The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Executive Council (NEC)

  • ASUP suspends strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has suspended its two month old strike.

    Mr. Usman Dutse, ASUP, National President said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to him, “we have decided to suspend our two month old strike; this decision was taken at the end of our National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

    “We shall not hesitate to resume the suspended strike should government fail to review the Memorandum of Action (MoA) and ensure full implementation before end of May 2019.

    “This is in view of the progress made in the course of the union’s negotiations with government.

    “The NEC of the union, after exhaustive deliberations and in due consultations with the respective congresses across the nation resolved to suspend the current industrial action.

    “This is based on the condition that government committed to review the Memorandum of Action to concretise the resolutions and ensure its full implementation by end of May 2019, failing which the union shall resume the action at its discretion.”

    Dutse also noted that, the request for a revitalisation fund of N15 billion had been made by the Minister Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu in lieu of the NEEDS assessment.

    He said government has equally made a public pronouncement on the issue conveying the government’s approval for the release of the sum as requested.

    “It is expected that the funds shall be made available for disbursement to deserving institutions by April 2019.

    “Equally, the approval of the NEEDS assessment report shall be pursued with all diligence to ensure a sustained and effective intervention in the infrastructure and other needs of our institutions,” he added.

    The union president also said on the issue of salary shortfall, promotion arrears and allowances that N16.7 billion has been released.

    According to him, the union was informed of the release of N16.7 billion covering agencies of government, including affected Polytechnics cleared by the Presidential Initiative for Continuous Audit for shortfalls and promotion arrears.

    Read Also: Who cares about ASUU, ASUP strike?

    “A circular had also been released to all Rectors conveying increased personnel funding for 2019 and directing the payment of full salaries and allowances in Polytechnics.

    “A schedule from the office of the Federal Ministry of Finance containing institutions contained in the phase one of the shortfall refund payments has been released.

    “Our union notes that 11 institutions from the sector are cleared to receive funds from the approved tranche. Our union has been reassured that the next phase will contain more institutions.

    ”The government reported moves to review the instruments for accreditation to include such requirements. The union was informed that NBTE had been directed to cease further regulatory activities in such institutions.

    “Document conveying the implementation of this resolution has been released vide letter ref: C/TEB.97/Vol.II/512 of 4th February, 2019 from the NBTE conveying a review of the guidelines for programme accreditation to include the issue of regular payment of salaries and allowances in institutions,” he said.

    He said that it was equally resolved that the union be included in the multi stakeholder forum involving proprietors of all public tertiary institutions to accommodate Polytechnics/Monotechnics.

    Dutse added that, it was agreed that the documents currently before the Head of Civil Service of the Federation be retrieved and reviewed to address the concerns of the union, and be presented to the board of the NBTE before the end of March, 2019 for approval.

    NAN

     

  • Direct primaries desirable but not practicable in Borno–Shettima

    Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, says it will be difficult to conduct direct primaries in the state because of its peculiar security situation.

    Shettima, in an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja, said that the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had provisions for direct and indirect primaries.

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of APC recently adopted direct primaries for all elective offices.

    Shettima opined that every state should adopt the option suitable to it based on its peculiarities.

    The governor said that in the U.S from which Nigeria borrowed the presidential system, states of Delaware, Florida, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey and Illinois conducted closed primaries.

    According to him, states like Alabama, Arizona and some of others in the southern part of the country conducted open primaries.

    “So, we are a nation of diversity; and our diversity should be our source of strength.

    “The constitution of the party provides for direct, indirect and consensus, so there is no cause for alarm; depending on the peculiarities of particular location, they will choose the option that is best for them.

    “Like in Borno, direct primaries is desirable but is not practicable; we have challenges; so why do we have to go the whole hog of imposing an untenable system on our people and main election is coming.’’

    Speaking on the 19 governorship aspirants in the state,  Shettima said that it was the beauty of democracy as the more the merrier.

    Read Also:2019 Senate poll: Tough battles ahead for Shettima, Okorocha, Yari, other 2nd term govs

    He said that there would be a level playing field for people to exercise their rights.

    According to Shettima, it is when people are suppressed from expressing their fundamental rights of choice that problems erupt.

    He said, however, that he was in the Presidential villa for consultation and update on the security situation in his state.

    Shettima said that in juxtaposition with what it was four years ago, there was an improvement in security situation.

    “Being optimists, we believe that things will change for the better in the coming weeks.

    “Four years ago, 22 Local Government Areas were under the occupation of Boko Haram.

