It is pathetic that a President who never fails to remind us of his academic achievement of having a Ph.D in Zoology fails to realize that the measly 3% of the budget allocated to education is a barbaric rebellion against the 26% proposed by the United Nations for developing countries.
Only N35 billion is for capital projects in the education sector and over N350 billion for the National Assembly!
Click here to join the discussion on this topic on Nairaland.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
11 Hot Jobs for 2011
Jan 18, 2011 03:55 ET
Eleven Hot Jobs for 2011
LONDON, January 18, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
- New Robert Half Salary Guides Identify Finance, Accounting and Financial Services Roles Poised for Growth
The New Year brings new hopes of continued economic recovery and job creation and new research may provide clues as to the positions in demand within the finance, accounting and financial services industries. According to the 2011 Robert Half Salary Guides, many roles show promise for the coming year with salaries returning to pre-recessionary levels.
"With companies focused on growth initiatives, accounting and finance continues to remain at the forefront as a means to manage expenditures, improve efficiencies and favourably position organisations for the upswing," said Phil Sheridan, managing director for Robert Half UK. "Despite high unemployment figures, companies report difficulties sourcing highly skilled professionals, particularly in regulatory compliance, audit and general accounting. Job candidates who bring multiple skill sets, a track record of success and a strong sense of accountability will see compensation gains in the year ahead."
Following is an overview of 11 top finance and accounting jobs for 2011:
Commerce & Industry:
1) Financial Accountant - The downturn provided the finance function a seat at the decision-making table, with companies turning to sound financial processes to weather the unstable economic environment. As we emerge, businesses continue to seek candidates who can perform fundamental duties, such as maintaining the general ledger, compiling financial reports and managing cash flow. A qualified financial accountant with 6-9 years of experience in a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) in London can expect to see a salary range between GBP50,000 and GBP55,000.
2) Financial Analyst - As companies are increasingly seeking professionals with strong commerciality and business savvy, financial analysts who can assess borrowing structures to ensure competitive funding costs will be in demand. Individuals with expertise in evaluating financial plans, forecasts and budgets while also displaying exceptional communication skills will be in greatest demand. A financial analyst with 3-5 years of experience at a large company in the Midlands can expect to earn between GBP35,000 and GBP45,000.
3) Credit Controller - Companies need professionals who can contribute to the bottom line by reducing inefficiencies and enhancing profitability. As a result, credit specialists who can assist in the evaluation of credit risk, manage delinquent payments and help improve cash flow are seeing increased opportunity. Base compensation for credit controllers with 3-5 years of experience working at an SME in South Wales will average between GBP14,000 and GBP18,000.
4) Assistant Accountant - With hiring freezes lifting and organisations adding headcount to over-stretched accounting teams, companies are recognising employees by promoting from within. The result is additional opportunity for entry-level roles for individuals displaying exceptional data entry skills and an attention to detail. Assistant accountants are required to match invoices to purchase orders and assist with accounts payable and receivable. Those looking to enter the field with an SME on the South Coast can expect remuneration between GBP17,000 and GBP19,000.
5) Financial Controller - Commerciality and a greater understanding of how the finance function fits within the strategic decision-making process has prompted the need for financial controllers who can plan and direct operational accounting functions, improve efficiencies, evaluate controls and develop business performance metrics while also moving the business forward. A financial controller with 6-9 years of experience at a large company in Northern England will see a base salary between GBP47,000 and GBP55,000.
6) Purchase Ledger Clerk - Challenges in managing cash flow has prompted companies to increasingly rely on credit to ensure business processes remain on track. Purchase ledger clerks have seen increased demand as organisations carefully monitor business records and ensure that they do not default on payments. London-based purchase ledger clerks with 6-9 years of experience at an SME can expect basic compensation in the GBP26,000-GBP27,000 range.
Financial Services & Banking (London City)
7) Regulatory Accountant - A more stringent regulatory environment and greater need for operational transparency has prompted the adoption of consolidated and harmonised compliance controls. While demand for regulatory accountants has increased, supply remains scarce - 16% of UK CFOs report challenges securing compliance skills, well above the global average. Regulatory accountants with 4-7 years of experience should expect to earn between GBP70,000 and GBP90,000 in 2011.
8) Internal Auditors - Audit continues to be in strong demand in the post-recessionary environment, however a shortage of skilled talent exists - one in four UK CFOs report challenges finding audit professionals who can prepare reports, evaluate business processes, improve procedures and perform project management of audit teams. Internal auditors with 1-3 years of post qualification industry experience can expect remuneration in the range of GBP55,000 - GBP65,000.
9) Financial Planning Analyst - With a focus on maximising profitability and identifying emerging trends, financial planning analysts are required to analyse product lines and organisational costs, prepare profit and loss models and perform budget variance and forecasting analysis. Nearly four in 10 (37%) financial services CFOs are challenged in finding qualified accounting and finance staff and a competitive job market means that managers can expect to see base salary in the range of GBP80,000 to GBP90,000.
10) Assistant Management Accountant - The financial services sector is also looking for assistant management accountants with industry experience to help analyse budgets and forecasts as well as provide detailed information and reporting to allow management to make informed business decisions. The role is often held by part-qualified ACCA and CIMA candidates, and with 3-5 years experience, professionals should expect to earn between GBP30,000 and GBP40,000.
11) Client Services - Throughout the banking crisis, the need to provide exceptional client service was never more apparent. As organisations now turn their attention to growth initiatives and revenue generation, client onboarding is increasingly important and demand exists for professionals with exceptional communication and relationship-building skills. Professionals with 4-6 years of experience will be compensated with a base salary between GBP40,000 and GBP55,000.
About the Robert Half 2011 Salary Guides
The Robert Half salary surveys include the 2011 Robert Half Salary Guide for accounting and finance and the 2011 Robert Half Financial Services Group Salary Guide for the banking and capital markets sector. Together, the guides contain salary data for more than 300 positions segmented by company size, geography and level of experience. Since 1950, companies have consulted the yearly guides from Robert Half to determine starting compensation levels for their employees. To download the guides, visit http://www.roberthalf.co.uk/salary-guide.
