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Tag: ASUU

  • ASUU protest ex-OAU VC’s detention

    ASUU protest ex-OAU VC’s detention

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, chapter, on Monday protested the detention of the former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.)

    The ASUU demanded immediate release of Elujoba and the bursar, Mrs. Josephine Akeredolu, who have been in EFCC custody since last Friday when they were arraigned before an Osun State High Court, Ede.

    The ASUU members, who carried placards with various inscriptions including “Free Elujoba now and prosecute real thieves,” were singing solidarity songs and protesting round the OAU campus.

    Elujoba and Akeredolu were docked for alleged involvement in corrupt practices and financial improprieties.

    Addressing journalists, the chairman of the ASUU OAU Caretaker Committee, Dr. ‘Niyi Sunmonu, said they believed that Elujoba did not commit any financial crime, adding that he was only being unjustly victimized, humiliated and incarcerated.

    He said: “Prof. Anthony Elujoba brought unprecedented peace and stability to OAU during his less than one year tenure. As the acting VC, he has Godly, fair, just, honest and transparent qualities which silenced the enemies of progress in OAU. He addressed the welfare of workers and students with vigour, resulting in an unprecedented number of staff promotions and restoration of peaceful students’ union.

    “Following agitation of workers for payment of their legitimate allowances and the discovery of a floating huge sum of university’s fund illegally kept away from the Treasury Single Account. Prof. Elujoba approved the payment of N300,000 and N150,000 to each senior and junior member of staff, respectively.

    “This payment and his other financial actions were subsequently given covering approval by the Governing Council as empowered. Similarly payment (N450,000 and N150,000 respectively) was made to workers during the tenure of Prof. Elujoba. The man did not embezzle or mismanage any university fund.

    “In an attempt to sanitize the system and address vital and critical issues affecting the university. Prof. Elujoba set up 37-specific fact-finding Task Forces. Most of these task forces had submitted their reports and White Papers through the university Senate to the Governing Council.”

  • ASUU denies issuing statement on hike in varsities’ fees

    The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, has called for investigation into an alleged false and damaging report on hike in universities’ fees.

    Omole, while expressing dismay over the report attributed to him, denied issuing any statement to any media house on increment of fees in 38 universities.

    The union chief described the report, which originated fromthe News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as mischievous.

    Omolesaid he was never in Abuja and did not speak with any medium nor issue any statement concerning fees hike in universities.

    He said ASUU is a well-coordinated union and places factual data in public domain in an incontrovertible manner.

    The union chief called on Director-General of NAN, which was quoted by national dailies as the source of the news, to investigate the matter.

    Omole, who noted that he was shocked when people called him over the news item, noted that ASUU as a responsible pro-public education and masses union must not be linked to independent investigations conducted on education to make it authentic.

    He stated that his comments on the second year anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari was clear on poor funding and inadequate budgetary provisions for public education.

    Omole maintained that both Federal and state governments continue to play politics with the lives of the children of the masses by planning to deny them quality education.

    “I need to place it on record that I was never in Abuja nor issued any press release to NAN or any other news medium in Abuja as falsely presented to the public.

    “Therefore, I do not know the sources of the figures quoted in the report. ASUU is a well-coordinated union, who will carry out incontrovertible research and present this to the public.

    “It is the duty of journalists to carry out investigation and if you have done that, why can’t you state that to the public? Why must you link it to ASUU that never spoke to you?

    “Is it because NAN is a federal institution and does not want government to sanction them for stating the obvious? This is bad journalism practice. For me, my position remains that the government has not lived up to the electioneering campaigns of funding public education. We shall continue to fight for the funding of public education and resist any attempt to deny children of the poor masses public education,” he stated.

     

    ‘ABUAD has not increased school fees’

    The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has condemned the publication in some national newspapers on hike in universities’ fees.

    The said publication listed ABUAD among 38 Nigerian universities that recently increased their school fees.

    In a statement yesterday, the university’s Head, Corporate Affairs Tunde Olofintila, said: “We want to say in clear, unambiguous and unmistakable terms that the information, which was attributed to the Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Deji Omole, is absolute falsehood with intent to misinform and mislead the public and deliberately distort the facts and circumstances surrounding our fees regime in ABUAD.

    “No increase in fees in any programme in ABUAD:

    We would like to say very equivocally and unambiguously that very much to the contrary of this spurious and speculative claim and for the records, we have not increased our tuition fees. For the avoidance of doubt, we have not in any way increased the tuition fees from N675,000 to N1,075,000 as claimed in the publication or at all.

    “We make bold to say that our fees have remained the same in the last two years, the biting economic recession the country is wading through notwithstanding. To ensure that we continue to provide quality and functional education, we have been subsidising the education of our students with part of our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and additional funding by our Founder and Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, OFR, CON, SAN and this will continue to be the case.

