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

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.

JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed why it plans to limit physical interaction with underaged candidates.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede announced on Monday that the move is aimed at preventing extortion and enhancing service delivery.

The development was announced in a bulletin on the JAMB website, with Oloyede elaborating that limiting physical contact would address issues of extortion and exploitation.

“Prof. Oloyede stated that given that many of the candidates who take the UTME are underage, the board is considering limiting physical contact with those with challenges to avoid any alleged issues of extortion and other forms of exploitation.

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“He stated that in due course, interactions would be limited to online ones with calls recorded for effective monitoring and quality control.

“The board had received a series of reports bordering on some unwholesome practices, adding that a team had been deployed to investigate the claims, promising to make the findings known to all.

“He urged students who had accused some JAMB officials and other operatives such as CBT centres of extortion in the name of ‘regularisation’ or other services to provide credible evidence, adding that any staff found culpable would face the full wrath of the law,” the statement reads.

JAMB gives reasons for limiting physical interaction with underaged candidates