News

UNIBEN ASUU Threatens To Boycott Resumption Date Over Violent Attack On Member

Published

1 year ago

April 22, 2024

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter, has threatened to boycott the April 28, 2024, resumption date of the institution over alleged violent attack on a member.

This followed an alleged attempted murder of one of its members by some students during the visit of Olumide Akpata, governorship candidate of the Labour Party to the institute.

Recall that on the 12th of April, 2024, students of the institution led by their president, marched upon a gathering of staff of the University and their invited guests (including Akpata) and ordered them to discontinue their interaction, claiming that he (SUG president )was not pre-informed and consequently, did not grant permission for the interaction to be held.

In the resulting melee, Dr.
Presley Osemwengie, a member of ASUU was reportedly attacked; hit in the back of his head with a small axe.

Reacting to the incident in a statement signed by its Chairman, Ray N. Chikogu and Secretary, Success O. Abusomwan, and made available to INFO DAILY on Monday, UNIBEN ASUU, while demanding sanction, urged the university management to provide security for its members on campus even as the school resumes for academic session.

“We wish to now state that it is impossible for our members to hereafter dispose themselves to
any teaching and research in an environment in which they are prime targets for brutalisation or
elimination by some of the students they are labouring to impact with the wealth of their intellectual property.

“So it is incumbent on the Administration of the University of Benin to provide adequate security for staff of the University and create an atmosphere conducive for effective teaching and learning on our campuses.

“To the end that our members will feel safe to conduct their business of research, teaching, and
supervision going forward from the 28th of April 2024 (being the date of resumption for the next academic session) therefore, and without prejudice to the work of the Committee set up by the University Administration to investigate the incident at issue, we state as follows as encapsulated in the resolutions of the meeting of the Congress of ASUU UNIBEN on Thursday the 18th of
April, 2024.

ASUU, while describing the act as unacceptable, further called on the University Administration to institute a thorough probe in this regard.

ASUU demanded: “All the identified students, including members of the executive committee of the Students Union of the University of Benin, who participated in the event(s) that led to the attempted murder of our colleague should be taken through the disciplinary process and
sanctioned as appropriate.

“All other identified culpable individuals, whoever and wherever they are, must be made
to face the full wrath of the law.”

ASUU further reiterated that, “subject to the authorization of the Principal Officers of our Union, our members may not be available to resume academic activities on the 28th of April 2024 if immediate action and the necessary processes are not immediately initiated regarding the demands made above.”

News

JUST IN: FG, NUPENG Begin Meeting Over Strike Threat

Published

25 minutes ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government is currently meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

The meeting which was earlier slated for 10:00 am started around 5:30 pm due to the delay in the arrivals of NUPENG officials.

The meeting currently ongoing at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity is aimed at stopping the nationwide industrial strike before it inflicts significant damage on the fragile economy.

NUPENG has accused Dangote and associates of pursuing “crude and dangerous anti-union practices, a monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies,” alleging the refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the sector and bars drivers for imported CNG trucks from joining industry unions.

The union says those recruitment conditions violate Section 40 of the Constitution, the Labour Act and International Labour Organisation conventions on freedom of association.

Details later…

News

Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

Published

2 hours ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

Five years after disconnecting from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Edo State Government has reconnected to the power distribution company for supply of electricity.

The Godwin Obaseki-led administration in 2020 broke BEDC monopoly in the state by supporting the construction of Ossiomo Power, an electricity generation and distribution firm.

The switch over to BEDC by the state government was due to the shut down of Ossiomo Power Plant since September 1st over ownership tussle between Ossiomo Power and its Chinese partners, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC).

Ossiomo Power generates 95MW of electricity which it supplied to government buildings, Edo Government House, Edo NUJ secretariat, private organisations, streetlights amongst others.

Director General of the Edo State Electrification Agency, Saturday Omozokpea Egbadon, who confirmed the switch over to the BEDC, said electricity has been restored to some streetlights and government buildings.

News

NSCDC Vows To Bring Killers Of Edo personnel To Justice

Published

2 hours ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has vowed to fish out the killers of eight of its personnel in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

The personnel were killed last week Friday at around 10:00PM at BUA cement factory site
in an ambush by suspected kidnappers.

One out of five Chinese expatriates the personnel were providing cover for was taken away by the gunmen.

Reacting to the incident, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Efosa Ogbebor said investigation into the matter was still ongoing, adding and that the Corps National Headquarters was also handling the burial of the victims and welfare of their family members.

He said: “The National headquarters has taken over the issue, investigation is still ongoing and our men are still out there combing the forests because those men must be brought to book. The Corps is not taking it lightly in any way, those people who did that must and will be brought to book, there is no hiding place for them. We are doing the combing in collaboration with other security agencies.

“For the victims, communication has been established with families by the Corps Headquarters and the welfare of the families they left behind is being handled by the national headquarters.”

Speaking on the kidnapped expatriate, the imagemaker said he was not aware of any contact yet but vowed that he would be rescued.