Thursday, November 13, 2014
KEYE SPEAKS! 2015: Setting the Youth Agenda (2)
By Ewebiyi Keye James
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The incident of March 16, 2014 represented a new low in government's policy programme. The tragic stampede that took place at stadiums where the recruitment exercise for the Nigerian Immigration Service was held exposed the backwardness and ineptnesses of Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). What is even more worrisome is the fact that tax paying applicants had to part with N1,000 to be eligible for the scam called recruitment exercise. Or how would one explain recruitment for government jobs held in stadiums under shoddy conditions and the resultant death of 19 job seekers?
The appalling unemployment crises has turned a typical Nigerian graduate into a desperate and frustrated fellow willing to do all that it takes to secure a job that would at least give him three square meal a day. It is no news that a significant number of those who participate in the National Youth Corps Scheme (NYSC) are overaged. Ideally, graduates participating in the scheme should, according to its by-laws, not be more than 30 years old during their mobilisation.
According to the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper of September 7, 2014, Dr. Kunle Olajide, Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba Unity Forum blamed this abnormality on the high unemployment rate in the country. He said "The falsification of age by corps members is because of the massive unemployment in the country. They want to make sure that at least for their first post-graduation year, they are assured of an income, no matter how small. It is a shame but it is the socio-economic situation in the country that compels them to be fraudulent." This is truly not far from the truth.
As a 2012/2013 Batch B corps member in Kogi State, I had first hand interaction with overaged corps members many of who falsified their age to be eligible for the scheme for the sole purpose of earning N19,800 monthly allowance. Many of these overaged corps members would have settled for certificate of exemption if there were job prospects but the truth is that the first and second post-graduation years are at best job hunting years.
The hurdles of job prospecting has become much more compounded in the past few years with the growing commercialization of job recruitment by public establishments and minimal age ceiling by private concerns. Recruitment for civil service jobs have been outsourced by government agencies to recruitment agencies collecting service charge or application fees from millions of job seekers to conduct interview for applicants. This exploitation contravenes the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 181 which covers the recruitment and placement in employment of workers by agencies of all categories of workers and areas of economic activity.
The Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE-Africa) condemned the NIS incident noting that it is against best employment practices as it violated the tenets contained in Nigeria's Labour Act and relevant conventions and resolutions of ILO Convention 181 guiding decent work and recruitment process as subscribed to by Nigeria. It also amounts to illegal extortion of jobless youth to enrich the pocket of government whose duty is to create enabling environment for youth employment in the country.
On the other hand, private employees no longer see anything good in overaged graduates. They have prioritized age over competence. In this day and age, a typical Nigerian job advert would read, "Applicants must be below 26 years old; have a minimum of 5 O' level credits (including English & Mathematics) at one sitting; have a minimum of second class (upper division) degree at first degree; have a Masters degree as added advantage; have 5 years work experience and professional membership of ICAN, ACCA etc." I beg to ask, how many Nigerian graduates can meet this qualification given the fact that the average age of Nigerian graduates is 26? This benchmark is unrealistic in a country where schools are shut down incessantly over industrial actions by workers among other crises in the education sector coupled with a one-year compulsory service to fatherland.
This unfortunate development has forced many bright and promising graduates to dump their dream careers and take up jobs that do not have any correlation with their courses of study inasmuch as it would put food on their tables. Or how would one explain a situation in which a first class civil engineering graduate takes up a bank teller position? What's the correlation? Many have had to take up jobs that belittle their personality and undermine their academic achievements. Contract staffing and slave wages have become conspicuous characteristics of our saturated labour market.
