The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 53

  • 53 Chevening scholars for UK

    53 Chevening scholars for UK

    Fifty-three Nigerians awarded Chevening scholarships and fellowships for the 2016-17 academic year, will depart this month for further studies in institutions in the United Kingdom (UK).

    The Chevening award is the UK government’s international global scholarship programme, offered by the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office and partner organisations for fully-funded master’s study in the UK.

    Ahead of their departure, the recipients were hosted by the British High Commissioner, Paul Arkwright, in Abuja. He said the programme would provide them an opportunity to improve on their careers.

    “This is my second Chevening event since I arrived at this post a year ago.  On my many travels around the country, I am constantly meeting individuals who are at the very top of their careers and it is always pleasant to hear them introduce themselves as Chevening scholars. This further demonstrates the fact that the mission of Chevening is being met – a scholarship programme which aims to train exceptional individuals and provide a prestigious platform to further activates potentials of future leaders for greater impact in the development of Nigeria,” he said.

    For this year’s scholarship, Arkwright said the most applications worldwide came from Nigeria, adding that the number selected was also far higher than in 2014.

    “For the 2016/2017 Chevening cycle, Nigeria recorded the highest number of applications globally, with about 4,000 eligible applications. Following this, a total of 53 Chevening scholarship and fellowship awards were made available to Nigerians this year.

    “This is a massive upgrade from the 12 scholars who were selected in 2014, further demonstrating the UK’s commitment to Nigeria,” he said.

    Arkwright also said that since the first Chevening award in Nigeria in 1984, more than a thousand Nigerians have benefited from the scholarship.

    He added that the British High Commission is now collaborating with LADOL, a Nigerian company, and is seeking more local partnership to co-fund the awards and give access to more Nigerians to benefit from the scholarship which boasts a global alumni network of 43,000 members.

    He charged the awardees to give their best, take advantage of every opportunity the scholarship offers, and be good ambassadors of their country.

    Responding on behalf of the scholars, Chigbo Chikwendu thanked the British High Commission and FCO for the award.

    Chikwendu, a health professional, said the award would help to finally fulfill his five-year old dream to further his studies.

    Chigbo also praised the transparency and meritocracy of the selection process which made it possible for himself and his brother, Chinedu Chikwendu to be selected for the Chevening/GSK partner award to study the same course, at the same university this year (Health Policy, Planning and Financing at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, LSHTM).

    The President of the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria, Tom Odemwingie, and others bade farewell to the departing scholars.

    Applications are currently open for 2017-18 Chevening Scholarships and will close on November 8 this year.

     

  • Pensioners decry unpaid 53% increment

    Pensioners decry unpaid 53% increment

    Pensioners have expressed worry that money approved in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 budgets by the Federal Government for the payment of their arrears arising from the 53 per cent increase in the old pension scheme of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) has not been paid.

    The National Union of Pensioners (NUP) Chairman, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Section, Evangelist Peter Amodu, stated this at a workshop in Abuja.

    It was organised by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) for pensioners in the old pension system.

    He said alleged misappropriated of the cash.

    Amodu said the government was planning to pay from last January,  33 per cent instead of the 53 per cent it announced in 2009.

    He explained that NIPSS is a parastatal and the academic section of the NUP.

    He said the plan by the government to begin payment from this year instead of 2011, would be resisted by pensioners.

    He said: “The Federal Government in 2009 made an announcement to increase pension by 53 per cent in a circular. The Ministry of Finance, Accountant-General and the budget office are aware of the circular and the money was later captured in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 budget and after four years that we have been on this matter, they now want to commence payment from this year.

    “The question that we are asking is where is the money that was captured and approved under the 2011, 2012 and 2013 budget.”

    He said NIPSS pensioners were demanding payment of the three years’ arrears because there were reports that the national leaders of NUP have been compromised and were ready to accept 33 per cent.

    He urged the union executives to reject the 33 per cent.

    NUP National President, Dr. Abel Afolayan said the government owes pensioners the increment of 53 per cent.

    He noted that part of their problem with the government was the non-implementation of 142 per cent increase for some pensioners and 53 per cent pension increase in 2010 that has been reduced to 33 per cent.

    He said: “In 2010, when workers salary was increased by 53 per cent, pensioners also got a 53 per cent increase. The 1999 Constitution as amended in Section 173 sub-section 3 and Section 210 sub-section 3 stipulated that pension must be increased every five years or whenever workers’ salaries are increased, whichever is earlier.

    “The government told us that they reduced the 53 per cent increase to 33 per cent because they are deducting 10 per cent tax, 7.5 per cent contributory pension, 2.5 per cent national housing fund. It is not supposed to be so because pensioners don’t pay tax and are not under the contributory pension or housing fund.”

    Afolayan said the 20 per cent deduction was unjustifiable, adding that they have not been paid the 33 per cent though the government has paid the military. He lamented that they have been abandoned because they are civilians.

  • ‘Why Nigeria still crawls at 53’

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God Abuja has said Nigeria is still crawling after 53 years of independence because it is yet to perfect its grace.

