Nigerian Universities to embark on fresh strike
By Khadija Muhammad
The national president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed concern over how the Federal Government of Nigeria is handling the demands of the universities unseriously. Together with other union leaders, he expressed their dismay at a press conference in Abuja on November 15, 2021.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address all issues as agreed in the December 2020 Agreement.
ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this on Monday while addressing reporters in Abuja.
The president warned that the union might be compelled to embark on another nationwide strike should the government fail to implement the Memorandum of Action signed with ASUU before suspending the last industrial action.
According to the ASUU President, all the issues, including unpaid academic earned allowances and the universities revitalisation fund, have not been addressed almost one year after an agreement was reached.
The ultimatum is part of the resolutions reached at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of ASUU held in the nation’s capital.
It can be recalled that ASUU embarked on a nationwide strike in March 2020 following its disagreement with the government over the funding of the universities and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), among other issues. Accordingly, it had proposed the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) to replace IPPIS. But in a bid to get the lecturers back to class, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, convened a series of meetings with leaders of the union and relevant government officials.
Amid the strike that lasted several months and negotiations that ended in a deadlock, the government and ASUU later signed a Memorandum of Action in December 2020. This led to the suspension of the protracted industrial action that lasted nine months. However, not after the government offered a cumulative N65 billion to the lecturers to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.
On the IPPIS tussle, both parties agreed on the UTAS, while the government would pay the university lecturers’ salary arrears on a different platform.
ASUU had on several occasions warned that it would indeed go on strike if the federal government continued to break the promises and throw away all the agreements reached.
The fallacy behind free education in Kano
By Salisu Uba Kofar-Wambai
It might sound obnoxious, as bitter as gall, if I may say this free education program by the Kano state government may not see the light of the day. Often, politicians politicise education. The concept of free education has been with us for quite a long spell. Our education has always been free. The token amount collected from the students isn’t the actual school fees. Students only pay 700 Naira per term. Is this the school fees?
And hardly could you find where a student is deprived of attending classes because he fails to settle his payment.
In fact, the school heads face punishment if they send away a student or pupil who can’t pay his fees. The only way is to persuade the student to do the needful or grant him an exclusion considering his financial plight. The money raised is always spent in the school under the watch of the PTA, and auditors come from the education ministry to ensure the money collected isn’t embezzled and is used wisely and judiciously. Prudence is always the watchword.
The school heads usually run into trouble if they’re found wanting in the area of class furniture problems, paucity of teaching aids, unrepaired broken windows and doors, non-provision of markers and chalks and what-have-you.
Now, the government has directed the schools’ authorities to stop collecting such peanuts to maintain, sustain and administer the schools in the name of free education and claimed to be giving out money to the schools as upkeep to take care of them.
The bone of contention here is that: could the government continue to provide this fund? In case of delay or non-payment by the concerned authorities, what will happen to the schools? It will be very hard if they can continue supporting the schools.
This was a similar scenario under Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso administration. He stopped the tertiary institutions and universities from collecting fees in the name of “free education” and couldn’t provide enough funds to run the schools.
I am not hoping and praying to have problems with the program, but at least we shall embark on something feasible. Unfortunately, the politicians are only trying to be popular with the program, to impress voters, to the detriment of the system.
Many outside the system may not get me right. And our society will see me as someone who has no sympathy or don’t like to see the children of the poor getting education, NO! It isn’t. Rather am doing this for the betterment of their education.
Ganduje commiserates Dangote over death of brother
By Uzair Adam Imam
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has commiserated with the President Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote over the death of his brother Sani Dangote, who was the Vice President Dangote Group of Companies.
A statement signed Monday 15th November, 2021, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Malam Abba Anwar disclosed.
Mr Dangote died at a US hospital on Sunday evening after a protracted illness, and until his death he sat on the board of several companies and was the deputy chairman of African Gum Arabic Producers Association.
The governor said that we received the information about the passing away of this gentleman, Alhaji Sani Dangote, with shock. Kano state, our dear country Nigeria and the business community lost and illustrious son” he mourned.
However, he also lamented that the death was not only shocking to the immediate families of the deceased “…but to all of us particularly those from Kano state. We lost a rare gem in the business community.”
“It is therefore on behalf of the government and good people of Kano state, that I, the governor of Kano state, am sending our heartfelt condolence to the immediate families of Alhaji Sani Dangote, to his brother, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over his death,” he stated.
