Last Monday, ASUU had added another three months to the strike, meaning if nothing is done students would be at home for another three months.

The students who barricaded major roads in Ile-Ife carried placards with inscriptions such as “Fund Education Now,” and “Education is not a Scam” among others.

Converging under the aegis of the Fund Education Coalition, the students blocked major roads and obstructed vehicular movement for hours chanting anti-government songs and observing prayers on major highways. They accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of neglecting education and focusing on who succeeds him in 2023. They vowed to continue the protest until the government accede to ASUU’s demand and end the strike.

One of the protesters, Olugbade Mojeed, said the strike had forced some students to engage in vices. “We are protesting because government has failed the education system. This government has been showing nonchalant attitude to education while they focus on electoral activities. We say no to incessant strikes and we say no to lack of funding for the education system.”

Also, students under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) in Nsukka, grounded human and vehicular movement in the university town and its environs.

The protest started from the first gate of the university through Enugu Road to Opi junction where the protesters blocked the 9th Mile Makurdi Express Highway for many hours making movement in and out of Nsukka town difficult.

The over 3,000 protesters sang solidarity songs while some had placards with inscriptions, such as, “Is it a crime to be a student in public institution in Nigeria?,” “No suspension of ASUU strike no party primaries”, “We are tired of staying at home, FG should settle with ASUU so that students will go back to school”, “FG and ASUU are playing politics with our future”, “Politicians have N100 million to buy election form but FG says no money to meet ASUU demands,” among others.

Leader of the protesters, Emmanuel Obi, chairman, Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Enugu State, said NANS would sustain the protests across the country until ASUU suspends the strike.

“The NANS national leadership has directed students in the country to block airports, major highways, Federal and state secretariats, minsters offices and road leading to Aso Rock by next week,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has again appealed to ASUU to consider the plight of students and call off the three-month old strike. He also urged students to exercise patience as government strives to address the nagging issues in the nation’s university system within the available resources

Speaking at the 19th National Productivity Day and conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) on 48 eminent Nigerians and organisations in both the public and private sectors, for their high productivity, hardwork and excellence in Abuja, yesterday, he recalled that he had earlier directed the Chief of Staff; Ministers of Labour and Employment; Education; and Finance, Budget and National Planning to immediately bring all parties to the negotiation table to again critically look at the grey areas in the demands of ASUU and other university based labour unions.

He said his administration recognises that the future of any nation is contingent on the standard of its educational system.

‘‘Therefore, if we desire to transform Nigeria into a competitive, strong, vibrant, productive and sustainable economy, improving our educational system should be accorded the highest priority.”

•Parents, NUT task FG, ASUU on agreement

Some parents have called on the Federal Government and ASUU to reach a workable agreement so that university students can resume school.

The parents in separate interviews said the strike was having negative impact on their children and appealed for its speedy resolution. Silas Lagi, a parent in Gwagwalada Area Council, who said his child is studying veterinary medicine at the University of Abuja, lamented how the strike had made his son shift focus to other things that he did not budget for.

A parent in Abaji Area Council, Mr. Musa Gimba appealed to government to listen to ASSU and reach an agreement to save the future generation of Nigerians.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) also urged the government and ASUU to embrace peaceful dialogue  to end the ongoing strike.

Mr Samson Oyelere, secretary of the Ogun Chapter said it was important for both parties to meet at equilibrium point and proffer solutions that would be beneficial to both parties.

He explained that the strike had a negative effect on the students, the institutions, communities and the economy.

 

According to him, it is wrong for universities to be on strike and campaigns are ongoing.

 

Obi who lamented that such can only happen in Nigeria, described the situation as not only sad but unacceptable.

 

The presidential hopeful made his mind known on Wednesday during a guest appearance on the Berekete family radio in Abuja.

 

He said the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which has consistently kept students of federal universities away from school is due to the negligence and insensitivity of the government.

 

Obi knocked the government for making promises without working towards fulfilling such promises.

 

“It is very very sad. It is intolerable that schools are closed and we are campaigning and we are even talking about elections. It would never happen in any other country except Nigeria,” he said.

