The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DELAY

  • Worried by results’ delay

    Worried by results’ delay

    Almost nine months after graduating students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) in Kwara State wrote their examinations, they are yet to receive their results. The students are not happy with the management over the continued delay of their results. JENNIFER UMEH and EKETE OGHENETEJIRI (ND II Mass Communication) report.

    They wrote their final examination at the same time but their results are being released in batches by the management. With this development, many Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates of the Federal Polytechnic in Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State will  not be mobilised for National Youth Service.

    While some departments released their graduating students’ results in batches, many students are yet to know their fate in many departments of the school. The school held its first semester examination last November, while the second semester’s was held in June. But, none of the results have been fully released.

    Many of the affected students have bemoaned the development, wondering why it took school almost seven months to release the first semester results in batches. If graduating students’ results could not be released fully in nine months, they wondered how long it would take to release entrance test results of fresh applicants.

    Some of the HND students, who are waiting for their mobilisation for the National Youth Service, are criticising the school management on what they called the “poor handling” of their results.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, some of them said the delay was becoming a tradition in the school. They are worried that non-release of their results could delay their future engagements, because many of them are yet to know their academic performance.

    Babatunde Adeniyi, a student of Food Technology Management, said it was important for the school management to intervene in the matter, so that many departments can release results. He said: “It has been over five months after the final year examination was completed, but so far, only a few departments have deemed it fit to release results to enable students know their fate. Most graduating students are worried because they don’t know whether they will be going for National Youth Service or not. They don’t even know their final Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) to know which classes of degree they will be graduating with. As it is now, everybody is scared.”

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that several complaints had been sent to the top management through the Students’ Union Government (SUG), but mum has been the response from the school.

    National Diploma II students of the institution are also not happy with the school over the delay of their results and industrial training letters that will enable them go for compulsory Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

    A ND II student of Business Administration, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We are crying out to let the management know our challenge, so that they can consider us and release our result and give us our SIWES letter. Some of our colleagues have been given their letters in some department, while some are yet to get theirs.”

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that, only 20 students could get their SIWES letter in a class of 70 students. Some ND students said they are worried about the situation.

    Yetunde Balogun, a ND II Mathematics and Statistics student, lamented silence of the SUG leaders on the issues, wondering if the union members were part of the “plot” to delay their programmes.

    Another student, who did not give his name, said: “I finished my project on first week of June and I have been in school since then, waiting for my SIWES letter. We have not got response from the management to know what is delaying our letters.

    “Delaying students’ results unnecessarily is becoming a threat to our academic pursuit. If they could not release the final year students’ results on time, we should ask them if they are also marking SIWES letter. The school can put our results on hold but they should give us our SIWES letters to go out and do something with our lives.”

    A student of Electrical Engineering, who simply gave his name as Taofeek, said: “I am not surprise by the delay, because it has been the tradition of the school. But, I will plead with the SUG leaders to look into the matter and meet members of the management on students’ behalf. The SIWES delay has made some students to forge their letters, because they could no longer remain at home. It is high time the management considered our plight. There should be improvement in service delivery.”

    A member of the SUG, who did not want his name in print, said the union had started to engage the management on the matter, pleading for calmness. “We have met with management many times to bring the situation back to normal, but we urge students to remain calm,” he said.

    The school Information Officer could not be reached at press time for comment.

     

     

     

     

  • Taraba tribunal chair warns against delay

    •To hear INEC’s objection Friday

    The Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Chairman, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, has appealed to those with petitions to cooperate with it, to enable it determine them within the stipulated time.

    He warned against delay by lawyers, which he noted could frustrate the tribunal’s intention of ensuring prompt disposal of the petitions.

    Justice Abubakar spoke yesterday in Abuja during the tribunal’s inaugural sitting.

    He said following time constraint, the tribunal required the support and cooperation of lawyers to enable it do justice in the cases within the limited time.

    The chairman said the tribunal would take preliminary applications with the main petitions to save time.

    “I wish to remind lawyers that they are ministers in the temple of justice. They should not resort to technicalities to hinder the work of the tribunal. We thank you for your cooperation so far. We look forward to more of such cooperation,” Justice Abubakar said.

    The tribunal has fixed Friday for the hearing of a motion by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the third respondent, in a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the last governorship election, Hajia Aisha Alhassan.

    The woman and the APC are challenging INEC’s announcement of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Darius Ishaku, as the winner of the poll, on the grounds that the election was marred by irregularities.

    The tribunal chose Friday after listening to INEC’s lawyer, A. J. Akanmode, who said the petitioners’ counter-motion was served on him in court. He requested for time to respond.

