The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Academic Staff Union of Universities

  • Senate to ASUU: Go back to class

    Senate to ASUU: Go back to class

    The Senate on Wednesday appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU), to  call off its nationwide industrial action in the interest of the country.

    The indefinite strike action embarked upon by ASUU members entered its 4th day on Thursday.

    The upper legislative chamber described the strike by the University teachers as a surprise to it having intervened earlier in the year when ASUU embarked on warning strike.

    It said that its intervention facilitated renegotiation of some outstanding issues between ASUU and the Federal government on the implementation of the 2009 agreement.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Jubrin Barau who made the plea at media briefing in Abuja said ASUU needed to call off the strike for renegotiation proper to commence between it and the Federal Government.

    Barau noted that the industrial action should not have been the first option by the university teachers since the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly, has shown tremendous concern to the resolution of the disagreement between ASUU and the Federal Government.

    He said, “This strike action by ASUU is as a result of not having confidence in  the committee set up by the federal government to renegotiate the 2009 agreement. But we in the Senate are surprised that ASUU did not report back to us on problems being encountered with the executive on the agreement before embarking on the strike.

    “The committee therefore calls on ASUU to reconsider its position, shelve the strike action and return for renegotiation with the federal government on the said agreement. “

    Barau said that the committee and its counterpart in the House of Representatives will monitor the renegotiation by ensuring that the needful was done for ASUU and the universities by the federal government.

    He said that ASUU should go back to class while renegotiation of the 2009 agreements continues.

     On the rush for acquisition of university education abroad by children of the rich said that the trend cannot be outlawed.

    He noted that no matter how detrimental the trend might be to the growth of universities in the country, it would difficult to outlaw it.

     He insisted that outlawing going outside the country for university education would amount to turning Nigeria to an Island unto itself.

    He said, “Outlawing such a practice has never been done in any part of the world, meaning that no matter how detrimental it may be to our own university system or standard, it has to continue and be embraced by those who can afford it.

    ” What the Senate and by extension, the National Assembly can do and in fact have been doing, is to continue collaborating with the executive and in particular, relevant bodies regulating  our education sector, to put it in proper shape as a way of making our universities more attractive to Nigerians at home and even those abroad.”

  • Return to negotiation table, ASUU tells Gov Bello

    Return to negotiation table, ASUU tells Gov Bello

    • Says arrogance does not resolve crises

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) wants the governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello to return to the negotiating table to resolve the crisis between the state government and striking lecturers of the state owned University, saying thuggery, arrogance and gangsterism have never been used resolve crises.

    The union also wants the governor to take a cue from his colleagues in Benue, Nasarawa and Niger states who have through dialogue constructively engaged ASUU and are forging ahead with peace, progress and development of their various universities.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the Coordinator of the Abuja zone of the union, Dr. T.D Legi called on well meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers and religious leaders to prevail on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state to allow the voice of reason to dictate to him what to do in the face off with academic staff o the state owned university, reminding him that he lacked the legal power to proscribe the union.

    The union reminded the governor that international convention on the right to freedom of association and to freely form and belong to trade union has been domesticated by the Nigerian constitution, pointing out that his action prescribing the Kogi State University chapter of the union was a clear violation of his oath of office.

    He said the governor lied when he told the world that he has paid 90 percent of the salaries of the lecturers, adding that it was unfortunate that the office of the governor could embark on telling lies on such matters.

    Legi said the situation in the institution has become worse since the assumption of office of the current governor, pointing out that the majority of the facilities in the institution were provided either by TETFund or through the NEEDS Assessment which the same union he wants to decapitate fought for.

    He said “the concern and seeming burden of the Kogi state government is only the recurrent expenditure since the university authority is relying fully on intervention fund from TETFund an NEEDS Assessment for capital grants. Rather than being alive to its duties and responsibilities, the state government has starved the university of funds and in fact to the extent that the university is notorious for irregular payment of salaries. Allowances and other entitlements to its employees. 

    “This situation became exacerbated during the tenure of the delinquent, youthful and accidental governor of the state, Yahaya Bello who, in the pretext of staff verification denied academic staff of the university their salaries and other entitlement. This action of the governor has completely thrown the university into the darkness it is currently witnessing.

