S-H-O-C-K-E-R: Dasuki’s N1.75 Billion Cash-For-Arms Fraud EXPOSED In Top Secret Documents

Sahara Reporters has learned of a monumental $8,853,600 (N1,751,864,867) fraud in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) during the just-terminated tenure of Mr. Sambo Dasuki.

The fraud pertains to shipments of guns and ammunitions allegedly for the fight against Boko Haram terrorists, for which the amount was allegedly allocated for the purchase of arms and ammunition, none of which seem to have ever arrived in Nigeria.

 

This fraud appears to have been perpetrated at a time that Nigeria was in desperate need of military hardware to fight the insurgency in the northeast of the country, with Boko Haram murdering or abducting thousands of civilians. The then President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, and his officials, were also openly critical of international partners, including the United States, for not selling arms to Nigeria.

The news of this particular fraud breaks only two weeks after the former the home of Mr. Dasuki was raided by State Security agents for his connection to the South Africa cash-for-arms scandal last year. In it, $15 million cash in Nigeria funds being brought into that country was impounded by the authorities.

The shocking documents obtained by SaharaReporters include an itemized End User Certificate (EUC) dated September 2014 and bearing the stamp of the Office of the National Security Adviser. The EUC includes the purchase of 1,200 Tavor X95 Rifles, 2 million 5.56mm bullets, and 2 million 9mm bullets totaling nearly 9 million dollars.

SaharaReporters also learned that the prices of the weapons and ammunition on the EUC were suspiciously inflated, as much as 50% in some cases. SaharaReporters’ investigation has revealed that Tavor X95 rifles retail at around $1,500 (298,530 Naira) each, and that 9mm and 5.56mm rounds range from .25 cents and .36 cents (50 and 70 Naira) per round. The EUC has a suspicious bulk purchase of Tavor X95 rifles at $4,860 (967,237 Naira) each, and the ammunition costs .65 cents (129 Naira) per bullet.

Other documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that on June 19, 2015 Brigadier General for National Security AS Mormoni-Bashir sent a panicky letter on behalf of Mr. Dasuki requesting Tar Ideal Concepts Ltd, which is located in Israel, to provide the contents of the EUC to Nigeria noting that “the shipment is long overdue with its implications on the use of the weapons.”

The letter further stated that the weapons and ammunitions were purchased by a middleman, Carrington White Investment Limited.

SaharaReporters contacted a representative of Tar Ideal Concepts who confirmed that they worked with “Carrington White” as a middleman between the company and the Nigerian government. Asked about the relationship between Tar Ideal Concepts, Carrington White, and the Nigerian government, the representative said Tar Ideal Concepts was responsible for selling the weapons and ammunition to the Nigerians, and Carrington White was responsible for the distribution of the munitions and weapons.

The representative added that he “was not responsible for the shipment” and only deals with the end-user. A second letter obtained by SaharaReporters, dated June 19th 2015, also written by Brigadier General Mormoni-Bashir to the Israeli government-owned Israeli Military Industries (IMI) confirmed that the Office of the NSA had received a notice from IMI that it required an “Import License on the procurement” of 4 million rounds. According to Mormoni-Bashir, “the shipment does not require import license as an End User Certificate has already been issued to Carrington White.”

It was also revealed during the phone call with Tar Ideal Concepts representative that up till now, the IMI is still physically in possession of the ammunition being requested by Nigeria, as it has not left Israel. The Tar Ideal Concepts representative said that the company was “responsible for obtaining sales permits from the Israeli government” but that Carrington White was responsible for obtaining all relevant documents from the Nigerian government. He also stated that Tar Ideal Concepts obtained all required documents by December 31st, 2014.
SaharaReporters reached out by phone to representatives of IMI who declined to comment on our investigation.

During the course of SaharaReporters’ investigation, it was learned that Carrington White Investments Limited, who was issued the EUC by the Office for National Security, is headed by Mr. Bestman Uwadia. Confidential sources provided a photograph of Mr. Uwadia’s international passport to SaharaReporters which states that he was born in Jos, Plateau State, in 1969. This same source told SaharaReporters that Mr. Uwadia is personally close to former President Jonathan.

SaharaReporters contacted Mr. Uwadia on his mobile phone and he at first confirmed to our correspondent that he worked with Carrington White Limited and “the shipment arrived three weeks ago,” but that he could not remember a specific date. This statement, however, is in direct contradiction with other evidence gathered by SaharaReporters.

Mr. Uwadia became hostile to our correspondent’s questions and began denying his prior statements. He instead directed all remaining questions to the Office of the NSA.

SaharaReporters correspondents reached out to the Office of the NSA for an explanation relating to the cost of the weapons and ammunition; the reason the Nigerian military has not received the goods listed on the EUC, and their relationship with Carrington White.

