbo politicians who have been labouring in vain to use that to blackmail him are selfish politicians who do not think about the good of Ndi-Igbo, but about themselves only.

Okorocha made this clarification while addressing thousands of Rescue Missionaries from all over the country in Owerri. The governor explained that he ensured that Ndi-Igbo were not left out in the political enclave called APC because the Igbo race had, before now, spearheaded anything Nigeria including the independence, and that it would be a serious political miscalculation on the part of Ndi-Igbo if the North and South-West would be forming a political party and Ndi-Igbo won’t be there.

According to him, that cannot be explained, and no excuse would be given to the Igbo unborn that a big political party like APC would be formed and no notable Igbo leaders would be at the helm of its affairs, describing the Igbo criticizing his entry into APC as petty politicians

Pres. Jonathan sacks Ahmed Gulak as Political Adviser

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday terminated the appointment of his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, announced this in a three-paragraph statement made available to journalists.

Abati said the President thanked Gulak for his services to the present administration and wished him success in his future endeavours.

He, however, did not give reason for the sacking.

He said a replacement for Gulak would be announced in due course.

Abati wrote, “President Jonathan has terminated the appointment of his Special Adviser (Political), Alhaji Ahmed A. Gulak, with immediate effect.

“President Jonathan thanks Alhaji Gulak for his services to the present administration and

Goodnews: Taraba Warring Communities sign Peace Deal

The Jukun, Tiv and Fulani communities in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba on Wednesday in Wukari signed a peace agreement to end ongoing clashes in the area.

The agreement was signed at a meeting presided over by the state acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, and the Paramount Ruler of Wukari and Chairman, Taraba Traditional Council, Dr Shekarau Angyu.

Umar said at the occasion that the government would pay compensation for property destroyed and also continue to provide relief materials for the internally displaced persons.

“We thank God that the major tribes involved in the crisis have decided to give peace a chance by calling us to witness the signing.

“The state government will help in looking for the cows and other items that were missing during the crisis so that peace will permanently return among the tribes in Wukari and other parts of the state,” he said.

Those who signed the agreement on behalf of their people include: Mr Zando Hoku, state Chairman Jukun Cultural Association, Mr James Nungwa, state Chairman Tiv Cultural and Development Association and Alhaji Mafindi Danburam, state Chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association.

Others were all heads of security agencies in the state, all traditional rulers in the affected communities and youths groups.

NAN reports that with the peace deal, the curfew imposed on Wukari is now relaxed to run

Technology: Twitter shares drop 11% on Slowdown in User Growth

Shares in Twitter dropped to their lowest levels since the company’s stock market flotation, as it reported slower than expected user growth.

The number of active users on the social network reached 255 million in the first three months of 2014, up 5.8 per cent on the previous quarter but below analysts’ expectations.

Twitter also reported a net loss of $132m (£78m) for the latest quarter.

But it posted revenue of $250m, $226m of which came through advertising.

Despite higher user growth than the previous quarter, when Twitter saw just a 3.8 per cent rise, Twitter’s stocks fell by more than 11 per cent in after-hours trading, sending the price below its initial public offering of $38.80 per share.

The rise in Twitter active users comes after four consecutive quarters of declining growth, but the turnaround was not strong enough to convince investors.

Twitter’s chief executive Dick Costolo highlighted the company’s revenue increase, and said it was “fuelled by increased engagement and user growth”.

The integration of advertising management software MoPub had helped Twitter “reach more than 1bn iOS and Android users each month”, he added.

Another measure of user engagement, timeline views, increased 15 per cent in the first three

SPORT: Champions League: Gareth Bale Salutes C.Ronaldo

Gareth Bale paid tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo after the Ballon d’Or winner fired Real Madrid into the UEFA Champions League final.

Real thrashed European champions Bayern Munich 4-0 at the Allianz Arena to complete a 5-0 aggregate success and book their place in next month’s Lisbon final. Sergio Ramos headed home twice in quick succession in the opening 20 minutes before Bale put the third on a plate for Ronaldo after a lightening counter-attack.