    “The government of Kogi state claimed it has paid all outstanding salaries of staff of the university, whether cleared or uncleared in questionable staff verification exercise. That claim is far from the truth. Some employees of the university have not been paid salaries for over a year and these people are humans with defendants to cater for. If is, therefore, demeaning for the office of the governor to make statements that are not factual, intended to mislead the unsuspecting public.

    “In a display of crass ignorance, Yahaya Bello through youth youthful exuberance made a proclamation recently about purported proscription of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Kogi state branch. 

    “Let it be known that Academic staff of KSU have the right to associate and form unions. This right is clearly enshrined in the International Labour Convention on freedom of association and the protection of right to organize, which has been duly ratified by Nigeria.”

    He said further that in ILO convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of the right to organise, it is clearly stated that workers shall have the right to organise and form trade unions, a provison which has been ratified and domesticated by the 1999 Constitution.

    Lagi lamented that Yahaya Bello swore on his honour to uphold and defend the Constitution, but unfortunately, his action with respect to the Academic Staff in Kogi state university, he is in clear violation of the Constitution.

    He said “ASUU is an Organisation of intellectuals and would not want to bring itself low to the level of childishness that the governor of Kogi state is exhibiting on a daily basis. ASUU as a responsible union which believes in respect for the rule of law and orderliness hereby calls on well meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers, religious leaders to prevail on Yahaya Bello to allow the voice of reason to dictate for him and do the needful.

    “Yahaya Bello should be told that thuggery, arrogance and gangsterism have never and can never resolve crises, rather dialogue had and still remain the only potent way to go about this. 

    “He should be told to learn from the governors of Benue, Nasarawa and Niger states who have through dialogue constructively engaged ASUU and are forging ahead with peace, progress and development of their various universities.”

  • ‘I’m ready to take bullet for KSU students’

    The last may not have been heard about the recent proscription of activities of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba. Governor Yahaya Bello said it was a tough decision, but it came as an option of the last resort in order for his administration to find a lasting solution to the incessant  closure of the school.

    The governor made this known during the flag-off of the ultra-modern GYB Primary School Project in Lokoja, the state capital.

    Bello said he banned ASUU in the school to prevent a situation where the students would become victims of disagreements between the government and lecturers. He added that his decision was to give the youth and children in the state a better future. He said: “Despite the fact that several commentators have expressed discordant views on the matter, I stick to the ban of ASUU. And I am ready to take bullet for the students and indeed the entire people of the state, if it gets to that.”

    He said his administration had continued to make necessary financial sacrifices towards ensuring that the state’s tertiary education was stabilised.

    Bello stressed the need for a law on perennial struggles between what he described as “the might of unions in institutions” and “the rights of owners and the fate of beneficiaries”.

    He wondered whether there was no provision in law to adjudicate on matters concerning unions in tertiary institutions whenever they go on strike due to genuine constraints of government in meeting all their demands.

    Bello reminded those aggrieved by his government’s decision to proscribe ASUU in KSU that they had rights to approach the court and allow the judiciary to provide answers to the questions agitating their minds.

  • NAN retracts story, suspends three editorial staff

    NAN retracts story, suspends three editorial staff

    The management of the News Agency of Nigeria has retracted a story published 26 June on alleged increase in school fees in Federal, state and private universities.

    The story, titled: “38 Nigerian Universities increase tuition fees – ASUU“, was credited to Dr Deji Omole, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan Chapter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has carried out checks on the story and discovered that standard editorial procedures were not followed to verify its authenticity.

    The alleged press statement was found to have been mailed to a staff of the Agency who passed it on for publication. The statement was utterly false.

    The story was also inadvertently transmitted by NAN after failing integrity tests.

    Three senior editorial staff involved in the processing of the story have been suspended without pay by management, to serve as a warning that the agency will not tolerate breaches of its editorial integrity.

    “This is to assure our numerous clients that NAN will continue to maintain its policy of credibility, fairness, justice and not compromise its professional ethics,’’ management said today.

    NAN Management will send a letter of apology to Dr Omole.

    NAN Management regretted the story and has apologised to its subscribers. It has also enjoined subscribers to trash the story from their websites

  • Teachers kick as Kogi varsity bans ASUU

    Teachers kick as Kogi varsity bans ASUU

    The Kogi State University (KSU) has re-opened, five months after it was shut when workers went on an indefinite strike. The resumption followed a peace deal initiated by Governor Yahaya Bello. But, the agreement is being threatened by the proscription of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). MOHAMMED YABAGI reports.

