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Committee Of Pro Chancellors Says State Varsities Not Bound By ASUU Agreement With FG

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities (COPSUN) has reminded the striking leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) that State Universities cannot be forced or coerced to implement agreements it reached with the Federal Government.

Fuming members of COPSUN, while reacting to name calling by ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, said this is because their workers  are not parties to those agreements.

“It is time to respect the Federal nature of our Government in all matters and not selectively, especially on the issues of salaries.”

COPSUN says it read with alarm and disbelieve a statement made by the President of the ASUU Prof. Osodike on a television programme on Arise, where he said that State Universities are “irrelevant and quacks” on 26th August, 2022.

This was contained in a statement by Marcus Awobifa, COPSUN’s Secretary on Monday.

ASUU President had since clarified his position, saying he was referring to just three state universities that are not on strike.

The statement pointed out that “COPSUN noted that it would have ignored the tendentious, ill conceived and flagrant unconscionable statement by the President of ASUU, but on reflection, it thought it necessary to do a rejoinder to the unfortunate statement.

“Though, COPSUN will not want to go into any diatribe with the President of ASUU, the Committee wishes to state as follows to put records straight:

“That the Pro-Chancellors of our State Universities and indeed members of the Councils are distinguished and accomplished eminent persons who had served and still serving this Nation in many capacities.

“Amongst the members are retired Ambassadors, retired Generals in the Armed forces, retired Vice-Chancellors, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, renowned politicians and other distinguished professionals.

“It is therefore insulting, contemptuous and unbecoming for the President of ASUU to state that these esteemed individuals are presiding over quack and inconsequential Universities.

“It belies belief that the President of ASUU does not realize that his

loquacious vituperation and obsolete stalinist, centralized, unpopular approach to the issue of funding of tertiary education in a modern globalized world is archaic, antiquated and impracticable anywhere in the world.

“COPSUN believes that this is an auspicious time for ASUU to creatively work with all stakeholders to tinker out a compromise that will bring back to the campuses the young men and women who have been

insensitively thrown out of the universities for the last six months.

“COPSUN wishes to appeal to the President of ASUU to realize that the membership of ASUU is voluntary.

“Therefore, it is not his ill-informed approach and denigration of state universities that will lead to fashioning out creative approaches to avoid existential extinction that will solve the myriad of problems confronting University system in Nigeria.

“The very unfortunate ill digested view of the President of ASUU has vindicated the position of this Committee on the following issues:

“The negative professionalization of offices of the Unions that operate in our Universities and the unserious believe among many members of the Unions that the Unions are superior to the Councils of the Universities that are their employers.

“The need for immediate democratisation of the membership of Unions in the universities to the extent of the freedom of any individual to belong to a Union with options of not belonging.

“Devolution of powers on the issues of labour, wages and salaries with freedom of the employers to negotiate with their employees, as it is practiced in other parts of the world, where we borrowed the University system.

“State Universities cannot be forced or coerced to implement agreements reached between the Federal Government and her workers in the Universities to which they are not parties.

“It is time to respect the Federal nature of our government in all matters and not selectively, especially on the issues of salaries and wages.”

2023: PDP Reminds Shettima Of Chibok Girls’ Abduction, Says He Can’t Handle Security

By
James Orji
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For allowing the famous abduction of the Chibok Girls to happen under his watch, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has warned Nigerians that Kashim Shettima cannot handle the nation’s security.

Shittima had said last week at the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA conference that he will handle security as Vice president if his party wins the election in 2023.

According to him, his principal and APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will only focus on the economy.

“I have been in the theatre of conflicts for 18 years, I will lead the troops, my principal is an economy wizard who has transformed Lagos into the third largest economy in Africa. He will concentrate on the economy.

“By God’s grace, I will handle the security, and not only handle the security, I will lead the troops to battle across the length and breadth of this country,” he said.

Shettima, a former governor of Borno state was in office when 276 girls were seized from their school dormitory in the middle of the night on 14 April 2014.

