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Tag: Asuu strike

  • Reps C’ttee visits UniAbuja, seeks end to ASUU strike

    Reps C’ttee visits UniAbuja, seeks end to ASUU strike

    The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has visited the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), urging the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its ongoing strike.

    The Chairman of the committee, Abubakar Fulata, in an interview with newsmen shortly after Friday’s visit in Abuja said the appeal became necessary to prevent destabilising the academic calendar.

    The lawmaker said the visit aligned with the constitutional provisions empowering legislators to carry out oversight functions over Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure compliance with the Appropriation Act.

    He called on the institution’s management to judiciously utilise what was provided in line with the 2024 Appropriation Act.

    He also advised them to seek additional ways to fund the university instead of relying almost absolutely on the government.

    In his remarks, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, commended the lawmakers for their visit and for intervening in the dispute between the school management and ASUU.

    He lauded the committee for its efforts that resulted in the Federal Government removing universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    “The removal of universities from IPPIS helped us from going to the Head of Service of the Federation and several MDAs before carrying out our functions like salary payment, appointments, and promotion among others,” he said.

  • BREAKING! Abuja varsity ASUU declares indefinite strike

    BREAKING! Abuja varsity ASUU declares indefinite strike

    In a bid to raise awareness of the development that affects the union, the University of Abuja branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has commenced an indefinite strike.

    Following its congress on Thursday at the institution’s Permanent Site, the union declared its intention to go on strike.

    Chairman of the branch, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, said that the union had resolved to embark on a total and an indefinite strike with immediate effect.

    Details shortly…

  • 2023: Ex-APC guber candidate, several others defect to PDP

    2023: Ex-APC guber candidate, several others defect to PDP

     

    …as Okowa insists Delta does not need a proud person

    A former governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State, Osiobe Okotie has defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) along with over 500 others.

    The defectors were received at Ughelli during the ongoing local government campaign rally of the PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Okotie said they have returned home to join other to build the PDP, saying: “like the prodigal son, I have returned to my original home, the PDP. I started politics in PDP so am back to my original home.”
    Addressing the mammoth crowd at both Ughelli and Isoko North, vice presidential candidate of the PDP and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa urged Nigerians to join hands with the party to rescue and rebuild the country from the sufferings created by the APC-led Federal Government.

    Okowa maintained that only the PDP had the right experience to rebuild the nation’s economy and stop the pervasive insecurity across the country.
    He said that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar had the requisite experience and political will to turn things around for the country as he did as Vice-President to President Olusegun Obasanjo when the PDP was first elected in 1999.
    Okowa said some members of the opposition in the state were not pleased with the empowerment of youths and women in the state with relevant skills.
    He urged the people to reject arrogant politicians who brought shame and disgrace to the state and vote for the party candidates who he described as level headed and man of the people.

    According to him, the youths and women of Delta are our great strength, and once l see them l know the matter is finished.

    “I thank all of you who are here present and my greatest thanks goes to the youths and women of Delta state.

    “I am happy with the crowd of people I see here today in Ughelli North. We have been seeing such crowds before but this one is exceptional.

    “I thank my Deputy Governor for his support. Like my Deputy has said, we will follow Sheriff to the church to do thanksgiving of victory come 2023.
    “We do not want a governorship candidate who will bring disgrace to Delta and Deltans and we do not want people who are angry that we are spending monies to empower our youths.

    “We do not want a governor that will be too proud to relate with the people and you know that our candidate Sheriff Oborevwori is a humble man who has immense respect for the people.

    “When Oborevwori becomes Governor he will unite Deltans because we don’t want a governor that will look down on other people,” he said.

    Okowa accused the APC of causing disunity among Nigerians, insecurity, hunger, poverty and economic hardship in the country.

    He called on the people to support the PDP to change the ugly situation caused by the maladministration of the APC.
    “The PDP will work with the people to settle all the problems caused by the APC and change the change to return Nigerians to greater glory.
    “We need to bring PDP back to the center and change the change that has brought untold hardship on the people.

  • ASUU Strike: “Government will no longer sign any agreement it cannot implement”- Buhari vows

    ASUU Strike: “Government will no longer sign any agreement it cannot implement”- Buhari vows

    Following the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, President Muhammadu Buhari has said the government would no longer sign any agreement it cannot implement.

    Buhari noted that he expected a better understanding of the current realities in the country from members of the ASUU who have been on strike since February 14.

    The President, who spoke while presenting the 2023 budget estimate to a joint session of the National Assembly, said the government was dismayed that the strike action has paralyzed activities in public universities.

    According to him: “The government notes with dismay the crisis that has paralyzed activities in the public universities in the country. We expect the staff of these institutions to show a better appreciation of the current state of affairs in the country.

