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Tag: Lecturers

  • University lecturers ready to resume work says union

    The Congress of the University Academics(CONUA) says its members are willing to resume work as soon as the Federal Government reopen the universities.

    CONUA National Secretary, Dr Henri Oripeloye, said this while paying a courtesy visit on the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun in Oye -Ekiti on Monday.

    Oripeloye said that the members of the union were ready to work as soon as directive was given by the government that academic work should resume in the universities.

    ” We have our members who are fully ready to work, there are other members of other unions, even factions of Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) who are ready to go back to work.

    “I want to appeal to the federal government to consider other unions who are not part of ASUU’s fight to resume academic work in various universities.

    ” I want to equally appreciate the Vice Chancellor for his support to our members,” he said.

    In his remarks, Soremekun expressed his delight over the visit.

    ” The fact that CONUA took off from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is not an accident.

    ” I want to commend your courage and steadfastness, please stick to your principles, be consistent because if the union are not careful, the union may end up like other unions too.

    ” The CONUA has set out on a path sooner or later history will commend you,” he said.

    The VC assured the union that his administration will promote workers annually as stipulated by law especially those who merited such promotion, in spite of the fact that ASUU was against that.

    He added that the promotion exercise for 2020 would be announced by the authorities soon.

    Oripeloye was accompanied by CONUA National Publicity Coordinator, Dr Ernest Nwoke; and the National Legal Adviser and Coordinator, FUOYE chapter, Mr Ayodeji Ige.

  • IPPIS: Buhari makes U-turn, orders immediate payment of lecturers’ withheld salaries

    IPPIS: Buhari makes U-turn, orders immediate payment of lecturers’ withheld salaries

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate payment of the February and March, withheld salaries of lecturers in federal universities who have not registered in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made this disclosure in a statement signed by his new media aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu.

    Ngige said the president also directed the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, and the Accountant General of the Federation to effect the payment urgently to cushion the deleterious effects of COVID 19 pandemic lockdown on lecturers and members of their family.

    The Labour Minister added that all the Vice Chancellors were asked to revalidate the affected lecturers Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and forward to the Accountant General of the Federation for the payments.

    The Federal Government had directed all federal tertiary institutions in the country to enroll in the IPPIS from February 2020.

  • ASUU Strike: FG reaches agreement with lecturers on IPPIS

    The Nigerian government has reached an interim agreement with striking university lecturers to integrate the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

    The IPPIS is the government’s accountability software that has been made compulsory for all public institutions, mainly for personnel payroll.

    ASUU is opposed to the use of IPPIS for lecturers saying it does not consider some of the peculiar operations of universities. The lecturers’ union then developed its own UTAS which it wants the government to adopt for universities.

    The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, announced the agreement after a four-hour meeting between both parties.

    Mr Ngige said the two parties will reconvene on Monday after the ASUU delegation deliberates with its National Executive Council (NEC).

    Also speaking, the National President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the National Executive Committee of the union will review the conditions for the integration of UTAS into IPPIS.

    However, both parties did not reveal the conditions to the media.

    ASUU on Monday asked its members in federal universities across the country to begin two weeks warning strike in response to the government’s decision to stop the February salaries of lecturers who have not registered on the IPPIS platform.

    Thursday’s meeting is the first by both parties since the strike commenced.

  • UNILAG lecturers protest, call for Babalakin’s removal

    UNILAG lecturers protest, call for Babalakin’s removal

    The tension at the University of Lagos, Akoka on Wednesday was palpable, as lecturers protested against the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin.

    The lecturers, who moved round the school, gathered under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNILAG branch.

    The distraught lecturers, who chanted slogans against the pro-chancellor, called for his removal.

    The protest followed a week of renewed clash between the varsity management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, and the governing council.

    Ogundipe had announced that 13,489 graduating students would be conferred with degrees, diplomas and certificates from March 9 to 13.

    However, the National Universities Commission, in a memo, called for the suspension of the event.

    It was reported that the NUC halted the programme after Babalakin complained to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, that the varsity council was side-lined from the convocation ceremonies.

    UNILAG ASUU Chairman, Dele Ashiru, said during the protest they had reviewed the circumstances that led to the postponement of the convocation.

    He noted that the reports obtained by the congress revealed Babalakin was tyrannical; hence they made a resolution to declare him a persona non grata.

    Ashiru said, “After taking an analytical perspective of this unwarranted postponement, the congress noted the damaging activities of the pro-chancellor of this university.

    “Beginning from today (Wednesday), Dr Olawale Bolanle Babalakin has been declared a persona non grata in this university; he is not to be seen in the council chamber anymore.”

    He also urged the lecturers to enforce the resolution, adding that any day Babalakin was seen at the institution, he should be thrown out.

