News
UNIABUJA ASUU declares strike to be sustained
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, on Tuesday stated that the Federal Government has not done anything to end the union’s ongoing strike.
Consequently, the Union declared that the strike will be sustained.
This was made known by the Union’s branch chairman, Dr Kassim Umaru at the end of its Congress, held at the University’s Mini Campus in Gwagwalada on Tuesday.
Kassim asserted that the Congress deliberated on issues around the strike and vehemently pronounced and reject the offer presented by the federal government, saying that the National Executive Council would meet at the end of the four weeks ultimatum to take its decision.
He said, “As far as we are concerned, the federal government has not done anything to our various demands.
“The federal government should tell the Nigerian public what they have done. The two committees that were set up, the Nimi Briggs committee was set up, the Jubrin committee was set up and these committees had their recommendations.”
Kassim who reacted to the ‘no work, no pay’ policy as stated by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the ILO and the 1981 trade Union act were very clear on that.
“Our salaries are always negotiated, it is not something you feel you can pay us, it is something that you have to sit down to talk and agree that you can pay us.
“As far as we concerned, our job is different from any other civil servant’s; it is the job you are going back to do, you are not paying for an hour you are paying for the job we have done, so it is their responsibility to pay us and if they said they are not paying us, it is a joke taken too far.
“As it is, they have not called our union and Nigerians should know that we have not been called, no invitation to our union and all that we know is the strike continues.”
The Union’s branch chairman while commenting on the reports that the federal government had approved another N100 billion for the university unions as part of the 2009 agreement, Umaru said all these were being said in social media and newspapers.
“Is there any document to our union? We should begin to ask them these questions. The students will have to be patient, it is a fight we have to do once and for all and it is a fight for the future of unborn children.
“We have no alternative than to do what we are doing and we must do it so that we can compete with the external world.
“In the entire world today, nobody jokes with education. If you are talking of economy, you are talking of cultural and social aspects, you must invest in education. No single country jokes with education like the way Nigerians are doing.
“The Union has a structure on how it takes decisions and at the end of the expiration of the ultimatum on Sunday, the needful will be done,” he added.
News
Application deadline for management of Nigeria’s $10bn Diaspora Fund extended
The Nigerian federal government has shifted the application deadline for companies interested in managing the $10 billion Diaspora Fund.
Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this in a circular on Thursday in Abuja.
Accordingly, the deadline for May 6 has been shifted to May 13, 2024.
The minister urged prospective applicants to utilise the extra time to complete their submissions, ensuring they are thorough and competitive.
She stressed that the extension is designed to allow stakeholders additional time to adequately prepare their applications following the guidelines established for the fund.
“The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment wishes to inform all interested parties that the deadline for the submission of Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Nigeria Diaspora Fund has been extended.
“The new submission deadline is May 13, 2024. This extension is intended to accommodate stakeholders who require more time to prepare their applications by the guidelines provided for the $10 billion Nigeria Diaspora Fund,” she stated.
News
Sanwo-Olu, NESG harp on PPP for economic growth
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has emphasised the role of public-private sector partnerships in driving accelerated sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.
He made the remark at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Public Lecture and Founders’ Forum held at the Lagos Business School on Thursday.
The event, which marked the official launch of the 30th anniversary of the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) has the theme: “In the National Interest: Reflecting on the Past, Reimagining the Future.”
Sanwo-Olu said it was imperative that the public sector improved on its synergy with various actors pursuing a collective agenda of service for the citizens.
The governor highlighted the significant role the NESG plays in bringing together public and private sector leaders in the country in an ongoing dialogue to shape, influence and create a thriving competitive and successful economy.
“We’re not where we should be and we must continue to set goals to inspire ourselves to do better as a nation
“We may not always achieve our targets for our vision timelines, but that should not be an excuse for not trying,” he said.
He commended the NESG for its various interventions such as the flagship annual summit, roundtable and sectorial policy commissions, technical support work and policy innovation centre.
