Blame Governor Obaseki For Crisis In Edo University – ASUU

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July 14, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma Branch, in Edo state has said Governor Godwin Obaseki should be held responsible for the lingering crises in the university.

It also accused government for its failure to genuinely reposition the university.

The University’s chapter of ASUU, in a statement signed by its Chairperson and Assistant Secretary, Dr. Cyril Onogbosele and Dr. William Odion, respectively insisted that the crises in the university were aggravated by the undue replacement of the university’s Governing Council with the Special Intervention Team (SIT) in May 2021 by the Visitor to the University, Governor Godwin Obaseki, despite its opposition by well-meaning primary stakeholders of the university.

The Union reiterated that SIT’s tenure was characterized by breach of the university’s autonomy, arbitrariness, usurpation of the powers/functions of the Senate and principal officers of the university, intimidation and victimization of staff and students.

The tenure also witnessed undue retirement/termination of the appointments of some staff, administrative lapses, impunities and the presentation of false reports on the university and its staff to Edo State Government.

The Union enumerated the unresolved problems bedeviling the university to include erosion of the University’s autonomy; lack of funding of the university/stoppage or reduction of subvention to the University by Edo State Government.

Others are defective administrative structure in the university caused by lack of substantive Principal Officers (Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, Librarian and Provost) in the university for the past three years; arbitral removal/replacement of elected Deans of faculties; the problem of non-payment of salaries/allowances of many staff up to thirty (30) months.

The union also complained of non-implementation of the award of 25/35 percent wage award to academic staff in public universities in Nigeria by government.

Other problems listed include: stoppage of third-party deductions (ASUU dues, staff welfare savings, etc.) and non-remittance of deducted ASUU dues (September 2020 – November 2021) by the University Administration.

They include delayed staff appraisal, promotion exercise and reintroduction of notional promotion of staff (promotion without financial benefits) which was stopped a long time ago during the tenure of the Governing Council chaired by Prof. Eugene Okpere.

Rivers Crisis: Fubara Sets to Shock PDP as Loyalists Accuse Party of Taking Sides

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The Source

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July 14, 2024

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By Akinjide Aina, Abuja Bureau Chief

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may have fatally shot itself on the leg playing the ostrich in the Rivers political crisis to placate the FCT Minister and immediate past Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, at the expense of the incumbent Governor, Siminalayi Fubura.

Wike who is, also, believed to hold the levers of influence and authority in the Rivers APC has allegedly pocketed the PDP NWC, leaving Fubara an orphan.

Tired of the rejection and humiliation he is receiving from his party, Governor Fubara, insiders in the Rivers State Government confided inThe source, will soon take a drastic action that will shock the Party.

Said a loyalist of Govenor Fubara who preferred anonymity “because oga( the Governor) has asked us to speak less: “Unless the party retracts its steps and do the right thing, it will regret its treacherous ambivalence in the the political crisis rocking our state, crisis that was brought upon us by one man’s greed and proxy tenure elongation gambit; one man who wants to be the undisputed political godfather of Rivers state even when he is no longer governor, forgetting that Rivers is not Lagos.

“For its deceitful ambivalence and deceitful tongue in cheek, insipid position on Rivers, the PDP will soon bite the dust in our state. The PDP will be shocked”

Nyesom Wike - FCT Minister — Wike: Accused of pocketing the PDP

Determined to assert himself and stamp political authority on the polity, Governor Fubara is said to be bidding for time before making a far-reaching political move that would shake Rivers political landscape.

An aggrieved PDP chieftain in the State who pleaded not to be named because of the tensed political situation in the likened the National Leadership of PDP’s lack of support for Fubara and levity with which it has treated the Rivers political crisis to a child whose parents treat like an orphan.

“This is not how to be a Party. The PDP under this current NWC is an extension of APC, this current PDP has tragically become Wike’s play thing. Ambassador Umar Damagum ( PDP acting National Chairman) and his gang, careful not to offend Wike who still wields enormous influence and control over past and incumbent PDP governor, past and sitting National Assembly members and the National Working Committee, NWC has refrained from openly coming out in support of Fubara despite his (Wike’s) anti- PDP activities and his open implementation of the APC agenda in Rivers state.

“Damagum’s PDP has reduced itself to a party of periodic issuance of half-hearted, banal press releases. Its position on the Rivers crisis are hazy, the party is too weak and afraid to take a definite position on Rivers. Damagum and his group of “O yes” men are afraid to call out Wike, they can’t even mention Fubara by name or refer to him as Governor in order not to get Wike offended.

