‘2017 Budget Will Not Be Padded’- President Buhari Promise Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday promised to ensure that the 2017 Budget is not padded like was done with the 2016 Budget.

He said he would never allow “rogue projects and figures” to be injected into the financial document again under his watch.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement quoted Buhari as making the promise while receiving members of the Governance Support Group led by Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“I am waiting for the 2017 Budget to be brought to us in council. Any sign of padding anywhere, I will remove it,” Buhari told his guests.

He reiterated his position that since 1975 that he has been holding public offices such as military governor, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Head or State and chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, he never heard about “budget padding” up until 2016 when he prepared his first budget as civilian President.

Buhari promised that such distortions in budget would never happen again under his watch.

The President said the government stands by its campaign promises of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption.

He however regretted that some unnamed persons are deliberately turning blind eyes to prevailing realities in the country.

“They (the people) don’t want to reflect on the situation in which we are, economically. They want to live the same way; they simply want business as usual,” he said.

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ASUU ends strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Tuesday confirmed that it had ended its one week nationwide warning strike over the non-implementation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, who said this in Abuja, urged lecturers to return back to their classrooms.

“We are making progress especially with the intervention of the Senate and in the next one or two meetings, if we are able to get a clear path to the matter, we will avoid the elongation of the strike.

“I have been receiving these reports that ASUU says strike continues, no, the strike ends today (Tuesday). All lecturers are to go back to work on Wednesday morning.”

Ogunyemi said ASUU was hopeful of a positive outcome going by the response coming from the Federal Government.

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#NYSC Orientation Camp: Essential Things You Should Never FORGET

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Monday, urged prospective corps members to print their call-up letters for the 2016 Batch B (stream 1) orientation course, the scheme also released the timeline for the camp registration so if you have not checked, you had better hurry up and do that.

The NYSC orientation camp is basically to provide intense and lifelong training for corps members before they start the One Year compulsory service to humanity. With the stress of traveling and the hassle of packing beforehand, it is not surprising that something is almost always forgotten at home before heading to the camp.

Here are few essential things to know and items you should never forget to pack:

Make sure you don’t travel late, arrive early with your luggage. If you are posted to a state that is very far, it is better to travel a day before the camp opens.

Don’t worry about where to stay, you will be allow to go inside the camp and this will also lessen your registration stress.

From experience, screening starts at the gate, where your luggage is thoroughly searched and surfed by security officials before granting your pass. Officials don’t want you to bring in prohibited items like pressing iron, knives, boiling rings, mirrors and forks are known to be contraband items in camp.

Documents with enough photocopies. Every NYSC member is requested to bring to camp your original statement of result, Institution identity card, recent passport photographs. Your call-up letters and enough cash.

The truth is that, the registration processes is always stressful but before you know it, you will have your camp kits including your khaki, jungle boots and t-shirts. If they are oversize, search for someone to exchange with or you can as well get a tailor at the ‘mami market’ to resize it.

Once you have your NYSC kits, only the T-shirt and shorts with the white tennis shoes are permissible.

It is better to go with enough white t-shirt and extra tennis for a replacement.

Don’t forget to write your number on your kits.

Other items include you should never forget include: Waist pouch/bag, torch, disinfectants, sanitary pads, detergent, bath soap and sponge, and mosquito net.

So, there you have it guys! Pack as light as you can and do have a great service year!

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NYSC 2016 Batch B Call-Up Letter Is Out [see How To Print]

NYSC Batch ‘B’ call-up letter is now available online for printing and the procedure for printing has been released. Prospective corps members who wish to print their call-up letters online from the NYSC portal, below are the procedure to follow to do it yourself:

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) wishes to inform all prospective 2016 Batch B corps members that they can now print their call-up letters from Monday, 21st November.

Those who paid for the call up letter printing during online registration should proceed to access their call-ups on the NYSC portal.
How To Print NYSC Call Up Letter:

1. All Prospective Corps Members are required to visit the portal for the printing of call up letters via any of the links below;
http://www.nysc.org.ng or http://portal.nysc.gov.ng

2. Once on the NYSC portal, login with your registered e-mail address and password and click the ‘Print Call-Up Letter’ link.

NOTE: Printing of call up letters starts on Monday, 21st and ends on Friday 25th November, 2016.

Those that didn’t pay should collect their call-up letters from Monday, 21st November from their various institutions of graduation.

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Lecturer Runs Into Trouble As Female Student Faints After She Was Slapped By Him (Photos)

A Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, lecturer has run into boiling water as he is been accused of assaulting a student.

The lecturer is also the Head of Department of Computer Science Department.

He allegedly slapped one of his students out of annoyance and she fainted immediately and was thereafter rushed to the school clinic.

According to Mohammed A. Halilu who shared the story on social media, the lecturer is fond of slapping students when annoyed.

