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Nigeria has dropped one place to 120th in the latest World Press Freedom Index released by the international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders.

Press freedom index 2019Ghana also lost its spot as Africa’s best in terms of press freedom after Ahmed Suale, an investigative journalist with Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye PI was murdered.
Norway, Sweden and Netherlands bagged the top three positions, respectively.
Turkmenistan was least rated, followed closely by North Korea and Eritrea.Namibia led the African countries at the 23rd position, followed by Cabo verde (25) and Ghana (27).
According to the report, Sub-Saharan Africa, in general, faced a decline in press freedom “with hatred towards journalists, attacks on investigative reporters, censorship and economic and judicial harassment all undermined independent reporting and quality journalism”. 
“In Nigeria, it is nearly impossible to cover stories involving politics, terrorism, or financial embezzlement. Journalists are often threatened, subjected to physical violence, or denied access to information by government officials, police, and sometimes the public itself,” RSF had said.
Per the report, the number of countries regarded as safe, “where journalists can work in complete security, continues to decline, while authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on the media.”
Below are the Top 25 Highest Ranked African countries in 2019 Press Freedom Ranking
World Rank | Country | Score23. Namibia – 18.9525. Cabo Verde – 19.8127. Ghana – 20.8131. South Africa – 22.1936. Burkina Faso – 24.5344. Botswana – 25.0949. Senegal – 25.8154. Madagascar – 27.7656. Comoros – 27.9158. Mauritius – 28.4666. Niger – 29.2668. Malawi – 29.3669. Seychelles – 29.4171. Côte d’Ivoire – 29.5272. Tunisia – 29.6176. Togo – 29.6978. Lesotho – 29.7486. Sierra Leone – 30.3689. Guinea Bissau – 30.9592. Gambia – 31.35100. Kenya – 32.44103. Mozambique – 32.66107. Guinea – 33.49109. Angola – 34.96110. Ethiopia – 35.11

Nigeria has dropped one place to 120th in the latest World Press Freedom Index released by the international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders.

Press freedom index 2019Ghana also lost its spot as Africa’s best in terms of press freedom after Ahmed Suale, an investigative journalist with Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ Tiger Eye PI was murdered.
Norway, Sweden and Netherlands bagged the top three positions, respectively.
Turkmenistan was least rated, followed closely by North Korea and Eritrea.Namibia led the African countries at the 23rd position, followed by Cabo verde (25) and Ghana (27).
According to the report, Sub-Saharan Africa, in general, faced a decline in press freedom “with hatred towards journalists, attacks on investigative reporters, censorship and economic and judicial harassment all undermined independent reporting and quality journalism”. 
“In Nigeria, it is nearly impossible to cover stories involving politics, terrorism, or financial embezzlement. Journalists are often threatened, subjected to physical violence, or denied access to information by government officials, police, and sometimes the public itself,” RSF had said.
Per the report, the number of countries regarded as safe, “where journalists can work in complete security, continues to decline, while authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on the media.”
Below are the Top 25 Highest Ranked African countries in 2019 Press Freedom Ranking
World Rank | Country | Score23. Namibia – 18.9525. Cabo Verde – 19.8127. Ghana – 20.8131. South Africa – 22.1936. Burkina Faso – 24.5344. Botswana – 25.0949. Senegal – 25.8154. Madagascar – 27.7656. Comoros – 27.9158. Mauritius – 28.4666. Niger – 29.2668. Malawi – 29.3669. Seychelles – 29.4171. Côte d’Ivoire – 29.5272. Tunisia – 29.6176. Togo – 29.6978. Lesotho – 29.7486. Sierra Leone – 30.3689. Guinea Bissau – 30.9592. Gambia – 31.35100. Kenya – 32.44103. Mozambique – 32.66107. Guinea – 33.49109. Angola – 34.96110. Ethiopia – 35.11

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS (KWARA STATE AXIS)

26-04-2019
REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD ON 25th APRIL, 2019, AT THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN – STUDENT AFFAIRS, KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY MALETE, AT 10:30AM, VIS-A-VIS KWASU SU  UNDECLARED ELECTION
1.0 ATTENDANCE
Comr. Adebayo Saheed Olosasa – NANS ChairmanComr. Adebayo Kayode Joshua – NANS Zone C. PROComr. Adebayo Aminat – VC special dutyComr. Abdulkadir Aliyu Maituta – Media secretaryComr. Maja Lukman – S.A mobilityComr. Adeshina Lukman – PRO 2Comr. Ibrahim Abdulgafar – Kwasu NANS ambassadorComr. Salami Wasiu- Chief of staff (Ag. Secretary)

NANS2.0 OPENING
The meeting commenced at 10:30am with a welcome address and a brief introduction by the Dean – Student affairs – Dr. Laro. The chairman of the association – Comrade Olosasa – also gave a briefed introduction of himself, followed by other executives present.
3.0 MATTER ARISING
The Chairman unfolded the reason for the convergence of the meeting, he challenged the Dean – student affairs- to explain the reason why the Students Union election that has been exercised since weeks ago haven’t been declared, the winners, till this moment.
The Dean started his response with an analysis sequel to the reason why the election was initially postponed. He said, the election was postponed, initially, due to non-readiness of the students by which some of the students haven’t done with their registration as at that moment.
He furthered with his analysis by unfolding the main reason why the school has not, yet,  declared the winners. He said on the election day, barely some minutes to end the election, he received a call from the Vice chancellor by which the Vice Chancellor told him that he received an intelligent report from the DSS, that the server, that serves as the engine room of the election, has been compromised by some individuals. He said the VC instructed him to make a vast investigation. The instruction of the VC prompted him to carry the ISEC along and investigation was made, after their investigation, they discovered that the server has been truly compromised. Hence, he said, the VC instructed him to put the election on hold.
In addendum, he (the Dean) said, a committee has been set by the VC, to look into how the portal was compromised. He added that by now, the committee should have been virtually done with their investigations.
The NANS Chairman asked the Dean, if perhaps there’s any official press release that was used to communicate the students vis-à-vis the  action of the management to cease the election. The NANS zone “C” PRO – Comrade Adebayo Joshua – buttressed on the question that was thrown to the Dean by the NANS Chairman, he said, regards to the delay of the election results, it implied that what happened was a technical issue, and he said, the consultant who is in charge of the server should be held responsible.
The Dean made a response to the Chairman’s question; he said as soon as he was instructed by the VC to put the election on hold, he swung into action, he communicated the ISEC, the incumbent SU President, and the aspirants to communicate the students. He equally responded to the NANS Zone “C” PRO by reiterating that investigation is going on currently by a  set of committee who are saddled with the responsibilities to finding out those who were behind the invasion of the server. Hence, the university cannot act without any concrete report. He added that the Vice Chancellor has promised that anybody who is behind the invasion of the server will not go unpunished irrespective of his/her status.
The SU President – Comrade Abdulganiyu Dayo Dikko – buttressed on the points of the Dean. He said, all the students were communicated to the extent that the Office of the VC even sent a message to every student, via their student mail, that if any student has information vis-à-vis how the portal was compromised, they should file a petition and submit it to the office of the Dean – Student Affairs.
4.0 A.O.B
The chairman raised an observation, he suggested that the Dean should create a communication verge with the students.
The Chairman made another suggestion that, in subsequent election, the Student Affairs unit should create an access room by which only the agents of each aspirant, the Student Affairs selected staffs and some selected observers (stakeholders) will have access to the room. The Dean disagreed with the suggestion, and the Chief of staff – Comrade Salami Wasiu – paraphrased what the Chairman suggested, and the Dean noted it down.
The PRO, NANS Zone C also raised an observation that in subsequent election, there should be a room for external observers like NANS.
The Dean reiterated that the university will continue to be objective among her students, he said the university has no candidate among the aspirants, and he assured NANS that as soon as the committee finish up with their investigation, he would get back to the association.
He however said, the two key observations of NANS have been noted, and it would be tabled to the appropriate office.
5.0 CLOSING
The Dean once again exchanged pleasantries with NANS executives, and prayed for a safe journey back to various destinations of the comrades. The meeting however went to an end at 1:20 pm.
SIGNEDComr. Adebayo Saheed OlosasaChairman, NANS/KWARA.07068505322
Comr. Yakeen Moh’d Basheer.NANS/KWARAPublicity Secretary.07037569721.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Akwa Ibom State reported the highest unemployment rate of 37.7 per cent in third quarter 2018.

FAAC distribution in 2018NBS said this in its Labour Force Statistics – Volume 2: Unemployment and Underemployment by State for Third Quarter, 2018 posted on its website.
The bureau said Rivers was the second highest reported unemployment rate with 36.4 per cent followed by Bayelsa with 32.6 per cent.
Also, Abia recorded 31.6 per cent and Borno reported 31.4 per cent unemployment rate in the quarter under review.
The report said the top five states with the highest unemployed population were Rivers (1,673,991), Akwa Ibom (1,357,754), Kano (1,257,130), Lagos (1,088,352) and Kaduna with (940,480).
It said among these five states with the highest unemployed population, Lagos state reported the lowest rate of 14.6 per cent during the quarter.
Meanwhile, the bureau said Katsina State, Jigawa, Kaduna State and Yobe recorded the highest underemployment rates of 39.5, 38.1, 31.0 and 30.0 per cent.
It said the national unemployment rate for the quarter was 23.1 per cent while the underemployment rate was 20.1 per cent.
The report said between third quarter, 2017 and third quarter of 2018, only nine states recorded a reduction in their unemployment rates despite an increase in the national unemployment rate.
The states included: Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo and Rivers; the same states recorded reduction in their combined unemployment and underemployment rates.

The report said six states recorded the highest gains in net full time employment between third quarter, 2017 and second quarter, 2018.
The states were Lagos adding 740,146 net full time jobs, Rivers (235,438), Imo (197,147), Ondo (142,514), Enugu (122,333), Kaduna with 118,929 jobs.
The report presents the state breakdown of the results of the Labour Force Survey earlier published by NBS.
According to NBS, unemployment and underemployment rates vary across states due to the nature of economic activity predominant in each State.
States with higher focus on seasonal agriculture tend to have higher rates of underemployment compared to unemployment.
This may swing from high full-time employment during periods of planting and harvest, when they are fully engaged on their farms to periods of high underemployment and even unemployment at other periods in between.
Meanwhile, states with a higher propensity for women to be housewives or stay home husbands or that have negative attitudes to working tend to have lower unemployment rates.
The women tend to have lower unemployment rate as they are not considered part of the labour force in the first place and as such have no bearing on the rate of unemployment.
On the methodology for arriving at the figures, the bureau said the total population in Nigeria was divided into labour force (currently active) and non-labour force (not currently active).
The labour force population covers all persons aged 15 years to 64 years who are willing and able to work regardless of whether they have a job or not.
The definition of unemployment, therefore, covers persons (aged 15–64 years) who during the reference period were currently available for work, actively seeking for work but were without work.
The non-labour force includes population below 15 years or older than 64 years as well as those within the economically active population. Premiumtimes.

Dear Arakunrin Akeredolu/Dr. Abayomi Tunji.

AkeredoluNo matter what anybody feels, politics or no politics, I call on the Governor of Ondo State and the visitor to AAUA and the Chairman of Council to reduce the tuition fees of AAUA for parents to be able to afford it. 
The Management of AAUA allowed 100 level students to pay half of their school fees of N75,000 last semester and wrote their exams. On getting to School this year, at 200 level, they were asked to pay what they paid last year (Another increase) which means they have to pay N150,000 plus N75,000 outstanding of last year fees making N225,000.
Where will a parent that have 2 or 3 children in that school start from with this economy? This school fees is different from pocket money, feeding, transportation and accommodation that parents have to also cough out. 
This is what we are saying before they start acusing us of playing politics of hijack. I don’t know what has been hijacked here. Anyway I am unperturbed as I am ready to stand alone on this issue.
The Governor should adopt Fashola model who reversed the tuition fees of LASU when he discovered that parents cannot afford it when I was incarcerated like this of AAUA. Mimiko was able to manage this school for 8 years without increasing the tuition fees. The current government can do it since no one has made or can make profit from investment of public fund in education all over the World and on the ground that the current Government have access to more money that the last one. 
Governor Akeredolu and Dr. Abayomi Tunji should please help the parents (who are majorly from Ondo State) and the students and address this issue once and for all. 
The template in AAUA is simply not working and I do not see it working. The economy of the Nation is simply not supporting the increase. No parent will have money and refused to pay over their child (ren) and allow such student to face crisis and police where such child (ren) can be shot dead (God forbid).
We can have a crisis free Citadel of learning with the right atmosphere. 
I am making this appeal at the risk of being labelled a rebel and to have hijacked the crisis in AAUA. I choose to stand alone if need be. Those leveling the accusation are doing that with dead conscience in want of what next to say as their pull down attempt in the past failed woefully and instead of coming out for the People they claimed they love, they are seeking to remain as “friends” of government for possible patronage. Na dem sabi!
I wish to tell them that they do not like Aketi and Abayomi better than I do but merely pretending and hiding their true identity to grab patronage. I criticised PMB in the past but when it got to re-election of PMB, I joined forces with others and worked seriously to deliver votes for him while these set of people playing sychophancy were no where to be found; while some did not vote, some of them failed and capsized to PDP in their various units. At the next election, Arakunrin will know his true friends!
TOLU BABALEYE ESQ is a stakeholder in AAUA and Ondo State Project and he writes from Abuja. 25/4/2019.

CERTIFICATE FORGERY: CONSTITUENTS ASK COURT TO ORDER ADELEKE TO REFUND SALARY, ALLOWANCES

The Federal High Court Abuja was on Friday asked to decide whether Ademola Adeleke still qualified to be a serving Senator having been found guilty of forging the Secondary School Certificate he used in contesting the election.

Adeleke won the supplementary election on the platform of the PDP to close up the vacant Osun West Senatorial District Seat created by the demise of his elder brother Sen. Isiaka Adeleke in 2017.

This is contained in a suit FORmarked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2019 and filed by two electorates from Osun West Senatorial District and made available to newsmen by their Counsel, Mr Ola Fatai Adeosun in Abuja.

NAN confirmed that the other respondents joined in the suit are the Peoples Democratic Party, the Senate, Senate President and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court is asked to decide whether with the combined provisions of Sect. 65 (2) (a) of the Constitution and judgment of the FCT High Court delivered April 2, Adeleke still qualified to occupy the seat.

They prayed for an order for the court to direct Adeleke to refund all salaries, allowances and other emoluments so far collected from the coffers of the Federal Government with immediate effect.

The plaintiffs prayed for another order of perpetual injunction restraining Adeleke from further parading himself as a senator representing Osun West Senatorial District.

Justice Othman Musa of the FCT High Court had in that judgment declared the Secondary School Certificate presented by Adeleke to INEC as fake. The Ede Government High School Testimonial Certificate attached by Senator Ademola Adeleke to his INEC Governorship Nomination Form was issued 20th July, 1988 under the Letter Head of Ede Muslim Grammar School. P. O. Box 6, Ede, Osun State of Nigeria when Osun state was not in existence. And both the statement of result collected in year 2018 and the testimonial issued in 1988 were signed by the same principal, and more evidently there were inconsistency of facts in the exhibit presented by the principal as against the one attached to the nomination form concerning the said statement of result.

The plaintiffs further prayed that if the above question was in the negative, the court should decide whether the combined effect of the stated provisions of the constitution and the judgment nullified Adeleke’s position as senator.

They also prayed the court to decide whether the combined effect of the above provisions with the judgment, the first defendant could still draw salaries from the Senate.

The plaintiffs, therefore, said if the three questions raised were answered in the negative, the court should declare Adeleke unfit to contest the July 2017 Osun West Senatorial District election.

They also urged the court to declare the participation of the first defendant and his eventual declaration as to the winner of the election as null, void and of no effect.

The plaintiffs further urged the court to declare that the continuous representation of the first defendant in the Senate as the senator representing Osun West Senatorial District as illegal, null and void.

In the light of the above, the plaintiffs asked for an order to direct INEC to withdraw the certificate of return already issued to the first defendant as the elected senator representing Osun West Senatorial District at the Senate.

They also asked for an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the Senate and the Senate president from further recognizing and dealing with Adeleke as the senator representing Osun West Senatorial District of Osun State.

President Muhammadu Buhari has donated a sum of five hundred thousand US dollars to the Guinea Bissau.

           BuhariVAM News confirmed that the President, who is on a private visit to the United Kingdom on Friday directed the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyeama to proceed to the country and make the donations on behalf of Nigeria. According to a statement by senior special assistant to the president on Media and Public, Garba Shehu, the donations which also include vehicles and electoral materials are meant to support elections in the country.
The statement reads, “In his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, President Muhammadu Buhari, this morning, directed the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama to undertake an urgent mission as his Special Envoy to Guinea Bissau, in the company of ECOWAS Commission President, Jean-Claude Brou. “President Buhari had in response to an urgent request for assistance by the Government of Guinea Bissau graciously approved support to the country’s election process including three hundred and fifty (350) units of electoral kits, ten(10) motorcycles, five(5) Hilux vans, two(2) light trucks and Five hundred thousand US Dollars ($500,000).
“This vital assistance ensured that legislative elections held in Guinea Bissau, which should help in stabilising the country. “In a separate development, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister will also undertake a mission to Cotonou, Benin, to deliver a personal message to President Patrice Talon from President Buhari.
“The visit is in the context of the brewing political crisis ahead of April 28, 2019, legislative elections in the country”.

Nigerian Army on Friday announced the redeployment of the Director General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Major General Suleiman Kazaure, and seven other Brigadier-Generals. 

Kazaure Kazaure, according to a statement by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, announcing the new postings and appointments, was appointed as Senior Resource Person at Army Resource Centre. 

The statement said Kazaure would be replaced by Brigadier General S Ibrahim from the Nigerian Army University Biu in Borno State in a reports obtained by VAM News. 

The statement read in full: “The Nigerian Army has approved the postings and appointments of some of its senior officers. “Those affected by this include, Major General SZ Kazaure who has been posted from National Youth Service Corps to Army Resource Centre and appointed as Senior Resource Person, Brigadier General CA Bossman from Nigerian Army Archives to Command Schools Services and appointed as Director Command Schools Services, Brigadier General E Angaye is appointed Acting Director Veterans Affairs Department (Army) and Brigadier General BA Tsoho is posted from Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Nigerian Army Language Institute and appointed as Commandant. 

“Others affected in the postings are Brigadier General AA Goni from 82 Division Education to Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs and appointed Director Information, Brigadier General FC Onyeari from Headquarters Nigerian Army Supply and Transport to Defence Headquarters and appointed as Acting Director Catering, Brigadier General S Ibrahim from Army University Biu to National Youth Service Corps and appointed as Director General, Brigadier General SS Ibrahim is now appointed Registrar Nigerian Army University Biu. 

“The postings and appointments are with immediate effect.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has stated emphatically and authoritatively that the 30,000 minimum wage recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, was binding by all employers of labour in the country. 

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and other ExecutivesWabba made the declaration while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday confirmed by VAM News.

According to him, only employers whose workers are less than 25 can be exempted from the monthly N30,000 salary payment.
He said, “Going forward, it is actually the implementation by employers of labour. All employers of labour, except those that are exempted, particularly those that are employing less than 25.
“So clearly in the implementation, what is expected now is for the Salaries and Wages Commission to issue a guideline and circular how various employers of labour can then key into the implementation,” he stated.
Wabba who decried the varying salary structure of the public and civil service, called for a guide to harmonized the system.
He called for an increase in the payment of pensions and gratuity to retired Nigerian workers, while citing the law.
Minimum wage goes side by side with pensions. The Constitution says anytime there is an increase in the minimum wage, automatically pensioners should also benefit.

“We have as at today some pensioners receiving as low as N5,000 monthly pension. Certainly, we know that nobody can live these days on N5,000.”

Source: VAM News

IJEBU ODE STOOD STILL FOR THE MOST REV. Dr. FRANCIS OBAFEMI ADESINA

A new Bishop has been ordinated and installed for the Catholic diocese of Ijebu-Ode, he is the Most Reverend Father, Dr. Francis Obafemi Adesina.
He was appointed by His Holiness, Pope Francis, the Supreme Pontiff and ordinated following the retirement of his predecessor, the Most Rev. Albert Ayinde Fasina who after clocking the retirement age of 75 years, was given additional four years before a replacement could be made.
 
Before his appointment, Reverend Father Francis Obafemi Adesina was the rector of the Major Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul in Ibadan.

Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the Most Reverend Alfred Martins, Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos and the Principal Ordinating Prelate expresses the confidence in The Most Revenge Adesina because of his past records. He prayed for the success of the newly ordained Prelate.
In his own message, the immediate past Bishop of Ijebu Ode Diocese, the Most Reverend Albert Ayinde Fasina appreciated the cooperation he enjoyed at the diocese and prayed God to bless the new Bishop with the grace of a successful tenor.

The representative of Pope Francis at the event, His Excellency, Antonio Guido Filipazzi, expressed his appreciation on the hospitality he enjoyed in Ijebu Ode. On behalf of the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, he prayed for the Diocese of Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and Nigeria.

Attendees at the event included the Governor, State of Osun, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, ably represented by his Deputy, Mr. Benedict Gboyega Alabi; The OGUN State Governor-Elect, Dr. Dapo Abiodun, The Most Reverend Augustine Akubeze, Archbishop of Benin and Laity President; many Bishops Bishops and Priests from all over the country.