For the second time in one week, eminent Yoruba leaders yesterday converged on Ibadan, Oyo State capital, calling for devolution of powers and resources from the centre to the federating units.
The leaders, under the aegis of Conscience of the Yoruba Race, spoke on the theme: Restructuring Nigeria: Options and strategies.
They insisted that the devolution must also involve decentralising responsibilities.
Present at the event in the Banquet Hall, Premier Hotel, include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Olu Falae; Prof. Amos Akingba, former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly Dr. Akin Onigbinde, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, Dr. Gbola Adetunji, Mr. Sina Kawonise, Senator Ayo Arise and Dr. Olu Agunloye.
Others are Prof. Wale Are Olaitan, Mr. Yomi Layinka, former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly Kehinde Ayoola, Dipo Olaitan, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Doherty, Mr. Dare Babarinsa and the group’s Administrator, Mr. Kole Omololu.
Falae, who chaired at the event, maintained that while the present government might not be positively predisposed to negotiating the country’s unity, the currency the debate about restructuring was generating has made it critical for it to be discussed, if Nigeria is to have a future.
According to the elder statesman, while there are many options to restructuring, the future of Nigeria lies in the implementation of the reports of the 2014 National Conference.
Falae said unlike what obtained under the old regional system, the fresh regionalism being championed is designed to get to the grassroots where the bulk of Nigerians reside.
He said: “What we have come to discuss is a big subject in Nigeria. Not long ago the new president, my friend said it was a none-issue and that the report of the national conference had not been read. But that subject has become topical and like I said in my recent interview, the restructuring of Nigeria via the report of the national conference is the future of Nigeria, if Nigeria has a future.
“The options for restructuring are many. We went to Abuja for a regional agenda. But on getting there, the Middle Belters were scared of it. But I am happy that in recent times, they are at the fore-front that regional it shall be. I called my friend Jerry Gana on what had happened and he said they had had a change of mind.
“Change must come but not the partisan change that has no meaning. Massive devolution of powers, responsibilities and resources must take place from the centre to the federating units. I want to add that the devolution will not stop at the old regional capitals of power. It must continue to the states created in the regions and the local government, which is where our people reside”.
Omololu said the agitation called for Yoruba race to mobilise intelligence and ensure social justice for its members.
He noted that the group started as a social media group for the mobilisation of the people, saying the time has come to fashion out ways to implement the resolutions reached at the 2014 National Conference, where all groups were represented.
Noting that it smacks injustice for the government to state that country’s unity cannot be negotiated, Omololu noted that even the colonial rulers allowed the negotiation of terms of governance.
Worried by the paucity of research-based policies on economic development, the International Association of Research Scholars and Administrators (IARSA), will hold an Education, Technology, Transportation and Disaster Management (ETTDM 2017) conference at the Airport Hotel, Lagos on July 6 and 7 to address the problem.
Lead Facilitator of the conference, Prof Akin Ogunsakin, said it would be an an opportunity for researchers and policy makers to share their findings and cutting edge technologies in education, transportation and disaster management.
He listed keynote speakers as: Education Minister Malam Adamu Adamu; Science & Technology Minister of gbonnaya Onu; Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi; Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi; Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaji, among others.
Special guests of honour are: Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Emir of Zazzau Shehu Idris, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwunsi, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Isaq Bello, among others.
“IARSA was founded as a result of discussions among international and national educational research associations and several major research institutes globally which identified the need for an international association to foster the exchange of ideas amongst international researchers,” Ogunsakin said.
Members include vice chancellors of universities, renowned academics, local and international research professors , among others.
Pentecostal church leaders across the country yesterday rejected the revised Basic Education Curriculum by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
The curriculum, they said, is unacceptable because it collapses Christian Religious Studies (CRS) as part of an omnibus subject known as Religion and National Values.
The church leaders insisted that CRS should stand alone as a subject to foreclose the possibility of some states acting against the interests of Christian students.
They spoke with reporters at the end of the 2nd quarter National Executive Council of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Lagos.