 

“Education is the most important investment a nation can do for its citizens, which we are playing with here.

 

“The scourge of this problem is because we have an uncaring government. The agreement was made in 2009 that they will give universities N1 trillion to renovate universities, and that they will pay lecturers’ allowances.

 

“If they were to be paying N100 million yearly, the payment would have been paid in full. Even N50 million yearly would have done it to some extent.

 

“The problem is the government made empty promises. So, this made everyone fight. Money collected from presidential aspirants can feed ASUU’s demands.”

 

On his part, if elected President in 2023, Obi who is seeking the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) promised to make primary and secondary education free throughout the country.

 

“I won’t make tertiary education free. Primary and secondary will be free, but we must find a way to fund tertiary education,” he added.

His spokesman, Laolu Akande, made this known on Thursday.

Akande said the forms were collected by representatives of Osinbajo’s support groups.

He said, “A passionate team of support groups and individual Nigerians from across the country have raised funds to support the purchase of APC nomination forms for the Vice President’s 2023 presidential bid.

“Today, the forms are being collected by representatives of the team, just as the VP continues his interactions with APC stakeholders across the States. Today, VP Osinbajo is in Cross River and Bayelsa States.”

The APC expression of interest and nomination forms cost N100 million.

In the APC, at least 15 southerners are already in the race.

They are Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River, former Governor Rochas Okorocha, ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole, APC stalwart, Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba and a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

Others from the South contesting on the platform of the APC include the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and influential Pastor, Tunde Bakare.

Osinbajo had on Wednesday during his visits to Taraba and Adamawa states, in continuation of his engagements with stakeholders and delegates of the APC in the states said, “My reason for aspiring for the office of the President of Nigeria is to serve the Nigerian people. I have no other reason or objective except to serve.

“After one has been in office as Vice President for 7 years, I know that God did not give me that opportunity so that I would seat down somewhere and write the history of my service as Vice President.

“It is for the purpose of serving the people, and that is why I am so determined that if God gives me the opportunity to serve, the Nigerian people would realise indeed they have done the right thing by putting me in office because I would serve the country with everything, with all my heart and commitment.”

Mr Peller, who currently serves as the Federal Representative for the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa constituency announced his ambition on Wednesday while seeking funds.

Peller

Announcing it on social media, he wrote;

”THE DIE IS CAST

In recent times, I have had several support groups clamouring that I make bold political moves. I sincerely thank them for their trust and concern. While there are calls for me to run for the senate others say I should throw my hat into the presidency ring.

As a leader, I understand that I must make tough decisions and make tough sacrifices to enhance the lives of people around me.

I am not oblivious to the fact that persons of interest are donating to further this cause, however, the reality of our political system where delegates decide on the fate of millions makes the yearnings of the youth even more difficult.

I appreciate everyone for their time and sacrifice. This is not about me but the next generation – I have always been committed to building a new generation of leaders.

As young and credible people, it’s about time we make strong demands from our party. We must bring our negotiation strength and skills to the table even as political party primaries fast approach.

To this end, a meeting by the coalition of Progressives Young Nigerians shall be taking place at Ikeja Airport Hotel, on Thursday 5th of May, by 3 pm. Young people seeking elective positions in the country are invited.”

 

Ebo said Nwajiuba owes Nigerians an explanation on how he came about the money.

 

According to Ebo, in serious climes, Nwajiba should be making some explanations to anti-graft agencies.

 

”It is a shame that a serving junior minister of education will boldly declare that he is starving university lecturers all over the nation for daring to ask that the education system in the country be improved.”

“Truly, you can’t shame the shameless. Since when has demanding for the improvement of education in the country become an offence? This is a very sad low in the annals of our country. Indeed, charlatans have taken charge of our affairs.

“The minister of education should be educated that lecturers’ duties include: community service, teaching and research. As we speak, lecturers all over the country are engaged in research and community service.

“The strike is a last resort in the attempt to make a reason-deaf government to improve facilities in our public universities, pay lecturers a living wage and stop the frittering away of the nation’s dwindling resources through IPPIS. What part of this demand is crime?