One high-ranking official previously associated with the Office for the NSA admitted to our correspondent “the cost of these items looks to be too high.” In a written statement to SaharaReporters an NSA representative declared, “Only NSA is authorized to issue End User Certificates (EUC).” The official also confirmed that the EUC SaharaReporters showed them had been “legally awarded.”

Significantly, this statement described Carrington White as “authorized and recognized suppliers to the producing companies/countries.”

The statement also said, “When the Contractor couldn’t supply the items [in the EUC]immediately, NSA instructed that a warning letter should be issued to the contractor for prompt supply” adding that “the use of middle man Agent for arms supplies) is conventional in arm [sic]purchase.”

News of this latest scandal involving the Office of the NSA follows months of controversy surrounding how Nigerian soldiers have been under-equipped to fight Boko Haram terrorists. The lack of resources and equipment for Nigerian soldiers on the frontline of the fight against Boko Haram forced many soldiers to desert or resign from their posts.

Just last week, the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who was sacked recently, declared that he had led a military, which lacked the relevant equipment and motivation to fight Boko Haram terrorists.

CULLED : sahara reporter

What “missing” N11.56trillion excess crude fund can do for Nigeria

Still on the health track, 76 million Nigerian kids could get mosquito treated nets at N6,900 each, saving them from the scourge of malaria which today kills more than 300,000 Nigerian children under the age of five in annually and responsible for 11 per cent of maternal mortality cases yearly, according to experts at the Malaria Action Programme for States (MAPS).

With the country’s HIV population of 3.1 million, the nation would be a healthier environment caring for the ART needs of this vulnerable group for 108 years if N34,500 is spent on each patient per year.

INFOGRAPHIC SHOWING THE COST OF THE ‘MISSING’ N11.65 TRILLION EXCESS CRUDE FUND TO NIGERIA AND ITS PEOPLE

The perennial power shortage that has crippled economic growth and development efforts could get an unusual boost with an additional investment in 457 gas fired turbine plant at the cost of N25.3 billion per piece. Each plant can generate an average of 485 megawatts, according to an estimate provided by a committee led by former Vice President Namadi Sambo. So 457 units can generate over 220,000 megawatts to the national grid.

Highway infrastructure, water and sanitation development and provision of low cost housing are the other areas that can see remarkable transformation.

In the housing sector, at N7million per piece, the country can provide 1.65 million additional cheap housing for citizens; and provide 126 million households with potable water at a cost of N93,000 per household connection. That will far exceed national needs, since, on the records of the National Bureau on Statistics, the country only has 45 million households.

In the area of highway infrastructure, available data show that 123,000 km of dual carriage paved roads can be built at current cost of N93million per kilometre. That translates to building a road from Lagos to Maiduguri and then to Port Harcourt.

In interviews with PREMIUM TIMES, development planners bemoaned the negative effects of corruption on Nigeria.

“Corruption retards national development, makes a few people rich, more people are pushed down the poverty line; violated people’s economic and social rights to the benefits of natural resource endowment; denies Nigeria the opportunity of occupying her rightful position in the comity of nations,” said Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director, Centre for Social Justice.

Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre [CISLAC] agrees.

“Corruption denies Nigeria development at the level the people desire, particularly in terms of ability to provide the basic infrastructure to give the people quality living,” Mr. Rafsanjani said. “Corruption deprives the people of water, roads, hospital, health centres.

“The insecurity in the country, like Boko Haram, is as a result of corruption, because those at the border collect bribe to allow the insurgents to come into the country; all kinds of goods are allowed to come into country to compete with our local industries.”

As far as Faith Nwadishi, National Chairman, Publish What You Pay Nigeria, is concerned, “Corruption has given Nigeria a bad image, making the country to lose a lot of diplomatic grounds, as people would not want to do business with the people without the suspicion being duped.”

Joseph Amenaghawon of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa [OSIWA], argued along the same line.

“Corruption has not allowed the country to be opened up for the quantum of investment that should flow in country,” Mr. Amenaghawon said. “Corruption has made it difficult for the country to translate growth into benefits for the people, which has resulted in high incidence of youth unemployment. The corruption around the oil industry has not allowed the economy to spread the value from the national resource to impact the people.”

culled : Premium Times

Saudi shells hit Yemen aid office, killing five refugees

Saudi shells hit an international aid office in Yemen on Thursday killing five Ethiopian refugees, a local official said, while violence across the country put United Nations-led peace talks in doubt.

The official said that 10 other refugees were wounded when artillery fire and air strikes hit the town of Maydee along Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia in Hajja province, a stronghold of the Iran-allied Houthi rebel group that a Saudi-led Arab alliance has been bombing for eight weeks.

Saudi spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri denied Saudi involvement and blamed the Houthis. “If the report is correct, it would be the responsibility of the Houthis, who have a big presence in the area,” Asseri told Reuters by telephone.

Saudi Arabia has previously denied responsibility for civilian deaths in remote northern areas that residents and local officials ascribed to Saudi fire.

U.N. Chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday announced peace talks for Geneva on May 28 to try to find a way out of the crisis that triggered outside intervention by an Arab coalition on March 26.