About Robert Half
Robert Half pioneered specialised staffing services and today is the world's leader in the field. Founded in 1948, the company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: RHI) and operates five separate divisions in the UK, each serving distinct markets. They include: Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam, for administrative support, Robert Half Financial Services Group, for finance and banking professionals and Robert Half Technology, for IT professionals.
There are more than 350 Robert Half locations in North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about Robert Half please visit: http://www.roberthalf.co.uk
http://www.roberthalf.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/roberthalfuk
Source: Robert Half
Phil Sheridan, Managing Director of Robert Half UK, is available for further comment. In order to arrange an interview, please contact Kristie Perrotte on +44(0)20-7331-2222 or email kristie.perrotte@rhi.net
Eleven Hot Jobs for 2011
LONDON, January 18, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
- New Robert Half Salary Guides Identify Finance, Accounting and Financial Services Roles Poised for Growth
The New Year brings new hopes of continued economic recovery and job creation and new research may provide clues as to the positions in demand within the finance, accounting and financial services industries. According to the 2011 Robert Half Salary Guides, many roles show promise for the coming year with salaries returning to pre-recessionary levels.
"With companies focused on growth initiatives, accounting and finance continues to remain at the forefront as a means to manage expenditures, improve efficiencies and favourably position organisations for the upswing," said Phil Sheridan, managing director for Robert Half UK. "Despite high unemployment figures, companies report difficulties sourcing highly skilled professionals, particularly in regulatory compliance, audit and general accounting. Job candidates who bring multiple skill sets, a track record of success and a strong sense of accountability will see compensation gains in the year ahead."
Following is an overview of 11 top finance and accounting jobs for 2011:
Commerce & Industry:
1) Financial Accountant - The downturn provided the finance function a seat at the decision-making table, with companies turning to sound financial processes to weather the unstable economic environment. As we emerge, businesses continue to seek candidates who can perform fundamental duties, such as maintaining the general ledger, compiling financial reports and managing cash flow. A qualified financial accountant with 6-9 years of experience in a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) in London can expect to see a salary range between GBP50,000 and GBP55,000.
2) Financial Analyst - As companies are increasingly seeking professionals with strong commerciality and business savvy, financial analysts who can assess borrowing structures to ensure competitive funding costs will be in demand. Individuals with expertise in evaluating financial plans, forecasts and budgets while also displaying exceptional communication skills will be in greatest demand. A financial analyst with 3-5 years of experience at a large company in the Midlands can expect to earn between GBP35,000 and GBP45,000.
3) Credit Controller - Companies need professionals who can contribute to the bottom line by reducing inefficiencies and enhancing profitability. As a result, credit specialists who can assist in the evaluation of credit risk, manage delinquent payments and help improve cash flow are seeing increased opportunity. Base compensation for credit controllers with 3-5 years of experience working at an SME in South Wales will average between GBP14,000 and GBP18,000.
4) Assistant Accountant - With hiring freezes lifting and organisations adding headcount to over-stretched accounting teams, companies are recognising employees by promoting from within. The result is additional opportunity for entry-level roles for individuals displaying exceptional data entry skills and an attention to detail. Assistant accountants are required to match invoices to purchase orders and assist with accounts payable and receivable. Those looking to enter the field with an SME on the South Coast can expect remuneration between GBP17,000 and GBP19,000.
5) Financial Controller - Commerciality and a greater understanding of how the finance function fits within the strategic decision-making process has prompted the need for financial controllers who can plan and direct operational accounting functions, improve efficiencies, evaluate controls and develop business performance metrics while also moving the business forward. A financial controller with 6-9 years of experience at a large company in Northern England will see a base salary between GBP47,000 and GBP55,000.
6) Purchase Ledger Clerk - Challenges in managing cash flow has prompted companies to increasingly rely on credit to ensure business processes remain on track. Purchase ledger clerks have seen increased demand as organisations carefully monitor business records and ensure that they do not default on payments. London-based purchase ledger clerks with 6-9 years of experience at an SME can expect basic compensation in the GBP26,000-GBP27,000 range.
Financial Services & Banking (London City)
7) Regulatory Accountant - A more stringent regulatory environment and greater need for operational transparency has prompted the adoption of consolidated and harmonised compliance controls. While demand for regulatory accountants has increased, supply remains scarce - 16% of UK CFOs report challenges securing compliance skills, well above the global average. Regulatory accountants with 4-7 years of experience should expect to earn between GBP70,000 and GBP90,000 in 2011.
8) Internal Auditors - Audit continues to be in strong demand in the post-recessionary environment, however a shortage of skilled talent exists - one in four UK CFOs report challenges finding audit professionals who can prepare reports, evaluate business processes, improve procedures and perform project management of audit teams. Internal auditors with 1-3 years of post qualification industry experience can expect remuneration in the range of GBP55,000 - GBP65,000.
9) Financial Planning Analyst - With a focus on maximising profitability and identifying emerging trends, financial planning analysts are required to analyse product lines and organisational costs, prepare profit and loss models and perform budget variance and forecasting analysis. Nearly four in 10 (37%) financial services CFOs are challenged in finding qualified accounting and finance staff and a competitive job market means that managers can expect to see base salary in the range of GBP80,000 to GBP90,000.
10) Assistant Management Accountant - The financial services sector is also looking for assistant management accountants with industry experience to help analyse budgets and forecasts as well as provide detailed information and reporting to allow management to make informed business decisions. The role is often held by part-qualified ACCA and CIMA candidates, and with 3-5 years experience, professionals should expect to earn between GBP30,000 and GBP40,000.
11) Client Services - Throughout the banking crisis, the need to provide exceptional client service was never more apparent. As organisations now turn their attention to growth initiatives and revenue generation, client onboarding is increasingly important and demand exists for professionals with exceptional communication and relationship-building skills. Professionals with 4-6 years of experience will be compensated with a base salary between GBP40,000 and GBP55,000.
About the Robert Half 2011 Salary Guides
The Robert Half salary surveys include the 2011 Robert Half Salary Guide for accounting and finance and the 2011 Robert Half Financial Services Group Salary Guide for the banking and capital markets sector. Together, the guides contain salary data for more than 300 positions segmented by company size, geography and level of experience. Since 1950, companies have consulted the yearly guides from Robert Half to determine starting compensation levels for their employees. To download the guides, visit http://www.roberthalf.co.uk/salary-guide.