    The statement was made by Pastor Akinyemi Bolaji at the seventh anniversary of the Redeemed Christian Church, Green Parish Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Province 3 Nyanya District Abuja. The theme of the anniversary was: Perfecting Grace for Breakthrough.

    Pastor Akinremi Bolaji, the Assistant Pastor-in-charge, re-affirmed that Nigeria had been independent for 53 years now but everyone is crying that the country is still crawling. He said God blessed Nigeria with a high amount of mineral and human resources which represent grace,but that Nigerians would have to trade in holiness to perfect the grace for breakthrough.

    He insisted that what we really need is perfection of the grace because we already have all the resources and a prayerful population. But, if we pray without holiness, we will not have breakthrough.

    Bolaji said: “God has done so much for Nigeria. She needs to perfect its grace. We have a high amount of mineral and human resources which represents grace. What we need to think as Nigerians is what we can do to bring out that grace. Our role and duties are in bringing out the best in what God has given us because when you make the best out of what God has given you, what comes out of it is breakthrough.

    “That is why we say perfect the grace for breakthrough. If you have the grace and do not perfect it, there may not be breakthrough. You need to develop whatever God has given you; you have a role to play for whatever God had given you for that thing to fulfill its purpose.’’

    Pastor Akinwunmi Adebayo, the guest speaker at the anniversary, urged the church to remember that we are all sojourners in this world and everything is temporary. He pleaded with them to give willingly to everyone in need because it will not go out empty but returns to them in a multiple fold. But whoever keeps to himself, will remain stagnant. He said: “Giving is living. The more you give, the more God blesses you.”

     

  • ‘Nothing to celebrate about Nigeria at 53’

    ‘Nothing to celebrate about Nigeria at 53’

    On Tuesday, Nigeria turned 53. The nation rolled out the drums to celebrate its 53rd Independence anniversary.

    But for Students, there was nothing to celebrate because of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    Students wondered why the Federal Government celebrated the independence anniversary while public universities remain shut. They argued that if not the quality education the founding fathers got, Nigeria may not have attained independence.

    Teachers, who insist that they did not embark on the strike only because of pay, are not ready to call off the action until the government meets all their demands. ASUU is seeking, among others, increased funding and autonomy for public universities, which, according to the lecturers, would improve the quality of education.

    But President Goodluck Jonathan believes that the strike is being politicised by the lecturers, stressing that the government had substantially met the lecturers’ demand except relinquishing government’s assets to university administrators.

    During the Presidential Media Chat on Sunday, Jonathan said: “We have agreed on all issues, except transferring government’s assets to the university. Until we get to that level where universities that claim to be autonomous are autonomous in funding and other areas, we will still face similar challenges.

    “The earned allowances which the lecturers are talking about are supposed to be paid from the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of the universities. The Federal Government cannot close all other departments because we want to solve ASUU problem.”

    While there seems to be no hope that the government and ASUU would resolve their disagreement soon, students believe that the independence anniversary celebration was is meaningless since their campuses remain shut.

    Philip Okorodudu, 500-Level Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering student of Delta State University (DELSU), said the continued closure of universities has exposed insensitiveness of the government. “The present crops of leaders must be blamed for this miserable state of education. How did we did we get to the stage when universities are shut down every year? Whereas, the people in government today enjoyed free education in the 1970s and had amenities to aid their learning. These set of leaders has refused to bequeath same to us, the younger generation. So why are we celebrating independence?” he queried.

    Made Onanafe, 400-Level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, said: “The Independence Day is a day I always wish I was not a Nigerian because there is nothing to celebrate about this country. My only concern is that the strike be call off. I want to go back to school.”

    If not for the ASUU strike, Chizoba Ejika, a 400-Level Marketing student of the Imo State University, said she would have graduated. For that reason, she considered independence anniversary as unnecessary.

    Alex Ojekunle said not only the government alone should be blamed for the parlous state of education. The 400-Level Public Administration student of OAU said rather than pointing fingers to the Federal Government, people should act to redeem the declining glory of Nigeria’s public education system, adding that all hands must be on deck.

    Hammed Hamzat, 300-Level Educational Management, University of Ibadan (UI), said celebration of independence while the universities were under the lock showed the government has no shame. He said: Nigeria’s education system is in turmoil and all the government feels about it is to be happy. I feel bad and traumatised that the Federal Government is not shameful. Our leaders are shameless.

    “Apart from the fact that the lecturers are on strike, what is the cost of acquiring education in Nigeria? This is relevant if we must say that there should be a celebration on Independence Day. But as we discussed, there is no university in Nigeria where students pay less than N70,000 as tuition. So, why are celebrating?” Gabriel Adako, 400-Level student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) said.

    Msonter Anzaa, 200-Level Medicine, Benue State University, said: “Nigeria’s education system is like an orphan surviving at the mercy of cruel parents. Its needs are hardly make it to the priority list of the government. Since it is an orphan, it is expected to consider whatever little attention it gets from government as benevolence and not obligation. I wish Nigeria well on the anniversary but if I were President Jonathan, the anniversary would have been marked in a solemn, quiet, public day of rest.”