(A S U P) Academic Staff Union of Polytecnics Suspends 15days nationwide strike.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has suspended its nationwide strike 15 days after the industrial action began.  

Usman Duste, the National President of ASUP made the announcement today during the union’s 14th National Delegates Conference at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi state. He said the decision to suspend the strike followed the series of meetings held between the leadership of the union and the Federal Government.

According to him, both parties agreed to a Memorandum of Settlement and Action (MoS) on each of the issues raised by the union.  “The union considered the suspension to give an opportunity for implementation of the content of Memorandum of Settlement and Action, and shall be reviewed according to the timelines outlined in the MoS,” Duste said.  

The decision to commence an indefinite strike was the outcome of the National Executive Council meeting of ASUP which held on November 11 at the Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State.  According to the union, the industrial action followed the failure of the Federal Government to implement all the agreements it entered with them since 2016.  Some of the demands included non-implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Report and shortfalls in personnel releases and withdrawal of allowances.  

Others were non-passage of the amended bill of the Polytechnic Act, alleged infractions in the appointment of rectors, as well as improving the conditions of state-owned institutions among other issues.  The union had lamented that despite the long period given to the government to address some of the issues it had raised, government did not consider it necessary to address the demands for improved funding of polytechnic education in the country.  

Dutse had also told reporters after the Council meeting that ASUP had given government sufficient time to implement all the agreements, saying they had no choice than to embark on an indefinite strike after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued earlier.  

“On October 24, a reconciliation meeting was convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour in Abuja. The ministry in the eye of the storm, the Federal Ministry of Education, was poorly represented that no memorandum of action was agreed on.  “This clearly shows the level of disdain and disrespect with which the issues of the sector are being handled by the relevant agencies. In view of the above, our union resolved in its emergency meeting of NEC on October 31, 2017 to commence an indefinite and comprehensive strike effective from November 13, 2017,” he had said.

TASUED: Following the suspension of political activities, students threaten to shut down school

Being one of the conclusions of the Congress of Students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), the students have urged the university management to rescind the ban which has been placed on all political activities on campus or risk halting academics activities on campus indefinitely.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, one of the students said that the school management had a memo signed by the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. O. D. Adejoye placed an indefinite ban on all political activities. 

The letter which was obtained by our correspondents, dated 13th of November, 2017, also ordered that no election should be done to fill any students’ political post.

Reacting to the decision of the management, the students demanded a vivid and substantial explanation from the management to back the suspension order. The students also requested that ban on all political activities be lifted.

“At the end of the Congress, the entire students deem it fit to ask the management explicitly give reasons for the suspension of the political activities and that all elections should come up appropriately and as at when due,” a student said. 

Pondering on likely reason for such ban by the school, the students posited that the management is planning to increase tuition fee in the school starting from next academic session. The students also revealed that the ban on political activities is to clear any opposition to the proposed increments in tuition fee.

“We heard from a reliable source that the school wants to add N10,000 to the fee being paid by both new and existing students.”

“This evidently means that they ban political activities so that there will be nobody or organization to oppose the management when they implement the fee increments,” the students maintained. 

The students threatened that they will mobilize themselves and lock down the student's affairs unit, stop all transport system, and paralyze all academics activities if the management failed to give an acceptable reason for placing a ban on political activities. 

The Congress of Students also insisted that the school takes back its ban if no reason is given as the ban is an illegal and students should enjoy their inalienable right to freedom of association. 

OAU workers protest over sharing of earned allowances

Irate members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, and National Association of Academic Technologist, NAAT locked down the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Monday over what they termed a skewed sharing formula in the disbursement of money released for their earned allowances by the federal government.

The federal government had, two months ago, released N23 billion for the country’s public universities to settle earned allowances arrears. That amount was part of the N220 billion the government pledged to the schools, as part of a resolution reached to address the last strike action embarked on by staff unions of the universities over the non-implementation of previous agreements.

But OAU’s share of the money has now caused internal crisis. During a meeting held between the Vice Chancellor, Eyitope Ogunbodede and the unions on Monday, the school proposed 89:11 ratio. That is, the academic staff, ASUU, take 89 per cent, while other unions take 11 per cent.

No sooner had the meeting ended than the non-academic staff, NASU, the academic technologists, NAAT, joined by members of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU embarked on protest, which brought parts of the school’s routine activities to a halt.

