The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ASUU

  • ABU confirms death of two lecturers in auto crash

    ABU confirms death of two lecturers in auto crash

    It was a weekend of mourning at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria after two of its lecturers and a yet-to-be-identified person were confirmed killed in auto crash on Friday.

    The two lecturers were of the institution’s Department of Theatre and Performing Arts. The dead are Prof Samuel Kafewo and Dr. Martin Adegba both of whom were returning to Zaria after featuring on an AIT programme.

    Another occupant of the vehicle and a lecturer in the same department, were injured in the accident and are currently on admission at the National Hospital, Abuja.

    Director of Information of the University, Dr. Ismaila Shehu who confirmed the incident told The Nation that they were yet to identify the corpse of the third person.

    Dr. Shehu described the incident as shocking and unbelievable, saying “we are still in shock. We don’t have the details yet, but I can tell you that we lost Kafewo and Dr. Martin. Prof. Jenkins is seriously injured and is in hospital.”

    The lecturers had been working with the McArthur Foundation to build a Centre of Excellence for Development Communication in the university which was recently commissioned by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Namadi Sambo.

    Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the institution, Prof. Kabir Aliyu said the deceased were committed academics and colleagues who worked hard to improve the standard of learning in the university.

    “We are shocked by this unfortunate development. They are committed academics and had gone for a programme aimed at improving their department. All of them, including the injured are from the same department,” Prof Aliyu said.

    “Two of our PG students were also involved. One of them died and the other is critically injured. We pray for the repose of the soul of those that died and quick recovery for those injured.”

     

  • Battle for better varsity education not over yet, ASUU warns FG

    Battle for better varsity education not over yet, ASUU warns FG

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday warned that the fight for better university education in Nigeria would not be over until the ivory towers enjoy effective implementation of the agreements the government reached with the union.

    The University of Ibadan branch of the Union also alleged that the members of staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan were being harassed and called on Nigerians to join hands to resist it.

    The Chairman of the branch, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye and some top members of the union made the claims at an interactive session with reporters in Ibadan yesterday.

    They explained that the implementation of the agreements signed by the government while ending the strike had been disappointing.

    Ajiboye said Nigerians must come together to condemn the pains being inflicted on workers at CRIN by the government.

    He said Nigeria should be a free country for all citizens irrespective of class.

    “ASUU is interested and we need to expose the evil there. Nigeria must be a free state for all,” Ajiboye said.

    He also reviewed the last strike by members of the union and expressed appreciation to the media for supporting the cause.

    The unionist explained that the strike, which started from July 1 and ended Dec 17, 2013, was a hard decision for the union. He said the union was forced to proceed on the strike after exploring all other avenues without success.

    He said: “The struggle was borne out of the conviction that Nigerian universities would run better if better funded.

    “The minister and other government functionaries eventually realised that we were just fighting for the well-being of the education sector, not just ourselves.

    “That was not the first time.

    The media also rose in support of the Nigerians in the January, 2012 anti-pump price hike protest.

    We particularly commend the Lagos-Ibadan axis of the Nigerian media.”

    Ajiboye also advised the media to call ASUU to order whenever the union is going in the wrong direction.

    “Call us to order whenever we go wrong.” Ajiboye advised.

    Other members of the union who spoke at the parley enjoined the media to educate Nigerians on various important issues to help them take right decisions that will help democracy to flourish in the country.

    The National Treasurer of the union, Dr Demola Aremu, said that ASUU would continue to fight for the survival and progress of the university system in Nigeria so it would not go the way of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

    He said: “As we speak, government is yet to release the N200 billion promised.”

    He said the huge sum should have been released with another N55 billion for the first quarter of this year, which the institutions should be spending by now.

  • ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has flayed the management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, for the attack on its members by the institution’s internal security men, known as “Sheriff Deputies.”

    It backed the boycott of lectures by AAUA lecturers, saying the institution’s authorities, led by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Femi Mimiko, had never hidden its hatred for labour unions.

    An ASUU Zonal meeting was allegedly disrupted at AAUA last week Monday by the university’s security men.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure, ASUU National President Dr. Nasir Fagge said Mimiko’s action showed that he does not tolerate opposition.

    Faggae, who was accompanied by 14 ASUU branch chairmen, alleged that the VC, on many occasions, condemned ASUU’s activities and aims to ban unionism in AAUA.

