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Tag: UNILAG

  • Unilag’s SSANU protests N1.6b allowance sharing formula

    Unilag’s SSANU protests N1.6b allowance sharing formula

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) protested yesterday the management’s “failure” to follow the approved formula in the sharing of the N1.6 billion earned allowance for federal varsity workers.

    SSANU Chairman Adetola Adetomiwa said the money was among the issues contained in the agreement with the Federal Government in 2009.

    He said the allowance comprised responsibility, excess work load and hazard.

    Adetomiwa said the government gave N30 billion to federal universities for the allowance about two months ago before President Goodluck Jonathan met with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) leaders.

    He said: “Of this amount, N1.6 billion was accruable to our university to be shared by an existing formula, which is N15,000 for junior staff spread across 18 months arrears and N30,000 for senior staff spread across 18 months.

    “Rather than follow this sharing formula as stipulated for all labour unions in the institution, the university authorities decided to pay each of us N15,000 across board and this is highly unacceptable.

    “The right amount has since been paid to our colleagues in other universities. Why should our case be different or is there something going on that we do not know about? We give the management 24 hours to do the right thing to avoid further problems in the university. The government has done its part and there is no reason for some individuals to scuttle its gesture.

    “We want to follow this matter up to any level because it is high time we instilled discipline in the university system, which has been suffering from a lot of challenges. We must all support the government to build a university of our dream.”

    SSANU Financial Secretary Okeowo Oluwaseun said: “The university has been enjoying some measure of peace, that is why the management feels it can do whatever it wants without being challenged.”

  • Varsity teachers divided over strike

    Varsity teachers divided over strike

    Varsity teachers met yesterday on the campuses to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s offer to end their more than four months strike.

    According to the operating guidelines of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the local chapters are expected to vote on whether they agreed with the proposal and that the strike should end or whether they disapproved and the strike should continue.

    Decisions reached on the various campuses are to be taken to tomorrow’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which will take a decision after aggregating the opinions.

    Opinions were divided yesterday, although many ASUU chapters failed to disclose their decisions.

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), University of Calabar (UNICAL), Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Federal University of Technology Minna and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso chapters voted that the strike should end. Some of them, however, gave conditions.

    The University of Jos (UNIJOS), the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Nasarawa State University chapters voted that the strike should continue.

    UNIJOS chapter chairman Dr. David Jankam said members did not see any substance in the dialogue with the Federal Government to warrant calling off the strike.

    He said: “We have just rounded off our meeting. As a matter of fact, our members voted overwhelmingly for the continuation of the strike.

    “I can also confirm to you that five of the eight universities that make up the Bauchi Zone of ASUU have also voted for continuation of the strike, and the general saying is that the government has not shown any commitment so far.

    “We started the meeting by briefing our members on issues resolved with the Federal Government in the last meeting with the president of ASUU.

    “But in responding to the briefing, our members observed that the main issues that led to the strike were not discussed at the Aso Rock meeting.

    “As such, my members said President Jonathan is taking them for a ride by trying to divert attention from the core subjects of the strike.”

    Jankam went on: “I will now convey the resolve of our branch to our national president at the NEC meeting tomorrow.”

    Shedding light on how the meeting will decide the mater, he said: “If the majority of the chapters vote for its end, it will be called off, but if majority of chapters vote for continuation, so be it.”

    The congress of the Union at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna was divided, with majority of the members supporting the suspension of the action. Others would want it suspended with some conditions met by the government.

    The minority demanded that in calling off the action, the leadership of the union should insist that no member is victimised for his roles in the strike. They also insisted that government should indicate in the final agreement that the 2009 agreement was due for negotiation and the payment of the balance of their academic earned allowances.

    As soon as Dr. Fatai Jimoh briefed the congress of the outcome of the meeting between President Jonathan and the union, the house was divided, with the majority of the members pushing for suspension.

    The few dissenting voices argued that the union should not fall prey to the government’s ploy. They cautioned that the union cannot take the government for its word, maintaining that if the union had to embark on a strike after series of correspondences and strike in 2011 that led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2012 were not honoured.

    But majority of the university teachers said the plight of the students and their parents should be considered.