“The minister who is putting up a show of pretending to attempt to lead the country should rather tell Nigerians how he came by a whooping sum of N100m to purchase his party’s nomination form when his legitimate salary is less than a million naira in a month.

“If this were a serious country, he should be making some explanations to ICPC and EFCC by now. Unfortunately, we are in a season of absurdities. Those who previously declared that no serious government would ever allow lecturers to go on strike are now not only forcing lecturers into strike but are also starving them on top of that. What an irony of history! It is well with Nigeria!”

 

ASUU members have been on strike since February 14, 2022.

 

The proposal according to Punch has been submitted to the Nigerian Communications Commission.

 

The companies say the increase is as a result of the rising cost of running a business in the nation.

 

Based on their proposal, the price floor of calls will increase from N6.4 to N8.95 while the price cap of SMS will increase from N4 to N5.61.

 

This was revealed in a letter titled, ‘Impact of the Economic and Security Issues on the Telecommunications Sector,’ which was sighted by our correspondent.

 

The letter was written by the telecommunications companies under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria to the NCC.

 

In the letter, the telecom companies said there had been a 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business in the nation.

 

According to them, the telecommunication industry has been financially impacted following the nation’s economic recession in 2020 and the effect of the ongoing Ukraine/Russia crisis.

 

They said this had resulted in an increase in energy costs, increasing their operating expenses by 35 per cent.

 

They added that the introduction of the recent excise duty of five per cent on telecom services had further increased the burden of multiple taxes and levies on the industry.

 

The letter read in part, “As the commission may be aware, the power sector under the supervision of its Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission of the power sector in November 2020 undertook a review of electricity tariffs to cater for the economic headwinds reported above.

 

“In view of the foregoing, ALTON considers it expedient for the telecommunications sector to undergo periodic cost adjustments through the commission’s intervention in order to minimise the impact of the challenging economic issues faced by our members. Details are hereunder:

 

“Upward review of the price determination for voice and data and SMS. Given the state of the economy and the circa 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business, we wish to request for an interim administrative review of the mobile (voice) termination rate for voice; administrative data floor price, and cost of SMS as reflected in extant instruments.

 

“With respect to voice an SMS cost, ALTON respectfully requests the commission to consider a mark-up approach to address the upward price adjustment desirable for the industry. We have enclosed herein and marked as ‘Annexure 1’our proposal in that regard.

 

“For data services, we wish to request that the commission implements the recommendations in the August 2020 KPMG report on the determination of cost-based pricing for wholesale and retail broadband service in Nigeria. Excerpts from the report, are attached and marked ‘Annexure 2’ to provide a further illustration.

 “In implementing the said recommendations, however, we recommend that the 40 per cent increase in the cost of doing business be factored in to arrive at a cost price per GB in view of the current economic situation.”

The umbrella body for telecom companies added that to further help telcos during this economic crisis, the commission should explore and provide other means of penalising operators rather than punitive monetary sanctions; extend the payment timeline of relevant regulatory levies and fees; prevail on the Federal Government to sign the executive order declaring telecoms infrastructure as a critical national infrastructure to mitigate cost spent replacing damaged and stolen infrastructures, among other things.

 

In the annexure one section of the letter, the body requested an upward adjustment of the MTR by 40 per cent.

 

It said, “For large operators, new interim MTR of N5.46 from N3.90 reflecting 40 per cent increase in the cost of business.

 Speaking on Tuesday, May 3, at the 2022 World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Uyo, the former Rivers Governor urged Nigerians to vote the right people into leadership positions and to always hold politicians accountable.

He said: "The problem of the country is not the poor man in Akwa Ibom or Rivers, in the South East or in the North. It is you and I, the elite."

 He also weighed in on the topic of restructuring.

 He said: "Why you are hearing restructuring, it is because the elites’ consensus on sharing (resources) is disappearing.

 "It is because there is nothing to share again. We are broke. The problem facing this country is caused by the elites, including you."

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)presidential aspirant revealed he has visited about thirty-one countries in the world studying the problems bedevilling Nigeria.