The well-attended meeting attracted Pentecostal leaders like General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide Bishop David Oyedepo; Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); National President of PFN Bishop Felix Omobude; its vice, Bishop Wale Oke; national secretary, Apostle Emmanuel Kure and other state chairmen of the body.
Omobude said the fusing of CRS into Religion and National Values was without justification and the explanations of NERDC were also unconvincing.
“Collapsing CRK as only a part of Religion and National Values forecloses the opportunity of the subject being studied at the tertiary level by students, who might so desire and this is unacceptable to us.”
Hailing the compulsory study of foreign languages, Omobude, however, stated more languages such as Spanish and others beyond French and Arabic should be included in the curriculum.
The expansion, he said, will allow students “enjoy greater flexibility in foreign language study and not be compelled to study a language they have no interest in, as its being reported in some states.
“We are aware of orchestrated plans to subtly use this policy as a means of forceful religious indoctrination and we maintain our stand against it.”
Oyedepo maintained that the revised curriculum was targeted against Christian students, calling for its reversal to guarantee religious harmony across the nation.
“What we are saying is that it is not acceptable to the Christian community. If students cannot study CRK in secondary school, it means we won’t have it at the tertiary level,” he reiterated.
On calls for restructuring, Omobude restated commitment of Pentecostal Christians to a united Nigeria.
He, however, called on the Federal Government to do all it can to assuage the fears and concerns of agitators through enthronement of true federalism.
“Those who beat the drums of war should not be forgetful of our pasts. We cannot afford to go through the path of war again as a nation,” he stated.
Okonkwo called on northern elders to call their youths to order, saying the quit notice was a declaration of war against the South.
Federal Fire Service, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) would embark on massive recruitment exercise, it has been disclosed.
This is as the House of Representatives promised to ensure that no section of the Nigerian society is denied its due in the planned exercise.
The Director/Secretary of the Civil Defense, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB), Sunday Dan Ogu, who appeared before House Committee on Legislative Compliance at the weekend after being threatened with arrest, said the planned recruitment into the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) was a continuation of the 2014 exercise that led to the death of many applicants.
Chairman of the Committee, Abiodun Olasupo (APC, Oyo) said the House was only being proactive in it duty by seeking to know the state of preparedness for the exercise.
“We are naturally concerned about the last unfortunate incidence, so we need to know how prepared the Service is for this exercise.
“As representatives of our people, we need to let them know and give them the assurances that all hands are on deck for a hitch-free exercise,” he said.
Responding, Ogu said the Board was fully prepared taking into consideration factors that led to the unfortunate of the last exercise.
He said the forthcoming exercise was in continuation of the last one where 888 applicants were absolved into the NIS.
He said the balance of 1,110 vacancies was what the Board is hoping to fill.
He also disclosed that the overwhelming number of applicants, which was a reflection of the high rate of unemployment in the country, is being addressed by the federal government with a planned massive recruitment into the other services under the Board.
The South East is unrelenting in its quest for the Office of Secretary to the Federal Government, following the suspension of the incumbent, David Babachir Lawal.
There are speculations that Lawal may not return and that the presidency is already searching for a replacement.
Political leaders from the South East have launched a campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari to give the position to the zone, citing the need to reverse the view that the administration is marginalizing the zone.
Frontline Igbo leader and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, believes the South East has got nothing tangible so far from the Buhari government and that it would expect that if there is such a vacancy, the Federal Government will reserve it for the region.
”If you look at the whole thing that they are doing, it appears as if people don’t exist in the South East,” he told The Nation.
“We have people who are qualified to hold this position in the APC. They should look at our people in the APC and appoint one of them.”
A former governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is also of the view that the position should naturally be conceded to the South East.
His words: “Nigeria has six principal protocol offices. The North West has the President; the South West has the Vice-President; the Senate President is from the North Central; so are other zones except the South East.
“Our constitution prescribes federal character, but the South East zone is conspicuously absent, blatantly removed from these positions. The position should automatically come to the South East.” He added: “Usually, anyone who should be the SGF is effectively someone who knows where the switches in government are, so that if anybody switches on, he switches off.
