ASUU: We're ready to call off strike - Newstrends
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ASUU: We’re ready to call off strike

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3 years ago

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THE Academic Staff Union of Universities says it is ready to call off its industrial action and resume work.

President of the association, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, who gave this indication, however, said it was waiting for the Federal Government to give the go-ahead by adopting ASUU’s created salary payment platform, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution.

He said the new platform would be used by the government to pay lecturers their outstanding salaries.

UTAS is the payment platform created by ASUU in place of government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

A new report by The Punch quoted Ogunyemi as saying, “Our members are ready to resume work as early as government is ready to play its part. I’m sure you are not suggesting that our members should resume on empty stomach or the strike should be suspended without any concrete action on the side of the government. We don’t like to stay away from our work because we like our students, they are also our children.

“As far as we are concerned, we don’t have issue with going back to work, but we want more sincerity on the side of government.

“We have not seen enough reasons to believe that they don’t mean what they are telling us but as soon as we see any sign to that effect, we will tell Nigerians.”

Although he said UTAS had been approved in principle after making presentation about it to the Ministry of Education with other stakeholders, an integrity test on the payment platform to be conducted by an agency of government was required.

Ogunyemi said, “The integrity test will be handled by NITDA, it is government that will facilitate it because NITDA is a government, agency and unless you get clearance from the government that test cannot be conducted.”

Speaking on whether the government had accepted UTAS, the ASUU leader said, “We are still talking, we have given them the position of our members, we are thinking we should be able to hold a meeting this week if they have not changed plans. The meeting for Monday was postponed.

“In principle, they have accepted UTAS and told us to go for the test, and on our part, we have started the process. We had presented UTAS at three levels, starting with the Ministry of Education, Senate President and members of his team, officials of Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, where all other stakeholders were present, including NITDA.

“All stakeholders have witnessed the presentation and the next stage of integrity test is what we are moving into. If government facilitates it, it is not something that should drag for too long at all. We don’t foresee any problem with UTAS; it also depends on how early the government makes it possible for the integrity test to be conducted.”

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Just in: I can name companies employing foreign prisoners as expatriates – Oshiomhole

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December 7, 2023

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Just in: I can name companies employing foreign prisoners as expatriates – Oshiomhole

 

Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, says some prisoners from foreign countries are working in Nigeria as construction workers or expatriates.

Oshiomhole, now chairman of the senate committee on interior, said he was prepared to name the companies involved in such irregular and illegal appointment.

He spoke on Thursday when Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was defending the budget proposal of his ministry before the committee.

The senator representing Edo North said the interior ministry needed to regulate the issuance of expatriate quotas (EQs).

The EQs are granted by the ministry of interior to foreign-owned or indigenous companies to enable them to recruit foreign employees to legitimately work in the country.

Oshiomhole, who is also a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, said, “Your ministry needs to regulate issuance of the quotas very well as I have on good authority that prisoners from foreign land are working in Nigeria as construction workers.

“This is even different from the age long fraud the oil companies have been carrying out in the country through the policy of expatriate quotas by making our own qualified engineers to work under foreign technicians.

“Many non-Nigerians are in the country, some of them live inside containers. I even believe and dare say it that there are foreign prisoners who are working in Nigeria. They were shipped to our country to serve their prison terms.

“They were being paid according to their country’s minimum wage by the construction industry that brought them. I don’t want to mention the company’s name but if I am provoked, I will mention them.

“Honourable minister, this is a serious issue. Prisoners are not expected to work in their countries if the product or whatever they engage in is meant to be exported.”

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Akeredolu’s health: Court orders Ondo Assembly to appoint medical panel

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5 hours ago

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December 7, 2023

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Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

Akeredolu’s health: Court orders Ondo Assembly to appoint medical panel

Ondo State High Court in Akure granted leave to applicants in a suit seeking an Order of Mandamus compelling the House of Assembly and the Speaker to form a medical panel to assess Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s health state on Wednesday.

The suit, filed in court by Olufemi Lawson, Isijola Kike, Ologun Ayodeji, and Arogbo Olaniyi, emphasizes the critical role of elected officials maintaining public trust and ensuring openness.

The request for a medical panel attempts to shed light on Governor Akeredolu’s health after he has been absent from the state for nearly six months.

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On October 25, 2023, the petitioners filed an ex parte motion with the court.

The motion was brought pursuant to section 6(6b) of the 1999 constitution as amended as well as order 22 rule 1 of the Ondo State High Court rules.

The applicants prayed for an order of mandamus against the first and second respondents to compel them to carry out statutory and constitutional duties on the third respondent as stipulated under section 189(4) of the 1999 constitution.

The grounds were predicated on 11 grounds and in line with the rules of court, the applicant’s statement of claim and a 30-paragraph affidavit.

Upon the submission of the legal team of the applicant led by Dotun Ajulo, Fadeshola Ojamomi, A.V Ajayi and K.A Mogbojuri, the court ruled thereof.

Akeredolu’s health: Court orders Ondo Assembly to appoint medical panel

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Court freezes 24 bank accounts belonging to Kano Government

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5 hours ago

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December 7, 2023

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Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf

Court freezes 24 banks account belonging to Kano Government

A Federal High Court has ordered the freezing of 24 accounts of the Kano State Government.

The order is consequent upon the State government refusal to comply with a court order to pay N30 billion in compensation to victims of the Filling Idi Demolition exercise.

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The frozen order affects 24 Kano State bank accounts, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account of the state.

The presiding judge, Justice E.A Ekwo, has also directed the Kano State Government to appear before the court on January 18 to provide an explanation regarding the freezing of N30 billion in the affected bank accounts.

The funds are intended to be granted to the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners.

Court freezes 24 bank account belonging to Kano Government

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