    ASUU levelled 18 infractions against the VC, including the ban of ASUU vehicles in the university; refusal to pay the five-month outstanding salary of ASUU members in disregard of the non-victimisation clause in the resolutions reached on the suspension of the July-December, 2013 strike; arbitrary disengagement of ASUU members on the grounds of “reorganisation”; introduction of strange criteria for promotion being applied retroactively to ensure that only those who enjoyed his alleged blessing could scale promotion hurdles to the next cadre; irregular appointments of professors without the existence of Appointment and Promotion Committee, among others.

    Faggae said: “The story of the assault of January 27 deserves special mention in view of the lies that followed. On that fateful day, a delegation of ASUU-NEC, led by the Vice-President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, visited the branch to address its congress.

    “The first batch of the delegation got there in two union vehicles belonging to the union’s branches in the University of Ibadan (UI) and the Benue State University around 8:15am. These two vehicles were checked in and given the pass tallies. The team proceeded to the union’s secretariat, where members of the executive committee were waiting to receive them.

    “The delegation proceeded with the meeting. About an hour later, a team of the university’s internal security men, called Sheriff Deputies, swooped on the secretariat and deflated the tyres of the two vehicles that brought the visiting team.

    “Their reason was that the ASUU team came into the university without authorisation. They claimed that there was a law forbidding ASUU vehicles from entering the campus. ASUU demanded that the security men produce evidence of the so-called law, but some of the Sheriff Deputies pounced on the union’s branch chairperson, Dr. Busuyi Mekusi, and former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Bolarinwa and molested them.

    “The acting chief security officer later came to the ASUU Secretariat to apologise for the overzealous act of the Sherriff Deputies, but he acknowledged that there was a directive by the AAUA management not to allow ASUU vehicles from other branches into the campus.”

    However, the Registrar, Mr. R.B Olotu, said the visiting ASUU members refused to submit themselves for routine security checks and attacked the security men.

  • ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    ASUU slams Ondo Varsity VC

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has flayed the management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, for the attack on its members by the institution’s internal security men, known as “Sheriff Deputies”.

    It backed the boycott of lectures by AAUA lecturers, adding that the institution’s authorities, led by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof. Femi Mimiko, had never hidden its hatred for labour unions.

    An ASUU Zonal meeting was allegedly disrupted at AAUA last week Monday by the university’s security men.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure, ASUU National President Dr. Nasir Fagge said Mimiko’s action has shown that he does not tolerate any voice of dissent.

    Faggae, who was accompanied by 14 ASUU branch chairmen, alleged that the VC, on several occasions, openly condemned ASUU’s activities and aims to ban unionism in AAUA.

    ASUU leveled 18 infractions against the VC, including the ban of ASUU vehicles in the university; refusal to pay the five-month outstanding salary of ASUU members in utter disregard of the non-victimisation clause in the resolutions reached for the suspension of the July-December, 2013 strike; arbitrary disengagement of ASUU members on the flimsy ground of “ongoing reorganisation”; introduction of strange criteria for promotion that are being applied retroactively to ensure that only those who enjoyed his blessing could scale promotion hurdles to the next cadre; irregular appointments of professors without the existence of Appointment and Promotion Committee, among others.

    Faggae said: “The story of the assault of January 27 deserves some special mention in view of the tissue of lies that followed. On that fateful day, a delegation of ASUU-NEC, led by the Vice-President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, visited the branch to address its congress.

    “The first batch of the delegation got there in two union vehicles belonging to the union’s branches in the University of Ibadan (UI) and the Benue State University around 8:15am. These two vehicles were checked in and given the pass tallies. The team proceeded to the union’s secretariat, where members of the executive committee were waiting to receive them.

    “The delegation proceeded with the meeting. About an hour later, a team of the university’s internal security men, called Sheriff Deputies, swooped on the secretariat and deflated the tyres of the two vehicles brought the visiting team.

    “Their reason was that the ASUU team came into the university without authorization. They claimed that there was a law that forbade ASUU vehicles from entering the campus. ASUU demanded that the security men produce evidence of the so-called law, but some of the Sheriff Deputies pounced on the union’s branch chairperson, Dr. Busuyi Mekusi, and former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Bolarinwa and molested them.

