Education
ASUU, polytechnic lecturers, others to get N34b minimum wage arrears — FG
The Federal Government says it will spend about N34 billion as arrears of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustments in the education sector effective from 2019.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said that this was aimed at resolving the lingering crisis in the sector.
Ngige made this known while speaking with newsmen on the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and others on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ngige said that the beneficiaries of the Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustments included the members of the striking ASUU and their counterparts in the polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
According to Ngige, the universities will get N23.5 billion, polytechnics N6 billion and Colleges of Education N4 billion, bringing the total sum to N33.5 billion.
The Minister, while giving update on the ongoing striking, said committees were set up during the last tripartite meeting of the government and university based unions.
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He said they were given a fortnight to turn in their report, adding they were still working and the reports of the committees were being expected at the end of the week.
He said: “Those committees are working.
“The one on NITDA is testing the three platforms, the government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.
“Also, the University Transparency Accountability Solution of ASUU and the Universities Peculiar Personnel Payroll System of the non-teaching staff.
“They have started the testing last Thursday.
“The National Salaries, Wages and Incomes Commission has issued their amendment circulars.
“The unions also have copies to take care of responsibility and hazard allowances wherever it has not been properly captured.”
Ngige assured that there might likely be wage adjustments as the government intensified efforts to streamlining wages through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
He said: “For example, we have done for police.
“It wasn’t envisaged that we should do it in pockets.
“But you can see that police has been done.
“You can also see university teachers saying that their own should be done immediately, since we have done police.
“So, something is being done.
“It was part of the 2009 negotiation they had with the government then.
“So, the committee of Prof. Briggs is on it, discussing with the university unions and their employer, the Federal Ministry of Education.
“They will bring up something for government to see.
“There are other people.
“The doctors are complaining about brain-drain, this and that.
“Their hazard allowance has to be touched and it was touched by close to 300 per cent.
“From N5,000 paid across board for each person, the least person in the health sector is getting N15,000, while the big ones are getting N45,000.
“So, that is the quantum leap.”
The Minister therefore, appealed to ASUU and other university-based unions once more to suspend their strike so that academic activities could resume once again in public universities across the country.
Education
BREAKING: NELFUND opens loan portal for students from state-owned tertiary institutions
NELFUND opens loan portal for students from state-owned tertiary institutions
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has opened the loan portal for students from 36 state-owned tertiary institutions to apply for the loan.
In a tweet on X on Sunday, July 7, NELFUND stated that the management of the institutions had successfully submitted their student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).
The institution included: Adamawa State University, Mubi; Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri; Borno State University; Mohammet Lawan college of Agriculture, Borno State; Edo State University, Uzairue; Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti; Gombe State University; Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Imo State; Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuagwo; Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria; Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano; Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina; Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management; Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero; Confluence University of Science and Technology, Kogi state and Lagos state university of education.
Others are: Lagos State University; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun state; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Osun State University; UNIVERSITY OF ILESA, OSUN STATE; GTC, ARA Osun State; GTC, GBONGAN Osun State; GTC, IJEBU-JESA Osun State; GTC, ILE-IFE Osun State; GTC, INISA Osun State; GTC, IWO Osun State; GTC,OSU Osun State; GTC, OTAN AYEGBAJU Osun State; OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ILA-ORANGUN; GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE ILE-IFE; OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY; Taraba State University, Jalingo; Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua, Yobe State and Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara.
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The statement said: “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is pleased to announce that students enrolled in the following 36 state-owned tertiary institutions can now apply for student loans effective today, 7th July 2024
“The management of these institutions have successfully submitted their student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).
“We urge all other state-owned tertiary institutions to submit their complete student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System timely to enable their students to benefit from the scheme.”
The management of NELFUND had on June 25, 2024, shifted the application process for student loan from state-owned tertiary institutions to July 10 due to low data submissions.
The process was supposed to be opened to the students from June 25, 2024.
In a statement by Head, Media and Public Relations, Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Nasir Ayitogo the organisation had said the decision to shift the date was necessitated by the failure of several state-owned institutions to upload the required student data and fees information to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).
