News
We won’t return to class with empty stomach – ASUU
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it will not return to class with empty stomach as its members have not been paid for their salaries for a period ranging between four months and nine months.
The Coordinator, ASUU Calabar Zone, Comrade Aniekan Brown, told journalists in Calabar on Monday that “We are still in the trenches. And we will not return to the classes with empty stomach.”
He also said insisted that the Federal Government should adopt its University Transparency and Accountability Solution UTAS as the option against government’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The Calabar zone covers seven universities within four states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ebonyi.
ASUU also argues that the Federal government payment system IPPIS, which is made compulsory to university workers, including ASUU members is against the law of the land that granted autonomy to universities.
Besides, “the IPPIS is not temper-proof as presented, adding to the fact that it has national security risk being that the server is hosted from outside the country by an American company.”
He described the IPPIS as uncongenial with the modus operandi of the university system, given the peculiarities of universities.
“Kindly note that our Union has been rejecting the IPPIS since 2013; government challenged us to produce an alternative to IPPIS. The union took up the challenge, and has produced one. This is called the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS. Presentations have been made to the appreciation of some quarters.
“The union has been ready for the final stage presentation to NITDA. Sadly, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGoF) is of the position that our members migrate first (during the intervening period) after which if UTAS is approved, we would be re-migrated to UTAS. We argue that it is a case of economic waste,” he explained.
He debunked the figures pandered in some quarters by the government that over 50,000 members of ASUU have voluntarily joined the IPPIS platform in obedience to the Federal Government directive as against about 14,000 yet to comply.
His words: “That is just a divisive and blackmail tactics. We don’t have such number of academic staff members in the country even if you put together both federal and state universities. May be they are counting other unions’ members within the university.”
He further insisted that “the university system is peculiar in its modus-operandi. The mode of employment, retirement age, sabbatical leave, adjunct engagements, part-time engagements, contract engagements, etc. are concepts that are unique to the university, and obviously alien to IPPIS.
“The OAGF has told a lot lies about addressing these peculiarities. Unfortunately, our Union had a number of meetings with the OAGF and, for all that the meetings are worth, they were opportunities to convince ASUU that the IPPIS is capable of addressing the concerns of our union. This did not happen!”
ASUU has complained that the Federal Government has continued to pay deaf ears to the revitalization of Public Universities and as it concerns the proliferation and funding of State Universities.
The union is also saying that Visitors to State Universities should stand up to their responsibilities and that state governments should not establish universities they cannot fund. Visitation Panels to universities have not been done in the last ten (10) years.
He said, “We seek the cooperation and understanding of the good people of Nigeria, and the general public on ASUU’s stance on the afore-stated outstanding issues and the IPPIS.
“ASUU has courted for itself an enviable pedigree of integrity, credibility and accountability. Our members would not return to the classes with empty stomachs.”
News
Recruitment of next phase of federal fire service personnel begins
Recruitment of next phase of federal fire service personnel begins
The Civil Defence Correctional Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has announced the commencement of the next phase of ITs 2023/2024 recruitment into the Federal Fire Service (FFS).
The Secretary to the Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement made available to the media on Saturday.
“The Civil Defence Correctional Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) wishes to inform the general public that the next phase of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) Recruitment Exercise will commence on the 15th of September, 2024 as shortlisted candidates will be sent invitation letters detailing where they are to appear for physical screening, certificate verification as well as aptitude test through the phone numbers and email addresses they provided during the process of registration.
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“The Board wishes to state that every process of this exercise does not attract any form of payment,” the statement said.
The Board had earlier promised to conclude the recruitment process before the end of September 2024.
Daily Trust gathered that around 2500 personnel would be recruited after the completion of the recruitment process.
Recruitment of next phase of federal fire service personnel begins
News
Dangote fuel supply forces Scotland refinery to announce shutdown date
Dangote fuel supply forces Scotland refinery to announce shutdown date
Grangemouth, Scotland’s only oil refinery, is to close in 2025 with the loss of 400 jobs, operator Petroineos has said, according to Reuters, as part of plans to turn the 100-year-old plant into a fuels import terminal.
Petroineos said last November it was preparing to shut down Grangemouth, Britain’s oldest refinery. Production will cease in the second quarter of next year, subject to an employee consultation, a company spokesperson said.
The decision was criticised by trade unions and politicians.
“It is deeply disappointing that Petroineos have confirmed their previous decision to close Grangemouth oil refinery,” UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said.
The site will become an import and distribution terminal for finished fuels, which will cut the number of employees at the site from 475 to around 75 over the next two years.
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Petroineos is a joint venture between PetroChina International London (PCIL) and INEOS Group, a British chemicals firm founded by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The company cited economic difficulties as the reason for the closure, stating that the company had invested $1.2 billion since 2011, and returned losses in excess of $775 million over the same period.
“Grangemouth is increasingly unable to compete with bigger, more modern and efficient sites in the Middle East, Asia and Africa” where Dangote Refinery just opened.
Due to its size and configuration, Grangemouth incurs high levels of capital expenditure each year just to maintain its licence to operate,” the company said.
It said the plant is currently losing around $500,000 per day, and expects to see a $200 million loss for 2024.
Petroineos’s plans for Grangemouth had been opposed by trade unions and local politicians and there were campaigns to extend production until a low-carbon alternative for its long-term future could be secured.
Dangote fuel supply forces Scotland refinery to announce shutdown date
News
JUST IN: Tinubu returns to Abuja today after China, UK trips
JUST IN: Tinubu returns to Abuja today after China, UK trips
President Bola Tinubu is set to return to Abuja on Sunday after concluding his official trip to China and a brief stopover in the United Kingdom.
Tinubu departed Abuja for Beijing on August 29. His visit commenced on September 2 with a meeting at the Great Hall of the People, where he was warmly received by President Xi Jinping.
A 21-gun salute and an honor guard marked his arrival in China, highlighting the significance of the visit.
According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu engaged in a series of bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. During these discussions, both countries signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
These agreements covered various areas, including a cooperation plan to further the Belt and Road Initiative, peaceful applications of nuclear energy, and development initiatives related to human resources.
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One of the MoUs emphasized media exchange and cooperation between China’s media outlets and the Nigerian Television Authority. Another key agreement was signed with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the construction of the Lagos Green Rail Line, a 68-kilometer project that will connect the Lekki Free Zone to Marina, interfacing with the existing Blue Line.
Additionally, an agreement for a $1 billion iron ore-to-steel project in Kogi State was reached between Nigeria’s Chart and Capstone Integrated Limited and China’s Sinomach-He.
During his stay in China, President Tinubu also visited prominent companies, including Huawei and CHEC, before attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit. At the summit, representing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as chairman, he delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of multilateralism and global cooperation for peace.
In his final engagement in China, Tinubu met with representatives of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (China chapter) to discuss the ongoing reforms in Nigeria. He expressed hope that these changes would pave the way for improved infrastructure, consistent power supply, and enhanced education, akin to what is seen in China.
After leaving Beijing, President Tinubu headed to London for a brief visit. There, he met with King Charles III to discuss pressing issues, including climate change.
President Tinubu’s return to Abuja is eagerly anticipated as he concludes this important diplomatic mission.
JUST IN: Tinubu returns to Abuja today after China, UK trips
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