100 Days After, ASUU Marches On

One hundred days after members of the  Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on a nationwide strike, the end is not in sight yet, CHARLES ABAH writes
In countries like South Korea, the first 100 days of a child is very symbolic. Within this period, the life of the child and that of his parents are often celebrated.
In keeping with the tradition of the people, prayers and various types of gifts are offered to the gods during parties organised to mark the event.
This is accompanied with much feasting in the child’s home. The purpose of such ritual is to increase the newborn baby’s chances of becoming successful on earth.Globally, it is also common among political appointees or government officials to celebrate their first 100 days in office.
For instance, President Barack Obama of the United States celebrated his first 100 days in office with pomp and ceremony. The period in the US serves as a benchmark to measure the early success (or otherwise) of  president.In Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan and many state governors also celebrated their first 100 days in office. Of course, the celebrations took place with much fanfare. Advertorials were placed in the newspapers and parties were held in government houses to mark the achievements of the political office-holders during their first 100 days in office.
Unfortunately, there are no celebrations today as Nigerians mark the symbolic first 100 days that lecturers in the country’s public universities embarked on industrial action.
The lecturers, who commenced the strike on July 1, are protesting the non-implementation of an agreement they signed with the Federal Government in 2009, as well as the non-payment of their earned allowances.
Many people are compelled to ask what the country, particularly the education sector, has achieved in the first 100 days of the ASUU strike. Since the strike is still in progress, analysts conclude that nothing significant has been achieved.
In their thinking, several dialogues and meetings targeted at resolving the crisis have failed to yield positive results.
Therefore, there is really no cause for celebration.
A lecturer at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof. Ademola Onifade, notes that contrary to expectation, the current struggle by ASUU has achieved nothing for the lecturers and public universities.
He says, “In politics and governance, politicians celebrate the first 100 days on the positive side. But here we are, nothing has been accomplished in this struggle. I suspect that the game plan of the Federal Government is to wear us out. The authorities do not want to address our requests. However, if their target is just to wear us out, they will not succeed.”
But judging by recent statements made by the representatives of the government, there is an indication that the crisis will be resolved.
Indeed, President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo have promised that the crisis would be over soon.
Earlier, the FG, acting through the Governor Gabriel Suswam-led committee, had released N100bn for infrastructure development in the universities and another N30bn for the teachers’ earned allowances. But the leaders of ASUU dismissed the sum as a token, saying it was comparable to a drop in the ocean of their requests.
While both parties continue to seek the best way to settle their differences, the mood in many homes and in the public universities affected by the strike remains sober.
Academic activities in these institutions are still suspended. The students and their parents are forced to deal with the frustration and feeling of hopelessness arising from the strike, just as the striking lecturers, who claim that they have not had any meaningful dialogue with the FG, continue to despair.
The lecturers have not been paid their salaries for the past two months. But this seems to be the least of their worries. The Chairman of ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University chapter, Prof. Ade Akinola, who says there is no political colouration in their demand, notes that the body’s major concern is to save the universities from dying.
He says, “ASUU will continue to call on Nigerians to help beg the Federal Government to be patriotic and see reason in not allowing public tertiary education to die. The FG should honour the agreement mutually entered into in 2009 and further reinforced by the Memorandum of Understanding of February 24, 2012. It was in general to save the public universities from total collapse.”
Also, a communications specialist, Mr. Muyiwa Akin, thinks this is not the right time for ASUU and the government to trade blame. He says that both parties should find a mid way to resolve the crisis.“All the parties should realise that they should protect the interest of the students. In my thinking, sincerity is lacking in this matter. The signing of the agreement took place some years ago and if perchance, the FG is not able to meet its own side of the deal, it should be open about that.“Again, the government should show sincerity and commitment in funding education and keeping to agreements, just as ASUU members, who are seeking the improvement of the quality of education, should consider the fate of the students. For, without the students, there will be no ASUU and without ASUU, there will be no students,” he says.
Meanwhile, ASUU insists that the 100-day-old strike has no political colouration.In a statement by its National Strike Coordinating Committee, obtained on Monday, the union dismissed the October 1 broadcast of the President in which he referred to the strike as politically motivated.
The statement read, “The primary goal of our union is to work for the repositioning of the Nigerian university system for global competition in terms of comparable facilities and staff quality. This goal we have pursued with diligence as a trade union.
“The Umaru Yar’Adua/Goodluck Jonathan government did not accuse ASUU of playing politics all through the three years (2006-2009) negotiations that produced the 2009 agreement. As Vice-President, Jonathan made significant input into the negotiation process.
In 2012, when the MoU was signed despite doubts about government’s sincerity, President Jonathan did not impute political motives.
Even the landmark report of the Committee on the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities was not interpreted as political.“Why is it now when ASUU insists that the Federal Government should deliver on what it undertook to do under the 2009 agreement, the 2012 MoU and the 2012 Needs Assessment Report that the union is being accused of embarking on a political strike?
“ASUU members, and, indeed, progressive Nigerians, know too well that the accusation of politicisation of strike is a cheap blackmail. If anything, it is the Federal Government that is trying to whip up political sentiments over matters that are straightforward and clear to all and sundry.”

