IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

There seems to be no end in sight to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities as the Federal Government says it is still studying the fresh demands made by the union. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Wednesday while responding to an enquiry. The correspondent had, in an SMS, asked if a date had been fixed for a meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU.

Ngige, who responded through an SMS, said, “No. Government side is still studying their new demands with the Vice-President (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo) as mandated by FEC (the Federal Executive Council).” Although both the Federal Government and ASUU failed to disclose the fresh demands by the university teachers, there were reports on Wednesday that the union asked the Federal Government to pay the shortfall in salaries in the universities.

The reports also indicated that the union wanted universities to manage their internally generated revenue and grant a waiver to Universities Pension Management Company.

Liverpool have completed the £35m signing of England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal. The 24-year-old, who rejected a move to Chelsea on Tuesday after a fee had been agreed, joins on a five-year contract worth £120,000 a week. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was in the last year of his Arsenal contract, rejected a new deal worth up to £180,000 a week to stay at the Emirates.

He has started each of Arsenal's four games so far this season. Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 198 appearances for Arsenal since joining them from Southampton in August 2011, scoring 20 goals. So far this summer, Liverpool have signed winger Mohamed Salah from Roma for £34m, full-back Andrew Robertson from Hull for £8m and striker Dominic Solanke after his contract at Chelsea expired.

Liverpool have also been pursuing Monaco's £75m-rated winger Thomas Lemar and Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk, while the Reds' Brazil forward Philippe Coutinho remains Barcelona's number one transfer target.

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has charged the Super Eagles to approach the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Lions of Cameroon in Uyo with a never-say-die mentality. The match comes up on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. Pinnick, in a statement released by Demola Olajire, Head of Communication, on Thursday, urged the team to commit heart, soul and spirit to the match. The Super Eagles are topping Group B with six points, from two matches.

Nigeria is four points ahead of second-placed Cameroon, who have also played two matches. Pinnick said, “The much-respected Nigerian spirit that conquers so many adversities will see the three-time African champions through. “ But the Eagles must approach the game with a never-say-die mentality at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. “This is a very crucial match and the players know so.

“The Cameroonians are not coming here to simply appraise the serenity and beauty of the city of Uyo; they are coming to contest the three points. “The Super Eagles must throw everything – their body, heart and spirit – into the game.

They are back again, this time calling on government to bring former Minister for Petroleum, Deziani Allison Madueke back to Nigeria for trial on corruption charge. Led by their leader Charles Oputa, the group ourmumudondo converged on the premises of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to ask the anti graft body to return the former Petroleum Minister back to Nigeria to answer for alleged crimes of stealing billions of naira from the Nigerians people.
 
The group leader, Charles Oputa says it is high time the Federal Government and the Financial Crimes Commission fulfilled their mandate and fight corruption in the country. The peaceful protest which commenced in the early hours of Monday was about the fight against corruption in Nigeria which they say they are starting by fishing out the former minister of petroleum Deziani Allison Madwekwe who was reported to have stolen billions of naira.

They are seeking answers to why the Federal Government is not supporting the British Government in prosecuting the accused who has been away for months.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received almost a two-hour briefing from the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele. The Ministers and CBN Governor updated the President on the improving economy, implementation of the 2017 Budget, preparation for the 2018 Budget, revenue strategies, combined cost reduction and debt management.

Also discussed were monetary policy strategies and their economic impact, among others. President Buhari, while reminding the Ministers and CBN Governor that reviving the economy was one of the major planks on which the campaign of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), was based, expressed gladness that things were looking up after two years of yeoman’s job. Urging them to keep at it, the President noted that the main aim of government was to bring succour to Nigerians across all walks of life.

President Buhari also declared that he was pleased with the progress being made on different fronts.

The Federal Government on Monday called for intermodal transportation. The Federal Government said intermodal transportation would reduce congestion at the ports, create jobs and significantly reduce the cost of transportation. It also said the mode would increase the influx of people and trucks to port cities.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed these at the opening ceremony of 15th National Council on Transportation in Sokoto. The Minister also said that plans were underway to connect all the seaports, airports and all the Inland Container Depots by rail.

Amaechi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Sabiu Zakari said: “The development of intermodal transportation would reduce the cost of transportation, the influx of people and trucks to port cities thereby reducing congestion at the ports.