“That was why, in the past, it was only retired permanent secretaries that qualified to be made SGF. Somebody who has worked as a governor is also qualified because he has worked with so many permanent secretaries.”
While supporting the call that the SGF position to go to the South East, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group,Nnia Nwodo, said: ”I think we should go beyond the stage of determining who should occupy an office on the basis of zone to competence. The entire federal appointments have violated the federal character and shortchanged the South East and shortchanged the policy of the APC to zone the SGF position to the South East.
“They ate their own words. We are going to court to challenge the president for non-compliance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A lot more has been done in denying the South East their due at the centre. I hope the president will use this opportunity to correct a lot of things. But far more important is that he should look for somebody competent from the South East. We want quality people to man important positions.”
But he said Ohanaeze will not lobby the presidency for the position to come to the zone, saying: “I am not interested in lobbying anybody to recognize the zone. The president is supposed to be the father of the whole country. He has sworn to the constitution and I expect him to respect his oath of office.”
The call also got the support of First Republic Minister and nationalist, Mbazulike Amaechi, who ,in a telephone interview , said: “If the president now believes that there should be fairness and equity and justice and that Nigeria should be a true federation, he should give the post of the SGF to the South East.
“You put somebody in Foreign Affairs and another in Science and Technology. To me, those are insignificant positions.
“It shows that he doesn’t want the Igbo. If he changes his mind now, it will douse tension in the country. He will regain the confidence of the Igbo people if he does this.
“Ogbonaya Onu had been a chairman of a political party that sponsored President Buhari twice. He has been so faithful a man. He is a quiet and principled Igbo man. He is not like these other ones that jump from one party to the other. If he (Buhari) actually wants somebody who will be loyal to him, he has him (Onu) there in Abuja.”
On his part, the national chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said the call for the replacement of the suspended SGF is misplaced and premature because he has not been indicted.
Even if the seat becomes vacant, Okorie said, whoever occupies the position lies within the purview of the president.
He said: ”He knows who he wants. Even though it is provided for in the law of the land, it is not one of those offices that is subjected to federal character. It is the president’s prerogative as far as I know.
“ If the president gives it to the South East, I will definitely be happy.
“I am not keen on what position my people occupy, but what the government does for my people. Our people occupied positions in the past and there was nothing to show for it.”
The Archbishop of Ondo Province, Anglican Communion, Rev Latunji Lasebikan, yesterday advised Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to be distracted by probing his predecessors.
Rev. Lasebikan said this in a sermon at a thanksgiving service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Church, Owo Local Government.
The service was also to celebrate the 85th birthday of Akeredolu’s mother, Grace.
The bishop said the focus of the new governor should be on how he to fulfill his campaign promises.
Akeredolu, on several occasions, had said he would not probe the Olusegun Mimiko administration, adding that the law was there to punish any corrupt officer.
Rev. Lasebikan said: “Probe of successive administration, what do you make out of it? You get to an office, do your own job.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was to ensure that all those who mismanaged our money are brought to book, what have we got so far?
“The precious time he would have used to do better things has been wasted pursuing people who are unwilling to bend.
“The nation is suffering because of probe; probe has no meaning for anybody”.
The cleric, however, urged Akeredolu to ensure he clears all the seven months unpaid salaries left behind by his predecessor.
He said: “You should pay salaries; many of our people have not been paid, not only in Ondo State but in other parts of Nigeria.
“It is not good. A labourer is worthy of his wage and government needs to do something that the public will know that it is taking care of them, otherwise people will not respond to the politicians.
“I know recession has been a bad thing for the nation but there should be a way that workers are paid.“
Akeredolu, who commended those who were present, urged the people to always prophesy good things into their lives.
He assured the people that his administration will hit the ground running immediately.
The Special Committee on the Clean-Up of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki will commence the second phase of the exercise in two weeks.
Speaking with newsmen after the committee meeting on Tuesday, its Chairman and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello, said the committee will now focus on all the inner streets in the high brow area.
Bello said: “For all those who have been dislodged from the major streets but are finding their way back to the inner streets, this is a clear warning that the task force is coming after them. The earlier they realise that there is no place for street traders, illegal shanties or abandoned properties in the area, the better for them.
“We are also going to embark on a mop up operation on all the areas that have already been cleared by the task force to prosecute some of the dislodged traders or operators of shanties that have returned.”
He warned authorities of Federal Marriage Registry in Ikoyi whose patrons always constitute a nuisance by indiscriminate parking on the road to find a solution to it or risk impounding those vehicles and prosecution of the owners.
The SSG said an improvement on the second stage of the Clean-Up exercise would be the presence of Mobile Courts to try all offenders on all days of the operation.
Bello reiterated the determination of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-administration to restore the original master plan of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki by checking the activities of street traders, owners of shanties and roadside automobile repairers who have converted many dual carriage lanes to single lanes with indiscriminate parking and other forms of illegalities in the areas.
This year as all others, we pretended to have answers to everything. Did we? This year, we continued to spit words and eat them, like the dog that waddles back to gobble its vomit.
This year, we quoted Nietzsche, Plato, Disreali among others to garnish our columns while we did all we can to silence true-born dissent on our news pages and news networks, lest we incur the ire of irate benefactors.
This is the year we ennobled the thieving statesman and denied the patriot the plaudits we save for noble compatriots. This is the year we celebrated underachievers as the best of overachievers. This year, we celebrated the vanities of dim-witted celebrities on front-pages of our national newspapers.
Here goes the year we exhausted newsprint and priceless airtime to glamorize the shenanigans of “society bigwigs and small wigs” although we cannot tell and still cannot tell, the simplest manifestations of our news practice, on say, the vendor who markets the newspaper or the child-labourer to whom Universal Basic Education (UBE) remains an everlasting fantasy.
This is the year we feted the northern mafia, eastern cabal, western gerontocracy, and south-south uprising, as usual, even as they undermined our collective dreams and everything that nationhood and ambition had ever bestowed us.
Beyond our elegant words and brazen manifestations of high character, our practice is modeled after some greedy few’s cartography of citizenship than by any internal dynamic of allegiances. Hence our misinterpretation of the social contract between the Fourth Estate and every other estate charged with the administration and supervision of our nation-state.
Thus this year as all others, we hid behind interviews, ‘big interviews,’ to abdicate our responsibilities to the Nigerian public. This is the year we taught the public to feast and digest perversion because we believe it’s what they love to do best; because we know if we treat them to more depravity, they will become more willing participants, and we would get more adverts and keep smiling to the banks.
This year as all others, we turned a blind eye and conveniently lost our voice as creatures running the three arms of government squandered public fund to feed their gluttony. This year, as all others, we watched unperturbed as most of our colleagues ennobled and defended with their lives, the rights of the ruling class to pilfer our chests and rob us silly because leaders of men like them deserve to eat and dwell like no ordinary man.
This year, the ruling class afflicted our lives with ineptitude and savagery. In response, we cried ourselves hoarse, twisting logic and lip service for and against our favourite public officer; eventually, we lost our voices to racism and confusion.
This is the year in which our brothers in the north-east tirelessly blew to death, our mothers and daughters, sons and fathers, in the market place, schools, on the playground, in our bedrooms and houses of worship in the name of politics and religion. This is the year in which our brothers in the south-east determinedly kidnapped our wives and daughters, mothers and fathers, sons and heirs apparent, for a ransom, in pursuit of unearned affluence. This is the year in which our brothers in the southwest habitually mortgaged our future on the altar of politics, personal and sectarian greed. This year as all others, we refused to dissect these maladies, in the interest of our nation and thus helped the world to understand why we are regarded as the inheritors in whose hands the heritage dies and everything fails.
This year, we affirmed those dreadful points our internal and external publics love to make; that we have become inept, mediocre, irredeemably shorn of truth and uprightness in our work. This year, we affirmed that we are amoral and somewhat intellectually challenged by our ethnic and intellectual bigotry.