ASUU Accuses FG Of Deception, Vows To Continue Strike

 As the national struggle of ASUU to save Public Education especially the University system entered its third months, the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has accused the Federal Government of paying lip-service to Education development in Nigeria.
Dr Karo Ogbinaka, ASUU Acting Zonal Coordinator, Ibadan Zone said: “ After the meeting of Tuesday, 19th September 2013 with the Vice President, it is clear that the FGN is merely paying lip-service to Education in Nigeria and deceiving the Nigerian Public on their commitment to its transformation agenda.”
Ogbinaka who urged the Nigerian people not to be deceived by the Federal Government said, “How can there be a meaningful transformation when the Education sector is neglected and gradually taken over by Private entrepreneurs including government functionaries who are busy building private Universities with stolen funds in and outside Nigeria?”
He re-affirmed ASUU decision not to back-out in its struggle for the emancipation of Nigerian people through ensuring that the government of the day is made to do what is right in the Education Sector.
According to him, this is a commitment that all members of the Union have vowed to pursue to its logical conclusion.
“Our appeal to all patriotic Nigerians is for them to support ASUU in this struggle to safe our Public Education in Nigeria and secure the future of this great country, he added.
In a released, Ogbinaka said that in spite of the spirited efforts of the Union to revamp the rot in the system, the government has remained adamant and intransigent in honouring the agreement it freely entered into with the Union in 2009.
He noted that ASUU has demonstrated great commitment and patriotism since 2006 when the negotiation started and culminated in the 2009 agreement. He pointed out that the Union has allowed government to use its agencies to verify the claims of decrepit infrastructure in the University System. “This resulted in the production of the Needs Assessment Document of 2012,” he said.
Ogbinaka disclosed that in the negotiation of the agreement, the government was made up of important personalities in Nigeria under the Chairmanship of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode with Professor Musa Abdullahi, Professor Greg-lwu, Professor Mahmood Yakubu adding, Professor Julius Qkijie, Professor ibidapo Obe, Professor Peter Adeniyi and several notable individuals served as Advisers.
He explained that for many years after the agreement was signed by both parties, ASUU has expressed its frustrations at government negative disposition in honouring the agreement.
He said: “When it became obvious that the Federal Government is bent on reneging on the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement and 2012 MOU, the Union had no alternative than to commence this painful strike action.
“Since the commencement of this strike, government has equally demonstrated to Nigerians its unwillingness to implement the agreement freely entered to with ASUU, After several meetings between ASUU team and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, there has been absolute demonstration of bad faith by Government.
“This led to the intervention of the Vice President of Nigeria, Arch, Nnamadi Sambo.
“The Ibadan Zone of the Union comprising University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Onabisi Onabanjo University, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Lagos State University, and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode are resolved to continue with this crusade to force the FGN to faithfully implement the 2009 Agreement and 2012 MOU in order to safe and secure the future of our children.
The highlights of the agreement which involves amongst other things: to reverse the decay in the University System in order to reposition it for greater responsibilities in National development, to reverse the brain drain plaguing Nigerian Public Universities, to restore Universities through immediate massive and sustainable financial intervention (proper funding); and to ensure genuine University autonomy and academic freedom.