    “The acting Chief Security Officer later came to the ASUU Secretariat to apologise for the overzealous act of the Sherriff Deputies, but he acknowledged that there was a directive by the AAUA management not to allow ASUU vehicles from other branches into the campus.”

    However, the Registrar, Mr. R.B Olotu, said the visiting ASUU members refused to submit themselves for routine security checks and attacked the security men.

  • ‘We need Diaspora voting in 2015’

    ‘We need Diaspora voting in 2015’

    The leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), South Africa chapter, Bola Babarinde, spoke on the prospects of the party in the 2015 elections and the agitation by Nigerians in the Diaspora for voting rights. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE met him.

    Could you compare politics, party system and governance in South Africa with the Nigerian experience? Are there similarities?

    Nigeria was one of the main hubs. The leadership of African National Congress (ANC) looked up to Nigeria during the dark days of apartheid. Our own dark days may be the military regimes that plunged the country into recession . Politics in South Africa and Nigeria are similar in that we have the frontline political party, ANC, in South Africa and the PDP in Nigeria. While the ANC is formed on a strong political ideology and it has a focus, I doubt, if the same can be said of the PDP in Nigeria. The ANC has survived for over 100 years, but I am not sure, if the PDP will survive that long going by the internal crises that is rocking the party in recent times. While the ANC took the issue of service delivery and fulfilling promises to the people as very important, the PDP is rather self-serving and mainly serves the leadership of the organisation. That is why everybody must jostle to be in the leadership position in the PDP. Also, the ANC will allow youth to thrive and have a vibrant ANC Youth League that contributes meaningfully to the political happenings in South Africa. Our own leading political party lacks such ideas and the PDP only takes pride in recyling the leaders of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. I wonder how the statement, “the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow” will ever be realised, if this continues. I laughed when I see that a man who was a governor in 1983; the former Chairman of the PDP, was recently given the herculean task of reviving the National Railway Corporation. I guess a man in his 80’s should be given a task of sitting pretty well in his retirement home enjoying himself with his grandchildren and giving meaningful advise to politicians.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was on a five-month long strike and the comment credited to the Senate President, David Mark, was that the people that represented the Federal Government in the original negotiation possibly did not read the document completely before they signed it irresponsibly. I looked at the document and checked the profile of the representatives of the Federal Government in the negotiation. While I do not know the age of all members, I saw many highly respected industrialists and retired professors and top civil servants in the eight-man committee and I know that the retirement age is 65. The youngest is the Executive Secretary of Education Trust Fund (ETF). Now, tell me, how will you realistically expect a 70 year old or more to sit and be reading a 51-page highly technical document, when he should possibly be having fading eyesight, relaxing with the grandkids and reading newspapers? Serious business must be taken seriously. A single look at the 2014 budget will tell us in which direction the country is facing.

    How can corruption be tackled?

    Corruption happens in all political realms, but what is done about it differs. In South Africa, people have a total belief in the “Office of the Public Protector (OPP)”, who investigates and gives credible opinion and possible prosecution on all matters. In Nigeria, although we have similar organisations in ICPC and EFCC, I ,if people have the same level of trust in these organisations. Such offices are not in name, but in actions. The lady heading the OPP in South Africa has won many awards locally and internationally for her work and has stood against the ANC government many times. She recently investigated the financing of President Zuma’s house using public funds and gave a damning preliminary report. Although some people in South Africa went to the court to stop her releasing her final report, she went to defend the people in court and won the case. The full report will be out in public space any time from now. I doubt, if anybody in the EFCC or the ICPC can try such feat in Nigeria. Well, our organisations are not independent in the first instance. We need a strong unbiased independent anti-corruption body like it exists in South Africa, which can call the bluff of anybody.

    Our opposition parties also need to borrow a leaf from the Democratic Alliance (DA) of South Africa. It is a competent opposition to the national government and control the Western Cape Province. The has won the best-run government in recent times and this award is given annually by the ANC government. That is political tolerance in action. The DA also serves as gadfly pestering the ANC government in any anti-people project or proposal. For example ,the e-toll issue and increase in electricity tariffs, amongst others. There are other opposition parties and each of them has its ideology and belief. I doubt, if such opposition parties exist in Nigeria. Little wonder, people cross back and forward and backward. I have seen a person that cross-carpet about five times to become a governor in Nigeria.

    What value does your chapter intends to add to the parent APC?

