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FG Accuses ASUU Of Hijacking N23bn …As SSANU, NASU, NAAT Continue Strike

The non-teaching staff in the universities have said that their members will not resume work today pending when the Federal Government will pay them their Earned Allowances totalling over N66 billion.
But the Federal Government has promised to mop up money for the non-teaching staff comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), alleging that the N23billion released to the four university-based unions was hijacked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Meanwhile, there appears to be internal wrangling and suspicion between the non teaching staff under the umbrella of Joint Action Committee (JAC), and ASUU, as it was gathered that the two groups are working at different directions over Earned Allowances.
It would be recalled that as a result of the strike embarked upon by the four university based unions over the non-implementation of agreements entered into with the Federal Government especially on Earned Allowances, ASUU which had the upper hand in the committee set up by the government went home with about N18billion, leaving the balance of about N4billion to the three unions.
As institutions in the country are expected to resume academic activities today, the JAC of universities non-teaching staff has said that there will be no work for members until the Federal Government implements its own part of bargain in the terms of settlement reached, recently.
Speaking to newsmen, the Chairman of JAC, and National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Samson Ugwoke said that there was no going back on the strike till the Federal Government honours the terms of settlement entered into with the JAC.
Ugwoke said, “The situation is that JAC is not resuming work at all, no work for today. As far as JAC is concerned, the strike continues and any university that is putting up programme is wasting its time because we are going to tighten up situation.
“JAC has already ruled that there will be no going back until government does what is needful and government knows that.”
On whether the Federal Government has made any effort to negotiate with the affected three unions, Ugwoke said, “We are expecting the Federal Government to call for a meeting but NAC of SSANU is holding an emergency meeting by Tuesday somewhere in the country, and we are surely going to take further steps to ensure strict compliance to total and comprehensive strike.
“JAC is also to meet anytime from now to ensure compliance. So, there is concession at all.”
He explained that there was a meeting between the JAC and Federal Government representatives on 19th December, 2017, and that the representatives of government expressed regrets in what happened, especially the sharing formula of the N23billion in which the three non-teaching unions were given a paltry sum of about N4billion, while the rest went to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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