Suspected gunmen in Imo State have on Monday launched an attack on some soldiers in Awo Mmamma town in the Oru East Local Government Area.
The attack, according to reports, has led to the killing of one soldier, which prompted the soldiers to raid the town.
In the raid, the soldiers have allegedly torched houses, cars, shops and a hotel, forcing many residents to flee their community.
A source, whose identify wasn’t made public, said “some hoodlums attacked some soldiers at Ishieke junction in Awo Mmamma and killed one of them. They zoomed off towards Ihiala in Anambra State. Later soldiers invaded the area and caused havoc in the area by setting a hotel, cars, houses and stalls on fire.”
However, police in the state haven’t commented on the incident as of the time fo filing this report.
Southeastern Nigeria has in recent months been hit hard by attacks suspected to have been carried out by Biafran combatants.
Award-winning Nigerian-American pop star, Davido, has donated the total sum he got from donations from fans and fellow celebrities to orphanage homes across Nigeria.
The Nigerian American singer, whose real name is David Adeleke, posted on Twitter and Instagram on Wednesday:
“If u know I’ve given you a hit song … send me money,” and posted details of a Wema Nigerian bank account on November 17, 2021
Within 90 minutes of the post to his more than 31 million followers on Twitter and Instagram – the 28-year-old shared a screenshot of his account balance showing more than 42m naira had already been deposited.
This donation has stirred up a lot of reactions from Nigerians. However, the contributions came to a halt in the afternoon of November 20 2021, when the pop artist released an agreement statement on his pages in his intention to take out the 200,000 million naira as charity to orphanage homes across Nigeria while adding 50 million naira to the money donated, making the whole sum 250,000,000 naira.
In the statement, Davido appointed a five-person committee in charge of distributing the funds to the beneficiaries. They are Mrs Titi Adebayo-Chairman of the committee; Professor Jonathan Nwosu-Secretary to the committee; Professor Yahana Joel Ahana of the Northern Nigeria Seventh Day Activist Union Conference; Pastor (Dr) Oyalabu of Spring Time Development Foundation (SDF); and Professor Uloma Onuoha.
The committee is set to ensure transparency in the disbursement and figure out the orphanage homes that should benefit from the donation.
Dropcap the popularization of the “ideal measure” has led to advice such as “Increase font size for large screens and reduce font size for small screens.” While a good measure does improve the reading experience, it’s only one rule for good typography. Another rule is to maintain a comfortable font size.
Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.
A busy man keeps working while he waits. | Image: Unsplash
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
When I was young I had a pure heart, bright eyes and a sparkling smile. All I wanted then was to grow up quickly and set things right. I wanted to be a shoulder for the poor, a shield for the oppressed and a think-tank for my nation. I grew a bit older …. And then there was a minus one to my dreams.
Then I entered youth with exuberance and disillusion I knew the people who have ruined the nation more than I knew myself. I wished I had the power to remove all of them from power. I knew I was a good young man but I never gave much thought to the realities of life, not more the realities of power. I grew a bit older and I got my first job (as well as my first shock). And then there was a minus one to my dreams…
Here I am today with so much money but very little direction. With a special room in every seven-star hotel, I lay my “ears” on. Yet I have very little peace in my mind. I thought money was all I needed to change the world. If I could stop being poor and deprived, I had thought, then I would be happy and resourceful. Little did I know that money had little to do with wellbeing.
True, sometimes money brings the tools of happiness, but it takes a grateful and content mind to put them to good use. What use will the money be, when all people around me wallow in mud and dirt poverty? I wonder. But people like and respect me even though I am a corrupt rich man. Corruption persists when all around you insist that your La Vida Loca life is an inspiration for them, without asking for your source of income. Actually, they don’t want to do bad belle for you.
I spray money at their functions to feed my empty ego. I donate a lot of money (well that’s a very tiny per cent of the loot) to charity organisations in return for publicity and praise. But deep within my soul, the truth keeps me debased. The wound of conscience brings more pain than a thousand dagger cuts. I spend here and I spend there. But at night, I secretly spend much more to feed the dirty flesh. Then I grew older …. And then there was a minus one to my life.