    INEC is, by its motion, challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction to sit in Abuja and conduct hearing.

    It wants the tribunal to set aside the steps taken so far, in relation to the petition.

    The petitioners’ lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), said while his clients supported the tribunal’s disposition to take preliminary applications with the petition, they had filed a counter-motion, challenging the competence of the motion by INEC.

    Magaji, Ishaku’s lawyer, Kalu Agabi (SAN), Solo Akuma (for the PDP) and Akanmode had adopted their clients’ pre-hearing answers.

     

     

     

  • Salary delay over, says Mimiko

    Salary delay over, says Mimiko

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said government’s inability to pay salaries will soon end.

    Mimiko gave the assurance yesterday at the 13th Anniversary of the Prayer Centre Church of God in Akure.

    He identified inability to pay workers as the greatest challenge facing governance today.

    The governor said despite the numerous sins committed in the country daily, God still continued to show uncommon mercy to Nigeria.

    “When the whole world thought that it’s over for the country, God came to our rescue and our country is now at peace.

    “We should all be thankful to God in this country, because many people thought that by today our country will be in crisis but I’m glad to say that each time we thought that it’s all over for Nigeria, God will come to our rescue. Where we are today is because of the prayers of the saints.

    “God promised that there will be peace and prosperity in our palaces, what we are going through today in this country will soon pass away, even the  inability of state governments to pay salaries,” Mimiko said.

  • Reps investigate delay in N3.7tr refinery projects

    Reps investigate delay in N3.7tr refinery projects

    The House of Representatives yesterday  mandated its Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to investigate  delay in the commencement of the N3.7 trillion Green Field Refinery projects.

    The project which was for the construction of refineries in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states, with a completion date of this year, is yet to commence four years after the agreement was signed.

    The Committee headed by Dakuku Peterside is to report to the House within two weeks.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion brought by a member, Abbas Tajudeen.

    The lawmaker, while presenting his motion, noted that the Federal Government signed an agreement on May 13, 2010 with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) for the construction of Greenfield Refineries project in Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states at the cost $23 billion ( N3.7 trillion) with a completion period of five years.

    “Based on the terms, 80 per cent of the cost is to be funded with a loan provided by China Export Credit Insurance Corporation and a consortium of Chinese banks led by the Industrial Commercial Bank of China, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is to provide 20 per cent of the funding as equity contribution.”

    He lamented that no tangible work has been done in any of the three project sites, with just a year to the end of the period projected for the completion of the refineries “even though the Minister of Petroleum Resources had assured the public of the commitment of the NNPC to pursue the projects as soon as the White Paper on the report of the 22-member Task Force headed by former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu was released.”

    The lawmaker lamented  that in spite of the fact that a favourable recommendation by the Task Force for the Lagos refinery had been released out of the three, there is no evidence of the plan to construct a refinery at the Lekki site by next year.

    “The revelations by the Minister of Petroleum Resources raises issues that need clarification as to the reason for the delay in the commencement of the projects and subsequent reduction in their scope after the delay in releasing the report of the Task Force and the White Paper on it, “ he said.

    The motion sailed through  when the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided called for a vote on it.

     

  • ENYIMBA VS DOLPHINS: NFF GIVES REASON FOR FA CUP FINAL DELAY

    ENYIMBA VS DOLPHINS: NFF GIVES REASON FOR FA CUP FINAL DELAY

    Head of competitions of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has explained after several delays and postponements why the 2014 Federations Cup for both the male and female categories may likely hold in the third week of November.

    Sanusi stressed that the competition cannot hold before the third week of November as Rivers Angels FC has been greatly depleted by the absence of their key players who are on national duty at the ongoing 2014 AWC holding in Namibia.

    “It cannot be earlier than the third week of next month because we have a team that has about 12 players that is made up of the Women’s national team”

    “Our rules are very clear, once you have a team that has more than four players in the national team away for an assignment, you will have to postpone their matches. Based on these, we want to be fair with all the FA Cup finalists.”

    Dolphins are scheduled to face defending champions Enyimba, while title holders Rivers Angels take on Sunshine Queens of Akure.

  • APC decries delay to release Permanent Voter Cards

    APC decries delay to release Permanent Voter Cards

    •Party warns INEC against partisanship

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried the delay in distributing the permanent voter cards (PVCs) ahead of the August 9 governorship election in Osun State.

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Lagos yesterday, warned that the delay might be a ploy to disenfranchise voters.

    “INEC has been painfully slow in processing the permanent voters cards and one can only hope that the electoral body is not doing this deliberately to disenfranchise voters, especially in opposition strongholds.

