Gunmen kidnap ASUU chair’s wife, demand N50m ransom

Gunmen on Friday kidnapped wife of the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Osun State University chapter, Mrs. Funmilayo Abiona.

Abiona was abducted in Osogbo around 7:30pm.

Our correspondent gathered on Saturday that Mrs. Abiona closed from her shop around Oke Bale area of Osogbo and was heading home to meet her husband, Dr. Oluseye Abiona, when the hoodlums, who had been on her trail, caught up with her and forcefully took her away after a hot argument.

The hoodlums, according to some residents of the area, were dressed in red shirts.

The abducted woman, who was said to be driving Lexuscar, was with her two children when the incident happened.

Mrs. Abiona was said to have struggled with her captors, who eventually overpowered her and forced her into a red car, which they used for the operation.

The hoodlums, out of anger, were said to have smashed the rear screen of the Lexus car, leaving the children and driving away with their target.

The abductors were said to have called her husband to demand a N50m ransom, saying his wife was okay where she was being kept.

Efforts to speak with the ASUU chairman were unsuccessful.

However, a source close to him said the case had been reported to the police.

The source said Mrs. Abiona was allowed by her abductors to speak with her husband when they called to demand ransom of a N50m.

The source who pleaded anonymity, said the case was reported at the state Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo on Saturday.

The Vice Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Prof. Bashir Okesina, confirmed the kidnap when our correspondent called him.

Calls put across to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, to confirm the abduction were not successful. She had yet to respond to the text message sent to her as of the time this report was filed.

Some armed hoodlums had in November abducted a local government boss in Osogbo.

The LG boss was said to have been released after a N5 million ransom was paid.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has warned that kidnappers operating in the state had deviced a new way of dispossessing their victims of huge sums of money.

The command said kidnappers now abduct unsuspecting victims, get their Automated Teller Machine cards' pin numbers and use them to withdraw all the funds in their (victims') accounts.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, on Friday explained that the victims were always kept hostage until money in their accounts were exhausted with the ATM cards.

Expressing the need for members of the public to be vigilant, especially during the Yuletide period, Mohammad, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, urged Nigerians to only go out with their ATM cards when necessary.

The police spokesman identified some of the victims of the new method of kidnapping and robbery as passengers in public transport.

"The unsuspecting victim is usually abducted, forced to reveal his ATM PIN and kept hostage, while same ATM card is used by the criminals to withdraw money from his account.

"Such victim regains freedom only after his bank account has been exhausted."

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, on Friday urged officers in the state command to shun corruption while discharging their duties.

Aderanti, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, said bribery and corruption dehumanises officers involved in the act.

He said, "I urge all police officers at all levels to shun bribery and corruption. Do not collect bribe that will bring shame to your family.

"Run away from all forms of misconduct that will lead you and the command to disrepute.

"Bribery and corruption create an impression that you have lost your sense of decency completely."

Aderanti stated that bail was free, describing the request and collection of such as extortion. He stressed that any officer caught in the act of receiving money for bail would be dealt with.

"It is very shameful and it won't get us anywhere. I don't see any good you can do with such money. I don't want anybody to be arrested over this shameful act, because I won't let such person escape it,'' he said.

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N200,000 for fuel isn't bribe according to Ekiti speaker

Embattled Ekiti state Speaker told Punch in an interview that the N200,000 he and his colleagues collected from Gov Fayose was for fuel and not bribe. Na wa o..so fuel is that expensive in Ekiti?

"It is just a gift from the governor when we visited him. He said he was giving us money for fuel. Nobody demanded gift from him, he gave out of his own free will. He has not even given up to N400,000 since he became the governor. It is all about the political drama going on in Ekiti State." He said

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Obuah’s PDP vows to drag Amaechi to court over work-free days in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT—THE Felix Obuah faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, has threatened to drag Governor Rotimi Amaechi to court over what it described as politically motivated declaration of public holidays by the governor in the state.

The party's faction said that the public holidays were declared by the governor to stall the judgment to be delivered by Justice Iyayi Lamikanra of a state High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on the  political crisis rocking Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area.

In a statement, yesterday by Mr. Jerry Needam, media aide to its Chairman, the party said that it was displeased by "a barrage of work-free days, first announced midnight on November 14, 2013 by Governor Amaechi declaring, November 15, and November 18,  as public holidays respectively."
The party said it was disturbed that by November 18 at 8pm, Governor Amaechi extended the work-free days to November 22.