About Robert Half
Robert Half pioneered specialised staffing services and today is the world's leader in the field. Founded in 1948, the company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: RHI) and operates five separate divisions in the UK, each serving distinct markets. They include: Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam, for administrative support, Robert Half Financial Services Group, for finance and banking professionals and Robert Half Technology, for IT professionals.
There are more than 350 Robert Half locations in North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. For more information about Robert Half please visit: http://www.roberthalf.co.uk
http://www.roberthalf.co.uk
http://www.twitter.com/roberthalfuk
Source: Robert Half
Phil Sheridan, Managing Director of Robert Half UK, is available for further comment. In order to arrange an interview, please contact Kristie Perrotte on +44(0)20-7331-2222 or email kristie.perrotte@rhi.net
Mrs. Waziri, Why Many Nigerian Civil Servants Work for Themselves Rather Than For the Nation?
Mrs. Waziri, Why Many Nigerian Civil Servants Work for Themselves Rather Than For the Nation?
In a few days the EFCC is reportedly set to aggressively put into practice Section 7 (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act which allows for “investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that a person’s life style and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income”.
Madam, at the time of this writing a significant number of Nigerians live in poverty, and this you know as there are many hard working rank and file men and women in the police force where the salary scale remain markedly disgraceful for the constables especially. Madam, if truth be told a high number of Nigerians still live below one dollar on a daily basis.
As to those that work for public agencies, the salary structure is generally not as competitive as the pay system in the private sector, yet we see an alarming number of Nigerian officials both current and past in the public sector or agencies living the lives of millionaires and billionaires, as evidenced by your own recent words.
Madam, from the point of criminological and social analysis, you will agree that poverty and other various forms of socio-economic challenges abound in the rural areas of Nigeria, and ironically the faces of stolen wealth by dishonest Civil or public servants reveal themselves through different images and ways.
Amidst residencies in the rural communities, one sees mansions, and many of them are owned by current or out of service government workers. While it is quite known that there is a vacuum of adequate transportation in rural areas, with bikes being in frequency, it is not unusual to see highly expensive cars in some of these villages. At night, many rural residents lit up their candles and lamps while the government crooks, use stolen public money and waste it on huge and noisy generators.
The provision of adequate roads remains void in many rural areas but for the unusually rich public servant, he or she build roads and name the streets after their personal names.
In the last five to ten years, some dishonest civil servants have become sudden and unofficial bachelors as they lodge stolen monies in foreign banks buy impressive homes with their wives or husbands as well as their children living in them. Many of them periodically travel to the U. S. A; U. K, Canada, and the Caribbean on the pretext for a course or vacation, in order to renew their mates reproductive organ, and also for the purpose of given a new birth outside Nigeria’s decaying public health systems.
Among the public servants who live in high-level population areas and cities within Nigeria, they waste stolen monies on newly built houses, and buy public transportations, and rent them out for more money while they live in residences supported by government allowances.
Madam, you should dig deep fully into this matter by working closely with the Nigerian immigration office, and all foreign embassies, in Nigeria as they will be very helpful in regards to revealing the true identities of those dishonest public servants who send their pregnant wives abroad just to deliver their babies, so as to make them dual or “oyibo” children.
These public servants as part of their dishonest backgrounds usually have multiple official addresses, identities or pictures, in Nigerian banks where they are shielded by corrupt bank officials.
Madam, for those dishonest civil servants that the EFCC is able to successfully prosecute and brought to justice, as part of their punishment persuade the magistrates or judges to send some of them to provide professional or technical services to areas like the back of the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos where not less than 500 homeless people reportedly reside with some living on forty kobo daily.
Madam , many thank you, and we urge you to continue to make this issue of corruption fight a social and spiritual responsibility of yours, and history will remember how best you tried to clean up Nigeria for the average citizen.
~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida.joshodi@broward.edu
In a few days the EFCC is reportedly set to aggressively put into practice Section 7 (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act which allows for “investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the Commission that a person’s life style and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income”.
Madam, at the time of this writing a significant number of Nigerians live in poverty, and this you know as there are many hard working rank and file men and women in the police force where the salary scale remain markedly disgraceful for the constables especially. Madam, if truth be told a high number of Nigerians still live below one dollar on a daily basis.
As to those that work for public agencies, the salary structure is generally not as competitive as the pay system in the private sector, yet we see an alarming number of Nigerian officials both current and past in the public sector or agencies living the lives of millionaires and billionaires, as evidenced by your own recent words.
Madam, from the point of criminological and social analysis, you will agree that poverty and other various forms of socio-economic challenges abound in the rural areas of Nigeria, and ironically the faces of stolen wealth by dishonest Civil or public servants reveal themselves through different images and ways.
Amidst residencies in the rural communities, one sees mansions, and many of them are owned by current or out of service government workers. While it is quite known that there is a vacuum of adequate transportation in rural areas, with bikes being in frequency, it is not unusual to see highly expensive cars in some of these villages. At night, many rural residents lit up their candles and lamps while the government crooks, use stolen public money and waste it on huge and noisy generators.
The provision of adequate roads remains void in many rural areas but for the unusually rich public servant, he or she build roads and name the streets after their personal names.
In the last five to ten years, some dishonest civil servants have become sudden and unofficial bachelors as they lodge stolen monies in foreign banks buy impressive homes with their wives or husbands as well as their children living in them. Many of them periodically travel to the U. S. A; U. K, Canada, and the Caribbean on the pretext for a course or vacation, in order to renew their mates reproductive organ, and also for the purpose of given a new birth outside Nigeria’s decaying public health systems.
Among the public servants who live in high-level population areas and cities within Nigeria, they waste stolen monies on newly built houses, and buy public transportations, and rent them out for more money while they live in residences supported by government allowances.
Madam, you should dig deep fully into this matter by working closely with the Nigerian immigration office, and all foreign embassies, in Nigeria as they will be very helpful in regards to revealing the true identities of those dishonest public servants who send their pregnant wives abroad just to deliver their babies, so as to make them dual or “oyibo” children.
These public servants as part of their dishonest backgrounds usually have multiple official addresses, identities or pictures, in Nigerian banks where they are shielded by corrupt bank officials.