 

The Portugal international added a late fourth with a free-kick, with his brace setting a new Champions League record of 16 goals in the competition in a single season.

Bale told Sky Sports News: “That’s why he’s the world’s best player. It’s an honour to play with him and to learn from him.

“We’ve still got one match to go and hopefully he can score a few more goals.”

Real will now face either City rivals Atletico or Chelsea and former boss Jose Mourinho in the final, but Bale knows they face a challenge whoever they come up against.

He added: “They’re both great teams, I don’t think we can pick and choose. Whoever it may

"Why Nigerian Graduates are Jobless"

Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola, and a former Nigeria ambassador to Belgium and Botswana, Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo, have given reasons why many graduates in Nigeria are not attractive to employers.

Okebukola, who spoke at the 2014 International Conference organised by Global Education Network, in conjunction with the Faculty of Education, Lead City University, Ibadan, at the institute’s conference centre on Tuesday said the nation’s education sector was guilty of not responding to labour market demands, blaming high unemployment rate on failure of school curriculum to place emphasis on practical concepts in entrepreneurship.

“The curriculum should focus on the development of enterprise that will rapidly grow the  Nigerian economy. For our universities, NUC has set the minimum standard for entrepreneurial education and it is gladdened that most institutions have infused these into their programmes,” said Okebukola.

He added that necessary infrastructure must be present in all institutions to enhance

China Frees Dissident After Nine Years in Prison

China has released a veteran dissident imprisoned three times after he completed his latest nine-year sentence for subversion, rights groups said on Wednesday.

Xu Wanping 53, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in April 2005 in the south-western city of Chongqing for “inciting subversion of state power”, but he received sentence reductions totaling three years while in jail.

Following his release on Tuesday, Xu told US-based Radio Free Asia that his political views would not change in spite of his ordeal.

Xu suffered digestive, prostate and other health problems during his imprisonment, but he was denied medical treatment despite several requests, US-based Human Rights in China reported.

His wife was beaten badly by prison authorities during a visit to Xu, and prison authorities denied him permission to attend his mother’s funeral, the group said.

Xu previously served eight years in prison after he took part in China’s 1989 democracy

APC accuse PDP of Plot to Hack INEC data base

The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of attempting to hack into the data base of the Independent National Electoral Commission so as to erase the data of thousands of voters in order to disenfranchise them.

The Director of Publicity Research and Strategy of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi,  made the allegation in a statement in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday.

Oyatomi said the PDP aimed to use this strategy to rig the governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states.

He urged the INEC to be vigilant and prevent the alleged attempt to subvert the will of the majority in the two states.

The statement read, “A new strategy is under way by the Peoples Democratic Party to rig the June 21 and August 9 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states respectively.

“According to the All Progressives Congress in the Osun State, information at their disposal revealed that the PDP plans to hack into the Independent National Electoral Commission’s data-base in order to corrupt the voter register and disenfranchise thousands of voters by

Govs’ Removal: Femi Falana tells Pres. Jonathan to Ignore Clark.

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore a call by a First Republic minister and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to remove the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, on the account of subsisting emergency rule in the states.

Falana said in a statement on Tuesday that the call was diversionary and the act of removing elected governors or suspending democratic institutions during emergency rule in a state was illegal.

Falana said such call should be taken seriously because it came from a personality like Clark “who wields enormous influence around the presidency”.

He therefore urged the President to shun such advice by “people with vested political agenda to resort to undemocratic tactics associated with military dictators”.

He said, “As Nigeria has successfully replaced autocracy with democracy all actions of the government have to be conducted in strict compliance with the tenets of the rule of law.

“In view of the clear provision of the Constitution on the vexed issue of a state of emergency I am compelled to urge the President to ignore the illegal and unconstitutional call for the removal of the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.”