Strike: NUT Gives 2 Weeks Ultimatum To FG, ASUU To Resolve Dispute

 The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Thursday gave a two-weeks ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve the strike, embarked upon by university lecturers.
The NUT President, Mr Michael Olukoya, gave the ultimatum in Abuja at the end of the union’s meeting with teachers’ representatives across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASUU, had on July 1, embarked on a strike it described as “comprehensive, total and indefinite’’.
The lecturers are protesting the non-implementation of some issues, contained in an agreement the union had entered into with the Federal Government since 2009.
Olukoya said that members of the union would not hesitate to close down the nation’s schools, if the two parties failed to reach agreement after two weeks.
He described the current ASUU strike “as nationalistic, patriotic and self-sacrificing.
“We will not hesitate to shut down the education system in the country, if the government fails to fulfil or honour the agreement it entered into with the lecturers.”
The NUT president said that Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo’s call for a complete over-haul of teachers’ qualification as unacceptable to the NUT.
He said that the blame should be put on the door steps of the employers and not teachers.
“NUT will forever be proud of all its teachers, believing that all employment agencies are corruption-free, disciplined and quality conscious in their employment drives.”
Olukoya also urged the governors of Kogi, Benue and Cross River to honour the agreement they made with teachers on the payment of 27.5 per cent teachers salary structure. (NAN)

2009 Agreement Or Nothing! ASUU Vows To Continue Strike

….says VP Sambo brought nothing new to negotiation

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has insisted that its members will not suspend their 3-month-old strike until the federal government meets its demand.
The university lecturers have been on strike since June 30 demanding that the government honours a 2009 agreement it had with the union and a 2011 Memorandum of Understanding signed over the agreement.

The Kano Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Rabiu’ Nasiru, disclosed this in Kano when he addressed journalists on Wednesday. He said the lecturers would continue with the strike for as long as the federal government fails to implement the 2009 agreement

Mr. Nasiru accused the Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, of having a ‘selfish interest’ during the time he led the federal government’s negotiation team. The government’s negotiation team is now led by Vice President Namadi Sambo, who met with the ASUU delegation recently.
“The meeting with the vice president did not prove anything new from what the government has done in the last three month,” Mr. Nasiru said.

“The Sambo committee is still giving promises and trying to negotiate the 2009 agreement even when we should be at the point of implementation.”

The ASUU zonal leader said the federal government had failed to inject the required N400billion (based on the agreement) into federal and state universities and that the N100billion provided was supposed to cover only for 2012.

“For any country to develop, its university education must be of highest standard,” the lecturer said.

ASUU Strike‘ll Soon Be Called Off, Says Prof. Okojie

Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) says he is confident that the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will soon be called off.
Okojie, who spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at a media parley with journalists, said the commission was doing everything within its powers to ensure a speedy resolution of the issues raised by ASUU so that students could return school.“We are part of the system and we understand the issues, we are meeting with members of the union all the time and the issues are being tackled.“So, we are optimistic the strike will soon be called off and our children can go back to school in the shortest possible time.’’
He also reacted to the call by ASUU for NUC to be scrapped, saying “the call is not in good faith as the commission has not gone to sleep over its duties”.
Also speaking on the recurrent disagreements between the commission and some professional bodies over accreditation and running of certain courses by some universities,Okojie acknowledged that there were issues that needed to be resolved between both parties.
“There is no country in the world where regulatory bodies and professional bodies go to regulate at the same time.
“So, it is true we are having problems with professional bodies in carrying out our mandate, but the issues too will soon be resolved and we can move on.
The executive secretary, who said that the commission had closed many faculties not fit to run courses in certain universities, admitted that; “it is not easy to be a regulator’’.
According to him, the commission was “silently regulating the system’’ having to also pay professional fees and encourage professors to do accreditation. (NAN)