This year, we failed to actualize press freedom because it was socio-politically incorrect to do so. This year as all others, we failed to acknowledge that our survival or death as a nation is undeniably entwined with the tenor of practice and citizenship of the Nigerian press.
This year as all others, I make a case for re-sensitization of the Nigerian media. It is time we dismembered our clan of the shameless breed. I speak of the almighty charlatan who believes that the status quo should be sustained ad infinitum because characters like him deserve the right to unquestionable practice.
I do not wish that the press be gagged; I suggest no such arbitrariness – even if I do, it would hardly matter because we go through the practice, gagged.
We are our worst enemies. In spite of everything, we choose to play god. That is why “dogs don’t eat dogs” in our Fourth Estate although it’s okay if we choose to eat the entrails of a few ordinary Nigerians and almighty benefactors, like the unfortunate adulterer caught pants down even as we underreport thieving bankers stealing from wretched folk to enrich their privileged peers.
I hope we find the courage to report; “The Rot in the Media.” I hope we find the courage to report that for every kobo looted by government, in our public and private sectors, the press gets to have its share however meager it is. Dateline: media parleys, press conferences and governors’ roundtables.
If we could passionately and conscientiously monitor our affairs daily that we may not digress and put to shame our practice, wouldn’t journalism be much better? Were we humane enough to improve our welfare and conditions of service, wouldn’t our journalists be dignified and our practice nobler?
It’s time we asked: “Who is a journalist?” and aspire to an untainted definition of it. It’s time we redefined what level of knowledge, qualification and professionalism is expected of a journalist. It’s time we ascertained what manner of passion channels the direction of our news practice.
It’s time we refused to humour such society that continually disrespects us and treats us as disposable pawns in its grand scheme of themes. Come 2017, shall we continue to service the depravity of folk for whom our pens write maladies at the expense of melodies impoverished folk would die to have us write about – that they might fare better?
Will 2017 mutate like today and our immediate past? Shall we remain intellectual hit men of every hoodlum with deep pocket? Shall we become cliff-hangers to take the portrait of every looter and celebrity nincompoop with a promising smile? Shall we remain the media managers that pay poorly even as we label expatriate firms, slave-drivers?
Next year, will the masses stare at our cover pages resignedly, knowing they would never hear or feel the infinitesimal clangor of freed hope because we are, as usual, an aberration of their desperate circumstances? Shall we continue to speak from both sides of the mouth? Shall we continue to eat like idiots at the feast of the one who calls us “idiot?”
University Crest Awards (ANUCA), the maiden inter-varsity award, is to hold next month. Celebrities and students with outstanding record in various endeavours will be honoured at the event.
The award is the initiative of Ayotunde Dabira, a young entrepreneur. Its objective is to encourage entrepreneurship among students.
Some personalities and organisations that will be honoured include Aare Afe Babalola; Kunle Afolayan; Funke Akindele(aka Jenifa); a comedian, Seyi Law; a hip-hop artiste, Kiss Daniel and Guaranty Trust Bank, among others.
The award has over 50 categories. Some students have been nominated for the award. Some of the students’ categories include Most Enterprising Student of the Year, Student CEO of the Year, Students’ Union President of the Year, Most Outstanding Student in Sport, Student Brand of the Year, Student Music Producer of the Year and Student Journalist of the Year, among others.
Ayotunde said: “The nominees are selected based on their integrity and character credibility. We also have a voting standard that will help us select their winners. The award is focused mainly on education, entrepreneurship, music, fashion.”
Since the Federal Government issued the directive last June, its universities have known no peace. It asked the universities to sack workers of their staff primary and secondary schools, because it could no longer pay their salaries.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) and Federal Universities Staff Schools Association of Nigeria (FUSSAN) kicked against the directive.
The associations argued that the schools, which charge minimal fees, are for the workers’ benefit, noting that the teachers were employed by the universities, not by the schools.
The workers had hoped that the matter would be resolved before the December 2015 deadline given to the vice chancellors (VCs) of the 30 federal universities to implement the directive. But, with some universities, such as, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), issuing staff schools’ workers letters, the fear of sack has gripped their counterparts in other institutions.