Efforts by Federal and State governments to address youth unemployment have remained poor and ineffective. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, successive governments have developed programmes and policies to reverse this ugly trend but they have only been able to scratch the surface of this hydra-headed problem. The current Federal Government, under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), has attempted reducing the unemployment rate by providing job opportunities to graduates of tertiary institutions through it's Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), Community Services Scheme (CSS), Vocational Training Scheme (VTS), and Community Services, Women and Youth Empowerment (CSWYE), among others. But all these have not provided any serious cushion against unemployment. For instance, the GIS which started last year was only able to engage 50,000 graduates with 293 firms out of a total unemployed youth population of 11.1 million. The 50,000 interns were paid a meagre N18,000 by government as monthly stipend which can barely take them to the bus stop talk more of taking them home.
The Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YOU-WIN) is another novel intention of the Federal Government but just like the GIS, it has not provided any significant or meaningful succour to millions of unemployed Nigerian youths. YOU-WIN is a business plan competition aimed at creating jobs by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youth in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas with winners getting between N1,000,000 and N10,000,000 depending on their business needs. The National Planning Commission (NPC) in it's Mid-Term Report of the Transformation Agenda, May 2011 – May 2013 projected that by 2015, the program would have provided 40,000 to 50,000 new jobs. But the question to ask is how many of these new or existing businesses would be able to survive this hostile economy? Our economy has become so hostile that industrial estates in Lagos State are folding up; textile factories in the North are closing shop and multinationals are relocating their production base to neighbouring countries. No business can survive without a friendly economy which is only evident in adequate social and economic infrastructures with power supply being the most important.
...to be continued.
.jpeg)
EWEBIYI KEYE JAMES
Social Media Consultant and Youth Activist,
Lagos, Nigeria
07064981943
Keyeewebiyi@yahoo.com
@Keyestine
You can read the first part HERE
The incident of March 16, 2014 represented a new low in government's policy programme. The tragic stampede that took place at stadiums where the recruitment exercise for the Nigerian Immigration Service was held exposed the backwardness and ineptnesses of Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). What is even more worrisome is the fact that tax paying applicants had to part with N1,000 to be eligible for the scam called recruitment exercise. Or how would one explain recruitment for government jobs held in stadiums under shoddy conditions and the resultant death of 19 job seekers?
The appalling unemployment crises has turned a typical Nigerian graduate into a desperate and frustrated fellow willing to do all that it takes to secure a job that would at least give him three square meal a day. It is no news that a significant number of those who participate in the National Youth Corps Scheme (NYSC) are overaged. Ideally, graduates participating in the scheme should, according to its by-laws, not be more than 30 years old during their mobilisation.
According to the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper of September 7, 2014, Dr. Kunle Olajide, Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba Unity Forum blamed this abnormality on the high unemployment rate in the country. He said "The falsification of age by corps members is because of the massive unemployment in the country. They want to make sure that at least for their first post-graduation year, they are assured of an income, no matter how small. It is a shame but it is the socio-economic situation in the country that compels them to be fraudulent." This is truly not far from the truth.
As a 2012/2013 Batch B corps member in Kogi State, I had first hand interaction with overaged corps members many of who falsified their age to be eligible for the scheme for the sole purpose of earning N19,800 monthly allowance. Many of these overaged corps members would have settled for certificate of exemption if there were job prospects but the truth is that the first and second post-graduation years are at best job hunting years.
The hurdles of job prospecting has become much more compounded in the past few years with the growing commercialization of job recruitment by public establishments and minimal age ceiling by private concerns. Recruitment for civil service jobs have been outsourced by government agencies to recruitment agencies collecting service charge or application fees from millions of job seekers to conduct interview for applicants. This exploitation contravenes the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 181 which covers the recruitment and placement in employment of workers by agencies of all categories of workers and areas of economic activity.
The Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE-Africa) condemned the NIS incident noting that it is against best employment practices as it violated the tenets contained in Nigeria's Labour Act and relevant conventions and resolutions of ILO Convention 181 guiding decent work and recruitment process as subscribed to by Nigeria. It also amounts to illegal extortion of jobless youth to enrich the pocket of government whose duty is to create enabling environment for youth employment in the country.