    After an exhaustive debate, the congress directed its chairman to convey to the National Executive Council meeting holding tomorrow at the Bayero University in Kano that the union could consider suspending the action, but insisted that the three conditions be met.

    Chapter chairman Dr. Fatai Jimoh, who initially refused to divulge the outcome of the congress, later said: “I have the mandate to take the decision of the congress to NEC. But, if you insist to know, majority of our members called for the suspension of the strike but with the government fulfilling three conditions.

    “Don’t ask me the conditions, because we don’t want it yet in the public domain. All I can tell you is that the strike is still on, until the NEC of the union decides otherwise.”

    The chapter chairman also refused to assess the impact of the action. He said: “As long as NEC has not suspended the action, it will be premature to assess the success or otherwise of the action. When the strike is called off, I’ll give my candid assessment.”

    At Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, ASUU chair Comrade Yahaya Badeggi said: “The congress at IBBU Lapai resolved that the strike continues until when the National Executive Council of the union decides otherwise. We know they are still negotiating. We shall abide by the decision of NEC.”

    On the gains of the action, Badeggi said: “I make bold to say that the action has produced some positive results. From the N100 billion released, our university got N450 million. This would not have been so but for the strike. I believe that at the end of the day, the university system will be better for it.”

    The following are the decisions at the various ASUU chapters on the strike.

    •University of Benin (UNIBEN). Members unanimously voted for the strike to continue because the Federal Government’s offer omitted some vital segments of the 2009 agreement;

    •University of Lagos (UNILAG) teachers want suspension of strike, but will await further directive from the national body after meeting tomorrow in Kano;

    •University of Calabar (UNICAL) lecturers voted for the suspension of the strike;

    Nasarawa State University, Keffi. ASUU chair Dr. Theophilus Lagi, said: “I can assure you that all members present at the congress today wanted the strike to continue because the documents from the government failed to address the grey areas in contention. We believe there is nothing practicable in the government’s offer, even with the N200 billion it promised to release. Before we can suspend the strike, all unpaid salaries of our colleagues must be paid and there must be solid assurance from the government that no member will be victimised after the strike is eventually suspended;

    •Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). When the issue was put to vote, the majority of members wanted an end to the strike, with the agreement that the government must sign a binding document on how it will release the N1.2 trillion it promised to release. They promised to abide by the decision of the NEC in Kano;

    •Delta State University (DELSU) members want suspension of the strike.

    •Ekiti State University (EKSU) lecturers would not disclose the outcome of the congress until after the NEC meeting tomorrow;

    •Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH). The ASUU local chairman said he would not disclose the outcome of the congress but a lecturer who attended the congress said members were okay with the offer of the government and wanted the strike to end;

    •Lagos State University (LASU) chapter supports the strike suspension.

    A source who is from ASUU-LASU executive, but pleaded not to be mentioned, said the chapter only gave certain conditions under which the strike should be suspended.

  • ‘Technology vital to local content’

    THE acquisition of technology is imperative to the achievement of local content in the petroleum industry, Prof Abiola Kehinde of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has said.

    Speaking at a workshop for Learning Managers by the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Kehinde of the Chemical Engineering Department of UNILAG,identified the various methods and strategies through which these technologies could be acquired in areas such as production, engineering, and transport.

    Kehinde, who spoke on Expanding the frontiers of petroleum business in Nigeria through knowledge management and cutting edge research, reiterated that the only way to harness the vast business potential in the oil and gas industry is through a paradigm shift from the import supply mentality to development of indigenous technology through research and development and patronage of locally fabricated consumables.

    He said: “Technological developments in the world, particularly in the later half of last century (1900) and the first decade of this century (2000) have been taking place at such a pace that it is not possible for an industrial enterprise to survive if it does not modernise, expand or add new product lines to its existing business activities. i.e. diversify. Examples include multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria such as Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil etc.

    In a communiqué, participants who included experts from the industry, noted that the creation of synergies between players in the sector and the institute could lead to their improved performance, achievement of competitive advantage and innovation.

    It urged the various oil companies to collaborate with PTI to forge synergies to optimise the utilisation of the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities provided by PTDF for technical research and development of appropriate solutions to the contemporary challenges of the industry. It observed that security for potential investors posed one of the greatest challenges to the harnessing of the tremendous business potential that abound in the industry. It urged the Federal Government to address the issue and expedite the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to enable potential investors to exploit investment opportunities in the Industry.