    “In the determined effort to resolve the issue, we have provided a total of 470.0 billion in the 2023 budget from our constrained resources, for revitalization and salary enhancements in the tertiary institutions”.

    The President said events have shown that it is becoming very difficult for the government alone to fund education in the country saying “it is instructive to note that today Government alone cannot provide the resources required for funding tertiary education.

    “In most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level. It is imperative therefore that we introduce a more sustainable model of funding tertiary education.

    “The Government remains committed to the implementation of agreements reached with staff unions within available resources.

    “This is why we have remained resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we would be unable to implement. Individual institutions would be encouraged to keep faith with any agreement reached in due course to ensure stability in the educational sector.

    “Government is equally committed to improving the quality of education at other levels. Recently, we implemented various incentives aimed at motivating and enhancing teachers’ development in our schools”.

    He also said that the government remained committed to the effective implementation of the safe schools policy and has made available the sum of N15.2 billion in the 2023 Budget to scale up current measures to provide a safer and more conducive learning environment in schools.

  • FG/ASUU: Appeal Court gives parties 24hrs to resolve dispute amicably out of court

    FG/ASUU: Appeal Court gives parties 24hrs to resolve dispute amicably out of court

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has given the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, twenty-four hours to resolve their dispute amicably out of court.

    According to the Appellate Court, on Wednesday, the two parties are to have a rethink, sit down and come out with a resolution that would make Nigerians happy.

    Justice Georgewill Biobele Abraham threw the challenge when the Federal Government and ASUU appear before for a hearing in the appeal instituted by ASUU against the judgment of the National Industrial Court.

    Specifically, Justice Georgewill tasked counsel to the Federal Government, James Igwe (SAN) and that of ASUU, Femi Falana (SAN), to first sit down as lawyers, take a patriotic position and convey the position to their clients.

    The judge said, “There is time for everything, time for war, and time for peace. As Ministers in the temple of justice, we want to see the two of you as senior lawyers encourage and explore amicable settlement of this dispute.

    “In fact, we expect to return to this court on Thursday with the good news that the dispute has been thrashed out and all the appreciation of Nigerians will go to you.

    “So, talk to your clients to take the interest of the nation into consideration for the sake of our children. As you leave here, go and sit down and talk and resolve the matter.”

    Counsel to the Federal Government, James Igwe thanked the Justices for the admonitions and promised to look into the counseling with his colleague.

    Falana said that he had initiated something similar and would be happy to do more on the way out of the strike.

    He, however, restated that an amicable resolution of the matter would involve give and take from the two parties.

    Meanwhile, the court presided over by Justice Barka Hamma Akawu has fixed October 6 for hearing in a motion filed by ASUU for a stay of execution of the judgment of the Industrial Court which ordered the striking lecturers to go and resume work pending the resolution of their dispute with the Federal Government.

    During Wednesday’s proceedings, Falana had sought to move the motion but the Federal Government lawyer objected on the ground that he had not been served with the motion dated September 28.

    The record of the court however revealed that the motion was served on the office of the Attorney General of the Federation AGF.

    Following this, the government lawyer sought a short adjournment to enable him to respond to the motion.

    Justice Akawu subsequently fixed October 6 for hearing of the motion.

  • ASUU Strike: We’re studying directive issued by Universities Commission – VCs

    ASUU Strike: We’re studying directive issued by Universities Commission – VCs

     

    Vice-Chancellors of Public universities in Nigeria have said that they are currently studying the letter issued by the Federal government through the National Universities Commission NUC, ordering them to reopen schools and allow students to resume lectures.

    The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Yakubu Aboki Ochefu made this known on Monday, in response to the directive issued by the NUC.

    According to Ochefu, the directive by the Universities Commission is to further communicate court order to the Vice chancellors and asking them to comply to court order issued last Wednesday by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

    He added that in order to forestall future strike after reopening the institutions, the vice chancellors are studying the letter from NUC so as not reopen the schools and still discover that the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU are still on strike.

    “The directive is basically communicating the court order to the VC’s and asking them to comply.

    “The VC’s are studying this in view of the appeal by ASUU so as not to reopen and find that ASUU is still on strike”, he said.

    The Federal Government through the National Universities Commission had ordered vice-chancellors to re-open schools and allow students resume lectures.

    The directive was made known in a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of the NUC, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed.

  • ASUU Vs FG: Court, not the way to go – Don

    ASUU Vs FG: Court, not the way to go – Don

    A Salem University, Lokoja lecturer, Professor Isaac Oyawale says the Federal Government has taken a wrong step with its decision to take ASUU to the National Industrial Court where it got a judgement mandating the union to return to class.

    The academician was speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Lokoja on Thursday.

    To him, “Government is just trying to pour more gasoline on an already raging fire. You cannot use force to force a body of intellectually astute and academically rich group by trying to coerce them into going back to the classrooms.