    “So, whatever anybody might say, I think we have to give some credit to President Muhammadu Buhari administration for securing the lives and property of the citizens.

    `No doubt, we have challenges; but then you have to think of the past to judge the present in order to forecast the future.

    “There has been remarkable improvement and I believe that if tempo is sustained, we shall have an enduring peace in the region very soon,’’ he said.

  • 2019: Plateau APC adopts indirect primaries

    The Plateau chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted the indirect method of primaries in choosing its candidates for elective positions in the 2019 elections.

    The party unanimously adopted the position at an expanded stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Jos.

    Mr Johnclerk Dabwan, former Speaker of the Plateau House of Assembly, moved the motion for the adoption of the indirect primaries and was seconded by Mr Azi Pate, the party chairman in Jos East Local Government.

    The National Executive Council (NEC) of the party had given the state chapters the privilege of deciding how to arrive at its candidates.

    Among the options are direct and indirect primaries, as well as consensual agreement.

    Dabwan, while arguing for indirect primaries, cited security challenge in the state as his major reason.

    Read Also: 93, 788 PVCs uncollected in Plateau – INEC

    “Having gone through the provisions of our party’s constitution and the resolution of its National Executive Council where it suggested direct, indirect or consensus method in conducting our primaries, I want to move that Plateau should adopt indirect primaries.

    “The security challenges currently bedeviling us will make direct primaries very difficult and cumbersome,” he said.

    The news men report that stakeholders at the meeting, through a voice vote, adopted the motion after Mr Latep Dabang, the state party chairman, put the question to vote.

    Among senior party members at the meeting was Prof. Sonni Tyoden, Deputy Governor, his immediate predecessor, Ignatius Longjan, as well as former and serving lawmakers in the state.

  • UNN alumni members visit Utomi, announce general meeting date

    Members of the executive of University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA), Lagos branch, have begun what they called “appreciation visit” to members of the association, who contributed to the successful hosting of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting recently.

    Prominent among those visited was Prof Pat Utomi, who hosted the alumni members to a forum where discussions around upcoming activities and yet-to-be-implemented projects were held. The projects are sited in Lagos and on the university campus.

    President of the alumni body, Sir Orji Udemueze,  appreciated members, who supported the association in cash and kind, while calling on graduates of the university to identify with the association and contribute their quota to the development of their alma mater.

    Udemueze announced next Sunday as the date for general meeting, urging the school graduates living in Lagos to turn-up at the UNN Lagos Liaison Office in Ikeja.

    As part of the activities of the meeting, Udemueze announced that the alumni body would be fully involved in the Students’ Week organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG), which is scheduled to hold in the third quarter of the year.

  • APC NEC meeting: Senate adjourns plenary

    APC NEC meeting: Senate adjourns plenary

    The Senate on Tuesday adjourned sitting in order to allow members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus attend the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party.

    Read Also: Senate splits over passage of 2019 elections order bill

    Details shortly…

  • NUJ demands arrest, prosecution of killers of Bayelsa journalist

    The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) has urged the Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar, to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the killers of Mr Famou  Giobara, a broadcast journalist  in Bayelsa.

    The union made the request in a communiqué issued Sunday at the end of the NUJ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held in Gombe.

    The communiqué was signed by the NUJ National Secretary, Malam Shuaibu Leman.

    The union is also demanding that the case files of all slain journalists be re-opened, including those of late Dele Giwa and Bagauda Kaltho.

    The communiqué further condemned in strong terms, the withdrawal of a Punch reporter, Olalekan Adedayo, from the State House and urged Presidency to reprimand the Chief Security Officer responsible for the act.

    The union challenged the Federal Government to sanction state governments that failed to properly utilise the first batch of the Paris Club refund.

    The communiqué further commended the anti-corruption war of the present administration and also called on the National Assembly to ensure quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, to stabilise the sector.

    The NUJ commended the Gombe State Government and the State Council of the union for the successful hosting of the NEC meeting.

     

  • Accreditation: Plateau govt releases N200m to its Polytechnic

    The Plateau Government says it has approved the release of N200 million for the accreditation of courses in its Polytechnic.

    Gov. Simon Lalong said this on Wednesday, while declaring open, the 87th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), in Jos.

    Lalong, who was represented by Prof. John Wade, Director of Research and Documentation, Government House, noted that most of the courses offered by the institution were not accredited.

    “The non-accreditation of the courses poses a set-back for both the institution and its graduates.