    The workshop challenged the institute to establish an innovation and production centre to manufacture products and offer services to the needs of the industry. It observed that technical ideas and innovative concepts could be gleaned from collaboration between PTI and operators.

    Participants recommended the initiation of local production of drilling equipment /fluids; research on design and fabrication of drilling bits and drilling mud; local fabrication of bolts and nuts, government legislation that encourage the production of local components for use in the industry; collaboration between the academia and the industry, retired experts to be recalled to impart knowledge of the industry in the institute, mentoring /coaching/teamwork programmes and construction and operation of mini-refineries to serve the teeming demand of petroleum products.

  • UNILAG employee protests ejection

    An employee of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr Obed Enikuomehin, is at loggerheads with the institution over the “injustice” allegedly being meted to him.

    Enikuomehin, a Principal Science Laboratory Technologist at the university’s Medical Centre, was allegedly beaten into coma, while his property and members of his family were ejected from their official residence over a contentious accommodation matter, which was yet to be heard in court.

    He had gone to the Lagos High Court on Tuesday to get hearing date of the case. But his wife called to inform him that the university had sent its internal security men to throw out his family and property. He rushed back to save the situation, but got the beating of his life and was bundled into a security van.

    His lawyer, Mr Omonsa Agidigbi and a Good Samaritan later rescued him temporarily from the security men. He has since had nowhere to turn to as his family and property remain outside. His attempt to get police assistance failed as sources from the police station at Sabo, Yaba, told him they lacked the power to enter the university’s premises to salvage the situation.

    Meanwhile, he has urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Government to ensure justice is done in the issue.

    When The Nation visited Enikuomehins at their home – Block 7, Flat 6, Ozolua Road, UNILAG – yesterday, he was still nursing the bruises he sustained from the assault by the security men. His feet were swollen. He was writhing in pains. His wife looked embattled in their car parked outside the apartment. Armed security men were around to prevent them from re-entering their apartment.

    Enikuomehin said he was forced to retire from service on February 10, 2012 on account of the old retirement age of university workers. He contested it in the court because of the new retirement age signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in May. last year. He said the law took effect from January 2010, but UNILAG authorities insisted on May 2013 for implementation.

    He also alleged that the school owes him a lot of money as it had stopped his salary three months before he was forced to retire against the rule of the school.

    Enikuomehin alleged that the school reneged on its policy which gives him the right to transfer his accommodation to his wife upon retirement as they are both senior staff of the institution.

    He said he had only spent four years in the apartment, while many others have spent between 20 and 30 years without any embarrassment.

    Enikuomehin said, apart from retaining his apartment, all his outstanding entitlements should be paid him as he has not retired.

    The university’s spokesperson, Mr Toyin Adebule, told The Nation that he knew nothing about the matter. He said the school’s authorities would never manhandle any official, adding that in every issue, it always follows due process.

    Adebule stressed that before any staff is asked to vacate his residence, he must have retired from service, adding that due process is always employed.

  • UNILAG’s many road mishaps

    UNILAG’s many road mishaps

    In recent times, the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has witnessed a series of road crashes, severe and minor, which have left many victims with various injuries. Many are still in the medical centre receiving treatments.

    On June 18, a bike ridden by a student rammed into a jeep owned by a lecturer in front of the School Pharmaceutical shop. The incident left the rider in a pool of blood and the bike, completely damaged.

    In July, yet another accident occurred on Distance Learning Institute (DLI) road, near the second school gate. A car veered off the road and hit a streetlight pole. The front part of the car was badly destroyed, to the extent that the vehicle’s airbag opened to ensure the occupants’ safety.

    A few days after, the campus witnessed another crash one early morning; a car driven by an unidentified man hit another owned by a female student in front of New Hall. In an attempt to escape, the man injured the lady but he was later arrested, thanks to the security personnel, who contacted their men at the gates to man every escape route.

    The latest in this season of accidents occurred at the school main gate on Friday, July 26, afternoon. A car entering the campus skidded off its lane, hitting a signboard firmly rooted to the concrete demarcating the two-lane road in the university.

