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Tag: Varsities

  • 8 varsities to benefit from Education ministry, REA 24-hour electricity deal

    8 varsities to benefit from Education ministry, REA 24-hour electricity deal

    The Federal Ministry of Education has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme (EEP) to provide 24-hour electricity on campuses.

    The signing ceremony took place at the solar-powered mini-grid site of the University of Abuja, one of the beneficiaries of the transformative initiative.

    The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the transformative agenda through continued collaboration with the REA and institutional partners across the nation and beyond.

    A key highlight of the event was the signing of a collaboration agreement between the REA and eight new universities under Phase IV of the EEP.

    They include: University of Lagos (UNILAG); Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Federal University, Wukari; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Federal University, Dutse; University of Benin (UNIBEN), and the University of Ibadan (UI).

    Vice chancellors from the universities, except that of UNIBEB, were present at the event.

    Speaking at the event, Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, stated that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government remained fully committed to expanding human capital development through the provision of reliable and sustainable energy infrastructure in the education sector.

    The minister said one of the President’s top priorities is ensuring 24-hour electricity supply to all federal and state-owned tertiary institutions.

    Dr. Alausa announced that the Federal Government was constructing mini-grid systems, ranging from 1.1 to 12.5 megawatts across federal tertiary institutions.

    “To date, 24 institutions have benefited from Pphases I to III of the programme. In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the ministry, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), will support the construction of an additional four to six independent mini-grids, with capacities between two and 10 megawatts, in selected universities across the country,” he said.

    Also, Dr. Alausa has said 24 federal institutions have been powered by solar energy under the “Energising Education Project” of President Tinubu’s administration.

    The minister spoke yesterday in Abuja at the collaboration agreement signing ceremony with vice chancellors of beneficiary institutions, added that eight more universities have signed collaboration agreements to join the fourth phase of the project.

    He described the project as a “new day for Nigeria”.

    hailed the transformative initiative under the Tinubu administration, aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply to federal tertiary institutions.

    The minister said the projects had wide-reaching benefits for education and the economy.

  • Unpaid salaries: Blame FG if we shutdown varsities again – ASUU warns

    Unpaid salaries: Blame FG if we shutdown varsities again – ASUU warns

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday accused the Federal Government of victimising its members and tactically avoiding the payment of salaries to its members for up to 10 months.

    It warned that its members might be called out soon for another strike, if the government failed to address the union’s grievances.

    In a statement by the Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI) branch of the union, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, ASUU said despite suspending its strike on December 24, 2020, on the condition that its members would not be victimised for their role in the action, many lecturers were being owed salaries of between two and 10 months.

    ASUU said while members were back to their duty posts, the harsh economic situation the members were experiencing due to unpaid salaries and non-refund of deducted check-off dues would affect productivity.

    Akinwole said the government refused to remit deductions it made to the account of the union, which suggested that the government was planning to stifle ASUU.

    The union leader warned that members could be forced to withdraw their services again, if pushed to the wall.

    According to him, while government is paying outstanding five-month salaries for those on nominal role at a slow pace, over 100 UI academic workers are being owed salaries.

    He said: “On December 23, 2020, ASUU conditionally suspended (with effect from 12:01 am on Thursday, December 24, 2020) its nine-month-old strike, which it began in March 23, 2020, owing to the failure of the Federal Government to address the outstanding issues, as outlined in the collective bargaining agreements of 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2019 freely reached and signed between the government and ASUU.

    “The suspension of the strike was based on an agreement reached and a ‘Memorandum of Action’ signed in good faith between the government and the ASUU at a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. A common position agreed upon (and expected to be respected) by the government and ASUU was that ‘Nobody shall be victimised in any way whatsoever for his/her role in the process leading to the Memorandum of Action’.

    “The agreement reached on December 22, 2020 imposed some obligations on both the government and ASUU. On the part of ASUU, the union undertakes to go back to the classrooms, laboratories, workshops, workstations, among others, to do the best for the students and the country.

    “The government at both Federal and state is to sincerely fulfill its own part of the bargain, a major part which is the ‘No Victimisation’ clause. While ASUU as a union and its members as individuals in various branches have remained faithful to this agreement by returning to classes and performing their respective duties, the Federal Government, true to type, has reneged on its part.

    “Contrary to Federal Government’s affirmation of its commitment to pay all withheld salaries of ASUU members who have not enrolled into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information system (IPPIS), three months after the suspension of strike, thousands of ASUU members across various branch are still being owed salaries.”

