The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Union

  • Union of love birds

    The Marriage Registry at Ikoyi, Lagos, was filled when Aramide Olasope tied the nuptial knot with Prince Ademola Akinloye, reports AMIDU ARIJE.

    Their relationship started 12 years ago at the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) tutorial in Ile Ife, Osun State. When they were joined at the Marriage Registry in Ikoyi, Lagos, Aramide Olasope and Prince Ademola Akinloye were happy that what began as mere friendship has blossomed into life-time companionship.

    The groom arrived in a black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), looking regal in his black suit; Aramide was elegant in her blue gown.

    After guests took their seats, the registrar called for the signing of the marriage register and oath of marriage form.

    It took the couple a few minutes to sign the dotted lines. It was witnessed by their parents.

    After the ceremony, the couple, their family members and guests posed outside the registry for photographs. The bridal train moved to the nearby Golden Gate Restaurant for the reception.

    Dr Segun Omisore anchored the reception. All stood as the couple entered the hall, with the bride’s maids.

    The reception began with prayers. It was chaired by Mr Emmanuel Fajorin, who urged the couple to put their trust in God always.

    “Make God your partner because with Him, all things are possible. There will be no distraction whatsoever with God,” he said.

    He advised the couple to resolve their differences amicably without interference from any quarter.

    “Your parents have given you the independence to go and have your own family, I am sure there won’t be any interference from them. So, always resolve your differences amicably,” he said.

    He supervised the cutting of the cake.

    The Oniru of Iruland, Oba Idowu Oniru, and the Ojomu of Ajiranland, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, blessed the couple, urging them to live a God-fearing life.

    The groom, an Animal Nutrition graduate of the University of Wageningen in Holland, said it was his happiest day. He described his wife as calm and good natured.

    “She is a calm and loving woman. Her calmness attracted me. We met in 2002 at Ile Ife during a pre-university programme,” he said.

    Aramide, a graduate of Medicine from Obafemi Awolowo University, said, she felt fulfilled.

    “I married my friend of many years. He is very reserved, caring and has the fear of God,” she said.

    Dr Abiodun Olasope who represented the bride’s father enjoined the couple to continue on the foundation of love and never allow a third party in their affairs.

  • A union of like minds

    The families of Prince and Mrs Olufemi Ojugbele and the late Mr and Mrs Olufemi Kadiri celebrated the union of their children, Oluwaleke and Kafayat at Campos Square, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    Islamic culture was on display when the families of a retired civil engineer, Prince Olufemi Adebowale Ojugbele from Ota in Ogun State and the late Mr and Mrs Olufemi Kadiri became one following the wedding of their children – Oluwaleke Debola and Kafayat Oluwunmi.

    The Campos Square in Lagos, venue of the event, was well decorated. Family members, friends and well wishers were there to share in the families’ joy.

    The Ojugbeles brought a basket of fruits, cartons of drinks, tubers of yam, a box and other gifts for their in-laws as tradition demands.

    Guests were resplendent in choice outfits. Most of them wore native and some of the women used capes.

    The bride’s family was on the left side of the Square. Their tent was decorated in orange. The groom’s tent on the right was decorated in red.

    The late bride’s parents were represented by family members: Alhaja Riskat-Gbajabiamila, Alhaji Haruna Muyin and Olaniyi-Rasaki KoltosHo.

    The ceremony began with an opening prayer. It was said by Ustaz Jubril Adedeji.

    The duo of Alhaji Isiaka Akilapa and Lookmon Arisu were the masters of ceremony.

    The groom, Oluwaleke, a management consultant at LSM and Associates Limited was all smiles. Clad in white native attire with blue cap, he had red traditional beads on his neck. He came into the Square in company of his friends, greeted his in-laws and later his family and others present.

    Oluwaleke later took to his seat under a small tent decorated in red and white.

    His bride, Kafayat, a banker, looked gorgeous in a white native apparel with blue head gear/ipele. She also had red traditional beads on her neck. She later joined her husband on the seat.

    The event continued with Quran recitation by David Dabiri.

    The Chief Imam of Allahu Nuru, Chief Imam Ibrahim Kosoko led other clerics in prayers.

    Ustaz Dhulkifli Imran, who delivered the sermon, told the couple that God must be involved in everything they do.

    “To make it in life you must fear God and be humble”.

    He urged parents to take good care of their children, adding: “When you are old; they would do the same for you.”

    The cleric enjoined Olawaleke not to watch television when his wife needs his attention.