Madam, for those dishonest civil servants that the EFCC is able to successfully prosecute and brought to justice, as part of their punishment persuade the magistrates or judges to send some of them to provide professional or technical services to areas like the back of the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos where not less than 500 homeless people reportedly reside with some living on forty kobo daily.
Madam , many thank you, and we urge you to continue to make this issue of corruption fight a social and spiritual responsibility of yours, and history will remember how best you tried to clean up Nigeria for the average citizen.
~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida.joshodi@broward.edu
Monday, January 17, 2011
2011 Presidency: What If The Contest Begins With A Wrestling Match Between Jonathan And Ribadu In Public, Then The Debates?
Nuhu Ribadu
2011 Presidency: What If The Contest Begins With A Wrestling Match
Between Jonathan And Ribadu In Public, Then The Debates?
In recent times the life blood of politics and elections in Nigeria has become openly physical, partly because of the unusual power struggle between politicians.These types of fights amongst political aspirants or leaders in the country will be surpassed by a new one as we are about to see now and this recommended fight will be between Jonathan
and Ribadu.
Goodluck JonathanJonathan and Ribadu will be drawn to a wrestle under a written consent, and the fight must be fully expected by Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora.
We all know the grim nature of Nigerian problems at this time, as well as the struggles that continue to confront the people.
In particular, we now know a system of free and fair election is a major problem in Nigeria, as Attahiru Jega and INEC recently experienced with the text case of Delta’s recent gubernatorial election, however, that should not stop us from trying to make it better.
We will all admit that in a complex society like Nigeria with its numerous social, political, institutional and infrastructural problems, there is need for a leader who is both physically and intellectually strong. Brothers and Sisters, what better way to show one’s physical strength than through a show of manliness and a feat of strength which could only come through a flesh and blood type of fight such as an all-out wrestling between J and R.
The wrestling match should be a onetime fight in a major public ground, and while the nation expects both a winner and a loser out of the fight, the goal of the mêlée should not be about the destruction or disqualification of an opponent as they must both be ready for the series of intellectual debates that will follow.
Again, they should fight first and let’s see who will recover fully as that will be one indication of a show of persistence, and vigor which will be required as they vie for the control of the presidency. It takes energy to fully face the tide of debates, especially when the debates must shift across the federal capital, different states, and rural areas. No excuses, as the people across the country deserve such
openness.
In some of these places, there will be rough roads, heat from generators, poor air conditioning, damaged areas and other bad positions which are not unusual to average Nigerians. Both J and R must be psychologically ready to fight through these commonplace hassles and hazards as they set out to debate for the presidency.
Through this all-new way of rolling out national debate in front of the people, everyone can quickly ascertain which one of these front-runners has the energy to bear the desperation and pressure carried by many in the country on a daily basis.
During the debates, we will witness the intellectual rigor of J and R, and determine who is the intellectual lightweight or intellectual heavyweight? Unlike anything else, there will be no room for a draw in the fight as the citizens will be looking for a clear winner or loser in the daylight brawl as well as debates. We know they will argue about economic, education, healthcare, security and other institutional reforms, but first we must determine who among them has the fighting spirit and competitive power to handle an irregular nation like Nigeria.
The nation is in need for a non-violent and institutional revolution, and one of them must unleash the physical and intellectual energies that will be needed to clean the country, and guide the hopes and needs of the people.The problems of challenging the results of the fight, and any of the pre-April debates will be unnecessary as everything will be in the public sphere followed by instant judgment. The results will be more credible and transparent unlike the actual April election which as will all know could be mired in fraud.
Nigerians live in an extraordinary time, and it is now up to Attahiru Jega to set the date for the all-out wrestle and the subsequent debates. But to ensure the democratic process, let the likes of Jonathan, Ribadu, Buhari, Shekarau, Utomi and others join in the April Presidential election with the hope that INEC will work towards
ensuring a minimal atmosphere of impartiality as no election is perfect.
Again, before anything else, let the apparent two popular politicians, Jonathan and Ribadu take the lead through push-downs and takedowns within a contest that is certainly more of a perfect match, then Jega can take it from that point. Best of wishes to the people.
~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a Forensic/ClinicalPsychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Science, North Campus, Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu
Have you tried the Nokia Ovi Life Tools in Nigeria?
I started using the Ovi Life Tools since last Saturday, to see how useful they are and found them engaging for having the latest updates of facts on Health, Education, Agriculture and Entertainment for my news and information blogs.
The Ovi Life Tools were launched in Nigeria last November, 2010, after the successful introductions in India, Indonesia and China.
Ovi Life Tools is a first step toward extending the advantages of today’s digital economy to the whole world at cheaper rates so that everyone can afford the service.
The service has been of immense benefit to over 7 million users so far. Farmers in rural areas in Asia use the tool for agriculture to get vital information on the weather and crops.
Presently the Nokia Ovi Life Tools in Nigeria will be offered on the Nokia 2690 and on the Nokia C1-01 through Zain/Airtel and Glo Mobile, at the affordable prices of N250 for the agriculture service and N200 per month for all other subscriptions and will soon be on MTN.
The service will be available countrywide in Nigeria in three languages – English, Hausa and Pidgin English.
Once activated the service on their phones, it will be free of charge for one service for the next one month. Note that there are 4 services: Agriculture, Healthcare, Entertainment, and Education. The 1 month free service is for only one of these services of their choice. If they choose to activate the 4 services, they will be charged for 3 while the 4 th will be free.
The healthcare service include information and advice on mother & childcare, health, fitness and diseases. Users can tailor the service to their needs by entering their sex, age and other relevant details. The agriculture service allows subscribers to specify the crops or commodities they’re interested in, their location and the preferred language for messages. English learning can be provided in Easy, Medium and Difficult levels, according to the user’s proficiency. The entertainment services includes local and international football information (personalised around the subscriber’s favourite team), music, entertainment news and jokes.
Go try the Ovi Life Tools and Enjoy 24/7.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OVI LIFE TOOLS IN NIGERIA
Q: What is Nokia’s Ovi Life tools?
A: Nokia’s Ovi Life Tools is a suite of personally relevant information services providing regular localized information related to Agriculture, Healthcare, Education and Entertainment. The service is designed to work without the need for any GPRS plans or settings, as the updates are delivered via SMS to the OLT inbox in a graphically rich easy to read format in the user’s local language.