The PDP faction alleged that the action by the governor was part of attempts to sustain Justice Peter  Agumagu as acting Chief Judge of the state without regard to laid down rules and against all wise counsel, with ulterior motive to manipulate the state judiciary.

He said: "Amaechi had used all tactics, including executive orders to his aides and some council chairmen/caretakers, to cast aspersions on some magistrates and judges, who are seen to have insisted on doing the right thing. The reason given for the ongoing work-free days is political and diversionary."

The statement said the celebration of Rivers Centenary as reason for the succession of public holidays was diversionary, adding that "the colossal loss on the state as a result of these work-free days, which may be extended, according to information available to us, after this week, is unimaginable.

"Our children are kept at home from schools, academic calendars have been altered. Our hospitals remain closed and tens of millions of naira accruable to the state within this period are lost."

Meanwhile, the Chairman Caretaker Committee of Obio Akpor council, Mr Chikordi Dike, has called for the transfer of the suit by the suspended Chairman of the council, challenging his suspension from Justice Lamikanra to another judge.

Accusing Justice Lamikanra of bias in the case,  Mr Dike, said that they had filed applications earlier challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter and also want Justice Lamikanra to withdraw from the case on grounds that she could be bias. He said that they had also filed motions for stay of further proceedings at the High court and notices of appeal at the Appeal Court.

Amaechi to Buhari, Tinubu: I won’t defect from PDP without consulting Jonathan

WILL Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  for the All Progressive Congress, APC?

This is the one million dollar question on the lips of many after the national leadership of the APC visited the governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Thousands of  people had turned up   from the 23 local government areas of the state    that day to join Amaechi  at the Helipad field in Government House, Port Harcourt to welcome the chieftains of the APC.

Protocol officers had challenges controlling the large crowd.   It was a similar situation at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. As early as 6am that day, supporters of the governor  had stormed the airport in their large numbers waiting to cheer him up on arrival.

Amaechi  had traveled out of the state the previous day; so he was expected back that morning ahead of the visit  of the APC chieftains.  There was a mild drama at the airport as the crowd  was  not allowed beyond a   point, three to four kilometers to the airport premises  by security operatives.  The restriction did not dampen their spirit as they kept singing and chanting pro-Amaechi songs.

File: R-L Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Former Governor of Lagos State/APC Leader and Engr Tele Ikuru, Rivers State Deputy Governor at the Rivers State Government House during a visit of the APC Leadership to Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

The governor finally landed and was heading to Government House, Port Harcourt  when he noticed   thousands of his supporters at the Port Harcourt/ Elele road. On inquiry, he was told that security men did not allow them beyond that point. Amaechi  had to alight from his vehicle and led them into the airport.   They  trekked a distance of about four kilometers. And together, they  received the visiting chieftains of the APC. In a very long convoy, the governor and his visitors  drove  to Government House, Port Harcourt where another crowd of supporters had been waiting to be part of the event.

The National Deputy Chairman of the PDP splinter group to which Amaechi and seven other governors belonging,  Mr Sam Jaja, was the first to mount therostrum. He poured encomiums on the governor before the National Chairman of the APC; Chief Bisi Akande, was called to speak.  Akande described Amaechi as a courageous leader who had continually resisted impunity. He said they were in the state to invite him to join the APC because it is a party for progressive minds like the governor.

"This is another important stop, because it allows us, the APC leaders, not only to invite Chibuike Amaechi, the courageous governor of Rivers, to join the growing APC family, but to show our solidarity with a man who has succeeded in battling anti-democratic forces to a standstill," Akande said.

"Let us be clear. Our party has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Gov. Amaechi since the beginning of his travails. We have been unrelenting in our support because our party stands for justice, fairness and unfettered freedom. We abhor dictatorship clad in fake democratic garments.

"We believe that the system of government that we operate does not make provision for an imperial presidency, who can neither be criticised nor opposed. That is why we told those who said the APC is crying more than the bereaved on the Rivers State issue, that we are indeed the bereaved anytime the rule of law is supplanted with the rule of the jungle; and we are the bereaved anytime a democratically-elected president thumbs his nose at the Nigerian Constitution. Or how else do we explain a situation in which a duly elected governor, who is known to the Constitution as the Chief Security Officer of his state, is now being made to run his state side by side with the state police commissioner, who has been elevated to the de facto governor by the presidency?".

