ASUU vows to continue strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it will press ahead with its nationwide strike while negotiations with the Federal Government continue.

The vice president of the union, Alhaji Namadi Sambo recently took over the leadership of the Federal Government negotiation team from Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue.
The zone coordinator of the union in charge of Kano Zone, Dr Rabi’u Nasiru, told newsmen in Kano on Wednesday that ASUU had not changed its position on its demand for the implementation of the 2009 agreement.
He said the lecturers would continue with the strike for as long as the Federal Government failed to implement the agreement.
Nasiru, however, blamed "selfish interests" for the failure of the Suswan committee to successfully negotiate with the union.
"The meeting with the vice president did not provide anything new about what the government has done in the past three months.
"The Sambo committee is still giving promises and trying to negotiate the 2009 agreement, even when we should be at the point of implementation.”
He said the Federal Government had failed to inject N400 billion into federal and state universities.
Nasiru said that the N100 billion provided by the government was supposed to cover only 2012.
According to him, the quest to redeem the country's fortunes should begin with education.

Nigeria WC qualifier confirmed

The first leg of the World Cup qualifying clash between Nigeria and Ethiopia will take place on Sunday, October 13 in Addis Ababa.
All ties will take place between October 11 and October 15 and the Ethiopia Football Federation have only now confirmed which day the match will be staged.
"We have played our home games on Sundays and the match against Nigeria will not be an exception," commented EFF general secretary Yigsaw Bezuayehu.
The return match will be held on Saturday, November 16 at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar

League Cup - United claim narrow win

Luis Suarez returned for Liverpool but could not prevent his side suffering a 1-0 loss to old foes Manchester United in the League Cup third round at Old Trafford.

The Uruguay striker - banned for 10 matches for a bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in April - seemed to do everything but score as he and Daniel Sturridge produced some lovely moments up front for the visiting side with Suarez seeing a free-kick clip off the United bar and fly over in the second half.
In the end, it counted for nothing for Brendan Rodgers's side with Javier Hernandez's opportunist finish 39 seconds into the second half enough to settle matters despite Liverpool's attacking play probably worthy of forcing matters to extra-time.
Hernandez's winning goal was a thing of real potency as the Mexican forward nudged Wayne Rooney's corner into the net with Jose Enrique failing to mark the forward in a crowded area.
United manager David Moyes will be relieved after making eight changes from the 4-1 thumping by Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
KEY STATS
3 - Javier Hernandez has scored in each of his last three starts for Manchester United.
4 - Liverpool's Lucas Leiva has now been booked in four of his last five appearances.
At Old Trafford, United have won each of their last six matches with Liverpool in all competitions.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jonny Evans (Manchester United) - Solid performance by the defender. Looked comfortable at the heart of the home defence alongside Chris Smalling.

Robin van Persie to miss Capital one Liverpool clash

David Moyes has confirmed that Robin van Persie has failed to recover in time for Manchester United's Capital One Cup clash with Liverpool on Wednesday.
The Dutchman missed Sunday's 4-1 mauling at the hands of city rivals Manchester City after picking up a groin injury in training prior to the encounter at the Etihad.
Moyes seemed optimistic that the former Arsenal skipper would be ready for the midweek clash with United's traditional rivals, but now admits that the 30-year-old is set to miss out once again, with a return against West Brom at the weekend likely.
"I don't think he will play on Wednesday. He will have an outside chance for Saturday (home to West Brom)," he said at a press conference.
The Red Devils will rue the absence of the reigning back-to-back Premier League Golden Boot winner, with his guile and creativity along with his killer eye for goal providing a fantastic outlet up front.

Moyes looking for cup reaction ( United vs Liverpool)