Lagos State Govt. Plans Law to Protect Whistle-Blowers

The Lagos State Government says it is working for the passage of a law to protect individuals who have sensitive information to share with the general public.

The government added that the law would support the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law that was at the verge of being submitted to the state House of Assembly.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Folami Olohuntele, said this on Tuesday in Ikeja.

He said the request for the whistle-blower law was one of the items in the communiqué issued at the last Executive/Legislative Parley in Lagos.

He said, “The bureau has facilitated meetings where matters are tabled for effective cohesion and clarity which often forms part of the state policies and legislative proceedings of the Assembly.

“We have consistently fashioned out a common ground for good governance and further enhance effective legislative information.”

Folami, who said the FOI Act had yet to be domesticated in Lagos, added that the version of the FoI bill was in the process of being presented before the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The special adviser said nine laws were passed and accented to by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, between 2013 and 2014.

Malaysia Missing Plane: Australia Downplays Wreckage Claim

Australian officials coordinating the search for the missing Malaysian plane have played down a company’s claim it has identified possible debris.

Australia-based marine survey company GeoResonance said on Tuesday it might have located the wreckage of a plane.

But the agency leading the search said the area was not consistent with satellite data showing MH370′s likely flight path.

MH370 went missing on 8 March as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Carrying 239 people, it disappeared off radar over the South China Sea. Based on satellite data, investigators believe it ended its journey in the sea far off the Australian city of Perth.

It is still not known why the plane went so far off course. Finding the “black box” flight recorders is seen as key to explaining what happened.

Search efforts so far have focused on a “southern corridor” that the plane could have flown, based on calculations derived from “pings” the aircraft emitted after it disappeared off radar.

A robotic submersible has been scouring the sea floor in an area north-west of Perth after acoustic signals consistent with flight recorders were heard.

The possible wreckage identified by the private company, however, was in the Bay of Bengal to the south of Bangladesh.

The company said it had used proven technology to search for a seafloor location where all

Kill Any Public Official who Steals Above N1m – TUC

The Trade Union Congress has recommended death  penalty for public officials who embezzle beyond N1m in order to reduce corruption in the country.

The President of the TUC, Bobboi Kaigama, said this during the fourth lecture series of the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Tuesday.

While speaking on the theme, ‘Corruption and challenges in nation-building’, Kaigama noted that Nigeria needed to go tougher in its war against corruption.

He said that leaders had no reason not to declare their assets.

He said, “If the governments and legislators are truly sincere about the fight against corruption in the country, they must go tougher. Any public official, whether at the state or federal level, should be executed. Killing them after confirmation of any embezzlement allegation of more than N1m will lead us to the right path.

“I sincerely recommend an active process of legislation that would support that. It would also serve the nation well to have a law which not only provides for every public office holder to declare his assets on assuming office, but also stipulate that he must repeat the exercise each subsequent year that he is in office and not later than one month after vacating the office. Such declaration should be in at least three newspapers and not just to the Code of Conduct Bureau.”

The TUC boss also advocated that corrupt leaders should be banned from occupying public offices.

He lamented that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission were not strengthened.

Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Bamitale Omole, said the war against corruption required a

Ayo Oritsejafor tells Military - Fish out fifth columnists

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, on Tuesday in Abuja made a passionate demand that the military should identify and fish out any of its officers found to have sympathy for members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

The CAN President also stated that he did “not envy President Goodluck Jonathan because of the complex security challenges he is facing.”

Oritsejafor said these at the National Executive Council meeting of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.

He said  although the military had done very well in combating the insurgents which had held the country to ransom in the last few years, there were areas it had to improve upon to wipe out members of the sect.

According to him, one of the things he would want the security agencies to do was to recruit more so that they would have enough men on the ground to face the insurgents who seem to be multiplying on a daily basis.

As part of the strategies to win the war against terrorism, Oritsejafor urged the Federal Government to direct the Air Force to commence daily air surveillance, including getting honest people to man the nation’s borders.