The incident happened ahead of the 2015 presidential election and not a few Nigerians believe that the state government did not handle the abduction with the promptness it deserves, particularly after it failed to inform the PDP-led federal government about the incident on time.

Others also insist that the abduction was a conspiracy to oust former President Goodluck Jonathan from power because the incident took place in the middle of his re-election campaigns.

The PDP said going by his antecedent in handling the Chibok girls’ abduction the former governor cannot be trusted to handle the nation’s security.

According to Ehilebo, “How come you come to the NBA programme and announce on live TV that you will take care of security and your principal will handle the economy?

“Section 130 (2) of the 1999 Constitution specifies that it is the role of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. And if he decides to delegate the power, it must be to the armed forces. But here we have a VP candidate telling the world he wants to be in charge of our security.

“This is the same man in charge when the issue of Chibok Girls happened. Shettima ignored the directive to move the students and the terrorists took advantage.

“It is also a fact that a suspected terrorist, Kabiru Sokoto, was arrested in the Governor’s Lodge by the DSS. Today, we have not been able to dissociate him from all that.

“Unfortunately, Nigerians are more interested in his sneakers and what he wore to the NBA than his statement.”

Breaking: ASUU Extends Strike

By
James Orji
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ASUU Meeting

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has again extended its ongoing strike. The union has been on strike for more than six months as the federal government failed to reach an agreement with the striking university lecturers.

The Source magazine had earlier reported that the union was not prepared to take a decision to end the strike as its National Executive Council, NEC met on Sunday.

The Union took the decision to continue at its NEC meeting held at its headquarters at the University of Abuja on Monday morning.

More detials to come …

2023: Obi Promises 15,000mw Of Electricity

By
James Orji
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Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP Peter Obi has promised that his government will generate 15,000 megawatts of electricity if he’s elected president next year.

The presidential hopeful is among the top contestants for 2023 presidential election. Watchers of politics in the country insist that the election will be a three-horse race between two other presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Ahmed Tinubu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC respectively.

Analysts who spoke with the magazine said electricity is one of the issues that will dominate the presidential debate as the INEC has fixed September for parties to start their political campaigns.

This is not a surprise considering that previous governments have failed abysmally to end power failures in the country. Under the current government, businesses have suffered, and many companies have also moved to neighbouring countries due to constant power failures despite the Buhari administration’s promise to tackle the issue when it swept to power in 2015.

For instance, the national grid has collapsed at least six times this year as many Nigerians give up on the administration’s capacity to end incessant power failures.

To tackle the problem, experts in the energy sector say the government must improve generation, distribution and transmission. The current electricity generation stands at less than 5,000 megawatts, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

Speaking in Toronto, Canada on Sunday as part of his foreign trips to garner international support for his presidential bid, Obi said his government will ensure that aggregate electricity generation increased by 200 per cent if he succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari as commander in chief next year.

The presidential hopeful and former Governor of Anambra state said he will achieve this through a public-private partnership.

“We intend to lay special emphasis on critical infrastructures, especially Power, to ensure a clear measurable increase of today’s generation, transmission and distribution by 200% within the shortest possible time, through public-private partnership,” Obi said.

ASUU: No Hope As Parents, Falana Appeal For End To Strike

By
James Orji
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ASUU President and Ngige

The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU to suspend their industrial action.

The lecturers are currently meeting to decide on whether to suspend the over six-month-old strike. While some Nigerians are hopeful that the strike will be suspended others are not, considering that the bone of contention which is the payment of salary for the striking lecturers have not been taken care of.

The federal government has insisted that it will not pay ASUU for the period they are on strike, in line with the Buhari administration no-work-no-pay policy.

But the parents are now begging the union to come out with a decision to resume academic work at the end of the meeting.  

The parents had last week promised to pay N10,000 per student to assist the federal government in financing the nation’s universities.

The president of NAPTAN Alhaji Haruna Danjuma said the students have stayed home for too long, and there is a need for them to go back to school.

According to him, “Our children have stayed at home for too long. As parents, we are not happy with that. My expectation and the expectation of other parents is that the strike be called off and that the union and the government should meet to iron out things and for progress to be made.

