News
Polytechnic Lecturers Suspend Planned Strike
Lecturers of Oko Polytechnic under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, ASUP, yesterday, announced suspension of the planned strike over pending industrial matters with the government.
The union said the decision followed an appealed by the government and commitment to resolving the issues in dispute. President of ASUP, Comrade Usman Dutse who made this know in a statement in Abuja, said the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the union would hold at the end of November, 2018 to appraise progress by government on their pledge.
Recall that ASUP had on October 2, 2018 issued a 21-day ultimatum to draw government attention to urgent need to attend to the sector that it said has suffered under funding leading to under growth in all aspects of the system. Comrade Dutse lamented that states as Abia, Adamawa , Benue, Edo, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, Ogun Osun, and Oyo are owing its members salaries running up to ten months, while the regulatory body and the respectives governing councils have been recalcitrant, as well trampling on the members.
The statement read: “Our union had brought to the notice of government the urgent need to attend to the sector that has suffered under the throes of gross under-funding which has engendered under-growth in all aspects of the polytechnic system.
“Our union is particularly worried that state institutions are the worse off. Salaries are still owed in many state owned institutions with some owed up to ten months arrears, especially in Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Edo, |mo, Kogi, Ondo, Ogun, Oshun, and Oyo.
“Managements and Governing Councils have been recalcitrant and persistently trample on union officials in our various chapters by arbitrary suspension and sacking of officials and outright mis-representation in administration of the institutions, non implementation of the Needs assessment; delay in accenting to the Amendment of the Polytechnic Act, victimisation of union officials, withdrawal of allowances and persistent shortfalls in personnel releases to Polytechnics as well as the lethargy shown by government in the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement.
“These were compounded by the deployment of arm twisting measures in forcing our members into the IPPIS module without addressing the union’s concerns.
“This continued neglect and seeming government’s indifference on issues concerning the polytechnic sector led to our union’s twenty-one day ultimatum which expired on the 23rd October, 2018. Following this ultimatum, our union has had engagements with government and its agencies.
Particularly worth mentioning was the meeting of 18th October, 2018 between our union and the government represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Education with representatives from the NBTE and Budget and Planning.
“At this meeting government exhibited considerable concerns to prioritise the challenges of the polytechnic sector towards ameliorating them.
“Rising from the emergency meeting of NEC therefore, the union in consideration of the appeals by the government and commitments to resolving the issues in dispute, resolved to put its planned industrial action on hold to a||ow government more time to concretise its promises on our demands.
“The union also resolved to reconvene its NEC meeting by the end of November, 2013 to assess the progress made and take appropriate actions.”
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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