    “We take a serious objection to the opening paragraph of the said publication which said: ‘Thirty eight universities across the country have increased their tuition as a result of poor funding by the Federal and state governments’.

    “Ours is not a Federal Government owned university, but a Federal Government licensed non-profit private university, which does not enjoy any form of funding either from the Federal or state government. It is the peak of mischief for anyone or body to claim that we have increased our tuition fees because of poor funding by government.

    “We are, therefore, demanding for a retraction of this obviously offensive, misleading and malicious publication.”

  • ASUU seeks Tinubu’s, others’ intervention in LAUTECH crisis

    ASUU seeks Tinubu’s, others’ intervention in LAUTECH crisis

    •Oyo, Osun assemblies to meet Friday

    The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso branch of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) yesterday urged the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the vice chancellor and members of Governing Board to resolve the crisis rocking the institution.

    The union sought the intervention of the National Leader of the All Progressives Party (APC) in the university.

    It said the frontline politician has the clout end the lingering crisis.

    LAUTECH’s ASUU Chairman, Dr. Abiodun Olaniran, spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the Southwest Group of Online Publishers media chat.

    He said: “We are not comfortable with Asiwaju Tinubu’s silence on the matter. He has a significant role to play. We want him to quickly intervene and bring an end to the lingering crisis.”

    Olaniran said the governing council and management of the university had not said anything on the face-off.

    The union leader, who was accompanied by ASUU Secretary at the university, Dr Toyi Abegunrin, said this was suspicious.

    He said the university’s internally generated revenue (IGR) was not enough to sustain the institution.

    Olaniran said: “As we speak, LAUTECH can no longer pay for utility services. The institution has been in darkness for some weeks because it owes the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and others.”

    The union leader urged stakeholders to prevail on the owner-states to implement the recommendations of Wole Olanipekun-led committee’s report.

    According to him, part of the report advocates immediate payment of N1.7 billion for the institution by September and stretch other payments so that the institution can reopen.

    Olaniran noted that ASUU was not against forensic auditing of the university’s books, as being peddled in some quarters.

    He added: “ASUU is known for probity and accountability. We support the exercise, but what we are saying is that it must be done according to the edicts of the university.”

    Also, the Oyo State House of Assembly and its Osun State counterpart have agreed to meet and resolve the crisis at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that the two assemblies have agreed to meet at the Oyo State House of Assembly in Ibadan on Friday.

     

     

     

     

  • 38 varsities hike fees: UNILAG from N14,500 to N63,500

    38 varsities hike fees: UNILAG from N14,500 to N63,500

    At least 38 universities across the country have increased their tuition fees due to poor funding by federal and state governments.

    The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    The statement which assessed the two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, lamented that the government had made Nigerians poorer.

    Omole said the public education was not taken seriously because “children of the rich and those in high offices” do not attend school in Nigeria.

    The latest increment might be attributed to poor funding by the federal and state governments as ASUU poorly rated the President Muhammadu Buhari in the area of funding of university education.

    ASUU also noted that it would be difficult for any Nigeria university to compete globally due to inadequate budgetary allocation to the educational sector.

    Findings revealed that students of University of Lagos (UNILAG) who were paying N14, 500 would now pay N63, 500 as tuition fees.

    Other institutions that increased their fees included the Ahmadu Bello University ( N27, 000 to N41, 00), University of Nigeria (N60, 450 to N66, 950) and Obafemi Awolowo University ( N19, 700 to N55,700).

    Others are – Nnamdi Azikiwe University ( N20, 100 to N65,920), Bayero University, Kano, (N26,000 to N40,000), University of Abuja (N39,300 to N42,300) and Usman Danfodiyo University ( N32,000 to N41,000).

     

  • 38 Nigerian varsities increase fees, says ASUU

    38 Nigerian varsities increase fees, says ASUU

    Thirty-eight universities have increased their tuition fees, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Deji Omole, has said.

    In a statement yesterday, Omole said public education was not taken seriously because most children of the rich and those in high offices do not attend school in Nigeria.

    He said: “The latest increment might be attributed to poor funding by the Federal and state governments as ASUU poorly rated the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in the area of funding of university education.

    ASUU also noted that it would be difficult for any Nigerian university to effectively compete globally with the inadequate allocation of budgetary funding, as prescribed by the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) to fund education.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that University of Lagos (UNILAG) students, who were paying N14,500 would pay N63,500 as tuition fees.

    Other institutions which increased their fees are: Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), from N27,000 to N41,000; University of Nigeria (UNN), from N60,450 to N66,950; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), from N19,700 to N55,700.

    Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), from N20, 100 to N65,920; Bayero University, Kano, from N26,000 to N40,000; University of Abuja, from N39,300 to N42,300 and Usman Danfodiyo University, from N32,000 to N41,000.