    This raises a lot of questions as to the nuisance over-speeding vehicles generally constitute on the campus. With disturbing noise, students carelessly ride power bikes on the campus, despite the caution signposts strategically placed across the campus.

    It must be said that, in Akoka, there is no speed-limit signpost anywhere apart from the speed breakers on the road. There are little or no traffic signs on the roads except the zebra-crossing, which some motorists ignore.

    On a two-lane road, not a highway, one wonders why we continue to have an average of one accident per week in an academic environment. This is an indication that work needs to be done in checking over-speeding and drivers’ state of mind in ensuring compliance to traffic rules by motorists plying the campus roads.

    This way, many fatal accidents would have been prevented. Management should look into this to ensure safety of students and other members of the university community.

     

    Adeyemi, 300-Level, Physics and Education, UNILAG

  • Girl beats 2,134 others in essay contest

    From the 2,135 entries for the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, the essays by Folatomi Alli-Balogun of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos have been adjudged the best.

    Chief Examiner of the competition, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo, said Folatomi was skillful in her writing.

    The Professor of English at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), added that apart from scoring the highest mark of 80 per cent in the second stage of the competition, Folatomi, “writes with confidence and her ideas and diction are apt and quite appealing. Any reader of the work will detect surface modesty in her expression, but underneath lies great sophistication of thought which comes out effortlessly in her presentation. It is obvious that the skill she has shown in both stages of the competition is the result of her own effort.”

    Mark Nwanbiankea of the Lagos State Senior Model College, Badore came second with 75 per cent, while Samuel Edet of Government Technical College, Calabar, Cross River State came third.

    Folatomi will be rewarded with N100,000 and a laptop, and three computers and a printer for her school at the 14th edition of the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture on September 5 at the Muson Center, Onikan.

    Nwanbiankea will get N75,000 and two computers and a printer for his school; while Edet will receive N50,000 and computer for his school.

    A consolation price of N20,000 will be given to two other finalists of the competition.

    The lecture titled: “Overcoming the Nigerian security challenges: A panacea for national growth and development,” will be delivered by Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, a former Minister of Finance.

     

  • Group to take students on tour

    In promotion of tourism and to educate students on African culture, Eclectic Tourism, a students’ body, has organised a weekend tour to Lagos State tourist sites and entertainment centres.

    According to the organisers, the expedition is aimed at uniting youths in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic through tourism.

    Eclectic Tourism is a division of Eclectic Entertainment established to promote understanding among the youths. The body had organised similar excursions to places such as Badagry, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Abuja and Calabar in the past.

    The three-day tour begins on August 30 and will end on September 1. Interested students are expected to register with N20,000, which includes feeding and accommodation.

    Elabor Eromosele, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eclectic Entertainment and graduate of International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, said the trip would also feature an educative seminar that would take place in the Banquet Hall of Eagles Park Hotel, Ikeja.

    The participants would be initially be hosted at Prince of Anthony Hotel, where they would attend a dinner and fashion show before embarking on the tour. They will also visit the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Ghana High Commission, Palms Shopping Mall, Silverbird Cinemas, La Champagne Tropicana, Lekki Conservation Centre, National Museum, and the National Arts Theatre among others.

    Eromosele added that the group had partnered some firms to make the expedition successful.

  • ‘Make excellence your watchword’

    Prof Grace Otinwa of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), has advised the graduating pupils of the International School, University of Lagos ((ISL) to imbibe the qualities of excellence needed for a bright future.

    Delivering a farewell lecture, themed: Preparing Excellent Youths for the Future during the school’s valedictory service at the UNILAG Multipurpose Hall, she defined excellence as the quality of being outstanding.

    She admonished the graduands to seek God’s excellent spirit, gratitude and integrity as they are major virtues needed in the society.

    To live fulfilled lives, Prof Otinwa counselled the pupils to pay attention to making their active years count.

    ”You have three seasons in life: the learning season, the earning season and when these two seasons are properly utilised, you become fulfilled and your resting season would be at ease. Your starting point of achievement is your commitment to excellence. Your approach to knowledge must change. Your ability to learn, grow and fulfill your potential is unlimited,” she said.