ASUU Strike: We Are Tired Of Staying At Home – Students

With no end in sight to the over two months old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), some Nigerian students spoke to The Nation on the effect of the strike and why the Federal Government should respond to the demands of ASUU with a view to making them return to the classroom.
Lekan Aluko, 300 Level, Microbiology (OAU)
My stay at home has been a terrible experience for me. While in school, I used to do some business like download of android games and sell to some interested students but that cannot work here. Instead, I walk around hopelessly not doing anything.
Chidinma Maduka, 100 Level, Culture and Tourism (UNIPORT)
The strike has been good and bad in several ways. The good effect of the strike is the opportunity I have to eat my mother’s food. This has made me gain more weight than I used to be. Another good effect is the fact that I have more time to sleep, think, learn some skills and continue writing my yet to be published book.
On the other hand, I should have rounded off my second semester examinations by now. Also, my modeling contract which was to start by July could not happen as the strike aborted it and no hope in sight.
Tolulope Owokade, 200 level, International Relations (OAU)
In fact, I am looking for a job to keep me from walking about aimlessly on the streets. When I was in school, I sell female wears, shower caps and undies and others as a source of generating income, but now I can’t do any of such here and hope of making money is not there at all. All I can do is to manage the little stipend I get from my parents.
Akhigbe Paul (UNIBEN)
I was in support of the strike, but now, I am no more in support of it. The strike has affected me negatively. There are a lot of things I should have done in school. The federal government should listen to what ASUU is demanding. After heeding to their request, the government should monitor everything ASUU does with the money and make sure they put in place everything they promised, like the infrastructure.
Naomi Olamakinde, 300 level, Economics (UNILAG)
This current ASUU Strike has provided me the opportunity to read at my own pace. I have also had the time to attend other programmes.
Abiodun Aderibigbe (FUTA)
The strike has affected me greatly, but I am in support of it, they have to fight for their right and we have to take it in good faith. Though I am not happy staying at home, but I am in support of it because these people have been working, they should be rewarded.
Uthman Bello, 200 level, Chemistry, University of Ibadan
This strike has brought boredom and idleness. I’ve forgotten many things we did within 3 week.
Olayinka Abdul (UNAB)
It has affected me negatively, it has really prolonged the period I am to use in school. I hope they can suspend the strike by reaching an agreement with ASUU soon, so that we can get back to our various schools.
Adeyemo Adeleye, 200 level, Mass Communication, (UNILAG)
The realization that this strike is still on seems to me that the authorities that are in power are not doing anything to avert this crisis. It has affected almost all undergraduates in a similar way. Academic situation in our tertiary institutions are grounded. This is sad.
Joel Otuyelu (UNILAG)
This strike has affected me positively; I have time to put some things in place.
Ihunanya Erondu, 300 level, (UNIPORT)
I hate staying at home. This strike has kept me at home against my own wish. I want the strike to be called off immediately.
Osatohanmhen Eghonghon Odigwe, (UNILAG)I just feel that the government does not truly see us as very important to the economy. I believe a better way can be used by ASUU to achieve their demands. With the way ASUU is pursuing our interest I’m not sure this is the best way.

NECO Releases 2013 May/June SSCE Results

The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the 2013 Senior Schools Certificate Examinations results with a considerable improvement by the students generally nationwide compared with the past results.
A breakdown of the results shows that about 69.57% of the candidate had credit generally while most of the students also came out with good results in both English Language and Mathematics.
Releasing the results at the Headquarters of the Examinations body in Minna, the Niger state capital, the Registrar, Professor Promise Nwachukwu Okpala , said number of candidates who registered for the examinations is one million, fifty two thousand, eight hundred and ninety eight, 1,052,898.
He noted that six hundred and eighty one thousand , five hundred and seven, 681,507, representing sixty six point six three, 66. 63 percent passed English Language at credit level while six hundred and sixty eight thousand, three hundred and fourteen, 668,314, representing 65.50% also passed mathematics at credit level.
According to the Registrar, seven hundred and nineteen thousand, five hundred and ninety three candidates, representing 69.57 per cent passed at credit level, while number of candidates who made five passes and above stood at nine hundred and ninety eight thousand, six hundred and twenty four ,998,624, representing 96. 55 percent.
Also, the numbers of candidates involved in examinations malpractices dropped to eight thousand, three hundred and eight, 8,308, representing 0.80 percent.“ This year’s  result shows a remarkable improvement compared to that of  2011 result, which stood at 15.84 % pass at credit level. 2012 result  of 51. 66 % also at credit level,” the elated Registrar said.
The Registrar further  said that despite the brilliant results, some schools and students were still caught in examination malpractices but added that those involved has been sanctioned by de-registration or cancellationof results of those involved.
About 36 schools involved have been de-registered  for a period of two years.