Rajeh Badi, spokesman for Yemen president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, said consultations were held by the government in exile in the Saudi capital Riyadh over preparations for the conference.

But air strikes and deadly fighting raged throughout the country on Thursday.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam demanded on Thursday that the Saudi-led bombing stop before the group attended any talks and said they were capable of heavy retaliation, he told Arab TV channel Al Mayadeen.

“We can’t accept going to negotiations and dialogue in Geneva while the aggression and shelling on our country continues,” Abdul-Salam said.

“Any place we want to hit inside the Saudi enemy we will hit at a time of our choosing,” he said.

FRONTLINE

The Saudi-Yemen border has in some places become a front line between the two sides, and the Houthis’ Al Masira TV channel broadcast footage on Wednesday it said showed its fighters entering a Saudi border post after being fired on by Saudi tanks and helicopters.

“(Saudi) military hardware was deployed, but after a few moments they vanished, fleeing the Yemeni advance,” the channel said.

Houthi media said the group had seized a border position and killed more than two dozen Saudi troops, reports flatly denied by Riyadh.

Saudi spokeman Asseri said the Houthis regularly target Saudi positions along the border and that Saudi forces respond, but he said there were no exceptional clashes on Thursday.

Arab air strikes pounded Houthi positions on Thursday, and an apparently errant bomb killed a family of six in a car near a military base in the central province of Dhamar, residents said.

Air raids and heavy ground fighting shook the central city of Taiz, another focal point of the internal war, and anti-rebel tribal sources said they made gains against the Houthis in the far northern province of al-Jawf, where the Houthis said Saudi-led air strikes killed 15 people.

Residents and local fighters opposing the Houthis said air strikes hit a southern air base controlled by the rebels and also struck their positions outside the southern city of Aden.

Tribal and militia fighters in Yemen’s south support the Arab campaign and back president Hadi, who lives in exile with his government in Saudi Arabia.

IRAN SHIP TO DOCK IN DJIBOUTI

An Iranian aid ship has reached the outskirts of Djibouti’s port and is waiting for a permit to enter after Tehran agreed to an international inspection of the vessel with goods for Yemen, an activist on board said, avoiding a potential regional showdown between Riyadh and Tehran.

The vessel had been escorted by Iranian warships.

Saudi-led forces have enforced inspections on vessels entering Yemeni ports to prevent arms from reaching the Houthis.

Asseri said the coalition had given the ship a choice to either unload its cargo in Djibouti for the United Nations to deliver to Yemen or submit to an inspection by the coalition if it wanted to continue on to Hodaida port.

Indonesia executes 8 drug smugglers by firing squad

(CNN)Two Australians who were convicted of drug smuggling were executed Tuesday in Indonesia, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

The Australians were among eight drug smugglers put to death on Tuesday, the Reuters news agency reported, citing local media. The prisoners faced a 12-man firing squad on Nusa Kambangan island in Central Java.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, appearing with Bishop at a Wednesday press conference, condemned the executions and said Australia would immediately withdraw its ambassador to Indonesia for consultations.

Abbott called the executions “cruel and unnecessary” because both men, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, had been “fully rehabilitated” during a decade in prison.

Abbott didn’t say what permanent actions, if any, would be taken against Indonesia. “This is a dark moment in the relationship, but I’m sure the relationship will be restored,” he said.

The Indonesian government had announced that nine prisoners would be executed, but according to local reports, Filipina Mary Jane Veloso was spared, at least for now.

Lawyers fighting to delay the death of Veloso, a domestic helper and mother of two, have said they’ve given up their bid after her second legal review was rejected on Monday. This came despite a last-minute personal appeal from Philippines President Benigno Aquino to Indonesian counterpart President Joko Widodo.

Chan and Sukumaran were arrested in 2005 as part of the “Bali Nine,” a drug smuggling gang that intended to import 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of heroin from Bali to Australia. They failed.

Chan married his longtime girlfriend, Febyanti Herewila, in prison on Monday.

The executions of Sukumaran and Chan come despite the fact that both this week received a court date of May 12 to hear an outstanding legal challenge.

Lawyers for the men also said Indonesia’s Judicial commission has yet to properly investigate claims of corruption during their original trial and sentencing. They said three of the men’s Indonesian lawyers had been summoned to attend the commission on May 7.

It’s a day their families and friends hoped would never come, but it’s also one that Indonesia, despite years of protest and legal appeals, has insisted had to happen.

Under Indonesian law, the death penalty is carried out by a 12-man firing squad, although only three guns are loaded with live ammunition.

Prisoners are given the choice of whether to stand or sit, and whether they want to wear a blindfold, hood or nothing. The shots — aimed at the heart — are fired from between 5 and 10 meters (16 to 33 feet), according to Amnesty International.

On Tuesday, the prisoners’ families were heard wailing as they boarded a boat for the execution site. Reporters at the port in Cilacap described harrowing scenes on Twitter.