On the other hand, private employees no longer see anything good in overaged graduates. They have prioritized age over competence. In this day and age, a typical Nigerian job advert would read, "Applicants must be below 26 years old; have a minimum of 5 O' level credits (including English & Mathematics) at one sitting; have a minimum of second class (upper division) degree at first degree; have a Masters degree as added advantage; have 5 years work experience and professional membership of ICAN, ACCA etc." I beg to ask, how many Nigerian graduates can meet this qualification given the fact that the average age of Nigerian graduates is 26? This benchmark is unrealistic in a country where schools are shut down incessantly over industrial actions by workers among other crises in the education sector coupled with a one-year compulsory service to fatherland.
This unfortunate development has forced many bright and promising graduates to dump their dream careers and take up jobs that do not have any correlation with their courses of study inasmuch as it would put food on their tables. Or how would one explain a situation in which a first class civil engineering graduate takes up a bank teller position? What's the correlation? Many have had to take up jobs that belittle their personality and undermine their academic achievements. Contract staffing and slave wages have become conspicuous characteristics of our saturated labour market.
Efforts by Federal and State governments to address youth unemployment have remained poor and ineffective. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, successive governments have developed programmes and policies to reverse this ugly trend but they have only been able to scratch the surface of this hydra-headed problem. The current Federal Government, under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), has attempted reducing the unemployment rate by providing job opportunities to graduates of tertiary institutions through it's Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), Community Services Scheme (CSS), Vocational Training Scheme (VTS), and Community Services, Women and Youth Empowerment (CSWYE), among others. But all these have not provided any serious cushion against unemployment. For instance, the GIS which started last year was only able to engage 50,000 graduates with 293 firms out of a total unemployed youth population of 11.1 million. The 50,000 interns were paid a meagre N18,000 by government as monthly stipend which can barely take them to the bus stop talk more of taking them home.
The Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YOU-WIN) is another novel intention of the Federal Government but just like the GIS, it has not provided any significant or meaningful succour to millions of unemployed Nigerian youths. YOU-WIN is a business plan competition aimed at creating jobs by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youth in Nigeria to develop and execute business ideas with winners getting between N1,000,000 and N10,000,000 depending on their business needs. The National Planning Commission (NPC) in it's Mid-Term Report of the Transformation Agenda, May 2011 – May 2013 projected that by 2015, the program would have provided 40,000 to 50,000 new jobs. But the question to ask is how many of these new or existing businesses would be able to survive this hostile economy? Our economy has become so hostile that industrial estates in Lagos State are folding up; textile factories in the North are closing shop and multinationals are relocating their production base to neighbouring countries. No business can survive without a friendly economy which is only evident in adequate social and economic infrastructures with power supply being the most important.
...to be continued.
.jpeg)
EWEBIYI KEYE JAMES
Social Media Consultant and Youth Activist,
Lagos, Nigeria
07064981943
Keyeewebiyi@yahoo.com
@Keyestine
Courtney Dike Finally Explain Reasons She Rejected $7000 Bonus
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Nigeria U20 star, Courtney Dike, finally explained the reason behind her $7000 bonus rejection recently. She revealed that an acceptance of the bonus would have her losing her almost $35,000 annual football scholarship at the Oklahoma State University under NCAA rules.
The 19 year old said via the office of the media officer of the Nigeria Football Federation.
"I would like to respond to what I have been reading on the internet about rejecting bonuses. I am delighted to play for Nigeria whenever called upon. I knew before leaving for the U-20 World Cup that I would not accept any bonuses. Acceptance of prize money is against NCAA regulations (the division 1 collegiate governing body) here in the US, so that is the main reason for rejecting it. Knowing this beforehand, I still chose to represent the country because I believed the experience would be more valuable than the money, and I was right," she disclosed.
The 19 year old said via the office of the media officer of the Nigeria Football Federation.
