Education
ASUU: Ex-minister faults state varsities, protests rock South-West, Edo
The immediate past Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has faulted lecturers of state universities who are participating in the going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
While saying state universities have no business in the ongoing strike, Nwajiuba, who resigned last week due to his presidential ambition, explained that most ASUU’s demands centre on challenges being faced by federal universities.
He spoke in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday just as university students in the South West protested against the ongoing strike in Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Edo States.
The PUNCH had reported that ASUU, on February 14, 2022 announced the commencement of a nationwide strike which involved all its chapters across the country, including those in state universities.
While Kaduna State University had announced that it was opting out of the strike, some other state universities such as Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho; and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, among others insisted that they would not call off the strike.
Nwajiuba, however, encouraged ASUU members to shelve the strike.
He said, “State universities have no business with the ASUU strike. The demands that were laid down contained issues relating to federal universities and their employer, which is the Federal Government.
“For instance, ASUU talked about the introduction of University Transparency and Accountability Solution for the payment of salaries of federal lecturers. Why are state universities engaged in a struggle between the Federal Government and lecturers of federal universities? It is the state government that pays state universities, so why the need for the strike?
“We are optimistic that the strike will be called off soon. They agreed to meet with the government and that is a good step. I have always been a firm believer that you do not have to go on strike before your demands are met.”
Students of different universities in Ondo State on Monday staged a protest to register their displeasure over the prolonged strike.
The protesting students blocked the Ilesha-Akure Expressway in Akure, chanting different solidarity songs.
They wielded placards with different inscriptions such as ‘ End ASUU strike,’ ‘Save our future,’ and FG, we’ve had enough,’ among others.
The protesters included students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Technology, Okitipupa; and the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
The protest caused traffic gridlock on the highway with many travellers and motorists stranded while some motorists had to take alternative routes to their destinations.
Speaking on the protest, the Vice Chairman, National Association of University Students, Ondo Chapter, Shittu Afolarin, stated that the move became imperative after it was discovered that the Federal Government is not concerned about the plight of students.
In Osun State, protest by some students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife organised by Great Ife Concerned Students in collaboration with Fund Education Coalition against strike, resumed on Monday as the protesters blocked some major roads in the state too.
The protesters had initially blocked Ife-Ede Road, and later moved to Ipetumodu and blocked Ife-Ibadan, Ilesa-Akure road in front of Oduduwa University, thereby preventing vehicular movement.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the leader of the protesters, Omowumi Abraham, popularly known as Ewatee, said a vehicle conveying two soldiers heading towards Gbongan-Ibadan end from Ipetumodu, had forced it way through their barricade.
She said two other vehicles also conveying soldiers heading towards same direction were however prevented from going through and were forced to make a detour.
Students in Ogun State also on Monday blocked the Sagamu-Benin Expressway in protest against the ongoing strike.
The joint protest had in attendance students from OOU, Ago-Iwoye; Tai Solarin University of Education, Science and Technology, Ijagun and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the students stormed the TASUED axis and blocked the expressway, leaving many motorists stranded and travellers trapped.
Speaking at the protest ground, the Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students in the state, Damilola Simeon, appealed to the Federal Government to respond urgently to the yearnings of ASUU.
The President, Student Union Government of TASUED, Don Ayomide, also said the protest was necessary to let both the Federal Government and ASUU be aware of the plight of Nigerian students.
Reacting to the students’ protest, ASUU Chairman, FUNAAB, , Dr Gbenga Adeleye, told NAN that the students had a right to quality education, saying that they were not happy with the ongoing strike.
In Edo State, students of the University of Benin on Monday shut down the Federal Secretariat in Benin in continuation of their protest over the strike.
The students stormed the Aduwawa area where the office is situated and told the workers that they could take the day off as it was impossible for them to carry out their duties, while students continue to suffer over the strike.
The students said they have resolved to shut Federal Government offices in the state to press home their demand for the resolution of the crisis
President of the UNIBEN Student Union Government, Foster Amadin, said the government has not shown seriousness over the resolution, wondering for how long the students would stay at home doing nothing.
Education
ASUU to Tinubu: Vibrant Nigerians running away from lecturing
ASUU to Tinubu: Vibrant Nigerians running away from lecturing
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised the alarm that poor welfare conditions of public universities’ lecturers is discouraging qualified hands from taking up jobs in the university system.
Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, in a new year message noted that the situation also affects primary and secondary schools where teachers are not well-paid, leading to the reluctance of qualified teachers to take up employment in public primary and secondary schools, paving way for untrained and unqualified teachers hold sway. The result is the proliferation of private schools, most of which are out of the reach of the poor due to the exorbitant fees they charge.
He noted that Nigeria’s education is likely to remain the same because it has been allocated about 7 percent (N3.52 trillion) in the 2025 budget (47.90 trillion) “which falls far below the benchmark of 15-20 percent educational budget for underdeveloped countries like Nigeria, specified by both UNESCO and United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), which has been advocated by our Union.”
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While commending the Federal Government for setting up a committee to renegotiate the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, Akinwole warned against delayed tactics as characterised in previous administrations.
