News
ASUP Calls Off Strike
A cross section of participants at the Civil Service week in Port Harcourt, yesterday
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) said yesterday that it had decided to suspend its indefinite strike, which began on April 29.
“We have decided to suspend the strike from tomorrow, July 17,’’ the union’s president, Mr Chibuzor Asomogba, told newsmen yesterday, in Lagos, after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
Asomogba, who spoke with newsmen on phone, said that all ASUP members were expected to return to work on Wednesday, adding that there would be more details later.
Our correspondent recalls that the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Education, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, and her Labour and Productivity counterpart, Chief Emeka Wogu, met with the union on July 9, and urged it to call off the strike.
The union listed an alleged failure of the federal and state governments to implement agreements as one of the reasons it went on strike, noting that it had adversely affected polytechnic education.
It also demanded full implementation of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS 15) and a stoppage of the discrimination against holders of the Higher National Diploma.
The union also protested against the absence of a National Polytechnics Commission and the deplorable condition of many polytechnics in the country.
Meanwhile, The Federal Government has again pleaded with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its strike and return to the classes.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, made the call yesterday in an interview with newsmen after a Workshop on World Bank Initiated Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Project in Abuja.
“We are still pleading with them, let them do all they can to make our students return to classes.
“We are talking, and we will continue to talk. We are also meeting with all stakeholders to resolve the crisis, and we are confident that very soon, the strike will be called off,” Rufa’i said.
Besides, the minister said, government was making concerted efforts to restructure the university system, which was the main demand by ASUU.
Earlier speaking at the workshop, the minister said that the ACE project was a higher education project seeking to promote regional specialisation among participating universities within the Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) areas.
According to her, it addresses particular common regional development challenges and strengthens the capacities of those universities to deliver high quality training and applied research.
“You are here today to be updated on the ACE project and also to be guided on the procedures involved in the selection process and discuss focal areas for proposal submission.
‘You are also to discuss the criteria for participation and other necessary information that will help equip your institutions to be successful in the competitive process,” the minister told participants.
She said that the workshop had come at a good time, when the Federal Government was on the verge of commissioning the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NGREN).
Rufa’i said the Federal Government and other stakeholders had invested a lot of energy and resources into the Network towards addressing some of the IT challenges of the Nigeria University System (NUS) in the areas of learning, teaching and research.
“So, with the resources at the disposal of the NUS, at this time, I challenge you to come up with good proposals that would ensure that you emerge as Centres of Excellence in Africa,” she charged participants.
Also addressing newsmen, the Executive Secretary(ES) of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, called on ASUU to look inward and fashion out ways of improving the structure of the university system.
“In the last three years, the Federal Government has provided every university with N3 billion annually to revamp the university structure.
“Let them mop up what they have because we may in fact have excess facility in the university system,” Okojie said.
According to him, all that government is insisting on is for the universities to have credible staff and student audit to aid in the sector’s development planning.
The ES said government was also insisting that the universities gave account of the funds that were being pumped into the institutions as well as show what kind of projects they planned to embark on before further release of funds.
He said the Federal Government should not be blamed entirely for the failures or lack of development of the university system.
“Unfortunately, they run the system, so how can they say the government has not done this or that? Let our people understand that we must make progress,” he stated.
Explaining the objective of the workshop, Okojie said it was to meet the demand for skills required to develop Africa.
He said it was also to contribute to the strengthening of the best African universities within science-based education.
“This is in line with one of the goals of the NUC, which is to match graduate output with the national manpower needs,” he said.
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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