He said, “I believe that the military are doing their best. They are trying, they are working hard. I will never join those who condemn the security agencies. If they are not here, what could we have done?

“We should be grateful to God for them and not demoralise them. They have done well. Yes, there is room for improvement. They need to recruit more people because they are short of manpower. In doing that, they should be careful about the type of people they recruit as

National Conference (CONFAB): Delegates Clash over Power Devolution

 L-R: Members, Committee on Devolution of Power, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta; 

Senator Anthony Adefuye, and Bashir Dalhatu

Deliberations at the National Conference Committee on Devolution of Powers were abruptly stalled for some moments on Tuesday as tempers rose among some delegates following disagreement on power devolution.

The committee has the mandate to examine the Legislative List in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution to ascertain items that should be altered in reducing the over concentration of powers at the centre.

The committee had concluded deliberations on the Legislative List during which it retained Police Affairs contrary to the clamour that it should be moved to the Concurrent List to enable the states to establish their own police services.

But there was crisis on Tuesday when the committee screened and retained all the 30 items on the Concurrent List.

They were concluding the process when Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), a delegate from Oyo

SAD: Renowned Nollywood Movie Producer, Amaka IGWE Is Dead.

Amaka Igwe, one of Nigeria's foremost film producers, writers, directors and a leading player in the motion picture industry, is dead.

The news of her death which came to many as a shock, was contained in a statement issued Tuesday in Lagos by The Nigerian Entertainment (NET).

The statement said that Amaka died on Monday night in Enugu after a brief illness.

Confirming the death to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tuesday in Abuja, Mr. Agility Onwurah, Chairman, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Abuja Chapter, said Amaka's demise was a big blow to the Nollywood industry. "Amaka had gone to Enugu in company of her husband for pre-production of a new Igbo soap when the sad incident occurred.

"She suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to a hospital, but died before getting there. "Amaka is survived by her husband of 21 years, Charles Igwe, three children, and an aged mother," the statement said.

Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher. She founded the BoB TV Expo, and was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Top Radio 90.9 FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks.

The statement described Amaka as a visionary, and pioneer of modern Nigerian TV drama

Champions League: Guardiola banks on Ribery

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is banking on Franck Ribery to rise to the occasion and inspire his side to a second-leg fightback in their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Tuesday night, Skysports reports.

Bayern go into the home leg trailing 1-0 from the first game in Spain after Karim Benzema’s goal decided the contest even though the visitors dominated possession at the Bernabeu.

Ribery was criticised for his performance in Spain when the Germans lacked a cutting edge, but he shone in Saturday’s 5-2 Bundesliga win over Werder Bremen and Guardiola is expecting him to play another starring role on Tuesday.

“Franck played like he was possessed at the weekend,” Guardiola said. “He fights and fights

FG Bans VIP Escorts, Aides, Others From Airports

In a bid to ensure security, the Federal Government has introduced measures to forestall unnecessary loitering of unauthorised persons at all the nation’s international airports.

The unauthorised persons, according to the government, include protocol officers, aides and escorts of dignitaries who are usually in the habit of following their principals to restricted parts of the airports.

Also, the Federal Government has announced steps aimed at curtailing the gridlock at the international airports, saying the present situation has become a source of embarrassment to the nation.

Announcing these at a press briefing on Monday, the Special Adviser to the President on Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye, said President Goodluck Jonathan had in September 2013, set up a committee to achieve this as part of his transformation agenda.

According to him, the committee has representatives from the Nigeria Police, Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Customs Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Department of State Security Services, Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

A Singaporean Names Nigeria in World Cup Match-fixing

A convicted Singaporean match-fixer has claimed he helped Nigeria to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa through his match-fixing network.

In a mind-blowing revelation published in his new book, Wilson Raj Perumal, claims he influenced results to help the Super Eagles to qualify.

According to The Source, Perumal said that the Nigeria Football Federation promised him the right to organise the Eagles’ pre-2010 World Cup friendlies as well as part of the money FIFA pays to help teams prepare for the tournament.