A former governor of Lagos State and chieftain of the APC, Asiwaju  Bola Tinubu, who also lauded the courage of the governor, said he was impressed with the  records of the administration.  Tinubu said they were not in the state to campaign but to invite  Amaechi to join the APC.  He further moved a motion which enjoyed overwhelming endorsement from the crowd calling on the governor to cross over to the APC.

General Muhammad Buhari lauded the success of the governor in the area of education, saying he was deeply impressed.  "My hope rose today when the governor showed us his education programme. Education is the best legacy anybody can bequeath to any society. Education will help the people to look after themselves, their country and after the people.

Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate the governor for this noble step taken to liberate the people from ignorance and want. I have so much respect for the governor. We can as well see his effort in other sectors of the economy. Ladies and gentlemen, I can assure you that there will be hope for our children and ourselves come 2015. I thank you very much for this honor done us", he said.

The 23  local government chairmen  in Rivers State also came out to pledge their unflinching loyalty to Amaechi, describing him as their political leader. They said they would  follow him to any party of his choice.

In their separate comments, spokesmen for the 26 pro-Amaechi members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the governor's  loyalists in the National Assembly also reaffirmed the unflinching support of the lawmakers to  him. Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Otelemaba Amachree , urged the governor to speedily decide on when he would join the APC.

He said they were tired of hearing about his rumored romance with the APC, adding that what they would want to hear next was the marriage between him and the party." What we are saying is that he should quickly hurry up because this romance with the APC is getting too long. We now want marriage," Amachree said.. "He (governor) has been having nocturnal meetings with you; I must say we are sick and tired of these nocturnal meetings. In fact, what the people are now saying is marriage. Your Excellency, and of course, you know that when a bill is presented for assent and the governor fails to sign it, what happens? The House will veto it".

Senator Magnus Abe, who spoke for the senators behind the governor, described him as their leader even as he called on political parties to encourage internal discipline.

On his part, Hon Andrew Uchendu of the  House of Representatives pledged the loyalty of the pro-Amaechi members of the House of Representatives from the state to the governor.

Amaechi was later called to respond to the request by the APC leadership to join the party. The governor, who looked visibly excited, grabbed the microphone and sang a   popular Igbo Christian song, celebrating God in his life.

He said he had listened to the various speakers but he would want to consult with President Goodluck Jonathan and other stakeholders in the political sector before deciding on whether to dump the  PDP.

The governor described himself as special in the committee of the seven governors of the 'New PDP'  because he is from the same South-south zone with President Jonathan.

"I am peculiar in the group of the seven governors. The president comes from our zone.  I will consult our leaders, the president; I will consult you (referring to the mammoth crowd). I will consult all consultables. I will come back to you. The day we shall take a decision,  it will be at the new stadium that can take 40,000 persons.  If we are staying (referring to the PDP), we shall call the president to the stadium to address; us if we are going, we shall call Tinubu and Buhari to come and address us", he said.

Amaechi, who took on his political foes, said the political crisis in Rivers  was largely due to his refusal to abuse public funds, stressing that he was not a corrupt governor." They don't accuse me of being corrupt. They only say I don't run an inclusive government which is 'chop I chop'." he said.

The governor said he would continue to pray to God to protect the state from those he accused of plotting to plunder its resources.

Amaechi  gave reasons why he danced excitedly at the funeral of the foster mother of  the wife of President Jonathan in Okrika..  "I was told I would be stoned at Okrika if I went there. I went there, I raised my right hand, there was applause   and the left, it was the same. I said 'God I thank you'. "

He  said those fighting him in the state were corrupt, adding that he was ready to engage them publicly  on accountability and transparency in governance anytime he was called to do so.

"Those on the other side are corrupt. We shall reply them one after the other. They have served and now are hungry.  They are desperate and hungry politicians".

The governor, who said he would not compromise on good governance, dismissed the speculation that he might be sacked by a court verdict on Monday, 11 November.   "" You have been hearing 'we will remove him since' 2007. Have I been removed!  They talk as if they are God. They said we will be removed on the 11th  which is Monday.  Come that day, I will dance here", he said while singing, "There is nobody greater than God. There is no one greater than the Lord divine".