Q: Are all of these services/areas be available in Nigeria?
A: Yes, the Ovi Life Tools offering in Nigeria will consist of the Agriculture, Healthcare, Education and Entertainment services.
Q: What do these services actually offer?
A: The services offer the following to users:
Healthcare Services: (total of 7 subscription services)
• Mother & Child
o Subscription service #1: Pregnancy advice – This service keeps the user informed on what to expect from pregnancy and parenthood along with the nutritional and developmental needs of oneself during the entire course of pregnancy. Information delivered to the user is specific to the week of pregnancy and geography determined by the expected date of delivery and the location (6 geographical zones in Nigeria) provided by the user.
o Subscription service #2: Child care advice – The service provides information on the nutritional, hygiene, immunization, and developmental needs of the child linked to the important milestones related to child growth up to 5 years of age. Health tips are relevant to the age of the child determined by the Date of Birth input by the parent.
• Health and Fitness
o Subscription service #3: Women’s Health – The user will receive gender, region and age specific health tips on nutrition, hygiene, fitness and well being to help the user stay fit. Daily content delivered in local language specific to the age of the user.
o Subscription service #4: Men’s Health - The user will receive gender, region and age specific health tips on nutrition, hygiene, fitness and well being to help the user stay fit. Daily content delivered in local language specific to the age of the user.
• Disease Information
• Daily health tips to user based on the important disease conditions prevalent in the geography. Information will help user in prevention, prolonging onset and living better with the condition. Health tips related to medical, co-morbidities, lifestyle, fitness and safety based on the condition chosen by the user. In keeping with the healthcare industry practices, the tips are preventive in nature and not diagnostic or prescriptive advice is offered.
Agriculture Services:
• The Agri service covers the 25 major crops/commodities at launch. More will be progressively added. Market Prices for 111 marketplaces in Nigeria, with 3 market places for each state in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
• There is one agriculture subscription service which packages the news & tips, weather and market prices. The user makes the selection of the 3 crops/commodities that she wishes to be informed regularly about. This hyper local service is personalized to those 3 crops for user’s region.
1. News & Tips: The user will receive daily crop tips based on the choice of crop/commodity and agriculture news that is relevant to the location of the user. The crop tips are hyper localized advice based on crop life cycle & agro climatic aspects prevalent in the user’s location. Tips also will contain best practices & techniques around increasing the yield of the crop/commodity.
• Market Prices: The user will receive market prices twice a week for a choice of 3 crops/commodities from 3 nearby & relevant markets for the crop/commodity.
• Weather: The user will receive weather forecast for the day specific to the location. The weather information will include general outlook around Temperature, Rainfall, Humidity & Wind.
Education Services:
• Learn English – This service allows users to learn Conversational English with the help of their local language via daily messages. The service comes with a choice of three levels - Easy, Medium & Difficult allowing the users choice of learning levels. The service also allows choice of languages – English, English with Hausa and English with Pidgin. The learning outcomes of the Easy level are 70% common conversational words and 30% common phrases using simple sentences; the learning outcomes of Medium level are 30% intermediate vocabulary, 40% common phrases and 30% on constructs like verbs, tenses etc.. using simple sentences, while the Difficult level focuses on 50% on advanced vocabulary and 50% on constructs like verbs, tenses etc.. using intermediate sentences. Each of the three levels – Easy, Medium, Difficult are separate subscription services to enable the users to choose the service based on their current knowledge.
• General Knowledge - This service allows users to keep themselves updated with general knowledge, important information and vital facts about their state, country and the world via daily messages. This service focuses 60% on region or state level, 30% on national level and 10% international information.
• Exam Results – This service allows users to get their exam results for WAEC by providing their registration number.
Entertainment Services:
• Football: This service allows users to keep themselves updated on the latest happenings around their favorite football club. The daily updates will be around news, match dates, transfers, gossip etc. around the club and the players. On match days, the users will receive 8 updates during the match time spaced from start to end of the match covering key items like goals, score updates, penalties and final result. The users have a choice of 12 football clubs, national and international.
• Music: This service allows the user access to a variety of music services like MonoTones, TrueTones, PolyTones categorized into Naija Top 10, World Top 10, HipHop, Oldies, Gospel etc.
• News: This service allows the user to keep up-to-date with the latest International, National and Sports news.
• Horoscope: This service allows user to access daily predictions based on Sun Signs of choice.
• Jokes: This service allows user access to a daily dose of humor in the form of jokes.
• Entertainment Gist: This service allows user to keep up-to-date on the gossip around the entertainment industry and popular personalities.
Q. Why do you say Ovi Life Tools is personalized and hyper local?
A: The learning and information services in Ovi Life Tools are specific to user profile and choices making them personalized and hyper local. Various services allow relevant personalization by users, for example:
• The agriculture services allow the user to specify the crop/commodity of choice, location and language of messages.
• In healthcare services the user is allowed to input details like Gender, Date of Birth and relevant details (expected date of delivery or last menstrual period) to personalize the service content to exactly match the profile of the user. The user also has the choice of language of content for all services and location for pregnancy, men’s & women’s health.
• In education services, for Learn English the user can choose the level of difficulty of learning English by subscribing to Easy, Medium and Difficult levels based on their current proficiency in the language. Furthermore, the user can choose to learn English with via English or English + Hausa or English + Pidgin.
• In entertainment services, for Football the user has a choice of 12 popular football clubs to choose from and similar choice are available in other entertainment services too like Sun Signs in Horoscope, wide range of options in Music, etc...
Q: Which Operators will support Nokia’s Ovi Life Tools in Nigeria?
A: We will support all operators to ensure the benefits of the service are available to all mobile users in Nigeria. To start with, Zain/Airtel and Glo Mobile are live. We are in discussions with other operators and will endeavor to work with them to get the benefits of Life Tools to a larger base of mobile users in Nigeria.
Q. In which languages is this service be available?
A: The service content will be available English, Hausa and Pidgin English. .
Q. Is Ovi Life Tools be available to the whole of Nigeria?
A: Yes, Nokia’s Ovi Life Tools is available nationwide in Nigeria.
Q: Is this available on all Nokia devices in Nigeria ?
