ASUU Executive Council Set To Meet Over Half-Salary

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November 5, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Universities is set to summon an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council following the decision of the Federal Government to pay the lecturers half salaries for the month of October, 2022.

Though no date has been fixed yet, our correspondent gathered that the decision to convene a meeting followed the drama which erupted when members of the union received half salaries in their accounts.

Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja, ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, confirmed the development.

“Half salaries were paid, no reasons were given whatsoever. We learnt that Ngige wrote the office of the Accountant General and Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system and told them to only pay us for the period when we called off the strike.

“We heard there was a letter to that effect but we haven’t gotten it yet. We are going to summon a meeting.”

When our correspondent reached out to the Ministry of Education which serves as the supervisory ministry for universities, the spokesperson of the ministry said, “We don’t pay salary at the Ministry of Education. Kindly direct your question to the office of the Accountant General.”

ASUU: UNIJOS Issues Stay-at-home Order To Members Over Salaries

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 5, 2022

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Jos chapter on Friday ordered its members to stay at home indefinitely, pending the payment of withheld salaries by the federal government.

The ASUU branch made this known in a statement made available to news correspondent and signed by the branch chairperson, Professor Lazarus Maigoro.

LN247 had earlier reported how the government had paid half salaries to the striking university lecturers.

The statement partly reads, “One of the issues agreed at the meeting was that 50% of the backlog of eight months arrears of our withheld salaries will be paid to our members immediately but as at the time of writing this press release, only 17 days prorated October salary was paid to our members by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

“Having stayed for about nine months running now, our members in the University of Jos considered this an insult to them by the Accountant Gereral of the Federation.

“Is the Accountant General of the Federation actually answerable to the Minister of Labour? So, if today the Minister of Agriculture directs the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold the salaries of the staff of the Agricultural Research
Institutes who have been on strike for over a year, will he obey that?

“We wonder why Ngige is keen about withholding the salaries of ASUU members because staff of some Agricultural Research Institutes have been on strike for almost a year but they have been receiving their salaries regularly. Is this policy only for ASUU members?

“We are also aware that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, wrote a memo to the Accountant General asking him to pay our members only from the day we suspended the strike.

“By this singular act, the Minister of Labour and Employment has casualised the work of the University Lecturers unfortunately.

“This further creates doubts on our minds as to whether the understanding reached with the leadership of the House of Representatives on some of the issues will be implemented at all
by those who are saddled with the responsibility of doing so in order to avoid further needless strikes.

“From all indications, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has personalised the matter between him and our union and is on a mission for vendetta.

“It has become crystal clear now that he wasn’t happy that the House of Representatives brokered a truce on some of the issues we went on strike for and has gone behind to undermine it.

“It is also very clear to us now why he shamelessly walked out on the leadership of the House of Representatives at one of the meetings with all stakeholders to the glare of all Nigerians because he never wanted any form of resolution to be reached on the issues being discussed and is the nation.

“In view of the bottleneck placed by Ngige towards paying our members the backlog of our salaries, the congress of ASUU University of Jos met today November 4, 2022 and resolved to stay at home, though not on strike until the backlog of the withheld salaries are paid.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our members are back to work, willing and ready to work but are unable to work. Based on the revised academic calendar for
the 2020/2021 session approved by the senate of the University, lectures should have started already but the challenge of lack of payment of salaries has constrained our members from going to the classroom to teach.

“What this implies is that the students who have resumed already will have to wait indefinitely while we wait for our withheld salaries to be paid to us”.

Uproar As FG Clears Medical Lecturers’ Salary Backlog

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 5, 2022

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The Federal Government has cleared the backlog of salaries of medical lecturers at the Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto.

In a statement made available to news correspondent on Thursday, the branch chairman of ASUU, UDUS, Dr M.N Al-Mustapha noted the order was given by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

The statement partly read, “Recall also that, on July 14, 2022, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment granted an interview with Arise TV, where he stated, ‘Medical lecturers are at work, they are teaching. Sokoto has graduated their medical students, they are reasonable people, they have tested the strike and saw that it produces no result, yes they did it the last time. So, today, they have written, their Vice Chancellor has approved that they are at work.’

“This claim by the Honourable Minister, after careful investigation and consultation with the Vice Chancellor, the Provost of the Collage of Health Sciences and the Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, UDUTH Branch, was found to be false.

“On Monday, October 31, 2022, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto Branch, received information that a segment of academic staff in the Collage of Health Sciences had been paid a backlog of seven months of their withheld salary (March to September). Our preliminary investigations, as to why only a section of academic staff in the university were paid, revealed that, the payment was made due to a letter written to the Hon. Minister of Finance instructing the exemption of some listed staff from the application of “No work No Pay” rule.

“The letter was written by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment on October 24, 2022, directing the payment of withheld salary of Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto Chapter, with the pretence that this category of staff has been working during the strike. This situation further created tension and division within the campuses of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, escalating also to other universities”.

