Niger Delta
AAU Crisis: ASUU Storms Ekpoma For Solidarity Rally
The lingering industrial crisis at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, worsened on Wednesday as the national leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) staged a solidarity rally round the community.
The rally, led by the National President of the union, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, caused gridlock at the centre of the town.
The Tide’s source reports that chairmen of local branches and past presidents of the union joined in the protest that witnessed a large turnout of lecturers.
Addressing newsmen beside the statue of the late former Governor of old Bendel State, Prof. Ambrose Alli, Osodoke frowned at ASUU’s ban in the university by the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The Governor, he said, lacks the power to suspend a properly registered union such as ASUU that had the right to operate anywhere in the country.
The ASUU President also noted that the setting up of Special Intervention Team (SIT), headed by an holder of Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE), to run the university as against a governing council negated the law.
“As we speak to you, this university does not have any substantive officer.
“The Vice Chancellor is acting, deputy vice chancellor is acting, bursar acting, registrar acting, Librarian acting, which is against the rules of any university,” he said.
The union leader decried the situation where all principal officers of the institution were appointed in acting capacities.
Osodoke, however, asserted that the only way to guarantee industrial harmony was for the state government to retract its decision and allow the union to run without interference.
He also called for the payment of salary arrears to the lecturers as well as the remittance of deductions for dues and contributions for cooperative.
The AAU ASUU branch Chairman, Dr Cyril Onogbosele, said the solidarity rally was to show there was no distinction between union in state and federal universities.”We want revitalisation of public universities. We want better conditions of service, infrastructural development, universities autonomy. That is what the strike is all about.
“In AAU, one of them is inadequate funding. For a long time, we have had these problems.
“Workers have been denied their salaries for 19 months now.
“Many of us are dying as a result of that. We cannot meet our financial obligations to our families because of unpaid salaries,” he said.
The branch ASUU chairman claimed that no fewer than 19 lecturers had died because they could not afford medicare.
On his part, the immediate past President of the union, Prof. BiodunOpeyemi, said the union needed to rise up against the action of the state governor, proscribing union activities in the state owned institution, in order to deter other state governors from following Obaseki’s step.
In her reaction, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Osa-Oviawe, said the State Government was focused on prioritising the academic welfare of our students and ensuring that there is value for money.
Tertiary education, she said, was being revamped in the state to ensure that graduates were ready for the world of work and also skilled enough to be relevant in the 4th industrial revolution in a technology-driven, hyper modern world.
The source reports the Edo State Government and the ASUU at the state owned institution had been at a loggerhead for years over accusations and counter-accusations bordering on welfare of academic staff.
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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