    The Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, has been re-opened, five months after it was shut when workers went on an indefinite strike.

    The resumption followed a peace meeting held on the campus, at the instance of Governor Yahaya Bello.

    But, the agreement is being threatened by last week’s proscription  of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).  Lecturers said they might not return to work, if the school did not unban the union’s within two weeks.

    The school was a beehive penultimate week following the visit of Bello, who met with members of ASUU, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and students.

    The visit was not without drama. The meeting, earlier scheduled to hold on July 10, was cancelled because of what a source called “an unfavourable security report”. The meeting was deferred till July 11.

    On sighting the governor’s entourage moving towards the campus, students trooped out to welcome him. They trailed the governor’s convoy from the school entrance to the Professor Idachaba Lecture Theatre, venue of the meeting.

    As the stakeholders settled down for business, Bello said the meeting was to seek an end to the strike. But he rejected the kolanut offered by the workers as a symbol of peace.

    He told his hosts: “I know kolanut symbolises peace, but what is the essence of offering and eating it, if we cannot arrive at a compromise that would bring amicable solution and allow the students return to their classes?”

    The governor said it was no longer realistic for the government to continue paying the workers’ salaries when the payment voucher was over-bloated. This, he said, necessitated the extension of the staff screening and verification to the state-owned tertiary institutions. He appealed with the workers to consider the students’ plight and end the strike.

    Bello said he would no longer fire workers employed between 2015 and last year, promising to pay them, and lecturers on sabbatical.

    The Auditor-General, Yusuf Okala, who chaired the staff screening and verification, gave the  university’s staff strength before and after the exercise.

    According to Okala, the university had 1,744 workers before the screening started last year; 1,193 staff were cleared and had received their full salaries. Okala said 337 workers were found wanting, out of which 161 were given clemency by the government. He said that 63 workers had no records, adding that six were found to have been collecting salary from double sources.

    Okala said institution’s wage bill as at January, last year, was N194.3 million monthly or N2.3 billion yearly.

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders went on their knees and begged the governor to prevail on the  workers to end their strike. Replying, Bello said ASUU would not go on strike again under his watch.

    After a July 13 congress, ASUU said its strike would continue. However, the students were disappointed when ASUU announced that the strike would continue.

    Its action drew the students’ ire. Many abused the teachers, describing them as selfish.

    ASUU Chairman Dr. Gbenga Aina told our reporter that the matter was being handled by the union’s zonal leadership. The university chapter of ASUU, he said, could not decide to call off the strike. He said experiences had taught the lecturers not to trust the government.

    In a memo signed by the Registrar, Dr Idu Abubakar, the management ordered lecturers back to work. It directed the Provost of College of Health Sciences and deans of faculties to open an attendance register to ensure compliance.

    But, ASUU said its members would not resume “fully”, if the school did not unban the union.

    The memo proscribing the union reads: “All members of academic staff are advised to note that they will be treated based on their individual terms and conditions of employment. Any member of staff that fails to resume …’’

  • Ortom promises to upgrade schools

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has promised to provide more structures at the State’s Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Makurdi, as part of his administration’s plans toward making the institutions degree awarding.

    Ortom made the disclosure on Tuesday in Makurdi while receiving the principals, staff and students of the two schools at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

    He added that the government would provide more facilities and improve the landscaping in the schools.

    Ortom said the schools were strategic to the state’s quest for improved healthcare services, adding that degree holders from the institution would easily be absorbed into the public and private health institutions.

    The governor called on the members of the c (ASUU), Benue State University (BSU) Chapter, to call off their strike.
    He said that the state government was making efforts to resolve issues concerning their unpaid allowances.
    Ortom appealed to the lecturers to consider the difficult economic condition in the country, saying no sacrifice would be too small.
    He said it was because of the importance attached to the university that salaries were paid regularly to staff.
    Earlier, the principals of the Schools, Mrs Pauline Atser of Nursing and Mrs Margaret Onuh of Midwifery, told Ortom that the visit was to show appreciation for government’s efforts in ensuring the reaccreditation of the two schools.
    They also expressed appreciation to the governor for giving approval for the recruitment of staff, noting that his promise to upgrade the institution to degree awarding status had boosted their morale.