 

He disclosed these on Monday evening during a consultative meeting with leadership as well as delegates of the party in Akwa Ibom for the forthcoming PDP convention.

 

Obi who expressed optimism that Nigeria despite its worsening economic crisis and deteriorating security system would be redeemed with strong leadership in place tasked the delegates to consider the future of their children while voting for their candidates and not to vote out of sentiment.

 

“When you are going for the convention for those who will have the privilege, remember that you will not be delegates forever, but consider the future of your children and ask yourselves what society I want my children to live in, he said.

 

The presidential aspirant said poor countries such as Bangladesh were able to wriggle themselves out of the quagmire by borrowing and investing in capital intensive projects and wondered why Nigeria cannot do the same but only borrow and consume.

 

He, however, regretted the rising debt profile of Nigeria noting that though borrowing is not wrong but where the monies are channelled to, even as he claimed that the Nigerian government borrows without investing in capital intensive projects saying that only wealth creation can salvage the situation.

 

Obi said the country’s debt profile has risen from N3 trillion during former President Obasanjo’s regime to N58 trillion in the present administration, adding that a situation where Nigeria uses 90% of her earned revenue to service debt alone indicates a major crisis for the country.

 

“Nigeria is in debt crisis, when you use 98% of your revenue to service debt not to repay you are in a major crisis. In the first five months of last year, we earned one trillion, eight hundred and forty-seven billion and we used one trillion, eight hundred and two billion to service the loan, not repayment and we are not putting anything in the reserve. We are just in a monumental crisis, and we are borrowing more money, they will tell you that they borrow for capital projects.

 

“I’ve been going around asking people, to show me the capital projects. No capital vote is more important than power. We have borrowed over $100 billion dollars within this period, and we are still at 4000mw.

 

“This is the only country you hear of power generation, anywhere you go in the world, you just put power on and off. Vietnam has doubled their own from 38 to 76000MW, Egypt generates and distributes 55000MW but Nigeria a giant of Africa is struggling with 4000MW.

 

”I’ve not seen any country that does not borrow, what they do differently is when they borrow, they invest it so that people can live well but our own we borrow and consume and we must end it or it will consume all of us.”

The bodyof the young lady said to be in her early 20s, was found dumped at Rayfield Resort area of Jos South on Sunday night, May 1.

Ms Choji described herself as a "dancer, model, singer, and actress" in her Facebook bio.

Details of the incident are still sketchy at the time of filing this report, however, it was gathered that the deceased was a resident of Cabon, Gada Biyu in Plateau State.

The incident happened few months after the murder of two young women, Plangnan Solomon and Jennifer Anthony, a 300 level student of the University of Jos, UNIJOS.

Meanwhile, friends of the deceased have taken to social media to mourn her.

The Buhari administration banned Twitter after the platform deleted tweets by the president, threatening to treat members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the "language they understand".The ban was announced on June 4, 2021 and was lifted on January, 13, 2022, after 7 months.

Following the ban, the President stopped addressing citizens via Twitter.

Even when the ban was lifted and many politicians and their aides returned to the platform, Buhari didn't return until today, May 2.

In his first tweet in 11 months, Buhari sent his best wishes to Muslims celebrating Eid-el-Fitr while addressing the problem of insecurity in the country.

Before tweeting today, his last tweet was on June 1, 2021.

 

Read his tweets below.

 On Monday, May 2, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee imposed penalties on the Stadium for the misconduct of its fans during the world cup qualifying tie .The world football ruling body in a statement on its official website detailed the reason for these sanctions as “order and security at matches (failure to implement existing safety rules and failure to ensure that law and order are maintained in the stadium, invasion of the field of play and throwing of objects)”.

The match ended 1-1 but the two had earlier played out a barren draw in the first leg in Ghana.

Video clips from the stadium showed that furious fans invaded the field and vandalized facilities after the match.

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) approved the Abuja stadium to host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone but FIFA ruled that the upcoming game will be played behind closed doors and also made known a fine of $154,000 on Nigeria.

In the copy of court processes obtained by newsmen on Monday May 2, it was revealed that the IPOB leader is challenging the court's final decision to retain counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15.

