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Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

  • ASUU suspends eight-month-old strike

    ASUU suspends eight-month-old strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended, conditionally, its 8-month-old strike embarked on since February 14th this year, with public universities expected to reopen on Monday, the 17th October, 2022.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that ASUU suspended the strike following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was held on Thursday into Friday morning with the President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke expected to announce the suspension of the strike at noon today.

    Speaking on ASUU’s decision after the meeting held at the ASUU secretariat in Abuja, a highly informed source within the NEC said, “Yes, it has been called off”. When asked for more details, the source said, “the president will release an official circular in the morning”.

    Recall that after meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives over the lingering strike embarked upon by lecturers, ASUU had hinted the strike will likely be called off this week and the institutions fully re-opened next week for academic activities in the country.

    ASUU had expressed optimism that the intervention by the House of Representatives in the face-off with the Federal Government would yield desired results.

    Prof Osodeke, who spoke when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, briefed the union in Abuja after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari said, “For the first time, we have seen light at the end of the tunnel.”

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Education had previously given a hint that ASUU will likely call off its ongoing strike while confirming negotiations are still ongoing between the Federal Government and the union.

    Adamu confirmed that the government has agreed to release the balance of N23billion Earned Allowances to the striking lecturers.

    The Minister said that the Ministry of Finance has promised to undertake a forensic audit of the N30billion allowance earlier released to the lecturers, bringing the total to N53billion, speaking at a separate meeting with the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFund),.

  • ASUU strike: NLC commends Gbajabiamila over intervention

    ASUU strike: NLC commends Gbajabiamila over intervention

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for his intervention in the protracted crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, gave the commendation at the inauguration of the Guest House of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non Metallic Products Employers (NUCANMPE), on Tuesday at Ijoko, Sango-Ota in Ogun.

    The Speaker and the national leadership of ASUU met on Monday in Abuja over the crisis between university lecturers and the federal government.

    He said: “I must commend those that are very proactive in trying to make sure that the true process of social dialogue to resolve the challenges are put in place.

    “At the same time, those who cautioned people who think employment relationship is still old ways of master-servant relationship.

    “Globally, that perspective has changed, the relationship is now symbiosis, that requires mutual respect from both the employers and the employees.

    “I think this is what Gbajabiamila was playing out, I must commend him for his significant contributions and important roles, so that at the end it will be a win-win thing.

    “I know when they go back to their classrooms, they will be very happy teaching our kids because these are intellectuals and their state of hearts will also speak volume how they impact knowledge.

    “I commend the wisdom of the speaker,  there  is no use, using cohesion or force in solving the problem but through provision of dialogue that will comfort everybody,” he said.

    He expressed optimism that ASUU would make a pronouncement soon about its resumption.

    Wabba said he was very delighted in the inauguration of the NUCANMPE Guest House projects.

    He said that the development was one of the active ways labour union was working to diversify in this present economic challenges.

    The labour leader hailed NUCANMPE National President, Mr Babatunde Olatunji, for his efforts in executing the huge project.

    Earlier, Olatunji in his remarks thanked the NLC national president for gracing the inauguration, saying there was need to diversify to generate more income for the union.

    According to him, the beauty of the project is that the whole world will know that union leaders are  business oriented.

    “This project will let people know that we know what we are doing, the leadership of this union sees the need to diversify and not relying only on members’ dues for income.

    “That is why we decided to put up this 15 room guest house, as alternative source of income to the union,” he said.

    Olatunji said that there was also an ongoing multipurpose shopping complex of over 49 stores including office spaces at Ijoko, Sanyo-Ota.

  • BREAKING: In next few days, we’ll call off strike – ASUU President

    BREAKING: In next few days, we’ll call off strike – ASUU President

    President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Emmanuel Osodeke has said in the next few days, the union will call off its strike embarked on since February 14th.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Prof Osodeke made this known on Monday during a meeting of ASUU with the leadership of the Nigerian House of Representatives led by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Speaking during the meeting, Osodeke thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Gbajabiamila for their intervention to see that the strike is called off.

    “We extend our own appreciation to Mr President for intervening. And we know that this problem is now solved. I want to appeal that in the future, we should not allow strikes to linger. Strikes should not go beyond two days.

    “If the way the National Assembly has intervened, if we had done that long ago, from the beginning, or those in charge of education or labour have done exactly this, we will not be where we are today, we will not have stay more than two or three weeks in this strike.

    “Strike is all over the world, UK, U.S., all over. But they don’t allow it to last. So, we hope that working together in the next few days, we will put an end to this particular imbroglio in the Nigerian educational system,” Osodeke said.

