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Nigerian Varsities Understaffed -ASUU Boss

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Aside poor welfare and facilities, universities in Nigeria are highly understaffed according to the chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), university of Port Harcourt chapter, Dr Andrew Efemini.

Dr Efemini who made the assertion weekend, while speaking in a phone-in radio programme organised by Silverbird Communications in Port Harcourt also said the private universities are not better than public universities as widely believed.

The Uniport ASUU chairman stressed that the major bane of universities in the country was that they are grossly understaffed coupled with poor funding and political interference.

He argued that the people should not misconstrue the current ASUU strike as only concerning lecturers welfare but to ensure that the best practices obtainable in tertiary institutions across the world are also implemented in the country.

Dr Efemini argured that the core demands of ASUU need to be documented and implemented before the lecturers would return back to the classroom, since the union at several occasions had been decried by government pronouncements.

Stressing the need for better quality manpower in the universities, the ASUU chairman said quality education is hinged on quality personnel, adding,” our challenge is that the leaders don’t appreciate what education is, if not how can a Senator earn in one month what a professor earns in one year”.

Currently, he said the total manpower of teaching staff in federal universities is put at 14,000.

Proferring the way out of the present stalemate between ASUU and Federal Government, Dr Efemini said there was need for a fresh renegotiation and total implementation of agreement “ we want the universities to be independent from political influences. There should be almost zero politics in the universities’, he remarked.

He ruled out the possibility of ASUU going to court saying the present matter is not legal one but one that could be resolved on the roundtable.

Similarly chairman of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, University of Port Harcourt chapter, Comrade Ebele Joe has critised the federal government for being responsible for the decay in the system.

Comrade Joe asserted that on several occasions the government despite warning strikes has remained adamant in addressing the plight of university workers.

He maintained that it is only when workers are pushed to the wall that they resort to strike, stating that the union cannot be blackmailed by the government until its demands are met.

Prof Howells Hart, board member, Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (left) chatting with co-member, Hon Christian Mba, during a two-day seminar for staff of the Bureau in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga.

Prof Howells Hart, board member, Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (left) chatting with co-member, Hon Christian Mba, during a two-day seminar for staff of the Bureau in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga.

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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