    “We have approved the release of N200 million to the Polytechnic for the accreditation and re-accreditation of courses at the National and Higher National Diploma levels.

    “We will ensure the release of the approved funds so that the accreditation exercise will be completed within the second quarter of 2017,” he assured.

    Lalong said that government had also approved the 65-years retirement age for academic staff of all tertiary institutions, adding that salary structures of the institutions were being reviewed and would be harmonised.

    Earlier, ASUP National President, Mr Umar Dutse, had commended the Plateau Government for the peace so far achieved in the state.

    “We are happy that peace has returned to the state. If it were in the past few years we, we wouldn’t have held this meeting here,” he said.

    The National President also thanked the government for clearing the backlog of salaries owed its members, and urged government to expedite action on the accreditation of courses in the institution to avoid being de-listed from the body of Polytechnics in the country.

    He called on the government to lift the ban on employment so as to address the manpower deficit being experienced in the Polytechnic.

    “Information available to us shows that since 2006, no single academic staff was employed in this Polytechnic. This is not healthy for an institution of this magnitude,” he said.

     

  • Ortom: Why I ordered armed herdsmen out of Benue

    Ortom: Why I ordered armed herdsmen out of Benue

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday said that he ordered the expulsion of armed herdsmen out of his state was to protect the lives and property of his people.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, he said that it was incumbent on him to secure the people against any internal and external aggression.

    Stressing that he couldn’t have continued watching helplessly while his people were getting killed by the herders, he said that his action is in line with the rule of law.

    The governor also disclosed that he had appropriately directed the security agencies to ensure that the armed herdsmen were arrested and prosecuted.

    He said: “I  ordered armed herdsmen out of my state. They are not friendly to my people. They are killing them and I cannot tolerate that. My job as governor is to provide security for lives and property.

    “I cannot watch seeing people being killed unprovoked. It is not right. The only thing my people are living on is farming. When you go to their farmland and destroy their crop and then when they complain you kill them, that will never be acceptable. I will not fold my hands to watch this happen.

    “I have told the security men to ensure they arrest of all those who have arms. You are aware that through my amnesty Programme, I was able to disarm the criminal elements in my society because I believe in the rule of law and due process.

    “Without the rule of law, there is no way we can govern. A stronger person will come and take over the affairs of the state from where ever you are. And so, we must abide by the rule of law. The impunity is what we should stand up and fight outside from corruption.” he said

    He went on: “Another thing is impunity, it is worse than corruption. So, why we are fighting corruption, we just also fight impunity. This is not right. Those armed herdsmen, are they above the law?

    “So, the security men must track and arrest them and prosecute them according to the law. I have told my people that as farmers, they have no business carrying arms. And so, I will protect them as long as I am governor is my state.” he said

    He also refuted the claims that his directives were not accepted by the  Commissioner of police, stressing that they were both on the same page.

    “People with arms? The commissioner of police should arrest those people with arms. These are not licensed arms. I was with him when we went to Buruku, he never said anything to contradict what I said earlier. I don’t know where this fabrication is coming from. As far as I am concerned, I am in touch with my security council in Benue State. We meet regularly and all these problems we discuss them when we meet.

    “And I as far as I am concerned, we are on the same page to ensure that those weigh arms should be arrested otherwise, they should leave the state”, he said.

  • ACF laments slow pace of FG projects

    ACF laments slow pace of FG projects

    ….Wants PHCN privatisation reviewed

     

    The mouthpiece of Northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has risen from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, lamenting what it described as slow pace of Federal Government projects.

    This was also as the Northern socio-cultural group asked the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency review the privatisation of the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN), which it said has gone bad in the hands of the private investors who acquired them.

    ACF in a communique issued at the end of the meeting presided over by its Deputy Chairman NEC, Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande urged that provision be made in 2017 budget to complete projects that are of economic values and have direct bearing on the lives of the people, like Baro Port Terminal, Mambilla Power Project, the Kano-Maiduguri Dual Carriage Way and Kano-Lagos Railway.

    According to the communiqué signed by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim, the meeting deliberated extensively on management matters and issues of national importance.

    “The meeting noted with serious concern the slow pace of work on some Federal Government projects that are of economic value and have direct bearing on the lives of the people. Projects like the completion of Baro Port Terminal, the Mambilla Power Project, the Kano-Maiduguri Dual Carriage Way, Kano-Lagos Railway, and many others. It therefore calls on the Government and the National Assembly to appropriate adequate funds in the 2017 Budget for the completion of these projects.