    In the same vein, a senior official of the varsity, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed a loyalist of Babalakin was sent out of the ASUU congress.

    He said, “The congress held first before the protest. The (hall for the) congress was filled to capacity; everyone spoke with one voice, except one Daramola, who wanted to make excuses for him. He was chased out. Babalakin wants to run UNILAG like his law chambers.

    “Contrary to the claim of the council, there is evidence that the convocation was discussed during their meeting. UNILAG is number one now in Nigeria and 13th in Africa, the pro-chancellor is supposed to capitalize on that to move the school forward, instead of all these issues”, he told Punch.

     

  • University suspends two sex-for-grades lecturers

    University suspends two sex-for-grades lecturers

    Two University of Ghana lecturers who featured last year in a BBC sex-for-grades documentary on sexual misconduct have been suspended and ordered to undergo “appropriate” training on sexual harassment and misconduct, according to a statement issued by the university.

    The University of Ghana suspended Prof. Ransford Gyampo for six months and Dr. Paul Butakor for four months.

    The statement by the university said after the completion of the work by the Senior Members’ Disciplinary Committee, it “recommended a six-month suspension without pay for Ransford Gyampo and a four-month suspension without pay for Paul Butakor”, which it said was “in line with statute 46(2) of the University of Ghana Statutes, as amended, and regulation 15.0 of the Code of Conduct for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana”.

    According to the statement, the suspensions take effect from 1 January 2020.

    In addition, Ransford Gyampo and Paul Butakor are required to “undergo appropriate training on the University of Ghana’s Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy as well as the Code of Conduct for Academic Staff of the University of Ghana”.

    The statement said they will be required to receive a positive assessment after training and before resumption of their duties. They are also required to undergo an annual assessment for a period of five years.

    A fact-finding committee chaired by Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo, a retired Supreme Court judge, investigated allegations of misconduct against Gyampo and Butakor following the broadcast of the documentary titled “Sex for Grades: Undercover in West African universities”.

    The committee found evidence that the lecturers had contravened the relevant provisions on misconduct in the University of Ghana Statutes and the Code of Conduct for Academic Senior Members and recommended that the case be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for Senior Members.

    The university assured all students, faculty, staff, other stakeholders and the public of its commitment to rooting out acts of misconduct, sexual harassment or any other form of harassment, and that it would not tolerate such acts among students and employees of the university.

    Gyampo, head of European Studies, had claimed that the documentary was “bogus and [an] attempt by some people to bring me down” after he was filmed telling an undercover reporter that he will marry her. He then asks her what school she went to. After she responds, he says: “There is a rumour that the students of that school like penis.”

    Butakor, a lecturer in the College of Education, also denied any wrongdoing. He was filmed asking an undercover journalist if he could become her “side guy”, adding that “a side will see how best to contribute to your career”.

  • IPPIS: Buhari makes U-turn, orders payment of salaries to lecturers

    IPPIS: Buhari makes U-turn, orders payment of salaries to lecturers

    Federal Government has made a U-turn on its determination not to pay January salary of the staff of the federal universities, polytechnic and colleges of education, thereby aborting the nationwide strike billed to commence on Monday February 3.

    It is gathered that the Federal Government has decided to halt its enforcement mechanism for a month with a view that the issues surrounding the scheme would have been sorted out.

    The rift between the academic staff of the federal institutions in Nigeria is as a result of the refusal of the academic staff to enroll under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, scheme, claiming that it does not accommodate the peculiarities of the academic staff.

    In a letter from the office of the Accountant General of the federation, signed by the Director of IPPIS, Olufehinti, O. J, dated January 21, 2020, and directed to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Minister was ordered not to release funds for payment of January salaries of the tertiary institutions.

    Sequel to this, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, directed its members nationwide to go on strike as soon as the Federal Government stops lecturers’ salaries.

    However, a twist was introduced to the saga as staff of the universities today received their salaries for the month of January.

    It is gathered that the staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, and University of Ibadan, UI, have been paid January salaries.

    Prior to the payment of salary, there was tension in the Premier University over the determination of ASUU not to allow the second semester’s examinations hold if the Federal Government kept its threat of not paying salaries until all the academic staff enrolled under the IPPIS.

    Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of the Premier University, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, has announced commencement of the Second Semester’s Examination next Monday.

  • #Sexformarks: UNILAG sets up panel to probe ‘randy’ lecturers

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has constituted a panel to probe Dr Boniface Igheneghu and Dr Samuel Oladipo for sexual harassment allegations.

    A statement by the Principal Assistant Registrar (Communication Unit), Mrs Taiwo Oloyede, also said Oladipo, of the Department of Economics, had been suspended.

    The panel, headed by Dean Faculty of Law, Ayodele Atsenuwa, would investigate the allegations of sexual harassment against the two lecturers exposed by a BBC Africa Eye documentary, Sex for Grades.

    The statement reads: “The UNILAG management has set up a panel, headed by Professor Ayodele V. Atsenuwa, a Professor of Public Law, Faculty of Law, UNILAG, and the incumbent Dean of the Faculty.

    “The panel will probe into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu of the Department of European Languages and Integrated Studies, Faculty of Arts and Dr. Samuel Oladipo of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as other related cases.

    “As previously announced in the university’s statement, dated Monday, October 7, 2019, Dr. Samuel Oladipo, who was featured in the full version of the BBC broadcast, has been suspended from work with immediate effect and barred from the university’s academic areas until conclusion of the panel’s assignment.”

    The statement added that a pending investigation against another unnamed lecturer was still on, urging students with information to come forward.

    “The university wishes to inform the general public that the panel set up to investigate another allegation of sexual harassment involving a professor in the university in June, 2018, still subsists and awaits further information that will aid in concluding the investigation.

    “Students and members of staff who have relevant information are encouraged to come forward.”

    “Their protection is assured.

    “We firmly reassure all our students, staff, alumni, parents and guardians that this matter will be tackled with every sense of responsibility, and the seriousness it deserves. The whole process will be transparent and appropriate sanctions will be meted out to anyone found culpable,” the statement said.

  • ‘ABU sacks 16 lecturers over sexual harassment…’

    ‘ABU sacks 16 lecturers over sexual harassment…’

    ABU sacks 16 lecturers — Authorities of the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State on Thursday fired 16 members of staff over offences involving sexual harassment, negligence of duty and corruption in the institution.

    It was gathered that the sacked staff members included lecturers from different department and faculties in the institution.

    According to a source who spoke to newsmen under the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, the tertiary institution indeed sacked some lecturers.

    He said, “It is true that the Ahmadu Bello University management sacked some lecturers and it was duly approved by the Governing Council of the institution.”

    When contacted the Director of ABU’s Public Affairs, Dr. Sama’ila Shehu, confirmed the incident but noted that not all those sacked were lecturers.

    He said, “Not all of them are lecturers but they were ABU staff. They cut across. Those affected are 16.

    “Some of the offences range from mishandling of records, scripts, sexual harassment and assault.

    “There are categories of offences and penalties. Some (penalties) are the termination of appointments, dismissal and demotion.”

  • Lecturer, students killed as suspected militias invade Taraba Varsity

    Lecturer, students killed as suspected militias invade Taraba Varsity

    Academic activities have been put on hold at the Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, following an invasion by the suspected Jukun militias that led to the killing of two students from Benue and a lecturer of the institution on Tuesday.

    The killing sparked protest among Tiv students and staff of the institution.

    However, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Abubakar Kundiri, has suspended the academic activities and closed down the institution following the incident.

    The announcement was contained in a statement by the Registrar, Mr Magaji Gangumi which was released in Wukari, on Wednesday.

    According to the statement, all students are expected to leave the University premises before 12:00noon on Wednesday.

    The statement also added that the suspension of lectures and closure of the institution is till further notice.

    “The closure of the institution follows the protest by students over the kidnapping of their mates along Wukari -Katsina Ala high way on Tuesday. Therefore, students are directed to vacate the hostel and university premises on or before 12 noon,” the statement said.

    The Vice-Chancellor assured that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of both staff and students as they leave Wukari.

    He said apart from school buses, the Chairman of Ukum Local Government in neighbouring Benue State was sending 10 buses to evacuate students from that state.

    Prof Kundiri stated that security has also been reinforced from both the army and police to ensure that members of the academic community conveniently leave Wukari without any hitch.

  • Polytechnic lecturers commence nationwide strike today

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has said it is embarking on an indefinite nationwide strike on Wednesday (today).

    The ASUP National President, Usman Dutse, confirmed this to our correspondent in an interview on Tuesday, saying the strike would go on because the Federal Government had failed to implement the 2009 and 2017 agreements it reached with the union.

    Dutse said the contentious areas which necessitated the strike included the non-implementation of the NEEDS assessment report of 2014, non-payment of salaries in many state-owned polytechnics, pension deductions and other statutory deductions from staff salaries.

    ASUP held its 93rd National Executive Council meeting at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, on November 29, where it was first decided that the strike would begin on December 12.

    The ASUP president said the union expected a total compliance in all public polytechnics on the strike, beginning from Wednesday.

    Dutse said, “The strike is starting on Wednesday and there is no going back. We expect total compliance in all our polytechnics. December 17 has been fixed for a meeting between the Federal Government’s team and us. The government gave us that date and when we get to the meeting, we will see what is on the table.”