  • Strike: Finally, FG accepts to accommodate ASUU’s peculiarities in IPPIS

    Strike: Finally, FG accepts to accommodate ASUU’s peculiarities in IPPIS

    Finally, the federal government (FG) has accepted to accommodate the peculiar allowances of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information Payment System (IPPIS).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the acting Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Okolieaboh Sylva disclosed this at a meeting of ASUU with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige and the leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday in Abuja.

    Mr Sylva said that if there were peculiar allowances in ASUU’s pay, what needed to be done was to incorporate them into the platform, adding that the office of the Accountant General was willing to incorporate ASUU’s peculiarities.

    “Let us sit down and know what these issues are and address them inside IPPIS. We can correct whatever mistake we make now,” he said while expressing reservation over ASUU’s insistence on the incorporation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) payment platform for its members.

    “If we accept what ASUU is saying, it will create room for everyone to be asking for their own payment platform, the military is on IPPIS and health workers, ASUU should sit down with us and see the progress we have made,” he said.

    Sylva said that the incorporation of ASUU’s demand on IPPIS platform could be done without President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval, adding that there was nothing complicated about the issue once ASUU agreed to the offer.

    “In the spirit of reconciliation, if ASUU knows what can be done, we are willing to adopt it to resolve this issue. It doesn’t make sense not to accept, let ASUU come to us, we are willing to accept. If we are going to adopt UTAS, that shows we are going to build the salaries of other civil servants to UTAS,” he said.

    Speaking, Dr Ngige said the federal government would not offer ASUU what it does not have, adding that the leadership of the union met with the President on January 9 with the hope of convincing the government to adopt the UTAS platform for lecturers’ salaries.

    “I told Mr President to let us give it a trial and I took it upon myself, I went to NITDA and other agencies and we looked at the system,” he said, adding that the platforms brought by ASUU failed the integrity test and that he couldn’t recommend the adoption of any of them, no matter the pressure.

    Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President, ASUU, however, said it was unfortunate that Nigerians failed to understand how the university system operates.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila appealed to ASUU to call off its ongoing strike. He added that the executive had spoken, just as the judiciary, and the legislature.

    “Everybody cannot be wrong. We are working according to everything we said in our last meeting, please in the interest of our children, we have called you in spite of the court ruling,” he said.

    On the issue of UTAS, Gbajabiamila said the report was with the lawmakers.

    “We are more or less working for you. There comes a time all conflicts come to an end. We will make our recommendation to the President. You have a very good case, the minister dropped a bombshell before he left but I didn’t pay attention.

    “I understand your feeling and emotion. You are not doing it for yourself but the enabling environment and the future of our children. Please let’s take it and get to the final destination,” he said.

  • Gbajabiamila wants stringent conditions for new universities

    Gbajabiamila wants stringent conditions for new universities

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has called for introduction of stringent conditions for establishment of universities in the country, to ensure high standard.

    Gbajabiamila said this at Wednesday’s plenary in Abuja. He was speaking on a report of a bill for the establishment of Federal University, Daura, Katsina State.

    He said that the conditions would prevent the proliferation of universities in the country.

    “There is a balance between demands by constituents and what is good when we know what is right.

    “I think this matter will be resolved when we pass the National University Commission (NUC) bill, where perhaps, we can make establishment of universities more stringent.

    “Otherwise, you will run into a situation where a state government or whoever will just come, get a building or three buildings together and say they want a university,” he said.

    According to him, the stringent measures will be in place until such a time when the government is no longer funding universities, then you can have 200 in a state.

    Earlier, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase, faulted the speaker’s position on the matter, saying that many lawmakers have promised their constituents that they would attract tertiary institutions to their areas.

    According to him, this is because some lawmakers have promised their constituents a tertiary education.

    Also, Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) said that the lawmakers were under pressure from constituents on the establishment of university.

    “In my opinion, I think it is not wise to shut down every voice or every member on this floor as it relates to sponsoring a bill for the establishment of either college of education or polytechnic or university in their various communities.

    “I said this because when you go tot he constituencies and you are talking to the constituents, most often, the first thing they ask you is; why are you not bringing any school to your constituency?

    “And when you say it is not possible and they see your colleagues sponsoring same bills for the establishment of universities, it becomes a negative for you as an individual who is representing them

    “So, whether it is assented to by the President or not, it is not the issue; the issue is that member is able to show that he has the interest of his or her constituents at heart,” he said.

    Rep. Ifeayi Momoh (APGA-Anambra) faulted the transport university, Daura, establishment bill, saying that the National Institute of Transportation Technology (NITT), Zaria should be upgraded rather than establishing a new university.

    “I am just thinking aloud because we have the NITT -Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology – in Zaria

    “When there is an institute of transport technology, which deals with the science of transportation itself, why are we now looking at establishing a Federal University of Transportation?

    “We can amend the enabling law and upgrade NITT to a federal university; the constant proliferation of universities in our country is not helping us,” he said.