    The ceremony continued with the husband presenting gifts, including kettle, Quran, cape and tesbih to his bride.

    The couple later exchanged rings and kissed.

    The bride, a banking and finance graduate from the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH,said she felt great and exited.

    She said she knew Oluwaleke would be her husband from their first meeting.

    Oluwaleke, a graduate of Electrical Engineering from the Moshood Abiola Polythenic, described his wife as an understanding person, and a friend.

    The reception was in the same venue.

    Mrs Adeodun Bolanle and Mrs Akola Bolanle were the moderators.

    It started with an opening prayer by Alhaji Baruwa Muideen.

    Itinerant drummers enlivened the atmosphere.

    The groom’s father, Prince Ojugbele, described the celebration as excellent. He urged the couple to love God.

    Alhaja Gbajabiamila told the couple never to quarrel, urging the bride to respect her husband and vice-versa.

    Alhaji Muyin said she was happy on the marriage of Kafayat and gave all glory to God.

     

  • Union parliament sworn in

    Union parliament sworn in

    MEMBERS of parliament of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) have been sworn in in a ceremony held in school Auditorium 1 on Isolo campus.

    Before the commencement of the programme, a minute silence was observed in honour of late Oladimeji Olu, a Computer Engineering student, who until his death was a member of the outgoing lawmakers.

    In his address titled: Students’ Representative Council towards positive change, Uthman Olasunkami, a former Minority Leader in the house, said students’ unionism had lost its value, noting that in the past, students’ leaders stood their ground and fought for the benefits of students. He said unionism had become a political tool for selfish individuals, urging members to work in unity to achieve the primary objective of the union.

    Mr Aderemi Badmus, who administered the oath of office on the parliamentarians, advised them to carry out their responsibilities with diligence.

    The Assistant Dean of Students’ Affairs, Mr Daisi Olusegun, said the platform was the beginning of a political career for some of them, urging them to be responsible and work in harmony.

    Mr Olajuwon Aiyeokutan, also advised them not to lord it over other students on campus, adding that they should not forget their primary objective as students.

    The new officers included Aminu Lukmon, Speaker; Okpara Williams, Deputy Speaker; Akintola Sheriff, Clerk; Fagbemi Emmanuel, Majority Leader; Batife Daisi Minority Leader; Olubode Olumide, Chief Whip, Adedeji Ibrahim, Mace Bearer; Adetola Adeniyi, Special Service; Oluwole Sarah, Publication Chairman and Babatunde Patrick, Protocol.

    In his vote of thanks, Lukmon thanked everyone for the success of the event and promised to make his tenure the best in the history of the institution.

     

  • Union faults NEEDS report

    Union faults NEEDS report

    NON-TEACHING staff in universities may lose their job if the the Needs Assessment report by Prof Yakubu Mahmood, a former executive of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) should be implemented by the government.

    The report, which is aimed at addressing infrastructural decay and funding challenges in the nation’s public universities, does not favour the non-teaching staff.

    However, the western zone of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has faulted the report in a public lecture it held in the Akin Deko audirorium at the University of Benin (UNIBNEN).

    The lecture with the theme: “Needs Assessment: A benchmark of confusion”was attended by members of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and  National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

    In his address, Alfred Jimoh, said the lecture was aimed at educating the public on some contentioussections of the report which had generated confusion in the zone .Jimoh said the association had decided to condemn the report, which according to him,was harmful to human capital development and promotion of sound academic ethics in the sector.

    A participant, Mr A.O. Salami, from the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta (FUNAAB) said he was surprisedat the content of the document, saying it was targeted at witch-hunting non-academic members.

    According to him, the report which was said to have been prepared using international best practices, said if Nigerian universities must compete globally, the number of academics should outnumber those of non-academic staff.

    He said the recommendation was erroneous, citing cases of the renowned John Hopkins University and Havard University where the number of non-teaching staff outweighs that of teaching staff.

    “Placing an embargo on the employment of non-academic staff will spell doom for us considering the fact that the labour market is already saturated. Moreover, more financial cost is incurred in catering for the salary of more academics,” he stated.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, a member of the UNIBEN chapter of the association, Osaretin Ahile, said if Nigeria universities must reclaim their pride of place, the assessment report needed to be revisited in the interest of non-academic staff.

    “We are dissociating ourselves from the obvious shortcomings of the NEED report and we urge government to desist from implementing those parts of the report targeted at witch-hunting us,” he said.

    A civil servant who attended the lecture, Mr Solomon Okoro, said: “With what I have learned today in the course of this lecture, I can sense that all is not well with Nigerian universities. Government should do all it can to correct the deficit highlighted by SSANU members inorder to avoid a collapse of our educational system.”