Amaechi said his administration was constructing roads, building health centres, schools, adding that he had also commenced empowerment scheme for youths in the various wards in the state.

The governor called on the people to resist acts of impunity on the part of the police command in the state.

Five-year jail term for exam cheats unfair — ICPC

Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has faulted the five-year jail term proposed for examination fraudsters. It said the law was unfair to students, who were not provided with basic learning tools.

It blamed the spate of examination frauds in the country on infrastructural deficiency in the education sector.

The Chairman, ICPC, Ekpo Nta, in an interview with our correspondent, said more examination cheats were found in schools where there was  shortage of human and material resources.

He criticised proprietors of schools, both government and private, saying educational institutions should  meet standards or be shut down.

He said it was time stakeholders examined the structure, which had been promoting corruption. He added that once the system was corrected, the individuals would be corrected.

Nta said the last time students accused of exam malpractices were brought to the commission, he investigated their background and the schools they came from. He noted that record of exam malpractices was very low in 'top' schools, including public ones.

"It is very rare. Laboratories, libraries, computers, dormitories, dining halls and highly qualified teachers are in such schools. How will a child who has gone through such schools be involved in exam malpractices?

"By the time you begin to check those arrested for exam malpractices, they are from community schools, where there is a math teacher for the whole school; no science teacher. And then, you turn around to arrest a child who is a victim (of the inadequacies).

"If you prosecute such a child and jail them for five years, when you never gave them an opportunity, you will only make them toughened criminals when they are out. You didn't give them a chance in the first instance, then, you jailed them in addition," the ICPC boss observed.

President Goodluck Jonathan, through the immediate past Education Minister, Prof. Ruqquayat Rufa'i, had introduced a fine of N200, 000 or five-year jail term or both for examination cheats.

Rufa'i had tabled a memo before the Federal Executive Council, seeking approval for the enactment of an Act to amend the WAEC Act, CAP W4, Laws of 2004 to give effect to the revised convention of WAEC, 2003 in Nigeria.

The FEC had approved the amendment, with the office of the Attorney-General reportedly fine-tuning it, before it was taken to the National Assembly for passage.

El-Rufai calls President Jonathan lazy, docile, hopeless, useless On twitter... See tweet

Hmmmm am speechless 

Fake EFCC operative bags 15 years imprisonment

The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a fake Economic and Financial Crimes commission  agent, Mohammed  Umar, who was slammed with a 15-year jail sentence for impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining money through false pretence.

Umar, popularly known as Terror,  was sentenced by Justice Yakubu Gyang Dakwak of  the Plateau State High Court, Jos, having found him liable to the charges pressed against him by the anti-graft agency.

The suspect was arrested in October 2008 following intelligence report that he had been posing as an operative of the EFCC and extorting top government functionaries in Bauchi, Gombe and Sokoto States under the pretext that he had damning petitions against them.

Umar cajoled several of them into wiring funds into his account with a promise to help stop any investigations into the petitions.

He is reported to have connived with one Mustspha Abdullahi, now at large, in 2008 and swindled the Special Assistant to the Bauchi State Governor by falsely pretending to hold the office of an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to the prosecution, the offence is punishable under Sections 8(a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006".

In his ruling, Justice Dakwak affirmed that the prosecution had proved the case against the accused beyond doubt and accordingly pronounced him guilty on all three counts.

Golden Eaglets conquered the world

Nigeria Golden Eaglets became the most successful team in FIFA U-17 World Cup history with a 3-0 win over holders Mexico at the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The final was a rematch of the 6-1 win Nigeria inflicted on the Mexicans in Group F play and sees the Golden Eaglets lay hands on the junior world trophy for the fourth time in their history, one better than South American giants Brazil. When the final whistle went in the UAE capital, fans and players alike rejoiced, fingers pointed to the sky, with what has become the traditional Nigerian celebration of: "yes, yes yes!"

Mexico kept the ball for a full two minutes at the start of the game, moving it around well and making the Nigerians chase. El Tri even managed the first chance on goal after six minutes. Osvaldo Rodriguez crossed from the left, but Alejandro Diaz couldn't keep his close-range effort the right side of the post. Two minutes on and Ivan Ochoa – who scored twice in the semi-final win over Argentina – saw his off-balance header pushed over the bar by Dele Alampasu.