In their application at the federal high court, Kanu's lawyers which include Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Ifeanyi Ejiofor had insisted that the charges against him are legally defective.

 Ozekhome who noted that his client was “unlawfully, brutally and extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya without his consent”, also argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to try him on the strength of an incompetent charge.

He also said that the charges against Kanu were purportedly committed outside the country, and the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the charge.Ozekhome said; 

“The charges appears to give this court a global jurisdiction over offences that were allegedly committed by the defendant, without specifying the location or date the said offences were committed”

He also averred that under the Federal High Court Act, the location where the offence was committed must be disclosed. Punch reported that in the suit filed at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal by Ozekhome and Ejiofor, it was stated that the trial Judge erred in law by failing to “consider, make finding of facts and accordingly pronounce on issue one raised for the trial court’s determination, relating to the extraordinary rendition of the appellant, and thereby occasioned a miscarriage of justice.”

Kanu is now seeking for; 

“An order of this Honourable court allowing the appeal and setting aside in its entirety, the ruling/final decision of the learned trial court, retaining counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 of the amended charge.

“An order of this Honourable court upon granting relief a above, dismissing the remaining counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 and, accordingly discharging the appellant on those counts.

“An order of this Honourable court terminating the entire charge and discharging the appellant.

“And for such further order or orders as the Honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this appeal.”

Sergei Lavrov (pictured top left) made the comments to try to justify Vladimir Putin's portrayal of Ukraine as a "Nazi" country despite the fact that its president, Volodimir Zelenskyy (pictured top right) is Jewish.

Lavrov made the remarks in an interview on Italian TV programme Zona Bianca on Sunday, May 1, days after Israel marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, one of the most solemn occasions in the Israeli calendar.

When asked how Russia can claim that it is fighting to "de-Nazify" Ukraine when President Volodymyr Zelensky is himself Jewish,Lavrov said: 

"So what if Zelensky is Jewish?"

"The fact does not negate the Nazi elements in Ukraine. I believe that Hitler also had Jewish blood," adding that "some of the worst anti-Semites are Jews."

Israel has reacted with fury calling Lavrov's comments as 'unforgivable'.

Israel then summmoned Russia's ambassador and asked for an 'apology'.

Lavrov's statement was met with outrage across Israel's political spectrum.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said: "Such lies are meant to blame the Jews themselves for the most terrible crimes in history and thus free the oppressors of the Jews from their responsibility.

"No war today is the Holocaust or is like the Holocaust."

Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid reacted angrily, calling Mr Lavrov's words "unforgivable" on his Twitter account.

Israeli officials have also demanded an apology from Russia for the remarks.“His words are untrue and their intentions are wrong,” said the Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett. “Using the Holocaust of the Jewish people as a political tool must cease immediately.”

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, called Lavrov’s statement “antisemitic” and said that it is “further evidence that Russia is the legal successor of Nazi ideology”.

“Trying to rewrite history, Moscow is simply looking for arguments to justify the mass murders of Ukrainians,” he wrote.

Lavrov was also condemned by the head of Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Dani Dayan.

"Most of his remarks are absurd, delusional, dangerous and deserving of any condemnation," he tweeted. "Lavrov deals with the reversal of the Holocaust: turning the victims into criminals, based on the promotion of a completely unfounded claim that Hitler was of Jewish descent."

In recent months, the Israeli government has faced some criticism for not taking a tough enough line with President Putin but the recent comments from Russia might change Israel's stance.

For decades there have been unproven claims that Hitler's unidentified paternal grandfather was Jewish, after an assertion by Hitler's lawyer Hans Frank.

In his memoir, published in 1953, Frank said he had been instructed by Hitler to investigate rumours that he had Jewish ancestry. Frank said he uncovered evidence that Hitler's grandfather was indeed Jewish - but the claim has never been corroborated by historians.

Parish, 65, stepped down after what he described as a moment of “madness”.

 

Neil Parish from the governing Conservative Party admitted the offence and resigned.

 

Parish, a member of Parliament since 2010, announced his decision on Saturday after pressure from members of his own party who sought to defuse sleaze allegations before the UK holds its local elections on May 5, Aljazeera reports.