“Myu’s sister Brintha collapsed in screams. Helen Chan was supported by 2 women. Truly heartbreaking. #Bali9,” wrote Nine News reporter Jayne Azzopardi.

The 20 richest people on the planet

You can see Forbes’ complete billionaires list here. We’re taking a closer look at the top 20.

#20 Sergey Brin

AP

Net worth: $29.2 billion

Lost $2.6 billion since 2014; dropped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Brin is the cofounder of Google along with Larry Page.

#19 Larry Page

AP

Net worth: $29.7 billion

Lost $2.6 billion since 2013; dropped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Page is the cofounder of Google, along with Sergey Brin.

#18 Sheldon Adelson

Bloomberg

Net worth: $31.4 billion

Lost $6.6 billion since 2013; dropped 10 spots on the Forbes list

Shares of casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. were down 30% this year, largely because of a crackdown in Macau, where the company runs several properties.

 

 

#17 Li Ka-Shing

Net worth: $33.3 billion

Gained $2.3 billion since 2014; jumped 3 spots on the Forbes list

The richest man in Asia, Ka-Shing serves as chairman of Hutchison Whampoa, a conglomerate with interests in shipping and construction. He holds a major real-estate portfolio.

#16 Mark Zuckerberg

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Net worth: $33.4 billion

Gained $4.9 billion since 2014; jumped 5 spots on the Forbes list

Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook.

#15 Jeff Bezos

BusinessWeek / BI

Net worth: $34.8 billion

Gained $2.8 billion since 2014; jumped 3 spots on the Forbes list

Bezos is the founder and CEO of e-commerce giant Amazon.

Disclosure: Bezos is an investor in Business Insider.

#14 Michael Bloomberg

REUTERS/Supri

Net worth: $35.5 billion

Gained $2.5 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, is the founder, CEO, and majority owner of Bloomberg LP.

#13 Bernard Arnault and family

AP Images

Net worth: $37.2 billion

Gained $3.7 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Arnault and his family hold a 46% stake in LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest maker of luxury goods.

#12 Samuel Robson Walton

via Forbes

Net worth: $39.1 billion

Gained $4.9 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

A member of the founding family of Wal-Mart, Walton has served as the head of the retail giant’s board since 1992.

#11 Alice Walton

via Forbes

Net worth: $39.4 billion

Gained $5.1 billion since 2014; jumped 2 spots on the Forbes list

Walton, a daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, is an heiress to the big-box-store fortune.

#10 Liliane Bettencourt and family

AP Images

Net worth: $40.1 billion

Gained $5.6 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Bettencourt is the heiress to the L‘Oreal fortune, and while she’s still technically Europe’s richest woman, a judge in October 2012 ordered that the elderly billionaire’s fortune be placed under the legal control of her daughter and grandsons. The court case over her wealth is ongoing.

#9 Jim C. Walton

via Forbes

Net worth: $40.6 billion

Gained $5.9 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Another heir to the Wal-Mart fortune, Jim is Chairman and CEO of the family’s Arvest Bank, which has branches in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

#8 Christy R. Walton

Net worth: $41.7 billion

Gained $5 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Christy Walton inherited her husband John Walton’s fortune when he died in 2005. John Walton’s father was Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton.

#6 (tie) David Koch

ap

Net worth: $42.9 billion

Gained $2.9 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

David, along with brother Charles, is a co-owner and the executive vice president of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held companies in the world.

#6 (tie) Charles Koch

Net worth: $42.9 billion

Gained $2.9 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Charles is a co-owner and executive vice president at Koch Industries along with his younger brother David.

#5 Larry Ellison

AP

Net worth: $54.3 billion

Gained $6.3 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Ellison, founder of Oracle, did not even graduate from college. He was named entrepreneur of the year by Harvard Business School in 1990.

#4 Amancio Ortega Gaona

Net worth: $64.5 billion

Gained $.5 billion since 2014; dropped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Ortega is the former chairman of Inditex, a conglomerate whose holdings include global fashion retailer Zara.

#3 Warren Buffett

CNBC

Net worth: $72.7 billion

Gained $14.5 billion since 2014; jumped 1 spot on the Forbes list

Buffett is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, as well as the company’s primary shareholder. The company had a stellar year, leading to huge gains for Buffett.

#2 Carlos Slim Helu

Net worth: $77.1 billion

Gained $5.1 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Slim Helu came from humble beginnings. His father was an immigrant shoemaker and Slim built his fortune from almost nothing. And although he has billions now, friends say he wears cheap suits and prefers pen and paper to computers.

#1 Bill Gates

Screenshot

Net worth: $79.2 billion

Gained $3.2 billion since 2014; no change on the Forbes list

Gates is the founder of Microsoft; he dropped out of Harvard after conceiving the company.

