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Varsity strike: Labour shutdown Abuja in solidarity protest

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2 years ago

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• Don’t deny our children quality education, NLC tells FG •NASS to step in

Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates unions stormed the National Assembly, yesterday, in solidarity with the trade unions in the public universities – the Academic Staff Union of Universities  (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of University and Allied Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) -over the lingering strike in the tertiary institution.

The protesters in large numbers hit the street of Abuja to continue the two-day protest which had earlier held in various states of the federation to push the Federal Government towards ending the month long strike in the university system.

The protest held amidst the shaky security situation of the nation’s capital, attracted huge security presence of the police, the personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to monitor things.

The protesters carried placards with various to drive home their points.

At the ‘Abuja Mega Protest Rally’ which began from the Unity Fountain at about 9:30am, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, called on the Federal Government not to deny children of the less privileged quality education.

ASUU and other trade unions in the education sector have been on strike for more than five months over alleged failure of government to keep to agreements entered with the unions.

Their demands include non-implementation of 2009 agreement, funding of universities, salaries and earned allowances of lecturers, among others.

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Submitting the unions’ demands list to the law makers, the NLC president condemned the Federal Government for paying lip service to education and the welfare of workers in tertiary institutions and warned that further delay could attract a shutdown of the labour force in an industrial action.

He said most of those at the helm of affairs were beneficiaries of a thriving education sector as they enjoyed free and quality education. He decried the level of hardship and the spate of insecurity in the country, and warned that depriving children of the poor access to quality education would only fuel the insecurity situation of the country. He said government must do the needful to respond effectively and promptly to resolve the issues affecting the education system.

The NLC president noted that over 10 million children in the public institutions, including three sets were waiting for their admission to be sorted out.

“If we denied our children quality education, they will become menace to the society and all of us will be sleeping with our eyes opened, that is a reality and it is a wakeup call.

“Comrades, we must be angry because this is not what we bargained for. We bargained for good government that will listen to us because democracy is all about the people, and you cannot talk of people without quality education. So, that is why we are here. We will continue from here.”

He said the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, among others had pending issues with the government.

“Those issues are straightforward; some of them are not even monetary policy issues. Yet, our leaders cannot listen to fix those issues.

“It has been promises and those promises have not been kept, we are tired but we are not tired of their antics. We will take our destinies in our own hands and that of our children, which is very important and fundamental,” he said.

ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, bemoaned the ratio of students to lectures in tertiary institutions, which he said was was part of the factors eroding the quality of education in the system.

SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said: “These agreements must be respected. Universities must take a universal look. We must have the best of our brains. We must have our teachers, lecturers, members of staff, academic, non-academic, junior, senior security, everybody is important, and therefore, government must rise to the occasion. The issue of IPS is no longer news to you. IPS has made everybody in university community poorer. Registers are paid salaries of cleaners and so on and so forth. What you get today you don’t know what you get tomorrow. And that is why we are challenged. We have come up with our solutions. The UGPPPS is there. The UTAS is there. We are ready to work together. We will give them the best. our students should go back to classrooms. Our hospitals should look decent. “Gentleman, the security has become something else. Our people, lecturers, teachers, everybody, no one is safe in the university community.”

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who was represented by Deputy Majority Leader, Robert Borrofice, promised that the National Assembly would intensify efforts to ensure the issue is addressed.

“There is no country in the world where children of universities will be away from class room for five months. So, we are with you. I confirm the receipt of this letter from the NLC.”

Also, House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, represented by Mohammad Wudil, assured he would to ensure ministers of finance, labour and employment, education as well as all relevant stakeholders are brought together immediately to resolve the contending issues.

Presenting the report of the meeting at the plenary, Wudil said the NLC made a seven-point demand, adding that the engagement with the congress was fruitful.

Sun

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Stop parading yourself as NURTW president, group warns Baruwa

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6 hours ago

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May 5, 2024

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Stop parading yourself as NURTW president, group warns Baruwa

Members of the Progressive Forum of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Southwest zone have warned the former president of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, to desist from parading himself as president of the union

The said this in a statement signed by Alhaji Raufu Kolawole and Comrade Femi Ajanaku, chairman and secretary of the Forum, respectively

The Forum stated that the April 30 judgement of the National Industrial Court (NIC) presided over by Justice O.O Oyewunmi which handed off the NURTW case because of the fact that the matter has moved to the Court of Appeal in Abuja has rendered any claim to NURTW presidency by Baruwa as a ruse

The FORUM said with the latest judgement of 30th April, Baruwa and his people would have to wait for the judgement of the Court of Appeal to decide the case.

It stressed that any attempt to do anything contrary would amount to contempt of court.

The FORUM stated that “the only known leader that is saddled with responsibility of running the affairs of the union as of now is the Acting President, Alhaji Aliyu Issa Ore, and his team operating from the national headquarters of the union in Abuja.”

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Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper

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1 day ago

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May 4, 2024

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Roseline

Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper

A Nigerian man identified as Israel Joe, has revealed how his friend, Roseline, died after she was pushed into a boiling pot of fresh pepper and tomatoes by her two female friends in Sapele, Delta State.

Joe stated that Roseline, a caterer, went on a trip with her friends to Sapele for a catering job where she tragically passed away on Saturday, April 13.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Joe said that before her untimely death, Roseline confided in him about two of her friends who were treating her coldly.

