News
ASUP Threatens To Resume Suspended Strike
Polytechnic lecturers, under the umbrella of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), have threatened to resume their suspended strike over the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil the April 2021 Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed with them to end their strike action.
This is even as the lecturers warned that should they resume their suspended strike action, the government should be held responsible and at government’s failure to fulfil its own part of the agreement.
These were contained in the communique issued at the end of the union’s 16th National Delegates Conference (NDC), held in Asaba, Delta State, between December 6 and 10, 2021.
The lecturers, according to the communique made available to journalists in Bauchi by ASUP Publicity Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Yalwa, demand the immediate release of the approved N15billion revitalisation fund and the 10 months arrears of the minimum wage owed members in federal polytechnics.
The union also called for commencement and conclusion of the renegotiation of its 2010 agreement.
According to the communique, “The delegates frowned at the government’s failure to fulfil its own end of the bargain resulting from the April 2021 Memorandum of Action (MoA) signed to end the ASUP strike action.
“The NDC renewed the demands for the immediate release of the approved N15billion revitalisation fund and the 10 months arrears of the minimum wage owed members in federal polytechnics.
“The NDC further resolved that, should the union resume its suspended strike action, the government should be held responsible.
“The NDC condemned the reckless breach of the 2019 Polytechnic Act (as amended) in any federal polytechnics from across the country, and the failure of state governments to domesticate the Act.
“For this reason, the conference called on the institutions to abide by the provisions of the Act, and also appealed to state governments to fast track the domestication of the Act to align the governance of their institutions with acceptable standards.”
The union commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for establishing six new Centres of Excellence in six polytechnics, tasking the agency to ensure that the centre is properly monitored with a view to ensuring the desired impact is felt in the sector.
Reacting to incessant attacks by bandits on educational institutions and kidnapping of students and teachers for ransom, the lecturers expressed concerns at the increasing security challenges facing the nation, which they noted has a direct bearing on the peace, order, stability, welfare and well-being of Nigerians.
ASUP, therefore, tasked the government at all levels to find lasting solutions to the protracted security challenges bedevilling all parts of the country.
While condemning plans by the Federal Government to increase the prices of petroleum products and electricity tariffs in the country, ASUP stated that such policies were anti-people which would further pauperise the citizens.
It, however, enjoined the government to cut down on frivolities and ostentatious lifestyle of political office holders and prioritise sectors with direct impact on human development indices in its spending.
The lecturers applauded the National Assembly for passing a bill seeking to abolish the infamous Degree/HND dichotomy and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the bill, declaring that the bill when functional would assist the technical and vocational educational sub-sector to meet its mandate to the nation.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.