More Photos below…

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The Worst Is Over: Nigeria Will Start Getting Out of Recession

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has predicted that the nation’s economy will likely come out of recession by the 4th quarter of 2016 when the result of the various measures put in place by Federal Government and the monetary authorities becomes manifest.
One of such measures, according to him, is the decision of the CBN to establish a bridge fund for the government to utilise to stimulate the economy whenever there is a need for it.
Emefiele, who spoke to media executives in Lagos on Saturday, said:
“We are already in the valley, the only direction is to go up the hill and the government is doing everything possible to ensure that we move up the hill. I am optimistic that based on the actions being taken by the monetary and fiscal authorities, the fourth quarter results will show evidence that we have started to move out of the recession.
“The worst is over. The Nigerian economy is on the path of recovery and growth. So, please if you are a bystander or sideliner, you are losing; join the train now before it leaves the station.”
While explaining the reasoning behind the bridge fund, the apex bank boss said, “Both the monetary and fiscal authorities are working together and that is why you can see a situation where today even when we have revenue shortage or deficit, the monetary authority is trying to bridge the gap.
“We said to the fiscal authority that we can give you a bridge to go ahead and spend, and when you obtain the foreign loan that you are negotiating, or when your revenue improve, you can repay the bridge that we have created for you in order to stimulate spending. That is a practical case of collaboration between the monetary and fiscal authorities.”
Following introduction of a flexible exchange rate regime, Emefiele said foreign investors’ interest in the Nigerian economy was gradually increasing, adding that in the last three months, almost $1bn in Foreign Direct Investment had come into the country.
He stated, “I wasn’t optimistic that the FDI would come initially, but with what we have seen in three months, almost $1bn, I feel very confident that there will be more inflow into the system and more and more people will have foreign exchange available for them to do their business.
“That will improve industrial capacity. The rate may be high now, but there’s high possibility that with more availability of foreign exchange, the rate will come down. I am very optimistic that a lot of positive things will happen.
“I have talked about how the fiscal authority is trying to push in liquidity to stimulate consumption, demand consumption expenditure; and of course, when consumer consumption is stimulated, demand for goods will go up and if the demand goes up, the industrial capacity will improve. If we maintain a steady course in the way we are going, and if all those who have foreign exchange repatriate them, more and more people will have foreign exchange to do their business, that will improve industrial capacity.”
Another way to inject liquidity into the system, according to the CBN governor, is for the Federal Government to sell some of its assets in the oil and gas industry in order to raise money.

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Tension As Supreme Court Decides Wada, Faleke And Bello’s Fate Tomorrow

There is tension in Kogi state political circles as the Supreme Court will tomorrow, September 18 decide on the political logjam in the state.
Former governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada and House of Representatives member, Honourable James Faleke, are both seeking to dislodge sitting governor, Alhayi Yahaya Bello.
Faleke is the running mate to the late candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Audu in the November 21, 2015 election.
Audu’s death paved the way for Bello to emerge the governor based on the APC’s leadership decision, a decision that did not go down well with Faleke.
Both Wada and Faleke appealed the decision of the Appeal Court which upheld the election of Bello as governor one month ago.
According to The Guardian, the supporters of the three major parties in the litigations, Wada, Faleke and Governor Bello have moved to Abuja and are expecting the judgment to be in their favour.
The report stated that the movement to Abuja by Bello’s aides and other government officials has paralysed some government activities.
Governor Bello’s special adviser on media and strategy, Abdulmalik Abdulkareem, expressed confidence that they will come out victorious.
“We are not shaken, we know that the rule of law will take its course, God willing, we are set to make a legal record that will become a precedent.
“The Nigerian legal system is developing and we are happy that our case is adding impetus to the Nigerian judiciary,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Wada, his special adviser, media and strategy, Jacob Edi, restated his principal’s belief in the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court.
His words: “We expect to win the case, we have always had confidence in the judiciary and we have kept advancing to the last stage, that is why we are at the Supreme Court. The judiciary is the ultimate for the common man.
“The framers of the constitution are aware that at every stage of the case newer interpretations will come up. We believe that the Supreme Court will look deeper into the case, particularly with the minority judgment.
“Whatever decision taken will deepen democracy as the case is novel, it will be a landmark judgment. We have confidence in the independence of the Supreme Court”.
The Supreme Court may hear and decide both appeals the same day and fix a different date for the underlying reasons for the judgments as has been the pattern of the apex court in recent times.
Meanwhile, the Kogi state police command has warned politicians and miscreants against violence after the Supreme Court judgement.
The command said intelligence reports had shown that the two major political parties were planning to either celebrate or cause problems after the delivery of the judgment.
The commissioner of police, Abdulahi Chafe, however told journalists in Lokoja, the state capital, that the command was prepared to protect the lives and property of law-abiding residents of the state.

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Kogi State Governor, Bello Donates Buses To NDLEA (Photos)

Two operational vehicles were donated to NDELA by His Execellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi to NDLEA Kogi state command X1. Gov Yahya Bello presented the keys of the two operational vehicles to the state commander.

See Another Photo Below;

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JAMB Set To Upload Names Of Successful Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will soon commence the uploading names of candidates who have been offered admission into tertiary institution on their website. The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmenon Friday in Lagos.

According to him, the board will ensure that Nigerian children are not unjustly denied admission in any institution of their choice. He said that the names of candidates that had satisfactorily met the admission rules and regulations of the institutions and that of the Federal Government would be uploaded soon.

“We have just concluded a five-day Technical Committee meeting on Admission that started on Aug. 22 at the Bayero University Kano. “A lot was deliberated upon and at the end everything came out successful. “We have ensured that the admissions are done in line with the set rules and regulations as provided by the Federal Government and the various institutions.

“We are aware that the function of admission of candidates is solely the job of the Senates of institutions and what we do as a board is to see the guidelines used in admitting the candidates and ensure ratification. “We are passionate about ensuring that no candidate that meets any of the admission rules and guidelines as provided by both the institution and government is denied admission for whatever reason,’’ he said.