The aggrieved staff said that the sharing formula could not be accepted by their unions because it was too skewed against them. They said they, like ASUU, also fought for the release of the funds.

“This earned allowance was released by the government and we all fought for it together,” said a representative of NAAT who identified himself as Mr. Olusoji. “What is good for the goose, is good for the gander. I see no reason why any union should lay claim to a higher percentage of the money.”

He disclosed a congressional resolution that the protest should not cease, “until they yield to our demands and that a letter should be sent to the national body.”

A member of NASU, Abu Adamu, insisted the money must be shared equally between ASUU and other unions.

“This is not the first time money will be sent and we will all share it 50:50,” said Mr. Mr. Adamu “It is not done anywhere. Even before the money will be released for disbursement, all the unions must sign that they’ve agreed to the ratio, which we will not do.”

“I’m afraid if by tomorrow, it is not addressed, we will end up going on strike.” added Mr. Adamu.

This was corroborated by the branch chairman of NASU, OAU, Wale Odebunmi, who said, unless there is resolution, a strike action may ensue.

The aggrieved staff further alleged that there was no letter from the government prescribing the sharing formula. He alleged that purported government’s template shown by the management was not duly stamped.

Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the school could only urge the protesting staff to embrace peace.

“We urge everyone to allow peace to reign. Let them come to the round table and let the money be shared,” Mr. Olanrewaju said.

NYSC approves the re-deployment of 52 pregnant and nursing corps members

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Jigawa has approved the re-deployment of 52 nursing and pregnant corps members to states of their choice.

The state NYSC coordinator, Michael Amolo, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse on Tuesday that the NYSC authority had also approved the re-deployment of 10 other corps members with health challenges.

“As for now, this is the number of corps members seeking re-deployment; we will listen to those with genuine cases but will not entertain those with flimsy reasons.

”We will not just allow people to come and go back like that without cogent reasons.

According to him, the essence of the NYSC is for national unity and integration.

“It is mandatory for corps members to stay and serve in places where they are posted for primary assignment so that they can gain experience.”

The coordinator advised the corps members posted to the state to conduct themselves properly and to respect the culture and traditions of the people.

He warned corps members against the indiscriminate use of the social media, adding that anyone found wanting would be sanctioned.

(NAN)

UNILORIN: Student brutalized and, extorted by police cries for help.

A student of the University of Ilorin, who alleged he was brutalised and extorted by some officers of the Nigerian Police Force has called on the authorities for redress.

Oluwaseun Awogbenle, a 400-level student of Biochemistry, said he was brutalised and tortured by the police officers on November 18 during the local council elections in Kwara State.

Mr. Awogbenle said on a current affairs programme of Royal FM, a private radio station in Ilorin, Kwara State, that he was at a polling booth around Tanke area to monitor the electoral process as a citizen reporter and policy analyst on radio.

Narrating his ordeals, he alleged that he was maligned, brutalised and extorted by the officers because he took pictures at the polling centre.

“When I got to the polling booth, I approached a police official who gave me permission to cover the event and report.

“But just as I was about to take pictures, an APC agent accused me of being sponsored by the opposition and prevailed on the Police Corporal that we could not take pictures of the exercise and the ones I had earlier taken must be deleted,” he said.

“While the argument ensued, the Inspector who had earlier consented to my request became uncooperative and the APC agents threatened to get me arrested, but I dismissed it as an empty threat. In no time, the Police officers were hoodwinked into contacting their Area Commander.”

He explained that the Area Commander, on getting to the scene of the incident, asked why he would take pictures at a polling unit, to which he explained that he was a citizen reporter.

Mr. Awogbenle alleged that in the presence of the police officers, the APC agent slapped him in the face and was later joined by the police officers who rushed at him and forced him on his knees.“On my knees still trying to justify my action, a police man came and slapped me twice, poured water on me, humiliated me and seized my phone.

“I sobbed and wept bitterly for my ordeal. I requested that they take me to my house where I could get my ID Card for identification, they denied me that right and insisted I must be a criminal! My plea was to no avail, we were quickly rounded up into their van.

“In the van were some boys who they had earlier arrested. After we moved a little distance, they stopped, asked the boys to contribute some money, collected the money from them and they were released, but they insisted we were not going to be released and that we would be taken to their office.

He continued, “As we moved further, they thoroughly searched our phones, deleted the pictures we took. As in my usual tradition in a bid to prove my innocence, once again, I requested that they take me to Royal FM office in Ilorin for identification. They vowed not to, rather the same police officer slapped me.

