BREAKING!!! UK Parliament Calls For Biafra Independence; Urges Buhari to Conduct Referendum...(Read)

BREAKING!!! UK Parliament Calls For Biafra Independence; Urges Buhari to Conduct Referendum (Video)

BREAKING!!! UK Parliament Calls For Biafra Independence; Urges Buhari to Conduct Referendum

Senators suspect presidency behind ‘missing’ 2016 budget documents (view details)

Senators suspect presidency behind ‘missing’ 2016 budget documents

January 13, 2016Festus Owete

Senate chamber

Some Nigerian senators said Wednesday they are suspicious the Nigerian presidency is behind the sudden disappearance of the 2016 budget submitted to the National Assembly.

The lawmakers said the intelligence they had so far gathered suggested that the presidency discreetly withdrew the documents to enable it to make some adjustments to it.

The president had presented the budget to a joint session of the legislature in December.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported Tuesday that the senate, during an executive session, declared the documents missing.

The Senate Leader, Mohammed Ndume, sources said, informed the senators, upon resumption from the Christmas/New Year break, that deliberations on the budget could not commence until fresh copies of the documents were obtained from the presidency, Ministry of Finance or its national planning counterpart.  

However, some senators, who requested not to be named so as not to anger the presidency, told PREMIUM TIMES they had since realised the budget was discreetly withdrawn by the president in order to make some adjustments.

The senators said the presidency had in the past two weeks been combing through the budgets with a view to removing provisions that had so far exposed the administration to ridicule. 

“The executive have now started delivering fresh copies of the budget documents to the National Assembly,” one of the senators said.

“The details in the copies they are delivering are different from those in the version delivered to the National Assembly in December. Some adjustments have been made.”

But the presidency has however denied withdrawing the document.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said only Mr. Buhari could withdraw the budget but had not done so.

He suggested that the issue of missing budgets should not arise because several copies of the document were sent to the legislature.

“Nobody except the president can withdraw the budget; as far as we know, he hasn’t done that,” Mr. Shehu said in a response to PREMIUM TIMES enquiry on the matter Tuesday.

“The copies in their hundreds have been delivered to both chambers of the National Assembly.

“By tradition, once the budget is submitted, it ceases to be our property. Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate quarters.”

When contacted, the Minister of State for National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, expressed shock at reports of missing budget.

She explained that ahead of Tuesday’s resumption of the Senate and House of Representatives, more than 400 copies of the document were delivered to the two chambers on Monday by the printer, for distribution to all members.

“After the official presentation of the budget by the President on December 22, 2015, both hard and soft copies were given to some key members of the Assembly. How can anyone say all the copies are missing?” she said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

“Immediately after the presentation (by Buhari), most of the members went on break. But a printer was given the job to produce the document for distribution to all members on resumption.

“On Monday, the printer delivered more than 400 copies to the National Assembly for distribution to members and their aides. Another 100 copies were delivered this afternoon (Tuesday). Therefore, the same budget cannot be said to be missing.”

Mrs. Ahmed argued that if there is need to withdraw the budget, the same process with which it was presented by the president to the legislature would be followed.

Breaking news.....Opec could meet earlier over slump in oil prices

Opec could meet earlier over slump in oil prices 

Anthony DiPaola and Mahmoud Habboush

(iStock)

Dubai - The 13 members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) will soon make efforts to convene before the next scheduled meeting in June as the slump in oil prices is hurting producers, including the world’s biggest exporter, Saudi Arabia, said Emmanuel Kachikwu, Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum resources.

The important things in life (Be Wise)

The important things in life

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

The Story Of The Butterfly (Inspirational)

The Story of the Butterfly
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.
One day a small opening appeared.
He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours
as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole.
Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly.
He took a pair of scissors and
snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.
The butterfly emerged easily but
it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch it,
expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge
and expand enough to support the body,
Neither happened!
In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life
crawling around.
It was never able to fly.
What the man in his kindness
and haste did not understand:
The restricting cocoon and the struggle
required by the butterfly to get through the opening
was a way of forcing the fluid from the body
into the wings so that it would be ready
for flight once that was achieved.
Sometimes struggles are exactly
what we need in our lives.
Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.
We will not be as strong as we could have been
and we would never fly.