The Infamous Jihadi John’s Identity Has Been Found, And You Won’t Believe Where He Came From

Jihadi John has become known as the brutal ISIS executioner that is responsible for the murders of numerous captured Americans, most notably the very public beheading of James Foley, an American journalist that was used by ISIS to effectively fuel a war between the the rapidly expanding Islamic State and Western nations.

Now the executioner’s hood has come off, as a close friend of the killer has come forward with “no doubt” in his mind that the Muslim man with an English accent is none other than Mohammed Emwazi, a 27 year old computer programmer from West London. Three years previous, he had travelled to the Middle East and found his way into the jihadist scene, and has since become a key player in the ISIS strategy to enlist foreign fighters.

Mohammed Emwazi is the son of a middle class minicab driver, and grew up in the West of London. His family (including Mohammed) would sometimes pray at a nearby mosque in Greenwich, and nothing about the family seemed all that different from any other Muslim family in England. Recently however, Emwazi has become infamous for his role as the English speaking jihadi, and his English background has given ISIS a relatability with foreign fighters that previous terror groups struggled to achieve. A sophisticated social media presence has also bolstered the ranks of the organization, as the New York Post claims around 3000 “Western” fighters have joined the Islamic State’s conquest.

With the identity of “Jihadi John” finally revealed, the world will hardly wait until his identity can be confirmed before further Islamaphobia spreads throughout Europe and to a lesser extent, North America. The ignorant fear of the Muslim culture simply fans the flames of ISIS and will prove to cause an entire generation of hateful, brain-washed Muslim children, following in their forefather’s footsteps with jihad.

At least 35 dead, 42 injured in Shanghai New Year’s stampede: CCTV

(Reuters) – At least 35 people were killed and 42 were injured in a stampede during a New Year’s celebration on the Bund, the famed waterfront tourist area in central Shanghai, official Chinese media reported.

Government television CCTV America quoted online media company Sina News as saying that large crowds in Chen Yi Square on the Bund led to the stampede. It said authorities were working to rescue and aid the wounded.

The official Xinhua news service reported that the stampede began at 11:35 pm. It was not immediately clear what triggered the stampede, the news reports said.

Photographs posted online showed densely packed crowds of revelers along the Bund, one of the most famed tourist areas in Shanghai that runs along the bank of the Huangpu River.

In some photographs, rescue workers were seen trying to resuscitate victims lying on the pavement while ambulances waited nearby.

Authorities had canceled an annual 3D laser show on the Bund that last year attracted as many as 300,000 people.

 

28 Things You Should Never Say To Your Boss

Honesty is the best policy in the workplace — with a few exceptions.

“It’s important to be cautious with what you say to your boss, as even the slightest slip up could make or break your career,” says Ryan Kahn, a career coach, founder of  The Hired Group , and author of ” Hired! The Guide for the Recent Grad .”  “There are the obvious things to hold back from saying to your boss, but the key is to dissect the little things in your interactions.”  

Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job,” agrees. “There are certain comments and questions based on negative perspectives that can set you back with your boss,” she says. “If they continue unabated, these phrases can sabotage an otherwise great job.”  

A good practice is to first pause before blurting out something you might regret and examine what you’re trying to achieve, and the likely reaction you’ll get from your boss.

“If you think you may regret it, you probably will,” she says. “Better to err on the side of waiting until you can crystallize your thoughts into a more palatable and professional dialogue.”

In honor of National Boss Day, which is celebrated in the US on October 16 each year, we’ve compiled a list of the words and phrases you should never say to your manager.

Aside from the obvious — like profanity and insults — here are 28 phrases you should avoid:

“I can’t.”  

A “can-do” attitude is always a valued trait. “I can’t” shows both a lack of confidence and unwillingness to take chances — neither of which will endear you to management, says Taylor.

“That’s not my area.” Or, “That’s not part of my job.”

No job description is ever set in stone. “As cross-functional teams remain the order of the day, you’re expected to be flexible and make your boss’ life easier,” Taylor explains. “As a side note, the more skillsets you accumulate, the more indispensable you are.”

Saying that you’re not willing to go beyond your role shows that you are also not willing to pitch in for the success of the company, Kahn adds.

“I don’t know.”

You may not have the answers to every question, but your best guess and a promise to find out is much better than a shrug of the shoulders, she says. “Anytime your boss would need to do the work for you, assume that’s not a path you should take.”

“No.”

Your cooperation is expected, and so is a polite tone. “Telling your boss ‘no’ is a challenge, and is sometimes necessary — but it can be inappropriate if you don’t phrase it well with an explanation,” Taylor says. “For example, if your boss says, ‘Do you have time to work on the Smith project today?’ you shouldn’t just say, ‘No.’ Instead try something like, ‘Today will be a challenge if you still want me to focus on that company presentation. Would you prefer I work on this today instead?'”

“I’ll try.”

Some people think that this is an acceptable response, as we all “try” to get things done to our best ability. But it leaves a manager feeling unsure, and when assignments are given, your boss is counting on you, usually with specific deadlines, says Taylor. “Imagine yourself asking, ‘Will you be signing off on my paycheck on the 15th?’ and your boss responding, ‘I will try.'”