“As they drove us through Ilorin, somewhere in town, two of my friends from school identified me, followed the van through on a motorcycle. When we got to Maraba in Ilorin, the place they had been earlier assigned, the man who had dealt with me so ruthlessly asked the guys what they had to free me.

“The guys offered them N2000 at first, but they utterly declined, promising to carry us to their station and that we won’t get bail till the next Monday. Out of that anxiety, the guys quickly rallied and we could only manage to raise N4000 since none of us had our ATM cards. After so much plea, they collected the N4000 and freed us.”

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi,  said the case had not been brought before him. He advised the alleged victim to report to the command officially.

But in a petition by Mr. Awogbenle’s lawyer, Titilope Joseph, the victim is calling on the Kwara Police Command to investigate the matter and bring the alleged culprits to book.

The petition, dated November 21, also demanded a public apology published in a national newspaper from the Kwara State Police Commissioner and the Kwara State Police Command.

ABU best graduating student gets NNPC scholarship

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has announced the award of a full postgraduate scholarship to the 2016/17 best graduating student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Maikanti Baru, announced the scholarship in a statement by NNPC spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu.

Mr. Baru said the recipient, Al-Amin Bugaje, would be sponsored to further his education up to Ph.D level in any institution in the world.

Mr. Bugaje, 23, bagged a First Class degree in Electrical Engineering with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93 to emerge the university’s overall best graduating student.

”This gesture is in line with NNPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of championing educational excellence nationwide.

”We equally want to encourage other students who are still in school to aspire towards achieving excellence in their academic pursuits,” Mr. Baru, himself a First-Class degree holder in Mechanical Engineering from ABU, said.

He noted that the NNPC recently held the grand finale of its Annual National Quiz Competition.

”At the end of that quiz, we rewarded the state winners with a one-off educational grant of N100,000 each, the national finals winners: first place (Delta), second (Abia) and third place (Ondo) won N300,000, N250,000 and N200,000 respectively as annual bursary support for the entire course of their tertiary education,” he added.

Responding, an elated Mr. Bugaje expressed his gratitude to the NNPC for giving him the opportunity to further his education, stressing that he was “shocked” to hear the GMD announce the scholarship gesture to him.

”I thank the NNPC for this wonderful opportunity to go and compete with the best of the best in the world.

”Hopefully, I will utilise this opportunity to go and groom myself the more and see how we can come back to contribute our quota to nation-building,” Mr. Bugaje said.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Ibrahim Garba, lauded NNPC’s support to the institution’s best graduating student saying ”it is very encouraging on the part of the corporation.

”It would show the way to other corporate bodies to follow suit and invest in education.

”It also shows NNPC as not only a critical supporter of the nation’s economy, but also a pillar in the nation’s educational development,” the vice Chancellor said.

The vice chancellor also thanked the GMD for his gesture in supporting the university’s mini-petroleum refinery project, saying that most of the milestone achieved in the refinery initiative came from the NNPC.

NAN recalls that Baru delivered the Pre-Convocation Lecture where he harped on the need for Nigeria to diversify its economic base away from the vulnerability and fragility of oil and gas revenue.

A total of 50 of the 8,260 undergraduates bagged first degrees, 3,600 were awarded postgraduate diplomas, 256 graduated with Ph.D degrees and 2,300 obtained masters degrees across the university’s 13 faculties.

(NAN)

Former Ebonyi Deputy Gov. named VC

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed a former Deputy Governor of the state, Chigozie Ogbu, as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University (EBSU).

The Secretary to the State Government, Bernard Odo, announced the on Friday.

Mr. Odo said the governor, as the university’s visitor, directed that Mr. Ogbu would replace Francis Idike whose appointment as the acting vice-chancellor would elapse on November 26.

“Idike has been operating as the university’s acting vice- chancellor for the past six months while Ogbu’s tenure, which commences from Nov.27, will also last for six months,” he said.

Mr. Odo said the governor also approved the termination of Mr. Ogbu’s appointment as the university’s Pro Chancellor to enable him to assume duties in the new position.

He said the governor also approved the appointment of a former Minister of Culture and tourism, Franklin Ogbuewu, as the university’s Pro-Chancellor with effect from Monday, November 27.

Mr. Ogbu was deputy governor from 2003 to 2011.

Mr. Ogbuewu is also the chairman of the Ebonyi Elders Council. (NAN)