Talks with FG panel over strike fruitless – SSANU – Newstrends
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Talks with FG panel over strike fruitless – SSANU

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2 years ago

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National Vice-President, SSANU, Dr. Abdussobur Salaam

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions has said no tangible achievement was recorded at the Federal Government Renegotiation Panel.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, the National Vice-President, SSANU, Dr. Abdussobur Salaam, said the panel met only once with SSANU since it was inaugurated on March 7, 2022.

The PUNCH had reported that the committee, which was chaired by the Pro-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs, was given three months to conclude the renegotiation with the four university unions and send the report to Federal Government.

The committee’s timeline ended on Monday.

It is believed that the committee will submit its report to the Federal Government this week or get an extension.

But Salaam explained that the Briggs committee’s engagements with SSANU had been minimal and the timeline was not being adhered to.

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He said, “Within the three months timeline, SSANU has only had one meeting with the Briggs renegotiation team. The meeting was held on Friday, April 8, 2022. Today, being June 7, makes it exactly two months ago.

“At the meeting, nothing tangible was put on the table. No offer was made by the government, particularly on improved conditions of service and welfare of our members.

“The government’s side seems not to be sure of itself and groping in the dark as far as its mandate is concerned.

“As of now, we have no reason to express satisfaction because even the paces of the discussions have been too slow. If it has taken two months after the first meeting with SSANU and no meeting has been called, it gives room to doubt the willingness and capacity of the committee to deliver on its mandate.”

He suggested that the panel be properly empowered to take decisions on behalf of the government.

Salaam said, “The Committee should be properly empowered to take decisions on behalf of the government. To be breathed down upon by government officials as the engagements with the committee suggest is not good for confidence building. They should show that they have a mandate to commit on behalf of the government.

“Similarly, the committee appears not to take cognisance of the timelines in the discharge of its assignment. Whatever the bottlenecks militating against the timelines should be removed.

“If we have only had one meeting within the three months timeline with nothing tangible being put on the table, it leaves much to be desired and it is highly unfortunate.”

When our correspondent contacted Briggs on the telephone for reactions on SSANU’s complaints and other issues, he declined comment, saying, “I don’t react to anything on telephone.”

SSANU’s strike started with a warning strike of two weeks which commenced on March 27, 2021, while the extension of another two weeks commenced on Sunday, April 10, 2022.

The union’s demands include the inconsistent issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, unpaid earned allowances, and delay in the renegotiation of FGN, NASU, SSANU agreements, and non-payment of minimum wage arrears.

Others include neglect and poor funding of state universities, non-payment of retirement benefits to outgoing members of the unions, and usurpation of the headship of non-teaching units in clear violation of conditions of service and establishment procedures, among others.

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BREAKING: NECO releases 2024 SSCE results

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September 19, 2024

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BREAKING: NECO releases 2024 SSCE results

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), with an impressive 60.55 percent of candidates achieving five credits and above in key subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

NECO’s Registrar, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, announced the results during a press briefing at the NECO headquarters in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday.

Prof. Wushishi revealed that a total of 1,376,423 candidates registered for the exam, comprising 706,950 males and 669,473 females. This significant number highlights the broad participation of students across the country, showcasing a balanced gender representation.

The release of these results will have a major impact on students’ academic progression, as securing five credits, particularly in English and Mathematics, is crucial for gaining admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The NECO boss gave a further breakdown of the results as : “Number of candidates that sat is 1,367,736 representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.

“Number of candidates with five Credits and above, including English and Mathematics is 828,284, representing 60.55%.

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“Number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics is 1,147,597, representing 83.90%”

On the number of examination malpractice, Wushishi said this year’s figure witnessed a great reduction when compared to last year.

He said: “Number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1%.”

The registrar, however, revealed that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.

“During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states. They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied. One school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.

“Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence, in 12 states.”

He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.

“At this juncture, I wish to formally declare that the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal are hereby released to the public. By this release, candidates can now access their results on NECO website :www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” Wushishi said.

BREAKING: NECO releases 2024 SSCE results

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Education

Fresh strike looms in varsities, SSANU, NASU, issue 3-week ultimatum

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2 days ago

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September 19, 2024

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Fresh strike looms in varsities, SSANU, NASU, issue 3-week ultimatum

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if their outstanding salaries are not paid within the next three weeks.

The unions are demanding the payment of four months’ withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and the implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.

The federal government had previously invoked the “No Work, No Pay” policy during a prolonged strike by four university-based unions in 2022.

In a statement signed by SSANU President Mohammed Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary Prince Peters Adeyemi, the unions revealed that the government was initially given a 10-day grace period, which expired on July 26, 2024, to pay the outstanding salaries. Despite this, six weeks have passed without any resolution.

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“The government is hereby given a final three-week ultimatum, starting from Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to pay the four months’ withheld salaries and implement the agreement reached on August 20, 2022.

“Should the government fail to meet these demands, our members may be forced to embark on indefinite strike action at the expiration of the ultimatum,” Ibrahim said.

The statement further noted that, during the National Minimum Wage meeting, President Bola Tinubu had approved the payment of the withheld salaries on July 18, 2024, following discussions with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“We have recently been informed that the President has approved the actual release of the payment. However, despite these approvals, nothing has been forthcoming,” the statement said.

Fresh strike looms in varsities, SSANU, NASU, issue 3-week ultimatum

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Education

FG to unbundle unity colleges into basic, secondary schools

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3 days ago

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September 17, 2024

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FG to unbundle unity colleges into basic, secondary schools

The Federal Government has announced its plans to unbundle the 115 Federal Unity Colleges in the country into basic and secondary schools.

Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this during the opening of the Annual General Meeting of Principals of Unity Colleges in Abuja on Tuesday.
The theme of the event is ‘Entrepreneurship Education: A Panacea for Self-Reliance and National Development’.
Sununu said that the plan to unbundle the unity colleges was in line with the National Policy on Education (NPE).
The minister said the unbundling of Unity Colleges would among other things attract more funding to improve infrastructure, address teachers’ welfare and create employment opportunities, among others.
He added that the ministry, with the support from relevant agencies of government, would ensure it was achieved in the shortest time possible.

“I want to emphasise the significance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in our youths, a spirit that will propel them toward self-reliance and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s development.
“Unemployment remains a pressing concern, and it is our collective responsibility to equip our students with the skills and mindset necessary to succeed.
“Entrepreneurship education offers a solution to this challenge as it prepares students to think creatively, innovatively, and develop the confidence to take calculated risks,” he said.
Sununu called for the collaboration of the principals as critical stakeholders to improve the educational landscape of the schools.
He further urged them to curb social vices, instil the maintenance culture on the students and co-operate with their host communities for the overall security and growth of the Colleges.

Also, the Chairperson, Principals of Federal Unity Schools Colleges, Dr Idowu Akinbamijo, said the meeting was to set the agenda for the coming year and build capacity for the task ahead.

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