    National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), from N36,000 to N41,000; University of Benin (UNIBEN), from N12, 000 to N49,500; University of Ilorin, from N16, 000 to N75,000 and Federal University of Technology, Akura (FUTA), from N13, 560 to N83,940.

    Also in the list are: Federal University, Minna (FUTMINNA), from N20,000 to N37,000; University of Calabar, from N30,500 to N42,750 and University of Uyo, from N71, 000 to N84, 250.

    Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, from N16,000 to N40,000; Osun varsity, from N95,000 to N135,500; Anambra State University, from N76,000 to N139, 000 and Lagos State University, from N96,750 to N158,250.

    Ibrahim Badamosi Babangiga (IBB) University at Lapai, from N25,000 to N52,000; Imo State University, from N120,000 to N150,000; Plateau State University, from N50,000 to N100,000 and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, from N57,000 to N75,000.

    Others are: Ibadan Polytechnic, from N30,000 to N50,000; Abia Polytechnic, from N56,550 to N61,000; Auchi Polytechnic, from N14,800 to N28,000 and Ondo State University of Science and Technology at Okitipupa, from N70,000 to N80,000.

    Enugu State University of Science and Technology, N104,900 to N124,900; Kwara Polytechnic in Ilorin, from N28,000 to N44,000; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), from N65,000 to N72,500 and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), from N66,500 to N76,500.

    Afe Babalola University, from N675,000 to N1,075,000; Igbinedion, from N540,000 to N820,000; Crawford University, from N400,000 to N600,000 and Redeemers University, from N545,000 to N605,000.

    Also in the list are: Covenant University, from N774,500 to N814,500 and Benson Idahosa University, from N284,300 to N1,150,000.

     

  • ASUU to Ambode: Save LASU before it collapses

    Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who is the Visitor to the Lagos State University (LASU), to save the institution from imminent collapse by calling on the Vice Chancellor, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun to comply with the laws governing the institution.

    The union alleged that Fagbohun was aiding corruption by frustrating attempts to probe the alleged mismanagement of N1.3 billion NEEDS Assessment Fund (2013) allocation to the university under the immediate past administration.

    The union’s Coordinator, Lagos Zone, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, who addressed areporters in LASU on Tuesday, urged the government to  implement the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which the union signed with the Federal Government in 2009.

    At present, the unions said the Universities Miscellaneous (Provisions Act] 2009 as amended in 2012 and last year, in and known as LASU Law, allows members in the professorial cadre to retire at 70, recommends a single tenure of five years for vice chancellors. The union is, however, worried that the part that affects other top principals in the university were excluded. The union said it suspected management’s plan of renewing the appointments of top principals since that aspect had not yet been amended

    ‘’The (Universities Miscellaneous) law stipulates that the Registrar, Bursar and Librarian shall have a single term of five years; yet LASU continues to run a renewable tenure which is no doubt a potential flashpoint likely to heat up the polity sooner than later as other principal officers of the university conclude their tenure in May,2018,’’ ASUU said.

    Fagbohun also accused of refusing to appoint a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), 18 months since he assumed duties in flagrant disregard of the LASU Law 2014 in Schedule 1  (Section 4{1).

    ‘’Professor Fagbohun has taken the quest for totalitarian powers to such a height that his decision of the Governing Council are now implemented in breach: One case is the decision of Council on the new conditions and scheme of service for junior and Senior members of staff adopted since Thursday, October 20,2006 at its 112th statutory meeting where it stated that the university administration should do the final editorial work within three week; but the question is: ‘are the three weeks still ongoing since October 2016 till date?’’’

    In his response however, management described the union’s allegations as untrue.

    The university’s Acting Head Information Unit Martin Adekoya said the administration had been most complaint with Council’s directive since it came on board in January, last year.

    “Let me tell you that those allegations are not true,” Adekoya told our reporter on the phone on Tuesday.

    He continued: “When Council gives a directive to management, do not forget that management will still has to delegate that responsibility, perhaps through committees or some organs that will report back to it. In the end, management will still report to the Council on what it has done about the directive so far.

    “Let me also say some of the academic staff are part of the Council. So, if management failed to comply with a directive, what have those members done at the level of the Council to ensure the management complies?

    “On the five-year single term for other principal officers, let me say categorically that there is no official paper or document backing that for now.

    “I remember that during the immediate past administration, ASUU lobbied its way to the Lagos State House of Assembly to agitate for one single term of five years for vice chancellor which was eventually approved by the governor. If they (ASUU) want same for other principals, they should return to the House of Assembly, which has the statutory right to grant their request by amending that aspect of LASU Law; and until that is done, those serving in that capacity now are still eligible to contest.”

  • ASUU hails JAMB for blacklisting CBT centres

    ASUU hails JAMB for blacklisting CBT centres

    The Academic Staff   Union of Universities (ASUU) has commended the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for blacklisting 48 Computer Based Test (CBT)   centres used for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The President of the union, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said in Lagos on Thursday that owners of the blacklisted centres should also be prosecuted.