Sometimes, I make more money in a day than some unfortunate PhD holder may make in his/her whole lifetime. Don’t mind these Doctors of Philosophy! They talk a lot about the evil things we do. But when they cook up “research” to carry out, they bring the proposals and we give them part of that evil money and they are all smiles. Now that’s the power of corruption trumping the power of “knowledge”. You get the point now.
I grew a bit older and I started losing the taste for money. All efforts to seek reliable sources of pleasure proved abortive. No amount of beautiful women, or exotic cars or houses or even new places ever sang the you-have-finally-arrived song I heart longs for. The more I got, the less fulfilled I became. Then I made a resolution to give up bribery and corruption, but my soul resisted. In fact, the organ that transports blood to my heart almost became rotten in protest. I was rushed to my doctor and he vehemently advised that I should not give up corruption so that I can pay all my medical bills on time. And some more during medical tourism. As you know, the nation can’t afford that so I have to foot my heavy bills.
My children told me they are tired of studying overseas where they are daily exposed to insults over race and nationality. So I had to look for them the best private school in the country. Their school fee per annum is my exact salary for a whole year! But never mind, I have a way of fetching it in a twinkle of an eye.
In this final quarter of the year, I discussed my resolution to give up corruption with my children’s school principal, a tiny white man, who reminds me of my grandfather’s master before the 1960s. He is a practical man. also told me, “Be fair to yourself,” He emphatically told me. In sum: if I knew I was sincere about giving up corruption, he had posed, why did I bring my children to their school when salary was not paid in pounds sterling. I grew a bit older …. Then there was depression looming in the air. Ready to take me to my grave, even before I have eaten a tenth of what I have ‘worked’ for.
I look around again and it seems everything around me encourages me to remain corrupt. After all, everybody is doing it (or so I thought). One day in my solitary reflections, two stubborn questions popped up in my head. What if I suddenly die without repenting, will God punish me for all my sins? Will I be deprived of all that I have done in life? I tried to fight them by asserting that the Hereafter is an ancient tale told by religious men who wanted to exercise their will to power. But it is difficult to convince myself. Deep within me, I harbour doubts since there had been no standard (or even a substandard) experiment to nullify the belief in life beyond the grave so as to prove these religious folks wrong. And the complex process of life from inception to death also betrays a complete denial to resurrection. There has to be an Intelligent and Just Lord waiting in ambush! What will I say to Him, if Hell turns out to be true? Will I enter it alongside my beloved wife and children who are nourished by the fats and protein public wealth?
Truly, I am afraid, but I am also afraid of poverty. If I give up corruption and become poor, my enemies will think it is their curse that overtook me. But if I die with the wealth of the nation in my private account, will my enemies assist me against the Angel of Punishment? I am somewhat torn between the devil and the deep blue sea.
My dear friend! Imagine if what you just read was a false confession from a young man who is reflecting on what he will make out of his life were he to be a public officer, will his false confessions make any true impact on your life? What if it is actually a true confession of an old civil servant or politician who has approached old age (and subsequently death) will you learn any lessons from his “wasted” years! It is important for us to know, fellow citizens, that people’s wealth can never be ours. Both conscience and religion deny us that.
Let’s be honest and work hard and sincerely for whatever we want in life. Just because we are living in hard times, does not mean we have got a licence to take bribes. Many became billionaires without reliance on the public treasury and many more will. So, O young man, why are you afraid of relying on God and unleashing your potential to the fullest! Be wise now that you still have some time.
The Nigerian Army has on Thursday debunked a viral recruitment advertisement made in its name, describing it as “not only fake but fraudulent.”
Recall that some online media have taken to their websites to advertise that the Nigerian Army has opened its online application for Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) and Short Service Combatant (SSC).
Debunking the advertisement, the army, in a short Facebook post titled “BEWARE OF FAKE RECRUITMENT,” wrote: “This recruitment advert is not only fake but fraudulent and should be disregarded in its entirety by members of the public. It is also important to state that at present, the Nigerian Army has not put out any advert for sales of forms for SSC/DSSC.”