ASUU Strike: NANS Passes Vote Of No Confidence On President Jonathan

 The National President, National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) said Monday Nigerian students have lost confidence in the administration of President Jonathan in revamping the educational sector to international standard.
Prince Miaphen said in a statement distributed to journalists that the Jonathan administration had failed to address the lingering ASUU crisis and by so doing thwarting past efforts to rev up the standard of education in the country.
“It worrisome and infuriating that the administration of Goodluck Jonathan has failed to implement the 2009 agreement reached with ASUU. This as a result has caused a great setback in the pursuit of education by Nigerian students.”
The NAN president said the Jonathan administration was toeing the path of his predecessors who he said paid lip services to education and other sensitive sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Mr. Miaphen said Mr. Jonathan’s attitude had resulted in the current rot in the academic sector.
“NANS therefore pass a vote of no confidence on the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for the poor pursuit of qualitative education among students in Nigeria,”
The student leader regretted that President Jonathan and the outgone minister of education, both of whom were teachers, failed to profer lasting solutions to the problems bedevilling the educational system.
The statement said the situation in the education sub-sector has resulted in Nigerian higher institutions producing unemployable graduates.
“As a result of persistence strike each academic calendar, our universities and other high institutions churns out half-baked graduates every year due to incessant strike action, we cannot suffer in silence while individuals responsible for our travails send their own children to choice universities school abroad,” he said.

Cabinet Shakeup: Ministers Shed Tears As Jonathan Sacks Nine

The sacked ministers

President Goodluck Jonathan, in his first major cabinet shake-up since his inauguration on May 29, 2011, sacked nine ministers on Wednesday.
The  sacking , announced by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, shocked the Federal Executive Council members, most of whom had arrived the Council Chambers in the Presidential Villa  in high spirits  exchanging banter.
Before they left, deafening silence enveloped the Council  Chambers as the President reeled out the names of the affected ministers. Some of the  sacked and retained ministers betrayed their emotions as they shed tears.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, announced the cabinet shake-up after the weekly FEC  meeting  in Abuja.
The sacked ministers are  Prof.  Ruqayyatu Rufai (Education);   Okon Ewa-Bassey (Science and Techology);  Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs);   Hadiza Mailafia (Environment);  Shamsudeen Usman, (National Planning); and  Ama  Pepple (Housing, Lands and Urban Development).The Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada, and her counterparts in the  Agriculture Ministry,  Alhaji Bukar Tijani and  Power,  Zainab Kuchi,   were also affected.
A top Presidency source had said that Jonathan was advised  by the aides to constitute what they described as “election cabinet.”Such a cabinet, according to a source, will comprise mostly people that would  be proud to defend Jonathan  whenever he  was being criticised.
But Maku explained that the dropping of the ministers had no political undertone.Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting, Maku, said the cabinet shake-up was with immediate effect.He said the President, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, had named the  retained FEC members  that would oversee the affected ministries pending the appointment of substantive ministers to head them.
The  Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to be overseen by  the  minisiter of State, Prof. Viola Owuliri; the Education   by the Minister of State, Nyesome Wike;  and the Minister of   Solid Minerals, Musa Sada, Housing, Lands and Urban Development.The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, is to supervise the Science and Technology Ministry;  the Minister of State   for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Ministry of Planning; Maku, Defence; and  Minister of Niger  Delta Affairs, Mr. Goodsday Orubebe,   Environment Ministry.When Maku announced that he would oversee the Defence Ministry, State House correspondents shouted but he pleaded with them to allow him to  continue his briefing.He then added  that the Ministers of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina and Power, Chinedu Nebo would take care of the duties of the sacked ministers of state in their respective ministries.Maku said the President expressed satisfaction with the performance of the affected ministers while in office.He stated that Jonathan assured them that he would  call on them whenever their services were needed for the development of the country.
The Information minister said, “These ministers have been affected in the cabinet reshuffle and the President in Council expressed his satisfaction and happiness over their commitment  to government since they were appointed.”
“He (the President) also thanked them for their services to their fatherland and said he would continue to engage them in one way or the other in the implementation of the transformation agenda and of course in the various challenges that government faces around the country and in terms of efforts to transform our country.”
The minister said that the President would soon send a list of new ministers to the National Assembly to replace those who had been dropped.Maku who described the cabinet shake-up as a normal process,added that it was   meant to inject fresh blood into the government.
Maku said, “There is no government in the world where the leaders do not reshuffle their cabinets, there is none. And cabinet reshuffle is part of a systematic public administration and I believe what the President has done is simply to address the issues of re-tooling his government to achieve service delivery.“It is at the discretion of the President at all times to reshuffle his cabinet. It is his own prerogative under the constitution and this has nothing to do absolutely with any other factor other than having come two years into his administration in the last lap, what I see the President doing is to refocus his government, to inject in fresh blood to achieve greater service delivery to the people of Nigeria. That is the only reason for it, any other thing  has nothing to do with the decision of the President.“The President is trying to in reject fresh blood into the system while retaining again the loyalty of all those who have worked.”
A source at the meeting said the President  caught the ministers unawares.
He quoted Jonathan as saying, “Some of you will not be with us at the next Federal Executive Council meeting. It is not because you didn’t do well, but that is the ingredients of democracy. You will hear the details from the SGF.”He then read out the affected names and then hurriedly left the Council chambers.
One of the  retained  ministers,Edem Duke of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation was seen dabbing his eyes intermittently with his handkerchief. The former Minister of Environment, Mailafia, also did the same before she was driven out of the Villa. 
Before Maku’s briefing, Duke’s action made journalists think that he was one of the nine that were fired.