Manchester United manager David Moyes admits he was shocked by their defeat at the weekend, but is hoping his side will bounce back against Liverpool in the Capital One Cup.
The Red Devils fell to a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of noisy neighbours Manchester City on Sunday and next welcome the Reds to Old Trafford in the League Cup on Wednesday evening.
Moyes admitted in his pre-match press conference that their loss to the Citizens came as a bit of a surprise to him and his players.
"I was [shocked], yeah," he told the assembled press.
"But when you're a manager for the length of time I have been, you're always going to get shocks. I've had lots and I have no doubt there will be more in the future.
"It's gone now so I can't do anything about it now and we move on to the next game.
"I think to get back on and play again is the best way. You can't dwell too much on it. I'm looking forward to the next game and hopefully we can win it.
Moyes added that he is hoping to see his players' reaction on the pitch against their perennial rivals, who have already beaten United once this season.
"It's always a big game when you play any cup tie," he continued.
"When it's Liverpool, because of the rivalry with Manchester United, yeah, you could be right, it could take on a bigger significance than maybe people would expect.
"It doesn't really matter if I've seen a reaction [in training], the real reaction has to be seen when you people see it, hasn't it?
"I think any game after a defeat, you want to get back to. It doesn't matter what game it is, but it's an important game and we want to try and do well in all the cup competitions.
"I'm still getting to know a lot of the players here and they'll react to the situation after the weekend."

Genevieve Nnaji missing from Miss Earth Nigeria

Genevieve Nnaji was missing from Miss Nigeria Earth on Sunday (22.09.13), where she was supposed to join Amber Rose, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and others as celebrity guest judges for the contest.

Nollywood superstar Genevieve Nnaji was conspicuously missing at Miss Earth Nigeria on Sunday September 22.
The actress was scheduled to join Amber Rose, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and others as celebrity guest judges for the contest.
Although organisers gave no reasons for her absence, NET report she was replaced by her colleague, Ini Edo-Ehiagwina.
Insiders told NET Genny was on an overseas trip and could not immediately return. We could not confirm if there were contractual issues.
Miss Earth Nigeria held on Sunday, September 22, at the Grand Ball Room, Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, with model Marie Miller emerging winner
Ini Edo joined Hollywood actor, Boris Kidjoe, celebrity model Amber Rose, Karlie Redd, photographer Kelechi Amadi-Obi, as judges for the beauty pageant.

 

JONATHAN at the UN

Nigeria's election to UN Security Council will enhance peace - Jonathan

Addressing the UN General Assembly’s high-level debate at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, Jonathan made a strong case for Nigeria's election to the council.
He noted that the country’s performance on previous occasions when it held a non-permanent seat on the council was commendable.
The UN correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria will be contesting for another non-permanent seat on the council for the 2014/2015 session.
"Our support for the United Nations Security Council in its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security has been complete and unwavering.
"We have, in previous membership of the council, demonstrated both the political will and capacity to engage in key council responsibilities.
"I am pleased to state that Nigeria has received the endorsement of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union.
"We, therefore, urge this assembly to endorse Nigeria’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council,” Jonathan said.
He, however, called for faster action toward the democratisation of the UN Security Council, stressing that Nigeria and other developing countries were concerned about the lack of progress in the reformation of the UN.
“I believe that I express the concern of many about the slow pace of effort and apparent lack of progress in the reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council.
"We believe, strongly, that the call for democratisation worldwide should not be for states only but also for international organisations, such as the United Nations.
"That is why we call for the democratisation of the Security Council.
 "This is desirable for the enthronement of justice, equity, and fairness and also for the promotion of a sense of inclusiveness and balance in our world,” he said.
Jonathan also called for a renewed and concerted effort, by the international community, to effectively resolve all issues that currently impeded global peace, stability and progress.
“Our world continues to be confronted by pressing problems and threats. No statement that will be made during this session can exhaust the extent of these problems.
"The world looks to us, as leaders, to provide hope in the midst of crisis, to provide guidance through difficult socio-political divisions and to ensure that we live in a better world.
"We have obligations to the present generation but we have a greater obligation to generations yet unborn, who should one day inherit a world of sufficiency, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or where they reside on the globe.
"We must work to make that world a reality in recognition of our common heritage.
"We must dedicate ourselves to working together to address global, regional and national challenges and deliver a more peaceful, equitable and prosperous world for all. It is our duty, we must not fail," the president said.
He called for the international community to confront the menace of global terrorism with greater resolve and determination, saying that terrorism constituted a major threat to global peace.
Jonathan added that terrorism undermined the capacity for sustained development.
He said that in Nigeria, the threat of terrorism in a few states in the northeast had proved to be a major challenge to national stability.
"We are, therefore, confronting it with every resource at our disposal with due regard for fundamental human rights and the rule of law.
"The reign of terror anywhere in the world is an assault on our collective humanity. Three days ago, the stark reality of this menace was again brought to the fore by the dastardly terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya.
"We must stand together to win this war together," Jonathan said