A: The Nokia Ovi Life Tools service in Nigeria is available on select Nokia devices. It will initially be pre-installed on the Nokia 2690 and the Nokia C1-01. The service will be available on additional Series 40 & Series 30 devices in 2011.
Q: When did you start working on this project in Nigeria?
A: We have been working on this project since the second half of 2009.
Q: Why do you think this service will be popular in Nigeria?
A: OLT addresses the basic needs of people. Aside from this, the service aims to improve people’s livelihood. It will also provide information which will help people make informed decisions that will improve their lives.
Q: What type of support have you had from the Government in Nigeria?
A: Courtesy visits were made to the management team of Nigeria’s telecom industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as well to the Minister of Information (which is the supervisory ministry of NCC), Prof. Dora Akunyili, in September 2010, during which they were briefed on the OLT service. They are very excited about the service and we will work together to take the partnership further.
Q: What are Nokia’s expectations for take up of the service in Nigeria and by when?
A: Based on our experience in other markets, we are confident that Nigeria consumers will find this service attractive and affordable. We will start off slowly with only a few devices linked to the service and add more next year. We will take continuous feedback from the market and constantly improve the service.
Q: Aren't these low-end phones on which OLT is being offered no longer meeting demand - even in rural areas - for multimedia touch devices at affordable prices?
A: It is important that we deliver the total solutions at an affordable price, so we are starting with some of the well known and affordable devices. We will add a larger range of devices in the future giving consumers even more choices.
FACTS ON SMS
Despite the flexibility of email and the ever-so-fashionable Twitter, SMS (text) messages remain the most popular messaging choice of mobile phone users around the world. Here are five textual facts:
The first text message was sent on December 3, 1992 using the UK’s Vodafone network. It read ‘Merry Christmas’.
Six per cent of texts are never read by their recipients.
Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology found that texting was addictive as smoking, with around a fifth of people suffering increased heart rate and anxiety levels when deprived of their phones.
Around 2.5 trillion text messages were sent worldwide in 2008 – a 20 percent increase from 2007.
The phrase used in Guinness World Record speed texting attempts is “The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.” Time to beat? 41.4 seconds.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Eko International Film Festival gets underway
Eko Int’l. filmfest gets underway
~ By Iyabo AINA
President of the Eko International Film Festival, Mr. Hope Opara has announced a new date for the hosting of this year’s edition of the epoch-making festival.
The festival, which will open the floodgate of events for this new season, is coming up between July between 9th and 14th of July, 2011, in Lagos.
Mr. Opara, who is also the Managing Director/CEO of Flonnal Limited and Supple Communications Limited said, this year’s festival will witness a huge participation from film makers from across the world, including Albania , France ,Spain ,Canada ,Algeria ,Germany ,U.K.,Kenya and Nigeria.
Mr. Hope Obioma Opara
He also noted that unlike other film festivals organised in the country, the Eko Film festival promises to be different in terms of organisation, participation and content.
According to him, Eko filmfest. is yearly organised to appreciate as well promote the nation’s motion picture industry and also the tourism in Lagos State.
As the President of the film festival, Mr. Opara reiterated his commitment towards promoting the sustainable development and advancement of the motion picture industry in Nigeria and the rest of the world.
“I want Nigerian film makers to improve the quality of their movies to world class standards.
Click here to read the full report
Friday, January 14, 2011
Presidential Primary is the celebration of Jonathan and the humiliation of Atiku
A happy President Goodluck Jonathan
The presidential primary of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was the celebration of the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and the humiliation of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Jonathan won the presidential primary on Thursday January 13, 2010, in the Federal Capital of Abuja by a landslide as he thoroughly defeated his two opponents Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president of the most populous country in Africa and Mrs. Sarah Jibril. Mr. Jonathan had 2,736 votes compared to Abubakar's 805. Mrs. Jibril had only a single vote.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
Mr. Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the PDP will now confront more formidable opponents from the opposing parties in the April presidential elections.
"He has not prepared himself to govern. He found himself accidentally as a president, and power being what it is, insists on continuing to govern," Abubakar said last Wednesday, but the majority of the delegates seemed to have ignored his criticisms and overwhelmingly rejected him.
PanAfrican Capital Plc appoints new Directors
PanAfrican Capital Plc appoints new Directors
PanAfrican Capital Plc, one of the emerging players in Investment Banking, in the nation’s Capital Market held its last Annual General Meeting on December 3, 2010 and ratified the appointment of three (3) Directors on its Board. They are Professor Peter Nwangwu, Mr. Lanre Odunlami, and Mr. Chuks Ekpunobi:
Professor Peter Nwangwu
A healthcare scientist with very strong inter-disciplinary academic and research preparation. He has significant research experience in both academia and industry; also has to his credit, history of productive and relevant research experience in both clinical research and basic laboratory research.
Professor Nwangwu has over 30 years of professional experience and 25 years of Senior Management experience which includes Director of Clinical Research at the University; Clinical Research Monitor at a multi-billion dollar, multi-national drug company, and President and CEO of companies in a variety of industrial sectors, including President and CEO of a drug manufacturing firm.
A warm-blooded Entrepreneur adept with new venture creation, and managing multiple tasks simultaneously, comfortably. He is endowed with excellent skill in strategic planning, complex contract negotiations with government agencies and industry. Passionate and an intense advocate of economic development activities.
Mr. Lanre Odunlami
A Chartered Accountant with vast experience in Accounting, Internal Controls, Strategy, Financial Reporting/Analysis and Performance Management. He is a First Class Accounting Graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife. He was a pioneer member of the Financial Control Department of Standard Trust Bank (now UBA Plc).
He was, at various times, Senior Financial Officer; Head, Financial Control, Group Head, Strategy and Brand Development in Guardian Express Bank Plc and Head, Performance Management, Bank PHB. He has attended a number of technical and management courses including Executive Management courses at the Wits Business School, Johannesburg, South Africa and a Balanced Scorecard Certification Master Class in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Odunlami is presently the Chief Financial Officer of Spring Bank Plc and a Nominee of the Bank.
