Education

NLC Gives FG 4 weeks to Address Education Sector Crisis

By Web News 240

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its affiliate unions in the education sector have issued a four-week ultimatum to the federal government to resolve all lingering issues affecting the sector, warning that failure to do so would trigger a nationwide workers’ action.

The NLC and the unions also declared a “no pay, no work” stance in response to the Federal Government’s “no work, no pay” policy following the ongoing two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Speaking after a joint meeting in Abuja on Monday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the unions had resolved to act as a united front to end the government’s persistent breach of agreements and neglect of the education sector.

Mr Ajaero said the unions involved include the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, National Association of Academic Technologists , NAAT, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP, Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, and the College of Education Staff Union, COESU, among others.

 “The NLC, after extensive deliberation with the unions in the tertiary institutions on finding solutions to the perennial problems in that sector, has resolved to work with the unions to find a lasting solution to the issues they have been facing all these years,” Ajaero said.

He noted that, the unions agreed to establish a framework for engagement on the implementation of existing agreements, sustainable funding of education in line with UNESCO’s 25–26% budgetary recommendation, and the review of wage structures and allowances for academic and non-academic staff.
“We discovered that those government officials sent to meetings often go there without mandates.

Henceforth, no trade union, whether in tertiary institutions or elsewhere, will go into any meeting with government representatives who lack authority to make binding commitments. You go and finish a negotiation, sign an agreement, and then go back to renege — never again,” he declared.

The NLC President explained that a coordinated team would be established to launch a national campaign for education reform and accountability, saying “We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU, but the problem goes beyond one union. All other unions are equally involved.

“If after four weeks this negotiation is not concluded, the organs of the NLC will meet and take a nationwide action involving all workers and all unions in the country so that we get to the root of this crisis.”

Rejecting the government’s “no work, no pay” policy, Ajaero maintained that the unions would respond in kind.

“The so-called policy of no work, no pay should henceforth be no pay, no work. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated. We discovered that 90% of strikes in this country are caused by failure to obey agreements,” he said.

“You can’t refuse to honour agreements and then punish the other party. It’s a matter of cause and effect — those who cause the problem should bear the consequences. You can’t beat the child and ask the child not to cry.”

With this declaration, Nigeria’s labour movement appears poised for a major showdown with the federal government unless concrete action is taken to address the lingering crisis in the nation’s education sector.

Vanguard/Taiwo Akinola

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Education

Protest in FedPoly Ado over Poor State of Road

By Web News 560

By Kayode Joseph

…alleged that the  road has killed many students, commuters 

Staff and students of the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti on Monday staged a peaceful protest to call the attention of the government and relevant authorities to the poor state of the only road that leads to their campus.

As part of measures to show their grievances and press home their demands, the protesters in large numbers barricaded the road thus causing heavy traffic congestion which came to stand still for several hours.

In a separate interview, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, Mr. Sunday Akomolafe, Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Mr. Adebayo Daramola and Chairman of Non-Academic Staff Union, Adebayo Abubakar said the protest became necessary after the government turned a deaf ear to their plea over the years regarding the road.

According to them, the road has become a death trap alleging that more than five persons have died within this year as a result of accidents occasioned by the poor state of the road.

The staff noted that they have on several occasions contributed personal income to repair the road but its condition was beyond patching but a total reconstruction.

They vowed to continue to barricade the road unless the government took necessary action.

Some of the motorists and commuters stranded in the traffic commended the Polytechnic staff for the courage to call out the government.

The motorists affirmed that they spent all their earnings maintaining their vehicles as a result of the damages caused by the road.

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Education

SSANU, NASU Vow to Ground Varsities over Withheld Salary

By Web News 472

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities and Allied Institutions will commence a nationwide strike today (Monday), to protest their withheld four months’ salary.

The National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, informed The PUNCH on Sunday that the two unions were set for their nationwide strike.

But the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said he was unaware of SSANU/NASU’s planned strike.

In a text message sent to one of our correspondents on Sunday, the minister said, “I am not aware of any planned strike. But I know the matter is receiving attention at the highest level of govt. I will get across to them.”

The Federal Government, implementing the no-work, no-pay policy, had withheld the salaries of university workers following a prolonged strike in 2021.

However, the Federal Government in February released four-month withheld salaries to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities but left out SSANU and NASU.