“PDP of the old would have since gathered its Governors, National Assembly members and its chieftains and paid a solidarity to the Governor but the PDP under Damagum is in someone’s pocket, it will never do so but a shocker awaits the party soon”.

Meanwhile, highly placed sources told the magazine that Fubara is waiting for the court to finally determine the status of the 25 pro- Wike defected members of the state House of Assembly before making his move. “If in the coming days the court rule that the lawmakers who last year defected to the APC have lost their seats and therefore no longer members of the House, Governor Fubara will immediately announce his new party and thus present his own candidates from his new party for the subsequent by- election to fill the vacant Assembly seats”, the source told The Source.

While the majority of the Governor’s loyalists are pilling pressure on him to dump the PDP and pinch his tent with the Labour party, others insist the Social Democratic Party, SDP or the Accord Party present better opportunity to him.

However, are those who, while completely ruling out the APC “because of the toxic Wike factor in the Rivers chapter of the party”, insist that the Governor should remain in the PDP and use the forthcoming Congresses to wrestle the control of Rivers chapter of the party from Wike.

Tinubu Appoints Adekanmbi New Coordinator For Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project; Concerned South-Southerner Queries Appointment

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The Source

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July 14, 2024

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A new Project Coordinator has been appointed for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project.

A statement from the State House, signed by Presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale said President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, July 13, approved the appointment of Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi as the new Project Coordinator for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

According to the statement, Dr. Adekanmbi who holds a Doctorate Degree in Environmental Management, comes into office well prepared.

The statement reads in part:

“Dr. Adekanmbi is a former Commissioner for Special Duties, Culture and Tourism in Ondo State, and a member of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES).

“He holds a Doctorate degree in Environmental Management.

“The President anticipates the exercise of competence, dedication, and professionalism in fulfilling the mission of the HYPREP to restore and revitalize communities impacted by hydrocarbon pollution, with a primary focus on Ogoniland in Nigeria.”

However, an Environmentalist from the South-south, who pleaded anonymity, described Adekanmbi’s appointment as insensitive, especially, to the Ogoni people.

He asked: “How can the President give such a sensitive position, given, especially, the situation in the South-south, and more especially in Ogoniland, to a Yoruba man? Whatever happened to the crop of professionals in that field from Ogoniland or the South-south whose land and environment remain the most affected, the most polluted, the most destroyed?”

Gov Yusuf Empowers 5,200 Women With N260 Million, Insists Programme Will Add To Kano’s GDP

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 13, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A total of 5,200 women were on Saturday July 13, 2024 in Kano, feted with a Palliative/empowerment sum of N50,000 each by the state Government.

This is just as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf warned that dare consequences await any disbursement officials that fiddle with the funds.

The Source reports that a similar exercise for hundreds of road side hawkers in the month of May was mired by wide spread allegations of fleecing of the beneficiaries by disbursement officials.

The officials apart from allegedly supplanting the actual beneficiaries with cronies and family members ,also cajoled some of them into parting with as much as % 80 of the sum.

Governor Yusuf had in the wake of the outrage that greeted the alleged heist which was captured in a viral video, threatened to deal ruthlessly with those involved.

Instructively, until this latest exercise, there had been no reported case of any disciplinary action meted out to anybody.

Further speaking at a ceremony held at the Open Theatre of the state’s seat of power, Governor Yusuf enjoined the latest beneficiaries of the now monthly empowerment programme to make judicious use of the funds at their disposal.

Saturday’s exercise will cost the state, N260 million .

He called on the women to apply the funds to their micro businesses ,with a view to enhancing their wellbeing.

One Hundred beneficiaries, the Governor informed were drawn from 36 local councils each, while 200 each were selected from the eight metropolitan councils of the state .

Governor Yusuf insisted that the palliative measure will at once break the circle of poverty among the people ,as well as add value to the state’s Gross Domestic Product GDP .

” Since the beginning of our empowerment programme, this is the second in the series .

One hundred women each have been deleted to benefit from 36 local Governments and 200 each from the eight local Governments that make up the kano metropolis.

Each beneficiary will be given N50,000 ,making a total of N260 million for the month of July ” Governor Yusuf stated .

He appreciated the women for their unalloyed support for the Kwankwasiyya political movement in particular, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP in general.