He prayed for Forgiveness from the Almighty Allah for the reposed soul of the deceased. Adding that, “May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and reward his good deeds with Jannatul Fiddaus, ameen,” the statement added.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote loses brother
By Muhammad Sabiu
The richest man in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Sunday lost his younger brother Sani who passed on at a hospital in the United States after a protracted illness.
Sani was the deputy chairman of Dangote Group and had been a major stakeholder in the sectors of mining, manufacturing and the like.
He was also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dansa Agro-allied Limited.
However, no details have emerged as to the number of wives and kids he had left.
Nigerian Army clears air on “soldiers overthrowing Buhari’s regime” report
By Muhammad Sabiu
The Nigerian Army on Sunday has debunked some media reports making the rounds that it warned some of its personnel against overthrowing the Buhari-led government.
A statement released via Facebook by Army’s spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, described the media reports as “outrageous lies and fabrications.”
“The Directorate of Army Public Relations has been notified of an online story making the rounds, with the caption, ‘Defence Headquarters wars soldiers against overthrowing Buhari’s regime” published on November 13, 2021, by a certain online news medium dubbed -Naija News House
“The said publication, which was riddled with outrageous lies and fabrications claimed that the Defence Headquarters has denounced a call for the military to take over the reins of power. The online outlet went further to attribute its falsehood to “Army Spokesman, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu”.
Clarifying the issue, the statement added that the Nigerian Army had never made any statement of such nature.
It said, “However, for the sake of clarity and to keep the records straight, we wish to state that at no time did the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu issue any statement on the subject matter. It is, therefore, a figment of their imagination, which did not in any way emanate from Brig Gen Nwachukwu.”
With fabricated reports such as this and others, it’s obvious that Nigerian cyberspace has been littered with a lot of fake news, which has become a serious menace and has posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s peaceful coexistence.
Abductors of Zaria council workers demand 100M ransom
By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad
On Friday, abductors of the Zaria Local Council workers in Kaduna State contacted individual families to demand ransom, ranging from N15m, N20m to N100m on each abductee.
Spokesperson of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, confirmed this on Saturday at Abuja. He said:
“It has come to our notice that the abductors had made contact with their families. We learnt that the captors assured their safety to the families of the captives and demanded ransom.”
“With the unfolding scenario, the CNG headquarters has resolved to direct its Kaduna State students’ wing to put its planned mass protest on hold so as not to disrupt this fresh development.”
“We assure affected families, particularly the aggrieved students, who are in solidarity with their fellows, whose parents are among the victims, that CNG would remain vigilant, concerning the direction the situation would turn, until their parents are brought back alive.”
“We, however, frown at the discouraging silence by the authorities in the past four days since the captives, who are legitimate government workers, were abducted while carrying out an official assignment,” he said. The group called for special prayers for the safe return of all victims currently in captivity anywhere.”
Finland Has An Education System The Other Country Should Learn From
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.
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.
Why I contest for APC National Youth Leader
By Abdulahi Majeli, Esq., AICMC
Looking critically at the multiple challenges of our time as youths of our dear nation, any well-meaning and patriotic youth would want to see both his future and that of the generations to come are set on the right footing. This is so that all and sundry enjoy peace and unity. This is what gives me both the courage and strength to stand up in doing what I feel is needed to be done, now, not later, in order to create an atmosphere full of prosperity for us all.
I am a vibrant advocate of youth participation in leadership, a chartered mediator and conciliator and a Barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I hail from Gwale Local Government of Kano State. My advocacy in youth participation in leadership is rooted in the firm conviction that youth possess the needed acumen to introduce new ideas and fresher perspectives to address the multifaceted challenges and problems that are bedevilling our country.
The challenges of our time should be a great cause of concern for every well-meaning and patriotic citizen. These causes of concern stem from the strong hope for an improvement to the status quo and a better Nigeria where peace and unity abound for future generations. I draw immense strength and courage from this desire and am bolstered by it to do all that is needed to achieve this goal.
Growing up as a young man, especially during my sojourn undergraduate at Bayero University, I engaged actively in the struggles that improved the welfare of my fellow youth during my LL.B. That has undoubtedly built more passion in me to see the youths at the forefront of creating a worthy future.
As a lawyer with three years post-call experience, raising the bar and making sure all engagements are both effective and efficient while maintaining strict compliance with the clearly spelt out functions of National Youth Leader under Article 14.22 of the All Progressive Congress Constitution ( October 2014 as amended) is achievable, as functions of the office in question are to mobilize youth for the attainment of party objectives, initiation and implementation of strategic programmes that would endear our great party to Nigerian youths.