When an action movie has “Revenge” as its theme, the main focus is the “Avenger”. He is, at times, a lone survivor whose parents are brutally murdered, and his efforts to avenge their death often make the intriguing action scenes in such movies. As its title suggests, Avenger, the Kannywood English action film, is also not different. It’s a story of an avenger who vows revenge against the assassins of his family.
Jamal (M.M Haruna) is the last survivor of Alhaji Baffa Yaro’s family. He was in boarding school when his father, a gubernatorial candidate, was assassinated alongside his family members. His deceased father’s friend, Sani Mu’azu, provides refuge for him. Years later, Jamal grew into an Avenger, and Sani Mu’azu (his saviour who also trained him to be one) begins to give him the pictures of those who, according to him, are responsible for the assassination.
However, when the Avenger launches serial killings on them, he learns that they are innocent. Sani Mu’azu is the real antagonist but mischievously pulls the strings behind him. He is even the mastermind of the actual group behind the murder of the Avenger’s family. Avenger, therefore, shifts his target to the real perpetrators.
Having noticed the exposé of his true identity and that he is now the Avenger’s target, Sani Mu’azu hires professional hitmen to haunt the Avenger down and eliminate him. The Avenger’s encounter with them is conveyed in highly dramatic chases and choreographed action sequences. However, everything is not resolved when the film ends, and the phrase “to be continued” pops up on the screen.
Though a rehash of foreign films, Avenger opens on an engaging note. It begins with Sani Mu’azu, Abba El-Mustapha and Tijjani Faraga conspiring to kill the gubernatorial candidate. It then shifts to where the police are investigating the serial killings on prominent personalities by an unknown person, who is later found to be an Avenger, as he leaves similar transcription after each murder. But as the film expands, it slackens. The story proves contradictory. The narrative gets incoherent and somewhat confusing. Some unconnected scenes seem complementary as they are not serially arranged, and there are no proper techniques, not even intertitles, to clarify.
As an action film, its setting is also not fitting. So is the use of costumes and props, which is too poor. The cinematography is generally nothing to write home about. The action sequences are poorly crafted, and the editing is flawed. There are instances where dialogue is repeated, among other defects.
Compared with Kannywood’s previous attempts at action genre, like Aduniya (Dir. G. Galadima, 2014) and Gwaska (Dir. Falalu Dorayi, 2015), Avenger is much impoverished. It copies the storyline of Aduniya, while Gwaska has better production quality and a more effective setting than it has. Moreover, the English dialogue rendition is weaker than Jammaje’s “There is a way (2016)” and co.
Additionally, the portrayal of M.M Haruna as Avenger is unfit. He lacks the charisma of action heroes. The same goes with Ali Nuhu, who is portrayed as the boss of Ishaq Sidi Ishaq. The latter plays the role of the police officer in charge of the murder investigations. However, the reverse could have been better since Ali Nuhu is more agile and popular to make the required impact.
The ending is also outrageous. It shouldn’t have been inconclusive. Movies meant for the big screen shouldn’t be fragmented. But they are in Kannywood. The film in question and the previously released Sarki Goma Zamani Goma are typical examples. The filmmakers should either change or end up losing a large audience.
Finally, with all its negatives that clearly outweigh the positives, Avenger is still a watchable film for the suspense in its first few moments and Ali Nuhu and Sani Mu’azu’s eloquence in delivering English dialogue. I rate it 2/5.
In style similar to that of the popular Nigerian musician Davido, a Kannywood producer Lawal Ahmad also took to his Instagram and Facebook pages to announce his appeal for donations from his fans.
He said, “Today, I also want to be honoured by my fans courtesy of Prophet Muhammad (SAW),” He afterwards stated his account details, comprising the account number, account name and bank.
You may recall that Davido on Monday was able to raise more than one hundred million naira in less than 24 hours after asking, jovially, those whom he had given a “hit song” to send him money. As of the time of filing this report, money still hits his account.
The famous musician has been sharing his bank account dashboard screenshots, displaying his name and account balance, which significantly increases whenever he uploads a new screenshot.
This has become a new trend as many other social media users follow suit to appeal for money—though sometimes jokingly.