    First and foremost, there is no need to duplicate political parties, if we have the same ideology. The APC-SA and other diaspora bodies share the views of the APC mother body back home. We believe strongly in voters’ education. We know that an enlightened mind is a great weapon and such is needed to defend democracy. What I have found particularly interesting about South Africans is that even the very uneducated knows his/her political right and will do anything to defend it. We need to mobilise people to stand up for what they believe. Diaspora voting is another area that we are pushing for and I believe that the parties in Nigeria and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are already working on its realisation. We will also be pushing strongly for internal democracy at all levels for our party in Nigeria. If a person is denied his right to be elected and he perceives it as unjust, he will carry the burden of being cheated and that is not good for a viable opposition. Everyone should be pushing the same goal of replacing the dysfunctional government. We want to see an APC that is a model to other parties in Nigeria.

    What is your understanding of the philosophy, ideas and manifestos of the APC as the main opposition party?

    Honestly, it should be understood that while the party philosophy should remain fairly the same, the ideas and manifestos will be constantly changing to meet the need of the people we are here to serve. I believe that the philosophy of the ACN is to provide a credible and viable alternative in good governance, which is serving the people and impacting directly on the lives of ordinary citizens of Nigeria. The ideas will be to create and sustain good governance, to maintain and improve on the current infrastructures, and to create and promote enabling environment for local and international businesses to thrive so that employment can be created for our people. The current manifesto focuses on quality and affordable education, enhanced, affordable and accessible health care system, social services for women, children, aged and the disable (Medically and Physically Challenged), infrastructural development, creation of enabling business environment for investors, encouragement of sustainable private-public partnership, unbundling and decentralisation of public water system.

    What were the inherent pitfalls of the ACN, ANPP, and CPC, which should be avoided by the APC?

    The pitfalls of the political parties in Nigeria are many. But I must quickly point out that you exclude the PDP in the list above. There is the absence of basic ideology, keeping promises to the electorate and internal democracy.The people-oriented programmes and sincerity of purpose are not there.There is so much corruption in our political space. Service delivery should be the focus and this will leave little money in the hands of those who want to be corrupt and somehow, they will leave this political space, if they cannot steal money meant for the public good.

    How is your chapter tackling the challenges of harmonisation and membership registration?

    On the question of harmonisation, it will be good to wait for directives from the mother body in Nigeria. Whatever the leadership of the party suggests will be followed by all state and diaspora chapters. We will await the directive because we believe strongly in the leadership of our party.

    What is your assessment of the Jonathan Administration?

    Unfortunately, I will be speaking from the position of an opposition and our politicians mostly try to make irrelevant salient and valid opinion from the opposing camp. The current administration possibly has its strong points, including less interference in the job of the INEC to conduct free and fair state elections, the privatisation of the energy sector, although I strongly suggest that this should be monitored critically as no man will build his house and leave the critical supplies totally at the hand of an outsider.

    Corruption is not tackled at all and the leadership of the PDP in the National Assembly alluded to this fact. Although, the Finance Minister and the Coordinator of the Economy has rolled out many superb figures of our economic performance, the ordinary people continue to groan under the weight of a more unfriendly economy. Our economic gains should reach the poor and the unemployed.

    Ahead of 2015 polls, what are the challenges that will confront the APC?

    As previously mentioned, a strong ideology is a major challenge. We need to work on it and the value system, otherwise, the political hijackers will infest and invade the party and make a mess of the founding principles. Focus and direction are needed, ahead of 2015 general elections. We also need tolerant party leadership on issues of internal democracy, proper grassroots electorate education and careful selection of party representatives who have ideals in the different positions to be contested for between now and 2015.

     

    Can APC dislodge the PDP in 2015?

    It is very possible. Prior to the advent of the current democratic dispensation, the people wanted an alternative to the military rule. The PDP appeared to have the national spread at that time and it quickly arranged a national structure and hijacked the political space by stifling the other role players. Somehow, in Nigeria, the government at the central can coerce, intimidate, force and arm-twist the oppositions into subjection. In fact any surviving opposition in Nigeria needs to be given a thumbs-up. I believe that 2015 is the year of new things for Nigeria.

    What are the condition for free and fair election in Nigeria ?