The Registrar of the board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, had at the opening of the meeting said that admissions would be carried out based on guidelines approved for each institution by their respective proprietors. He also said that preference expressed for the institutions and courses by the candidates would also be followed.

Oloyede assured that the admission of candidates into the respective first choice institutions would be smooth.

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FG Set To Introduce N10,000, N20,000, N50,000 Notes (See Why)

 
At the pace at which inflation is soaring on a daily basis, with the naira purchasing power being limited and diminished ‎in the open market, a Lagos based Developmental Economist, Henry Boyo, has predicted that the Federal Government, might have no option than to introduce an additional N10,000 note, if the negative trend is not checked.

‎It could be recalled, that since 2015, the naira has been subjected to intense pressure, due to the introduction of diverse contradictory monetary policies by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led led Federal Government.

The straw that broke the camel’s back, was the hike in Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol, from N86.50 per lite to N145 per litre, which has also affected the price of Diesel, Kerosene and Aviation fuel.

According to Financial Experts, the spiral increase in energy sources, coupled with the hike in electricity price, had triggered inflation across board, from ‎11.4 percent in February, to 16.5 percent in June.
Boyo, postulated that ‎many households across the country ‎are presently severely traumatized by the escalating prices of goods and services, particularly in the last six months, or so.
The uneasy feeling according to him, has probably become common after every visit to the market, where the smallest available plastic sachet, may be all that is needed to pack your N10,000 purchase (s) from the ubiquitous street corner medicine stores in our cities.

At the pace at which inflation is soaring on a daily basis, with the naira purchasing power being limited and diminished ‎in the open market, a Lagos based Developmental Economist, Henry Boyo, has predicted that the Federal Government, might have no option than to introduce an additional N10,000 note, if the negative trend is not checked.
‎It could be recalled, that since 2015, the naira has been subjected to intense pressure, due to the introduction of diverse contradictory monetary policies by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led led Federal Government.
The straw that broke the camel’s back, was the hike in Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol, from N86.50 per litre to N145 per litre, which has also affected the price of Diesel, Kerosene and Aviation fuel.
According to Financial Experts, the spiral increase in energy sources, coupled with the hike in electricity price, had triggered inflation across board, from ‎11.4 percent in February, to 16.5 percent in June.
Boyo, postulated that ‎many households across the country ‎are presently severely traumatized by the escalating prices of goods and services, particularly in the last six months, or so.
The uneasy feeling according to him, has probably become common after every visit to the market, where the smallest available plastic sachet, may be all that is needed to pack your N10,000 purchase (s) from the ubiquitous street corner medicine stores in our cities.
- See more at: http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2016/08/15/fg-set-introduce-n10000-n20000-n50000-notes-see/#sthash.xW3RFLny.dpuf

At the pace at which inflation is soaring on a daily basis, with the naira purchasing power being limited and diminished ‎in the open market, a Lagos based Developmental Economist, Henry Boyo, has predicted that the Federal Government, might have no option than to introduce an additional N10,000 note, if the negative trend is not checked.
‎It could be recalled, that since 2015, the naira has been subjected to intense pressure, due to the introduction of diverse contradictory monetary policies by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led led Federal Government.
The straw that broke the camel’s back, was the hike in Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol, from N86.50 per litre to N145 per litre, which has also affected the price of Diesel, Kerosene and Aviation fuel.
According to Financial Experts, the spiral increase in energy sources, coupled with the hike in electricity price, had triggered inflation across board, from ‎11.4 percent in February, to 16.5 percent in June.
Boyo, postulated that ‎many households across the country ‎are presently severely traumatized by the escalating prices of goods and services, particularly in the last six months, or so.
The uneasy feeling according to him, has probably become common after every visit to the market, where the smallest available plastic sachet, may be all that is needed to pack your N10,000 purchase (s) from the ubiquitous street corner medicine stores in our cities.
- See more at: http://www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2016/08/15/fg-set-introduce-n10000-n20000-n50000-notes-see/#sthash.xW3RFLny.dpuf

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See Nigeria’s Top 20 Richest Musicians And Their Net Worth

 
Music has been paying heavily in Nigeria for the past ten years. No wonder average Nigerian youths sees music as the quick means to wealth and fame.

Why not! When a good number of artistes have risen from nothing to something over the years, enjoying wealth that can only be imagined by average people. The question is Who is the richest among these musicians and how much are they worth?

In music, your popularity determines your worth, you don’t make poo if you are not popular. How do we determine the popularity of an artiste? Do not let their noises or that of their fans deafen your ears, some aren’t worth that much, while some worth so much.

The number one means of knowing how popular a musician or music is, is by checking out it’s YouTube stat. If you are popular, it will show on your YouTube views, no manipulation. And if you have a great stat on YouTube, you are a great artiste, making good money.

Another means is through awards but since most music awards are heavily manipulated, we are going to skip awards and use other means such as endorsement and ability to pull crowed and command good appearance fee. Self promotion isn’t gonna count in this rating.

Here I present to you the top 20 richest musicians in Nigeria and their estimated net worth. This list is the most detailed and most accurate you can find anywhere on the internet. Enjoy!

20. Patoranking – This guy is making name for himself in the music industry in Nigeria and it’s not surprising that he made the top 20 richest musicians in Nigeria despite that it’s not been quite long since he breaks into the limelight.
His hit song (Girlie O) featuring Tiwa Savage has grossed over 4 million views on YouTube as the time this article was being written. Patoranking’s net worth is estimated to be – N350,000,000

19. Olamide – One of the craziest rapper in Nigeria and Africa. So crazy he called himself Badoo. Olamide has built name and fortune for himself in the music industry in Nigeria. Right from the first day I heard him first song, I knew he was gonna make it in the music industry.
His song with the highest YouTube views is “Eleda Mi” with 1.2 million views. He was able to over take Patoranking due to the fact he has multiple single with collective views of more than 5million. He is believed be to be the mastermind behind the rise of Shoki. Olamide’s current net worth is put at – N560,000,000

18. Chidinma Ekile – Chidinma has one thing going for her – she is extremely likeable. That alone has skyrocketed her take home performance fees and worth to an enviable position. From a mere contestant in MTN Project Fame to a household name in Nigeria, Chidinma has created wealth that her peers could only dream about.
Her biggest video to date is “Kedike” with 1.2 million YouTube hit, followed by “Oh Baby” featuring Falvour with 600,000 views. And collective views of about 5 million. Chidinma’s net worth is put at – N572,000,000

17. Duncan Mighty – He has refused to step an inch away from the Niger Delta oil. With unique beats, superior voice quality, and dance step to match, Duncan Mighty is considered one of the most successful artistes ever come out of the Niger Delta.
He most popular song on YouTube.com is “Obianuju” and “Port Harcourt Boy” which has collective views of 3.1 million. With strong affiliation to the Niger Delta politicians, Duncan mighty is estimated to worth – N700,000,000.

16. Yemi Alade – How she made it? I don’t know, but she is currently the biggest female musician in Nigeria after Tiwa Savage and may overtake Tiwa in a couple of years if not months. The first day I heard “Jonny” played in my car by one of the Nigerian F.M Station, I knew something serious was about to hit us.
Yemi currently has the most successful and most popular music video by any African female artiste on YouTube. The total views for “JONNY” as at this time is 13,435,171. Yemi Alade’s current net worth is N820 million.

15. Ice Prince – He broke into the limelight with “Oleku” featuring Brymo which currently has 3.1 million views on YouTube. Ice Prince Zamani is one of the finest rapper in Nigeria. To me, he is better than M.I in terms of flow.
Few days ago, the picture of when he was younger and hustling hit the internet and you can see how far she has been transformed from a naive young boy to a world class superstar! Ice prince net worth is – N870,000,000.

14. Phyno – The only hardcore rapper I’ve ever seen in Africa. He does it like no other, providing new dimension to rap music in Nigeria. Phyno is to the Igbos what Olamide is for Yorubas but he does it in a completely different fashion. So good that rap haters like me is forced to like rap music.
Phyno is a genius. Everyone wants to collaborate with Phyno for good reasons. He is hot in the market. Phyno’s net worth is put at – N900,000,000.

13. Tiwa Savage – Welcome the queen of music in Nigeria, the sexy mama, the first lady of Mavins Record! Tiwa Savage is among the very few Nigerian artistes whose average video is grossing over 1 million on YouTube. She currently has about five videos with more than a million views each. Eminado is currently doing 7+ million.
Her net worth is – N970,000,000 and may soon crossover to billion in this rating within the next couple of months.

12. KCee – Currently making serious wave in the Nigerian music scene, KCee, formerly a member of the KCPresh is one of the most fortunate guys in the industry. He picked the right beat at the right time, and the rest has become history.
His hit songs “Limpopo” and “Pull Over” are currently on 14.5 million views collectively on YouTube. KCee net worth is – N983,000,000

11. M.I – Regarded as the most successful rap artiste ever in Africa, M.I has built a reputation that will be too difficult for anyone to surmount. He is among the major stakeholders in Chocolate City Records and is credited with the rise to fame of Ice Prince Zamani.
For the sake of the record label and the stars that came through it, we are placing MI at number 11 on this list. His current net worth is – N988,000,000.

10. Timaya – Timaya’s vocal power is unmatched in the industry. He is one one the best and probably the most successful music star ever come out of the Niger Delta area. Far more successful than Daniel Wilson and others. He is truly the “Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa”.
One of his hit track “Sanko” is about to hit 2 million views while his biggest hit “Bum Bum” featuring Sean Paul has already grossed over 16 million on YouTube. Timaya net worth is – N1.1billion

09. Banky W – Two best music videos ever done in Nigeria to his credit (Lagos Party and Wizkid’s Holla at ur Boy) and a serious record label of his own, Banky W is surely a force to reckon with in the Music business in Nigeria.
From Etisalat to Samsung, he has the knack to land juicy endorsement deals anytime. Started with a copycat of Rihanna’s song, he graduated to international superstar, doing original songs and winning awards. Banky W net worth is – N1.8 billion.

08. Wizkid – From a backup [like] artiste to Banky W, Wizkid was transformed into international mega star by just one music video – Holla at ur Boi! That video created the defining moment in his career and today, he is the Wizkid you and I know.
Widely regarded as the Austine Bieber of Nigeria, Wizkid one of the stars in the industry that many upcoming artistes look up to, to be just like him. What he lacks in vocal talent, he makes up in personality appeal. Wizkid net worth is – N2.3 billion.

07. Iyanya – From a hungry project fame ex-winner to international famous superstar within the space of three years. Iyanya has shown that if you want to be successful in Nigeria, give them what they want and you will be blessed with wealth.
Iyanya’s hit song (“Kukere” complete with it’s one unique dance step) currently has more than 15 million views on YouTube. His net worth is – N2.5 billion.

06. Davido – What he lacks in physical appeal, he makes up with great vocal talent – the twisted version of Wizkid. Davido is one musician in Nigeria that I so much like his vocal talent, he is a singer and song maker extraordinaire.
His two songs “Aye” and “Gobe” are currently having 15 million and 11 million respectively on YouTube. Son of a politician and business man, Davido’ net worth is – N2.9 billion.

05. Tu Face – The one everyone respects in the industry. Tu Face has become the present day legend in African pop culture. By the time he hangs his trumpet, he will be studied in universities across Africa. African Queen remains his biggest hit ever, meaning that this legend lives largely in the past glory
He has not been able to do another song more popular than the famous African Queen or even close to it’s popularity. But what he lacks in hit songs, he makes up in reproduction, building future generation of Idibias. Tu Face net worth is – N4.5 billion.

04. D’Banj – From life in the streets of The United Kingdom to MoHit and one of the biggest superstar Nigeria has ever seen. D’Banj has proved that what you need to become successful is in you. You don’t need to look for it elsewhere, it’s within you.
His biggest song ever is the last song produced by Don Jazzy, Oliver Twist. It dethroned P-Square’s songs temporally in 2013 as the highest viewed Nigerian song on YouTube before Personally from P-Square reclaimed the number one spot. D’Banj net worth is – N5 billion.

03. Flavour – Virtually every artistes in the industry has featured Flavour in the songs. His vocal ability is unrivaled. He is one of the very best the industry has ever seen. From the moment he picked up the guitar, you now he is destined to the top. Flavour Nabalia is one like no other and no one could mimic him successfully no matter how hard you try. He is the one and only Flavour, and after him there may be no other Flavour.
He has everything going for him. His physical appeal, pure vocal talent, and mastery of the music instruments, Flavour is everything others desires to be. His current net worth is – N5.7 billion

02. Don Jazzy – The only musician in this list with no song to call his own. Yet, he command so much respect and money that even the best in the industry dare not ask who is he. Don Jazzy is builder, a producer extraordinaire and industry pacesetter. Whatever thing he lays his hands on becomes gold. He produced D’Banj to international superstar, and when D’Banj left, he produced other superstars.
Dorobucci, Eminado, Sulurere, Banana – these are are some of the major hits he produced after the MoHit saga. Don Jazzy net worth is – N7 billion.

01. P-Square – No one does it like P-Square in the music industry in Nigeria! When you think they’ve done their best, they come up with something completely different. They have no competition, they only compete with themselves. Outside Akon, P-Square is the biggest music stars ever come out of Africa – dead or alive!
You may ask, how about Fela, Ndiaye, Lucky Dube, Blenda Fassie, and Awilo Logomba? Well, they are all legends of music in Africa but when it comes to earning and popularity allover Africa, they are no match to P-Square with all due respect. This is based on facts and figures.
Pick up the all times African top 10 music video on YouTube, P-Square alone has 5, leaving the other 5 for the entire artistes in Africa to share!
Chop my money = 24 million+.
Do me = 14 million+.
Personally = 35 million+.
Beautiful Onyinye = 21 million+.
Alingo = 7 million+.
The only celebrities in the Nigerian entertainment industry that has mansion in Banana Island. They are the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of African music. The only artistes in Africa you can not book with less than $100,000. P-Square net worth is – N25.6 billion.

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Kogi State University Revised Academic Calendar For 2015/2016 Session

Download and zoom the picture below to view the academic calendar for 2015/2016 session Revised.

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Opinion: Gov Bello, ASUU and The Vanishing Clouds

By Kingsley Fanwo

Many have written a lot about the ascension of Governor Yahaya Bello to the governorship of Kogi State. Raging arguments for or against have burnt many minds, many “heads” and many fingers.

To those who decided to test the legality in the law courts, the Governor never saw them as enemies. Beyond the rhetorical macabre dance of political orchestra, Governor Yahaya Bello is a refined politician, leader and fearless agitator for the connectedness of the system which was bedeviled by a chemistry of idiocy, corruption, mediocrity, ethnic jingoism, religious bigotry and a people who have developed into failure mentality.

Kogi needed a Yahaya Bello and they got one. A few days after his inauguration, Governor Yahaya Bello instituted a staff verification panel to ascertain the actual strength of the state’s workforce.

I remembered receiving many calls from far and near, advising that the Governor should have waited for the outcome of his tribunal cases before venturing into such a “dangerously sensitive” venture. What made a simple exercise to ascertain the actual strength of the workforce dangerous and sensitive?

They were right. They know the enormity of the rot and the calibre of people behind the filthy lucre. They beneficiaries of ghost workers are established forces with rocky connections within and outside government. They tell every government staff verification is a no go area. And the rot kept robbing us of where we should be as a people.

He dared to tread where giants fell. He held on to his belief. He believes the need to save the State which was surviving on oxygen when he took over was more important than political exigencies. A dehydrated state began to wax stronger.

Before the tribunal judgement, many postulations were advanced. Rightly so, the case was novel. It was on a legal pseudopodium which direction was unknown. Beneficiaries of ghost workers syndrome, cankerworm of eminence, defeated and deflated political fiefdoms and other categories of exasperated political gangsters mounted a ceaseless campaign against the divine government.

