The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Union

  • Union hails WAPOGA gold medalist

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) has congratulated an Accounting student of the institution, Afusat Oyegoke, who won a gold medal in the Female Single Lawn tennis  in the just-concluded West Africa Polytechnic Games (WAPOGA) held in Ghana.

    The 25-year-old student also won gold medal in lawn tennis at the Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA).

    In a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sodiq Olorunnisola, the union said Afusat made the institution proud at the contest.

    He said: “We are particularly happy that Afusat, who represented OFFA POLY in lawn tennis, made the institution proud, and we believe the feat calls for celebration. It is our hope that she will be admitted into International Tennis Federation (ITF) for her to achieve more.

    “The union equally appreciates the efforts of the Rector, Dr Mufutau Olatinwo, Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, and Majority Leader of the Kwara House of Assembly, Hon. Taiwo Hassan, for supporting the polytechnic’s team in Ghana.”

    The assistant coach of the institution team, Samuel Adekanbi, said the school participated in six events, which as basketball, volleyball, taekwondo, athletics, badminton and lawn tennis. He added that the school finished in 18th position on the medals list.

    About 50 polytechnics across West Africa participated in the competition, which saw the host institution, Accra Polytechnic, leading the medals table.

    The SUG president, Imran Yusuf, said it was necessary to celebrate the gold medalist and all students, who represented OFFA POLY in the contest.

    Suleiman Salahudeen, a Mathematics and Statistics student, said he was happy to participate in the competition, saying that it was an avenue for young students to showcase their talents.

     

  • Union unveils Titans of Valour

    Union unveils Titans of Valour

    Final year students of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka in Lagos have unveiled the third edition of Titians of Valour, a campus magazine.

    The magazine is published by Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders as their parting gift to students. The magazine contains the union leaders’ activities during their tenure, the school philosophy and developmental programmes.

    The cover page of the third edition has the picture of the Registrar, Mr Henry Otoghile, and an alumnus of the school, Olakunle Ogunrombi (K-Peace), who won the Nigerian Idol 2015.

    The presentation of the magazine was graced by staff of Access Bank. Some students of the college entertained the guests.

    Otoghile unveiled the magazine with N50,000. He was supported by professor of Philosophy at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Jim Unah, a senior staff member, Mr Sunday Oselu, and a lecturer at the Department of Fine Art, Dr Demola Azeez.

    Otoghile described the magazine as creative and inspiring work, saying it showed what student could do if they explore their innovation. He advised the outgoing members of the union to be determined and work hard.

    He said: “The college has not only trained the students on how to teach, we also teach them what to teach others and what to do with the knowledge they take away from the college. The magazine will make a good reading. I advise all students to get a copy each.”

    The SUG President, Tolulope Bolumade, praised the union’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Samuel Kolawole, for coordinating the production of the magazine, saying the publication was to celebrate students and encourage them to strive for the best.

    He said: “The magazine gives students opportunity to see and read all our achievements so far. It is educative and promotes the image of the school, so that people can see that the college produces good students.”

    K-Peace described the college as a ground of talents, saying the school helped him to shaped his music talent. He said: “The magazine is a good development, because when I was in school there was nothing like this. I want to advise students to believe in themselves and pursue their passion.”

    Samuel, the union PRO, who is also the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, said he was happy by the publication, saying: “The college is a campus of excellent, tenacity, strength and greatness.”

    A student, Ajibloa Olamikun, said the production of the magazine inspired him. “The magazine will be a veritable source of information to all students,” he said.

     

     

  • Union pledges support for NAPS leadership

    Union pledges support for NAPS leadership

    Students of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State have pledged their support for the Senate President of National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Jeremiah Friday.

    Jeremiah is a Mechanical Engineering student of the school.

    After his emergence, Jeremiah visited the PTI Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders to thank them for their support. He was received by the union president, Akamune Oke, who acknowledged his bravery. Akamune promised the union would continue support the Senate President.