    “The slow processing of the permanent voter cards has in particular hit the Central Senatorial District of the state and has affected those who had registered as well as those who registered this year,” it said.

    APC said INEC has continued to tell those who throng its offices in the state that the cards are not ready, without giving an indication of when they will be ready for collection.

    “If INEC has no diabolical plan, then it should speed up the processing of the permanent voter cards. We say this based on the reported announcement by the REC in Osun State that whoever does not possess a permanent voter card will not be allowed to vote in the August 9 election,” the party said.

    It urged INEC to maintain its neutrality and  ensure it does not do anything that can affect the credibility of the commission or the integrity of the election.

    APC recalled that a few days before the Ekiti governorship election, INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega had told stakeholders that the commission would use colour-code ballot papers to ensure that ballots meant for one local government are not taken to another.

    “However, not only did INEC not use colour-coded ballot papers in the Ekiti election, it never felt the need to explain its sudden volte-face. This is a blow to the integrity of INEC and we hope it won’t be repeated,” the party said.

    The APC has raised the alarm over a multi-pronged strategy by the federal authorities to skew the election in Osun State in favour of the PDP, just as they allegedly did in Ekiti State last month.

    According to the party, the dubious strategy by the federal authorities involves using the military and other security agencies to lock down the state, days ahead of voting as well as an alleged plan to starve the state of funds so it cannot meet its obligations.

    “Whereas Ekiti was locked down about three days to the election, indications are that Osun will be locked down at least a week before the state’s poll, while the security agencies will again be used to harass, intimidate and arrest opposition politicians just as they did with impunity in Ekiti.

    “We are raising the alarm now so the world can see that any election can only be described as free and fair if the entire process is transparent and not skewed in favour of any of the parties. We insist that election is a process, and that whatever happens on election day is only, but a part of the whole.

    “Therefore, we demand a level-playing field for all the candidates before, during and after the Osun election. We reject any plan to use the military and other security agencies to lock down the state and to harass, intimidate and arrest opposition members. We call on local and international observers to take note of these and other anomalies ahead of the Osun poll,” it said.

  • Amosun decries delay in federal allocation

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has berated the Federal Government on the “continuous delay” in the release of states’ allocation from the Federation Account.

    He said the delay could cause untold hardship for Nigerians.

    The governor spoke at the inauguration of the men’s wing of the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State (MITROS) at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    He said the allocation meant for states and local governments were not fully released to them.

    Amosun said: “The situation became critical last month. As I speak, we are yet to collect anything from Abuja. Salaries have not been paid in several states because many states rely on federal allocation to pay their workers. You will agree with me that this is causing untold hardship for Nigerians.”

    Explaining that Ogun workers had been paid last month’s salary, he said: “I must attribute this feat to the cooperation of the good people of Ogun, who paid their taxes promptly. We are one of the few states that have paid August salary. I thank every one of you that has been paying your tax and levies promptly. I enjoin individuals and companies that are not yet paying their taxes to fulfil this patriotic duty.

    “We will use the money judiciously. You are already seeing what we are doing with your money. We are building roads, bridges and providing free education and security.”

    Amosun praised his wife, Olufunso, for initiating the MITROS project, adding that the group was not funded by the government.

    Mrs. Amosun thanked local government coordinators of MITROS for making the day possible.

    Also yesterday, the governor approved the promotion of 3,272 teaching and non-teaching workers in public secondary schools.

    They were successful in last year’s promotion examination and interview conducted by the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).

    TESCOM Chairman Ms Olubukunola Onabanjo, in a statement, said of the 3,272 promoted, 743 are on Grade Levels 12–17, 1,604 on Grade Levels 07–10 and 926 in the junior cadre.

  • Oyo tackles delay in issuance of land documents

    Oyo State residents will no longer have their land documents delayed, an official said yesterday.

    The General Manager of the Ibadan Local Government Properties Limited, Mr. Babalola Olalekan, spoke yesterday at the Town Planning Hall on Ring Road, Ibadan, during a special prayer marking his assumption of office.

    He said the focus of the company, which is owned by the 11 councils in Ibadan, was to ensure the timely allocation of land to residents.

    Olalekan said this would be possible through the training and retraining of the company’s staff.

    Attributing past delays in land allocation to logistic problems and corrupt workers, he urged the staff to be dedicated to their responsibilities.

    Olalekan assured allottees that they would get their documents within three months after paying their land fees.

    He said: “I have assumed this office to maintain efficiency in service delivery and make this company one of the foremost estate companies in Nigeria by reducing the duration of land acquisition.

    “I will do everything necessary to reduce the duration of land acquisition and documentation by building the capacity of my staff.”