He, however, urged NESG to explore ways of deepening linkage between policy work and public consciousness that allows engagement with the citizenry.
Delivering the lecture, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Managing Partner, Compliance Professionals PLC, said that while there had been significant economic changes, more needed to be done to ensure accelerated economic growth.
Omoigui-Okauru said that there was need to build inclusive policies that reflect the realities of the nation rather than imposing replicas of other countries.
“In 30 years, we may have made some progress, but we can’t say we have radically transformed Nigeria.
“As we reflect on the NESG, there’s still a lot to be done in bridging the rural-urban divide and have an inclusive agenda.
“We see our journey as work in progress. We need to determine the parameters that would drive our success and put policies in place to move us in the direction where we need to be.
“It is important for us to move away from self interest, think of ways to use technology and other frameworks to collectively achieve the Nigeria of our dreams,” she said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Niyi Yusuf, Chairman, NESG, said the 30th Summit reaffirmed the essentiality of public-private partnerships in tackling complex economic realities.
Yusuf, however, said that the journey to embracing market mechanisms has not been without its challenges.
He reiterated unwavering commitment in driving reforms through rigorous research, economic and social programmes, and inclusive summits, all aimed at shaping the socio-economic development of our nation.
“Thirty years ago, at a critical juncture in our nation’s history, the NES was born out of a necessity when the winds of economic challenges blew fiercely, necessitating a platform for robust public-private dialogue.
“Since our inaugural summit in 1993, the NES has been a progressive economic discourse rooted deeply in collaborative efforts between government leaders and private sector visionaries.
“Each Summit has crafted policies and strategies essential for removing barriers to competitiveness, growth, and inclusive development.
“Therefore, in commemorating this 30th anniversary, it is essential to assess and discuss the role of this public-private dialogue platform in Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape to provide us insights for future engagements,” he said.
The chairman assured collaborative efforts with the three arms of federal and subnational governments and private sector communities to propel Nigeria towards a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous future.
Dr Pascal Dozie, Chairman, NESG Advisory Board, listed political, economic, education and environment sectors as pathways to reimagining Nigeria’s future
Dozie, also pioneer Chairman of NESG Board of Directors, was represented by Mr Frank Aigbogun, Chief Executive Officer of BusinessDay.
He charged NESG to adopt new strategies in providing collaborative leadership in seeking answers to the following crucial questions.
“How do we strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, foster culture of inclusiveness and representation?
“How do we promote transparency and accountability in governance and inculcate the culture of consequences for bad behaviour in every sphere of life?
“In economic reimagining, how do we diversify Nigeria’s economy, reduce dependence on oil, foster a business friendly environment and develop the much needed infrastructure base in a coordinated nationwide approach?
“How do we repurpose the educational system to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, encourage technology entrepreneurship and innovation and address unemployment?
“For the environment, how can we develop sustainable agriculture and food security, promote sustainable practices, renewable energy and eco tourism?
“It is imperative that the NESG community leads from the front in not only providing actionable answers to these questions but also making sacrifices to ensure they are implemented,” he said.
Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of NESG, Dr Tayo Aduloju, said that strong institutions, political will, accountability by all stakeholders and the willingness for the government to allow private sector to drive growth were factors needed for a successful economic development.
“The challenge for us today is how to drive the country forward over the next 30 years in a way that is not just growth but growth that creates jobs and opportunities for everyone and no one is left behind.
“We are dealing with a country that is going through macro-economic volatility and instability.
“So, the lessons here at the forum are deep reflections of what should change in our approach, a stronger priority on execution, a deeper commitment on accountability of government systems to deliver and how economic barometers impact the ordinary man on the street.
“Our resilience to hold government accountable, to keep insisting that there must be an economy that works for all Nigerians, rule of law, an environment in which free enterprise is practiced, is what we must continue to fight for,” he added.
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