    The union added: “Instead of deploying the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) software developed by ASUU, which has been adjudged effective for payment of salaries, some of our members who are still being denied their salaries and others are being coerced by agents of government to register on the repressive IPPIS for payment of salaries.

    “The ASUU and its members are made to suffer from all the aforementioned attacks by the Federal Government while the public expects our members, some of who now live on the charity of family members and colleagues for survival to use their personal resources to discharge their duties diligently in the universities.

    “These harsh conditions would have terrible consequences on public tertiary education in Nigeria and when push eventually comes to shove, as it definitely will in no distant future, the Nigerian public should accordingly blame the Federal Government for its insincerity. Blame the Federal Government of Nigeria if the universities are shut down again.”

  • BREAKING: Varsities will reopen in January – Ngige

    BREAKING: Varsities will reopen in January – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has said the Academic Activities in Nigeria Universities (ASUU) will resume back to work in January 2021.

    He says the negotiations between the ASUU and the Federal government had reached 98 percent, adding that it remains only two percent to be completed

    He spoke Monday in Alor, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, during the launch of Ngige free medical outreach at the Community’s Health Center.

    Ngige said, “We have met about 98 percent of the request of ASUU. Some 5 to 2 percent is what you can call promissory notes.

    “So, I am very hopeful that by midnight today, there are some works we are supposed to get on to do. They also have some work they are supposed to do on their own side with their people.

    “Tuesday, we will meet in the afternoon and we will compare notes. We will put everything on the table and compare. I believe that we might have come to the end of the strike when we meet tomorrow.

    “Well, it is a journey of a thousand miles which you will have to take one step first. Tomorrow, all things being equal, we will agree now to agree because we were disagreeing before.

    “We disagree to agree and agree to disagree formerly. But tomorrow, I hope we will agree to agree. Once we do that, schools will re – open in January,” the Minister said.

    Meanwhile, Ngige said the free medical outreach that was launched in Alor Monday, was equally extended to neighbouring communities like Abatete, Oraukwu, Ideani and Nnobi among others

    He said those with different ailments like hepatitis, eye problems among others should go and be treated free of charge, adding that about 15 medical Doctors in different fields would handle the cases at the Health Center.

  • JAMB relaxes ban on services to cover pre-2020 candidates

    JAMB relaxes ban on services to cover pre-2020 candidates

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has lifted the ban placed on some processes on its platforms to accommodate more requests from candidates who took the UTME prior to 2020.

    The Public Relations Officer of the exam board, Dr Fabian Benjamin disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen.

    He said the lift on the suspension, covering students who wrote the exam in previous years is to ensure that those who require corrections are able to do it.

    He explained that the move was necessitated by the need to prevent overcrowding at its Computer-Based Test Centres and other partner facilities, in line with extant COVID -19 protocols issued by relevant agencies.

    ‘‘However, it is to be noted that most of these operations are only available at JAMB offices nationwide. Furthermore, as the Board is desirous of sustaining compliance with COVID-19 protocols, it maintains that 2020 UTME candidates desirous of these services will only be attended to through the Appointment Booking Platform

    The exam body advised students requesting for admission letters, inter-university transfers, condonement of illegitimate admissions and other processes for previous years would be restored from Monday, 31st August, 2020.

    JAMB also urged all State offices to ensure that all clients comply with all existing COVID -19 protocols.

  • Okorocha inaugurates committee for commencement of six new varsities

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Wednesday inaugurated an implementation committee to midwife the speedy commencement of six new universities in the state.


    Okorocha charged the committee, headed by Prof. Chima Iwuchukwu, to pursue the collection of the letters of recognition from the National Universities Commission for the universities as soon as possible.


    The universities include the University of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Abor Mbaise and Ngor Okpala; University of Technology, Onuimo; Universiry of Creative Technology, Nkwerre; University of Medical Sciences, Ogboko; Marine University, Oguta and College of Health Technology.


    The governor expressed the hope that the universities would restore the “glory of the state as the first in the educational industry in the country.”


    He said that the universities would be jointly owned by the state government, organisations and entities partnering with it under the Public Private Partnership agreement.

    He further said that the state government would provide the infrastructure, while the partners would provide funding for the running of the universities.

    He said that the Imo State University, Owerri would continue to be tuition free.


    The governor, however, said that the new universities would be run by partnering organisation which, according to him, will be allowed to charge tuition fees.

    He also said that four new polytechnics have been established in the state to support the universities in providing tertiary education in the state.