Nigeria: 2016 Budget Missing At NASS (Read full story)

Nigeria: 2016 Budget Missing At NASS

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President Muhammadu Buhari submits his budget for 2016 to the Senate chamber (file photo).

The 2016 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari is reportedly missing.

Recall that President Buhari had on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, presented the budget proposal to the joint session of the National Assembly.

Defection to APC won't stop prosecution of corrupt politicians –Presidency (Read more)

Defection to APC won't stop prosecution of corrupt politicians –Presidency


The defection of politicians accused of corruption from other political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress will not stop them from being investigated and prosecuted, the Presidency has said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents.

Adesina was asked if defection from PDP to the APC was enough to save those already implicated in the $2.1bn arms scandal from investigation and prosecution.

A former Minister of Sports, Chief Jim Nwobodo, who had been named as one of the beneficiaries of some funds distributed by a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, defected from the PDP to the APC on Friday.

Nwobodo said he was the Chairman of the Contact Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign for the South-East, and the only fund received by the committee for its work was N100m from PDP's National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu'azu.

Adesina, however, said the present administration's anti-corruption fight would not be based on party affiliation, adding that the President would not encourage any cover-up.

'It is not in the nature of this administration to cover anyone who has questions to answer on corruption, irrespective of party affiliation,' he said.

The presidential spokesman explained that the release of a former military governor of Kaduna State and a chieftain of the APC, Jafaru Isa, by the EFCC had nothing to do with Isa's relationship with the President.

Isa, who was quizzed by the commission, was said to have been released after he refunded N100m of the N170m he allegedly received from the embattled Dasuki.

'The EFCC is in a better position to tell you why Jafaru Isa was released. But it definitely has nothing to do with his relationship with the President. If that were the case, then he would not have been picked in the first place,' he said. 

Mesut Ozil reckons Mathieu Flamini should win the Ballon d’Or (Picture: Getty Images)

Mesut Ozil has joked that his Arsenal team-mate Mathieu Flamini should win the Ballon d’Or over Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. 

The La Liga superstars make up a three-man shortlist for the prize but Ozil clearly believes Flamini’s name should have been included among the candidates.

Flamini was a surprise nomination for the NME People Of The Year 2015 award but sadly has not been recognised by FIFA for the Ballon d’Or ceremony being held on Monday evening.

‘Is #Flamini nominated?,’ Ozil replied when asked who should win this year during a question and answer session he conducting with his Twitter followers.

To be fair, the French midfielder still boasts a 100% win record at home which none of Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar can claim…

It’s believed the Gunners duo have a pretty serious bromance going on so Ozil’s latest statement will do little to douse those flames.

Why Your Parents Should Let You Sleep (Read details)

WHY YOUR PARENTS SHOULD LET YOU SLEEP

You use every minute of the day. School, homework, sports, part-time jobs, your social life, and other extracurricular activities often have you getting up early and staying up late. As a teen, it probably seems like you barely have time to sleep. And if you're not getting at least 8 1/2 hours of shut-eye, you aren't getting enough.

Getting a good night's sleep is as important as getting three healthy meals a day: It's mental nourishment. Without enough sleep, you literally can't function properly.

But sometimes, when you do get the rare chance to sleep more, you might actually get grief from your parents. So here's help -- six reasons to give your parents so that you can sleep in when you're running low on ZZZs.

1. "More sleep could help me get better grades."

Without enough sleep, you -- as a hardworking student -- can't be expected to do your best work. A long-term lack of sleep can lead to bad grades, memory problems, and poor judgment. Some studies have even shown an increase in the chances of having depression and ADHD. Because you're a teen, experts recommend that you get between 8 1/2 and 9 1/4 hours of sleep each night.

2. "More sleep will help me be a much safer driver."

Being sleepy is dangerous, especially when you're getting behind the wheel of a 2,000-pound car early in the morning. You're not just a hazard to yourself -- you're endangering other drivers. A study by the American Academy of Sleep Societies has sparked interest in later start times for schools because the study shows a connection between earlier school starts and car accidents involving teens.

3. "I really do need more sleep."

Sleep's not something you just want; it's something you need as a teen. At your age, you are biologically programmed to want to sleep more -- and to fall asleep later at night. For the most part, adults need less sleep: only seven to nine hours.