“This is not a time to apportion blame, but to find the way out of this logjam. We need to get our public universities running again.

ASUU began a four-week warning strike on February 14. The union later extended the strike by eight weeks.

On May 9, the lecturers extended the strike by 12 weeks after the federal government failed to reach an agreement on ASUU’s demand for improved welfare, the revitalisation of public universities, and academic autonomy among others.

Meanwhile, a rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to sign the renegotiated agreement with ASUU.

The senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN said this is the only way to end the strike.

“Instead of engaging in the diversionary tactics of blackmailing ASUU the Federal Government should ensure that the strike is called off by signing the Renegotiated Agreement with ASUU without any further delay.

“While calling on both sides to resume the negotiations in the interest of the country the Federal Government should be prevailed upon to end the prolonged industrial action,” Falana said in a statement on Sunday.

Imo: Government Accuses Onyeagucha Of Lawlessness

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Uche Onyeagucha

By Adesina Soyooye

The Imo State Government has accused the Secretary to  the Imo State Government under the short-lived Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s Administration of lawlessness.

Onyeagucha is, also, the Senatorial Candidate, Imo East, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the oncoming 2023 Senatorial election.

The Government and Onyeagucha have been wrangling for days over the sealing of Onyeagucha’s Campaign office, located at No 3, Ihugba Street, Owerri,  by a Government Agency over a breach of the laws concerning buildings and their reconstruction in the State.

Onyeagucha and the PDP had descended heavily on the Government and the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma. They accused the Governor of high handedness and of deliberately persecuting members of the opposition.

But the  Government has dismissed the  attacks  by those it called  some uninformed and misguided elements over the lawful action of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA), against Uche Onyeagocha’s lawlessness, as swimming in ignorance.

It described the attacks  as uninformed, unwarranted and seditious.

Reacting to a statement credited to an unknown and unregistered group, brandishing the name of Owerri League of Patriots, which made false allegations against the Government on the Onyeagucha issue, the Government also warned the  group to be mindful of its unbridled support for Onyeagucha’s illegal action, “because those who support illegality are guilty of promoting lawlessness”

A statement in Owerri on Sunday by the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba  said: “For the purposes of clarification,  Chief Uche Onyeagucha embarked on expansion of an old building which required him to obtain a written permission from OCDA.

“Typical of him, he not only refused to apply for the permission, but went ahead, in his illegal expansion project, to block drainages,thus inflicting untold hardship on residents of the street. The OCDA had to do the needful by sealing the compound. ”

The Commissioner further noted:  “Onyeagucha”s action is a clear manifestation of his disrespect for constituted authority carried too far. Those supporting his reckless and illegal affront on the Government should take notice that they are guilty of promoting lawlessness.”

The statement made it clear that since Onyeagucha is not above the law,  all relevant processes pertaining to erecting a new  building or reconstruction of old  buildings must be followed strictly, adding that failure to do so would attract necessary sanctions.

The Commissioner said that it was a shame that a group claiming to be made up of patriots could lend itself to cheap manipulation for propaganda and display of crass  ignorance of extant laws of the state, and added:

“No amount of blackmail,lies, propaganda or even display of outright disrespect to constituted authority will dissuade government from applying the rules to the letter.”

IPOB Warns Against Criminalities In South East

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned some individuals who claim to be fighting for the actualisation of the Biafran Republic and the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,  but are kidnap kingpins,  to desist from such. It accused them of also engaging in other forms of criminalities in the South-East geopolitical zone, thus dragging IPOB’s reputation in the mud.

IPOB stated that kidnapping for ransom and other heinous crimes are not part of the tradition practised by the zone’s ancestors, and warned those in the act to desist from it and stop soiling its name.

In a statement signed by its Director of Publicity,  Emma Powerful, the group warned that it is  a sacrilege to be part of such an ugly trend in the land.

In  the Statement, IPOB said it initiated the Monday sit-at-home order in the zone, but had since suspended it, saying its continuation was against the people and should be condemned at its entirety.

