Education

ASUU-FG tussle: Demands not met, we will not call off strike — Osodeke

Published

2 years ago

August 22, 2022

Abimbola Abatta and Deborah Onatunde

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted that since the Federal Government failed to meet its demands, the union will not call off the ongoing industrial action.

ASUU’s President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, disclosed this on Sunday in an exclusive interview with Nigerian NewsDirect newspaper.

Professor Osodeke stated this in reaction to the suspension on the five-month strike embarked upon by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

JAC spokesman, Peters Adeyemi, had announced the suspension in Abuja on Saturday, saying the relevant organs of the two unions decided to call off the strike after the Federal Government met most of their requests.

The two unions said the strike would be called off for two months.

However, the ASUU President said the unions “Decided to call off their strike because the Federal Government had agreed on what they want.

“But we will not call it (the strike) off because the government has not agreed with our demands,” he added.

A media report, yesterday, revealed that a source in the union, who was privy to the negotiations, explained that ASUU refused to resume further talks because of a ‘Greek gift.’

According to the report, the sources, noted that while there would be a paltry increase in the salaries of professors and a deduction in the salaries of graduate assistants.

On the proposed salary scheme, the ASUU President said, “We have negotiated with them [Federal Government], and told them what we want.

“What we have is collective bargaining, not a gift or award. This is what we keep on saying. It is still by collective bargaining that we can agree, not one person dashing people any amount. It is a collective bargain.”

Reacting to the speculations that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are planning to protest against ASUU regarding the lingering strike, he said, “If all Nigerian students are not in school and are wasting their time, and the government insists that they want to punish ASUU, well, the CSOs can go ahead to protest. They are free.

“We have finished negotiation with government. We have told them what we want. We have discussed all the issues. I don’t think there is any country in the world where all academic staff union of universities are on strike for six months. So, the CSOs have the right to protest.”

Nigerian NewsDirect reports that on February 14, the union commenced the ongoing strike, following the government’s failure to meet some of the lingering demands of the union.

The reasons, according to ASUU, bordered on the refusal to release revitalisation funds for universities; non-release of earned allowances to lecturers; end the proliferation of universities by politicians and State Governments; refusal to deploy the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries and allowances of lecturers; and refusal to renegotiate the ASUU-FGN 2009 agreement.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the striking lecturers met with the Federal Government last week with the hope of resolving the industrial action.

When ASUU met with the Professor Nimi Briggs Renegotiation Committee, the committee appealed to the lecturers to suspend the strike, assuring that their demands will be captured in the 2023 budget, a development that was swiftly rejected by the striking lecturers.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had noted that the failure of the government to agree to the payment of six months arrears of salaries of the lecturers was stalling the suspension of the strike.

According to Adamu, ASUU insisted that its members must be paid for the period they have been on strike.

Education

Kwara Govt warns against illegal charges for Common Entrance exam

Published

3 days ago

May 14, 2024

NewsDirect

The Kwara State Government has warned principals of Junior Secondary Schools and head teachers of primary schools across the state against illegal charges for the state placement examination (Common Entrance).

Any violator will face the full wrath of the law, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, warned on Tuesday in her office in Ilorin.

She emphasized that the common entrance is free and government will not tolerate anyone or group of people extorting money, under any guise, from the pupils because the examination is fully sponsored by the state government.

Hajia Modibbo Kawu urged the principals and head teachers to desist from all acts that could dent the image of the state government.

She also cautioned them against aiding and abetting examination malpractices, stating that the present administration has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

The commissioner implored the parents and guardians of the pupils to report any principal or head teacher with suspicious acts to her office directly, reiterating that her office is open to everyone.

Education

UNILORIN appoints 40 new Professors

Published

3 days ago

May 14, 2024

NewsDirect

By Saka Laaro, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin has announced the promotion of 40 of its senior academics to the rank of Professor.

The elevation, which was approved by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, was sequel to the recommendations of the University Appointment and Promotion Committee.