Perumal, a self-confessed match-fixer who was part of a syndicate that has been placed at the heart of a sophisticated network responsible for fixing hundreds of matches around the world, also claimed in the new book that he also assisted Honduras in reaching the World Cup through his activities.

He details a meeting with a football official in which he promised to help Nigeria qualify for the World Cup in return for free rein in organising three warm-up matches and a cut of the

UPDATED: Do You Know ASUP and COEASU Members Dispersed With Tear Gassed

Protesting polytechnic and Colleges of education lecturers have been dispersed with teargas and hot water by men of the Nigeria Police when they attempted to make their way to the National Assembly.
 

The lecturers had earlier been addressed by Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, when they staged a brief sit-in before the entrance to his ministry's  side of the Federal Secretariat.

 

 Earlier....

 

A joint protest of striking Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) together with their students is underway in the parking lot of the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

The polytechnic and colleges of educations lecturers have been on strike for months pressing home their demand for better teaching and learning environment.

The protesters carry placards reading "FG meet COEASU and ASUP demands",

ASUP: FG To Inaugurate HND / Degree Disparity Committee

The committee for the implementation of the white paper for the bridging of the gap between polytechnic HND and university degree is to be inaugurated, latest next week.

The Supervising Minister of Education, chief Nyesom Wike, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while briefing journalists on the latest efforts by the Federal Government to resolve the lingering ASUP strike.

Wike said he had already received a directive from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to that effect where it also directed that the curriculum should be improved.

He said setting up the committee was the first step to implementing the recommendations in the white paper noting that the bulk did not stop at the table of the Federal Ministry of Education alone.

The minister said the plan by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to stage a mass protest was uncalled for, describing it as another blackmail on the part of the union.

He said government was doing everything possible to resolve the strike, but that it would not

ASUP Strike: FG, Union Agree to Shift Grounds

The federal government and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have agreed to shift grounds over the lingering industrial action embarked upon by the union.

Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Dr Shu’aibu Musa, stated this at the end of a meeting of the governing council of the institution in Bauchi.

He said the council of heads of polytechnics met with the national leadership of ASUP in Okoh in Anambra State, “and we agreed to shift ground if the federal government will shift ground and the government has also said that it is ready to shift ground”.

Dr Musa added:  “The strike has affected us badly. Federal polytechnics in Nigeria have lost one session. Now, we don’t know what to with the 2013/2014 academic session, especially with the 2014/2015 session around the corner”.

Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Alhaji Adamu Ahmed Abdulkadir, said the council of chairmen of governing councils is working hard to resolve the problem before the end of this month.

Alhaji Adamu said ASUP has agreed that if the federal government can address the critical

NLC seeks Harmonisation of Salaries

The Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress in Anambra State, Mr Patrick Obianyo, on Tuesday called for the harmonisation of the salaries of workers in federal and state services to enhance productivity.

Obianyo made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka.

He said this was also necessary to protect workers in states where their governments had refused to fully implement the national minimum wage.

“The Nigerian worker I must tell you is not satisfied, the welfare package is poor, and putting it side by side with the earnings of politicians you will understand that 35 years in service does not give so much reason to be happy.

“A director in the state can hardly rent a block of flat and may not be able to build a modest home in his village where he will retire to after years of meritorious service.

“There should be salary harmonisation for workers in the federal and state services; a better salary arrangement would also reduce the graft in the public service.

“I can tell you that what we are paid is not realistic; the engine room of the country’s economic growth and development should not continue in this poor working condition,” he said.

The NLC chairman noted that the increase in recurrent expenditure had not translated into

Chibok Youths Protest Abduction of Schoolgirls

Some Lagos-based indigenes of Kibaki, a community in Chibok town, where 234 girls were abducted from the Federal Government College by Boko Haram, on Monday protested against the act.

The protesters took their grievances to the office of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola in Alausa, Ikeja.