The statement reads:

“We, the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to condemn numerous kidnappings and killings going on at the Nnewi LGA and other parts of Biafraland by criminals as Igbo tradition goes against Ndigbo waste innocent Igbo lives.

“It is a sacrilege to be part of such heinous crime against our own people. If our ancestors acted in such way to themselves we wouldn’t have been able to see today.

“We are cautioning those claiming to kidnap because of non-compliance of non-existent Monday sit-at-home order to stop. If you are fighting for Biafra freedom and wish that Nnamdi Kanu should be released from the DSS dungeon, you must stop all forms of criminalities in Biafra land. However, if you enjoy spilling the blood of a fellow innocent Biafran, bear in mind that you will be rewarded in the same coin.

“We wish to remind our people that the already suspended Monday sit-at-home was initiated by the IPOB leadership (DOS) and not any other person or group. However, our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom we are following his footsteps and leading this movement and noble family, advised us to stop the Monday sit-at-home and we obeyed.

“All previous sit-at-home orders from DOS were not enforced yet Biafrans obeyed knowing that we are in the struggle together. We don’t know why infiltrators paid to be unfortunate disciples to Nnamdi Kanu will recruit, brainwash and arm criminals and some misguided Biafrans to maim, kidnap, murder and destroy fellow Biafran properties so as to enforce already suspended Monday sit-at-home.

“We are calling those brainwashed and misguided Biafrans used by the paid infiltrators to impersonate the IPOB to pull out of such gang. But if you continue kidnapping and killing innocent citizens because of Monday sit-at-home, bear in mind that you must be killed because you are not fighting for Biafra Restoration nor the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

Emma Powerful in the statement further condemned the spate of kidnappings going on in Nnewi, Anambra State, adding that the ugly trend has led to the unnecessary killing of innocent citizens, who could not provide ransom for their release.

It added, “If you’re among the criminal gangs contracted to continue to harass our people, the IPOB and ESN operatives must not spear you unless you repent. If indeed you’re passionate to fight for Biafra freedom, how come you didn’t join ESN and do the legitimate work for Biafra freedom? Those who have been brainwashed into terrorising our people should stop, repent and revert to the IPOB strategy and operations or regret your actions.

“The infiltrators were paid to hire criminals to impersonate, blackmail, demonise and destroy IPOB in the eyes of the International Community by killing our people whom we are fighting for their liberation and freedom. The IPOB doesn’t kill and must not kill anybody to have Biafra as a Sovereign Nation. Biafra will come but not through car snatching, kidnappings and killings going on in these communities in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States.

“We are aware that Nigeria Government and Fulani Caliphate recruited and funded those criminal activities in the region, they recruited the criminals and make them look as if they are IPOB or ESN members. But it is the duty of every Biafran to debunk this ‘divide and rule British game’ because they are looking for anything and anyone to destroy IPOB and ESN.

“Igbo youths, please shine your eyes!! The green snakes are in the green grass. The enemies have armed some of us to be harmful to fellow Igbo man and woman while impersonating the IPOB. But one thing is sure, you cannot destroy the IPOB-ESN using propaganda or fake ESN, Why so?

Answer : Just to get ESN and IPOB out of the way for Fulani conquest of Biafra land to be sure.

“The DOS and other leadership are up there fighting hard to gain Biafra recognition internationally while some idiots have allowed themselves to be used against our people and to damage the good loyalty and reputation the ESN and IPOB volunteers have enjoyed since establishment. We knew why our leader stopped the Monday sit-at-home order which we are not obliged to expose to the public. Unfortunately, some Biafrans are on social media ranting and fighting the IPOB leadership without knowing what is happening or going on with the struggle and where the struggle stands at the moment. But in a short while some revelations will be made known concerning Biafra agitation.

“Anybody still enforcing that non-existent Monday sit-at-home is a criminal who is paid through infiltrators’ leader in Fulani to impersonate and blackmail IPOB. So long as IPOB is concerned, the Monday sit-at-home initiated by the DOS has been cancelled and has not been reinstated. The IPOB doesn’t force or intimidate anyone when we call our people to sit-at-home as part of our civil disobedience especially on our Leader’s Court date. We allow people to do it voluntarily and not by force. Therefore, anyone enforcing already suspended Monday sit-at-home is not an IPOB member nor IPOB volunteer.”

