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N22bn Earned Allowance: Tension As ASUU, JAC Disagree Over Disbursement

The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has confirmed the release by the Federal Government of the N22.127 billion earned allowance.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, last Saturday, insisted that the Federal Government had released the earned allowance.
This runs contrary to the position of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that the earned allowance was yet to be paid.
However, despite the release of the fund, the JAC has directed Bursars of universities not to effect disbursement.
This is because the non-academic staff are contesting the sharing formula of the N22.127billion.
It told the bursars to remember an earlier circular dated November 15, 2021, which stated that: “Should the Federal Government go-ahead to release the fund for earned allowance in line with the unfavourably skewed formula, no branch or member of JAC of NASU and SSANU in any unit/department, bursary inclusive should partake in the disbursement.”
It added: “Branches of JAC are therefore reminded of the need for them to comply strictly with the directive regarding their submission of the necessary information in respect of what has been paid as earned allowances to them from inception and what is outstanding as this will enable the national JAC to be in a position to respond to the government demand for us to avail it with what is actually outstanding for payment to our members.”
Meanwhile, the ASUU held its National Executive Committee meeting, last Saturday, to review the progress of meetings held with zonal affiliate bodies following the recent expiration of its deadline to the Federal Government to meet its demands.
The meeting, which was held at the union’s national secretariat, located inside the University of Abuja main campus, took far-reaching decisions.
The meeting, which was also said to have started some few minutes past 3pm, ended at about 8:30pm.
But the union, which had last week said Nigerians would know its next line of action immediately, following the expiration of its ultimatum and the inability of the government to accede to its demands, decided to keep mum on the outcome of Saturday’s meeting.
National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said, yesterday, that the union’s decision would be communicated to the public.
He, however, declined to state when the decisions would be to the public.
Asked to state when the communication would be made, he said, “We will let you know”, refusing to say anything further.
Also contacted to speak on the outcome of the Saturday meeting, the University of Abuja ASUU Chairman, Dr Kasim Umar, declined comments.
He said, “It is only the national president of ASUU that can talk on the outcome of our meeting”.
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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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