“That’s not what I heard.”

Avoiding gossip and conjecture is a good idea, as it can backfire. If you’re not sure about something, wait, or you risk appearing unprofessional.  

“How do I benefit from this?”

Sometimes your work involves helping others and other departments. Bosses have little tolerance for those who aren’t team players, Taylor says.

View gallery

.

University of Exeter/flickr Don’t make excuses.

“I’m sorry, but…” 

“The caveat essentially cancels any genuine apologetic sentiment,” Taylor says. “A straight, ‘I’m sorry…I’ll be much more aware of this next time’ is the expected response when you mess up.”

“Well, I did my best.”

This is a cop-out. If you made a mistake, and that was your best, that doesn’t speak highly of your abilities. The better response is that you’ll get it right next time.

“I‘ll leave.”

Don’t threaten to leave the company, says Kahn. It’s unprofessional and they’ll consider you a flight risk.

“I just assumed that…”

That phrase causes frustration for many bosses, as they’d rather hear that you made an error in judgment and learned from it, versus excuses. “To err is human, but to defer blame is a career killer,” Taylor says.

“I’ve tried that before.”  

Bosses have little tolerance for laziness. “Examine whether you really gave the option a shot before you shoot it down,” she suggests. “Your boss may have something else in mind.” Alternatively, explain that you appreciate the suggestion, and tried XYZ, with such and such a result — but would be glad to try something more effective.

“At my last job we did it this way.”

No manager likes a know-it-all, so you must tread lightly if you think you have a better way. “You’re better off phrasing sensitive or challenging responses by turning them into questions versus being confrontational,” Taylor says.

“It’s really not my fault; it’s John’s fault.”

The blame game is a treacherous path. If you’re innocent, then explain why. Don’t implicate others if you bear the primary responsibility, Taylor says.

“Taking responsibility is key,” adds Kahn. “If your always seen as someone pointing the finger, eventually your boss is going to question who is really to blame.”

“[Your predecessor] did this differently/better.”

“Bosses usually feel that their methods are preferred over their predecessors because they now hold the position,” Taylor explains. “Unless a method is clearly a mistake, don’t challenge your boss with the ‘old ways of doing things’ just because they made things easier for you.”

“I’m bored.”

“You may have a weak moment and share your boredom with the wrong person: your boss,” says Taylor. “You’re being paid to be productive and remain enthusiastic; it’s your responsibility to find ways to make your job interesting.”  

“I can’t work with him/her.”

“Not playing well with others” isn’t good in elementary school, nor is it in the workplace. It’s assumed that you are capable of getting beyond personality conflicts in the interest of delivering excellent results.

“He’s a jerk.”

“The golden rule is something your boss expects you to observe, and casting aspersions on others has no redeeming value. It just reflects badly on you,” she says.

“If I don’t hear from you, I’ll just do X.”

This has a threatening tone. Better to wait than be admonished later.

“Why does Jane always…?”

Whining is annoying. “If you have a gripe, better to ask how you can attain a certain privilege, and leave others out of the discussion,” she suggests.

“Can I/we speak with your boss about this?” Or, “I want to speak with HR about this.”

“Going over your boss’ head challenges authority — a usually no-win situation, unless you’re about to quit (or be terminated) and have no other recourse,” says Taylor.

If you’re going to HR, don’t threaten in advance, she adds. “And you should avoid it unless you’ve exhausted all the options with your boss.”

“I don’t have a solution.”

Don’t tell the boss about problems without presenting potential solutions, says Kahn. “Leaders talk about solutions; followers talk about the problems.”

“Why does John have X and I don’t?”

Focus on your own career, not others’ salary or promotions — unless you’re witnessing blatant favoritism. “If that’s the case, you can opt for a more professional discussion once you’ve collected your thoughts about the facts,” Taylor says.

“I’m pretty busy. Can it wait?”

It’s your responsibility to ask your boss if priorities have changed, as your objectives must stay aligned with your manager’s. “Priorities are rarely stagnant, so as in most cases, your better option is to ask if you should reshuffle them,” she recommends.

“Can I leave early today since things are slow?”

It’s fine if you have to leave early. But don’t say it’s because “things are slow” or you have “nothing to do.” “There are always more projects in the pipeline. Bosses want you to show initiative,” she says.

“That’s impossible.”

Your manager doesn’t want to hear negativity or a lack of conviction. If you have concerns, state what they are, and ask for input.

One of the best approaches in deciding whether to share your thoughts with your boss or ask sensitive questions is to put yourself in their shoes, Taylor suggests. “Do your comments and questions reflect a positive, can-do, and confident demeanor? Remember loose lips sink ships ­— so choose your words carefully when you feel challenged at work if you want to thrive in your career.”