There has been disquiet in FUTA, since its staff schools were shut. The institution’s SSANU and NASU chapters and teachers have protested on three occasions since December 18 when the sack letters were issued to 45 workers of the staff school. The SSANU leadership participated in one of the protests held last January 15. The union has taken up the fight of the staff school workers and has been on an indefinite strike since December 24 that its President, Samson Ngwoke, said would not be called off until the government rescinds its decision.
Since schools resumed for the second term of the 2015/2016 academic session on January I1, the FUTA Staff School has not run smoothly.
One of the sacked workers, Mr. Olabisi Olurotimi said following the protests, the university has shut the school.
He also said though the sacked workers resume daily, they are not allowed into the premises.
“We have been resuming to our work by staying around the school gate as early as 7.30 a.m and also leave the place by 1.30pm.
“The management has denied us entrance into the school. We are in pain and we are praying that God listens to us,” he said.
On why he did not re-apply for the job, Olurotimi said the workers were directed by their lawyers not to do so since the matter is still pending in court.
“Our lawyers said we should not re-apply for the job; that doing that will make us to lose the case in the court because we are under government not a private sector,” he said.
The FUTA Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sulaiman Adegbenro however confirmed that the Head Teacher and Deputy Head
Teacher of the Staff School re-applied for their posts immediately the management published a vacancy advert in the dailies.
Prof Daramola
The Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Adebiyi Daramola’s explanation about the university establishing a board to run the school and the directive to the sacked workers to re-apply have been described as excuses to run the school to serve his own purpose.
Ugwoke accused Daramola of being overzealous. He also called for the immediate sack of the Executive Chairman of National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (CNSIWC), Chief Richard Egbule, and the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie.
He said the sack was contrary to the agreement the union had with the government in 2009 and faulted Okojie for directing VCs to stop the salaries of Staff School teachers despite the provision for a re-negotiation of the said agreement.
He said: “The directive negates the spirit and conditions of the SSANU/Federal Government agreement of 2009, where it was agreed that the full capital and recurrent costs of University Staff Primary Schools would be funded by the Federal Government through the universities Councils.
“It appears FUTA has taken the lead in implanting this evil project conceptualised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission because of the morbid and sadistic disposition of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daramola.
“The Vice-Chancellor of FUTA may talk away his misguided action by saying he is only implementing government directive. Is he the only Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria? Why haven’t other universities gone the way of FUTA? Why is FUTA in the forefront of this evil?”
SSANU President, Ngwoke
The FUTA SSANU Chairman, Mr Benedict Chukwudi, questioned why the Federal Government wants to sack 2,000 staff school workers nationwide when it is still funding schools run by security agencies.
“I don’t know why the government has decided to pounce on the University Staff School workers because the Navy, Police and other staff schools are still being paid by the government,” he said.
On his part, NASU Chairman, FUTA Chapter, Mr Adebayo Aladerotohun, claimed that the FUTA VC had ulterior motive.
He said: “It appears that Prof. Daramola has ulterior motive in this matter beyond what the Federal Government asked him to do because it is only FUTA that has taken this matter to the extreme.
“He has advertised to Nigerians that he wants to recruit another set of teachers there but we learnt that he has employed his relatives to take up the jobs. We asked him to let the union dialogue with the government but he refused and went ahead to sack the teachers so as to employ inexperienced ones.”
However, the Vice Chancellor refuted the claim. He insisted the university followed due process.
Daramola said: “The issue is not a matter peculiar to FUTA. It is a national matter and in handling it the Management of FUTA has followed due process in the implementation of a directive from the Federal Government relating to the discontinuance of funding of primary schools being run by Federal universities and allied Institutions.
“A circular from the Federal Government to this effect was conveyed to the management of FUTA. After a thorough appraisal of the Federal Government Circular which precluded personnel/teachers of primary school affiliated to institutions/agencies from being included in the nominal roll as from January 2016, FUTA management sought the approval of the Governing Council to make the primary school independent of government funding in order to ensure that it is in a position to pay the salaries of teachers and personnel in its employ.”
