Nation

ASUU Strike: Yar’Adua’s Consent Delays Agreement

Published

16 years ago

July 3, 2009

The Federal Ministry of Education has stated that its inability to secure the consent of President Umaru Yar’Adua has prevented it from acceding to the demand of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The education ministry also said the inability to secure the presidential consent is affecting talks with the budget office and salaries and wages commission.
Education Minister, Sam Egwu, however, told the Senate Education Committee, Tuesday, that the agreement being alluded to by ASUU is actually a draft document.
ASUU, President Ukachukwu Awuzie, who briefed the Senator Joy Emodi-led Committee earlier, reiterated that there was an agreement signed with the government two and half year ago on how to resolve the crisis.
The indefinite strike called by ASUU has entered its second week and officials of the union and the Minister of Education, Sam Egwu, Tuesday appeared before the Senate Committee on Education shortly after the ministry met with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Egwu told the committee that what was delaying the signing of the agreement was that President Yar’Adua wanted an approved, enduring and sustainable salary structure for the striking university lecturers.
“There is no concrete agreement on salary, we are waiting for the president’s consent to determine the exact amount to pay”, he said.
Furthermore, Egwu also told the committee that the issue of new salary was the only critical issue delaying the agreement, saying “it is because it involves the budget office; Salaries and Wages Commission”.
The minister also told the committee that as part of government’s effort at resolving the crisis, an inter-ministerial committee, which had just concluded its assignment, was set up to work on the new salary structure.
“But before the Inter-ministerial Committee ended its assignment, the ASUU went on strike, but we are now about to invite them to a meeting and reach an agreement”, Egwu said.
Egwu had earlier in the day met with the leadership of the PDP led by its National Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, where he informed them that “a realistic and sustainable” solution was being worked out by the government.
He informed the party leaders that government had agreed to increase the salaries of the striking lecturers to a realistic and sustainable level, but that though government has acceded to increase salaries of the striking lecturers, the percentage increase will fall short of the 109 per cent increase they are demanding.
“They only issue that is outstanding is salary.
The are asking government to pay academic staff 109 per cent over what they are receiving now. In other words, over 109 per cent should be their new salaries.
“Government is saying in as much as there is nothing bad in paying academic staff that amount, it has to be something that is realistic and sustainable, something that they can pay today and tomorrow and pay next tomorrow, something that they can pay and be happy that they are also touching other needs of the country and that is where we are now.
“I want to assure you that before the end of this week we shall call ASUU and tell them that this is realistically what government can pay and what they can sustain .“The president has approved that there should be an Inter-ministerial Committee to look at this salary issue because, as you are talking about salary for ASUU, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is also talking about salary increase for every member of public service. The other unions, the medical workers are also demanding for increase”, the minister stated.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru (left) receiving from Senator T.B. Wada, the Mid-Term Award for Excellence in Governance 2009 by the Western Publishing Company Limited, Publishers of Nigerian Compass Newspapers on behalf of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, recently.

Nation

Nasarawa Varsity Student Commits Suicide

Published

11 hours ago

May 1, 2025

The Tide

A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Nation

Ogun, Nike Art Gallery Set To Transform Olumo Rock

Published

11 hours ago

May 1, 2025

The Tide

The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.

Nation

CBEX Resumes Operations Despite SEC Ban, N1.2trn EFCC Probe

Published

12 hours ago

May 1, 2025

The Tide

Despite the alleged N1.2 trillion digital trading fraud that reportedly affected over 600,000 Nigerians, the embattled Crypto Bridge Exchange trading platform, accused of these acts, has resumed operations, announcing fresh withdrawal options in a move to restore investor confidence.
Two traders on the CBEX platform confirmed to The Tide’s source that the digital trading firm has quietly resumed operations, allowing new users to register, trade, and withdraw profits, despite ongoing investigations by regulatory agencies.
According to the sources, an insurance verification process and an external audit of the company’s financial records are currently underway to ascertain the actual amount lost in the scheme, which collapsed in April.
They added that existing investors, many of whom have been unable to access their funds for weeks, will be able to take out their funds starting from June 25, 2025, when the audit is expected to be concluded by an insurance firm based in the United Kingdom.
This development comes barely weeks after the Securities and Exchange Commission declared the platform illegal, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission confirmed an ongoing investigation into the firm’s operations.
CBEX, a digital investment platform, offered investors 100 per cent profit after 30 days of purported AI trading. The trading platform started operations in 2024 after receiving registration approval from the Corporate Affairs Commission on September 25, 2024, and the EFCC’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering on January 16, 2025.
No fewer than 600,000 Nigerians reportedly invested in the scheme and lost N1.2tn after it collapsed on April 14, 2025.
Miffed by the development, the EFCC declared eight persons wanted for promoting the programme. They include Johnson Oteno, Israel Mbaluka, Joseph Michiro, Serah Michiro, Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, and Seyi Oloyede.