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FG Yet to Meet Our Demands – ASUU Laments

Published

1 year ago

September 6, 2022

Eric

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has asked Nigerians to disregard the claims of the Federal Government that it had met the demands of the union.

The ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan, Prof. Akinwole Ayoola, said on Monday that the Federal Government’s claims were lies.

The union stated that all its chapters that started the over six-month-old strike were still part of the ongoing action and were resolute to get what public universities needed from the government to survive and compete globally.

The union also said that lecturers in Nigerian public universities had been using their blood to run public universities and sustaining it saying that the union will not sacrifice her members’ welfare and will resist any effort to turn intellectuals to slaves of irresponsible leadership.

He said, “Nigerians should disregard the lies of the Federal Government. The Federal Government is far from meeting any of the union’s seven demands.

“The union gave 14-month strike notice to Federal Government before commencing the strike in 2022. Even the effort of the Nigerian Inter-Religious council in 2021 yielded no results before the union was forced to declare the strike on February 14, 2022.

“We waited for 14 months from December 2020 to February 2022 before declaring this strike. I am saying 14 months’ notice, 14months of engagements and the Nigeria Inter-Religious council intervened in 2021 when we would have declared the strike. We gave them one month with no result. Heroes are gone before they are appreciated but our union will not die. We will not die. We are going to be alive to see this struggle through.”

Akinwole disclosed that the N1.1trillion naira for revatilisation of universities was not for lecturers in public universities. He added the amount was arrived at by Federal government through her NEEDS Assessment report on the level of decay in Nigerian public universities.

Ayoola who thanked ASUU members for sacrificing and remaining resolute to reposition public varsity education in Nigeria added that irresponsible leadership is the reason for strikes in Nigeria.

The ASUU chair hinted that only strikes had forced government to spend money on her universities in the last 25 years.

Ayoola said, “If ASUU does not go on this struggle, there will be no university for new people to attend. In the last 25 years, Federal Government will not spend money on their university unless ASUU goes on strike. Does that show they are responsible?

“I am also a parent and my children are home with me. Most lecturers have to spend their money on their students’ projects for some students to graduate. I could give you the numbers of some of my students who can tell you how much I have had to support their projects.

“Lecturers retain Nigerian public universities with their blood. But it is right for Nigerians to say they should die on the job. I am saying they are owing us over eight years of verified earned academic allowances. Is it ASUU only that is on strike?

“Some sectors (research institutes) of the nation have been on strike for 13months and government has been paying their salaries. Is it an offence to become lecturers in Nigerian universities? What led to the strike? It is non-responsiveness of government that led to the strike.”

Ayoola who noted that Federal Government is not talking about the over eight years earned academic allowances owed lecturers in public universities.

He noted that the government lied to the union severally and that the Buhari government instead of paying N220 billion for meant for 2014 revitalization fund only paid N50 billion to over 50 universities in the last seven years.

He said government has to pay the balance of N170 billion to university management.

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Appeal Court Dismisses APC’s Petition, Affirms Fubara’s Election Victory

Published

12 hours ago

November 28, 2023

Eric

An Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Patrick Tonye-Cole, against Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The APC candidate, who was present in the courtroom on Tuesday, wanted the court to direct INEC to declare him the winner of the March governorship election in Rivers.

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had in October dismissed the petition of Cole challenging the election of Fubara as the governor of the state.

The tribunal had dismissed the petition saying that the APC that sponsored Cole had withdrawn the petition against Fubara’s victory.

Not satisfied with the Tribunal’s victory, the APC candidate approached the appellate court. However, the court on Tuesday affirmed the Tribunal ruling which earlier upheld Fubara’s electoral victory in October.

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Your Love for Nigeria Unwavering, PDP Celebrates Atiku at 77

Published

1 day ago

November 27, 2023

Eric

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family rolls out the big drums in celebration of former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Presidential election, one of the founding fathers of our great Party and national Icon of Democracy, H.E. Atiku Abubakar, GCON (Wazirin Adamawa), as he marks his 77th birthday today (November 25).

Atiku Abubakar is a quintessence of humility, a kind-hearted, humane and people-focused leader; a forthright administrator and courageous statesman, who remains unwavering in his love and commitment towards Nigerians and the unity, stability and development of our dear nation.

Our Party remains proud of Atiku Abubakar’s record of performance in the service of our nation, especially in bringing his capacity and competence to bear as the Chairman of the National Economic Council under the Obasanjo/Atiku-led PDP administration between 1999 and 2007, which achieved unprecedented national productivity in all sectors and grew the economy to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

His role in the National Economic Council is always recognized and celebrated for helping the administration achieve vast infrastructural development, massive employment and business opportunities among other initiatives that made the PDP years in government the Nigerian Golden Years.

Nigerians across all persuations recognize Atiku Abubakar as the embodiment of our national unity and hope for economic recovery and they demonstrated this in their overwhelming support and massive vote for him in the 2019 and 2023 Presidential elections, which mandates were sadly subverted by suppressive and exploitative forces.

Atiku Abubakar is a lesson in leadership. Despite his towering personality, he remains humble, friendly and accessible to all, especially the youths. He continues to demonstrate that the essence of leadership is in attending to the good, happiness and wellbeing of others instead of oneself.

But for the subversion of his mandate, our nation would have been on the path of economic prosperity, massive infrastructural development and employment opportunities instead of the hardship, collapse of the Naira and general retrogression that we witness today in the country.

On this great day, the PDP family gives thanks to the Almighty Allah and prays to Him to grant Atiku Abubakar more wisdom, sound health and vigour in the service of our dear fatherland and humanity.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday, Your Excellency.

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Shuaibu Declares for Edo Governorship Race, Opens Campaign Secretariat

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

Eric

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu, has thrown his hat into the ring to contest the governorship of the state in the election scheduled to hold in September 2024.

Shuaibu is seeking to govern the state on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. His aspiration had created a wide gulf between him and his principal, the governor. The ripple effect of the gulf was recently settled.