    A student, Adedotun Olomolatan, praised the union for supporting Jeremiah’s aspiration, saying the feat would bring honour to the institute. The SUG General Secretary, Richard Nwanne, said he was happy a student of the school was elected during his time, wishing Jeremiah good luck in his endeavour.

    Jeremiah described his victory as God’s doing, while dedicating the feat to PTI students.

    Over 112 polytechnics and colleges of education participated in the NAPS national convention, where a new leadership was elected to pilot the affairs of the association The convention was held in August at the Kogi State Polytechnic in Lokoja, where Olugbenga Adeyeye, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) emerged president.

    Other elected members of executive include Vice President for National Affairs, Ibraheem Seriki, Vice President for External Affairs, Olasunkanmi Ijadunoye, Vice President for Special Duties, Freedom Omoniyi, General Secretary, Mohammed Tijjani, Assistant General Secretary, Benedict Olalere

    Others are Deputy Senate President, Abdulmojeed Oyeniyi, Public Relations Officer, Hammed Olugbede, Director of Sport, Quadri Bamidele, Treasurer, Memuna Saidu, Financial Secretary, Nuhu Abubakar, National Provost, Olayiwola Abubakar, and Ex-officio, Angina Chidiebube.

     

  • Union is ‘best SME bank’

    Union Bank Plc has been adjudged the “best bank to support small, medium scale enterprises (SMEs)”.

    The award was presented to the bank during the yearly banking award organised by Business Day in Lagos.

    At the event, the Head of Retail Segment,  SME, Rabiu Tata, said the award was an indication that the bank’s transformation had been working and that, in the last two years, yielding positive results and the bank is on the right path.

    “Our goal is to build a simpler, smarter bank, focused on delivering value by providing quality financial solutions to its customers in retail, commercial and corporate banking segments across all industries,” he said.

    He said Union Bank has been a supporter of small businesses and that the award showed the bank would continue to do so.

    “Small and medium enterprises are the engine of any economy and when they succeed, we succeed and Nigeria succeeds as a whole,’’ he said.

    Also, the bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs & Communication, Ms. Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem, praised stakeholders for their support and loyalty.

    “This SME award is another signal that the bank’s transformation is on the right course. One of our critical focus areas as a bank is to significantly improve our customer experience at all touch points, and our product and service offerings is one of the first phase of improvements and this has clearly yielded the desired results with the bagging of the SME award.

    “As we have done with our product and service offerings, Union Bank will continue to work to provide quality banking services and improved customer experience to all our customers and stakeholders across all our touch points,” she added.

    Union Bank has been a proud supporter of SME’s. Last year, the bank received the CBN’s Best-Support Bank on ACGSF (Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme for Farmers) award for the eighth consecutive year.

     

  • Institute elects union leaders

    Institute elects union leaders

    The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, last week, came alive with electioneering, which culminated in the Students’ Union Government (SUG) election.

    For students, it was the first time they freely elected their leaders without interference from the management. The campus witnessed a carnival-like campaign as candidates moved round with their supporters to seek votes.

    At the end of the election held on Saturday, the Chairman of the Independent Student Electoral Committee (ISEC), Ikechukwu Okam, declared Isaac Onoriode, an HND 1 Electrical Electronics Engineering student, president-elect.

    Also Henry Obinna was elected the Vice President while Anthony Okonkwo is the General Secretary.

    Others were Assistant General Secretary – Ernest Efienador; Welfare Director Oghenekome Akpareva; Treasurer – Olivia Uche; Social Director – Prince Wilfred; Financial Secretary – Samuel Isong, Sport Director – Kenneth Dimkpa, and Jonathan Obulor, Public Relations Officer.

    A Mechanical Engineering student, Emmanuel Etim, who was elected Deputy Speaker of Student Representatives’ Council (SRC), hailed the electoral committee for its fairness in the conduct of the election.

    An HND 1 Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences student, Bridget Aborigho, said despite her preferred candidate losing, the election was free and fair.