Lawan Ahmad could be the first person to have made such an appeal in the Kano-based Hausa film industry history.
Checks on the timeline of the producer carried out by the Daily Reality show that he has started receiving money, albeit much smaller amounts compared to Davido’s.
Intro text we refine our methods of responsive web design, we’ve increasingly focused on measure and its relationship to how people read.
Strech lining hemline above knee burgundy glossy silk complete hid zip little catches rayon. Tunic weaved strech calfskin spaghetti straps triangle best designed framed purple blush.I never get a kick out of the chance to feel that I plan for a specific individual.
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.
A busy man keeps working while he waits. | Image: Unsplash
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia.
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad. “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”, he thought, but that was something he was unable to do because he was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state couldn’t get into that position. However hard he threw himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he was.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen.
His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls. A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table – Samsa was a travelling salesman – and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane, which made him feel quite sad.
Prominent Saudi universities have expressed interest to build a strong collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), stating that the university has attained a considerable standing in teaching and research, the Consul-General, Royal Consulate General of Saudi Arabia, Kano, Khalil Ahmed Admawi, has disclosed.
The Consul-General made the disclosure today, 18th November 2021, when he paid a familiarisation visit to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he had an interaction with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, in his office.
This was made public in a release signed Thursday, 18th November 2021, by the Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Mr. Admawi, who led a three-man delegation to the University from the Saudi Consulate in Kano, said it was a “great pleasure” for him to have visited Ahmadu Bello University for the first time.
He added that long before his coming to Nigeria to serve as a diplomat he had been hearing about ABU’s greatness as clearly manifested in the quality of products produced by the institution over the years.
The Consul-General also explained that his visit to ABU was primarily to acquaint himself with the institution, and to subsequently link many Saudi universities with Ahmadu Bello University for possible collaboration on various academic fields.
Admawi, who expressed immense appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage, further said that the visit would open more doors for different academic linkages between ABU and Saudi academic institutions.
Receiving the Consul-General, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, recalled the kind of relationship ABU had with the Gulf countries at its early years of existence.
Prof. Bala further said that such collaboration ceased to exist with the death of Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, who founded the University in 1962.
“Thereafter, ABU has been trying to resuscitate such collaborations with the Gulf countries. It is my hope that your visit will eventually revive the collaborations not only on Islamic Banking but also on other academic fields”, he said.
The Consul-General and his entourage were later conducted round some places within the University, including Department of Arabic, where he briefly interacted with the Head of Department, Prof. Jafar Abdulmalik and other staff members of the Department.
A renowned Islamic scholar at the Faculty of Education, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Sani Birnin Kudu, and Malam Ahmad Idris Yunus, a staff at the Consulate, were part of the Consul-General’s entourage.
We woke up Monday morning to meet the bold Newspapers’ headlines of ASUU’s 3 weeks ultimatum to FG after the NEC meeting. In response, FG through Ngige promised to disburse the withheld 2019/2020 EAA on Wednesday. Another promise and Wednesday is gone. Of all the none implemented agreements, it’s EAA that came to their mind. Is the 3 weeks ultimatum all about EAA or they feel that another promise of a meager allowance called EAA will calm the nerves of those “poor lecturers”? I guess they are thinking they have impoverished us to that level that we jump on a promise of little “change”.
In December 2020 and a few days before the suspension of the 2020 edition of the ASUU Strikes, an agreement was reached, and with a clause that the failure of the government to fulfill the signed 2020 MoU with the agreed timeline, the strike will resume without any notice. It’s almost 11 months when the strike was suspended and some of us can’t really figure out the part of the agreement that has been implemented.
After 11 months, UTAS is on voicemail and ASUU members have been tactically dragged into IPPIS using their BVN. 11 months and still counting, no information on the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement that involves salary review. While no information on the accumulated EAA till 2019, the 2019-2020 EAA that is part of the 2021 budget is hanging and the year 2021 will end in about 6 weeks.