It is irrefutable that the youths are the backbone of any society. Yet, these youths are often left unheard. However, I believe the morale is high, and we want to utilize this office to fill the vacuum adequately.
Since the inception of our great party, we are wary about the communication barrier between the zonal and state youth leaders, which serves as a stumbling block to the success of our party. Therefore, it is imperative that strategic programmes are created that will coordinate and maintain the needed cohesion between the zonal and state youth leaders for the betterment of our party.
Nigeria is one of the most populous nations with a high percentage of youth as its population has the significant task of managing the human resources within its circles. Therefore, competent and hardworking people representing the people at various positions have been a problem these days. Anything not filled with the right hands shall not yield good and effective results.
So, it is upon us all to work collectively in ensuring the well-desired goals clearly spelt out in our giant nation’s constitution are achieved. Working out the policy and objectives of the party effectively and efficiently will bring a new life and development to our Nigerian people, our giant party and our dear nation. These are things that only competent people can accomplish.
So, we have to work collectively to ensure the well-desired goals are spelt in our giant nation’s constitution. Working out the policy and objectives of the party effectively and efficiently will bring a new life and development to our Nigerian people, our giant party and our dear nation. These are things only competent people can accomplish.
It’s high time we reposed our confidence and trust in the youths as they have fresh ideas and understand the youth better than anybody so as to avoid putting square pegs in a round hole.
Nevertheless, these young people play an indispensable role in the development of any country. As such, we should not allow incompetent people to pocket the position that is meant for us.
Nigeria is undoubtedly the only country we can call ours. To that end, making it great rests entirely on us. The decision to make it stand out is our collective responsibility. Let us all, with one unified voice, make our country great.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God bless the Nigerian Youths.
God bless us all!
Nigerian military neutralizes many ISWAP terrorists
By Muhammad Sabi’u
The Nigerian military on Saturday has an encounter with members of the deadly Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) in Askira Uba of Borno State.
A number of the terrorists were said to have been neutralized in the said encounter, which also led to the recovery of arms vehicles by the military.
This was disclosed in a statement released today via Nigerian Army’s official Facebook page and signed by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who is the Director Army Public Relations.
However, four soldiers, unfortunately, lost their lives in the course of the encounter.
Read Nigerian Army’s full statement:
OPERATION HADIN KAI: TROOPS NEUTRALIZE SEVERAL ISWAP TERRORISTS DESTROY, EQUIPMENT IN ASKIRA UBA ENCOUNTER
Troops of Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI have neutralized several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a recent encounter in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. In the fierce encounter which is still raging as at the time of filling this report, troops supported by the Air Component of OPHK have destroyed five A – Jet, two A-29, two Dragon combat vehicles and nine Gun Trucks.
Sadly, a gallant senior officer Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice in a very rare display of gallantry as they provided reinforcement in a counter offensive against the terrorists, and successfully defended the location. The family of the senior officer and soldiers have been contacted.
The Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya deeply commiserates with the families and relations of the fallen heroes. He has also directed that the troops continue in the ferocious counter offensive and hot pursuit to eliminate the remnant of the fleeing terrorists.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General Director Army Public Relations 13 November 2021
Ganduje’s support on health is untiring – Pharmacist
By Uzair Adam Imam
The Director General, Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, Pharmacist Hisham Imamuddeen has received officials from the Sokoto State Ministry of Health on study tour to the agancy on Wednesday.
A statement signed by the Information Officer Ministry of Health, Kano State, Hadiza M. Namadi disclosed, stating that the contribution Ganduje is giving to the health sector is tremendous.
The visiting team, comprising top management officials from the ministry which was lead by Pharmacist Murtala, Sokoto State Drugs and Medical Consumables agency and the Lead Consultant from Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement Supply Management, Pharmacist Tukur Ibrahim.
Pharm. Hisham Imamudeen, while briefing them on the mandates, activities and the modest achievements recorded by the agency in recent times, he also commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his untiring support in the health sector.
However, he particularly expressed delight and deep appreciation to the Governor for allocating substantial percentage to the health sector in the 2022 Appropriation Bill as well as supporting commodity supply chain all aimed at improving the life of the people in the state.
Earlier in his his speech, the Team Lead, Pharm. Murtala said that they were in Kano for a study tour to see for themselves and learn the workings of the agency so as to improve their own.
Pharm. Murtala then expressed satisfaction with what they saw and therefore appreciated the capacity and friendly disposition of the DG as he promised to emulate the Kano state model in improving health commodity supply chain in their state.
He also thanked the DG and his entire management staff for their hospitality.