    “What I expected government to have done is to look at the issues holistically, meet ASUU halfway, not through the hanky-panky they are currently using but by being truthful and sincere in their dealings.”

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    He said lecturers may decide to resume without teaching the students or even deciding to take the job with more laxity, noting that it would be counter productive.

    The lecturer, who expressed concern about the plight of the students, urged both government and the lecturers to reach amicable resolution for the students to acquire necessary knowledge for national development.

    He noted the need for a more open, sincere and engaging dialogue between ASUU and government to arrive at a common ground that would put the lingering issues to permanent end and bring a new lease of life to University education in Nigeria.

    “I sincerely hope that government would listen to ASUU and ensure all issues that causing disaffection between them are resolved for the sake of the next generation and for a new lease of life to be open for public universities.”

  • ASUU Strike: NANS suspends protest in Kaduna-Abuja road

    ASUU Strike: NANS suspends protest in Kaduna-Abuja road

    The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has shelved  its plans to block major highways especially the  Kaduna-Abuja road.

    The student body cited security reasons and need to respect constituted authority as reasons for suspending the strike.

    It also added that there were appeals from higher authority asking that the proposed protest be shelved.

    The students’ union, through the Chairman, Taskforce on End ASUU Strike, Dominic Philip, said the union suspended the protest following the intervention of the Commissioner of Police in the state and other security agencies.

    The Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, had, on Tuesday evening warned the student body of the negative consequences of such an action.

    It was gathered that fierce looking security personnel were visible at the proposed venue to forstall any breakdown of law and order.

    The security personnel were seen stand at strategic locations at Gonin Gora road and some communities where the students could be hanging around.

    However, the National Industrial Court earlier today ruled that ASUU should call -off its seven-month old industrial action.

     

  • BREAKING: We won’t allow campaigns if strike is not ended – NANS

    BREAKING: We won’t allow campaigns if strike is not ended – NANS

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have threatene to disrupt political campaigns billed to start later this month in driving home their point for the Federal Government to end the ongoing strike.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike since Monday, 14th February this year, by which period many children of prominent Nigerians, especially the political elites have graduated from foreign and private universities, a situation that has further irked the students.

    A daughter in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari was alleged to have graduated from a foreign university on Tuesday and was celebrated by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari on her social media handles.

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    The situation has further aggravated the anger of many of the students.

    INEC had laid down the timetable for next year’s elections which starts later this month which the students have threatened to disrupt if the strike is not called off.

    Details later…

  • ASUU Strike: NANS threatens to ground critical infrastructure, economy

    ASUU Strike: NANS threatens to ground critical infrastructure, economy

    There are indications yet that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has had it with the ongoing strike being embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The body said that its protest at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport is only a preamble, adding that it is ready to go on a week-long protest until the Federal Government accedes to its demands on the resolution of the strike action.

    NANS task force Chairman on #EndASUUStrikeNow, Ojo Raymond, stated this in a statement on Monday.

    “For the past few days, we have been protesting simultaneously round the states of the country to protest the continued ASUU strike which has lasted over seven months as a result of the ‘crass irresponsibility’ of the Federal Government to fulfil the terms of the agreement they willingly signed with ASUU,” it said.

    “As an association, we are saddened by this development which has resulted in the closure of universities . And, this act, we believe, is deliberate by the Federal Government to deny the children of the common Nigerian access to quality education which violates the provisions of Chapter two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    “We are using this medium to reiterate that this protest continues and that we will not for any reason back down until the Federal Government takes the educational sector as a priority. It is quite pathetic that the Federal Government is making use of the armed forces to quench a genuine struggle of Nigerian students despite the fact that these officers are also victims of the system whose children are also affected the same way we are.

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    ASUU strike: After Lagos invasion, NANS threatens to occupy Kwara airport

    “Today’s protest at Muritala Muhammed International Airport (Domestic and International wings) is just a preamble of what is to come in days ahead. And, we are informing the general public and the international community to pay serious attention to this struggle because we have been duly informed of the plan of the Federal Government to mobilise heavily against this protest. This was even witnessed today as anti-riot police officers and men of the Air Force were mobilised to attack us not until they were prevented by the mass of Nigerian students.

    “We maintain that this protest shall last a week here in Lagos State and would be held simultaneously at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Nigerian Ports Authority and the third mainland bridge until our demands are met.

    NANS, joined by the Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, said it was ready to ground the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

    NANS members defied the downpour to express their grievances at the airport.

    They held banners bearing inscriptions such as: “No nation can develop without genuine commitment to education,” and “If you have money for election form, you can fund education.”

    They caused traffic around the airport amid the presence of a combined team of officers of the Lagos State Police Command, Rapid Response Squad, Lagos Airport Police Command, and other security agencies.