Metro

JUST IN: ASUU Stages Peaceful Protest In Bauchi, Demands Exception From IPPIS

Published

1 year ago

June 28, 2024

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi state chapter has staged a peaceful protest to press home its demands and urged the Federal Government to fulfill its promise to remove its members from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Comrade Ibrahim Inuwa, the Chairman of the union made the call on Thursday, at the end of the peaceful protest.

He also urged the federal government to implement the re-negotiations of 2009 agreements reached with the national ASUU to prevent the resumption of the suspended industrial action.

The ASUU members who walked from their Secretariat in the Yelwa campus of the University to the main gate, called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the signing and implementation of the Prof. Nimi Briggs Committee’s agreement on the renegotiation of salaries of academic staff of Federal Universities.

The members, through their Chairperson, expressed their grievances by carrying placards with different inscriptions, calling the attention of relevant authorities to their plights such as ‘Remove ASUU from IPPIS, Release our withheld salaries, Implement ASUU FG agreements, We are not Casual Workers’ among many others.

Inuwa, who stated that the non implementation of the agreement has the implications of denying Academics a wage that is consistent with the current economic reality, also lamented that for 15 years now, ASUU members have remained on the same salary system while all efforts for renegotiation have failed thereby making them to remain stagnant on the same spot.

“Following the federal government and ASUU in the 2009 agreement, it was provided that the agreement would be reviewed every 3 years. However, the Union has been without a renegotiated agreement for the past 15 years.

“Consequently, after so much effort and pressure on the government, a renegotiation committee was set-up under the Chairmanship of Wale Babalakin in 2017. This committee failed to ensure the conclusion of its assignment within the agreed time frame.

“Two other committees headed by Prof. Munzali Jibrin and Late Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs negotiated and produced draft agreements but the process was truncated at the point of finalizing the reviewed agreement and from 2021 till date, the document has remained in a draft form.

ASUU has over the years remained concerned over the need for successive governments to give the deserved attention to the development and provision of quality education to the Nigerian citizens.

“This position of the Union is consistent with section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. This section states that the government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities to the citizens at all levels.

“The provision of access to quality education not only basic education, but including tertiary education is a matter of national interest and patriotism.

“This is because no nation is able to develop to its full potential where its citizens are poorly educated and their access to education is limited and obstructed by the lackadaisical attitude of the political class,” he said.

He called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, attend to their demands so as not to resolve embarking on an industrial action which the union had been avoiding over the years.

Metro

JUST IN: Psychiatric Hospital Staff Shot Dead In Benin

Published

5 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Editor

A yet-to-be identified man was, this evening (Friday, 11 July, 2025) shot dead at Uselu Share, Benin City, in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.

The man, who should be in his late 50’s was a staff of the Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Benin.

He was reportedly trailed by two vehicles – GLK Jeep and a red car – as he drove out from the hospital premises after the close of work.

According to our source, the two vehicles had packed in a nearby place waiting for the man’s vehicle, adding that immediately he drove out, he was trailed to a point where he was caught up and shot at a close range on the head.

Our source who does not want his name mentioned, said: “He works at Psychiatric Hospital. He closed for the day’s work and was about driving home, but unfortunately he drove in less than one minute when he was gunned down.

“It happened around 5pm this evening. We were at a nearby fast food restaurant when we heard the gunshot. It didn’t take the guys one minute to gun him down.

“After they killed the man, they were still shooting as they moved. The guys in the two vehicles were more than five.

“He’s an advance person, but we don’t know why he was killed,” he added.

According to source, security operatives comprising the Nigeria Police, officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Army arrived the scene promptly, adding that before they arrived the assailants had left.

Our source added that the security personnel immediately evacuated the body from the scene.

Our source, who lamented that “three days ago, they came to rob a beer parlour and Baba Ijebu Shop in this same area,” urged the authorities to draft security personnel to the area.

Contacted on the phone by INFO DAILY, Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, Moses Yamu, said he was yet to be informed of the incident, promising to make his founding.

Metro

Gunmen Invade Catholic Seminary School In Edo, Kill One, Abduct Three

Published

10 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Editor

Gunmen on Thursday night attacked the Catholic Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary School at Ivianokpodi, Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State and killed a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the school.

The gunmen also abducted three students of the school.

This is coming barely ten months after an attack was carried out in the area. Two people including a priest were kidnapped and one killed during the attack.

The Directorate, Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Fr Peter Egielewa confirmed the incident on Friday

He said that the gunmen attacked the school at about 9:00 pm at night.

Egielewa expressed displeasure over the persistence attack on the Catholic school, personnel and its facilities.

“This is the second time in 10 months that the school had been attacked

“10 Months ago, a priest was kidnapped.

“And now three seminarians were abducted and a civil defense corps is killed, while a local vigilante sustained gun injuries

“We call on the government to protect the lives of all those who work in Catholic institution and our diocese.

“We hope the security agencies at the local, state and federal level take up the responsibility on that, so our people can be in peace and safety,” Egielewa said

Metro

Pastor Arraigned Over Alleged Rape Of Married Woman In Edo

Published

10 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Editor

A 38-year-old pastor, Simeon Okehielem, of the Synagogue Prayers Ministry has been arraigned before an Edo State High Court for allegedly raping a married woman, Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo.

The pastor, who was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with married women within his congregation, was docked before the court in Benin City, on Thursday.

The charges against Pastor Okehielem followed a year 2022 incident in Uholor Community of Benin City where the cleric allegedly drugged and raped the woman leading to the birth of a child.

Recent DNA results reportedly confirmed the pastor as the biological father of the child, which prompted the Nigerian Police to re-arrest and formally arraign him.

The presiding judge, Justice Erhabor, granted an ex-parte order to remand the suspect at the Benin Correctional Custodial Centre for 14 days, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Edo State.

The State Prosecutor, P.O. Odion, told the court that the alleged offence occurred in February 2022.

Okehielem was slammed with two-count charge on alleged rape and administering a stupefying substance with the intent to commit a felony.

The charge sheet, marked Suit No: BLOD/2323M/2025, reads: “That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, did rape one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4, punishable under Section 5(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021.

“That you, Okehielem Simeon ‘m’, in or about the month of February 2022, in Benin City within the Benin Criminal Division, with intent to commit a felony, administered a substance to stupefy one Mrs Isoken Vivian Aigbedo, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 256 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022.”

Speaking to journalists after the court session, the victim’s legal counsel, Clinton Ogbebor, applauded the Police for its diligence.

“We are in court today over the alleged rape of my client, Mrs Isoken Aigbedo, by one Pastor Simeon Okehielem,” he said.

Ogbebor confirmed that the case file would now be forwarded to the office of the DPP for legal advice, after which the trial will proceed accordingly.

The development has stirred debates across Benin City, with residents and religious leaders expressing shock and calling for justice.

The case has been adjourned pending further legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.