    The polytechnics are Mbonu Ojike Polytechnic, Arondizuogu, Ahiara Polytechnic, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ehime Polytechnic, Ehime Mbano and Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Orlu.


    Okorocha lauded the state House of Assembly for providing the legislative backing for the establishment of the institutions.
    He said that modalities had been put in place for the sustenance of the current tuition-free education in the state after his exit.

  • FG working out modalities to phase out strike actions in Nigerian varsities – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government will evolve measures to curb incessant strikes and address grievances by staff of universities in the country.

    Buhari, represented by a Director with National Universities Commission, Dr Gidado Kuma, spoke on Saturday at the 23rd, 24th and 25th combined Convocation Ceremonies of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

    “I have noted with great concern the incessant strikes by teachers and other university workers, even though, most of the demands are germane but the repercussions have negative consequences.

    “Let me assure you that this administration will very soon come up with modalities of addressing your grievances without face-offs so that we attain stability and balance in the system.

    “The university is unable to conduct convocations as at when due for sets of students, this is not peculiar to your university but rather an underlying difficulty the system has found itself over the years,’’ the president said.

    He said that no nation would progress if its educational system was poor.

    Buhari said government was looking into the operations of agencies in the education sector to find solutions to the problems militating against their desired impact, especially in the university system.

    He said that the essence of creating a specialised university such as ATBU was to assist the country in training future scientists and launch it into the sphere of technological breakthroughs.

    Buhari challenged such institutions to surprise Nigerians at occasions such as convocation ceremonies by presenting new discoveries or inventions that would add value to the technology drive of the country.

    He said “nations across the globe are in stiff competition, we cannot lay back and take the back seat as simply consumers of other nations’ products but must come with our own products for others to buy.

    “Nations are in stiff competition to outwit one another in the area of offering quality knowledge and positive research and we must provide leadership in Africa in this regard.

    “Our agencies in charge of educational development must find a way of encouraging our youth to aspire learning in the country’s institutions but as well attract foreign students and researchers so that our global ranking of universities can soar,” Buhari said.

    He called on staff of the institution to re-invent the culture of leadership, followership and stewardship, adding that the students should imbibe the virtue of discipline and respect for their teachers and university authorities.

    He called on all state governments to support and encourage universities in their catchment areas.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, said that the institution was graduating 8,496 students.

    Ibrahim said the graduates included 480 diploma students, 5,637 for first degrees, 1,580 for postgraduate diplomas, 770 for masters’ degrees and 90 doctorates.

    He said 118 out of 5,637 first degree students obtained first class grades, 1,618 got second class upper division, 2.609 received second class lower division, 1,431 got third class and 61 had pass.

    The vice-chancellor said the College of Medical Science of the university opened with 41 students in 2016/2017 session while 47 students were admitted in 2017/2018 section.

    According to him, the institution has commenced the construction of additional three hostels in Gubi Campus and two in Yelwa Campus to ease the problem of accommodation for students.

    “We also constructed 250 capacity auditorium, 160 capacity studio and Yelwa Campus water scheme.

    “About 490 academic staff of the university were supported to acquire PhDs,” he said.

    The Chancellor of the institution, Dr Rufus Aladesanmi, commended both staff and students for exhibiting good behaviour.

    Aladesanmi, who is also Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, said “the report I have received from the management on you are quite encouraging.

    “Since my assumption of office, there has never been any cause at all for me to intervene in any matter that could have gotten out of hand,” he said.

    The chancellor commended the president for responding to numerous challenges of the institution in spite of the economic challenges in the country.

  • Stop establishing new varsities, Iwuanyanwu advises FG

    Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar, has advised the Federal Government to stop establishing more universities and enhance the standard of existing ones.

    Iwuanyanwu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Atta Ikeduru, Imo, on Tuesday.

    He said that instead of frequent approval of new universities, government should concentrate on improving standards in the existing ones to produce quality graduates.

    Iwuanyanwu said that the standard of education in Nigerian universities had dropped when compared with what obtained more than 40 years ago.

    ““During our days in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before the outbreak of the civil war, Nigerian universities were rated among the top universities in the world but the situation today is something else.

    “”Government must do something to change the university system, ‘’ he said.

    Iwuanyanwu said that the quality of education was central to the advancement of the nation, adding that emphasis must be placed on specialisation by universities for expected gains in the education sector.

    The elder statesman expressed support for the restructuring of the country with a view to tackling corruption, repositioning the local government administration and power sector.

    ““I must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage in embarking on anti-corruption fight.