And the judgement day came. Governor Yahaya Bello recorded unabatedly, electoral victories from Monday to Friday. What he didn’t fear didn’t kill his aspirations for a better Kogi State.

After the judgements, attention shifted to the screening exercise. He was called names. He was misconstrued. His patriotic zeal to serve was put to test. But he stood his ground. He remained adamant on doing that which is right.

Despite the challenge of the screening committee, the determination to succeed made him set up a back up committee of people with unbroken integrity to ensure the exercise is successful. Today, we have recorded a huge breakthrough that will shock the people.

Let me state here that Governor Yahaya Bello is not insensitive to the plight of the people. On many occasions, he lamented the hardship the people went through during the period of the screening when salaries were put on hold pending when a clean payroll was ascertained. He felt the pains of the people. He cares. Behind the steely look of the bespectacled Governor is a human affection and care.

A surgery is aimed at saving lives. Kogi needed one and that was done. In surgery, there is usually so much pain. But the end justifies the means. I saw what the people went through and I applaud their patience and perseverance. It was tough. But the odd days are going away. Whenever surgery is on, rights are suspended. The decisions to use both Zenith Bank and Access Bank to pay salaries before a new database is built, is aimed at controlling the system before the workers may choose to go back to any bank of their choices. The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello believes in the rule of law and constitutionalism.

With the thousands of ghost workers that have been discovered, Kogi State will be able to save hundreds of millions of naira for infrastructural development. We are aware many were unjustifiably removed from the payrolls. We also know some were erroneously cleared. Someone who claimed to hold employment letter purportedly issued in 1983 was cleared. All of these are currently receiving the attention of the back up committee.

Through our feedback mechanism, we have also discovered more complaints. The Governor has directed the banks to resolve those challenges. The banks will even be working on weekends to ensure genuine workers are not made to suffer.

On Monday 25th July, 2016, the report of the back up committee. To ensure transparency and defeat the fallacies of distractors, the Governor has directed that the presentation should be broadcast live on television and radio stations around the country. This is in line with the premium importance the Governor attaches to getting the Kogi people informed about his efforts.

Having won another of his battle against ghost workers, labour leaders in the State went on strike to demand for salary payment, even as the State had paid over 60% of the MDAs before they went on strike. Though the strike failed as a result of workers’ revolt, it is instructive to know that the people of Kogi State have keyed into the New Direction Agenda of the present administration.

Except in few cases of omission, every cleared worker has been paid arrears of salaries ranging from three to four months.

While the failed strike was in its skeleton, the long drawn leadership tussle in the House of Assembly was resolved. Concerned citizens of the State, led by the Peace Ambassador, Comrade Oladele Nihi and Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan waded into the crisis and got it resolved through cooperation from all parties involved.

A lesson here: when a good leadership is enthroned, the citizens start to take their place. With the court victory, screening success, Assembly peace, cleaner and safer Lokoja, better Lokoja township roads and the mechanism against graft; detractors were washed to the last bank of the river which was the ASUU strike.

ASUU members were owed salary arrears before the present administration came on board. On assumption of office, the Governor assured the academia that he would defray salaries as soon as he was able to secure bailout. But even before the bailout , the Governor paid the lecturers two months salaries within his first 57 days in office! This is a clear declaration of respect for the academic community.

But to the Governor’s surprise, ASUU went ahead to declare strike when students were preparing to start their exams. The Governor appealed to them to resume and consider the plights of the Kogi students. But they remained adamant and unyielding. On securing bailout, the Governor paid the lecturers four months salaries.

And when they refused to resume, the world knew the strike had other intentions. The Governor should be applauded for standing by the economic rights of the Kogi people. No one should go on strike to demand tax exemption. It is an affront against equity and justice.

Again, a listening Governor said he would look into whether they were overtaxed in the past. But he remained determined not to be stampeded into mortgaging the future of the State despite his unimpeachable desire to get the students back to their classrooms.

Even when the students were misguided to storm the street, government acted responsibly by defending the rights of all. This is epochal, honourable, commendable and worthy of emulation.

As we speak, the last cloud is gone as the lecturers have agreed to go back to the class.

Light has come. The Governor has shown how a leader should react. Together, we are moving forward.

The key to excellent leadership is the ability of the leader to take decisions based on the common good.

From now, we know that Kogi cannot be taken for granted anymore. We now know that every force against good will get bad. We now know that responsibility is the mother of greatness. We now know that Kogi is in safe hands.

Fairplus has shown that he is courageous enough to defend our values and interest.

With Fairplus, all Kogites have won fairly.

– Kingsley Fanwo, a journalist, is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kogi State.

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Labour Gives Bello 30-day Ultimatum To Pay Kogi Workers’ Salary Arrears

Organised labour on Wednesday gave the Kogi State Government a 30-day ultimatum to pay the seven-month salary owed workers or face a strike action.

The presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued the ultimatum at a rally organised by their respective state chapters at the NLC office in Lokoja.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC National President, told the workers that no reasonable government would owe salaries for seven months.

He said labour would go on strike if the governor refused to address lingering issues and stop the usage of two banks for workers to access their “fundamental human rights”.

The NLC president hailed the workers for their determination to press home their demands despite intimidation from the state government and its apparatus.

“Let me salute you for your courage and determination to pay the ultimate price for your fundamental human rights in the face of threat and intimidation.