    A student, Clemetina Elema, hailed SSANU for organising the lecture.

  • Union gets new leaders

    Union gets new leaders

    Members of the Osogbo National Students Union (ONSU) have elected officers to run its affairs.

    The election was held at the Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, last week.

    Ajibola Olaide emerged as President and Ajiroba Idowu, vice president.

    Others included Ibrahim Muslihudeen, General Secretary; Winjobi Ridwan, Assistant General Secretary; Olawale Abisola, Financial Secretary, Bello Lekan, Public Relations Officer; Zakariyah Yusuff, Welfare Director; Adeosun Nurudeen, Librarian; Bolarinwa Saheed, Sports Director and Muritala Saheed, Social Director.

    In his acceptance speech, Ajibola, a 300-Level Animal Production and Health student of Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), said he was happy to lead the association, promisingthat his administration was set to make students to realise the benefits of unionism.

    Idowu, ND1 student of Leisure and Tourism at the Federal Polythecnic, Ede, said:“Female students are not interested in union activities due to the wrong impression they have created over time.

    In our view, this is not good enough. We are committed to making students realise the benefits of participating in union activities, especially the female folks,” she stated.

    The inauguration has also been held.

  • Union gets leaders

    The Federation of Ondo Ekimogun Students’ Union (FOESU) has inaugurated new executive members to pilot the affairs of the association for the next one year.

    The event was chaired by the Chairman, Ondo West Local Government Area, Biola Makinde. He advised the students to always lead the union in the interest of students, saying that they should work as a team to promote the welfare of members.

    He urged the students to pursue the interest of those who voted them into power, noting that leadership is about serving people.

    The new executive council is led by Charles Fagbohunka (Federal University of Technology, Akure) as President and Adesanmi Stella (AAUA) Vice President.

    Others are Gbenga Akindahunsi (College of Education, Ikere Ekiti) General Secretary; Iyosiola Akinruli (Federal Polytechnic, Ado) Assistant Secretary-General; Bolaji Alabi (College of Education, Ilesha) Public Relations Officer; Akinyemi Akinbinuade (Adeyemi College of Education) Financial Secretary; oluwasola Ibukun (AAUA) Treasurer; Rebecca Ogunsakin (Adeyemi College of Education) Director of Socials ; Johnson Oyesan (Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun) Director of Welfare; Kuyomi Olabanji (Adeyemi College of Education) Speaker and Joseph Akinkuotu (AAUA), Deputy Speaker.

    A former Registrar of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) attended the event.

  • ‘Why we formed new workers’ union’

    Crisis rocking the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Ondo State has assumed another dimension following the election of Comrade Bunmi Eniayewu as its new President.

    Already, the aggrieved workers had formed a new group named Association of Local Government Workers (AOLGW) in replacement of the NULGE in the state.

    As a result of this development, the newly formed AOLGW has directed workers at the local government service to resign their membership from the Ogun State chapter of NULGE.

    It has also directed the Local Government Service Commission to stop the deduction of their check-off-dues to the account of NULGE once they get their letter of resignations.

    But, the NULGE President, Eniayewu insisted that there were no factions in the union.

    He said NULGE in Ondo State has continued to remain a unified entity indivisible by any factor or issue of election, adding that the union will continue to work as one.

    According to him, the just-concluded election into various positions of the union showed the true voice of over 13,000 work force of local government workers spread across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    However, the workers’ association, in a statement by its President, Mr. Isaac Fashina and Publicity Secretary, Felix Oteje said their resignation from NULGE would afford them the opportunity to join the AOLGW, an association which would fight for their rights from government.

    The statement also said the members of the AOLGW would no longer pay their check-off-dues to the account of NULGE once they resign their membership of the union.

    They particularly lamented the election which brought Eniayewu as President of NULGE, saying delegates’ list was improperly compiled.

    “We have 21 branches of which eight delegates would come from each of the branches to vote at the state level. To our amazement, some local government areas like Odigbo, Ese-Odo and Ondo West where there were no elections, the immediate past President went ahead to compile illegal list for the three branches.

    “We complained bitterly and even protested at the NULGE House; we were ignored simply because they have the support of National Executive who came to conduct the election.

    “They had to ratify their concocted lists for the election. On this note, we made our intention known that we cannot allow these men of questionable character to keep leading us and, of course, you need nobody to tell you that such people would not offer better things to the workers,” he said.

