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Polytechnics Lecturers Warm Up For Strike

Published

10 months ago

November 29, 2024

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has announced that it would begin a two-week warning strike beginning from December 2, 2024, over the inability of the government to resolve its eleven item demands.

Cardinal among the demands is the appointment of a Rector in Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State without following the due process and in violation of Federal Polytechnics Act.

President of ASUP, Kpanja Shamnah, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of its 112 National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja.

Recall that ASUP had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to immediately review and reverse all decisions inconsistent with the provisions of the Polytechnics Act and other governance instruments in the sub-sector.

Kpanja said: “Our union’s National Executive Council, NEC, held its 112th session to review the current status of our engagements with proprietors of Public Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology and Monotechnics in the country.

“The defining resolutions of our Union’s 111th NEC was the issuance of a 15 day ultimatum to the government to address issues threatening the progress of the sector or face a withdrawal of services by our members nationwide.

“The issues listed by our union include sustained reports of impunity and disrespect of clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, different edicts establishing state owned institutions, and other instruments of governance in the sector particularly as it affects appointment of Principal Officers in Federal and State-Owned Polytechnics as well as other items of governance in Polytechnics.

“The sordid display of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, in the appointment process of a new Rector, and the appointment of a Rector in Federal Polytechnic, Wannune without following due process were cited as recent examples of these breaches.

“Non-review of the contentious and suspended document entitled Schemes of Service for Polytechnics, non-release of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds for 2023.

“Intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in the admission of Higher National Diploma students in the Nigerian Polytechnic System.

“Non capturing of the peculiar academic allowance of members for sustained payment in the planned post IPPIS era; refusal of most state-owned Polytechnics to implement the 35/25 percent salary review for members and non release of the arrears of same in Federal Polytechnics among others.

“Following these developments and a thorough review by our Union’s 112th NEC meeting, the union resolved to withdraw the services of its members nationwide with effect from December 2, 2024, on a two weeks definite strike action in the first instance.

“This shall serve as a warning to the government to resolve the issues listed or be held responsible for an indefinite action going forward.”

VANGUARD

News

Boko Haram Once Nominated Muhammadu Buhari As Negotiator – Jonathan Revealed

Published

4 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents once nominated the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as their negotiator.

Jonathan said Boko Haram chose Buhari to negotiate with the Nigerian government on their behalf.

He made the disclosure while speaking at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), in Abuja.

Jonathan said the insurgents named Buhari after his then-administration set up several committees to explore dialogue with the group.

Jonathan said: “One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government.

“So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and had a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.”

Jonathan noted that the inability of Buhari to eradicate Boko Haram terrorists showed that the crisis was more complex than often portrayed.

News

Edo: Pandemonium As NDLEA Operatives Chase Escaping Driver With Shooting

Published

6 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

There was pandemonium at Oka Market, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Friday, as operatives of the State Command of Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) shot sporadically in chase of an escaping driver.

In the course of the commotion, traders and residents took to their heels, probably to avoid being hit by stray bullets, while others were confused, not sure of what caused the sporadic gunshots.

The sporadic gunshots which lasted more than five minutes at the gate of the NDLEA Head Office, by Oka Market, followed a hot chase of an articulated vehicle driver who was said to have brushed their (NDLEA) vehicle.

The driver, who reportedly brushed the NDLEA vehicle refused to stop for negation, which prompted officers at the scene to alert their colleagues who waited at the alert.

According to eyewitnesses, as the escaping articulated driver approached the NDLEA office, officers who were said to have been alerted by their colleagues pursuing the trailer began to shoot.

Seven of the tyres of the trailer were deflated by bullets of the NDLEA operatives yet the driver refused to stop.

The officers continued to shoot while pursuing him, until he was caught.

A source said that the driver brushed their vehicle on the way, and that every effort by the officers to stop him so they could settle the matter proved abortive; hence the gunshots and deflation of the tires.

“It was a simple thing; they jammed our men, but the officers tried to stop him so that they could settle, but the driver refused to stop. That is why the men have been shooting to stop him. Even after bursting about seven tires, he was still running, but we caught him and they are bringing him back to our office,” he concluded.

Calls and messages sent to the commander, Edo State NDLEA Command, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, were not responded to as at when filing this.

News

JUST IN: Court Bars Police From Enforcing Tinted Glass Regulation

Published

8 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has issued an order directing the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo in the ongoing case concerning the controversial tinted glass permit.

The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force, came up for hearing today.

Delivering the interim order, the Court directed the police authorities to respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.

Confirming the development, Kunle Edun, SAN, who led the legal team, noted that the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.

Details of the ruling and the next adjourned date are expected shortly.

Further updates coming soon…