He urged the Nigeria Police to investigate and arrest the killers of Roseline, pointing out that no progress has been made in the case since her murder.

Joe’s post read, “She was pushed into a big boiling pot of fresh pepper and tomatoes by her friend on Saturday, 13th April. She battled for about two weeks with her roasted/boiled body and finally ḍíęɗ last week Friday 26th April.

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“Nobody in the neighborhood in Otokutu knew Roseline had been allegedly kíIIed by these same friends. She was buried with no one to bid her goodbye and with no single bųríaI poster to honour her. Just two days in the morgue, the mørtųarƴ attendants demanded she be carried away to be buried.

“She traveled with them for a catering job in Sapele where they were speaking their local language with this Yoruba girl, Rozzy, not understanding their conversation.

“All of a sudden, she landed in a very big pot of boiling fresh pepper and tomatoes where they even still delayed in rescuing her. She was later rushed to Sage Hospital by Estate in Warri, where they managed the situation, but my friend couldn’t make it.”

Joe said he was pained that those responsible for her death were still walking free.

He added, “What pains me is that these two girls are still walking and gallivanting everywhere like nothing happened. I hate intimidation and oppression, especially against non-indigenous persons. The police must smoke them out so they can face the law. Na God dey help who nor get helper.

“We shall fight for Rozzy. You can not just be kíIIęɗ like a chicken and bųřried like an aŋímąl. Nobody deserves such a hørribIe dęąth. We never got to meet Rose, only chatting on Facebook due to endless busy schedules only to see you, at the most disgusting sight at Sage Hospital, hoping for your recovery, but dęąțĥ stole you Justice shall prevail, including if you would be exhumed.”

Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper

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My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court

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1 day ago

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May 4, 2024

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My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court

Grade A Customary Court, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State has adjourned till June 3, further hearing in the divorce suit brought before it by a man, Ige, against his wife, Sikira, whom he accused of irresponsibility and infidelity.

Ige added that Sikira was a dupe.

According to Ige, Sikira lacked the ability to take proper care of him and their children and always carried out her duties towards them in a lackadaisical manner.

The plaintiff explained further that the defendant encouraged him to employ the service of a particular plumber when he was building his house, but unknowing to him, the man was her lover.

Ige stated that Sikira was having s3xual affair with the plumber on a regular basis while he was at work.

The plaintiff added that the defendant connived with the plumber to dupe him by adding extra amount to every item he bought when carrying out plumbing work at his site.

Ige said that Sikira eventually moved out of his house and went with all his property.

The plaintiff stated that he desired a fresh start and therefore wanted a clean cut from his wife, which was why he was in court.

The defendant denied all the allegations brought against her but gave in to divorce.

The defendant described the plaintiff as the pot calling the kettle black.

According to the defendant, the plaintiff was in the habit of drinking himself to stupour and beating her.

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She told the court how she caught her husband having sex with a teenager in their apartment.

Sikiral further explained that he once came back home drunk and that he beat and tore her clothes to shreds.

She added that he took the nude pictures of her and sent it to his girlfriend.

The defendant also said that the plaintiff’s girlfriend urged him to seek a way of afflicting the defendant with madness.

According to his girlfriend, it would cost just N200 to perpetrate the evil.

Ige gave his testimony, saying, “My lord, I came to court today because I want a clean cut from my wife.

“Sikira has ridiculed me enough. My life is also not safe with her.

“I met and fell in love with her, and went to her parents with my family to ask for her hand in marriage.

“I paid her bride price and provided all that her family demanded as marital rite.

“Sikara, after all I have spent, got to my house and started misbehaving.

“I realised after we got married that she lacked the ability to run a proper home.

“My wife was lackadaisical concerning my welfare and that of our children.

“The attention and dedication of a loving mother and wife was obviously missing in our lives.

“Sikirat preferred to be out all day than stay back home to keep me and our children company.

“My lord, I stopped trusting my wife a long time ago.

“Sikira is wicked and was unfaithful to me.

“She introduced a plumber to me when I was building my house, and I employed him to do the plumbing work.

“I never had an inkling that the man was her lover.

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“They were consistently having s3xual affair while I was away at work.

“Sikira went further to connive with this man to dupe me.

“She would ask him to add an amount to the items he purchased for the plumbing work and collect this from him.

“My wife made our home a hell to live in and also made my life miserable.

“She later left with all my property.

“My lord, I want to put my past behind me and start life afresh.

“I, therefore, pray that this court grant me a clean cut from my wife.

“My lord, I pray that you dissolve our marriage and grant me custody of our children, who she hardly showed affection towards.”

Sikira stated, “My lord, my husband is the pot calling the kettle black.

“All he said about me are lies.

“Ige is irresponsible. He was always drinking himself to stupour and punching me.

“I once caught him having sex with a teenager in our room.

“He once came back home drunk and, as usual, descended on me with punches.

“He went further to tear my clothes, took my nude pictures and sent them to his girlfriend.

“His girlfriend urged him to afflict me with madness.

“She told him it would only cost him N200 to do so.

“I did not pack out of his house. He threw my belongings out.

“I am also no longer willing to stay married to him.

“I pray that our marriage be dissolved.”

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo adjourned the case.

My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court

(TRIBUNE)

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