Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, forwarded the name of Director-General of the state’s Office of Public – Private Partnerships, PPP, Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, to the state House of Assembly as nominee to replace Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, who recently resigned from the state’s cabinet as Commissioner for Finance.

The national minimum wage is in the news again. This time, the issue is whether or not to have it retained on the exclusive list or to have it on the concurrent list. The NLC and the TUC have threatened a strike if it is placed on the concurrent list. Labour Vanguard opens a forum for this discussion for proponents and opponents of the new move. Informed contributions on this issue are welcome.

ABUJA—THE Federal Government has said that the sum of N109.4 billion has been provided to the universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education under the high impact initiatives of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund.

Major General Sam Momah served as the Minister of Science and Technology during the administrations of Generals Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar, and carved a niche for himself by creating what has come to be known as “Technology Incubation Centres” to help Nigeria in her drive for technological advancement and industrialisation.

The Federal Government has extended the contract of the six Pre-shipment Inspection Agents (PIAs) for the exportation of petroleum products by one year, even has it has also appointed two monitoring agents to oversee the function of the six PIAs.

On June 3, 2009, Professor Boniface Egboka emerged the 4th substantive vice-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, NAU Awka, for a five-year term which ends in June next year. In this chat with Vanguard Learning in Awka, Egboka speaks on the journey so far, how the university has maintained a steady academic calendar and raised funds for capital projects. Excerpts:

Mr. Mohammed Babangida, the son of former Military Head of State and Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, have been named board members of Nigeria Export-Import Bank, as Federal Government announced composition of the board of 28 federal parastatals and agencies.

WARRI—CHAIRMAN, Niger-Delta Ex-Militants, Urhobo chapter, Mr. Augustine Ogedegbe, has appealed to those against the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Delta State, Professor Alhassan Bichi, a Northerner, to leave him alone to do his job.

PORT HARCOURT—HON. Chidi Lloyd, Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, was produced, Wednesday, before a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, eight days after police arrested him over alleged criminal role in the July 9 fracas in the state Assembly.

Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Mr. Fola Akinkuotu, in this interview said the NCAA would ensure that air travellers would no longer be short-changed by airlines by enforcing to the letter, the Passenger Bill of Rights. He also said that the government had not given up on the problem of fare disparity. Excerpts:

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has stated that his administration is conceiving the idea of transforming the duo of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, AOCOED, and Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education- Epe, MOCPED, to university degree awarding institutions as effort to amplify quality training in the state’s institutions is taking different shapes.

BENIN—Two days after Edo State Government and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, bickered over tax payment, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, TAT, South-South Zone, has ordered Global Marine Baltic Incorporation, a multi-national oil company to pay $1,770,995 (about N279.8 million) tax due to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.

ANOTHER issue is that of immunity for presidents and vice presidents as well as governors and deputy governors. I am unequivocally for the retention of the immunity clause. It is not in the interest of the tax paying public that the immunity clause should be removed, contrary to improperly “chewed”, popular view.

Access Bank Plc has commenced collaboration with stakeholders in the hospitality industry to develop a road map to address the growth challenges of the industry.

ABUJA—PARENTS, under the umbrella of Parents Teachers Progressive Forum, PTPF, have appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to reconsider its position on the on-going strike in the interest of the Nigerian students, the education sector and the nation at large.