Speaking further, the ASUU chairman said, “All the academic staff in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, including those in the College of Health Sciences, were fully and undoubtedly on a total and comprehensive strike right from the beginning, on the 14th of February till its suspension on October 14, 2022.

“None of the members of ASUU UDUS or any section of the academic staff of the Branch pulled out of the strike action until when the national body called for its suspension. Not all members of Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria of Usamanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital are academic staff. So, how can their working in the teaching hospital amount to working in the university during the strike?

“The union challenges anyone, either in the Labour Ministry or the MDCAN UDUTH to produce any factual evidence that anyone had ever worked during the strike that warranted the selective release of their salary.

“It is now on record that the Minister of Labour and Employment is using his good office to settle some personal scores against a certain segment of academic staff that are not his “professional” colleagues. The Honourable Minister’s pursuit to polarise and sectionalise the Union by creating divisions, unpleasant relationship and disharmony within the rank of academics, along professions of members of the union is typical of his behaviours since assumption in office. He made several attempts to split the union by sponsoring different groups of academics to form a parallel union based on their professions.”

India Shuts Primary Schools In Delhi Over Air Pollution

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 5, 2022

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All primary schools in the Indian capital city, New Delhi will be closed indefinitely from tomorrow following the increasing levels of air pollution in the city.

Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, said on Friday at a news conference adding that the government is doing all sorts to address environmental degradation.

Reports from Industrial activities and vehicular traffic are significant contributors to air pollution in the city, along with rampant construction.

Kejriwal said, “We’re taking all steps to control the situation. Meanwhile, we are shutting down all primary schools in Delhi from tomorrow.’’

According to him, his government was also contemplating bringing back the odd-even traffic rationing measure for vehicles in the capital city.

The air pollution level in Delhi became severe on Friday for the second consecutive day.

“`This is not the time for blame game and politics, but time to find a solution to the problem.

“Since our government is in Punjab, we are responsible for the stubble burning. It has been only six months since we formed the government there and there were issues that were being addressed.

“We are finding solutions. Give us a year’s time to address the issue.”

Gov. Zulum Re-evaluates Teachers Verification Exercise

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 5, 2022

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The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has inaugurated a Committee to re- examine the report on teachers verification exercise in the state

This is due to a complaint by the Nigerian Union Teachers (NUT) that 624 teachers were mistakenly placed under suspension, which now necessitated the government decision to inaugurate an evaluation committee the outcome of the previous two committees in a view to verify the anomaly if any.

The previous two committees had screened 26,450 teachers on the Government’s payroll and 7,794 were identified as ghost workers, henceforth the committee came up with a full report and recommendations.

The Borno State governor inaugurated the committee to verify teachers and biometric data capture of Local Government Staff and Local Education Authorities.

During the inauguration governor Babagana Umara Zulum said, “I am glad to inaugurate this committee headed by the Secretary of State government Usman Njidda Shuwa as the Chairman with a deputy chairman and other important members.

“The committee mandate is to receive complain from the persons affected by the outcome of the previous 2 reports with a view to sort those with genuine cases, the committee has 3 months to summit its comprehensive reports and recommendations while it has from now to December 31st to summit an interim report.

“Though we are not disputing the report submitted to us by the previous committee, as humans we are bond to make mistakes and i sincerely thank them for a Job well done,“ he added.

Minister Seeks Private Sector Support For Public Schools

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 5, 2022

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Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah has advocated increased private sector for public schools,through funding, to enhance quality of teaching and education in the country.

Opiah made the call on Friday while inaugurating the new administrative building of the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Owerri.

According to him, funding of schools or education cannot be left for Federal Government alone.

He said the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), private investors and stakeholders should identify progress development, welfare and wellbeing of the public schools around them.

Opiah, who noted that the nation’s economy was no longer as buoyant as before, said there was need for alternatives to funding the education sector.

“If we continue to wait for government to fund everything pertaining schools, we may be lacking in many areas,” he noted.

Opiah disclosed that the Federal Government was working to make teaching profession more attractive.

He said the retirement age of teachers had been extended from 60 to 65 years and from 30 to 40 years in service.

“The salary of teachers has also been increased.

“From next academic session, the Federal Government will commence bursary award for anyone studying education in tertiary institutions,” he added.

Opiah said students ,who excel in education courses, will receive automatic employment as teachers.

“This will reduce unemployment and improve quality teaching with value,” he stressed.

He commended the Principal of the College for her high level of administrative competence,which he said had ensured peace, and harmony among management, staff, students and parents.

While commending the students for being disciplined, he advised them to study hard and obey their teachers and parents.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Principal of the College, Francisca Obiagwu ,said that the school which was founded in 1973, s had attained numerous academic achievements

“In Federal Government Girls’ College, we do not only concentrate on academics, but we vigorously pursue discipline which is an integral aspect of character moulding,” Obiagwu said.

The principal appealed for the provision of more classrooms to accommodate the students as well as the raising of the perimeter fence to enhance security.

