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Varsity Workers Seek Sack Of Four VCs

Published

9 years ago

April 14, 2017

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has called for the sack of four vice chancellors of Nigerian universities over alleged corruption.
The SSANU National President, Mr Samson Ugwoke, made the call when the union picketed the University of Abuja, yesterday.
Ugwoke listed the alleged corrupt vice-chancellors as those of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB); Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA); University of Abuja (UniAbuja); and Plateau State University (PLSU).
“Any vice-chancellor that has been alleged of corruption and arraigned before a competent court must be directed to step aside in line with Public Service Rule.
“If judges alleged of corruption were directed to step aside pending the determination of criminal charges proffered against them, why not vice-chancellors?
“Vice-chancellors have no immunity and government must not create immunity where it does not exist.
“The Federal Government must ensure the protection of whistleblowers at the federal universities.
“We also demand the reversal of all punitive actions like, demotions, denial of annual increments and promotion, postings done without due process, among others, against our members.
“We also demand that the Chairman and Secretary of SSANU, University of Abuja chapter, Mr Jude Nwabueze, and Mr Nurudeen Yusuf, be recalled to work with immediate effect.
“We demand that high-powered Visitation Panel be set up by the Federal Government for all the federal universities to investigate the administration of finances, employment and other aspects of governance of the university system,” SSANU emphasised.
Ugwoke also called on the Federal Government to set up a special committee to investigate the spate of impunity in the university system and the victimisation of SSANU leaders in the recent times.
It would be recalled that SSANU had on several occasions written to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, over alleged mismanagement, fraud, employment spree and slash in their salaries.
Others are wrongful termination of employment without salaries, harassment, victimisation and persecution by the vice-chancellors over whistle blowing of corruption, among others.
“We are protesting against corruption in the Nigerian universities, this is SSANU’s contribution to ensure clean university system.
“Our overriding interest lies in the sanctity of the university system, and also to sanitise it for the future generations,” he added.
The union also staged a protest in front of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, to submit their letter of demand to the minister of education.
The Director, Human Resources, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Bello Umar, while receiving the letter on behalf of the minister, said that their grievances would be given due consideration.
“Since the inception of this administration, it has been zero tolerance to corruption, and I want to solicit your support to be patient, while I assure you that we will definitely get to the root of these issues,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the protesters, displayed placards with inscriptions such as; “Federal Government, our universities need urgent intervention now”, “Vice-Chancellors, respect our institution, obey court orders”.
Others are, “Arraign Vice-Chancellors for corruption”, “Impunity must end”, among others.
Meanwhile, the Student Union Government (SUG) blocked the entrance of the school with their bus, preventing the protesters from gaining entrance.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.