    Attributing part of pupils’ failure in life to parents, she urged them to spend quality time and live an exemplary life to motivate the children.

    “Parents, you should be able to identify the strength and weakness of your children. When you spend good time with them, it will help in reforming their lives. Be willing to correct their wrongs, guide, counsel and pray for them,” she said.

    The principal of the school, Mrs Adaora Ojo counseled the graduands to endure obstacles that they may face in life as the road to success is not easy.

    ”To succeed in life there are a lot of odds to contend with. Your victory depends on one attribute which is endurance. You must be prepared to endure any hardship. There must be disappointment and challenges along the way. Do not be distracted from the goals that you have set for yourself.

    “You must bear in mind that it is when you are confronted with challenges and you are able to overcome them that you become men and women of strength and character,” she said.

    On behalf of the graduands, Abe Adedoyin and Abimbola Adedoyin, thanked the teachers and parents for their support and encouragement, which they believe will help direct their path as they advance in life.

     

  • ‘We gyrate to promote Christ’s gospel’

    Worshipping God has taken another dimension, with the activities of a group called “Gyration For Christ”. Members of the group sing worship and praise songs in a tone reminiscent of Kegites’ Club members. The group’s leader, Gbenga Muritala, HND II Estate Management, Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, speaks with TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE (HND II Computer Science).

    How did you come about the idea of ‘Gyrating for Christ’?

    The idea came to mind during my National Diploma programme. I used to drum during football matches. I would also sing various songs to cheer on my departmental team. I did not know that some members of Kegites’ Club were watching me. I later got an invitation from them but I could not join because of my spiritual life. I was in a group known as Healing Voices in my church. Later, I gathered like-minded youths in the church to form Gyration for Christ. So we started from there.

    What informed the bringing of the group to campus?

    I observed that whenever I passed by Kegites’ members while they were doing their gyration, I would see some Christian students dancing even though the songs were not gospel music. I noticed that they wanted to gyrate along with Kegites members but they could not because of their belief and fellowships. So I felt we could help their condition by bringing our own brand of gyration songs to the campus to allow Christians gyrate. We preach the Christ gospel through our music and always advise students not to take to violence and vices.

    How many youths constitute the group?

    Presently, we are 10 in number. Three of us are students of LASPOTECH, two members are from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), two are graduates, while the rest are still seeking admission.

    What are the group’s challenges?

    The major challenge we are facing remains getting support and recognition. We need people to support us financially so we can take this innovation to places. We have been the one financing ourselves since we started. We want people to know about this and it requires money.

    What kind of events can people call you for?

    We are entertainers that can perform at revival, vigil, fellowship programme and church services. We also go to wedding ceremonies or other Christian outdoor functions.

    Do you see the group developing despite challenges?

    Of course, we are moving forward. I believe a good sponsorship would come our way tomorrow. The group will be known nationwide and even beyond the shores of this country by God’s grace.

     

     

  • Over 12, 000 candidates register for UNILAG Post-UTME

    Over 12, 000 candidates register for UNILAG Post-UTME

    A total of 12,524 candidates registered for the University of Lagos Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, (UTME), for the 2013/2014 academic session, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    Some of the candidates told NAN on Wednesday that they were satisfied with the conduct of the three-day examination, which started on Monday.

    One of them, Miss Mariam Chibuzor, told NAN correspondent who monitored the examination that it was computer based and the biometrics verification exercise helped to check examination malpractice.

    “I am very satisfied with the conduct of this year’s Post UTME examination because with the biometrics verification, there was no incident of impersonation all through the duration of the examination.

    “It was just a case of you as a candidate and your computer,’’ she said, noting that candidates were thoroughly searched before they were allowed into the examination halls.

    “I feel if anyone should scale through this examination, the person should be commended because I am tempted to say to a large extent, it was purely on merit,’’ she said.

    Josiah Udom, another candidate, said the introduction of the biometrics machines as well as Computer Based Test mode of examination had helped to reform the process.

    Udom, however, decried the high handedness displayed by some of the examiners toward the candidates.

    “I really do not like the way some of the examiners talked to the candidates who walked up politely to them to ask very basic and simple questions.

    “ I think they should be cautioned and civil enough to know that examination is not a matter of life and death,” he said.