"I would like to respond to what I have been reading on the internet about rejecting bonuses. I am delighted to play for Nigeria whenever called upon. I knew before leaving for the U-20 World Cup that I would not accept any bonuses. Acceptance of prize money is against NCAA regulations (the division 1 collegiate governing body) here in the US, so that is the main reason for rejecting it. Knowing this beforehand, I still chose to represent the country because I believed the experience would be more valuable than the money, and I was right," she disclosed.
Dreaded Female Terrorist, White Widow Finally Killed
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A notorious female terrorist, known popularly as the "White Widow" has reportedly been shot dead.
British-born Samantha Lewthwaite was said to have been gunned down two weeks ago by a Russian sniper in Ukraine.
Moscow news agency, Regnum reports:
"One of the world's most wanted terrorists Samantha Lewthwaite who fought as part of a Ukrainian battalion has been killed by a volunteer sniper."
"According to our information, the White Widow fought on the side of Ukrainian volunteer battalion Aidar as a sniper. She was killed by "a volunteer sniper who came to fight at the Lugansk front from Russia."
The report continues:
"The Russian sniper who killed the British terrorist now has a price of nearly one million dollars on his head from Ukrainian special services."
Reports of her death have however not been confirmed and her father, Andrew Lewthwaite has denied any knowledge.
"I have heard nothing. No-one has told me anything about this. I'm not saying anything more about it," he said.
Lewthwaite is one of Britain's most wanted people and was once married to suicide bomber, Germaine Lindsay.
She been linked with acts of terrorism in Kenya and is alleged to have trained a special team of female suicide bombers in Syria.
A notorious female terrorist, known popularly as the "White Widow" has reportedly been shot dead.
British-born Samantha Lewthwaite was said to have been gunned down two weeks ago by a Russian sniper in Ukraine.
Moscow news agency, Regnum reports:
"One of the world's most wanted terrorists Samantha Lewthwaite who fought as part of a Ukrainian battalion has been killed by a volunteer sniper."
"According to our information, the White Widow fought on the side of Ukrainian volunteer battalion Aidar as a sniper. She was killed by "a volunteer sniper who came to fight at the Lugansk front from Russia."
The report continues:
"The Russian sniper who killed the British terrorist now has a price of nearly one million dollars on his head from Ukrainian special services."
Reports of her death have however not been confirmed and her father, Andrew Lewthwaite has denied any knowledge.
"I have heard nothing. No-one has told me anything about this. I'm not saying anything more about it," he said.
Lewthwaite is one of Britain's most wanted people and was once married to suicide bomber, Germaine Lindsay.
She been linked with acts of terrorism in Kenya and is alleged to have trained a special team of female suicide bombers in Syria.
Tuface Idibia's Message To Wife As She Clocks 30
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Tubaba would also be hosting a shindig themed 'dirty, flirty, thirty' tonite in Festac.
KORO Square! Obanikoro's Son Contesting For Assembly As Father Hopes To Be Lagos Governor
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We all remember Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro who was allegedly robbed of his sit as Chairman of Eti-Osa Local government after he was reported to have won at the polls in 2011.
BlackBox Nigeria gathered that IBO as he is popularly called makes a return ahead of 2015 and has recently been cleared by the Peoples Democratic Party to contest for a sit at the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent his constituents at Eti-Osa area of the state.
Like his father, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who is seeking to get the PDP ticket to contest as Governor of Nigeria's economic capital, KORO junior(IBO) is seeking vying for a sit at the Assembly.
A close associate and bosom friend of IBO disclosed to BlackBox Nigeria that Ibrahim shouldn't be described as just Koro's son being someone who has adequately cut his teeth politically. "Babajide has paid his dues, he was first schemed out of the assembly in 2011 and then they cheated him when he won the Chairmanship sit. I think he is very qualified for the sit", she revealed.
Time would tell if this family would make history in the country as the race for party tickets thickens across the country.
We all remember Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro who was allegedly robbed of his sit as Chairman of Eti-Osa Local government after he was reported to have won at the polls in 2011.
