Metro

Workers’ Protest, Ground Ondo Varsity Over Unpaid Wage Award

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Workers’ unions under the members of joint action committee (JAC) in Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, have grounded activities at the state institution over the failure of the state government to include them in the implementation of N35,000 palliative wage award approved to cushion effects of fuel subsidy removal.

The leadership of the joint committee which included the Joint Action Committee, comprised of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), said the palliative had not been received by the staffs of the University since its payment began in Ondo State in November, 2023.

According to them the protest was staged to appeal to the state government to grant them the payment as other state workers have been receiving theirs except staffs of the tertiary institutions in the state.

The Chairman of Joint Action Committee —Ondo State Tertiary Institutions, Tayo Ogungbeni, in a noticed sent to all branch Chairmen, after the leadership of JAC had met virtually, said “congress should be held, and decision to embark on protest be communicated to various managements”

Speaking during the protest, the Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in all the state tertiary institution and AAUA SSANU Chairman, Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni, said the demand of the unions was to appeal to the state government not to deny them of their rights to the payment of the wage award agreed by the federal and state governments in collaboration with labour unions for all workers in Nigeria.

Ogungbeni said all workers in Ondo State had been receiving the payment except tertiary institutions in Ondo State in which Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko was also left out

He noted that “We have started this protest since Tuesday all over the State tertiary institutions in Ondo State, they did in Olusegun Agagu University in Okitipupa, University of Medical sciences in Ondo city, And Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, we do not want our rights to be taken for granted.

“The federal government announced a palliative wage award of N35,000 for all workers in Nigeria, we are part of the general work force, why is Ondo State excluding us?.

” Why are they saying we are not qualify for this palliative payment?, we are asking for that money now, we know our governor want our welfarism, because everyone goes to the same market, we also pay for the same fuel Price, what we asked for is our right”.

“The state government need to increase the subvention giving to the university (AAUA), there should be immediate opening of the University main gate, payment of the entitlement of all re-absorbed staff, payments of retirement benefits to our retired staff”.

He said that “The state government should include us in the palliative payment, we see the nonpayment as a cheating, we are part of Ondo State workers.

“The information we are hearing on why they are not paying us is that they claimed that the tertiary institutions are autonomous, but talking about autonomy, there is no total autonomy when it comes to Universities, the federal Universities are paid, we used the same payment method, I see no reason why we should not be paid, the subvention we do receive is not up to what can cater for our needs”.

“Before now, we have written to the Governor (Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa) when he was acting about this development, we appealed to him to intervene, we did fix appointment with him to table our agitations, but to no avail, the protest was to call his attention to this.”

Corroborating the agitations, Comrade Ekundayo Abiodun, Chairman of the Non Academic Staff union (NASU), noted that the association would not stop until their demands are attended to.

Abiodun said that “Immediately after the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria the Federal government declared this palliative wage because the effect of this removal was too much on Nigerians, those in the federal institutions has received theirs, staffs in the Ondo civil service has also been paid two months, but the state owned institution in Ondo State has not received any, we are left out which is unfair.

“I will like to inform that this is stage one of the action, we are going to go further concerning this issue if the government seem not to listen, then we go to the second stage of the action.”

Addressing the protecting workers, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebisi Adaramola, said the University is aware of the development as they are making all efforts to ensure the state government pays, appealing to the union to be patient with the authorities.

Adaramola added that “We understand that some workers have been paid in Ondo State, but the Staffs of the University have not received theirs, we had tried to convince them that the state government has not sent this money, we are making all necessary efforts to contact government.”

VANGUARD

Metro

16 Escape Death In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Crash

Published

12 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Sixteen people narrowly escaped death on Monday night in a crash involving a Camry car, a Suzuki bus, and a tricycle at Iron Market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Ota Divisional Commander of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mr Salau Hammed, confirmed the incident to News Agency Nigeria on Tuesday, noting that the crash occurred around 8:20 p.m.

He said the accident involved a Camry car, a tricycle, both with no registration, and a Suzuki bus marked KRD 246 YK.

He said that a total of 16 persons were involved in the accident; however, three persons, comprising two males and a female, sustained various degrees of injuries.

Hammed explained that the Camry lost control due to speeding and rammed into two other vehicles.

“Those who sustained injuries were immediately taken to Adetutu Hospital, Ilepa area for treatment,” he said.

Hammed advised motorists against speeding to prevent avoidable crashes.

He said that the vehicles had been removed from the road to ease free flow of traffic.