Mr. Chuks Ekpunobi
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Master Degree holder in Banking & Finance, University of Port Harcourt. He has vast experience that cuts across Accounting, Audit, Banking & Leasing. He was at various times Head, Internal Controls, Head of Inspection & Head, Financial Control of Institutions such as Ivory Merchant Bank, Metropolitan Bank & Fortune International Bank Limited. He also had varied experience in Leasing in Acquila Capital Limited where he worked as Assistant Vice-President. Ekpunobi is Chief Inspector of Spring Bank Plc and a Nominee of the Bank.
PanAfrican Capital Plc, one of the emerging players in Investment Banking, in the nation’s Capital Market held its last Annual General Meeting on December 3, 2010 and ratified the appointment of three (3) Directors on its Board. They are Professor Peter Nwangwu, Mr. Lanre Odunlami, and Mr. Chuks Ekpunobi:
Professor Peter Nwangwu
A healthcare scientist with very strong inter-disciplinary academic and research preparation. He has significant research experience in both academia and industry; also has to his credit, history of productive and relevant research experience in both clinical research and basic laboratory research.
Professor Nwangwu has over 30 years of professional experience and 25 years of Senior Management experience which includes Director of Clinical Research at the University; Clinical Research Monitor at a multi-billion dollar, multi-national drug company, and President and CEO of companies in a variety of industrial sectors, including President and CEO of a drug manufacturing firm.
A warm-blooded Entrepreneur adept with new venture creation, and managing multiple tasks simultaneously, comfortably. He is endowed with excellent skill in strategic planning, complex contract negotiations with government agencies and industry. Passionate and an intense advocate of economic development activities.
Mr. Lanre Odunlami
A Chartered Accountant with vast experience in Accounting, Internal Controls, Strategy, Financial Reporting/Analysis and Performance Management. He is a First Class Accounting Graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile - Ife. He was a pioneer member of the Financial Control Department of Standard Trust Bank (now UBA Plc).
He was, at various times, Senior Financial Officer; Head, Financial Control, Group Head, Strategy and Brand Development in Guardian Express Bank Plc and Head, Performance Management, Bank PHB. He has attended a number of technical and management courses including Executive Management courses at the Wits Business School, Johannesburg, South Africa and a Balanced Scorecard Certification Master Class in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Odunlami is presently the Chief Financial Officer of Spring Bank Plc and a Nominee of the Bank.
Mr. Chuks Ekpunobi
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Master Degree holder in Banking & Finance, University of Port Harcourt. He has vast experience that cuts across Accounting, Audit, Banking & Leasing. He was at various times Head, Internal Controls, Head of Inspection & Head, Financial Control of Institutions such as Ivory Merchant Bank, Metropolitan Bank & Fortune International Bank Limited. He also had varied experience in Leasing in Acquila Capital Limited where he worked as Assistant Vice-President. Ekpunobi is Chief Inspector of Spring Bank Plc and a Nominee of the Bank.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Beyond the Theater: Moviegoers and Other Media
13 Jan 2011 11:00 Africa/Lagos
Beyond the Theater: Moviegoers and Other Media
Moviegoing Declining; Movie 'Viewing' Not
PR Newswire
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Interpret, a leading entertainment, media and technology market research firm, today released its Interpretations report, "Beyond the Theater: Moviegoers and Other Media," which found that though the number of moviegoers decreased over the past year, time spent with other media to view movies has increased.
Interpret's New Media Measure™ data shows the number of moviegoers (defined as those who watch 3 or more movies in a theater in the past 6 months) has decreased 11% over the past year, and the average number of movies watched in the theater among this group has also decreased. At the same time, more moviegoers (36%) are streaming full-length movies online, increasing 16% in the past year. Perhaps most disconcerting is that these alternative options have resulted in less interest in being the first to see movies in the theater.
"While the number of active moviegoers is down, there is a silver lining in that movie lovers are turning to other media to view movies," said Dan Casey, VP of the Movie Group at Interpret. "Moviegoers' use of other media – like video games and social networking – has also increased, offering studios and marketers new ways to interact with movie-loving audiences."
Click here for more information about this report.
New Media Measure™ is Interpret LLC's proprietary, quarterly survey of media behaviors, attitudes and product consumption. Designed to keep pace with the evolving media landscape, New Media Measure™ supplies the means to better measure and keep track of fast-changing consumer behaviors. New Media Measure™ surveys 9,000 consumers aged 12-65, representative of the U.S. population and weighted to U.S. Census. Data collected includes: demographics, psychographics, brand consumption, traditional media consumption, online and social networking, mobile phone, video gaming, and digital entertainment. Data is available via Interface, a web-accessible, interactive analysis tool, through Intrend, quarterly trend reports, and through Interpretations, monthly whitepapers written by Interpret analysts.
About Interpret LLC
Interpret is the leading cross-media market research firm. The company applies proprietary, cutting-edge methodologies and extensive category knowledge to help clients plan, test, and measure business strategies in the fast-evolving media landscape. Interpret's unique combination of syndicated measurement products and custom market research services provides a common language across media for the key stakeholders of the digital age. www.interpretllc.com.
SOURCE Interpret LLC
CONTACT: Jeff Tiddens of Interpret LLC, +1-310-255-0590, ext. 346, sales@interpretllc.com
Web Site: http://www.interpretllc.com
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
To All The Ignorant Political Sycophants Of President Goodluck Jonathan
Please, read the following article and honestly say if your idol is worthy of your support.
A Budget of Consolidated Poverty
~ By Education Rights Campaign
ON Wednesday December 15, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan presented the 2011 appropriation bill to the joint session of the National Assembly. Speaking on the bill which was glowingly labeled 'a budget of fiscal consolidation, inclusive economic growth and employment generation', President Jonathan expressed optimism that the 2011 budget would make Nigeria one of the 20 most advanced economies by year 2020.
Against the calls of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Staff Unions like the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) as well as the numerous protests, demonstrations and agitations by stakeholders in the education sector for the government to increase funding to education up to UNESCO recommended standard of 26% as a step towards the provision of a free and functional education at all levels, President Jonathan and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have prepared a budget that totally relegates education to the background while allocating a larger unmerited chunk to the Presidency and the National Assembly.
