ASUU strike: No going back on nationwide protest, says NLC – Newstrends
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ASUU strike: No going back on nationwide protest, says NLC

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  • Planned protest illegal – FG

The stage for a showdown between the Federal Government and labour unions may have been set over the plan by the Nigeria Union Congress to mobilise workers for a two-day nationwide protest in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities currently on a prolonged strike.

Many workers’ unions including the aviation workers have indicated interest to participate in the rally.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday said the protest was illegal since the NLC had no pending disputes with the government.

But the NLC insisted that the planned protest would still hold on July 26 and 27, despite the directive given by President Muhammadu Buhari to education minister to resolve the strike issue within two weeks.

ASUU had embarked on strike on February 14 to press home its demand for the implementation of the October 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions and National Association of Academic Technologists later joined the industrial action.

President Muhammadu Buhari  on Tuesday directed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to resolve the five-month strike within two weeks and report back to him.

In solidarity with ASUU, the NLC on July 17 announced that it would kick off a nationwide protest to pressure the federal government to resolve the crisis in the tertiary education sector.

Head, Information and Public Affairs at the NLC, Mr Benson Upah, told The Punch that the government could resolve the lingering strike within three days if it was serious about the crisis, stressing that the union was going ahead with its protests.
He stated, “We’re still going ahead (with the protests). The public action is on the July 26th and then the mega one is on (July) 27th. So, I mean, of what effect will two weeks have on that?
“I am saying that had the government asked the minister of education to solve this problem within two or three days, aha. But he is giving him two weeks, and two weeks will come after our protest must have taken place. Don’t you think so? So it’s like take charge of it.’’
Even as he acknowledged the ultimatum handed down to the education minister, the NLC spokesman said it would not change the proposed rally.
He said, ‘’If the government wants to end this matter today, I assure you that they will be able to fix it in three hours. Remember when the airline operators planned to go on strike and within hours there was an intervention; remember?
“The summary of what I want to tell you is that nothing has happened for us to change our proposed action. All I know is that we’re going on with our action.’’
Responding to allegation that the protest was illegal, Upah said the minister should be worried by the damage caused to the education system by the protracted strike.
He noted, “Freedom of expression, freedom of protest are within the ambit of the law and guaranteed by the constitution; so, he (minister) does not have the power to abolish it.”

Minister Mohammed, addressing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, said the NLC’s action was being motivated by partisan interests, adding that it was supposed to be “completely insulated from politics.”

He said, “The NLC is not a political party. The NLC can go on strike or protest if the rights of the NLC members are involved. What the NLC is planning in the next few days is about interest. There’s no dispute whatsoever between NLC as a body with the Federal Government.

“Well yes, there’s a dispute between some members of the NLC, ASUU and the federal government, which is being looked into. And NLC itself is a party to the committee that is looking into the solution.

“So, calling out people on street protest; you begin to wonder, what is the motive of the NLC in this matter? But you see here, we do not interrogate what the NLC is doing. The NLC by its own laws cannot even give out pamphlets. And the NLC is supposed to be completely insulated from politics.”

In his reaction, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said in March that the government had paid over N92bn , including N40bn for earned academic allowances for ASUU and other unions and N30bn for university revitalisation as part of the implementation of the agreement reached with the union in December 2020.

The FG had reconstituted a team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement it had with the varsity teachers. The team was headed by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Prof Nimi Briggs.

Speaking on plans by aviation workers to join the strike in solidarity with ASUU, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the move should be jettisoned as it would put lives at risk.

He said, “I’m naturally concerned about this if the aviation union will shut down in support of ASUU. I would say they have no need to. This is democracy. You can push for demands. But in pressing for demands, you should be reasonable in doing so; where lives can be lost because of your own activity. I think it should be reconsidered.

“So, civil aviation workers should not be part of this. We’ve spoken to them and I don’t think they will join because they know that there’s a huge responsibility for lives on their heads.

“I believe that they are very aware of the enormous responsibility upon them in civil aviation and they should continue to see it so and continue to be as law-abiding as we want them to be.”

 

 

Education

NASU, SSANU end strike, direct members to resume work Monday

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NASU, SSANU end strike, direct members to resume work Monday

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have ended their one-week warning strike.

They have therefore directed their members to resume work on Monday March 25.

The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) also directed its members to resume duty Monday.

The union however gave the federal government two weeks to pay the withheld salaries.

President of NAAT, Ibeji Nwokoma, said his association had suspended the warning strike and would be meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Education on Wednesday afternoon.

The Reps Committee had invited the three university – based unions that went on strike alongside the Minister of Education in order to find an amicable resolution of the issues that led to the strike.

In a circular to its branch chairmen, the JAC of SSANU and NASU, directed members in the universities and Inter-University centers to resume duty on Monday.

The circular, titled: “Re: 7-Days Warning Strike”, was signed by Prince Peters Adeyemi, NASU General Secretary and Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, SSANU President.

It read in part, “The leadership of National Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) acknowledge and commend the courage, tenacity. commitment and resoluteness of members of the two Unions in effectively prosecuting the 7-day warning strike action across the branches.

“After evaluating the 7-day warning strike that commenced on Monday, 18th March, 2024, the JAC confirmed that the tempo of the warning strike has been massive, comprehensive and total in most of our Universities and Inter-University Centres.

“It therefore salutes the dedication, resoluteness and loyalty of members to the cause of the Union’s struggle for the payment of 4 months’ withheld salaries. We are proud of your concerted efforts.

“Consequently, you are hereby informed that the 7-day warning strike shall end at midnight of Sunday, 24th March, 2024 and normal work will resume on Monday, 25th March, 2024.

“While assuring you that the struggle for the payment of the four months’ withheld salaries is ongoing, further issues such as Renegotiation of Year 2009 FGN/NASU and SSANU Agreements, Payment of N50 Billion Earned Allowances and others will continue to receive the same attention.

“Therefore, JAC leadership will continue meaningful engagement with the relevant government agencies in both executive and legislative arms and you will be duly notified of the next line of action(s) to be taken.”

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BREAKING: WAEC releases results of first CB-WASSCE

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BREAKING: WAEC releases results of first CB-WASSCE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has released the results of the first-ever Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB- WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2024–First Series.

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The examination was held between Wednesday, January 31, and Saturday, February 17, 2024.

A total of 8,139 candidates sat the examination at 140 CBT centres nationwide.

BREAKING: WAEC releases results of first CB-WASSCE

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WAEC blacklists Abia schools over malpractice

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WAEC blacklists Abia schools over malpractice

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has barred some secondary schools in Abia State from participating in the regional body’s examination over involvement in examination malpractice.

Commissioner for Education Prof. Uche Eme Uche, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Umuahia, the state capital, said that the state had just been informed by WAEC about the development.

Although she didn’t disclose the affected schools, the commissioner noted that most of the schools affected were private schools.

The Commissioner, who frowned at any act capable of tarnishing the image of the state, said the operational licences of the affected schools would be withdrawn as a deterrent to others.

She explained that the state supported the action by WAEC as it would help halt the lowering of academic standards in schools by some dubious operators.

 Uche said the state had previously shut down some of the affected schools due to their unwholesome practices,but they  continued to cut corners.

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Speaking earlier, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said  the state governor, Dr Alex Otti had approved the immediate renovation of 170 primary and 51 public secondary schools across the state.

He said 10 primary and three secondary schools would be selected from each of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state.

The renovation, according to him, is to give a facelift to public schools in the state and make them conducive and attractive for learning.

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