BlackBox Nigeria gathered that IBO as he is popularly called makes a return ahead of 2015 and has recently been cleared by the Peoples Democratic Party to contest for a sit at the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent his constituents at Eti-Osa area of the state.
A close associate and bosom friend of IBO disclosed to BlackBox Nigeria that Ibrahim shouldn't be described as just Koro's son being someone who has adequately cut his teeth politically. "Babajide has paid his dues, he was first schemed out of the assembly in 2011 and then they cheated him when he won the Chairmanship sit. I think he is very qualified for the sit", she revealed.
Time would tell if this family would make history in the country as the race for party tickets thickens across the country.
Yoruba Youths Set To Endorse Jonathan
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THE Yoruba Youth Initiative holds its endorsement of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as the consensus candidate for 2015 presidential election on Sunday, November 30, 2014.
A statement by the organisation said the endorsement would be held at the main auditorium, Administrative Staff College, Topo, Badagry, Lagos State.
A statement by the organisation said the endorsement would be held at the main auditorium, Administrative Staff College, Topo, Badagry, Lagos State.
The statement listed President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice president Namadi Sambo and Senate president David Mark as special guests of honour with First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan as mother of the day and PDP leader in the South West, Chief Buruji Kashamu, as chairman of the day.
Fresh Crisis Hit Ekiti As Fayose, Speaker On Path Of War
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The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of freezing the bank accounts of the House of Assembly.
He also expressed worry over alleged "incessant blackmail and intimidation" of the Assembly by the state government over the refusal by the All Progressives Congress members? to dump their party for the Peoples Democratic Party.
This, he said, was going beyond approved standards of modern governance.
But Fayose has described the allegations as "very untrue," saying Omirin was only playing politics.
He also denied asking anybody to either insult or assault the Speaker.
The Speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Wole Olujobi, said the latest allegation that the Assembly demanded N135m for the screening of commissioner nominees "was a propaganda taken too far and went against the grains of decency in a fledgling democracy."
Omirin, who said he would not have reacted if not for the gullible public that would be deceived by the lies by the executive, expressed worry over media reports casting the Assembly as a stumbling block to the Governor?'s bid to constitute his cabinet.
Describing the reports in the media on the nominees as misleading, Omirin explained, "The standard practice is to present the list of the nominees in the plenary while the nominees will follow with the submission of their credentials. They will be screened before confirmation.
"The governor sent three nominees on Monday and the list was read in the plenary that day. Since it is a public document, we read the letter? second day in the plenary. Nobody submitted any credential. We don't know the nominees. They have not submitted their credentials for the appropriate committees to screen them.
"It is surprising that the governor expects the House to confirm the nominees as sent. This is strange in parliamentary conduct."
He also expressed worry over alleged "incessant blackmail and intimidation" of the Assembly by the state government over the refusal by the All Progressives Congress members? to dump their party for the Peoples Democratic Party.
This, he said, was going beyond approved standards of modern governance.
But Fayose has described the allegations as "very untrue," saying Omirin was only playing politics.
He also denied asking anybody to either insult or assault the Speaker.
The Speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Wole Olujobi, said the latest allegation that the Assembly demanded N135m for the screening of commissioner nominees "was a propaganda taken too far and went against the grains of decency in a fledgling democracy."
Omirin, who said he would not have reacted if not for the gullible public that would be deceived by the lies by the executive, expressed worry over media reports casting the Assembly as a stumbling block to the Governor?'s bid to constitute his cabinet.
Describing the reports in the media on the nominees as misleading, Omirin explained, "The standard practice is to present the list of the nominees in the plenary while the nominees will follow with the submission of their credentials. They will be screened before confirmation.
"The governor sent three nominees on Monday and the list was read in the plenary that day. Since it is a public document, we read the letter? second day in the plenary. Nobody submitted any credential. We don't know the nominees. They have not submitted their credentials for the appropriate committees to screen them.
"It is surprising that the governor expects the House to confirm the nominees as sent. This is strange in parliamentary conduct."