Court Activities Set To Be Paralyzed, As Anambra Judicial Workers Embark On An Indefinite Strike

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 13, 2024

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Charles Soludo - Governor of Anambra State

By Suleiman. Anyalewechi

For the failure of the Anambra State Government to respect the terms of agreements separately entered into with the Judiciary workers in 2011 and 2015, all court premises in the state will be under lock and key effective, Monday July 15, 2024, according to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria JUSUN.

The grain of the agreements is the complete implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure CONJUS .

A circular on Saturday, July 13, 2024, signed by Nwaezi Ugochukwu, the Anambra JUSUN Assistant Scribe said the industrial action will be indefinite.

“The strike action is indefinite, and all staff of the Anambra State Judiciary have been directed to withdraw their services until further directives from the union”, part of the circular reads.

The strike circular, which was copied to all Directors their Deputies, Chief Registrar, and staff of the state Judiciary, also, noted that the declaration of the industrial dispute was sequel to the expiry of an earlier 21 day notice.

The notice elapsed on Thursday July 11 2024, without any response from the state Government, according to the Union.

But the strike action can be averted if urgent steps are taken by the authorities to address the Workers’ demands on, or before Monday, JUSON noted .

The strike action if eventually carried out is expected to paralyze all Court sittings and other related activities..

The Union has insisted that the strike action will only be called off if its demands are met .

” It means that from Monday ,all Courts in Anambra will be shut down if the Government fails to address the issue immediately” JUSUN stated

Abducted Kaduna Journalists, Wives, Children Rescued

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 13, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kaduna State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Correspondents Chapel has said that two of its members abducted by unknown gunmen in Kaduna have been released.

The duo of Abdulraham Aodu and Abdul’Gafar Alabelewe of the Blueprint Newspapers and The Nation, respectively, alongside their wives and children were, last Saturday, kidnapped at their homes at Millennium City Estate, Danhonu in Chukun Local Council of Kaduna state.

Chairman of the Chapel, Asmau Yawo Halilu confirmed the development through the Chapel’s WhatsApp Platform.

“To the glory of God Almighty, our colleagues Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Abdulraheem, and their families have been released.

“The Council extends its profound gratitude to the office of the CP Kaduna State Command ,office of the NSA, the DG DSS , Inspector General of police, Kaduna State Government, the NUJ, President and all well meaning Nigerians, that prayed along with us during the trying time.

“We will soon announce when they will join us in Kaduna so that we could visit ,rejoice and glorify God with them,” Halilu noted

Withdrawal Of Subsidy On Petroleum Products, Cause Of Hardship For Nigerians – NANs

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Ayodele Oni

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July 13, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS), has lamented that the hurried withdrawal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration is a curse to Nigerians.

The Students’ body noted that President Tinubu’s administration has done nothing to alleviate the nation’s petroleum problem, but instead made it worse.

This was contained in a statement signed by the NANS National Clerk of the Senate, Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo on Saturday, in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

It stated that rather than increasing fuel availability, the subsidy removal has caused scarcity and immense sufferings for Nigerians.

There has been reported cases of hike in petrol pump price in Ogun, Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country.

It was gathered that while major marketers sold petrol below N650, the independent marketers sold between N750 and N800 per litre.

It lamented that queues at petrol stations are becoming alarming despite the promises made by President Tinubu.

“This crisis has continued to persist despite the removal of fuel subsidy which has brought untold hardships to Nigerians.

“Nigerians are experiencing unprecedented hardship and going through hell before they can get to buy fuels.

“Queues have been a common thing at petrol stations across the country despite the promise by President Bola Tinubu that fuel will queues will disappear in the country after the removal of subsidy, but that has not been the case.

“The exorbitant cost of petrol has led to a sharp increase in transportation fares, caused a surge in the prices of essential goods and services.

“The increased cost of transportation and production is being passed on to consumers, exacerbating the already high cost of living.”

LG Autonomy: Governor Makinde Says Supreme Court Verdict Mere Distraction

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 13, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

As a large section of Nigerians, political analysts and social commentators applaud the verdict of the Apex Court on the Local Government Financial Autonomy, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has expressed reservations about the ruling. He labeled the ruling as a distraction from the more urgent issues confronting the Nation.

In a video, Makinde highlighted the imperative to tackle the fundamental issues of productivity, hunger, and discontent in Nigeria.