    The umpires must be umbiased. Strict adherence to “checks and balances”. Utilisation of modern technologies to conduct and monitor election as was done in Ghana and Kenya recently. Electorate education. Stiff penalties for offenders in electoral malpractices and frauds. There should be no intimidation and the use of state apparatuses like the military and police.

  • Students seek compensation over ASUU strike

    Some students, who believe that the last Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike had nothing to do with their academic pursuit, have demanded compensation from the government for subjecting them to about six-months hardship. MSONTER ANZAA (200-Level Medicine, Benue State University) reports.

    Last year, university students were away from school for six months, no thanks to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The university teachers downed tools to demand the implementation of an agreement it reached with the Federal Government in 2009 to improve public education.

    With the reopening of universities, students are lamenting the effect of the strike on their academic programmes. They said they suffered for a cause they did not know anything about. They want to be compensated for the lost time and the delay they suffered because of the strike.

    Reliving their experiences during the action, students said its effect on their career could not be quantified.

    Kingsley Amatanweze, 500-Level Metallurgical and Material Engineering student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said he lost two months out of six months of industrial training because of the strike.

    “As a final year student, I should have commenced work on my project. To carry out a befitting project work takes time. Now, the school calendar is being rushed to accommodate the lost time. There is not enough time to attend to academics and conduct research work on our projects. The rush has disorganised our plans to put in efforts to develop good project,” Kingsley said.

    Dung Damack, 100-Level Biology and Education student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) had just paid his rent when the strike started.

    “Already, half of the rent has gone because I did not stay in the room. It is like throwing money into a well. I just got a call from a neighbour that the landlord has asked me to leave the house. But I understand the landlord wants me to pay for another year.”

    Philips Guda, a 500-Level student of Medicine at the Benue State University (BSU) and national president of the Benue Medical Students Association (BEMSA), described the strike as disaster. He said: “For us at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, who have lost too much time as undergraduates, it was a big disaster. The strike sabotaged our efforts to cover the lost time.”

    Richard Nyikwagh, a final year student of Economics at BSU, felt bad because his plan after school was disorganised. He was preparing to graduate next month, but the strike prolonged his graduation to August.

    Ekene Ahaneku, 200-Level Optometry and Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, said. “I am not happy because of rent. The strike has jerked up house rent,” he said.

    Given the lamentations, some students demand compensation from the government. Since the strike was not initiated by students, Kingsley said, there should be adequate compensation for them to cover the lost time. “Of course, they should pay us compensation,” he said.

    Dung Damack also believed students should be compensated. He said: “It would be a good idea if students are compensated. I wish this was possible. But you know the way the system works. To think of compensation is almost like thinking of impossibilities.”

    However, some students believe no compensation should be paid by the government because the lecturers went on strike to fight students’ cause.

    Sesugh Ande, a Chemistry lecturer at the University of Agriculture in Makurdi, who is currently in the United Kingdom for his doctorate degree, sympathised with the students over the strike but said lecturers suffered more during the action.

    He did not believe students should be compensated. “Why?” he queried, adding: “I think everyone who suffered would have to be compensated then if students demand compensation from the government. But is the compensation being seen in terms of time or money? The only thing I may suggest as compensation is for lecturers to double their efforts to ensure that students get the best training with the little that the federal government has offered.”

    Education Rights Campaign (ERC), a non-governmental organisation, blamed the government for the students’ unpalatable strike experience, but stressed that there is no need for compensation. Its national coordinator, Hassan Soweto, said: “Students, who are demanding compensation, are doing so out of frustration. Their situation is understandable. But there are questions they need to answer. Who will grant this demand? In what form will the compensation come? I honestly do not think that any student demanding compensation is right because they are giving an impression that students are not part of the struggle to save public education.”

     

     

  • ASUU urges Mimiko to prevail on VC

    ASUU urges Mimiko to prevail on VC

    •Students protest attack on lecturers

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday urged Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to prevail on the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUAA), Prof. Femi Mimiko, to restore order in the university.

    It condemned the attack on its national delegation by security operatives of the institution, in which two people were injured.

    Those injured are AAUA ASUU Chairman Dr. Busuyi Mekusi and former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Oluwasegun-Ota Bolarinwa, who lectures at the institution.

    Narrating their ordeal to reporters in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, who was part of the delegation, said: “Apart from initially denying ASUU’s vehicles entry into the campus, vehicles of UI and the Benue State University, which entered the campus, had their tyres deflated.