The protesters, who included women and children, under the aegis of the Lagos State chapter of Chibok Youths Association, urged Fashola to pass on their massage to President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State to ensure the safe return of the abducted girls.

Spokesman of the group, Mr. Yahaya Chiwar, said the group was worried that 13 days after the girls were abducted, there had been no positive news from the government concerning their safety or any chance of them being rescued.

He added that what was more pathetic was that after the parents of the abducted girls had taken it upon themselves to conduct a search in the Sambisa Forest, located the camp where the insurgents were holding the girls and reported to the appropriate authorities, no action had been taken.

Chiwar said, “Our parents could not confront the gunmen and therefore informed the

Sacked INEC Staff loses bid to Join REC in Suit

A dismissed staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Cross River State, Mr. Nsed Ayip Akonjom, has lost his bid to drag the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, into his case.

Akonjom, who was sacked on August 20, 2013 following acts of misconduct, had dragged INEC to the National Industrial Court in Calabar seeking for his reinstatement.

The dismissed staff had in the suit no. NICN/CA/166/2013 between Akonjom and INEC, included the Resident Electoral Commissioner as the second defendant.

However, when the case came up on Tuesday in Calabar for ruling on a preliminary objection raised by the defendants counsel, Mr. Clement Onwuenwunor, the court ruled that the name of the second defendant should be removed.

In delivering his ruling, Justice Okojie Bello, averred that the name of Igini should be struck off as party to the suit on the grounds that being an agent of a disclosed principal (INEC), he (REC) ought not to be joined in the suit.

The matter has been adjourned to June 18, 2014 for hearing.

Reacting to the ruling, Onwuenwunor, said, “Rather than argue the merit of the case he

Nigeria: Military Surrounds Location, Intensifies Negotiations to Free Abducted Girls

The military has tracked down and surrounded the location, where over 200 schoolgirls who were abducted two weeks ago from Government Secondary School, Chibok, are being held captive, while exploring various options, including intense negotiations by locals and the Borno State Government to secure their release.

Disclosing this yesterday, security sources said the military has already identified the various camps in which the girls are being held, but is being cautious about executing a full onslaught against their captors, in order to avoid collateral damage.

Giving Us a status report on efforts to rescue the girls, he said: "The operation is being strategically carried in a very covert manner because the terrorists will not hesitate to use any of the girls as human shields or even kill them in the event of an attack.

"Another thing you must consider is that apart from being a large expanse of land area, the Sambisa forest also has many clusters of villages and settlements that can suffer from the collateral damage, should an all-out bombardment be carried out.

"Assuming the military attacks them and some of the girls get killed in the process, can you imagine the outrage that will come from the members of the public? So they (military) are being careful.

"All this while, the military has known and has tracked the locations where they are and has

Zimbabwe: Nancy Tsuro Crowned as Miss UZ

21-year-old Nancy Tsuro took the Miss University of Zimbabwe crown over the weekend at a well attended event held at the Great Hall of the university.

The medical student from the university bagged the top prize ahead of 11 others who were vying for the same title. The first princess was Ronica Dewa. Tembela Ndlovu became the second princess while the Miss Personality crown was awarded to Hazel Dzapata. According to Kimberly Kujinga, one of the event organisers, all the winnerswould represent UZ at other pageants.

"The winners automatically qualify to compete in the Miss Universities Zimbabwe competition on top of their award prizes. The first princess qualified to represent UZ at Miss Parade being organised by The Parade Magazine," she said.

The Queen, Nancy, received a cash prize donated by Superpies, a cellphone from G-Tel, a year's supply of cosmetics from Black Opal, a dinner voucher and a skin care hamper.

The event was also graced by urban grooves artistes Trevor Dongo and Desmond Chideme aka Stunner.

It was also graced by model scouts who selected some of the contestants to participate in a modelling pageant in Spain as well as Sadc Fashion Week. Top chanter Soul Jah Love gave a polished act at the after party while the Mbare chanter Seh Calaz sang a few lines of the