SYNAGOGUE BUILDING COLAPSE! Fashola Approves REPATRIATION OF 54 CORPSES
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Lagos state government on Wednesday gave clearance for the repatriation of 54 corpses of South Africans who were among the 116 victims that died in the Synagogue Church of All Nations building collapse on September 12, 2014.
Governor Babatunde Fashola gave the approval during a meeting with delegates of the South African government following complaints that the bodies were being held for too long.
Fashola said his government had no reason to delay the handing over of the bodies in line with the South African culture and traditions.
He said, "We regret that this happened. Unfortunately, I also managed such an issue during the Dana plane crash and I understand the anxiety of families who want closure and the religious undertone as well. Our responsibility is to ensure that families get closure. And those cultures exist here. I know that this is an issue that has attracted global attention.
"We cannot at this time get the process wrong because if we release a body, we want to ensure that each family takes the body of their relative. It will be unpardonable for us to make mistakes.
"And the choice of South Africa for the test was a special decision to make the process easier for South Africans who bore the bigger brunt of the tragedy. So, since the relatives were in South Africa, it was easier to use a laboratory in the country, where we could easily take samples from the deceased's families for the test. It was meant to further demonstrate what our intentions were.
"We have no reason to deny you the right to take those 54 bodies, you have my word, you can take them whenever you are ready to do so. It is left for you to decide whether to take them in batches or wait until we conclude the exercise. But if you are ready, my team will ensure that you take them without any delay."
Governor Babatunde Fashola gave the approval during a meeting with delegates of the South African government following complaints that the bodies were being held for too long.
Fashola said his government had no reason to delay the handing over of the bodies in line with the South African culture and traditions.
He said, "We regret that this happened. Unfortunately, I also managed such an issue during the Dana plane crash and I understand the anxiety of families who want closure and the religious undertone as well. Our responsibility is to ensure that families get closure. And those cultures exist here. I know that this is an issue that has attracted global attention.
"We cannot at this time get the process wrong because if we release a body, we want to ensure that each family takes the body of their relative. It will be unpardonable for us to make mistakes.
"And the choice of South Africa for the test was a special decision to make the process easier for South Africans who bore the bigger brunt of the tragedy. So, since the relatives were in South Africa, it was easier to use a laboratory in the country, where we could easily take samples from the deceased's families for the test. It was meant to further demonstrate what our intentions were.
"We have no reason to deny you the right to take those 54 bodies, you have my word, you can take them whenever you are ready to do so. It is left for you to decide whether to take them in batches or wait until we conclude the exercise. But if you are ready, my team will ensure that you take them without any delay."
My Destiny Is Not Tied To Nigeria -Keshi Boasts
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Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has shrugged off the issue surrounding his contract extension with the country's football federation, NFF saying his "destiny" is not tied to the Super Eagles job.
The 52-year-old coach is yet to be offered a new contract since his first deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elapsed after the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
But Keshi has now stated that contract talks is not an issue at the moment. He added that his future is not dependent on the Nigeria head coach job.
"I don't think it is proper to say my fate is tied to this (Nigeria) job. My concern right now is the game against Congo, and not whether I will still be in charge of this team after the match against Congo or South Africa.
"I think you all need to stop this because my destiny is not tied to Nigeria. I came from somewhere (to take up the Nigeria job). It is wrong to say my destiny is tied here because this country is bigger than any individual. If I am not the Super Eagles head coach today, my life will still go on. Also there are other places where I can go if I stopped being the coach of this country.
"But right now, I have a job to do and that is to ensure that the team qualifies the country for the Nations Cup. God forbid if we don't qualify what will happen? It will not only affect Stephen Keshi, it will also affect you and every other Nigerian who love this sport. So I think this is not about Stephen Keshi but about Nigeria. All I want from my countrymen is to pray for the team and not me because I am just one man," Keshi told journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Keshi has been in charge of the African champions since November 2001 and has overseen more than 50 matches as the Nigeria head coach, including their 2013 Afcon triumph and appearance at the 2014 World Cup.