“All over the world, nobody gets his right while sitting down and watching without taking any drastic action; there is price for liberty everywhere in the world which is vigilance.

“We have heard about your predicaments and we thought we cannot have the comfort of sitting in Abuja without coming to see and confirm the report we received.

“With our collective strength and unity, we shall surely overcome these predicaments caused by our leaders,” he said.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that no arm of government under his watch would mismanage public funds.

The TUC President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, the union would not allow impunity against any worker in the state.

Represented by his deputy, Mr Austin Etabor, he urged the workers to be united as one indivisible force, keeping their hope alive by defending their rights.

The labour leaders urged the media in the state to avoid any form of bias reportage.

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ASUU Draws Battle Line With FG Over Scrap Of Post-UTME

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday lambasted the Federal Government for scrapping the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told newsmen in Abuja, that the cancellation “portends serious danger for the quality of education in this country”.

“The argument of federal government on the policy is unacceptable and potentially harmful to the future of Nigerian’s education system. We call on government to rescind its decision and convene a genuine stakeholders’ meeting on the issue before making any policy statement”, he added.

Ogunyemi insisted that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, did not enjoy the sole prerogative to endorse the examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board.

He said, “Such statement coming from the Minister was unfortunate because JAMB should not be saddled with the responsibility of solely conducting entrance examinations into the nation’s tertiary institutions.

“We call the attention of the Honourable Minister of Education to the fact that Post-UTME is a child of necessity and rationality and a decision that Nigerian Universities had to take when the credibility and integrity of JAMB examinations and results became questionable.

“When universities were admitting solely on the basis of JAMB scores, unimaginable discrepancies were observed in the JAMB scores of candidates and their performance in the first year in the University.

“Consider a candidate who got a JAMB score of 290 out of a maximum of 400, yet had to withdraw from the University at the end of the first year on account of very poor performance. It is important to note that this happened not in isolated cases. Virtually all universities reported such cases.

“The University of Ibadan conducted a study on the correlation between JAMB scores and performance at the University, and reported a negative correlation between the two. The results were published in the Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences. The introduction of Post -UTME was based on sound empirical evidence.”

ASUU said there had been considerable improvement in the quality of students admitted into the universities since the introduction of Post -UTME.

The ASUU leader added that: “The Post-UTME has its problems which we believe can be addressed. To curtail exploitation of parents and candidates, government can improve funding to universities and other tertiary institutions”.



DailyPost

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Just In: Listen To What Kogi State Commissioner Of Education Said To Students At The Protest Yesterday

It was reported yesterday that “the protesting students only and seek for the audience of the Governor and ASUU. The commissioner for Education “Dr. Tolorunleke Sunday” went to speak with the students concerning the issues on ground and implore the students to be patient.

here is the speech of the state’s commissioner for Education and the reaction of the students

DOWNLOAD AUDIO
Credit:Ksu Amebo

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Kogi State University P.R.O Cosmos Ogiri Emmanuel Reply To Ebira Reporters

At about this afternoon Ebria reporters posted a news with the headline "ASUU, Kogi State University Strike: Complicity of SUG"

which The P.R.O referred to as defaming to his personality, which he then wrote a reply letter in response to the news.

Promise Emmanuel, Integrity Onoja and Egbira Reporters trying to do Sahara reporters with my name? Well, I will play cool but JUSTICE will prevail because even public apologies cannot correct the wrong of DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS which is actionable per say.

These set of people have been spreading my name all-over the internet that "Government House" initiated a cheque of N400,000 to me Ogiri Emmanuel Cosmos.

Well, I wouldn't want to say much, but wannabes (Sahara reporters) the said cheque, let me use their own terms:

The name of the INITIATOR is on the exact place you see a thumb on- hiding the identity of the person who owns the cheque. This is printed on it, customised on every single cheque in Nigeria.

Then the Government House this journalists saw and termed it the INITIATOR is actually the address where the bank is located in the lokoja. The cheque is from Daimond bank, which part of its address is ....close to government house.

We have only one diamond which is close to zenith bank a stone throw to government house.

Do you now understand? They said they tried to reach me and my Facebook account has no activity, oh really, if I want to send you a message need I check if you are online or not. Egbira reports has my email, no email was sent to me.

So to clear the air, their so called INITIATOR is the address where the bank is located at. The name of the person who gave me the cheque is covered with a thumb. The cheque was ne'er anything to do with Students Union Government.

Let no one plant discord between us. Thanks to all those who stood by me. I can not fail you for a token and when I fail I will apologize and learn fast, isn't that what have been keeping us?.

Presently there have been lots of issues on Facebook blowing up from the incidence on.

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Breaking: ASUU opposes scrapping of Post UTME

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says the quality of tertiary education in the country could improve if the institutions are allowed to regulate their students admission process.


Biodun Ogunyemi, the union president, said such freedom would enhance the quality of education.

Oguyemi spoke against the backdrop of the federal government’s decision to come up with a uniform guideline for admission of candidates for the 2016/2017 academic session.



At a recent joint policy meeting to decide the cut off mark for students seeking admission into the universities, the government announced the scrapping of post-unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME).

The Post UTME is the second stage of screening usually conducted by universities for the final selection of candidates qualified for admission for an academic session.

Adamu Adamu, minister of education, had threatened to sanction any university or tertiary institution found conducting examinations under any guise to admit students.

He further directed tertiary institutions that had collected money from candidates for such purposes to immediately refund it or face appropriate sanctions.

