The meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again ended with the lecturers asking the government to act on its demands.

The Federal Government fixed a timeline of six weeks for the new committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Education to round off everything on the conditions of service for the university lecturers.

President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, at the resumed meeting with federal Government team on Tuesday in Abuja, said all ASUU members, students and Nigerians wanted to see was action from the government.

The ASUU leader said its members want to see the federal government release money for revitalisation, pay the earned academic allowances, put a stop to proliferation of universities among others.

He said the money that ought to have been used to fund education was being lost to other countries.

The ASUU leader called for a declaration of emergency in the sector to solve the problem.

Prof Osodeke: “The education sector in Nigeria is in crisis and money is being lost in the primary, secondary and tertiary education levels.”

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige at the end of the marathon meeting on Tuesday night, expressed hope that ASUU would call off its ongoing four-week warning strike this week.

Ngige told reporters that the meeting agreed on many things and put timelines for the implementation of the agreements.

The Minister said ASUU agreed to go back to its members with the government offers and report back to him before the end of the week.

He said that many of the items in the 2020 Memorandum of Action (MOA) had been dealt with exhaustively while some were being addressed.

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, is currently faced with challenges that include funding.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, disclosed this while addressing newsmen on the occasion of his 365 days in office.

He said, “There is a dire need for a significant infusion of funds for the upgrade of our physical environment, especially when considering that this university is among those universities that started without a take-off grant from the government.

“The University experienced a lot of slowing down due to paucity of funds which is a major brick wall to the university’s desire to change the state of her infrastructure and physical facilities.”

According to him, the university pays dearly for fuel and diesel and has lost two students due to the poor condition of the federal road there.

In spite of these and more, the VC described his one year in office as “a year of experience and impact on the hard and soft components” of the achievements of his administration, adding, “the past 12 months have been tough but we are making headway”.

He highlighted the soft components to include digitalisation of university processes, information dissemination, students and staff welfare, alumni welfare, partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding, conflict resolution, and research and innovation.

The hard components, he said include multiple infrastructure development, commercialisation of the university through bread, biscuit factory, filing station, commercial fish ponds, and agricultural land equipment.

He noted that under his administration, inaugural and other public lectures have been sustained, while students of the University had excelled in public debates and quiz competitions.

“It has been a bittersweet one year, one that accommodated the good, the bad and the ugly. While we relish the good, we must find ways to confront the bad and the ugly head-on by working hard and diligently,” the VC said.

He also reiterated that the efforts of his administration would be hinged on “prudent management, fairness, friendship and partnership, physical development, research and innovation, staff and student’s welfare and information and communication”.

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed two bills to establish a Federal University in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State.

They are the FCT University of Science and Technology Abaji (Establishment) Bill, 2022; and Federal University of Environmental Technology, Koroma/Saakperwa Tai Ogoni, Rivers State (Establishment) Bill, 2022.

The bills were passed after the consideration of two separate reports presented by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.

Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sandy Onuh, in a presentation on behalf of the Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita, said the bill to establish the Federal Capital Territory University of Science and Technology, Abaji, would provide the legal framework needed by the institution to close the knowledge gap in science and technology.

According to the lawmaker, the bill to establish the Federal University of Environmental Technology would allow for academic and professional programmes leading to the award of first degrees, post-graduate degrees, and diplomas with special emphasis on environmental technology and research.

Both bills to establish the two federal universities were passed by the chamber after consideration by the Committee of the Whole.

The Director, Tertiary Education Trust fund Centre of Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development, Yaba College of Technology, Sheriffdeen Ayodele-Oja, has said the centre will bridge the gap between academia, industry, policymakers and community.

Speaking at a two training day, titled, “Tony Elumelu Foundation 2022 $5,000 Grant Writing Masterclass”, Ayodele-Oja, revealed that the Centre of Excellence would support Yaba College of Technology to promote specialisation in skill areas that addressed national challenges and strengthen the capacities of the institution to deliver quality training and applied research.

He said, “In our effort to build capacity for excellence and encourage innovation and creativity, the inaugural training session, is mainly targeting our students. During this period, they will learn how to write a winning proposal for the TEF 2022 application, they will also be exposed to how they can find other grants to fund their dream businesses and projects.

“I hope that today inspires ideas and deliberations around the ways that can contribute to the development and advancement of skilled entrepreneurs responsive to community and industry needs.

“I wish to enjoin the Industry stakeholders, staff and students to support the activities of the Centre. During this event, we will intimate you about the proposed future activities of the Centre.”

He added that the CoE in Yabatech was a potent instrument for nation-building, and had a strategic vision, addressing specific development challenges through cutting edge applied research. The primary objectives of the Centre of Excellence are to bridge the gap between academia, industry, policymakers and community, develop industrial relevant products and services through skills and research development, build capacity in applied /innovative research and skills development, and integrate the latest Technology into skills and research development

The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Dr Danjuma Baba, has warned newly matriculated students that any student who failed to record 75 per cent contact hour with lectures in a semester would be expelled from the school.

Baba disclosed this during the 35th matriculation of the institution held on Saturday at the convocation pavilion when over 2,500 students were admitted into both National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.

He stressed that over 2,000 candidates had been offered provisional admission to study various courses at the HND level.

Out of over 2,000 candidates that applied for the ND programme, only about 1,500 have been offered provisional admission while another over 1,000 candidates have been offered provisional admission to study various courses at the HND level.

“There shall be no absenteeism from lectures, tests and assignments. The minimum class attendance required of full-time students in a semester for each course is 75 per cent of the total contact hours for the semester.

“All academic departments shall keep an attendance register for this purpose. Only students who meet this requirement will graduate. Study the Student Handbook religiously as ignorance is no excuse in law,” the Rector warned.

He further added, “Recently we expelled a student for refusal to fill the misconduct form despite her claim of ignorance because it is clearly stated in the Student Handbook.”

 “Let me warn at this point that the Polytechnic will not tolerate neither will it condone any act of indiscipline on the part of any student. You are to qualify for graduation only when you have been certified both in character and in learning.”

He disclosed that the present school administration had, more than any previous one, attracted more TETFund interventions in infrastructure, office furniture, equipment for laboratories and workshops. In addition, the Capital Projects funded by the Federal Government under this administration had been overwhelming and unprecedented.