ASUU strike: CONUA threatens to sue FG over unpaid salaries – Newstrends
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ASUU strike: CONUA threatens to sue FG over unpaid salaries

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Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, CONUA National President

Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has voiced its displeasure with the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Employment, over the failure to pay the withheld salaries of its members.

The union said its members did not call for any industrial action and were not involved in the strike that shut down the university system nationwide for eight months.

It said it was wrong for the Federal Government to treat its members in the same manner as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who went on an eight-month strike between February and October 2022.

In the statement by its National President, Secretary, and Publicity Secretary, Drs. Niyi Sunmonu, Henry Oripeloye, and Ernest Nwoke, respectively, CONUA said when it noticed the development, it wrote  to the Accountant-General of the Federation and Ministry of Labour and Employment reminding them that it was an error to lump its members with those that declared and embarked on industrial action.

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“It was yet another shock for the outstanding backlog of salaries not to have been paid to our members along with the November 2022 salary,” it said.

The union threatened to sue the Federal Government for withholding its members’ salaries.

“CONUA formally made its non-involvement in the strike known to the Federal Government in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in April 2022.

“In the letter, we made it clear that because CONUA constituted a separate and independent union in the university system, our members did not call for any strike. This was followed by a press conference in Abuja on August 19, 2022 at which it was categorically stated that CONUA was not part of any ongoing strike, and that the “no work no pay” principle ought not to apply to members of the union.

“CONUA’s expectation is that, due to the express and categorical declaration, the government would seamlessly release our members’ outstanding salaries when it resumed the payment of salaries to all university staff in October 2022. But to our dismay, CONUA members were also paid pro-rata salaries in complete disregard to the fact that we were indeed shut out of duties by the strike.

“…From the foregoing and as a law-abiding union that pledged to do things differently, we have resolved to seek legal redress of the illegal withholding of our legitimate salaries by taking the matter to court in consonance with the rights enshrined in our laws,” the union said.

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JUST IN: 4 feared killed as Arewa youths clash with police, union in Delta

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JUST IN: 4 feared killed as Arewa youths clash with police, union in Delta

On Monday, March 18, four people were feared dead after a battle between security officers and Northern youths protesting the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association’s (COMTOA) alleged extortion.

The teenagers, organized by the Arewa Union in Asaba, attacked the office of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) in Asaba, seeking a split from the state-controlled body.

It was alleged that the youngsters invaded several parts of the Asaba metropolis, leaving damage in its path, before heading to the office of COMTOA, on Summit Road, where they attacked members of the COMTOA Taskforce, damaging vehicles, office furniture, and making off with computers and other goods

Director General of COMTOA, Uchenna Okafor (aka Kosoko) said: “The Arewa Community are trying to form their own union so that they can avoid paying money to the State Government.

“Last week Saturday, we got information that they were about to set up a union that is different from the one the Delta State Government has inaugurated.

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“We called the SA on the Arewa Community and the Sarki of Asaba and they denied it. At about 3.00 pm that day, it was discovered that they had already inaugurated their own Arewa Task Force and that was how it started.

“They started attacking people paying for tickets through COMTOA, chasing the task force and ticket sellers but we were not deterred because the revenue is for the government.

“Yesterday, we were around GRA with the Police to enforce the law against the movement of Keke riders from 10.00 pm when we were attacked again and we eventually left the area.

“This morning, about 300 Arewa tricycle riders came to our office to attack us with cutlasses, guns, and other arms. They broke doors, windows, stole laptops, generators and phones. They also ran away with bikes”.

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Coordinator of the Arewa Community on Sales of Tickets, Hashima Abubakar, condemned the youths for violent protest and appealed to them to negotiate instead of perpetrating violence.

In a post on X formerly (Twitter), Edafe said: “They are policemen deployed to quell an ongoing protest against one of the State Taskforce in Asaba pls.”

In another post on X, he said: “There was a violent protest this morning by Okada riders who had an issue last night with the state task force that led to the death of two persons. They mobilized in their numbers this morning, destroying properties and beating people, hence our men were deployed to control the situation before it turns to something else.”

JUST IN: 4 feared killed as Arewa youths clash with police, union in Delta

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Rivers: Five to die by hanging, lethal injection for killing OSPAC commander

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Rivers: Five to die by hanging, lethal injection for killing OSPAC commander

In Rivers State, five persons indicted in the murder of one Umezuruike Alex have been sentenced to death.

They were convicted and sentenced on Monday on charges including conspiracy, cultism, murder and illegal possession of firearms by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

Alex, prior to his murder, was Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee, OSPAC, commander of Omudioga community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.

OSPAC s a local vigilante group resident in some communities in different local government areas of Rivers State.

The convicts are Okechukwu Orji from Atali community in Obio-Akpor LGA, Igwe Promise, Iheanyi Igwe, Morrison Igwe, all from Omudioga in Emohua Local Government Area, and Goodness Monday from Akwa-Ibom State

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The trial Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, acquitted the sixth defendant, Alex Deiwe.

The prosecution, led by Essein Edet, proved its case against the five convicts, Justice Aprioku affirmed.

Following the conviction, the judge sentenced the convicts to death by hanging, or, alternatively, administration of a lethal injection until confirmed dead.

The court disclosed that the convicted individuals not only murdered the OSPAC commander but were also involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state prior to their arrest and prosecution.

The late Omudioga OSPAC commander, Alex, was brutally murdered and dismembered by cultists in 2021 for his efforts in combating criminal activities in the area

Rivers: Five to die by hanging, lethal injection for killing OSPAC commander

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Police confirm death of suicide bomber in Borno

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Police confirm death of suicide bomber in Borno

The Borno State Police Command has confirmed an attempted suicide bombing in Biu Local Government Area, resulting in the death of the perpetrator and injuries to two bystanders.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daso Nahum confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday.

Nahum said the event occurred around 8 pm on Sunday during the night prayers observed by Muslim faithful.

A male suicide bomber, suspected to be targeting a mosque, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near the roundabout, resulting in his own death.

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“Two passersby who were wounded by the explosive were immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment,” the police spokesman said.

Responding to the incident, Nahum disclosed that security personnel were swiftly deployed to the scene to restore order.

He emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan when late-night prayers are prevalent among Muslim communities.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

Police confirm death of suicide bomber in Borno

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