     

  • Court refuses to compensate Bianca’s children for suit’s delay

    Court refuses to compensate Bianca’s children for suit’s delay

    Justice Funmilayo Atilade of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere yesterday refused to compensate two children of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu over the delay in the suit.

    The claimants, who are infants, sued a company, Ojukwu Transport Limited and seven others through their mother and “next friend” Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

    During proceedings yesterday, their lawyer, Nick Omeye, told the court that the eighth defendant was yet to serve them with a statement of defence.

    “Up till now they have not served us with their defence,” the lawyer said.

    The development, he argued, stalled the fixing of a date for Case Management Conference (previously called pre-trial conference).

    He said the claimants, therefore, deserved compensation for the delay.

    “We have already applied for Case Management Conference. Since the eight defendant is yet to serve us with a defence, we shall be asking for cost,” Omeye added.

    But counsel to the first to seventh defendants, Mr Ike Ubahakwe, informed the court that the eighth defendant had indeed served the other defendants with its defence.

    “We were served with the eighth defendant’s statement of defence on the 13th of March,” Ubahakwe said.

    Justice Atilade then refused the claimants’ demand for cost and instead adjourned the matter till May 20 “for mention.”

    She said: “Since everyone has not been served, we need a date for mention. There shall be no order as to cost.”

    The other defendants are Prof Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu, Dr Patrick Ojukwu, Edward Ojukwu, Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs Massey Udegbe (doing business under Massey Udegbe & Company).

    The claimants sought a declaration that they are entitled to the possession and occupation of a property located on 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi until the harmonisation of the management and administration of the first defendant’s assets.

    They also asked the court to declare that the threat to forcefully eject them from 29, Oyinan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi, by the defendants is illegal.

    The children urged the court to hold that they are entitled to the possession of the properties on 13, Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now 13, Ojora Road, Ikoyi), 32A Commercial Avenue, Yaba, 30, Gerard Road, Ikoyi, and 4, Macpherson Avenue, Ikoyi.

    They claimed that the houses were in the possession of their father from the time the properties were released from government acquisition till date.

    The claimants prayed for an order restraining the defendants, either by themselves or through their agents or privies, from interfering with their possession and control of 29, Oyinkan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi.

    They also urged the court to stop the defendants from interfering with their possession of the other properties.

    The claimants stated that throughout the period their father was struggling to retrieve the properties from the government, the second to seventh defendants “never played any role in the struggle not contributed financially or otherwise to the realisation of the struggle.

    They said while Ojukwu was alive, he lived with his household at 29, Oyikan Abayomi Street and was in “exclusive possession” of the other houses which form the subject of the suit.

    But the defendants denied the claims, saying the children are neither directors nor creditors of Ojukwu Transport and, therefore, have no locus (legal right) to question the company’s activities.

    The defendants said at no point did they attempt to forcibly take possession of 29, Oyinan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi.

     

  • Maina’s suit: Judge warns Senate against delay

    Maina’s suit: Judge warns Senate against delay

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday warned parties in the suit by the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdul-Rasheed Maina, to avoid delaying the proceedings.

    Justice Adamu Bello gave the warning while granting the application by the respondent’s counsel, Ken Ikonne, who sought an extension of time within which to file and serve a counter affidavit and written address out of time.

    Maina’s counsel Mahmud Abubakar Magaji (SAN) then asked the court for a short adjournment to enable him respond to the counter affidavit and other processes filed by the respondents.

    “Anything that will be a ploy to delay proceedings should be dropped, so that this matter should be given expeditious hearing in the interest of all the parties,” Justice Bello said while granting the application brought before him by the counsel representing the Senate and other respondents, Ken Ikonne.

    He adjourned the matter till March 5, for parties to adopt their written addresses.

    The respondents are Senate President David Mark, the Senate, the Clerk of the Senate, the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service and its chairman, Senator Aloysius Etok; and the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration and its chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya.

    Joined as a respondent in the suit is the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar.

    Maina was recently declared wanted by the Police Headquarters following an arrest warrant signed by Mark because he refused to honour the Senate’s invitation to defend himself for alleged pension fraud.

    In the substantive suit, Maina is seeking an order setting aside the warrant of arrest issued on Febraury 2, following a resolution by the Senate.

    He is pleading with the court to quash the purported report of the Senate committee’s resolutions that led to the bench warrant.

    According to him, the action violated his fundamental right as guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Maina is praying the court to restrain the Senate from interfering with his official duties and from inviting him having completed and submitted their report without giving him a fair hearing.

    He is also asking for N100 billion as exemplary damages and N500,000 as general damages.