No fewer than 1.2 million students are expected to benefit from the cardinal programme of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The ambitious cardinal programme will be funded with one per cent of the total annual collectable revenue by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The president approved N35 billion for the take – off of the scheme.
President Tinubu on April 3 signed into law the bill on the scheme in line with his electoral promise that no Nigerian student would drop out of school on account of lack of funds.
According to the law, repayment will commence two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
BREAKING: NELFUND opens loan portal for students from state-owned tertiary institutions
Education
Public schools shine at MSSN’s Lagos Intellectual Competitions
Public schools shine at MSSN’s Lagos Intellectual Competitions
WINNERS have emerged at the finals of the Lagos Intellectual Competitions (LIC) organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit.
The event featured quiz competitions for junior secondary school students, debates for senior secondary school students, and essay writing for undergraduates of tertiary institutions.
In the junior secondary school quiz competition, Royhana Ismail from Vetland Junior Grammar School emerged winner while Farhan Sodiq from Usoolol Iman and Abdul Rahman Olaloye from Taqwa School emerged first and second runners-up respectively.
The debate competition for senior secondary students was won by the team from Badore Community Senior Secondary School, who impressed the judges with their arguments and eloquence. Taqwa High School and Linksbond College clinched the second and third positions respectively.
Aminat Ayinde of Sanya Senior Grammar School won the prize for ‘Best Speaker’ while Azeemah Afolabi from Muhimat Memorial School emerged as the second ‘Best Speaker.’
The undergraduate essay writing competition saw Romlah Shitta from the Lagos State University winning the first prize; Nurudeen Ogundipe from the University of Lagos, second prize and Fathia Abolanle, the third prize.
MSSN Lagos celebrated the winners of the various categories for their performances and for demonstrating passion for knowledge.
The amir (president) of MSSN Lagos, Kamoldeen Abiona, commended the organising team and the participants for making the event a memorable success.
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Abiona said the competition not only highlighted individual achievements but also underscored the potential and talents in Nigeria’s educational institutions.
“As the competition continues to grow in stature and influence, there is an increasing need for the government and corporate organisations to partner and support this commendable programme. Government support could enhance the competition’s impact, continued success and expansion.
Education
FG inaugurates governing councils of varsities, polytechnics, others
FG inaugurates governing councils of varsities, polytechnics, others
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Councils for Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in the next four years.
Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who inaugurated the Chairmen and members of the councils in Abuja, on Thursday, congratulated them and warned them against undue interference in the human, financial and resource management of the institutions.
He said, “There is a clear line of operations between the Management and respective Governing Councils of the tertiary Institutions, Councils are not to interfere with the day-to-day management of human, financial, and material resources of the Institutions.”
Prof Mamman also urged them to implement ideas that will increase the internally generated revenue of the institutions.
“You are responsible for setting the strategic direction, overseeing transparent and responsible financial management of the sector, and ensuring the overall performance of these Institutions to achieve the national goals and expectations of tertiary institutions.”
“Governing Councils should encourage responsible unionism in their respective Institutions while arresting the problems of cultism and drug abuse by students Effective strategies should be put in place by Councils for early detection and eradication of social wees such as sexual harassment, theft, extortion and inducement,” he said.
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Earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, advised them to adhere to the laws and regulations that establish and govern the tertiary institutions.
He said; “Compliance with these legal frameworks ensures that our institutions operate with integrity and accountability. It also helps to safeguard the autonomy of our academic institutions while promoting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.”
Speaking on behalf of the Governing Councils, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Chief Wole Olanipekun, said the relationship between the Management of the universities and Councils should not be toxic.
He urged them to be cautious in their dealings with members of the universities while he encouraged Vice Chancellors to allow the councils to improve the institutions, saying, “We are to build and not to pull down.”
Speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Chris Maiyaki, congratulated the councils and said their doors and windows were open and they would give them 100 percent support to improve the university system.
FG inaugurates governing councils of varsities, polytechnics, others
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