    “”Buhari embarked on War Against Indiscipline as Head of State and now fighting corruption as a civilian president.

    ““All I want Buhari to do is to extend the anti-corruption fight to all sectors not at the level of leaders alone because a policeman collecting N50 from drivers on the road is involved in corruption.

    “ “The one giving gift to somebody in office is also involved,” he said.

    The pro-chancellor said that there must be ethical revolution in order to eliminate corruption for Nigeria to get things right.

    On the lingering petrol scarcity, Iwuanyanwu advised the Federal Government to construct refineries in all the 36 states as a way of ending the recurrent challenges associated with short supply of petroleum products.

     

  • ASUU strike: Varsities to get N220bn in 30 days

    Lecturers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, might soon call off their one month old strike after reaching a fresh agreement with the Federal Government on their demands.

    Top of the agreement reached at a 15-hour meeting that ended early yesterday in Abuja,is the immediate release,by government, of N220 billion to the universities to fund the revitalization of federal universities in the country.

    The sum is expected to be paid not later than next month.

    The money is to enable the institutions buy working tools needed for effective discharge of their responsibilities.

    Representatives of ASUU are scheduled to present details of the agreement to the National Executive Council of the union within the next one week for ratification, and possible calling off of the strike.

    Besides, government at the conciliatory meeting, coordinated by Labour and Employment Minister,Chris Ngige, agreed to commence the immediate payment of the salary shortfall to the lecturers.

    Ngige told reporters at the end of the meeting that government had also commenced the payment of the earned allowances of members of the union.

    He said the meeting also discussed how to set up the National Universities Pension Management Company as well as the issue of university staff schools and the Treasury Single Account.

    His words: “We also discussed the issue of university staff schools and treasury single account with a view to finding how the system could accommodate funds for research grants that need to be independent from the government. We also discussed the issue of how the Federal Government could be involved in the running of state universities.”

    He said the meeting agreed to set up a seven-man committee on the implementation of the proposals.

    The union and the federal ministry of education will each be represented by three persons on the committee, while government will be represented by one person who will serve as chairman .

    Continuing, Ngige said: ”There’s the fund for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earned Academic Allowances; the issue of University Staff Schools on which there is a court judgment; the issue of National Universities Pension Management Company; and the issue of salary shortfalls for lecturers and staff of universities. There is the issue of TSA exemption and the problems in the state universities. All are the issues that ASUU felt that government should address.

    “Most of these issues stemmed from the 2009 agreement that government had with ASUU and also from the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding that the government had with ASUU. Government is a continuum. Most of those issues were not issues that cropped up from the Buhari administration, we inherited them.

    “But be that as it may, we are to ready to address those issues.

    “But ASUU has to take back this our proposal to their organs, so we decided that there’s an agreement for government to make some funds available in September and October to show that they are not repudiating their agreement and to also show sign of good faith.

    “On the issue of Earned Academic Allowances, we have listened and payment has started in that direction and the same with staff schools. Government is though not appealing, we have agreed that the decision should be conveyed to the various universities.

    “The Issue of NUPENCO was addressed and ways have been fashioned out for the registration of that company. Salary shortfalls for lecturers and university staff were also addressed and government has shown their commitment and evidence that payments have started in order to liquidate the outstanding allowances.

    “The issue of TSA exemption was also discussed and an agreement or proposal was muted by which the Central Bank would open a special account.

    ”State universities which have been the concern for ASUU and everybody who has been looking for quality education in the country was also discussed and the Minister of Education was mandated to take the memo to the council of state and the Federal Executive Council.

    “Based on these discussions, ASUU leadership will consult with its organs and revert back to government within one week. They will consult with their organs with a view to calling off the strike. And we expect them that within one week, they will get back to government. These are the highlights of the meeting and I can tell you that the meeting took place in very cordial atmosphere.”

    Also speaking, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the proposals made by government were concrete, but said the ASUU team would take the offers back to their colleagues for consideration within the next one week, and the position of the members would be communicated to government.

    He said: “We have had useful deliberations and we had some concrete proposals that we will take back to our members as part of our consultations.

    “And like the Honourable Minister of Labour has said, we plan to come back here to take decisions as advised by our members.”

    Also at the marathon meeting were the President of the Nigeria Labour Comgress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that ASUU embarked on the strike on August 13, following government’s failure to implement the agreement reached with the union in November 2016.

  • JAMB defends 120 cut-off mark, says ‘Varsities free to admit with higher scores’

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended the pegging of 120 as minimum cut-off marks for university admission.