  • Gbajabiamila wants FG to stop funding political parties

    Gbajabiamila wants FG to stop funding political parties

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has advised the Federal Government to funding political parties as it is no longer fashionable.

    stated that it is no more fashionable for the Federal Government to fund political parties at this critical period of Nigeria’s democratic advancement.

    Gbajabiamila pointed out that using the government’s funds to run parties is an indirect invitation for it to assume control of the parties by dictating choices and policies that might conflict with the tenets of democracy.

    The Speaker, while noting that the international best practice is for parties to be self-funded, added that using public funds would also lead to the proliferation of parties, stressing that people would simply abuse the process by registering hundreds of parties in the hope of cashing out on free government money.

    Gbajabiamila made this known while receiving a delegation of the Inter-Party Advisory Council at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi.

    The statement was titled, ‘Why Govt Won’t Fund Political Parties – Gbajabiamila…Says It’s Late to Propose Fresh Amendments to Electoral Act…Speaker Urges Aggrieved Persons to Approach Court.’

    The Speaker said, “I am not sure how many countries fund their political parties; we will have to do research and to be sure that it’s international best practice. Government is an interested party; if it will be providing the funds, that will also mean they can compromise the system. There is also proliferation (of parties) that will become a problem if the government begins to fund the parties since there will be free money.”

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    Strike: Gbajabiamila reels out line of action after meeting with ASUU

    Speaking on the requests for fresh amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, Gbajabiamila said it was not advisable to do so a few months before the 2023 general elections.

    According to him, making new amendments to the Act during this period could disorganise the plans for the polls, create unnecessary tension in the polity and raise credibility questions.

    The Speaker noted that the safest route would be to further amend the Act after the elections if a need arose or the aggrieved persons approach the judiciary to seek an interpretation of any contentious provisions.

    Gbajabiamila called for patience, urging parties to seize the opportunity of the upcoming polls to fully test the Act and determine the success of innovations such as the electronic transmission of results, and the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, among others. He added that upon a successful poll, other innovations such as electronic collation of results and Diaspora voting could also be considered.

  • NASS bemoan long-term impact of borrowing on Nigeria

    NASS bemoan long-term impact of borrowing on Nigeria

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed worry over the long-term impact that the endless borrowing by the Federal Government would have on the country.

    Hon Gbajabiamila said President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to lay the 2023 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly early October, and decried the huge deficit in the proposed budget of the Federal Government.

    The Federal Government is proposing a budget with estimates totalling N19.76tn, while the deficit will hover between N11.30tn and N12.41tn, depending on the duration that the Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) subsidy regime will be extended, in the 2023 fiscal year.

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had, on August 29, 2022, in her presentation to the House Committee on Finance, at the hearing on the proposed 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, decried that the government might be unable to provide for treasury-funded capital projects next year, especially due to dwindling revenue and petrol subsidy.

    Ahmed had pointed out that crude oil production challenges and the PMS subsidy deductions by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (formerly Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) constitute a major threat to the country’s revenue growth targets.

    Gbajabiamila, in his remarks at the opening of plenary on Tuesday after the National Assembly returned from its two-month annual break, expressed concerns over the revelations from the proposal.

    He said, “We hope to receive the 2023 Appropriations Bill from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in the first week of October. In advance of this, the Senate and House Committees on Finance have begun interactive sessions with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

    “Some concerns have emerged from these interactions, most prominently of which are the issues of the scope of deficit financing to be proposed in the new budget and the decline in crude oil production due to theft and sabotage.

    “While the House appreciates that our current fiscal conditions necessitate borrowing to finance budgetary expenditures, we are, nonetheless, concerned about the long-term impact of this burden on the country and our ability to pay what we owe in a responsible and sustainable way. These questions will be central to our consideration of the 2023 Appropriations Bill when presented.

    “We will also be mindful of the provisions of our laws, especially the Fiscal Responsibility Act, as it relates to the scope of deficit financing of the budget. Ministries, departments and agencies of the government should take note that appropriations for new projects will be influenced by the extent to which existing projects have been funded and their performance in executing these projects as intended.”

    Speaker also noted that due to theft and various acts of economic sabotage, the country is experiencing a massive decline in the volume of crude oil exports.

    “Our crude oil export of 972,394 barrels per day for August is the lowest we have recorded in the last two decades,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila added, “At a time when we are already experiencing severe financial constraints, the perpetrators of this brazen heist threaten our ability to serve the Nigerian people and meet the demands of governance and nation-building. Their actions constitute treason against our country, for which they must be held accountable.

    “There are mechanisms in place to prevent these sorts of bad actors, and the government spends significant amounts of money each year to protect oil and gas resources in the country. Evidently, these existing arrangements do not suffice.