The 52-year-old coach is yet to be offered a new contract since his first deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elapsed after the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
But Keshi has now stated that contract talks is not an issue at the moment. He added that his future is not dependent on the Nigeria head coach job.
"I don't think it is proper to say my fate is tied to this (Nigeria) job. My concern right now is the game against Congo, and not whether I will still be in charge of this team after the match against Congo or South Africa.
"I think you all need to stop this because my destiny is not tied to Nigeria. I came from somewhere (to take up the Nigeria job). It is wrong to say my destiny is tied here because this country is bigger than any individual. If I am not the Super Eagles head coach today, my life will still go on. Also there are other places where I can go if I stopped being the coach of this country.
"But right now, I have a job to do and that is to ensure that the team qualifies the country for the Nations Cup. God forbid if we don't qualify what will happen? It will not only affect Stephen Keshi, it will also affect you and every other Nigerian who love this sport. So I think this is not about Stephen Keshi but about Nigeria. All I want from my countrymen is to pray for the team and not me because I am just one man," Keshi told journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Keshi has been in charge of the African champions since November 2001 and has overseen more than 50 matches as the Nigeria head coach, including their 2013 Afcon triumph and appearance at the 2014 World Cup.
Mutiny: Culprits Must Not Go Unpunished! Says Obanikoro
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-Taiwo Okanlawon
Former Minister of State for Defence, and Lagos state governorship aspirant Musiliu Obanikoro has insisted that soldiers that were convicted for mutiny by Nigeria military authorities must be punished for their actions.
-Taiwo Okanlawon
Former Minister of State for Defence, and Lagos state governorship aspirant Musiliu Obanikoro has insisted that soldiers that were convicted for mutiny by Nigeria military authorities must be punished for their actions.
Senator Obanikoro said this during StraightTalkWithKadira, a TV programme on Channels Television, hosted by Kadira Amhed.
The soldiers who perpetrated this act of mutiny, according to various accounts, were reacting in anger over the ambush attack they suffered in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists on their way back from an operation in Kalabalge during which about 12 of them got killed.
"They are reacting to the order that their commandant gave them, which led to some of their colleagues death in the process and if we allow this kind of indiscipline that was demonstrated by this young guys to go unpunished, the entire military will collapse and Nigeria as a whole will also collapse", he said.
Obanikoro further said that "If you don't let people suffer the consequence of their actions and inactions, then the society loses. We cannot allow the society continue to degenerate. Even their commandant has been dismissed from army.
The soldiers were arraigned before the court martial on a six-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, disobeying lawful orders and various acts inimical to military service.
Central Bank of Nigeria unveils the first digital N100 paper note
The new note was unveiled at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, in a presentation by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The new note which has features for the visually impaired will be officially issued into circulation on Friday December 19, 2014.
Explaining the features he said on the front side of the note is a public authentication features, window micro-optics, showing the national flag and numeral100 indicating the value of the denomination and the attainment of the centenary period.
This is how the new N100 note look from behind.
The second is a spark feature of a rolling manilla bar which was the instrument used during the slave trade era. A portrait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo is retained both in the ink, that is the interglow level, as a portrait and also in a paper as a shadow image.
"We made provision on the front for the visually impaired individuals in our midst by having a raised and embossed line," he said.
At the back side, the CBN introduced a feature called Quick Response Code, QRC. It is a feature that highlights and sources all the information about the centenary.
"This makes the note the first digital banknote in the world," he said.
The QRC is an application found on the smart phone or Ipad. Once the barcode on the back of the note is scanned it shows the President's face and then comes up with all information on Nigeria's history.
President Goodluck Jonathan thanked the CBN for unveiling the note.
The Coordinating Minister of Economy and minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, said introducing the note was a smart move and the feature of the QRC is educative. But she went on to ask how much it will cost to print the notes.
The President said this will be discussed when the memo is presented.
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