His words: “So, the judgment of the Supreme Court, there is Local Government autonomy, financial autonomy, and all of that, and I will still say it, I think it’s just a distraction. We must face the real issues that we have.

“And the issue that we have is that we are not producing enough. We are not productive. Whatever it is that we are sharing in Abuja, which is what this FACC is all about, Whatever is in Abuja, share it with the local government. Is that our problem?

“Maybe it is a part of the problem, but yes, we want to have value for what is being shared. But our real problem is productivity.

“So now this is going to be the discussion for the next maybe one month or so when the issue of hunger and anger in the land will still be under the table. It’s a big issue.

“The Federal Government is saying now we need to import food. It’s a big shame. Yes, it’s a big shame on this country. We cannot feed ourselves. And then they are saying we should go back to those things that will allow us to bring confidence back to our people and to ensure that this country is back on the path of growth and progress.”

It would be recalled that on July 11th, 2024, in a landmark ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for Governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their States.

It also maintained that the “dubious practice,” which has gone on for over two decades, was a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Presidency Lashes Peter Obi Over Silence On LG Autonomy

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 13, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

The silence of Peter Obi, Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Presidential Election over the Landmark Judgment by the Supreme Court judgement on the Local Government Financial Autonomy has been criticized by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Government.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said that Obi’s silence over 36 hours after the Supreme Court’s ruling is deafening.

Onanuga said Obi’s quickness to tweet unverified news about the Tinubu administration or our Country is well-known, but his failure to acknowledge this epochal judgment is telling.

Onanuga said that a good opposition statesman should be willing to praise their political opponent when they have achieved something significant.

“The Tinubu administration has successfully given life back to our emasculated Councils through the law.”

He added that even former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who often times criticized policies of this present administration has acknowledged this landmark judgment, but Obi remained silent.

Onanuga said, “He should break his silence and acknowledge that President Tinubu is making a great Nigeria possible.”

The Presidency’s criticism comes after the Supreme Court’s ruling, which granted financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Councils.

The landmark judgment by the Supreme Court barred Governors from dissolving democratically elected Local Government Councils, stating that doing so would breach the 1999 Constitution.

The judgment also ruled that only democratically elected Local Government administrations, not Caretaker Committees, are entitled to manage their funds.

LP South-east Legislators To President Tinubu: Nigerians Are In Agony, Calls For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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July 13, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

South-east State Lawmakers elected on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, have insisted that the release from detention, of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will halt the spate of kidnappings, abductions, killings and other violent criminal activities rocking most parts of the region.

This is even as they maintained that the unconditional release of the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, will afford the authorities, including security agencies the opportunity of narrowing down on those only are out to use the canopy of IPOB to perpetrate crimes in the regime.

Rising from their meeting in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Saturday, July 13, the LP State Assembly caucus of the Southeast geo-political zone in a Communique, read by Hon Jude Umennajiego said that they are lending their voices to the calls on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to release the IPOB leader unconditionally.

They noted that his freedom will serve to douse the festering tension, and mindless bloodletting ongoing in most parts of the Southeast.

“The insecurity has grounded the economy of the region and has occasioned unprecedented loss of human lives, as well as the destruction of properties.

“His release will act as a healing balm to the region and also encourage the feeling of oneness as a nation .

“Furthermore, it will separate genuine agitators from criminals in the business of kidnappings

“We express happiness and gratitude to the Southeast Governors, Senators ,and House of Representatives members on their recent resolve to interface with the Federal Government for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

“We lend our voices to the appeal for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ,as a matter of urgency release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, so as to douse the current ravaging insecurity in the Zone.” the LP Law makers stated.

Against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on Thursday July, 11 granting financial autonomy to the Local Councils, the legislators also made a case for the State Legislative Bodies across the country to be made truly independent.

The LP legislators enjoined all relevant authorities to ensure that State Houses of Assembly are granted full financial autonomy, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They insisted that the principles of separation of Powers will only be guaranteed if the State Legislative Bodies are financially independent.

The Communique also called on the Authorities to hasten the resolution of the current minimum wage disagreement with the Organized Labour.

“It will be wrong for the Government not to hearken to the voice of the NLC/TUC who represent the voice of the suffering masses .

“Nigerians are in agony on account of the current harsh economic situation and the worst hit appears to be the workers whose incomes is obviously not enough under the current situation” the legislators noted.”