 

Nigeria:Presidency confirms ceasefire deal with Boko Haram

Hope rose Friday on the possibility of the release of the over 200 girls, who were seized from a school in Chibok, Borno State last April following a ceasefire agreement reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Boko Haram sect in Sadudi Arabia.

The deal was confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe on Friday.

Okupe pointed out that a ceasefire deal had indeed been agreed by the two parties but did not say when the girls would be released to their agonising parents, who have been looking forward to reuniting with them since April 14 this year.

Okupe, who said the deal, was for a unilateral ceasefire by the Nigerian military and the Boko Haram insurgents, pointed out that the issues agreed upon would go through a process.

But he made it clear that in response to the agreement, the Nigerian army had stopped fighting the insurgents just as the sect had agreed to lay down their arms.

“There are some concessions that the Federal has agreed with the sect but I am not going to mention them. But we want cessation of insurgency and the safe return of the Chibok girls. We are on the path of achieving these,” Okupe said.

Asked why it took so long for the Federal Government to dialogue with the sect, the presidential aide pointed out that peace deal in any part of the world takes time and that Nigeria could not have been different.

Nigeria: ‘Buhari Took Bank Loan to Purchase APC Nomination Form

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday blasted All Progressives Congress, APC presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) for twisting facts and figures to project his 2015 presidential ambition, saying that all that the general promised to do were being done by his administration.

President Jonathan’s sharp retort to Buhari’s assertions of failing standards in critical sectors of the polity came as Buhari yesterday, pressed forward his ambition by purchasing the APC presidential nomination form through a bank loan.

While purchasing the N25 million nomination form at the party’s national secretariat yesterday, Buhari lamented the high cost of the nomination form, but said that he was fired by his ambition to procure a bank loan through the assistance of an unnamed bank chairman earlier yesterday.

Buhari had yesterday formally declared his ambition in Abuja, during which he and several other supporters of his blasted the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP administration of leading the country towards the precipice.

Responding yesterday, President Jonathan expressed regrets that Buhari, who he said should ordinarily be a statesman would twist facts and figures to project an ambition.

In a statement articulated by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president said:

“We have noted with disappointment and regret, the reckless, baseless and unsupportable charges made against the Jonathan’s administration yesterday by a supposed elder statesman, General Muhammadu Buhari.

“We wholly reject the allegations made by General Buhari against the Jonathan’s administration at the declaration of his intention to contest the 2015 presidential elections as an irresponsible denigration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s sincere efforts, over the past four years, to positively transform Nigeria.

“It reflects very badly on the character of the political opposition we now have in Nigeria, that a political leader of General Buhari’s stature will deliberately make such false and uncharitable comments about the elected leadership of his country, merely for personal and sectional political gain.

“The falsity of General Buhari’s anti-Jonathan and anti-PDP claims will be obvious to knowledgeable Nigerians and friends of the country, but for the benefit of others we affirm that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in his charge that “the last 16 years of PDP Government has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria” or that “the economy continues to deteriorate.

“Statistics and rankings from the National Bureau of Statistics, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other international economic agencies give the lie to General Buhari’s claims on the state of the Nigerian economy.

“As is well known, available figures, statistics and ratings show that the Nigerian economy has consistently maintained an unprecedented growth rate of 6-7% under the Jonathan administration. They also show that the Nigerian economy is now the leading economy in Africa and the 26th largest in the world with a gross domestic product of over $500 billion per annum.

“Also contrary to General Buhari’s assertion yesterday, Nigeria’s agricultural sector is thriving under the reforms being implemented by the Jonathan administration as current production figures show and neither manufacturing nor commerce is “down” as the APC presidential aspirant alleged.

“His most uncharitable and inexcusable accusation against the present administration was that election rigging continues to thrive in Nigeria.

“We trust that all patriotic, objective and non-partisan Nigerians will reject that allegation knowing it to be invalid and they will have the evidence of the progressively freer, fairer and ever more credible elections conducted under the Jonathan administration to support their position.

“The President will not be discouraged or deterred from his objective of repositioning Nigeria for accelerated and inclusive socio-economic development by the partisan and jaundiced views of power seekers like General Buhari who cannot see the obvious results of the current administration’s efforts through their blinkered eyes.

“We also draw the attention of Nigerians to the total lack of originality in the hackneyed manifesto offered to Nigerians yesterday by the APC presidential aspirant.”

 

 

“All that General Buhari promises to do are already being done by the Jonathan’s administration to the acclaim of ordinary Nigerians and there is no evidence before Nigerians that the APC leader and his acolytes can do them better.”

“The retired General is free to renege on his well-publicized pledge not to seek elective office again, as he has done, but we urge him to conduct his presidential campaign with greater regard for the truth.”

“We also urge him to eschew unbecoming false accusations against others like a true elder statesman and to focus his campaign on more original ideas for the promotion of peace, stability, unity and progress in our beloved nation.”