Why President Goodluck Jonathan sacked Education Minister Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i

Oops! President Goodluck Jonathan took us by surprise when he announced the immediate reshuffling of the Executive Council of the Federation (FEC) this afternoon.

The reshuffling  affected six ministers and three ministers of State.
The affected Ministers include those for Environment (Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa); National Planning, (Shamsudden Usma); Education (Ruqayyatu Rufa’i);  Science and Technology (Ita Okon Bassey Ewa); Housing and Urban Development (Ama Pepple) and Foreign Affairs (Olugbenga Ashiru).
Also affected are the Ministers of State for Agriculture, Bukar Tijani Borno; Defence (Olusola Obada) and Power (Zainab Kuchi).

Although details are vague on reasons for this development, there is no doubt that this occurrence is related to the on going Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike which has left so many faces frowning in the country..

I only hope that the so-called reshuffling helps in some way to resolve the compulsory holiday the federal university students were forced to take.

#ASUUStrike President Of National Association Of Nigerian Students (NANS) Impeached

As a result of his poor handling of the ongoing ASUU strike, the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has impeached its current president Yinka Gbadebo and has replaced him with Jubril Ahmad, the vice-president.
In a statement obtained by Sahara Reporters, NANS Senate President Emaluyi Sunday Michael said Gbadebo was impeached at a meeting of stakeholders on September 7 under Section 49(1) of the constitution.  That provision states: “The president can be impeached on the grounds of incompetence or as therefore by his attitude or action which can be classified/regarded as misconduct”.

It accused Gbadebo of inability to serve the primary purpose of NANS to protect the general interest of all Nigerian students both at home and in Diaspora, “before the institutions, government, parastatals, stakeholders and even other countries policies.”
The statement cited the current impasse between the federal government and university teachers which has seen Nigerian students sitting at home for 65 days, saying Gbadebo was found wanting in the challenge of bringing both parties together.
“Rather he is aligning with a particular party and indulging in “Ghana-must-Go protest,” the statement said, adding that the “dilapidated and maggoty condition of Nigerian universities is of no concern to Ayefele.”

35m Nigerian Adults Are illiterates — Minister

Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike

Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, yesterday, said Nigeria’s adult illiterates have increased from 25 million in 1997 to 35 million in 2013.

Wike stated this at a ministerial briefing to commemorate the 2013 International Literacy Day themed “Literacy for 21st century.”

He said Nigeria had over 10.5 million children out of school which, according to him, is embarrassing to the nation.

He said: “Indeed, the embarrassing literacy statistics on Nigeria, justifies the need for all stakeholders to redouble their efforts.

“The current Education for All, EFA, Global Monitoring report ranks Nigeria as one of the countries with the highest level of illiteracy.

“The report on Nigeria stated that the number of illiterate adults has increased by 10 million over the past two decades, to reach 35 million.

“Besides, Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children put at 10.5 million and based on this premise that the Ministry of Education has intensified effort in the task of eradicating illiteracy. The non-formal education sector, implementation of programmes for revitalising adult and youth literacy have begun.”

