There is a lot to reflect upon in what Ake has stated. Is western type democracy and its mechanics impossible to inculcate in our environment? We however need not agree completely with the suggestion of futility of democratic processes in this part of the world. The successes so far in Ghana, our next door neighbour, would seem to indicate otherwise.

I do believe that the law as it appears is most deviously praetorian; it clearly has the potential to restrict
the expression of opinion of individual members of the press, and on the other hand to stall the growth and development of ideas that have universally characterised the development of civilised nations.

LIKE the three musketeers, Abbas Abdusalam, Chigozie and Muyiwa were friends of a kind. At their FESTAC Town residence, Lagos, the trio were inseparable even though they never lived together under the same roof. They were of the same age bracket The difference in race and religion notwithstanding, these three jolly good fellows did nearly everything in common and of course, spent substantial part of everyday together.

The recent multiple auto accident on the Otedola Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which claimed several lives has once again brought to the fore the question of alleged police culpability in such incidents.

No other university in the country has deepened its scholarship scheme as University of Lagos (UNILAG) with massive awards to students, capturing the physically challenged, indigent, outstanding sportsmen and women, students with leadership qualities and scholars (academically brilliant) drawn from all the faculties at various levels with nothing less than 4.50 Cumulative Grade Points Aggregate (CGPA).

Speaking recently to journalists, the General Secretary to the Students’ Union Government, Times Journalism Institute, Surulere, Amaka Okpara reiterated that the union had watched with the greatest surprise and concern the reckless way in which some people are conniving with Bureau of Public Enterprises to kill the Times Journalism Institute, Lagos.

For universities in Nigeria to reoccupy their pride of place on the global league table, there must be a conscious entrenchment of excellence by the managers in administering these institutions. It is the only way to bring about efficient utilisation of human, material and resources in the attainment of universities’ objectives of teaching, research and community service as well as human capacity mobilisation and utilisation.

WORRIED by the increasing rate of unfair labour practices in the nation’s Petroleum industry and its threat to industrial unrest, workers in the industry are threatening to declare industrial action to compel government and its agencies to address the menace.

AS part of measures to put paid to the incessant agitations and industrial unrest from its workforce, the Lagos State Government has inaugurated an 18_man committee charged with the responsibility of developing pay policy, review and salary determination in Lagos public service.

WEST African Examination Council, WAEC, last Thursday, released results of the May/June 2010 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASCE, with only 337,071 candidates, representing 24.94 per cent, obtaining credits in English Language, Mathematics and at least three other subjects which are the requirements for admission into tertiary institutions.

When these teenagers, Chukwuebuka Orakwue and Oliver Orakwue, who were indegenes of Ifite-Ogwari area of Anambra State, had the opportunity of relocating to Lagos State, last May , a place they have always savored and constantly relished to visit, they embraced the offer with open hands, without an inkling of what awaits them.

Their zeal for work was palpable; which is why everyday these workers, mostly women, some with their babies resting firmly on their backs, defy sun and rain as they storm major streets of Minna, the Niger state capital, with brooms and rakes in their hands to keep the streets clean. And with time, they succeeded in transforming the once dirty environment to a more friendly and habitable place.

DELTA State police command has arrested twenty suspected armed robbers that had been operating between Lagos, Osun, Edo, Delta, Anambra and Abia states visiting terror on motorists.

Why must civil servants always use strike action to press home their demand? Just look at what this warning strike embarked upon by medical doctors in some states has caused? Some patients have died due to lack of medical care,” began Jeff. “Physicians are not supposed to embark on strike no matter what happens. Their primary duty is to save lives, money or no money!” he declared.

The ‘A’ field office of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has commenced moves aimed at mobilising journalists in the 10 states of its coverage area in the South East, some states in South-South and Benue towards using their media for advocacy and defence of the children.