    The 48 CBT centres were among more than 600 centres used for the conduct of the UTME held nationwide in May.

    JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, had on Wednesday announced the blacklisting of the centres for alleged involvement in extortion and “organised examination malpractice” during the UTME.

    Oloyede said the decision was taken at the end of an enlarged meeting with external examiners and other stakeholders in the conduct of the examination.

    He also announced the cancellation of results of 50,000 candidates for alleged involvement in malpractice during the examination.

    The ASUU boss said the development was a step in the right direction, describing it as “the way to go.’’

    “What JAMB has done in that respect is a welcome development and a good decision.

    “I will not expect it to stop at just blacklisting of such centres.

    “The leadership of the board should go a step forward by prosecuting owners of the affected centres in order to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “This measure will further ensure that the integrity of the examination cannot be undermined,’’ Ogunyemi said.

    NAN

     

  • UniUyo ASUU fetes members

    The President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has enjoined members of the union to remain committed to its ideals and principles.

    Prof. Ogunyemi, who was represented by the Vice President, Prof. Victor Osodeke, spoke in Uyo yesterday while addressing congress of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Uyo Branch (ASUU-UUB).

    The President said he was in the Branch to celebrate with members of the union, particularly those who were wrongly sacked and later reinstated after between eight and thirteen years.

    The ASUU President commended the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien for unconditionally recalling the Chairman of ASUU, University of Uyo Branch, Dr. Edet Akpan and others who were wrongfully sacked.

    The Congress adopted a resolution to send letters of commendation to the immediate past Chairman of University of Uyo Governing Council, Prof. Kimse Okoko and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien for unconditionally recalling and reinstating Dr. E. P. Akpan whose appointment was wrongfully terminated by the Ekpo administration.

  • Kogi sacks 200 varsity workers, ASUU alleges

    Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said about 200 of its members were screened out of service during the recent staff verification by the government.

    Its Chairman, Dr Daniel Aina, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Lokoja, the state capital. He said the ongoing strike would only be suspended if all issues relating to arrears of salaries, 2015 employment, contract and sabbatical staff were resolved.

    The union also said government must resume the monthly instalmental payment of the 2009-2014 arrears of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). According to Aina, the KSU management must pay the outstanding balance before ASUU can call of the strike.

    The union, however, hailed the government for reconstituting the Governing Council of the university, saying the government must also address payment of salaries to all categories of its members.

    Aina said: “Payment of salary arrears of the KSU teaching staff is the pathway for the amicable resolution of all outstanding issues. This is because our salary arrears of February and March 2017 have been left out, while the government pays the employees of other tertiary institutions in  the state, who have been on strike.

    “Since 2014, the government has never paid the staff monthly salary in full. The university administration has had to augment the recurrent short falls from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Even this uncompleted salary has become erratic.

    “The government must be told that the propaganda on salary payment is a ruse because artisans, traders and the business environment of the state do not enjoy the patronage that naturally flourishes when workers are paid.

    “It is pathetic that economic activities have been seriously hampered in the state due to the non-payment of salaries occasioned by the long-drawn and tortuous staff screening exercises. Many parents whose children and wards have been at home since the strike started, are yet to be paid their salaries.

    “Till date, several of our members have not received salary since June 2016. All employees of Kogi State University have not received their February and March 2017 salaries. Neither the government nor the university administration has paid anyone.”

    Aina expressed concerns over the consistently deteriorating working conditions among the academic staff in the university, saying it had led to mass exodus of staff. ASUU also said there had been sharp reduction in funds released to the institution by government, regretting that infrastructure and staff development in the school were for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

    The union also condemned the disruption of the protest by students and their arrests by security agents, saying the use of force would not yield any fruit.

  • ASUU accuses Oyo, Osun of planning to kill LAUTECH

    ASUU accuses Oyo, Osun of planning to kill LAUTECH

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) branch, has accused the two-owner states, Oyo and Osun, of planning to kill the institution.

    The union Chairman, Dr. Biodun Olaniran, who spoke yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State,  explained the reason behind their proposed strike.

    He said the two states owed workers over seven months salary, “but surprisingly Oyo State has established a technical university, while the Osun government is running its university successfully.”

    Olaniran said: “We have begun ‘no salary no work’ action. We will embark on strike if the governments do not pay our outstanding salaries.

    “The seed of the crisis was sown when we started receiving dwindling funds from the states. The first ‘salvo’ was fired through an inexplicable stoppage of capital grants to the university. This affected the growth of the university. But thank God for ETF and TETFUND interventions, courtesy of ASUU struggles.”

    He said the governments should fund the university to prevent it from dying, adding that using students’ fees to pay salary was fraudulent.