The Minister of State tasked state and local governments to redouble efforts at eradicating illiteracy in the country.

He said the eradication of illiteracy in the country should not be left in the hands of the federal, state and local governments alone.

“It is important to note that the bulk of the task of eradicating illiteracy in most of the E-9 countries like India, China, Brazil and Indonesia among others is borne by non-governmental organisation.
“The era of leaving such sensitive issues of our national life entirely in the hands of government is gone. This is the time to reiterate the importance of literacy to the individuals and our national life. The importance of literacy speaks for itself. ”

He identified literacy as one of the key solutions to some of the nation’s challenges, adding that “literacy as we all know is one of the solutions to our national challenges of insecurity, poverty, poor health condition, among others.”

Wike said: “This requires commitment and funding, and when you see lot of state governments emphasising most of their budget on issues that cannot help in reducing the level of illiteracy, it means that at the end of the day, instead of literacy reducing, it will be increasing, building roads and bridges, are important but if you scale your priorities you will know that education is very, very important.”

“So the only way we can solve this problem is to take formal and informal education as an emergency, it is very, very necessary and anything short of that, we will not be able to achieve any meaningful result but unfortunately, it is something that is within the ambit of state and local government, it is not the responsibility of federal government but the federal will surely do her part”.
“If we allow the level of illiteracy to continue to increase, as it increases, it poses security problems, and when this happens, you cannot govern, and when you cannot govern, the investors cannot come, and when the investors cannot come, there will be no employment”.

Alhaji Jibrin Paiko, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, NMEC, said basic literacy had the potential of liberating individuals and families from poverty, ignorance and diseases.

Female Corps Member Dies Of Pneumonia In Zamfara

(NAN ) – A youth corps member, Bibiana Zira, serving in Gusau, Zamfara, has died of pneumonia after two weeks of admission in hospital.
The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Ruth Bakka, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Gusau.
Ms. Bakka said the corps member was on admission for two weeks at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gusau, but died on Monday, August 26, at the age of 29 years.
She said that during the deceased’s stay at the hospital, some fellow corps members donated blood to her, but that due to the strike action at the hospital, she could not receive the blood.
The coordinator added that the deceased was transferred to Yerima Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, where she was given oxygen but that she died later.
Ms. Bakka said Ms. Zira was the first corps member that died of an illness in Gusau.
She said there were cases of corps members falling sick during their service year, but that once they were taken to the hospital, they would be treated and discharged.

ASUU Strike Continues As FG, Lecturers Fail To Reach Agreement Once Again

 The resumed negotiation between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) has once again reached a stalemate.
The meeting, which held at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was attended by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Labour, Emeka Nwogwu; Minister of Education, Rukayyatu Rufai; and the Benue State Governor and head of the government’s delegation, Gabriel Suswam.
Speaking at the end of a meeting with the FG team led by Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam, the ASUU president, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge said it has resolved to continue the strike until the government meets its demands.
The federal government team had earlier proposed to pay N30 billion out of the N90 billion being demanded by ASUU as part of the earned allowance
The ASUU president said, “The objective of going on strike is to get government to implement the 2009 ASUU/ FGN agreement. Particularly to implement the provision of the memorandum of understanding we reached in 2012.
“It’s important to clarify that at this point, we are not making a demand. There was an agreement with government. At this point what the union is talking about is the 2009 agreement, not the renegotiation of the agreement”
Asked when the strike will be called off, Fagge said, “We will wait to hear from government. For now, we will go back and report to our principals.”
Speaking earlier, the secretary to the federal government, Ayim Pius Ayim, said the issue of earned allowance which the union was demanding for N92 billion, the Federal Government was willing to release N30 billion.
He said, “We can say that virtually all matters have been resolved. The only issue that remains a bit contentious is that of earned allowance. What the federal government has proposed to do is to release N30 billion to the University council to address the issue of earned allowance.
“ASUU has promised to report to their principals and we will work on fulfilling our side of the bargain within the week.”
Also speaking, Governor Gabriel Suswam who chaired the NEEDS assessment committee said the government has been able to harness N100 billion to disburse to the universities across the country to revitalise their infrastructures.
He said, “The president has agreed to flag off projects starting from first week of September in virtually all universities. The process of achieving that is ongoing and we will address the due process.”
He said the infrastructural deficits in the nation’s universities to be addressed by the NEEDS assessment will include hostels, classrooms, theatres, laboratories and libraries.
“Some will be renovated and some will be newly built. Each university will have at least one ongoing project when the president flags off this project in the first week of September,” he said.

