Updated: ASUU ends nine-month strike, may resume with virtual lectures – Newstrends
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Updated: ASUU ends nine-month strike, may resume with virtual lectures

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  • Govt to decide reopening date due to COVID-19

University students in Nigeria can now heave a sigh of relief as the Academic Staff Union of University, on Wednesday, announced the suspension of its nine-month old industrial action.

National President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, made the announcement during a briefing of the union in Abuja.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Tuesday, had hinted that the prolonged strike by the university lecturers would be called off before January 15.

He also said in an interview on Wednesday that part of the agreement between the two parties was that the lecturers would conduct virtual teaching and restart academic activities before the January 18 stipulated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

Ogunyemi said ASUU’s decision to suspend the strike came after its National Executive Council (NEC) had at an emergency meeting ratified the agreements reached with the Federal Government at a meeting held on Tuesday which addressed most of the demands of the union.

He said that a committee had been set up to monitor the implementation of the agreements.

“On the basis of this, the National Executive Council meeting has decided to suspend its strike today. But we will not hesitate to resume the strike if government fails to keep to the agreement,” he said.

Ogunyemi noted that the actual day for the reopening of the schools, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, would be decided by the Federal Government and Senate.

He thanked the students and their parents for their understanding throughout the nine-month strike period.

He said, “No amount of sacrifice would be too much to get the matter resolved as long as the government is consistent with its commitments.”

When asked if the government had kept its promise to start payment of salaries arrears of ASUU members, Ogunyemi said that it had started.

He said it was also agreed that no ASUU member should suffer any loss of deserved benefits as a result of participation in the strike.

He said the union resolved to pursue the areas in the ASUU-FG agreement of 2009 and Memorandum of Action 2013 that require legislation such as the mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) into the annual budget and amending the National University Commission (NUC) Act 2004.

Ogunyemi listed key demands of ASUU for which an agreement was reached to include, the immediate release of earned academic allowances and mainstreaming of the EAA into the annual budget, using the agreed formula, to immediately engage the universities and other research centres in the fight against COVID-19.

As part of the agreement, according to him, the Federal Government is to expedite action on the test processes and ensure the deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), the union’s preferred alternative for the payment of salaries in the university system.

He said the integrity test on UTAS was at the last stage now.

In addition, he said that ASUU expected the government to fast-track the FG-ASUU renegotiation to ensure its conclusion within the timelines agreed by both parties.

Ogunyemi said, “ASUU has undertaken to go back to classrooms, laboratories to do our best for our students and our country. We are going back to rekindle the motivation and aspirations in our members to strive to encourage our students to excel, all in expectations that governments, both federal and states, will sincerely fullfil their own part of the bargain.”

He listed some of the key demands tabled by ASUU, and which ignited the current strike, to include funding for revitalisation of public university infrastructure, earned academic allowances, withheld salaries, proliferation of state universities, visitation panels, reconstitution of the government re-negotiation team and the replacement of IPPIS with UTAS.

Ngige, also giving an insight into the agreement with the union, said ASUU accepted that lecturers would do extra time to recover the lost ground.

He said, “The Senate of the universities can arrange for virtual teaching to commence in the first week of January, next year. It is a win-win situation for everybody.

“We want to congratulate all Nigerians the parents, the National Assembly and ASUU for the resolution of the dispute. For both sides, it’s a conditional foothold because while the Federal Government pledged to fulfil its part, ASUU also promised to do extra work so that lost time would be recovered . They also pledged in the agreement to do virtual teaching.”

He also spoke on the amount released to ASUU and the universities under the agreement, saying the FG had approved the release of N40 billion for earned allowances to all categories of staff in the universities.

“It is not money for dash; the university vice chancellors will scrutinise the process and ensure that only staff that merited to be paid are allowed to partake in it,” he added
Ngige, however, said the government would release N30 billion revitalisation fund to the universities by January, adding that government would not give ASUU any excuse to go on strike again.

He promised to ensure the government keep its part of the agreement.

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DHQ declares prof, 7 others wanted over killing of soldiers in Delta

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DHQ declares prof, 7 others wanted over killing of soldiers in Delta

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared eight persons wanted including a professor over the brutal killing of 17 soldiers and officers in Okuama community of Delta State.

Those declared wanted are Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur; a woman, Mrs Igoli Ebi; Reuben Baru; Akata Malawa David and four other persons

Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, announced this on Thursday at a briefing in Abuja.

Buba urged traditional rulers and other stakeholders particularly in the Niger Delta to help in fishing out the wanted suspects.

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Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke

Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise

The ongoing teacher recruitment exercise in Osun State was disrupted on Wednesday when hackers apparently compromised the server hosting the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

The event trapped thousands of applicants at the state’s 13 scheduled examination centres.

The cyber-attack happened in the early hours of Wednesday and affected the server operated by Osun State University (Uniosun), which organised the recruiting test.

The breach led to system glitches and technical failures, frustrating applicants who had gathered at the centres to take the crucial examination.

One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the gravity of the situation to our correspondent.

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“All the systems were down after hackers breached our server overnight. It was a terrible experience at all the centres. But we later resolved some centres, while the examination has been rescheduled for others,” said the official.

Ademola Adesoji, the Public Relations Officer of the university, attributed the incident to unknown criminals.

“The damage inflicted on the server required time to resolve, resulting in an undue delay in the start of exams and necessitating the rescheduling of tests at two out of thirteen centers.

“Over the last eight or so hours, it has been a tough battle in our efforts to ensure the success of Osun State government. Examinations have concluded at 11 out of the 13 locations today. However, the two problematic centres, Osogbo and Ikire, will be rescheduled based on the Ministry’s decision,” said Adesoji.

Commotion as hackers infiltrate server, disrupt Osun teachers’ recruitment exercise

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Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention

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Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected Wednesday’s Labour Party National Convention in Anambra State.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated this in Abuja on Thursday.

Oyekanmi said INEC did not oversee the convention’s conduct.

The LP on Tuesday shifted the convention from Umuahia in Abia State to Nnewi, Anambra State.

But speaking on the change in venue, the LP National Legal Adviser, Kehinde Edun, told journalists that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date.

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“In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin City was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.

“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun said.

Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.

This includes the convention or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates.

Drama as INEC disowns Anambra Labour Party convention

(NAN)

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