     

  • Kogi varsity students protest lecturers’ strike

    Kogi varsity students protest lecturers’ strike

    Students of Kogi state university, Anyigba trooped out to the streets Monday morning protesting their unnecessary stay at home due to the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the 27th of February this year.

    The students came out in large numbers displaying placards and screaming “we want to resume.”

     

  • KUST: ASUU rejects planned fees increase for students

    The Kano State University of Science and Technology chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected plan by the university to raise registration fees for undergraduate students.

    ASUU in a statement jointly signed by its branch Chairman and Secretary, Abdulkadir Muhammad and Kashmir Ibn Yakubu, said the increase was ill timed and unacceptable.

    The statement, issued to newsmen in Kano on Friday, noted that the institution plan to raise the fees for indigenes from N22, 000 to N50, 800, and N45,500 to N86, 000 for non indigenes.

    “The emergency Congress of our union held on Thursday, March 9, 2017 rejected the planned hike in fees based on a number of reasons:

    “The proposed hike is ill-timed in view of the current economic recession the country is facing.

    “It also negates one of the cardinal objectives of establishing the university, which is to avail indigent students access education,” the union said.

    The statement added that the decision also contravened Article 1 of the Kampala Declaration on Fundamental Human Rights and Freedom, which said every person has the right to education and participation in intellectual activity.

    “It is also in contravention of the Lima Declaration which states that every person has the right to education, and states should make available an adequate proportion of its national income to ensure practice and the full realisation of the right to education,” it added.

    According to the union, it is the responsibility of Kano state government to fully fund the university.

    The union further accused the university of not following due procedures and guidelines with regard to the fees increment.

    It therefore called on the state government, civil societies, parents and the public to call the authorities of the university to order, to avert breakdown of industrial peace.

     

  • All set for varsity games

    All set for varsity games

    The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has announced the date for the Nigerian Universities Games (NUGA) which it is hosting. The sporting event will hold next month. DHIKRU AKINOLA (400-Level Political Science) writes on the preparations so far.

    Barring any last-minute changes, the 24th edition of the Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) to be hosted by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, will begin next month.

    Last Thursday, officials of the university unveiled the logo for the sporting event at the conference room of the OAU Guest House in Ikeja, Lagos. The starting and closing dates of the event were also chosen at the event, which was attended by former Nigerian international Mutiu Adepoju and ex-Super Falcon goalkeeper Ann Chiejine.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, spoke of the institution’s readiness to host the “best-ever NUGA,” despite the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The partial suspension of academic activities for the sporting fiesta by the hosting institution underscores the importance of NUGA’s platform to the discovery of talents and promotion of unity.

    Over 60 universities across the country participate in the annual sport festival, which has been an avenue through which youths are engaged to tackle poverty and insecurity.

    Omole said all the events of the games would take place in the university, stressing that the facilities would be ready before the games begins. He commended the Federal Government for releasing the funds for the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool for the event.

    The games were billed to take place last December but it was postponed because of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the university. In January, the university’s NUGA committees began preparation for the event.

    Recently, our correspondent was conducted round the game facilities by NUGA committee chairman, Prof Bolaji Oluseye, OAU Sports Council chairman, Prof Godwin Isichei and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, to show the readiness of the university to host the games.

    Our correspondent saw the ongoing construction of spectators’ seats for the swimming pool. The construction work was being carried out by an Italian firm. One of the engineers, identified as Alexandra, was seen working on the track lane.

    Prof Oluseye said the track lane would take weeks for completion. He observed that the pool must have, at least, an eight-lane track, adding that the facility could be used to train world-class swimmers in the country.

    The don boasted that the university would cart away all the gold medals in the games given the facilities put in place by the management to train OAU participants.

    Assuring on security of participants and logistics, Oluseye said there were 12 committees to manage the hosting of the event, adding that each committee was working round the clock to ensure a hitch-free fiesta.

    The only game new to OAU team is swimming, Prof Isichei said, adding: “We are going to train our students on this before the event starts and we hope to win some medals in it.”

    He said the OAU team had won gold medals in hockey and cricket, stressing that the institution would repeat the feat in the games.

    On sponsorship, Prof Oluyemi said the institution had partnered with some corporate bodies but added that “our door is still open” to other firms that may want to partner with the school. He noted that accommodation would be provided for participants from other institutions on campus and some selected off-campus halls of residence.