While saying that the university management provided a soft landing for the affected teachers as they were allowed to re-apply for their jobs, the VC lamented that the union ordered them not to re-apply.
Daramola also said that the union rejected the Governing Council’s approval that the university pays the salaries of the workers while they continue their work.
He warned the disengaged teachers not to cause unnecessary crisis in the university.
At the UNILORIN Staff School, The Nation gathered that the pupils were being taught by students of the university’s education faculty.
One of the affected teachers (names withheld) said about 86 of them were served sack letters December 1, 2015.
He was, however, hopeful that SSANU would intervene
“With the intervention of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), we are hopeful that the federal government will reverse its directive on that issue.
“I am aware that Federal Government may have a rethink on the matter. What is curious is that management of the University of Ilorin said we should reapply for our posts. The retrenchment has affected my financial situation,” he said.
The Nation also learnt that university has advertised for new teachers replace those sacked.
But the university authorities dismissed the allegation, arguing that the sacked teachers agreed to work in the school in the next one month hoping that the Federal Government would rescind its decision.
At the UDUS, The Nation learnt that the university management sacked workers of its primary and secondary schools about seven months ago and recruited fresh hands to be paid with its internally generated revenue.
“The workers had been sacked since seven months ago but they decided to take the matter to court through SSANU. As I am talking to you now, the matter is in court”, a source said.
Workers at the University of Calabar Staff School have not received sack letters, but the Deputy Head Master (Administration), Deacon Mbu Moses Mbu says they are worried.
“I know that some teachers have been sacked in some schools, but it has not affected us here in Calabar. The situation is a bad one. We are very uncomfortable. Our morale is down because we know there is nothing the politicians cannot do, even when they do not have the right.
“We always say that we were employed like any other staff in the university, but the jungle justice these days is that if they push you out, you will not have enough strength to fight them. The ones sent are struggling and I don’t see them overcoming, because it may sum up to spending a lot of money hiring lawyers they cannot pay. We hope it does not degenerate to a point where we would be thrown out.” he said.
On his part, the President, Federal Universities Staff Schools Association of Nigeria, Rev Chidi Nwakpa, urged the government to reverse the decision as he said the workers involved are not many.
“I believe it is not a proper thing. It is not good because if the Federal Government is talking about recruiting 500, 000 teachers, promoting primary education and encouraging education at the primary school level, I don’t think it is right for anyone to issue any sack letters.
“I would want to plead with the Federal Government to look at this at once. We are not so many. But when you talk about the level of corruption in the system, the money being paid to these teachers is not up to what one person has taken. We did not commit any crime to be employed in the staff schools. The Federal Government should withdraw that letter, recall all the teachers they sacked and let us have some peace in our schools and university system, because the current strike action is not helping anybody and not helping matters,” he said.
SSANU Chairman, University of Lagos chapter, Mr Adekola Adetomiwa, said with the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the staff schools would lose more if disarticulated because he said the Federal Government would collect the revenue generated from the schools, which, at UNILAG, runs into millions yet refuse to pay salaries.
He said: “All the money has been taken by government in the TSA. It was a directive of the Jonathan administration, but Buhari is implementing it. So Buhari now has access to N1.4 trillion. How will you now take the money of staff schools, which is about N400 million and put it in Federal Government’s account; take N650 million from International School, put it in Federal Government’s account? This is money paid by parents. You would now say the Federal Government would not pay their salary! That is a poor tradition.
“Before, the government did not have access to the Ministry Departments and Agencies (MDA) fund and they were paying salaries of these people. Universities are under agencies. Now that you now have N1.4 trillion, you don’t want to pay the salaries. The question is how much do you pay these people within a year? It is about N3 billion – compared to the entire N1.4 trillion; compared to the budget of the National Assembly which is about N175 billion; compared to the nation’s budget which is N6.01 trillion.
“So, you see the government is about to make a very serious mistake. That is why we are calling on the president and the minister for education, Adamu Adamu to make sure that staff are not removed from the payroll.”
The SSANU leadership is expected to meet with the Minister on the matter this week. Only time will tell how the issue will be resolved.