4. "Getting enough sleep can help me keep off extra pounds."

A recent study found that teens who slept less than eight hours each night and then didn't make up the sleep they missed had an increased risk of obesity. While nothing can replace getting the required amount of sleep on a regular basis, you may be able to sleep in and catch up on some sleep on weekends and holidays to fight off unhealthy extra pounds.

Just try not to count on sleeping extra on certain days. It turns out that having a sleep schedule that is drastically different on weekends can put your body out of whack -- making it harder for you to get to bed and get up when you need to during the week.

5. "Sleeping can help me not get sick."

You can't be in good overall health when you keep getting too little sleep. When you don't get enough sleep, your immune system gets weak, making it easier for you to catch colds and other illnesses. Too little sleep can also lead to unusually aggressive behavior, and a greater urge to eat unhealthy foods or use addictive substances like drugs or alcohol.

6. "Go to bed earlier? It's not that simple."

Even after you've tried all of these reasons, your parents may just tell you, "Go to bed earlier." But that can be easier said than done. You shouldn't go to bed unless you're sleepy, or you'll be tossing and turning trying to sleep. The best way to fall asleep at an expected time, even if it is earlier than you'd like, is to develop a sleeping pattern. So you'll need to train yourself. The good news is that gives you a reason to get some downtime away from homework, chores, friends, and your family.

Find a relaxing activity to do in the hour leading up to the time you need to get to sleep and make relaxing before bed a habit. Consider reading, listening to music, or soaking in the tub. Be aware that watching TV, surfing the Internet, gaming, and texting don't count as relaxing because they don't let your mind shut down.

If you're hungry before you start your bedtime ritual, have a snack, not a full meal. Make it light but satisfying -- like a few whole-grain crackers and low-fat cheese. And it probably goes without saying: For a better night's sleep, lay off the caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Half of U.S. Teens Exposed to Secondhand Smoke

Half of U.S. Teens Exposed to Secondhand Smoke

Their own homes and family cars are common sources

MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Despite widespread laws banning smoking in public places, new research indicates nearly half of American teens who've never used tobacco are exposed to harmful secondhand smoke -- many in their homes and family cars.

8 Reasons Why You Should Be Sleeping With Your Clothes Off.

8 Reasons Why You Should Be Sleeping With Your Clothes Off.

Health benefits of sleeping nude (Getty Image)

Reportedly, when Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe said that she wore just her favourite brand of perfume, when going to bed, the star was laughed at.

However, studies done in the recent past state that sleeping in the buff can do you a lot of good. It not only improves your health, but also works on the psychological level by improving your self-image and therefore, your relationship with your partner in bed. Wellness expert and relationship counsellor, Dr Sanjoy Mukerji explains that shedding clothes in bed is like shedding your inhibitions. "Usually, you declutter your mind by doing various things like meditation. Likewise, the body feels the need to be free. Nakedness in bed also harbours a positive psychosomatic effect. The reason to encourage couples to sleep naked is to increase the intimacy and openness due to nudity and the feeling of oneness.The scientific reason to it is that our body releases certain chemicals which make our mind feel happy and romantic, leading to increased sexual intimacy," he adds. The skin-to-skin contact also releases antidepressant hormones which help lift the mood. To add to the benefits, sleeping with no clothes on not only improves your love life, but also wards off infections, trims your waistline and makes you less exhausted. City-based sexologist, Dr Rajan Bhonsle agrees to the fact that wearing bare minimum clothes at night or going completely nude has its health benefits. "If a man wears very tight undergarments, there are chances of him experiencing a drop in his sperm count or a fall in libido or sexual arousal. For women, wearing tight lingerie can give rise to breathing issues and can also lead to fungal infections in genital areas," he says. However, Dr S Ramnathan Iyer, a consultant physician of sleep medicine, warns that in India, people are not exposed to the benefits of sleeping naked as they are in the West. "I would advise people to take things one at a time. People who suffer from disorders like sleep-walking should avoid sleeping in the nude, as it may put them in an embarrassing situation," he says. "To sleep naked or with loose-fitting clothes should be an individual's choice as having a comfortable and conducive environment is of prime importance," concludes Dr Iyer.