“To be sure, since 2017, various committees have been put in place by the government to renegotiate the agreement with ASUU. For instance, the Babalakin-led Joint Renegotiation Committee was set up, followed by Emeritus Professor Munzali Jubril-led Committee, and followed by the late Prof. Nimi Briggs-led Committee, which yielded a draft agreement between the committee and ASUU in 2021. Unfortunately, the Buhari administration refused to sign the Agreement reached by a Committee set up by it. It is, therefore, our opinion that instead of a fresh renegotiation of the Agreement, the Tinubu-led administration should rather set in motion a process that will lead to the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement as a mark of goodwill and assured hope for Nigeria’s public universities.”
The ASUU boss also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to eliminate TETFund under the tax administration bill stating that this would kill the little infrastructural funding which TETFund has been executing.
“This misbegotten policy will have huge and adverse implications for the university system in Nigeria. This is, no doubt, an attempt to destroy the major source of infrastructural funding for already struggling public tertiary institutions.. It is also an attempt to commodify university education in Nigeria.
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“A part of the tax administration bill proposes eliminating the education tax, to be replaced by a development levy. This would effectively disrupt the revenue stream of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), an agency set up as a product of the ingenuity and struggles of ASUU that has been the major source of funding for infrastructure development in many public tertiary institutions over the last decade. Since its establishment in 2011, TETFund has monitored the disbursement of education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. However, with this new bill, only 50 percent of the monies accruing to the levy would go to TETFund in 2025 and 2026. TETFund’s share will be upped to 66 percent in 2027, 2028, and 2029. Then, the agency would cease to get any revenue from 2030. From 2030, the development levy will be solely meant to fund the federal government’s student loan scheme. What this means is that the agency that funds infrastructural development in the Nigerian tertiary institutions is under the threat of extinction by 2030.
“It is a public hazard to conscript academics into an endless struggle for survival. There is a low level of motivation and an increasing rate of flight from the present condition at the slightest opportunity.”
Setting agenda for 2025 Professor Akinwole asked President Tinubu to pay attention to the “welfare of workers in the education sector and Nigerian workers is paramount, considering the state of the national economy and high cost of living, which has deepened the erosion of the conditions of service of our members”
The ASUU boss stated that it is expected that “the withheld three-and-a-half-month salaries and third party deductions owed our members should be paid forthwith. We also expect that the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) should be released, just as we expect that the funding for the revitalisation of the universities should be released in accordance with the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013, and the MoA of 2017”
“In the absence of visible and concrete efforts at addressing the pending issues and meeting our expectations, there is likely to be a long-drawn confrontation between our Union and the Federal Government, which will probably lead to another round of untold avoidable crisis in the university system in Nigeria.”
ASUU to Tinubu: Vibrant Nigerians running away from lecturing
Education
Canadian province opens 2025 government internship programs for international students
Canadian province opens 2025 government internship programs for international students
The Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI), a Canadian province, is inviting applications for its 2025 Internship Program.
This opportunity allows international students and recent graduates to gain experience working within the provincial government.
The internship program, which is a one-year temporary job assignment, offers participants the chance to build skills and gain professional experience in various PEI government departments.
According to the Prince Edward Island, the program also provides access to workshops, networking events, and other professional development resources to help interns grow in their careers.
The PEI internship program is set to begin in May 2025 and runs for one year. Interns will have the opportunity to work in multiple government departments, participating in workshops and professional development activities. These include career planning, conflict management, emotional intelligence, and training on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), as well as anti-racism in the workplace.
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Additionally, the program provides a platform for;
- Networking,
- Helping interns to connect with government professionals and
- Build valuable relationships within the public service sector.
- Interns will also receive support to help them understand eligibility for government jobs and navigate potential future opportunities in the public service.
Eligibility and application requirements
To be eligible for the program, applicants must have completed a;
Post-secondary program within the past 36 months. Additionally,
- Candidates should be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible for a Canadian work permit.
- International students who meet these requirements are encouraged to apply.
Applications are currently being accepted, and interested candidates must submit their applications through the official PEI Internship Program Portal.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held on March 4th and 5th, 2025. The internship program will begin in May 2025.
How to apply and important dates
Applicants can apply online through the official PEI Internship Program Portal.
Additional details, including position descriptions and participating departments, are available on the official website of the Government of PEI.
Canadian province opens 2025 government internship programs for international students
Education
Two ex-VCs, JAMB registrar to attend Prof. Ibraheem UNILAG inaugural lecture Wed
Two ex-VCs, JAMB registrar to attend Prof. Ibraheem UNILAG historic inaugural lecture Wed
- History beckons as Mass Comm alumnus delivers inaugural lecture Wed
History will be made this week Wednesday December 18, 2024 at University of Lagos when an alumnus of the university’s Mass Communication Department, Ismail Adegboyega Ibrahim, professor of journalism and communication studies, will deliver inaugural lecture as a lecturer of the department.
Ibraheem, a 1990 graduate of the university, returned to the institution in 2011 as a lecturer.
It is the first time a former student of the department will be delivering an inaugural lecture 58 years after its establishment.
Ibraheem, director of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects at the UNILAG, will speak on “Casino Journalism and the End of History.”
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, will chair the event, according to a statement from the institution.
Two former vice-chancellors of the university, Professor Rahamon Bello and Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, are expected to grace the lecture along with the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, among others.
The lecture is scheduled for 4pm at the J.F. Ade. Ajayi Auditorium, UNILAG, Akoka.
Members of the University Community and general public are invited to join the lecture physically or virtually via Zoom Meeting ID:862 1255 2361.
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