News

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

Published

1 year ago

April 22, 2024

Editor

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

EFCC Orders Arrest Of Dismissed Officer On Lege Miami’s Show

Published

46 minutes ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has condemned the actions of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, who was recently spotted participating in a matchmaking programme on social media platforms hosted by popular entertainer Lege Miami.

The agency has ordered his immediate arrest for retaining official EFCC property, including an identity card, following his dismissal for certificate forgery.

The anti-graft agency, in a statement on its official X handle on Monday, said Folarin served as a driver at the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Directorate.

He was, however, dismissed after investigations confirmed he had forged his academic credentials.

It said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, condemned in the strongest terms, the involvement of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, in a matchmaking programme running on Lege Miami social media platforms.”

“Folarin was recently dismissed from the Commission for certificate forgery. He was a driver at the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.”

The statement said EFCC Executive Chairma,n Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered Folarin to be arrested and emphasised that Folarin’s actions should not be associated with the commission.

“The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered his arrest for being in possession of some Commission’s properties, including an identity card, which he should have handed over upon being dismissed from the EFCC.

“The public is advised against associating Folarin’s post-dismissal conduct with the EFCC,” the statement concluded.

News

NERC Transfers Regulation Of Electricity Market To Bayelsa

Published

1 hour ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has transferred regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State to the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency.

In a notice on its social media handles on Monday, the commission said this was in compliance with the amended 1999 Constitution and the Electricity Act 2023.

“In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State from the Commission to the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency,” the commission said.

Recall that with the Electricity Act 2023, the commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the interstate/international generation, transmission, supply, trading, and system operations.

The Act also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes and requests NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the state to the state regulator.

The transfer order by NERC directed Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc to incorporate a subsidiary distribution company to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Bayelsa State from PHED.

PHED was also directed to complete the incorporation of PHED SubCo within 60 days from August 21, 2025.

“The subcompany shall apply for and obtain a licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from BYERA, among other directives,” the commission said.

It concluded that all transfers envisaged by the order shall be completed by February 20, 2026.

With this order, Bayelsa has joined states like Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Niger, Edo, Oyo and Plateau, which have got the power to regulate electricity markets.

The state can now generate, transmit, and distribute electricity while issuing licences to investors within the value chain.

News

Things To Know As INEC Begins Physical Voter Registration Monday

Published

1 hour ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission commenced the physical, in-person phase of its 2025 Continuous Voter Registration exercise across Nigeria today, Monday, August 25.

This follows the online pre-registration that commenced on August 18, 2025.

In an update on its X handle on Monday, the commission provided details of the schedule, locations, and eligibility of voters.

INEC said in-person registration will run Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and urged eligible Nigerians to complete their registration at INEC state or local government offices in their area.

The commission said those eligible to register or update their details include:

New voters aged 18 and above who have not registered before.

Holders needing to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Voters seeking to transfer their registration to a new location.

People who need to update or correct their voter information (name, address, etc.).

The electoral umpire asked registrants who completed online pre-registration to proceed to their INEC State Head Office or LGA office to finalise the process.

The commission also published a list of registration centres on its official portal.