News
ASUU Strike: NUT Holds Crucial Meeting, ’Morrow
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) is to hold a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday to decide its next line of action over the lingering strike by public university teachers.
The NUT President, Mr Michael Alogba-Olukoya, said this in a telephone interview with newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.
The union had on Sept. 26 given a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government and the lecturers to resolve their differences and end the strike or face nationw
Former Minister of State for fct, Senator Solomon Ewuga (left), with the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, at the nrc’s public private partnership stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja last Tuesday. Photo: NAN
ide strike by NUT members.
The lecturers embarked on the strike under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on July 1.
The lecturers described the strike as “comprehensive, total and indefinite.
Alogba-Olukoya told newsmen that the union extended the ultimatum following appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.
He, however, noted that the extension would end on Tuesday.
“Since we gave the ultimatum, well meaning Nigerians have been pleading with us.
“In order not to cry more than the bereaved, we gave them till October 22. The NEC members will meet on Thursday to decide our next line of action, “he said.
Our correspondent reports that the university teachers are protesting non-implementation of an agreement they signed with the Federal Government in 2009 on improved funding of universities and payment of allowances to ASUU members, among others issues.
Meetings between ASUU and representatives of the government failed to resolve the issues that led to the strike.
The government has released some funds to meet some of the lecturers’ demands, but ASUU insists on full implementation of the agreement before calling off the strike.
The strike has kept students in public universities out of school for more than three months.
On Saturday, President Goodluck Jonathan appealed to ASUU members to return to the classrooms in the interest of their students.
Jonathan said that keeping students out of school for this long was unpatriotic, whatever ASUU’s grievances might be.
He said that since the government had shown commitment to improving the condition of universities, ASUU should call off the strike.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter, has allayed fears that opposition politicians in the country might hijack its ongoing strike.
The Chairman of local chapter of ASUU, Dr. Beke Sese, gave the indication yesterday, while speaking at a solidarity rally at the premises of NDU’s Law Faculty in Yenagoa.
Our correspondent recalls that the industrial action which started on July 1, is approaching the fourth month.
Sese expressed the union’s displeasure that the strike which was meant to drive home ASUU’s demand for better funding of university education was being hijacked for political interest.
“We are aware that some opposition politicians are trying to capitalise on the current ASUU strike to cast aspersions on government and inadvertently trivialise our genuine struggle.
“Let me state here that ASUU is not a party to such cheap manifestation of political opportunism.
“We rather wish to implore this government to make history by commencing the process of revitalising public universities to a height never attained by any previous administration.”
He recalled that the union had over the years, consistently engaged successive governments through dialogue, to compel the political leadership to arrest the rot in the university system.
According to the chairman, the leadership of ASUU has held several talks with the Federal Government over a possible peaceful resolution of the present crisis.
He said: “But it is quite disheartening that the government has refused to show the necessary commitment and sincerity in its self-proclaimed effort to address our demand.
“Rather than honour an agreement it freely entered into with our union after several months of negotiations, government has resorted to arbitrary imposition of money.”
Sese said that the purported disbursement of N100 billion to address the funding requirement of some universities was arbitrary.
He recalled that the government had promised to stimulate the process of revitalising the university system with an initial sum of N100 billion for 2012.
This, he said, would be built up to a yearly sum of N400 billion in the three years from 2013 to 2015 as intervention.
“But regrettably, the said N100 billion being purportedly disbursed is therefore, not at variance with the 2009 agreement and MoU signed with government on the 24th of January, 2012.
“Rather, it appears to be a strategy of government aimed at dividing us.
“By our estimation, the MoU should have fetched the universities a total sum of N500 billion by now, if government had faithfully implemented the 2012 agreement.’’
Sese alleged that the “no-fund” refrain by government reflected a “grand’’ design to frustrate the 2009 agreement and other procedures related to it.
He noted that the same government had within the last three years provided trillions of naira from public coffers as “bail outs” to support private concerns such as banks and arlines.
The chairman urged parents to support ASUU’s effort to compel government to “do what is right for university education”.
He said that the union would remain determined in its effort to bring a drastic change in the university system.
Our correspondent reports that the solidarity rally which was supposed to be a public rally along major roads of Yenagoa, was cut short by the Bayelsa Police Command as it refused to grant the union a rally permit.
Sese said: “We are supposed to go on a public rally on the streets of Yenagoa, but the police denied us permission.
“We, therefore, decided to confine our solidarity rally within the premises of our Law Faculty here in Yenagoa.”
Efforts to get the police to comment on the allegation was not successful, as repeated calls put to the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), DSP Alex Akhigbe, were not answered.
Some of the placards carried by the union members read: “Join ASUU and Save Nigerian Universities, “Agreement is Agreement”, “Support ASUU, Help Our Children”.
Others read: “Not Every Child Can Go to Ghana to Study”, “Poor People Children Need Nigeria Universities”, “Stop the Movement from Nigeria Just to Study Abroad.”
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi