News
Polytechnic workers give FG 21-day ultimatum on IPPIS
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) has given the Federal Government 21 days to address all the problems associated with the implementation of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
This is contained in a communiqué issued on Tuesday at the end of the union’s emergency meeting in Abuja and signed by its President, Phillip Ogunsipe.
The association said, “The council-in-session observed that there has been disjointed implementation of salary in the Polytechnic since Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) commenced the payment of salaries for staff since February 2020.
It stated, “Some of the lingering issues associated with IPPIS include non-release of new minimum wage arrears, inconsistencies in the release of third party deductions, non-payment of COVID-19 hazard allowance for health workers, high draconian tax regime on consolidated salary and delay in the release of 2018 and 2019 promotion arrears.
“Against this backdrop, the council wishes to call on the relevant agencies of government to expedite actions toward resolving these highlighted challenges. Equally, the council wish to frankly state that failure of the IPPIS to address these highlighted challenges within 21 days from the date of this communiqué would leave the Union with no option than to review its stance on IPPIS.”
Commenting on school reopening of schools, the union said, “The council-in-session commends the efforts of the government at all levels, particularly the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) towards flattening COVID-19 curve in the country.
“The council wishes to appreciate the wisdom and decision of the government to reopen schools across the federation, having facilitated modalities toward safety protocol arrangements at the Institution level.”
“The council for the umpteenth time expressed its displeasure at the way and manner the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has handled the Scheme of Service so far and condemned the decision of the Board to review the same scheme of service without due consultation with relevant stakeholders.”
It therefore stated, “On the strength of this, the council resolved that an attempt to foist a scheme of service document on SSANIP without our input is unacceptable and therefore would be an invitation to an atmosphere of industrial disharmony.
“The council wishes to specifically and frankly state that the failure of NBTE to address this issue within 21 days from the date of this communique would leave the Union with no other option than to declare industrial dispute.” It further observed that since the expiration of the tenure of the last governing councils for the federal polytechnics in May, 2020, the institutions have continued to function without the governing boards.
“In the understanding of the council, governing board occupies a very strategic position in the running of the polytechnic system. Therefore, the delay in the reconstitution of the governing councils is a challenge to the smooth running of the polytechnics. In view of the above, the council wishes to call on the Federal Government to expedite action on the re-constitution of governing councils for the federal polytechnics.”
The communiqué also stated, “The council-in-session expressed worry at the plethora of challenges faced by the State-owned Polytechnics and similar institutions across the country. Of particular concern were issues of haphazard and part-payment of workers’ salaries, non-implementation of the new minimum wage, non-domestication of the Contributory Pension Scheme, non-implementation of the 65 years retirement age in line with the relevant provisions of the Polytechnic Act (as amended), issue of migration to CONTISS 15, among others.”
News
Under-pressure AIG Okolo says state police comment personal opinion, not IGP’s
Under-pressure AIG Okolo says state police comment personal opinion, not IGP’s
Inspector-General of Police in charge of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) at the Force Headquarters, Benjamin Okolo, may have been under pressure for saying Nigeria is not ripe for state police.
Since he represented the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at a forum on Monday with former Nigeria’s presidents and leaders of thoughts, the statement was simply attributed to the IGP.
It was at a national dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja.
Okolo however on Tuesday retracted the comment, saying he was not directed by IGP Egbetokun to disagree with the position of former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, and the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, on the issue of state police at the forum.
Okolo had also proposed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) be merged to become a department under the police.
Newstrends had quoted Okolo as saying at the Monday forum, “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria police force that Nigeria is yet to mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.
“In view of this, the police leadership rather is recommending the following instead of creating state police.
“First, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety to form a department under the Nigeria police.”
But in a U-turn, Okolo, at a press briefing at the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday, said he only made the comment in his personal capacity to stimulate the discourse, and not the official position of the IGP and the police force.
He said, “My expressions on state police at the session held at Abuja Continental Hotel on 22nd April, 2024 are my personal opinion to stimulate the discourse.
“They are not the views of the Inspector-General of Police or the Nigeria Police Force.”
News
Shun politicking, FG tells new 17 Chargé D’affaires, Consuls General
Shun politicking, FG tells new 17 Chargé D’affaires, Consuls General
The Federal Government has advised newly appointed five new Chargé D’affaires and 12 Consuls General to the nation’s mission in other countries to shun politicking and focus strictly on their job.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, gave the charge while unveiling the new appointees on Tuesday.
He also charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.
A statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, the minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, gave these details.
While asserting that they were pivotal to the economic drive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tuggar further stressed that as seasoned career diplomats, they should recommit themselves to their calling of diplomacy for the collective interest and development of Nigeria.
Reacting on behalf of the new appointees, the just appointed Consul General for the Consulate in New York, Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, reiterated the commitment of his colleagues to uphold the ethos of the profession and pledged to bring the much-needed investments to the country.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the confidence reposed in them.
The new appointees are to resume immediately, the statement added.
FULL LIST:
Chargé D’affaires
Amb. Saidu Mohammed DODO, Damascus, Syria
Amb. Patrick Imoudu, IMOLOGHOME Pyongyang, Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea
Amb. Francisca Kemi OMAYULI
Singapore, Singapore
Amb. Babagana AHMADU
Bangui, Central African Republic
Amb. Mohammed MOHAMMED
Tripoli, Libya.
Consul General Conuslate
Amb. Auwalu Jega NAMADINA
Atlanta, USA
Amb. Nnamdi Okechukwu NZE
Bata, Equatorial Guinea
Amb. Francis Ntui ENYA
Douala, Cameroon
Amb. Gbadebo AFOLABI
Shanghai, China
Amb. Oludare Ezekiel FOLOWOSELE
Hong Kong, China
Amb. Abubakar JIDDA
New York, USA
Amb. Yakubu Audu DADU
Frankfurt, Germany
Amb. Taofik Obasanjo Coker
Buea, Cameroon
Amb. George Collins ONWUEKWE
Guangzhou, China
Amb. Umar Ibrahim BASHIR
Johannesburg, South Africa
Amb. Zayyan IBRAHIM
Dubai, UAE
Amb. Muazam Ibrahim Jibrin NAYAYA
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
News
Produce copy of invitation to me, Bello challenges EFCC
Produce copy of invitation to me, Bello challenges EFCC
The former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, refuted allegations that he disregarded an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, Bello was summoned for interrogation on January 27 this year but failed to appear, leading to a declaration of him as a fugitive after an unsuccessful attempt to apprehend him at his Abuja residence.
In response to this claim, Bello’s media office issued a statement on Tuesday, challenging the accusations and urging the anti-graft agency to produce a copy of the invitation letter.
READ ALSO:
- Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo
- Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara
- Emefiele spent N18.9bn to print N684.5m notes, says EFCC
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication/press statement with the above title, issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, 22nd April, 2024, and signed by Wilson Uwujaren, its Acting Director of Public Affairs.
“In the said statement, which the Commission carefully circulated widely as usual, Mr. Uwujaren, who we have to believe is not a lawyer, continues the EFCC’s ongoing unconscionable lies against the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, CON, by labelling him as a fugitive from justice in order to disingenuously justify their established and willful pattern of defying lawful court orders.
“Contrary to Mr. Uwujaren’s claims, official records and court documents relating to their hounding of Alhaji Yahaya Bello establish a clear timeline of events. These documents are endorsed with dates and times of filing and payments, which are endorsed on court processes – all of which testify to the true sequence of events.”
The statement, signed by Ohiare Michael from Bello’s media office, dismissed the EFCC’s assertions and accused the agency of resorting to intimidation and harassment. It emphasized that while Bello respects the rule of law, he is not afraid of the EFCC.
Produce copy of invitation to me, Bello challenges EFCC
Father arrested for helping son to sit UTME
Updated: Rivers crisis worsens as attorney-general, finance commissioner resign
FG suspends Dana Air for comprehensive audit
-
Education4 days agoWhy we charge N42m fees for primary school pupils — Charterhouse Lagos
-
News6 days agoUpdated: More trouble for Yahaya Bello as Immigration places him on watch list
-
Auto4 days agoWe expect massive roll-outs of Nigeria-made cars by December 2024 – Minister
-
International6 days agoUpdated: Tragedy hits Kenya, Defence chief, nine others die in military helicopter crash
-
metro4 days agoJUST IN : Borrow pit collapses, kills seven Qur’anic school pupils
-
News4 days agoWe’re not part of Yoruba Nation agitation, says MKO Abiola family
-
metro3 days agoHow gunmen killed Babcock university lecturer, abducted two – Police
-
News7 days agoYahaya Bello: EFCC warns against obstruction of operations
You must be logged in to post a comment Login