She also appealed for the installation of solar street lights and solar panels in the administrative block, dining halls, hostels and classrooms, among other appeals.

Obiagwu commended the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu for his ingenuity and interventionist strides to ensure that education was given its pride of place in the country.

Kwara Govt Increases Bursary Allowance From N5000 To N10,000

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 5, 2022

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Kwara increased bursary allowances for its indigenous students in tertiary institutions on Thursday from N5,000 to N10,000.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mansurat Amuda-kannike.

She quoted the commissioner, Abolore Alabi as saying that application for the bursary opens on Friday, Nov. 4 and closes on Nov. 11, through https:kw.gov

“The commissioner appreciates the commitment of Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to his campaign promises to all and sundry.

“Dr Abolore expressed optimism that the present administration would not rest on its oars at ensuring that Kwara indigenes got their share of the dividends of democracy as at when due.

“He assured that more opportunities would still come for tertiary institutions students and urged them to always be good ambassadors of the state,’’ Amuda-kannike stated.

Katsina Varsity Establishes Faculty of Law, Begins With 2 Programmes

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 5, 2022

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The Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State, says it has established a Faculty of Law and will take off with two undergraduate programmes.

This is contained in the University’s weekly bulletin issued to newsmen on Thursday in Katsina, by the spokesperson of the institution, Habibu Umar-Amin.

According to him, the development is part of its Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu-Bichi’s effort to fulfill the institution’s mission.

“The VC has continued to create knowledge and impact the same to transform the human mind in fulfilment of the University’s mission.

“He has demonstrated this by establishing the Faculty of Law, which has two undergraduate programmes –
L.B. Islamic Law and Jurisprudence, and

L.B. Public and Private Law.

“These two programmes are currently waiting for resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

“The fundamental principle of the faculty is to contribute significantly to the enrichment and enhancement of legal study and practice,” he said.

According to Umar-Amin, the faculty is designed to provide legal education within the realm of a dynamic socio-political environment and to encompass national, global trends and challenges.

“The main focus of the Law programmes is to create an environment that encourages intellectual rigour, analytical and critical engagement as well as profound ethical standards.

“The programme will produce law graduates who can compete actively in legal, social, economic and political developments on a global scale.

“The Faculty of Law will ensure a high level of performance, integrity and quality.

“This will be done to certify to the international community that the programmes offered in the Law Faculty are of high standard and their graduates are proficient for employment and for further studies,” he said.

Benjamin Netanyahu Returns To Power After Israeli Election Win

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Zoe Maven

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November 4, 2022

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sealed his return to power after the final vote count from elections this week gave him and his far-right allies a clear majority in parliament.

Results released by the electoral commission said that with 99 percent of votes counted, Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party had won 32 seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, the Knesset.

That combined with 18 for two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties and 14 for the rising extreme-right alliance called Religious Zionism gave the bloc supporting Netanyahu 64 seats.

The parties backing centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid won 51 seats, a definitive win for Netanyahu that spells an end to Israel’s unprecedented era of political deadlock, which forced five elections in less than four years.

The right-wing ex-premier has overseen multiple attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Hours after his election win was confirmed, the Israeli army bombed the Gaza Strip after Palestinian fighters launched four rockets towards Israel.

One was intercepted and three others “exploded inside the Gaza strip”, the Israeli army said, confirming the first launches from the territory since a three day conflict in August between Israel and the Islamic Jihad armed group. No group immediately claimed Thursday’s launches.

Lapid called his rival Netanyahu to congratulate him on Thursday, and told “his entire office to prepare an organised transition of power”, a statement from his office said.

The result sets Netanyahu up to form what may be the most extreme right-wing government in Israeli history.

France, Germany Press Italy To Open Ports To 1,000 At Sea

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Zoe Maven

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November 4, 2022

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France and Germany are asking Italy’s new far-right-led government to grant a safe port to nearly 1,000 people rescued by humanitarian groups in the central Mediterranean, some of whom have been stuck at sea for more than two weeks.

Humanitarian groups caring for the rescued migrants on four ships in the central Mediterranean are sounding an alarm about deteriorating conditions, including people sleeping on floors in the cold and spreading fevers.

A German charity, Mission Lifeline, reported that its ship is in “extreme danger” with 95 rescued people on board, half of them women and children, and bad weather forecast.

Italy’s new interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, has drafted new measures alleging that the non-governmental groups violated procedure by not properly coordinating their rescues, setting the groundwork for Italy to close the ports. Piantedosi has also asked the countries whose flags they fly to intervene.

Meanwhile, Italian authorities continue to allow the arrivals of people rescued at sea by Italian patrols, including 456 arriving in Calabria on Thursday.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Friday that international law makes clear that Italy, as the closest port, “must let the ship in.” He referred to the Norway-flagged Ocean Viking with 234 people aboard operated by the group SOS Mediterranee, which has one of its headquarters in France.

The German Foreign Ministry said it has asked Italy to intervene quickly to help those aboard the German-flagged Humanitarian 1, with 179 people aboard.