The corner came to nothing for the Mexicans, but Nigeria benefitted greatly by bursting out on a classic counter-attack. Kelechi Iheanacho went flying up the pitch. With just one Mexican defender in position, the No10 Golden Eaglet laid the ball in for Taiwo Awoniyi who then fed it on to Musa Yahaha, who had a little help from Erick Aguirre. The Mexican midfielder mistakenly hit the ball into his own net in an attempt to recover.

With the score 1-0, Musa Muhammed was giving the Mexicans fits with his rampaging runs up the right side. He pinned the opponents back at every opportunity. As the first half pushed toward the interval, the Africans upped their tempo in search of a second goal. Yahaya rattled the crossbar with a stunning effort from 20 yards out after 38 minutes. Pressure was mounting and the fans in the stands were on their feet when Awoniyi's bicycle-kick from the penalty spot forced Raul Gudino into a magnificent reaction save in the dying moments of the half.

The second period began with a frenzy of attacks at both ends of the pitch, but it was Nigeria who made theirs count, making it 2-0 in the 56th minute. Captain Muhammed unleashed a wicked swirling shot that Mexican keeper Gudino simply couldn't hang on to. He spilled a rebound directly to the feet of the most dangerous man on the pitch, and Iheanacho made no mistake dispatching his sixth goal of the tournament.

With a quarter-hour to go, Mexico managed to carve out a rare second-half chance, but Ochoa's header from close-range slipped wide of the post as the holders began to wilt under the ceaseless pressure of the buzzing Nigerians. Muhammed added a third with ten minutes to go, curling a sublime free-kick into the top corner.

Anyone in UAE who had the pleasure to see them will tell you that this Nigerian team were the best on offer. Even a few of the Mexican fans were mumbling "yes, yes, yes" when the final whistle went on Nigeria's glorious campaign here in UAE

Stakeholders beg ASUU to call off strike

Umuahia – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has been enjoined to use the opportunity created by President Goodluck Jonathan's intervention to call off its four-month old strike.

A cross-section of residents made the call in an interview in Umuahia on Wednesday.

They expressed the hope that the president's intervention would bring an end to the impasse.

Mr Lucky Akabuike, a former Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress in Abia, said the university teachers would create more enemies for themselves if they failed to end the strike.

"They will lose friends and the entire nation will turn against them if they did not use the President's intervention to call off the strike'', Akabuike said.

He noted that students and parents were already agitated by the industrial action.

He argued that strikes should be a means to an end and not an end itself.

Akabuike said parties in an industrial dispute should be prepared to give and take during negotiations and that hard line positions do not augur well.

He commended the President for wading into the crisis, saying that the gesture portrayed him as humble, caring and concerned about the future of children.

The National Coordinator, Associated Youth Club of Nigeria, Mr Emeka Okafo, said the president's intervention showed that he wanted the crisis resolved.

"The 12- hour negotiation between the President and ASUU leadership showed his passion and commitment to ensure that students returned to school'', he said.

He urged the lecturers to accept the President's position and the Federal Government to implement the latest agreement.

"It will be counter-productive to the union and the nation if the students remained at home after this negotiation.

"As a former lecturer, the President knows about the decay in the nation's universities; so his intervention is expected to bring lasting solution'', he said.

A public affairs analyst, Mr Igbeaku Orji, expressed regrets that final year students who were to go for national youth service had missed the opportunity.

A parent, Mr Obinna Odowuike, described the President's intervention as "belated'', adding that the damage had already been done. However, it is better late than never'', he said.

He said the President's intervention had brought relief to parents.

The Chairman of Abia council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Hyacinth Okoli, said ASUU should accept the offer by government and return to the classroom.

He urged the Federal Government to "religiously implement any agreement reached with the union." (NAN)

Compensate Boko Haram victims, APC tells Jonathan

The All Progressives Congress has disagreed with President Goodluck Jonathan's position that the Federal Government will not compensate the victims of the Boko Haram killings, which started in 2009.

The party said if the decision was upheld, it would amount to double failure on the part of the Federal Government and double jeopardy for the victims.

A statement by the Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande in Abuja on Wednesday, contained the party's position.

Akande said in the first instance, the killings and maiming occurred because the Federal Government failed in its most important task of ensuring the security of lives and property.

He added that the same government that failed to live up to the main reason for its existence, which he said was the security and welfare of the citizenry, had now failed to provide succour for the victims of its own failure.

He said, "This constitutes double irresponsibility on the part of the government, and double jeopardy for the thousands of victims, who have been killed and wounded by the insurgents.

"After the people were victimised by Boko Haram, they are now being victimised by their government. This is unacceptable, and President Jonathan must have a rethink.

"The APC believes that the issue of compensation for victims of Boko Haram should not be subject to any debate."

He said all victims of the Boko Haram insurgency must be compensated without delay, and that they must be given succour and be made to feel that their government cares for them.

Akande admitted that compensation would not be able to  bring back the thousands who have been killed, he said the compensation was capable of providing  succour for the children, parents, brothers, sisters and other family members left behind by the victims.

ASUU considers calling off strike after 13-hour meeting with Jonathan

Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday led a negotiation meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end the protracted strike embarked upon by the union since July 1.

The13-hour meeting started at about 2.30 p.m. on Monday at the Presidential Villa and ended at 3.30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The meeting had in attendance the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) led by their respective Chairmen Abduwaheed Omar and Bobbo Kaigama.

The ASUU team was led by the union's President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, three former presidents of the union, professors Dipo Fashina, Abdullahi Sule-Kano and Festus Iyayi as well as professors Biodun Osiyemi, Victor Osodeke, Suleiman Abdullahi and Dr. Victor Igbum.

On the government negotiation team were, Vice President Namadi Sambo; Minister of Labour, Chukwuemeka Wogu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike.

Also on the government side were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Mike Oghiadome, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie.

Emerging from the meeting, Fagge told State House correspondents that the president had given the delegation a message to its members which would enable the union to call off the strike.

President Goodluck Jonathan (left); ASUU Vice President, Mr. Biodun Ogunyemi Onabanjo (2nd right); Vice President Namadi Sambo (2nd left) and ASUU President, Nasir Faggae (right) during the meeting.

"We have had a lengthy meeting with Mr President, rubbing minds on the ways to address the problems of university education in this country.

"We now have a message from Mr President that we are going to take to our members and we are expecting that our members will respond appropriately to the message of Mr President," he said

Asked whether union would call off the strike and return to work based on the message from the meeting, Fagge said "that is up to our members."

Wogu, who spoke for the government, said that the meeting ended positively and the message of the President to ASUU "is full of hope and high expectations.

"The message is full of hope and expectations and our prayer is that they come back with positive response.

"They might not even come back to meet us; they might even take decisions there that will meet your expectations."

Wogu noted that the offer made by the president was in line with the 2009 agreement reached with the union.

"The offer is within the issues that led to the strike; the issues contained in the 2009 agreement and we did not go beyond the agreement," he said.

He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with ASUU and gave an assurance that the outcome of the meeting would be positive.

The president appeared to be in high spirits when he entered the venue of the meeting.

While shaking hands with the ASUU president, he exclaimed: "My president! All the problems will be over today; our children must go back to school."

The president proceeded to shake hands with everyone in attendance at the meeting.

Also, while shaking hands with Omar and Kaigama, Jonathan said: "My presidents, with you here, I am assured everything will go on well, it is signed and sealed."

The meeting went into a 30-minute break at 6.20 p.m.

During the period, the ASUU delegation went out of the venue of the meeting to the road where the bus that conveyed them was packed and held consultations inside the bus for about 25 minutes.

Prior to the arrival of the ASUU and labour team for the meeting, the president held a closed-door consultation with members of his team.

The discussion, which lasted for about 40 minutes, was attended by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

It will be recalled that ASUU embarked on strike on July 1 over the government failure to implement an agreement reached with the union in 2009 for improved funding for infrastructure development in the universities and payment of lecturers' Earned Allowances.

Government had set up two committees to address the issues to resolve the crisis but the inability of the committees to reach agreements with ASUU led to the vice-president taking over the negotiation.

On Sept. 19, the vice-president held a special negotiation meeting with the leadership of ASUU and offered an improved government position on the matter but the union rejected the offer.

Many Nigerians have appealed to ASUU to call off the strike. (NAN)