A statement from the Office of the Registrar said that the 40 distinguished scholars were found to have excelled in the realms of teaching, research and community service and subsequently promoted to the highest rank obtainable in the academia.

The breakdown of the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise shows that 11 of the new Professors are produced by the Faculty of Agriculture and they are Prof. Sidiqat A. Aderinoye-Abdulwahab, Prof. L. L. Adefalu,Prof. F. O. Takim and Prof. A. A. Badmos.

Others are Prof. Foluke E. Sola-Ojo, Prof. W. A. Jimoh, Prof. M. I. Abubakar, Prof. T. H. Aliyu, Prof. R. O. Uddin II, Prof. T. O. Amusa and Prof. Mutiat A. Balogun.
From the Faculty of Arts are Prof. K. M. U. Gbodofu, Prof. Y. A. Abdullahi, Prof. Abosede R. O. Babatunde, Prof. Bolanle E. Arokoyo, and Prof. P. U. Nwosu while the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences produced Prof. A. S. Alabi, who teaches at the Department of Anatomy.
Two Lecturers from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences were also elevated to the rank of Professor and they are Prof. T. O. Olanrewaju and Prof. O. A. M. Adesiyun.

The Faculty of Communication & Information Science also produced two new Professors through Prof. Tinuke O. Oladele and Prof. Saudat S. Abdulbaqi while those promoted from the Faculty of Education are Prof. O. O. Okoji, Prof. Folakemi O. Adeniyi-Egbeola and Prof. Florence O. Daramola

From the Faculty of Engineering and Technology are Prof. A. T. Ajiboye, Prof. A. Y. Abdulrahman, Prof. M. O. Sumonu, Prof. Rasheedat M. Mahamood and Prof. T. K. Ajiboye.

The Faculty of Law produced one new Professor in the person of Prof. A. C. Onuora-Oguno.
The Faculty of Life Sciences produced four new professors. They are Prof. M. O. Nafiu, Prof. Faoziyat A. Sulaiman, Prof. Risikat Nike Ahmed, and Prof. I. O. Sule.

Those promoted from the Faculty of Management Sciences are Prof. M. A. Ajayi and Prof. Rihanat I. Abdulkadir as the Faculty of Physical Sciences also produced two new professors through Prof. Haleemat I. Adegoke and Prof. O. A. Abidoye.

The promotion of Prof. Monisola A. Tunde of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management was also confirmed while the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine also produced one of the new Professors in the person of Prof. Z. Jaji from the Department of Veterinary Anatomy.

Education

Student Union election turns deadly: One student flees for life, parents killed in tragic attack

Published

4 days ago

May 14, 2024

NewsDirect

In the quiet town of Ekiadolor, the College of Education became a battleground as student politics turned deadly. Odunuga Gbenga, a promising student, found himself thrust into the chaos of campus conflict.

It all began innocently enough when Gbenga was nominated as a contestant for the Student Union presidency. Little did he know that this simple act would plunge him into a nightmare.

During the election, tensions ran high as rival factions clashed violently. What was supposed to be a democratic process spiraled into chaos, with reports of killings, rapes, and riots echoing across the school grounds.

In fear for his life, Gbenga fled the campus, seeking refuge in the familiar embrace of his parents’ home in Edo State. But safety eluded him as darkness fell on that fateful night.

Under the cover of midnight, a group of assailants descended upon Gbenga’s home, shattering the peace of the night. In a desperate bid for survival, Gbenga fought bravely, but the odds were against him.

Tragically, Gbenga’s valiant efforts were in vain. Though he managed to escape, his beloved parents were not as fortunate. The attackers, driven by unknown motives, mercilessly took the lives of Mr. Samuel Odunuga and Mrs. Taiwo Odunuga, leaving a family shattered and a community reeling in shock.

Since that harrowing night in 2023, the search for Gbenga has consumed the hearts and minds of his grieving family. Their plea echoes through the pages of this newspaper, a desperate cry for justice and closure in the face of unspeakable tragedy.