National chairman of the APC Chief John Odigie-Oyegun immediately rebuffed the insinuation saying:

“Well, it means that they are not good students of history and they are not realistic and practical. Before now, there was no truly national alternative in this nation; before now, we had the ANPP that was domiciled in the North East, we had the ACN that was domiciled in the South West and off course they had members all over the places.”

Buhari meanwhile, yesterday procured the party’s N27.5 million expression of interest and nomination forms at the national secretariat.

Lamenting what the costs of the forms were high, he said that it took the understanding of his bankers in Kaduna and Abuja to raise the money.

“It’s a pity I couldn’t influence this amount to be put down as in the case of ladies and the disabled that intend to participate. I always looked left and right in our meetings but I could not read sympathy, so I kept my trap.

“But I felt heavily sorry for myself because I don’t want to go and ask somebody to pay for my nomination forms, because I always try to pay myself, at least for the nomination.

“N27 million is a big sum, thankfully I have personal relationship with the manager of my bank in Kaduna and early this morning, I put an early call (and) I told him that very soon the forms are coming, so, whether I am on red, or green or even black please honour it, otherwise I may lose the nomination.

“I was about to go to Kaduna this morning and I told the Chairman (John Odigie-Oyegun) but he said in that case, you better pick your form and keep a straight face. That means there is no excuse,” Buhari said.

Responding after handing over the forms to Buhari, the national chairman of the party, Chief Odigie-Oyegun explained that the N27.5m was carefully chosen to “separate men from the boys”.

“Let me say that the N27.5m is to separate the men from the boys. It is quite clear. We know you. I don’t expect you have N27m under your bed. But I expected that there are Nigerians who will vouch for you any day and who are ready to stand for you any day and that is the result that we have obtained today”, he said.

The chairman who expressed satisfaction over the turnout that greeted Buhari’s presidential declaration at Eagles Square in Abuja on Wednesday further stated that APC’s train was already on its way to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

Odigie-Oyegun also yesterday said the party would not be averse to the emergence of a consensus candidate should all the presidential aspirants in the party agree to it. He nevertheless stated the readiness of the party to conduct free and fair primaries that would be acceptable to all.

He said: “I want to congratulate you again on the great event that I watched very avidly on television yesterday. It was good for you but it was good for me and the party. I watched it and I knew the entire nation was watching. And I knew inside me what they would be saying. Yes, truly, APC has arrived. These people mean business. Yes, we are going to have quite a few aspirants and we are very glad at the level of display that one by one, they are putting up. It’s a clear indication of the quality in APC.

“It is a clear indication of the quality of leadership that we are offering the nation. “All the people being presented by the APC, there is not one to my mind, so far, who is not eminently qualified to govern this nation and who given even half a chance will not beat anybody PDP can bring to the fore.”

Bishops Seeks to Balance Opening to Gays

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Conservative Catholic bishops distanced themselves Tuesday from a document showing an unprecedented opening toward gays and divorced people, saying it doesn’t reflect their views and vowing to make changes to the final version.

The provisional document produced at the halfway point of a two-week meeting on family life said gays had gifts to offer the church and that their partnerships, while morally problematic, provided gay couples with “precious” support.

It said the church must welcome divorced people and recognize the “positive” aspects of civil marriages and even Catholics who cohabit.

Amid an outcry from conservatives, organizers of the synod insisted that the document was merely a working paper that would be amended.

Several known conservatives who participated in the synod immediately came out against the report. The head of the Polish bishops’ conference, Cardinal Stanislaw Gadecki, called it “unacceptable” and a deviation from church

teaching.

Hard-line American Cardinal Raymond Burke, the head of the Vatican’s supreme court, complained that the Vatican was releasing “manipulated” information about the goings-on of the synod that didn’t reflect the “consistent number of bishops” who opposed such a tone.

According to the Vatican summary of the debate, bishops suggested that the final version of the report highlight faithful, Catholic families to avoid “a near-exclusive focus on imperfect family situations.”

On gays, they said “prudence” was required “so that the impression of a positive evaluation of such a tendency on the part of the church is not created. The same care was advised with regard to cohabitation.”

The bishops noted that the word “sin” barely appeared in the document at all and that the final document must better explain the “law of gradualness” — a theological concept that encourages the faithful to take one step at a time in the search for holiness.

Bishops are concerned that an emphasis on graduality can lead to confusion about whether Catholics really must follow church law to the letter on hot-button issues like contraception.

Finally, the summary noted that some bishops firmly believe there is no room for change on the divisive issue of whether Catholics who divorce and remarry without getting an annulment

can receive Communion.

Church teaching holds that without an annulment, these Catholics are living in sin and thus are ineligible to receive the sacraments.

Pope Francis has called for a more merciful approach and some favor a case-by-case approach, in which the couple undertakes a path of penance and could ultimately receive the sacraments. But conservatives have insisted there is no getting around Jesus’ words that marriage is indissoluble.

In the summary released Tuesday, the Vatican reported that “it was said that it is difficult to accept exceptions unless in reality they become a common rule.”