    Students’ Affairs Officer Mr Ajima Jackson said the fairness of the exercise was in line with the management’s pledge to provide an enabling environment for the success of the election.

    Isaac praised students for electing him as their leaders, promising to transform the union.

  • Court dissolves 22-year-old union

    In Agege Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved the 18-year-old union between Mr and Mrs Nurudeen Lawal.

    The Court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams, ruled that the parties ceased to be husband and wife and free to go their separate ways.

    The petitioner, Mrs Mariam Lawal, had sought the dissolution of her marriage over the long separation between them.

    “We have been separated for seven years but whenever he sees me in public, he embarrasses me in the presence of my friends, especially the opposite sex. Despite the fact that he had married another woman, he doesn’t want to see me with another man. There was a time he assaulted a male friend and tore his clothes. He is very troublesome and I need freedom,” she said.

    The mother of two said she has been paying the schools fees of her daughter who lives with her. The boy lives with his father.

    Lawal, 48, said they were separated for five years and not seven years.

    He said his daughter, who lives with his wife, was not going to school.

    But the petitioner presented her daughter’s school receipts and reports cards.

    Williams further ruled that the children’s education and medical expenses should be the parties’ responsibility and ordered the respondent to pay N5,000 monthly for his daughter’s upkeep.

    The union produced two children aged 12 and 17.

  • Row in KWASU over unionisation

    Row in KWASU over unionisation

    Authorities of the Kwara State University (KWASU) and academic staff are on collision course over plan to form the institution’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The academic staff recently inaugurated KWASU’s ASUU caretaker committee preparatory to the formation of full blown ASUU activities.

    The chairman of the caretaker committee is Dr. Dauda Adeshola while the secretary is Dr. Shehu AbdulGaniyu Salau.

    But management of the institution described any form of unionism in the school as illegal.

    Dr. Adeshola shortly after his inauguration urged members to be resolute in their determination to bargain for better conditions of service for members in the university.

    He assured that the association would not contravene laid down rules and regulation of the institution.

    The caretaker committee subsequently officially informed the management of the formal inauguration of KWASU ASUU.

    In letter dated August 17th, 2015 and signed by Dr. Adeshola said; “this is to officially inform the university management and the academic community that ASUU, KWASU chapter was officially inaugurated Thursday the 13th of August, 2015 where a caretaker committee was set up for the take-off.”

    The letter entitled: “Inauguration of ASUU, KWASU chapter,” was addressed to the school registrar.

    The letter added; “the inauguration which took place at E-place Plaza, Malete had five protem officers after a keenly contested election. They were elected to run the affairs of the union until a new exco is elected.

    “We pledge the loyalty of the union to the university authorities and the government of Kwara state. Kwara state University established in 2009 is now about to witness union activities after the five-year waiting period stipulated by both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and KWASU conditions of Service and Regulations.”

    In a circular by the Principal/Protocol Officer, KWASU, Hamidat Yusuf said that described the meetings that cumulated in the emergence of the caretaker committee as “illegal, cultic and combative unionism.”

    The circular reads: “This is to inform the university community that the management is aware of groups of KWASU staff holding clandestine meetings in odd venues in Malete in the name of cultism or combative unionism.

    “The university wishes to warn all concerned that this is illegal under KWASU rules and no nefarious clandestine group, no matter what name it disguised itself, will be recognized by the university. The university only recently attained five years of peaceful and purposeful academic calendar.

    “An acceptable legal unionism for students, academic and non academic staff will be ushered in within an open framework with active participation of management and all concerned. No amount of effort by the handful 17 staff that met outside the campus and held cultist meeting to create chaos in the school will succeed.

    “The police, office of the university safety and other security agencies have been put on alert to monitor these nefarious individuals and each of the 17 staff or any other that might be misguided is hereby warned.

    “A timetable will be published at appropriate time for peaceful unionism. Some gangs are obviously sad about the peaceful nature of KWASU in the face of national difficulties and seek to cause disaffection with government.”