This reminds me of the last meeting for the strike suspension referendum at the branches. A senior colleague stood up during the meeting to pour out his mind that with his experience from the ASUU and FG negotiations, suspending the strike based on the usual promises and signing of MoUs will be a regret. The opinion of the colleague and other factors may have possibly made the ABU Branch of ASUU to vote against the suspension of the 2020 strike.
After the strike was suspended, I had an encounter with Dr. Salihu Lukman, the DG of Progressive Governors’ Forum on the ASUU strike. He made a comment that is still in my head since December 2020. That statement featured in the conclusion of my book titled: Nigeria’s university industrial unrest and poverty of sincerity. Dr. Lukman said, “We should not deceive ourselves to imagine that simply because there is an agreement, leaders will voluntarily implement it”. Hate him or like him for that statement, the statement has been true and is still true.
It is 11 months after the strike and ASUU members are on IPPIS, directly or indirectly. I doubt if there are any visiting professors in any federal universities, UTAS has been under test for the past 11 months with all the delaying tactics. The highest-paid Professor in 2009 received a net salary of about N450,000, including all the allowances. The salary remained that till January 2020. From February 2020 till date, and despite the minimum wage implementation, the net salary of the highest-paid Professor with all the allowances dropped to N416,000. With the inflation since 2009, the salary of academics was static till January 2020 after which it start to decrease.
And to attain the level of highest-paid Professor with that net salary, you must have been employed as an Assistant Lecturer with a Masters degree on a salary of N115,000 per month (all allowances included), worked for a minimum of 15 years to be promoted to the rank Professor and be on that rank for 9 years. So, to earn N416,000 as a Professor in any Nigerian university, you must have worked for a minimum of 24 years.
In the book that was recently published, I described the 2020 strike suspension as just like a temporary “ceasefire” and that FG will have to be forced to implement the signed agreements with another strike as usual. That is exactly where we are today with another ultimatum that may very likely lead to another strike.
But most colleagues are actually tired of strikes. Despite the 9 months of torture during the strike without salary, nothing seems to have changed and we are struggling more than ever to get home with our take-home pay. Are we ready to go for another round of months without a salary? Will the coming strike be focused on the revitalisation as number one on the list of demands? Or be silent on revitalisation for now and focus on 2009 renegotiation and pursue the review of salaries and welfare of lecturers to a logical conclusion?
The question coming from younger Academics is this: Why the continued fight for the system by academics while most others are fighting for themselves? They are saying that it is time for ASUU to focus on the welfare and conditions of service of their members. They said they feel more comfortable for their salaries to be withheld for a demand for improved salaries and welfare than for the fight to uphold university autonomy and funding which parents and students don’t even think is necessary.
A graduate of physics working in a bank visited the department last week and we got talking and the issue of salaries popped up. I told him our salaries which include all the allowances from Graduate Assistant to Professor and he was like that is unbelievable. He opened his mouth in disbelief. He thought my salary was like N700,000 and a Professor earned something close to a million naira. I could not stop laughing at his thoughts. I told him that those figures only exists in his head and that the reality was the figure I just rolled out. He felt that way because he is about 2 years in the bank and his salary is higher than the salary of a senior lecturer in the University. It made no sense to him. He can’t believe he earned more than a senior lecturer, a PhD holder, that has spent a minimum of 9 years in the University.
Dear ASUU President and ASUU NEC, convincing some ASUU members, especially the younger ones to vote in favour of another strike that will not prioritize their salaries and welfare may be a hard nut to crack. We have suffered enough and still suffering. We are meant to be solution developers but we are definitely not in the right frame of mind to develop solutions. How do you expect an academic to think when his brain is filled with the thought of how to get home with his salary? We need to set our priorities right. This is 2021 and we are living on a salary that is lower than the 2009 salary table. That is not sustainable.
Dear Federal Government of Nigeria, university lecturers don’t need that EAA that they are not sure when it will come but an academic living wage to live a life. Having refused to fully implement the 2020 MoU as Dr. Lukman postulated and some of us expected, ASUU members will be more than willing to embark on another strike to get that academic living wage from the conclusion and implementation of the 2009 renegotiation.
Abdelghaffar Abdelmalik Amoka writes from ABU, Zaria.