    The Chief Security Officer of the university, Mr Paul Ogidi, confirmed that latest security gadgets had been procured to forestall security breaches during the event. He noted that the management had made efforts to equip the fire service unit to combat any untoward incident.

    Also, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that officers of the police, State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Command (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigerian Red Cross would be on ground to support the school’s security personnel.

    Adepoju, who was named NUGA ambassador, observed that it was necessary to identify with the game, which he said could produce a generation of educated sportsmen in the country. He urged the Federal Government and corporate bodies to support the fiesta to fight youth restiveness.

    Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said they were looking forward to the games. Kehinde Adefolayemi, 400-Level Economics, said: “I am hoping that the local economy will be boosted by the event.”

    Tayo Ibrahim, an Urban and Regional Planning student, observed that the sporting festival would afford OAU students the opportunity to rob minds with their counterparts from other institutions. “I have the expectation to feel the spirit of oneness during the period, because this is our own Olympic games and I want to experience it. I am anxiously expecting the commencement of the game,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Hemmed in by flood

    An early morning downpour last Sunday threw residents of Abraka, the host-community of Delta State University (DELSU), into panic over the state of Ekrejeta Road, which is close to the institution. Whenever it rains, the road is flooded, making it impassable. PHILIP OKORODUDU (500-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering) and ESE OKODUWA (200-Level Home Economics) report.

     

    The rainy season is not the best of times for students of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka. Whenever it rains, some parts of Abraka, their host-community, are flooded, paralysing movement and commercial activities.

    The Ekrejeta Road that leads to the campus is always bubbling with life in the dry season, but when it rains, it is a no-go area. Even a light shower gets the road flooded.

    Almost all banks have their branches on the road.

    Motorists are going through pains plying the road– no thanks to the rain. After a downpour last Sunday, it was flooded, slowing down vehicular movement.

    Last Monday, pedestrians were stranded while some businesses on the road closed because of flood.

    The flood is caused by lack of drainage. Some traders lamented the development, saying their agonies may be compounded if the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) calls off its srike.

    The federal road was constructed in the 1970s to link Sapele and Agbor. A new road has since been built, with the Ekrejeta road now serving Abraka.

    Over the years, the road has become the commercial nerve centre of Abraka but it has been neglected by successive governments.

    To protect their premises from the flood, banks built concrete structures at the edge of the road. Store owners also protected their businesses from the flood. They filled many cement sacks with red sand and placed them as barriers against the flood.

    This measure has compounded the woes of motorists and commercial tricycle riders.

    There are insinuations that the banks on the road gave money to the community to construct a drainage last year but the community leaders failed to pick a contractor for the job.

    A chief in the community, Edwin Emudainohwo, who is a retired teacher, dismissed the rumour, saying no money was given to the community by anyone to provide drainage on the road.

    He said: “We approached all the banks to help solve the problem but they told us that they are not the owners of the banks. They promised to consult with their top management team. They came later to tell us to calculate the cost of constructing a drainage in the area. After we did, nothing has come from them.”

    On what the community is doing to address the problem, Emudainohwo said the people had been meeting to find a lasting solution to it.

    He said it was neither the duty of the community nor the banks’ to construct drainage, adding: “Why should the local government not carry out its statutory responsibility of meeting the needs of tax payers?”

    A member of the staff of one of the banks, who pleaded for anonymity, said some managements did their best to pool resources to tackle the flood- prone road but added that others did not co-operate. The banker quoted one of the managers as saying: “Each bank should go and protect its premises because taxes are paid to the state.”

    The official debunked the insulation that the banks gave money to the community.

    A cyber café owner on the road, Mr Kevwe Ogbe, lamented the situation, urging the Federal Government to do something before the problem got out of hand.

    A trader, who simply identified herself as Mrs Esther, said: “The government should please come to our aid. We don’t want malaria to kill us because of the stagnant water. The flood is affecting our business because our customers cannot gain access.”

    Judith Uduh, 200-Level Technical Education, whose hostel is located on the road, said academic activities could be disrupted if the condition became worse. She urged the government to construct drainage that would channel the water directly to River Ethiope.

    An applicant, Victor Omonigho, who came to write the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation (UTME), said his mobile phone fell into the water as he tried to flag down a commercial vehicle. “I lost all my telephone contacts after my phone fell into the flood water,” he said.