Connect with us

Education

SSANU/NASU members block ATBU gate, paralyse activities

Published

on

By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi

Activities at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi have been paralysed following the seven-day warning strike embarked upon by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee.

When Nigerian NewsDirect visited the Yelwa Campus of the varsity, it was observed that the two gates leading to the University were under lock and key to prevent entry or exit – including cars and motorcycles – in the campus.

Cars and motorcycle owners had to turn back because of the situation at the University gate. However, the small gate was open to staff and students to go in or out on foot, as many of them were seen trekking into and out of the school.

While they were manning the gate, some management staff led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sarki Fagam, arrived at the gate and appealed to the members of the unions to open one of the gates to allow for free flow of vehicular movements.

He said that although their actions were legal and a national directive, it was imperative for the management to appeal to them to shift grounds a bit in view of the fact that students were currently writing examinations.

“The reason we are here is because we are members of this university and we benefited from this organisation and our children are there writing examinations. They have no light, they have no water and access to the University is also blocked, we all acknowledge that.

“We discussed with the leadership of your unions yesterday, they said they’re going to meet with you (the members). We did not hear anything from them, maybe you refused to tell them to go back to us. That was why we came here to see you.

“We just want to beg, solicit and appeal to you although we are not saying you shouldn’t strike, strike is a legal apparatus to be employed by workers to achieve their rights.

“We want to beg you to, please open just one gate and leave the other one closed, so that human and vehicular traffic can flow and do not allow any of your members to enter so that you can have a total strike,” he appealed.

Fagam commended the unions for their conduct  saying that, “I am happy with your attitude and conduct that none of you interrupted the examinations going on. Examinations are going on, it is just the entering and going out that is hindered, but I am still begging you to open one of the gates.”

In an interview with journalists, the JAC Chairman, Sulisma Jatau, said that the Federal Government remained adamant to the 14 days ultimatum it gave them to meet their demands or they’ll embark on the strike action.

“After the expiration of these ultimatums, the response was like a graveyard response. And since they renege to come and dialogue with us, the only language the government understands is strike and that was why we decided to embark on it.

“This seven day warning strike is to tell the government that we are not happy with their disposition and as you can see that close to 48 hours now, the University gate has been closed and I can tell you that the strike is 100 percent compliant.”

Jatau who is also the SSANU Chairman, ATBU, while giving reasons for the industrial action, said that in 2009, they entered into an agreement with the Federal Government which was freely signed but up to this moment, about 15 years later, the agreements are yet to be honoured pointing out that “It was freely entered, nobody coarsed the government to enter into it; although some of them were honoured, but many of them have not been respected up to this moment.”

He said that some of such agreements are payment of their earned allowances, constitution of visitation panels, university governing councils and salary increase.

“So, we pressed home our demands two years ago and they ended up enforcing a no-work-no-pay on us which ended up in us staying for six months without salaries. After signing a document with the Federal Government by the then Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, but up to now, this agreement has not been implemented,” He added.

Education

Kwara Govt warns against illegal charges for Common Entrance exam

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Education

UNILORIN appoints 40 new Professors

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Education

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Trending