The two unions, in several letters, demanded that their withheld salaries be equally released and gave the Federal Government an ultimatum with a threat to embark on a nationwide strike.

According to SSANU leader  Ibrahim, “The Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU has inundated the Federal Government with the need to pay the withheld four-month salaries of our members in the federal universities and inter-university centres as done for our academic counterpart to no avail.

“As a matter of fact, the attention of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, and Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, the Honourable Minister of Education, was called to this injustice and unfair treatment of our members in our letter referenced JAC/NS/VOL.I/277 and dated 13th February 2024. We called on them to resolve the issue positively before it leads to an unnecessary upheaval in our university sector.

“In a similar vein, a press release was issued on 1st March 2024 and the Federal Government was given a seven-day ultimatum to do the needful in respect of the payment of the withheld four months’ salaries but nothing was done on the matter.

“Having waited patiently for the ultimatum to expire without any positive response from the government, this is to direct our members in the universities and inter-university centres throughout the country to commence a seven-day warning strike effective Monday, 18th March 2024 in the first instance.”

Also, SSANU National Vice-President, Abdussobur Salaam, said the government had not made any offer to the union since it started the agitation for payment of its withheld salaries.

“We have not heard anything from the government; they are not saying anything about payment of the salaries, no promises, no negotiation. We are not saying they should pay everything at once, at least they should show commitment, talk to us, and tell us when we should expect the payment, but nothing from them, they have been silent even after our warning strike press statement, still, nothing

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join

Health

OAUTH Crisis:  Unions Warn Against Imposition of CMD

By Web News 459

By Adenitan Akinola

The leadership crisis rocking the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTH has assumed another dimension as the Joint Action Committee of Unions of the Teaching Hospital warns against what they tagged “planned imposition of Acting Chief Medical Director”.

The Joint Action Committee of the unions comprises of the Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospital Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), Medical & Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM.

Presenting the position paper signed by the leaders of ten Labour Unions in the hospital to newsmen in Ile-Ife, the spokesperson of the JAC, Comrade Lateef Adeyemi urged the federal government to Implement the recommendations of Hospital’s Board of Management in appointing a substantive Chief Medical Director for the hospital. 

Comrade Adeyemi announced that the recommendation of the Board was the appointment of Professor Afolabi Owojuyigbe as the acting CMD who is to hand over to Dr Adekunle Adeyemo.

The Unions which maintained that there was peace in the hospital complex alleged that the uneasy calm was being promoted by the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, MDCAN in its attempt to impose one of it’s members, Professor Oladiran Adegbehingbe.

“We do not know the grouse of MDCAN in fomenting troubles in the hospital as if it is the only professional association that has monopoly of wisdom, in as much any issue does not go it ways, MDCAN will be calling bluff of everyone and other Unions”.

They urged Federal Ministry of Health to forward the recommendation of the Board of Management to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the appointment of a substantive Chief Medical Director noting that it will put a stop to the leadership crisis.

Radio Nigeria sent a message to the email on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health for clarification on the leadership impasse, but the mail is yet to receive a response.

Radio Nigeria had reported that there was uneasy calm in the hospital with respect to who is the acting Chief Medical Director among some senior medical personnel of the institution laying claim to the office, including Professor Oladiran Adegbehingbe who reportedly got a letter from the Federal Ministry of Health dated 22th of June, 2023 and signed by Director of Human resources,  Hasaan Salahu and Professor Afolabi Owojuyigbe who also retuned to the hospital on Friday with a letter dated 27th of June, signed by the permanent Secretary Adebiyi Olufunso,  directing him to act and stabilize the institution before handing over to Dr Adekunle Adeyemo who was directed to take over as the acting Chief Medical Director by 7th of July.

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Education

SSANU, NASU Suspend Strike

By Web News 472


The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions (NASU) on Saturday suspended their strike actions after a brief meeting with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu in Abuja.

The suspension is expected to take effect from Wednesday.

According to the education minister, the Federal Government has committed N50 billion to pay earned allowances for members of SSANU, NASU and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

However, activities in public universities are expected to remain limited as ASUU remains on strike.

Minister Adamu, who had hinted of SSANU and NASU’s strike suspension on Thursday, said ASUU rejected the government’s proposal over the “no work, no pay” rule.

Channels Tv/Simeon Ugbodovon

Education

NASU, SSANU Extend Strike by One Month

By Web News 551

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and allied institutions have extended their ongoing strike by one month.

In a circular jointly signed by the national president of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, and the general secretary, Peters Adeyemi, the unions noted that the decision to extend the strike was to give more time for all demands to be met.

SSANU and NASU like the Academic Staff Union of Universities had declared a strike following the failure of the government to meet some of the lingering demands of the associations.

Though the federal government through the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, had announced that the government would clear the outstanding minimum wage arrears, the unions had insisted on strike.

“In view of the fact that most of the issues in contention have not been resolved as the process of resolving same is ongoing and to allow the process to be concluded, we hereby direct that the ongoing strike be elongated by one month.“Hopefully, all processes would have been concluded and all issues in dispute favourably resolved,” the unions noted in the statement.

Some of the demands of the unions include the inconsistent issue of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system, unpaid earned allowances, and delay in the renegotiation of FGN, NASU, SSANU agreements, and nonpayment of minimum wage arrears.

Others include neglect and poor funding of state universities, non-payment of retirement benefits to outgoing members of the unions, and usurpation of the headship of non-teaching units in clear violation of conditions of service and establishment procedures, among others.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Education

NASU, Others Stick Gun on Strike as JAC Continues Negotiation

By Web News 743

The National body of the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU and other associated institutions in Nigeria have resolved to continue their strike while the umbrella body of the association identified as Joint Action Committee, JAC have been told to continue negotiation with government negotiation team.
    The union leaders made the resolution at the end of a delegate conference of NASU and other striking union body held at the University of Ibadan.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria the National Vice president, NASU, Mr Buhari Suleiman said the union resolved that the three trade group of Nigerian universities have been mandated to maintain cordial relationship with Joint Action Committee and to continue discussion with the Federal government negotiation team.
    Mr Suleiman said there is the need for government negotiation team to meet with them so as to put an end to the lingering strike.
In an interview, the Chairman, NASU, University of Ibadan chapter, Mr Etim Malachi, said the National leadership of the Association frowned at the Federal government abysmal approval of private universities in the country adding that it had led to decline in the standard of education.
      Mr Etim said the crisis between NASU and Federal government was due to failure of government to renegotiate 2009 memorandum of understanding.
     The NASU Chairman, University of Ibadan branch also identified usurpation of some positions in the universities by members of academic staff,  failure to pay minimum wage arrears and failure of government to provide adequate funding to reposition the Nigerian universities as some of the factors behind the lingering strike.
Rotimi Famakin 

Education

NASU Advocates Good Treatment For Its Members

By Web News 693

Joint action committee of Non-academic staff of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta Ogun state have called for the constitution of the school’s governing board as prescribed by the law establishing the institution to prevent further maltreatment of their members.

The two unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic and the Non-Academic Staff Union at a news conference in Abeokuta, explained that the non-constitution of the board has led to continuous maltreatment of members of staff by the management of the institution.

The spokesperson of the two groups, the Acting Chairman of SSANIP, Comrade Lekan Dada hinted that the inability of the government to constitute a Governing Council for the school was preventing the appointment of a substantive Rector, lack of promotion for more than two years and non-implementation of minimum wage at the institution.

The two in house unions also disclosed that the situation had worsened to institution management being unable to pay check-up dues of unions and also not able to remit pension deductions to the Pension Fund Administrators in the last two years.

They also decried the non-payment of November and December staff salaries of their members.

The Public Relations officer of the institution Mr Yemi Ajibola when contacted on the workers demand promised the institution would soon appropriately respond to the allegations in due course.

Wale Oluokun

Education

NASU: Members Protest Non- Inclusion In New Retirement Age For Teachers

By Web News 709

Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, Osun State, wants the National Assembly to include its members in the new service year and retirement age for Teachers.

Chairman of the Union, Comrade Kunle Ogundepo made call when he led some members to the Assembly on a peaceful protest.

Comrade Ogundepo explained that non-Teaching professionals including Laboratory Attendant, Accountants and Administrative staff, should be included in benefits.

He said increasing the service year from 35 years to 40 years and retirement age from 60 years to 65 years for Teachers should be extended to non-Teaching staff in all Primary and Post Primary schools.

Addressing the Protesters, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Kunle Akande assured the protesters that will wade in to address the National Assembly.

Mr. Akande while commending the peaceful protest urged members of the Union to exercise patient until the passage of the before the National Assembly.

Funmi Adekoya

Education

Who emerges as new UI VC?

By Web News 1796

The circumstances which caused the National University Commission, NUC, to order a fresh selection process to produce anew Vice Chancellor, VC, for the University of Ibadan may continue to linger as many conflicting stories and information continue to generate concern among stakeholders.

Traditionally the VC of any Nigerian university has a five-year tenure upon which a new one is chosen to occupy the office.

Following this, the request for a successor was made about six months ago as it was known that the outgoing VC of the UI, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka’s tenure would soon run out.

This request produced eighteen applications from within and outside the institution.
Among the applicants were; Professor Kayode Adebowale from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, the same faculty which produced the outgoing vice chancellor, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Adeyinka Aderinyo from the Faculty of Arts, Professor Bunmi Olapade, former Provost College of Medicine, Professor Raji Oyelade, Former Dean of Arts.

Others are; Professor Olusegun Kolawole, Former Dean of Education, Professor Tunde Salako, Former Provost, College of Medicine, Professor Olusegun Ademowo, Professor Farounbi, Professor T.K. Hamzat, Professor Femi Mimoko, among others.

As part of the selection process for choosing Senate representatives into the election board, a body which is expected to grade and ratify the appointment of the would-be vice chancellor were nine contestants who vied for two seats on the council committee.

Professors Peter Olapegba and Ezekiel Ayoola have already emerged but it was alleged that the outgoing VC played an influencial role in their emergence, a situation which did not go down well with other contestants who faulted the process.

The emergence of Professors Olapegba and Ayoola also generated a number of petitions from individuals within the university community.

The petitions in addition to the one by the members of the Joint Action Committed made up of Non Academic Staff Union, NASU and Senior Staff Association, SSANU U.I. Chapter, which were forwarded to the Federal Minstry of Education compelled the NUC to issue a directive ordering a fresh selection process devoid of the interference of the outgoing VC.

The memo which recommends that the 18 applicants be re-invited, also orders manual voting as against electronic voting earlier used.

Five members of the council committee comprise the governing chairman, two members nominated from the senate of the university, one representative from the federal Ministry of Education and a fifth from the NUC.

Sequel to the NUC memo of 23rd November 2O2O ordering a fresh selection process, a Senate meeting was held between Monday 23rd and Thursday 26th of November, 2020, where Professors Peter Olapegba and Ezekiel Ayoola emerged for the second time as Senate representatives of the governing council.

Some council members who were not pleased with the development walked out of the meeting.

This notwithstanding, a council meeting had been scheduled for Monday 30th November, 2020.

On Wednesday 25th OF November, the presence of security personnel comprising the men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Army were observed on the UI campus.

The heavy presence of security operatives according to findings was to prevent a breakdown of law and order as there have been previous threats of physical attacks within the premises.

Who would be named as the new VC of UI?

What are political antics being deployed?

What are the interests of unions in the selection process?

Is the whole drama and struggle worth it?
Radio Nigeria will follow up and keep you up to speed.

Rotimi Famakin

Education

JAC Calls for Review of VC Appointment Process in UI

By Web News 687

Members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising the Non Academic staff Union (NASU), senior staff association of Nigerian universities (SSANU), University of Ibadan chapter has called on the Federal Government to review the processes leading to the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI).

The Chairman of the committee, who is also the Chairman SSANU, Mr Wale Akinremi made the plea while briefing news men on the disposition of the union on the process for the new Vice Chancellor of the University. 

The union lamented the indebtedness, infrastructural decay,  mismanagement of human and financial resources of the institution, saying the mismanagement of the funds has put to question, how the incoming VC tend to run the affairs of the University amidst the scarce resources.

The union decried the alleged appointment of unqualified and underperforming personnel to manage the University affairs, Stress the need for paradigm shift and accountability. 

The UI -JAC Chairman said his members would resist the reemergence of divisive management staffs in the University so as to restore the lost glory of the University.

It would be recalled that members of the Non- Academic staff union had last week Wednesday staged protest during the University’s council meeting on the appointment of new Vice Chancellor. 

Rotimi Famakin

Education

We Have Confidence In New VC Selection Process – UI Senate

By Web News 1398

The Senate of the University of Ibadan has passed vote of confidence in the ongoing process to appoint a new Vice Chancellor for the institution. 

This was part of resolutions reached at an emergency meeting of the Senate held at the International Conference Centre of the institution in Ibadan. 

Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Senate Representative in the University of Ibadan Governing Council, Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN, said the electoral process was in accordance with extant laws and should be concluded.

According to Professor Bamgbose, the disruption of the electoral process on the twenty eighth of last month by the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University, SSANU, was unfortunate and regrettable.

While pointing out that labour unions have no roles to play in the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Professor Bamgbose stated that the resolution also called for the constitution of a disciplinary procedure against the erring members of staff.

Professor Bamgbose said other decisions reached at the meeting were the need to pacify those who were injured during the disruption pending the outcome of the internal disciplinary measures and a visit to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

Radio Nigeria correspondent reports that SSANU and NASU had last Wednesday disrupted the final proceedings for the selection of a new Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan over allegations of imposing a candidate on the institution through a faulty selection process.

One hundred and eighty-eight members of the Senate attended the Emergency Meeting.

Olaolu Fawole

Education

UI VC Selection Process Suspended Over Allegations Of Corruption

By Web News 1115

The process of selecting a new Vice Chancellor for the University of Ibadan has been suspended.

The decision followed protest by some staff unions of the institution who alleged that the entire process was not transparent.

Adedayo Adelowo has the rest of the story.

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria universities, SSANU, and Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, University of Ibadan Chapter had earlier shut down all activities in the institution in protest against the alleged plot to impose a vice chancellor on them.

The members of the associations in their numbers locked up the main entrance of the institution, shut all doors and put out electricity.

Justifying the action, Chairman, SSANU, Mr Wale Akinremi alleged that the vice-chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka and his team were determined to manipulate the process of selecting a new vice-chancellor for personal gains.

He said the unions had written petitions to the university council about two years ago and had not gotten any response till date.

Mr Akinremi said the unions were convinced that the process was corrupt, hence the need for the protest.

On his part, Chairman, College of Medicine, NASU, Mr Akinlade Akinlolu said the protest was to repel oppression and imposition stating that the unions would not sheath its sword until all the election processes were started afresh.

After hours of protest, Chairman of the University’s council, Dr Joshua Waklek who had been in Senate Building for hours announced that the process had been suspended.

Dr Waklek said the council would subsequently meet with the union leaders on the way forward.

Crisis had rocked the institution over the process of electing a new vice-chancellor.

Adedayo Adelowo

Education

SSANU, NASU, Shut Down UI Over Alleged Imposition Of VC

By Web News 1178

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU and Non-Academic Staff of Union, NASU, University of Ibadan Chapter have shut down all activities in the institution in protest against the alleged plot to impose a vice-chancellor on them.

The members of the associations in their numbers locked up the main entrance of the institution, shut all doors and put out electricity.

Justifying the action, Chairman, SSANU, Mr Wale Akinremi alleged that the vice-chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka and his team were determined to manipulate the process of selecting a new vice chancellor for personal gains.

He said the unions had written petitions to the university council since about two years ago and had not gotten any response till date.

Mr Akinremi said the unions were convinced that the process was corrupt, hence the need for the protest.

On his part, Chairman, College of Medicine, NASU, Mr Akinlade Akinlolu said the protest was to repel oppression and imposition.

He said the unions would not sheath its sword until all the election processes were started afresh.

As at the time of filing this report, the senate and council members were still in the Senate Building while the protesters in their numbers besieged the entrance.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the senate had been in the building since around eight am while power supply to the build had been switched off.

Adedayo Adelowo

Education

Welfare Demands: NASU, SSANU Embark on Protest

By Web News 705

Academic activities at the University of Ibadan have been paralyzed this morning due to protest currently embarked upon by the members of the Non Academics Staff Union, NASU and Senior Staff Association, SSANU of the institution.

The two unions were protesting against Federal government failure to meet their welfare demands.

The demands in a memo made available to Radio Nigeria include earned allowance, stoppage of overtime and staff allowance, nonpayment of promotion allowance, October increment, pension deduction among others.

The protest according to some members of the association was called after series of meetings earlier held with the management of the institution that yielded no result.

Our correspondent who was at the university report that apart from the main gate put under lock with a given traditional image place in its front, all office and lecture rooms were equally locked.

Rotimi Famakin