Education
Teacher’s Strike: Plateau Elders Set Up Committee
Worried by the continued closure of public tertiary institutions in Plateau State, elders in the state have set up a 21-member committee to broker an agreement between government and staff of the affected schools.
Our correspondent reports that students have already lost one session as a result of the strike, which began one year ago.
A former governor of the state, Mr Fidelis Tapgun, who chairs the committee, told newsmen in Jos, that the elders decided to set up the panel, because they considered the unusually long closure of the schools “very embarrassing”.
He said the decision was taken after the elders held a meeting with Governor Jonah Jang, where he briefed them on how far the government had gone to appease the workers.
“After listening to the governor, we decided that we needed to form a committee that would approach the issues from a very neutral angle.”
“What we are doing is to listen to both sides with a view to brokering peace in the interest of the education and future of the students.”
Tapgun said labour leaders who were happy that the elders had intervened in the matter, had expressed optimism that all the issues would be resolved to the satisfaction of all the parties.
“The workers were very open to us; they told us that they actually wanted a dialogue so that both sides would understand each other.
They also expressed their desire to appreciate whatever challenges the government may have, and advised that such dialogues be initiated and sustained to pave way for mutual understanding between the parties.”
Tapgun explained that the workers were asking for salary increment, which government claimed to have paid, except for the March 2011 salary, which had not been paid, because of the disagreement over the issue of taxes.
He said the workers were also against “excessive taxes,” but explained that the elders committee had reached out to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which confirmed that the taxes were “normal”.
“On the issue of taxes, I think the institutions should have the blame, and not the government.”
Tapgun said the workers were also angry over government’s refusal to pay the N18,000 minimum wage, stressing that the elders committee had also traced the problem to communication gap.
“Government says its revenue cannot accommodate the minimum wage. It also says it is not willing to sack workers.
“Incidentally, the workers seem to agree that the state’s revenue is not so buoyant and are therefore ready to negotiate.
“What appears to worry the workers is the categorical declaration that the state cannot pay. The committee intends to bring the two parties to the table so that they can rub minds.”
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.