    “The security outfit called Sheriff brought out cutlasses and other weapons and attacked union leaders. Mekusi and Bolarinwa were injured. The delegation was led by ASUU Vice-President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi and Drs. Ighalo, Ayan Adeleke, Ajiboye and Ikoni from the Benue State University.”

    Explaining the purpose of the visit, Ajiboye said the delegation was on a fact finding mission to appraise the last strike.

    He said the delegation was shocked by “what the VC has turned the university into”, adding: “Akungba is now a den of lions. The VC hires and fires at will. Meetings cannot be held freely on campus. We met at the ASUU Cooperative building. It is a sorry case.”

    Ajiboye said it was against the principle of ASUU for a university not to have a governing council.

    ASUU urged the governor to call the VC to order and constitute a governing council without delay.

    Also yesterday, AAUA students protested the attack on the ASUU delegates, describing it as ridiculous.

    The institution’s spokesman, Victor Akinpelumi, did not pick his calls.

    The VC and Mekusi could not be reached for comments.

  • A presidency in decline, a president in denial

    A presidency in decline, a president in denial

    A Lot a few Nigerians would want to be in President Goodluck Jonathan’s position as leader of Africa’s most populous and may be richest country, but very few would want his kind of presidency.

    Two years and eight months into a four-year tenure and with the option of another four years as second term likely, Nigerians it does seem cant wait to dump the man from Otuoke at the next available opportunity for a leader with a firm grasp of our problems and challenges and the best solution to take us to the next level.

    Dr Ebele Jonathan, who many thought few years ago could be the messiah the country needed because of his youth, education and a pan-Nigerian mandate at the polls, is such a big let down that even his main supporters are beginning to regret putting him forward to lead this nation of over a hundred and fifty million people with vast human and material resources.

    The man is fast becoming a lame duck do nothing president whose words nobody can go to bank with. Such is the weakness of the man and his presidency that many would rather turn to his wife or some of his other women in government to get things done than rely on his orders.

    Jokes apart, the women in his government get things done quickly and easily than even the Commander-In-Chief. It sounds unbelievable, but it is true. Madam Patience Jonathan, the First Lady, is more effective than her husband. Sometime ago underground news sources said she told the wife of a state governor; “tell your Oga not to rely on my Oga or be his friend, tell him to be my friend, my Oga is not reliable”.

    She surely knows what she’s talking about. Those who are very powerful in Jonathan’s administration today owe their loyalty to her. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education worships her, Deziani Madueke, the Petroleum Minister had to ‘settle’ her with oil subsidy contract before she could be appointed a Minister and has been ‘oiling’ the First Lady constantly ever since to remain in office, Stella Oduah has had to squeeze water out of the stones in the Aviation parastatals to be able to satisfy Madam’s insatiable appetite for money.

    Today, thanks to Madam First Lady’s support and Jonathan’s weakness, these three Ministers of the Federal Republic can not be removed except they leave or Madam Patience wanted them out. And these Ministers and the Chief of Staff are so arrogantly going about with this air of untouchability that even some other people close to the president are getting worried. In the Ministry of Aviation Stella Oduah does her things with impunity. Ask the parastatals, the managements are just waiting for her time to be up, hoping and praying that before then nothing untoward would happen and something would still be left in their coffers.

    The case of the armoured limousines are still there and even in the face of overwhelming public condemnation of the role of Oduah Jonathan seems helpless to punish her. What kind of a presidency is that? Even if for the sake of credibility?

    The other day we were told that several billions of dollars of our oil revenue have not been remitted to the federation account by the NNPC. The CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi alerted us about this and he was called names for that. He had an argument over this with the Finance Minister and at the end of the day the figure had to be revised down to about 10 billion USD the whereabout of which had not been satisfactorily explained.

    While Nigerians as usual were still trying to get over this and continue with their lives, the President threw in bomb shell; he asked the CBN governor to resign over the NNPC issue. Grapevine had it that the Petroleum Minister had who supervises the NNPC had for some time been putting pressure on Dr Jonathan to sack Sanusi over his letter on the ‘missing’ billions, but the president had resisted citing the provisions of the law. On this particular day, Deziani reportedly went to the president demanding that Sanusi be removed immediately because she heard he was planning another letter. It was a noisy atmosphere at the president’s office and the Commander-In-Chief had to give in. Sanusi was summoned and told to go, the Kano prince refused and dared the president to do whatever he wants. You know the rest of the story.