    “As such, there is an urgent need to review them and make the necessary improvements. It is also of particular importance that the perpetrators of these crimes against the state are identified, prosecuted and subjected to the stiffest penalties the law allows. Those who seek to impoverish our country in this manner have declared war against the Nigerian people. They are no different from the insurgents and terrorists against whom we are battling in various theatres.

    “The government’s response must be sufficient to convince them of the error of their ways and deter others who might be tempted to join in their treason.

    “I met with the Finance Minister and the DG Budget (Office, Ben Akabueze) and made it clear to them that ‘enough of crude oil theft.’ Nigerians don’t want to hear that again. What do you intend to do about it? That’s the important question.”

  • Strike: Gbajabiamila reels out line of action after meeting with ASUU

    Strike: Gbajabiamila reels out line of action after meeting with ASUU

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has invited some top government functionaries to a meeting with a view to resolving the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    Gbajabiamila made this known after five hours closed door meeting between the leadership of the house and ASUU on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Those invited are, the Account General of the Federation, the Auditor General of the Federation, the Director General of National Information Development Agency (NITDA) and his counterpart in National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

    He said that the government officials are to appear on Thursday, September 22 to finalise negotiations for onward presentation of agreement to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval and implementation.

    The speaker said that meaningful progress had been made, saying that the house was out to interface directly with ASUU as an independent arm of government to find out what solution can be offered.

    “Based on our deliberations, we are very hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we thank ASUU for making this time out for the interest of our students.

    “There are principally seven areas ASUU has put forward as conditions for them to go back to class and we have looked at those areas and agreed on certain things.

    “In pursuance to finalise the meeting, we have asked that NITDA, Account General of the Federation, Auditor General of the Federation, Salaries and Wages Commission be invited to meet with the leadership on Thursday.

    “Once that is done, the leadership of this house will await the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly.

    “We will meet with Mr President and lay before him the agreements we have reached and we are hopeful that Mr President will buy into the agreement and with that, this matter will be speedily brought to a close,”he said.

    In his remarks, the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, appreciated the speaker for intervening in the ongoing strike.

    He described the interventions as a good development, saying that the union will wait for the outcome of the meeting with the top government functionaries.

    Osodeke said that following the impact of the meeting held with the speaker, he was hopeful that within the immediate future, the issues will be resolved.

  • House of Reps to resume plenary Sept. 20 at temporary chamber

    House of Reps to resume plenary Sept. 20 at temporary chamber

    The House of Representatives will resume plenary on Sept. 20, at the temporary chamber.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Yahaya Danzaria, the Clerk to the House, on Sunday in Abuja.

    Danzaria said due to the ongoing renovation in the old chamber, members are expected to resume plenary at the new improvised chamber in the new building with a capacity of 118 seats only.

    He said the new chamber has been expanded by an upper deck provision with capacity of 236 seats, adding that rooms had been connected audio-visually and electronically with large screens.

    He, however, said there were no designated seats apart from the allocation for presiding and principal officers, noting that all other sitting arrangements would be based on arrivals.

    “It is equally important to note that because this is a temporary improvised arrangement no provisions are made for legislative aides due to want of space.

    Newsmen reports that the House on July 20 proceeded on a two-month annual recess ahead of its last lap of the 9th assembly.

    The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila on Sept. 14, called for the speedy completion of the ongoing renovation of the national assembly complex ahead of the August 2023 delivery deadline.

    Gbajabiamila had inspected key aspects of the work, particularly the House of Representatives Chamber, the dome and foyer of the complex.

  • Speaker Gbajabiamila reveals date for 2023 budget presentation

    Speaker Gbajabiamila reveals date for 2023 budget presentation

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to present the 2023 budget to the National Assembly in October.

    Gbajabiamila said this when he addressed newsmen on Wednesdy shortly after inspecting hearing rooms 028 and 234 of the House, which were expected to serve as the temporary chamber due to the ongoing renovation of the House complex in Abuja.

    “I am hoping that the budget will be presented latest by first week of October,” he said. The speaker said that configuration of the temporary chamber would be done, ahead of the Sept. 20 date for resumption of plenary.

    “You can see the configuration, it is not just this place and it is also upstairs. So, I think it is about 100 and something here and about 200 and something upstairs.

    “It has been configured in such a way that everything is connected and you can see the screens, I can see everybody upstairs, everybody presiding can see everybody upstairs and can see everybody downstairs.

    “Where we are right now, it will be ready on Tuesday, this work started in August, and it started few weeks behind time but for a good reason.

    “So far, between August and now, giant strides have been made. You can see the old chamber has been ripped apart,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila added:“We will at the end of the day be proud to have a chamber that will match the best standard all over the world; I am quite impressed with the work so far and I will encourage them to double the pace.” he said.

    He said that the renovation was largely for benefit of the incoming 10th Assembly as the main chamber was not going to be ready until August 2023.