 

The ballot is seen as pivotal for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is already facing a voter backlash over lockdown-breaking parties in government offices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Parish, 65, stepped down after what he described as a moment of “madness”. Parish, chairman of the house’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said he was trying to look at a tractor website, but stumbled into a p#rn site with a similar name and watched it for “a bit”.

 

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Parish’s resignation should be a moment for people across the UK to say “enough is enough."

 

“I don’t think there could really be any other outcome to what has come to light about this particular MP over the last few days,” she said. “Watching p#rn on a mobile phone in the House of Commons when you’re there representing constituents is just unacceptable.”

 

Shortly after the prayers, President Buhari and his wife, Aisha, hosted some of their children, grandchildren, relatives and aides at the statehouse.

See photos below:

No fewer than 23 persons including children were said to have been rescued alive.

The occupants were said to be in their various apartments when the building suddenly collapsed and trapped some of them.

Immediately, emergency agencies were alerted as some residents resorted to self help by searching the rubble to rescue the trapped victims.

Emergency agencies including the NEMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, among others rushed to the scene and commenced a search and rescue operation for the victims.The acting coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the death of four occupants, adding that the collapsed structure had been marked for demolition.

He said, “Another three-storey building, on Lagos Street, about 200 metres away from the current scene has shown signs of distress with part throwing pebbles and falling off.

“The building had also been marked as distressed but the occupants were deviant.

However, the building has been re-sealed and occupants evacuated by officers of Lagos State Buildings Control Agency.

“Four deaths including two male and two female. 23 people have been rescued alive including seven children and 16 adults. Another young man, Tahin, has just been recovered, making five deaths.”

The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement late Sunday, had said some of the injured victims were rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment.

He said, “On arrival at the incident scene, an old three-storey building comprising rooms and parlour was discovered to have collapsed.

Further information gathered revealed that the incident occurred around 10.56pm with an undetermined number of people trapped.

“A search and rescue operation is ongoing. 20 rescued alive and out of the victims rescued, two sustained severe injuries and have been taken to LASUTH for further treatment,” he said.

 

ASUU said Buhari failed Nigerians in many ways.

 

The union made this disclosure on Sunday.

 

Recall that Buhari was elected as President of Nigeria on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. He was re-elected in 2019.

 

ASUU has, however, said that the president has failed the electorate in many ways.

 

The union in a statement signed by Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter of ASUU, Professor Ayo Akinwole, enjoined Nigerians to elect a leader who can protect them in 2023.

 

Akinwole in his May Day press statement to felicitate with workers, asked Nigerian workers to rise and resist a system that exposed them to suffering.

 

He advised Buhari to toe the path of honour and sign the agreements which will improve the working conditions and make universities in the country look like a real knowledge ecosystem.

 

He added that citizenship in the Nigerian state has been compromised due to the wrong attitude of the government that does not see the need to promote integration.

 

Akinwole, who spoke further explained that the current administration lacked the capacity to unite the country.

 

He said, “This administration has failed Nigerians in the following ways: Non implementation of minimum wage policy of the government by all the states; inappropriate payment platform of salary, which denies workers the opportunity to plan for the future.

 

“Embargo on employment in federal universities has turned workers to slaves; workers have become hopeless because there is no succession plan; High level of insecurity has negatively affected safety of life and properties, Political instability in Nigeria more than ever before this government polarized the country along religion and ethnicity.

 

“Citizenship in the Nigerian state has been compromised due to the wrong attitude of the government that does not see the need to promote integration; The current administration lacks the capacity to unite the country and provide needed forum for the future; and Our youth have become negatively aggressive and have given in to moral lapses.

 

“Nigerian people have been abandoned to the elements, to bandits and terrorists, to disease and scarcity. They are fed with words on empty stomachs and are nourished with promises that are never kept.”

As of the time of filing this report, many occupants of the building are still trapped under the rubble as citizens make efforts to rescue them.

However, divasblogpoint can authoritatively confirm that two people have been brought out alive from under the rubble at press time; a young boy and an aged man who sustained injury on his head.