According to the 2011 appropriation bill of about N4.226 trillion, only a meager sum of N35 billion is being proposed for capital projects in the education sector. This compared to huge sums of N39 billion proposed for the Presidency and over N350 billion for the National Assembly is an absolute rip-off of Nigerians! Allocation for refreshment and meals alone for the office of the president is a scandalous N312 million! Similarly, about N12 million has been allocated for refreshment and meals for the Senate and N47 million for honorarium and sitting allowance. Their House of Representatives counterparts will get about N8.1 million and N55 million respectively for refreshment and meals, honorarium and sitting allowance! This is aside the jumbo salary packages for members of the executive and legislative arms of governance. Meanwhile, this heartless sharing of the collective resources of Nigerians by a few capitalist ruling class is taking place without regard for the worsening state of public education and the fate of over 12 million Nigerian children who are out of school.
The ERC considers the 2011 appropriation as a breach of the October 2009 FG-ASUU agreement and the recent judgment of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice sitting in Abuja which upheld the right of every Nigerian child to free and compulsory education. The breach of the judgment of the ECOWAS Court of justice is all the more scandalous considering the fact that President Jonathan is the Chairman of the ECOWAS. It is an embarrassment that Nigeria which wants to be seen as the giant of Africa is failing to implement the court judgment of ECOWAS – a regional body whose chairman happens to be the President of Nigeria. We ask: How effective and respected will ECOWAS be in the eyes of the world and in the West African sub-region when its Chairman flagrantly disobeys the judgment of its court?
To us in the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), the 2011 appropriation bill is nothing but a budget of consolidated poverty. Contrary to President Jonathan false assurances, it will not make Nigeria one of the 20 most advanced economies by year 2020. Instead this budget will make Nigeria a country with one of the worst education sectors, a country with one of the highest numbers of illiterate youths, the largest rate of school drop-outs and unemployable young graduates, the lowest in Human Capital Development and the highest in brain drain by the year 2020. This is because the amount allocated to education is too minute to resolve the massive infrastructural deficit with which the Nation's education sector is currently bedeviled and the amount allocated are usually looted by corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.
We therefore call on the National Assembly to debate this budget proposal with the intention of doing a service to the Nation's youths who are desirous of a free, functional and accessible education by increasing allocation to education up to 26 per cent of the total budget as recommended by UNESCO. Unless this is done, the ERC will continue to reject this appropriation bill and we shall mobilize Nigerian students and youths to reject it not only with words but also with political actions.
Already the state of education in Nigeria has gone from bad to worse as the year 2010 witnessed a meteoric rise in fees in tertiary institutions across the country. Describing the terrible conditions in our education sector, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has observed that, 'Due to poor funding of education, education at all levels suffers from low academic standards; lacks requisite teachers; both in sufficient quantity and quality. Even the few qualified teachers available are not sufficiently motivated in terms of remuneration or conducive operating environment to maximize their output into the education system. Schools are over-populated and classrooms are over-crowded, facilities are inadequate and over-stressed, library shelves are empty and covered with cobwebs, while laboratories lack up-to-date equipment'. Equally, no Nigerian University can be found among the first 5000 in the world and the first 50 in Africa and over 12 million children of school age are out of school. Last year, there were 98 per cent and 74 per cent mass failure in the 2009 National Examination Council (NECO) November/December SSCE examination and 2010 May/June WAEC examination respectively!
These statistics to us are enough frightening signals and warnings for any serious government to begin to address these problems by improving funding of the education sector. Actually to begin to turn around this dismal fortune of the education sector, government will have to invest massively in funding the education sector by providing facilities like adequate lecture theatres, hostel facilities, ICT facilities, equipped laboratories and libraries, enhancement of wages and working conditions of staff in order to attract the best brain to the teaching profession at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.
Also the products of the investment- the students – upon graduation have to be provided with jobs so they can give back to the economy. In that case, government have to invest massively in industrial and agricultural development, which will ensure the transformation of Nigeria to a producing economy while guaranteeing jobs for all graduates of tertiary institutions. For optimum utilization of the resources invested to be achieved and to discourage corruption at all levels, schools must be democratically managed by workers/experts and the communities.
However, none of these will be achieved unless the government jettisons all IMF/World Bank-inspired neo-liberal policies of privatization and place the commanding heights of the economy under public ownership and management. Only this can ensure the full mobilization of the huge amount of money needed by government to invest in education, job creation and social services.
However instead of government taking the issues in this direction, all key economic policies of Jonathan's administration especially those canvassed in the 2011 appropriation bill pander towards reducing government role in funding of social services while prioritizing the sale of education, health, roads and infrastructures to profit-seeking private sector in the name of privatization, Public Private Partnership (PPP) and commercialization. The net effect of these misguided neo-liberal policies of the Jonathan administration is that things will continue to get worse in the coming period. If government continues these ruinous neo-liberal policies of education under funding, indeed by year 2020 public education will have collapsed thus turning the current and future generations of Nigerian youths into criminals, love-peddlers and destitute.
Demands:
• We call on the National Assembly to increase allocation to education in the 2011 appropriation bill up to 26 per cent of the budget otherwise the ERC will not hesitate to lead Nigerian students and youths on a protest march to the National Assembly.
• Immediate setting up of budget monitoring committees by Governing Councils of all Universities in accordance with 2009 FG-ASUU agreement. These budget monitoring committees must comprise elected representatives of students and staff unions with the sole purpose of monitoring government allocations to tertiary institutions and ensuring judicious use of resources.
• Downward review of the salaries and allowances of public office holders, payment of living wage to workers and placement of all public office holders on the same wage of civil servants and professional workers.
• Cancellation of the illegal and unconstitutional practice of constituency projects of members of the National Assembly. Projects are the duties of the executive arm of government.
• Payment of N40,000 Cost of Study Allowance (COSA) to students of tertiary institutions to offset the cost of books, accommodation, transportation etc.
• Reversal of all fee increments especially the atrocious fee increases at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). We call on the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to immediately reverse the proposed increase of acceptance fee for fresh students from N2,000 to N20,000 and introduction of a health insurance fee of N1,600 or face mass protest and demonstrations of students.
• Public ownership of the commanding heights of the economy under the control and management of the working people.
• Hassan Soweto (National Co-ordinator) and Chinedu Bosah (National Secretary) sent this piece on behalf of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC).
http://nigerianewsdaily.com/categoryblog/13144-erc-a-budget-of-consolidated-poverty.html
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