I Kidnapped 2yr Old Girl To Raise Money For My Personal Upkeep – LAUTECH Student

 A 24-year-old student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, reportedly told the police that he planned to use the ransom placed on a two-year-old girl he kidnapped for his personal upkeep.

Tosin Adegbite, an engineering student in the university, was paraded at the Oyo State command of the Nigeria Police, Eleiyele, Ibadan on Thursday, for allegedly kidnapping the girl from her mother at Ile-Alaroje area of Ogbomoso on August 9.

He called the parents to ask for N700, 000 to secure her release.

While parading the suspect, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa, said he was arrested after a distress call was received in respect of the incident.

The police boss informed that one jack knife, two cellotape, one face cape, one cable wire, a pair of the victim’s sandals and one LAUTECH identity card were among the items recovered from the suspect.

Kogi State University VC sacked, Council Dissolved

The Vice Chancellor of Kogi State University, Anyigba, Prof. Hassan Isah, has been sacked by the Kogi state government. Also the governing council of the institution has been dissolved. The shake-up in the administration of the state owned tertiary institution, followed the recent audit carried out in the institution, which seriously indicted the vice chancellor for allegedly mismanaging the resources of the institution, to the tune of over N200million according to sources from Lord Laggard. House, the seat of Government, in Lokoja, The deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, has been asked to over the administration of the university pending new appointments.

The audit exercise carried out in the institution had generated a lot of controversies in the university with, some senior lecturers in the institution who opposed the re-appointment of the vice chancellor, threatening to go on strike unless the report is implemented by the Government.

The report of the external auditors indicted the Vice Chancellor for poor management of the seed funding for the establishment of new college of medicine, recently inaugurated by Governor Idris Wada.

Equally affected is the dissolution of the governing council of the institution headed by Dr. Ibrahim Onipe.

According to Government sources, new members have been appointed to replace the sacked members.

The senior special Advice, media and strategy, to the Governor Wada, Mr Jacob Edi, however decline to comment on the development.

Basketmouth writes a booked named "Before I Write A Book'

Comedian Basketmouth will share short stories about his experience with people while growing in the Nigerian entertainment industry in a series called 'Before I Write a Book.' He plans to write a book eventually so this is a pre-entry to that project, thus, the title. Below is the first story he shares

Back stage at the Rothmans Groove tour which held @ TBS in 1998, there I was seated with the likes of The Plantashun Boiz,Dr. Fresh,Remedies and more...I was just a young boy trying to weigh his options on what direction to go with his career as drumming,rapping,producing and comedy were few of my options.

That night was the 1st time I met Tony Tetuila, one of those humble guys you come by,he was warm and accommodating considering the obvious fact that I was nobody in the industry.

Fast forward a few months later, Comedy had won me over and in the course of my hustle and journey to where I'm yet to get to, I bumped into Tetuila  in Festac, just about the time his single 'you don hit my car' came out.

We reconnected while playing catch up. We had common friends so 'bumping' into each other became

Meet the 2013 Miss University Nigeria Contestants

These are the most beautiful girls representing 53 universities in Nigeria. Some of them are quite gorgeous. I said some...hehe! Take a look for yourself after the cut...:-)

Strike: FG, ASUU To Meet Today

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will meet today on the ongoing strike embarked upon by university lecturers over the non- implementation of the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement.

This came against the backdrop of Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu’s denial of a newspaper report that the Federal Government agreement with ASUU could not work.The minister said he never made such a statement and that he only appealed to the union to return to the classrooms while negotiations continued.

Last week, the two opposing sides had met with the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Education to find a solution to the crisis, so students could go back to school, but the meeting ended in deadlock and the two groups were told to go back and review their positions to

Federal Government Makes Offers To ASUU

There seems to be no end in sight to the ongoing university lecturers’ strike, with the Federal Government saying yesterday that the 2009 agreement it signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cannot be implemented.

The union went on strike early in the month over what it called the failure of the government to fully implement the agreement. It vowed not to go back to work, until the government implements the agreement.

The government said the complexity of the agreement had been responsible for