    The decision, which was reached at a stakeholders’ policy meeting in Abuja, has generated controversy with many universities rejecting the marks.

    JAMB’s Head of Information Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the board would not be deterred and would continue to support policies that would bring Nigeria’s education out of the woods.

    He explained that previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.

    Dr. Benjamin said most universities failed to fill their admission quota in the last 10 years.

    The statement reads: “The much trending controversy over the just released cut off marks for 2017 admission exercise by stakeholders at the policy meeting is quite unnecessary.

    “All Heads of tertiary institutions were requested to submit their cut off benchmark to the board which will then be used for the admission. And these benchmarks once determined cannot be changed in the middle of admission exercise.

    “Again, it is necessary to explain that the 120 mark does not in any way suggest that once you have 120 then admission is sure for you. Institutions will admit from the top to the least mark.

    “We are now starting the actually monitoring of adherence to admissions guide lines, cut off marks inclusive. The cut off marks being branded by the public as previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.

    “The board will equally ensure that it correct all anomalies existing, especially as regards the powers of institutions to make pronouncements on admissions and other related matters affecting the institutions.”

    According to him, institutions in the past went behind to admit candidates with less cut-off marks, while also accusing some institutions of admitting candidates without JAMB results.

    “Institutions were going behind to admit candidates with far less with others admitting candidates who never sat for JAMB. This act to say the least is very distasteful and damaging to our national data and identity.

    “Unfortunately, the public has been kept away from this fact for such a long time and now that we are saying it the way it is and working to address it, the public is criticising us using non existing parameters that were only announced and not followed.

    “In years past, admissions were done with worst cut off marks. We are determined and ready to correct all these with the 2017 exercise. The Board has designed a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to check back door admission and other unwholesome practices associated with admission.

    “We are sure that the system will bring out the good in us as it will also make provision for candidates to track their admission. This empowers them to raise queries if a candidate they have better scores and other prerequisites are admitted which CAPS will not allow anyway. This is the inclusiveness and transparency that education needs,” he added.

     

  • Buhari warns varsities against unethical practices

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday warned that any university management involved in unethical practices would face the full wrath of the law.

    Buhari, who was the Visitor at the sixth convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, said universities would henceforth prepare quarterly financial reports.

    Represented by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Buhari said his administration was anchored on ensuring security of lives and property, fighting corruption and improving the economy.

    “As we move to address the existing needs of our universities, we demand that the leadership of these institutions reciprocate government’s gesture by untilising their funds with utmost integrity and probity.

    “Any university council or management found wanting in relation to financial mismanagement or gross moral and ethical violations will be made to face the full wrath of law.

    “I have directed the Minister of Education to demand quarterly reports from all universities, detailing their major financial and administrative activities.

    “A template for such report will soon be circulated to the universities by the Federal Ministry of Education through the NUC,’’ he said.

    Buhari asked NOUN to continue to lead and chart new directions in distance learning education through maximum use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    According to him, NOUN should through effective use of ICT, research, instructional materials and other training aids, produce globally competitive graduates.

    He congratulated NOUN’s governing council, management, staff and students on the institution’s sixth convocation.

    In his address, Prof. Abdalla Adamu, NOUN’s Vice-Chancellor, said that 12,125 graduating students, across all disciplines, would be conferred with honours.

    He said that out of the number, 31 bagged first class degrees.

    According to him, NOUN is keying into the global trend in digital learning.

    “To improve our web rankings and raise the profile of our academic staff, NOUN has created a ‘NOUN Academics Online’ module where each of our academic staff is showcased to attract national and international collaborations in teaching and research.

    “Noting the trend in technology usage among our students and predilection towards smart phone and tablet devices, NOUN has started negotiations with key technology partners to migrate our study materials into ePub electronic format.

    “That will make our materials easier, friendlier and more interactively accessible on smartphone and tablet,’’ he said.

    He regretted that the Council for Legal Education (CLE) had consistently denied NOUN’s law graduates admission into law school due to wrong perception.

    Adamu, however, said that the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund recently held a public hearing on NOUN Amendment Bill, which when passed into law, would address all outstanding issues.

    The vice-chancellor said that NOUN had outpaced other Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions in Africa in the Open Education Resources initiative.

    In his remarks, NOUN’s Chancellor, Lawrence Agubuzu, said that the yearly convocation was a testimony that NOUN was pursuing its mandate vigorously.

    He urged the new graduates to exhibit worthy qualities wherever they find themselves in the service of their fatherland.