    The issue here is not the decision to sack Sanusi or not but that Dr Jonathan had to drag the office of the president of Nigeria into this and at the end of the that office was disgraced. Did Jonathan not know that he does not have that power to fire the CBN governor alone or force him to go? And why should he even ask the man to go without addressing the issue of alleged corruption in the remittance of our oil earnings by the NNPC that he raised in the letter?

    Why did Jonathan found it easier to ask Sanusi to go and but difficult to deal with the issue of the limousine purchase by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the use of the Aviation Minister? This is double standard.

    The power and authority wielded by the president of Nigeria are such that should not be invoked frivolously lest they become less effective and Dr Jonatan has shown that by his handling of the Sanusi incident. If the president had been fair in the exercise of his power and authority I am sure the CBN governor would think twice before daring him, even if he knows he doesn’t possess the power to fire him. The fear and respect he should normally have for that office would have told him that if the president says he doesn’t want you, then you have to go. But this president is belittling that office, hence the little respect he now commands. Such is always the case with lame duck presidencies.

    And our man is in denial over this. The other day he was at the Shagamu inter change to launch with fanfare the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway which his government had just repossessed from a concessionaire and promised to fund the project. After a few initial grading and excavation here and there the project is as good as abandoned and we are being told now that the government is considering giving it out again to another concessionaire because the money is not just there in the public purse to prosecute it. There is nothing wrong with involving the private sector in the funding of such a big project, but for the government to change course mid way after the whole world had been told that all is well with funding of the project shows that something is wrong somewhere. And the fact that it was the president that came and flagged off the project shows that somebody somewhere had deceived or is deceiving him about the availability of public fund for the project. Forget about government’s denial about another concession for the expressway, the fact is that some people are playing politics with us over this road and the presidency is either part of them or is the driving force behind the deceit. A serious presidency doesn’t behave this way. A serious and strong presidency would fish out those behind this and punish them for ridiculing the president and his office. But can we say this about Jonathan’s presidency?

    For six months or thereabout university teachers went on strike over unfulfilled promises by government. The Minister of Education Nyesom Wike was going about for much of this period playing politics trying to destabilize Rivers State while our children were idling away at home. And when Wike finally woke up to his responsibility he bungled the whole effort to resolve the crisis when he announced the sack of the lecturers for not going back to work as ordered. ASUU defied the order and made a laughing stock of government. A serious presidency would have fired the Minister for this embarrassment, but not Jonathan. Another sign of weakness, a waning presidency. The success of ASUU has now emboldened other similar bodies to challenge the government knowing fully that sooner rather than later the presidency would give in. Lame duck presidency!

    The security situation in the north east is a cause for concern for all and the government naturally is worried that in spite of all what it has been doing Boko Haram insurgency is not abating. While it would be wrong to entirely lay the blame for the seeming lack of a headway in the fight against terror in the region at the doorsteps of the federal government, could a perceived weakness in the authority of this president be the motivation for the insurgents to soldier on in spite of the superiority of the armed forces in terms of combat weapons and human resources? If this presidency is perceived and even seen to be a no nonsense leadership and is acting as such, would it be a signal to Boko Haram et al that this government means business and nothing is ruled out in the fight against terror? But if government policy is flip flop on this issue even those prosecuting the war would do it halfhearted.

    If the truth must be told, this presidency is not getting a lot of things done because Nigerians see it as weak, lame duck, but our president is in denial over this. It is unfortunate. Until President Jonathan sits up and face governance seriously and forget his re-election for now, things will continue to go bad and the country would continue to suffer. Enough of politics, Jonathan please govern. If you are the Comander-In-Chief, please chiefly command well. Apologies to Professor Jerry Gana.

     

  • ‘Our expectations of ASUU, others in 2014’

    ‘Our expectations of ASUU, others in 2014’

    2013 is a year that students will love to forget. Why? The Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) strike kept them at home for over five months. In 2014, they are praying for a hitch-free academic session. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI and TAIWO ADEBULU write.

    THEIR experience last year is not something they wish to remember. Because of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, students were at home for over five months. Their prayer is that in 2014 they would not go through the same experience. University teachers have since resumed but their Polytechnic counterparts have yet to return to work.

