News
ASUU Knocks Ngige Over Factional Groups’ Registration
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, on Tuesday, knocked the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, over the Federal Government’s decision to register rival groups, the Congress of University Academics, and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics as trade unions.
The PUNCH reports that Ngige presented certificates of registration to CONUA and NAMDA in Abuja.
The minister said the two trade unions would exist side-by-side with ASUU.
CONUA is led by its National Coordinator, ‘Niyi Sunmonu, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The presentation of the certificate came amidst the lingering strike by ASUU which had led to a closure of federal and state universities in the country.
READ ALSO: ASUU Reacts As FG Registers Two Varsity Unions
Ngige’s justification
Ngige said the two unions were entitled to all rights and privileges existing in the university.
He said, “CONUA applied for registration in 2018 and cited irreconcilable differences as it does not believe in recurring strikes as the solution to every welfare agitation.
“It also accused the ASUU executive of non-rendition of accounts of incomes and expenditure for years.
“The Ministry of Labour and Employment set up a committee to look into the merit of their application. The committee saw merit in the application and recommended approval for the registration of the association by the Registrar of Trade Unions in 2020. But for the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recurring ASUU Strike, this would have been done.
“NAMDA, like their colleagues in CONUA, had applied for registration as medical teachers in the university system under various groups.”
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with The PUNCH, described the development as a “plan by the Minister of Labour.”
“For us, it (the registration) is inconsequential, let them go ahead and open the universities. Ngige is just like a child. That is our response. We have nothing to say to them,” Osodeke added.
The PUNCH reports that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, in an earlier interview with Nigerian journalists had noted that the Federal Government delayed in registering CONUA so as not to be seen as causing division among the university lecturers.
CONUA speaks
Meanwhile, CONUA has described the registration as ‘monumentally historic,’ while recalling the hurdles faced since 2018 when CONUA applied for registration.
In a statement after the registration, he described the development as a validation of the power of the human will.
The statement read in part, “We regard the registration of CONUA as a sacred trust, and pledge to reciprocate by devoting ourselves unceasingly to the advancement of university education in this country.
“We will make the details of our programmes available to the public in due course. For now, we are giving the assurance that we would work to ensure that the nation is not traumatised again by academic union dislocations in the country’s public universities.”
READ ALSO: ASUU Reacts As FG Registers Two Varsity Unions
The President, NAMDA, Nosa Orhue, urged ASUU to call off its ongoing strike, noting that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had pledged to resolve all outstanding issues.
Orhue noted, “With this registration, a platform has been created for medical trainers and teachers to search the process of gradual reversal to the known normal medical training environment that was punctured in early 2000.
“Medicine and Dentistry are very sensitive and require uninterrupted house training. It requires time and sufficient exposure which when lost is difficult to recover without an extension of training duration. It comes at a cost to students, parents and the nation at large.”
News
We’ve Earmarked N1bn Naira Monthly To Feed Edo People – Obaseki
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, says his administration has earmarked nothing less than N1bn Naira monthly to feed vulnerable Christians in the state in the next three months.
This is as he said a similar programme has been mapped out for people in the Muslim faith in the state.
Obaseki disclosed this during the official flag-off of phase one of Edo State Food Support Programme also known as Christian Feeding Programme in Benin City.
The Governor, who said he was worried by the rising number of people who cannot afford a square meal in a day in the state, said he had to call Christian leaders in the state on how best to address the alarming situation.
READ ALSO: Stock Market Review: FBN Holdings Leads 41 Others As Investors Gain N811bn
Obaseki said in order not to make it look political, he decided not to involve political office holders, but Christian leaders in reaching out to vulnerable Christians in the state.
The Governor who added that the state government already had data of the vulnerable in the state database, said the means of reaching out to them maximally was the issue, hence using churches to reach out to them.
He said: “I was worried by the rising number of people who cannot afford a square meal in a day. So, I thought to myself how do we solve this problem. This is not politics I told myself.
“I then called the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some of the blockheads to a meeting and explained to them what I intended to do. So, that’s how we put our heads together to come up with this programme.”
READ ALSO: Police Bar Lawyers From Reaching Journalist Allegedly Detained On IGP’s Orders
Obaseki added: “I told them this is the amount of money I will be giving you every month. I’ll give you a billionaire monthly for three months first. At least, Let us try this for the first three months.”
The governor said the programme was not just to feed the vulnerable, but also together more data about people in the state on how the government can create employment for them and how the government can render help where necessary.
Earlier, in his remarks, Chairman of the Organising Committee who also doubles as the Chairman, CAN,
Apostle Irekpono Omoike, while thanking the governor for the initiative, said 10kg of 60,000 bags of rice have been purchased for onward distribution to the three senatorial districts in the state.
According to him, 27,000 bags of the 10kg would be distributed to the seven local government areas in Edo South, 15 bags to Edo Central and 18 bags to Edo North.
Further giving the breakdown, Omoike said 3, 000 bags would be distributed to each local government across the 18 local government areas, summing upto 54,000 bags, while the remaining 6,000 bags would be distributed to churches not captured under CAN.
News
Ex-Delta Gov, Ibori Mourns Passing Of Former Minister, Gbagi
Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori has mourned the passing of former Minister of State for Education Chief Kenneth Gbagi.
Ibori, in his Facebook timeline wrote: “Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi. Abovwolovwolo. Atighoyowa. So long, May your soul rest in peace.”
Gbagi was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the last election in Delta State.
The renowned criminologist, industrialist and senior lawyer died Saturday, May 4th, 2024 at the age of 62.
News
BREAKING: Former Minister Gbagi Is Dead
The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the last election in Delta State, Olorogun Barr Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, is dead.
Gbagi, a former minister of Education and an industrialist died at the age of 62.
The Renowned Criminologist and senior lawyer died on Saturday, May 4th 2024.
A statement signed by his eldest son, Chief Emuoboh Gbagi on behalf of the Gbagi family, said: “It is with profound sadness but gratitude to God, that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and brother, Olorogun (Barr.) Kenneth Omemavwa Gbagi, FNIM, OON; Former Minister of Education, who departed this life on the 4th of May 2024 at the age of 62.
READ ALSO: Delta Guber: Tribunal Strikes Out Gbagi’s Petition Against Oborevwori
“We take comfort in the fond memories of his life, his achievements, and the impact he made on the lives of countless individuals and communities.
“We kindly request your thoughts and prayers for our family during this challenging time of loss.
“May his soul rest in perfect peace”, the statement added.
VANGUARD
We’ve Earmarked N1bn Naira Monthly To Feed Edo People – Obaseki
Stock Market Review: FBN Holdings Leads 41 Others As Investors Gain N811bn
Ex-Delta Gov, Ibori Mourns Passing Of Former Minister, Gbagi
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