Metro

High-tension Wire Electrocutes PoS Operator In Anambra

Published

13 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

A Point of Sales male operator in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been electrocuted by a fallen high tension line.

It was gathered that the victim got electrocuted after a high-tension wire was cut and fell on him, while standing in front of his shop located under the high-tension wire.

According to eyewitnesses near the scene, the incident happened over the weekend, but the lifeless body of the victim, which was still lying on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body as of Tuesday, was still oozing out smoke, creating panic in the area.

This was corroborated by a video from the scene of the incident, currently trending on social media, showing the victim lying lifeless on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body, still oozing out smoke and sparks.

Although the full identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, sources from the area said he recently got married.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Ossy Onuko, who reacted to the development on Tuesday, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that such misfortunes are part of the reasons the agency carries out sensitisation and enforcement against building or trading under the high-tension wire.

Onuko also noted that during the sensitisation, people often criticise them for their enforcement against trading under the high tension wire.

He said, “This is something we have been campaigning against from time to time, that it is very dangerous to build or trade under the high-tension wire.

“It is part of the reasons why most times, on social media, we are vilified as being inhumane for trying to let people know that they cannot either build or trade under the tension.

“It is something very pathetic. It’s a suicide mission to have your shop or your kiosk or your roadside activities under the tension. The avoidable loss of life is unfortunate. It is sadly one example of many negative outcomes and resultant effects of such an act of negligence to safety.

“That should serve as a deterrent to others who still indulge in such prohibited acts. This should also make the public understand that the sensitisation and enforcement being carried out by ACTDA against such things are not to witch-hunt them, but for their safety.

“Unfortunately, we have lost a soul. I pray for the peaceful repose of this soul. But also, it should serve as a deterrent to others, that they shouldn’t just fold their arms and wait for us, when we come, they run away and return when we leave.

“People should see it as a personal responsibility to be safety conscious, and also enlighten others, not just themselves. No precious life is worth being lost to such a careless and avoidable death. A stitch in time saves nine.”
(PUNCH)

Metro

Cybercrime: Court Fines 21 Foreign Nationals N1m Each, Orders Deportation

Published

13 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday convicted 21 foreign nationals over high-level cybercrime, fining each of them N1 million.

The trial judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, while delivering judgment on the plea bargain reached between the convicts and the Nigeria Police Force, ordered the immediate departure of all 21 of them from Nigeria within six working days.

The convicts are among 109 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed threats to Nigeria’s national security in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024.

The 21 convicted individuals are Yang Yang (33), Li Xiao Fen (41), Zheng Peng Zhan (28), Shu Huan (20), Jupanpan (25), Feng Guo (29), Zhao Yifan (31), Mahunan (26), Wang Yi Bo (24), Chen Yan Qi (26), and Shi Hao Jie (28), all represented in court by Linda Ikpeazu.

Others are Xiejang Bing (29), Zheng Jian Feng, Zheng Peng Fei (32), Wei Tang (32), Wang Hao (27), Cheng Xing (30), Yang Xu Gung (27), Zhu Jiu Hui (28), Xhou Kia Lai (28), and Tue Xue Fie (21, female), represented by Julius Mba.

The 109 defendants, from countries including China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, were arraigned in 2024 on a six-count charge.

They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in Kuje and Keffi Correctional Centres, respectively, pending fulfilment of stringent bail conditions set on November 29, 2024, which included N1 billion bail and five sureties with N200 million worth of landed property each.

The Police alleged that the accused operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a “fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”

One of the counts read that they “aided, abetted, conspired among themselves to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime,” contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).

They were also charged with unlawful access to a computer network and input of inauthentic data, punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act.

They were also accused of laundering proceeds generated from illegal platforms, including 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top, in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The final charge accused the defendants of overstaying their 30-day business permits — an offence punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act, 2015.

Justice Akpan, in his judgment, held that the sentence was based on the agreed terms of the bargain.

“After the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged.

“The sentence shall be based on the parties’ agreement of N1 million fine each, against each of the defendants which shall be paid before their release. They shall depart the country within six working days,” he said.

When asked if the fines had been paid, defence counsel, Linda Ikpeazu, told the court, “My lord, we are going to pay in the next five minutes.”

Justice Akpan also ordered that all gadgets used in the commission of the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Lead prosecuting counsel, A.A. Egwu, appeared for the Inspector-General of Police, while Ikpeazu and Mba represented different subsets of the 21 convicts.

The matter was adjourned to October 22nd and 23rd for the continuation of the trial of the remaining 88 defendants.
(PUNCH)