    The socio-economic cost of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) industrial actions is unquantifiable. Among others, the academic pursuit of many students was delayed. Those in their final year could not graduate. Those who graduated could not be mobilised for the National Youth Service.

    The end of ASUU strike was seen by the students as a blessing and with the coming of 2014, their hope is that truly would not travel down the same road again.

    Adeleke Theophillus, a 400-Level Animal Science student at the University of Ibadan (UI) hopes his graduation would not be delayed again. “I wish we get a quality service from our lecturers now that their five months’ salary and arrears have been paid by the government,” he said.

    There should be a turnaround in the education sector, Tunmise Oladoyinbo, a 400-Level English Education student at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said, since the government had released funds to improve facilities in higher institutions.

    For Taiwo Isola, the months of ASUU strike were a break from face-to-face encounter with insurgency in the North. The 300-Level Human Anatomy student at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State, wants the government to ensure the safety of students studying in the Northeast because of the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram.

    Taiwo said: “I wish 2014 would mark the beginning of economic prosperity and democracy building; a year when the voice of the youth will not be silenced or ignored as irrelevant. I wish there will be no strikes this year, and campuses in the North will not witness carnage and be violence-free. But, if the government fails to do all these, 2014 may just be a repetition of the previous years.”

    Rasheedah Owolabi, a 300-Level Language Arts student of OAU, is seeking an overhaul of the sector.

    “As a graduating student, what more can I ask for than getting a lucrative job before my National Youth Service. After service, I want to establish my own enterprise as an entrepreneur,” Blessing Adeoye, a 400-Level English student of OAU, who should have graduated last July, said.

    Joseph Onovughakpor, a 400-Level Pure and Applied Physics student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, urged youths to see beyond their predicament and face their studies. “As we return to school, I want to work hard and I urge my peers to do the same; we must explore all the opportunities on campus and never give up until we graduate from the system,” he said.

    Taiwo Ayomike, a National Certificate in Education (NCE) student at the Adeyemi College of Education in Ondo, hopes to complete her programme without delay. Ayomike, who is studying Christian Religious Studies, also wishes to improve her entrepreneurial skills before graduation.

    She said: “I want to embark on a comprehensive skill acquisition programme that will boost my chance and equip me for life after school.”

    “I want Nigeria to experience peace in every area of our national life,” John Omowale, 200-Level Microbiology student of Ekiti State University (EKSU) said.

    Caleb Adebayo, 400-Level Law student of OAU, wants to devote time to his studies in 2014. He said: “I want to commit quality time to my academics, considering that there would be so much rush to cover for the lost time. I definitely want to serve God better too; to be closer to him.”

     

  • ASUU-LASU regrets not joining fee hike protest

    ASUU-LASU regrets not joining fee hike protest

    TWO years after, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, has apologised to students of the university for not supporting them during their protest over fee hike in the institution.

    Speaking at a briefing, its Chairman, Dr Adekunle Idris, said events had shown that the increase was wrong, noting that the number of candidates seeking admission into the school had dropped.

    He said no university is run only on school fees.

    Idris, who noted that the apology was coming late, said: “It is better to be late to apologise than never.”

    He also said the union would call for strike if the university management does not meet their demands.

    The ASUU boss said the motion for the strike would be tabled at the union’s congress later this month, if their requests were not attended to.

    He said the national body of ASUU was aware of the issue.

    He accused the university management of not being sensitive to the situation on campus.

    He said: “At all press contacts during the national strike, ASUU-LASU always impressed on stakeholders to intervene so that students can enjoy uninterrupted school calendar after the struggle, which they fail to do.”

    On their demands, he said the governing council must implement the Universities (Miscellaneous provisions) amendment Act 2012, passed by the Federal Government, for the effective running of universities, which the Lagos State Government had agreed to implement.

    Other demands are: the immediate regularisation of appointments for academic staff members on temporary appointment and recall of those among them who were disengaged unjustly; abolition of the ‘no vacancy, no promotion’ policy; payment of balance of the 17-month salary arrears, restructuring of courses in LASU to follow the submissions of faculties and the downward review of LASU school fees.

    Idris said though ASUU-LASU leaders have met with the university management, no agreement had been reached.

    He accused the management of victimising the lecturers, adding that their December salary had not been paid despite the ‘Non-Victimisation clause’, in the FGN/ASUU agreement.