  • Union begins strike

    Union begins strike

    Aggrieved members of the Academic Staff of the Federal College of Education, Kano are likely to begin today a one-week industrial action to protest the Federal Government’s decision to revert Federal Colleges of Education to its former status.

    Members of the staff union accused the provost of sabotaging the upgrading of the institution, over what they described as his selfish interest.

    Speaking to reporters over the new directive, the Provost of the College, Dr Rabi Jubirila hinted that a directive from the Federal Government mandated the reversal of the College of Education to its former status.

    Rabi said: ”The letter received yesterday from the Federal Government specifically cited two major issues, directing that by the copy of this letter, you are directed to reverse the school to its original status.

    “Also, the letter stated that consequently, you are directed to continue to administer the College as Federal College of Education and as the Provost of the College with all right and privilege.”

    Dr Rabi, who denied allegations that provosts of the colleges were behind the withdrawal of the university status, insisted that “four Provosts cannot be too powerful to influence the Federal Government’s decision”.

    Rising from its emergency

  • Union urges Buhari over national carrier

    The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), has cautioned the Federal Government over the restructuring in the aviation  industry and against engaging a foreign airline as technical partner to the proposed new national carrier.

    President of NAAPE Balami Isaac David, in Lagos, said the development would stunt the growth of the national carrier due to the vested interests of such foreign airlines.

    David said any idea of engaging a foreign airline as technical partner should not be allowed, adding that no sane business person will encourage a viable competitor, nor will such partners agree to terms that will grant advantage to the new carrier over their already vested interests in their home airlines.

    His words: “Everyone who has been in or around aviation for a while would easily agree that the ill advised liquidation of the defunct national carrier, Nigeria Airways, is the evil wind that has bedevilled the industry till date.

    “It was not a mere death of an airline. It was the demise of the only known airline superstructure in Nigeria – the best ensemble of airline professionals. It was the demise of Nigeria’s global standard aircraft maintenance system that had already attained B737 check D (highest maintenance procedure) in Nigeria by Nigerians. It was, therefore, the death of Nigeria’s dream to establish and operate an MRO soonest.

    “The defunct National Carrier was responsible for the production of well trained aviation professionals – in piloting, engineering, marketing, cabin crew, dispatch, and every facet of aircraft operation. Its death also killed this noble endeavour.

    “And since the forced liquidation of the Nigeria Airways, no Nigerian Carrier has been able to go near its big shoes. None has even started to move in that direction”.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for mustering the will power on the establishment of a new national carrier which he said, can now spearhead Nigeria’s deserved quest for global reckoning in aviation.

  • One killed in Kwara unions clash

    A fracas between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Offa, Offa local government area of Kwara state on Sunday allegedly claimed one life.
    Dangerous weapons like cutlasses and machetes were freely used as scores of vehicles were vandalized. It was gathered that in the process, the secretariat of one of the unions was torched by the angry union members.
    Others were said to have sustained injuries through machetes’ cuts.
    The state had in 2013 proscribed Offa and Erin-Ile branches of NURTW and RTEAN over communal clashes between the two communities.
    The latest clash was allegedly caused by a disagreement between the two unions on how to convey students of Kwara state College of Health Technology, Offa going on internship to Ondo, Ekiti and other neighbouring states.
    Spokesperson of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi (ASP) confirmed that one person who received deep machetes’ cut in the neck had died.
    Mr. Okasanmi added that the police had arrested ten persons, adding that they are assisting the police in their investigations.
    A member of the state House of Assembly Alhaji Hassan Oyeleke described the incident as unfortunate, saying Offa community is reputed for its spirit of fraternity and brotherhood.
    “We are just recovering from the 2013 communal clashes which were triggered by the same unions. We are tasking every one member of the community in order to rebuild the over 200 shops in Owode Market destroyed during those clashes. What is in a union?” he asked.