The ASUU boss told NAN that such directive encroached on the autonomy of the institutions.

“I think government should give these institutions the chance to regulate themselves,” he said.

“They should decide for themselves, the process they dim fit to admit their students. The Senate of universities for example, should decide on the process they want to use in selecting candidates.

“We do not think it’s right for government to decide the method of screening of the candidates, indeed, we want to attain some level of sanity and quality in the system.”

The unionist added that government could only come into the process by putting in place the necessary guidelines as part of their oversight functions.

According to him, it may not also be easy for institutions that had already collected money for the conduct of the post-UTME or screening in whatever guise to refund such money.

He added that this was because such money could have been diverted to other purposes.

Ogunyemi noted that most universities were under-funded and therefore, might have used some of the money to attend to urgent needs of the institution.

“Some of the arguments raised in this entire episode is that universities or tertiary institutions were using the conduct of such examination to make money,” he said.

“But the truth is, these institutions are poorly funded. If universities for example are properly funded, will the vice-chancellors be looking for other means of making money?

“In the last seven months, university workers have been receiving incomplete salaries, that is, the disbursement of funds for payment of salaries has always been inadequate.

“When situations like this arise, the managements will not be left with any choice than to look inwards and seek means of meeting such needs.

“And one of such strategies is by conducting such examination.”

Ogunyemi noted that the state universities were worst hit for many of them had yet to receive subvention in the last one year.

“Actually we in ASUU frown at extortion of any type from students or candidates but the government too should be alive to its responsibilities by providing the enabling environment that will aid teaching, leaning and research.”

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“Nobody Stopped Me From Travelling Abroad” – Governor Bello

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has described the reports which alleged that he was restrained from travelling abroad as calumnous, stating that he never intended to travel, neither was he stopped by anybody.

The many version story which was scripted by one Mr. Amuda Dan Suleiman was widely shared on Tuesday on the social media, alleging that Bello was restrained from travelling for pilgrimage on the account that he has not paid workers.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo in a statement on Wednesday, debunked the report, while describing it as sponsored renegades of the opposition.

“The architects came up with so many versions of the story. To some dreamers, Buhari stopped the Governor. To some mischief-brewers, security agencies barred the Governor from travelling. And to the last set of abridged thinkers, Sen. Dino Melaye physically went to the airport to stop the Governor.

“To set the record straight, nobody stopped the Governor from travelling abroad. Nobody would have anyway, because he reserves such right to travel even as salary payments have been ongoing. Only a few MDAs who have not complied with the wagebill integrity are yet to be paid and they are few,” he said.

Fanwo added that the mission of the purportedly sponsored report was to smear the personality of the Governor and cause a distraction in a time where civil servants have refused to embark on strike.

“Governor Yahaya Bello understands that both delivery and distraction are competing for his attention. Yielding to distraction will surely stifle delivery,” he said.

On the delay in payment of salaries, he stated that all hands are on deck to ensure that genuine workers are paid promptly, urging workers to shun reports that there would be retrenchment.

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KOGI STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN QUANDARY AS ASUU REFUSED TO CALL OFF STRIKE

In the mid sunny afternoon of 14 of April 2016, the Academic Staff Union of University Kogi State University branch embarked on a no pay no work strike holding to the facts that the newly Government of the State refused to pay them their hard earned salary which placed them in a melancholic position. The Government pleaded to them in order to exercise patient since there was not enough money which would cater for their five months unpaid salary.
The 2 Months and a Week old strike had taken a toll out from the pitiful students especially the newly admitted ones, who have not yet witnessed strike in the school. Many drastic steps had been put in place by the Student Union Government (S.U.G) and National Association of Kogi State Student (NAKOSS) to ensure this menace which degrade the personalities of the students is brought to an end but unsuccessfully it keep showing its strength.

Some of the Muslim Student took the task individually upon themselves as an opportunity to fast and pray reverently in this blessed month of Ramadan just to see that they resume happily to the class and continue their Academic activities, The students are in deep confusion and frustration as the saying goes thus “when two elephants are in combat, it is the soil who suffers”.

On 1st of May 2016, the State Government reported that they had received 20 billion Naira bail out fund from the Federal Government which will amount to easy distribution of salary among its workers but reverse was the case.

Should the Student embark on a peaceful protest or sit down and fold hands pretending nothing is at stake?, their future are been jeopardize here abandoning them roaming the four walls corner of the country like a forgetful lamb, Who should they cry to? The State Government who had paid 4 months salary instead of the said 5 months or the “Asuu” who claimed they must received all outstanding unpaid salary as they worked tiredly for it.

It was known to the Student on 21 June 2016 that the top Official of the University included the Vice Chancellor, Dean, the Head of Department of all departments among Others, went on a meeting to decide about how the strike would be called off, it yielded a positive result and Asuu meeting was scheduled to hold the next day.
The Student wore an optimistic attire about the good news which was patiently taking a step to kiss their hearing, only to be dump found that the outcome of the Asuu meeting yielded “Strike Continues”.
The Academic Staff Union of University kogi State University Branch refused to end the strike unless the State Government returned what belongs to them which Is the one month unpaid salary.

My candid advice to the poor students of Kogi State University that they should not relent or give hope on this situation, they should keep on praying and fasting, believing in God Who will restore things to its normal position and lastly they should study and read their books.

(c) Momoh Ayuba Danjumah
Kogi State University Student

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