    “The meeting noted the abysmally low power generation and erratic power supply being experienced nationwide. It therefore questioned the wisdom of the privatization of the Power Holding Company (PHCN) and also the capacity of the private entrepreneurs that bought the power generation and distribution outfits.

    “The regular excuses of shortage of gas supply, low water level, vandalization of installations, lack of spare parts etc which have continued to be given as reasons for poor power supply over the years are no longer tenable. The new owners of the Generation plants and the Distribution outfits were expected to have complimented Federal Government huge investments by injecting more funds and expertise that will improve performance at minimum cost to the consumers.

    “ACF therefore calls on the Federal Government to take necessary and practical steps that will improve the power supply including reviewing the privatization. Government should also put in place policy framework that will encourage investments in the renewable energy sector, (solar and coal) to compliment the thermal and hydro generating plants.

    “The meeting commended the efforts of the Nigerian military and the security agencies in tackling the insecurity situation with its limited personnel and equipment. It however noted the on-going recruitment exercise into the various security organizations, Military, Air Force, Police Force, Para-military agencies, which will ultimately strengthen the security outfits, and urged the youth to avail themselves to this opportunity.

    “The meeting noted with dismay the recurrent ethnic/religious and farmers/herdsmen clashes in Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa and other states and resolved to visit the affected communities to commiserate with them over the unfortunate killings and destruction of property. It will also mediate between the warring factions with the view to finding an amicable solutions to the conflict.

    “It noted that the proposed Northern Security Summit to be held in April being supported by the Northern States Governors Forum will to a larger extent address causes of these conflicts and proffer enduring solutions.

    “The meeting also applauded the Federal Government’s policy on food security which encourages investment in agriculture and calls on our farmers to avail themselves to the revolving funds set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial institutions. Nigeria’s dependence on imported rice has not only deflated our foreign reserve and enriched other countries, but has made us to abandoned our potential greatness in agriculture.

    “ACF therefore calls on the Government at all levels to encourage our farmers to form cooperative societies in order to enjoy the agricultural facilities being provided by the financial institutions. Farmers should also endeavor to reciprocate the government’s gesture by promptly paying back the loans granted them to sustain the revolving fund”, the communiqué read.

  • ASUU faults OAU council dissolution

    ASUU faults OAU council dissolution

    A visitation committee set up by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
    The committee said President Muhammadu Buhari erred when he dissolved the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy and approved the suspension of an already concluded process for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.
    The actions, it insisted, contravened the ASUU-FGN agreement.
    The committee, which submitted its report to the NEC at a meeting in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma last weekend, noted that “the Governing Council followed the process of selection of Vice Chancellor to its conclusion.”
    It recommended condemnation of the action of Buhari, who is the Visitor to the institution, stating that it violated the Universities Autonomy Act (UAA), which was a product of the agreement reached between the ASUU and the FGN.  
    The committee headed by the national vice president of ASUU, Prof. V. E. Osodeke, had eight members, including two zonal coordinators and three immediate past zonal coordinators.
    The committee was set up in the wake of the crisis that rocked the university following the appointment of a new VC.
    The Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and some members of ASUU (OAU Branch) had expressed strong displeasure against the process that produced Prof. Ayobami Salami as the 11th VC of the institution.
    They alleged the Prof. Tale Omole’s administration and the Governing Council skewed the process in favour of Salami who was subsequently appointed.
    The union bodies took the matter to the High Court at Osogbo, Osun State and embarked on a strike which led to the closure of the university for weeks.
    A faction within the OAU branch of ASUU headed by Prof. Peter Akinola sided with the two non-academic unions.
    It wrote a petition to the national body, claiming certain wrongdoings against the branch executives.
    But a High Court at Osogbo penultimate Monday struck out the case filed by NASU and SSANU challenging the appointment of Salami as VC.
    In his verdict, Justice M. A. Onyetenu stated that the court did not have jurisdiction to entertain the case.
    He asked the appellants to take the case to the Industrial Court at Ibadan Oyo State.
    Buhari, on July 1, in an advertorial published in a national daily announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of the University.
    He also ordered that the process for the appointment of a new VC to replace Prof. Omole be suspended “pending the outcome of the subsisting court case”.
    This was after the appointment process had been concluded with Salami announced as the new VC.
    In August, following the instruction of the Visitor, the Senate of the University met and appointed Prof. Anthony Elujoba as VC in acting capacity.