    According to the letter sent through the Administrative Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Fashina said the new association comprises at least 80 per cent of members of the Merit Group of the local government workforce.

    The statement reads further: “The decision to pull out of NULGE and form the new group was in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which stipulates that ‘every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons; and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party or trade union.’

    “Besides, the Trade Union Act Section 12(4) empowers us to belong to any association as it provided that “notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this act, membership of Trade Union by employees shall be voluntary and no employee shall be forced to join any Trade Union or be victimised for refusing to join or remain a member.

    “Some of the leaders of the union were under investigation over allegations of gross misconduct and had been interdicted by the state government.

    “We are tired of the set of leadership we have in the local government. Look at the restructuring exercise going on. We are the most affected and our leaders can’t do anything about it because most of them are also guilty.

    “Many of them are guilty of misappropriation, age falsification and they cannot face the governor to make case for others because the governor does not want to see their faces and we have been clamouring that we should have a change of leadership.”

  • We are for peace, says union

    The Students Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (Offa Poly) has debunked the allegation that the union was sponsored by political parties to disrupt council elections in the state.

    The Public Relations Officer of the union, Johnson Eleko, said the allegation was false.

    He said: “We want to clarify the wrong impression of some politicians that we have been paid to cause crisis in the coming council elections. On no circumstances will Offa Poly students be used as political thugs to disrupt the forthcoming Offa local government elections. What we want is the restoration of properties that were destroyed during the last crisis in the institution. The state government has refused to listen to our plea since the incidence occurred.”

    President of the union, Hameed Omuiyadun, said the union will continue to peaceful.

    He added: “We are law-abiding citizens of the state. We shall never engage in activities that would destroy the peace of the state, especially the coming elections. We have no intention to create chaos.”

  • Ex-unionist criticises politicians’ interference on unionism

    A Former President of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), Comrade Temidayo Temola, has attributed the failure of Students’ Unionism to remain committed to national development to the frequent interference of politicians into the affairs of the body.

    Temola, who spoke at the inauguration of new NAOSS executives in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said in addition to representing the interest of students in various campuses across the country, student unions also have roles in nation building.

    However, he said politicians who aim to retain power at all cost, have distracted these unions from fulfilling this role by invading the nation’s higher institutions and forcing unpopular candidates on the students.

    Speaking on the history of students’ unionism in Nigeria, Temola said it can be divided into two phases: pre-independence and post-independence. He said in both eras, students helped to fight for Nigeria’s democracy.

    He said: “Pre-independence student leaders later emerged as nationalist leaders. They fought along with others to gain independence for Nigeria. Majority of them were radical in nature and were also ideological in thought, action and perception. The second phase, which was the post-indepedence; students’ union played a major role in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy and rescuing power from the military government. Some of them were harassed, jailed and killed.”

    Temola lamented that such leaders are lacking today.

    “But what do we have today? Students have been caged by politicians; they hardly criticise government’s unpopular policies. I am not advising them to be violent, but they should always ensure that they contribute to issues that will make the nation remain united and bring transformation,” he said.

    He charged the new NAOSS executives to engage in constructive criticism when the need arises.

    The new NAOSS President, Comrade Awodola Afolayan urged the state government to increase the money being paid as bursary.

    Afolayan said that the N10,000 being paid to students can no longer cater for their needs because of the poor economic situation of the country.

    Specifically, he urged the state to increase the bursary to N25,000 to assist students meet pressing needs.

    “We are appealing to the state government to urgently increase our bursary to assist our parents who are struggling to pay our school fees,” he said.

    Earlier, the outgoing National President of the Association, Comrade Victor Oguntoyinbo commended the Ondo State government for its giant strides in the education sector.

    Oguntoyibo described the mega schools built by the state government in all the 18 local councils as a remarkable achievement which should be copied by other states,

     

  • Ex-unionist’s scorecard

    The outgone Chairman, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union COEASU), ACE chapter, Mr Smart Olugbeko, has presented 53 achievements of his four-year tenure.

    Olugbeko, who is now the national-vice chairman of COEASU, presented the scorecard during the inauguration of the newly-elected executives of the union.

    In a compendium titled: ‘Landmarks,’ Olugbeko noted that the union during his tenure became virile and viable, renewing members’ confidence.

    He added that this confidence led to an array of achievements which includes building of COEASU secretariat, payment of productivity allowance, promotion of members, and scholarship scheme for students, among others.

    He expressed appreciation to the management under the leadership of Prof Adeyemi Idowu, which donated N2.3 million to the union to carry out some of its activities.