EFCC Warns Corps Members Against Cybercrime, Fraud

By
Akinwale Kasali
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EFCC Operatives

By Akinwale Kasali

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has warned National Youth Corps members against involvement in fraudulent and cybercrime activities.

Both crimes have become an epidemic among youths, even amongst those in tertiary institutions.

The EFCC, in a statement on Sunday signed by the  Commission’s Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, noted that the Commandant of the EFCC Academy, Ayo Olowonihi, during a sensitisation programme at the Karu Local Government Secretariat in Nasarawa State on Friday, August 26, urged members of the Anti-corruption Community Development Service Group of the National Youth Service Corps, to embrace hard work and avoid involvement in cybercrime and other types of economic and financial crimes.

He said, “Olowonihi, who was represented by the Head, Media Academy, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Chidinma Amanambu, urged Corps members to “be dedicated in whatever you are assigned to do during your service because you never know how far you can grow as a result of your commitment.

“The Corps members, who were sensitised on the key provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, expressed the willingness to carry the anti-corruption campaign to various schools and the society at large.”

Dethroned Zamfara Emir, Atiku Abubakar, Dies In Dubai

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Atiku Abubakar - Zamfara Emir

By Akinwale Kasali

Atiku Abubakar, the  dethroned Zamfara Emir, has reportedly died in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He passed on Sunday, August 28, 2022.

The late Emir who was hospitalized at a Private Hospital in Dubai following a protracted illness died Sunday evening.

Sani Zurmi, a family member of the Late Emir broke the news of his demise, and disclosed that his remains will be brought to Nigeria for burial.

According to Zurmi, “His remains are still in Dubai due to non-availability of flight to bring the deceased back home for burial”.

The late Abubakar was dethroned along with the Emir of Dansadau, Husaini Umar on April 27, 2021, for allegedly aiding banditry in their respective Emirates.

Ondo: Govt To Hold Teachers Responsible For Low Enrollment In Public Schools

By
The Source
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Students - Education

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo state government has said teachers in its employment that enrol their children in private schools are not adding value to the teaching profession.

According to the state chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Victor Olabimtan, such teachers are contributing to

the dwindling population of pupils in public schools in the state.

The Head Press & information Services of the board, Bisi Agboola, in a statement in Akure, stated that government was worried over the development, despite its investment in primary education.

Agboola, said the chairman, at a meeting with head teachers across the three senatorial districts of the state, frowned at the dwindling population of pupils in public schools inspite of government efforts.

According to him, the state government has decided that  teachers will henceforth be held responsible for any drop in schools’ enrolment.

The SUBEB chairman condemned  the attitude of some teachers taking their children to private schools and ruled that it has become an offence for any public school teachers to take their wards to private schools.

Olabimtan said Ondo state government will not relent in its efforts at upgrading school standard as well as provide personnel.

He called on the Education Secretary in the 18 Local government areas not to hesitate at reporting any teacher found wanting in their duty post for possible sanction.

The chairman charged the teachers to buckle up and do the needful in the area of enrollment drive and shun any act of indolence.

The statement added that the state government has approved that serving primary school teachers can now reach the level-16 status like their counterparts in the civil service.

By implication, teachers can be considered for the position of permanent secretary, when such vacancy is opened.

Already, promotion letters have been distributed to 2,111 teachers out of which 85 are of grade level-16.

0labimtan thanked Governor Akeredolu for providing UBEC Counterpart funding, which has hitherto been neglected for about five years, paving way for the massive reconstruction of schools, renovations as well as provision of furniture items.

The state Chairman of PTA, Alhaji Abimbola Omo-Oloja, while responding, thanked the governor, for his interest at lifting education from foundation.

Omo-Oloja, who pledged the unflinching support of parents, appealed for the return of extra curricular activities in schools.

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