SAMBLOG

 ASUU Strike Delaying Payment Of N75,000 Stipends To Education Students – Federal Government SAMBLOG  Sep 27 Federal government has said the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was responsible for the delay in the commencement of payment of bursary allowance to students studying education courses in tertiary institutions. The permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, David Gende, who represented the minister, Malam Adamu Adamu at the 2022 World Teachers Day (WTD) press briefing, held in Abuja yesterday, said ASUU’s strike has delayed the commencement of the packages. During the commemoration of the 2021 Teachers Day, the federal government had announced that students undergoing degree programmes in education in public universities and colleges of education across Nigeria will get N75,000 and N50,000 stipend per semester respectively. He said, “Most importantly is the support of giving bursary awards to all students of education. As a m...

 FG withdraws order to reopen varsities SAMBLOG  Sep 26 The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission, Monday afternoon, withdrew its circular which ordered vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and governing councils to re-open federal universities, The PUNCH reports. The PUNCH had exclusively reported earlier that a circular tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 was addressed to all vice-chancellors; pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities ordering them to re-open universities. But in another circular tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/136, which was also signed by the Director, Finance and Account of the NUC, Sam Onazi, the commission withdrew the order. Though it did not explain why. The letter tagged, “withdrawal of circular NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 dated September 23, 2022” partly read, “I have been directed to withdraw the NUC Circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135, and dated September 23, 2022 on the above subject. “Consequently, the said c...

 FG orders VCs to reopen varsities, commence lectures SAMBLOG Sep 26 The Federal Government through the National Universities Commission has ordered vice-chancellors to re-open schools and allow students resume lectures. This was made known in a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of the NUC, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed. The letter which was made exclusively available to The PUNCH on Monday was addressed to all vice-chancellors; Pro-Chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities. “Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; Restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses”, the letter partly reads. The PUNCH reports that the national industrial court of Nigeria on Wednesday ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its ongoing nationwide strike. ASUU had been on strike since  February 14  to press home ...

 ASUU Appeals Judgment Directing Lecturers To Resume Work SAMBLOG  Sep 21 The Academic Staff Union of Universities has vowed to appeal the order by the National Industrial Court, directing lecturers to resume work immediately. The union said it had started assembling its lawyers led by a renowned human rights activist, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to file an appeal. The Chairman of the union, Lagos zone, Adelaja Odukoya, in a statement urged members of the union to remain calm and united to fight till the end. Daily Trust reports that ASUU began the strike on February 14 to press home its demands, which include acceptance of a payment platform preferred by the union. Details later… SAMBLOG REPORTS.

 Stike: ASUU to hold meeting on court ruling SAMBLOG  Sep 21 National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke has the leadership of the union that will soon meet to deliberate on the order of the National Industrial Court that ASUUto go back to work. Recall that the Federal Government in a suit, had prayed for the order for ASUU to call off its seven months strike. “When we meet and deliberate on the ruling and other related issues, we will inform you,” he told our correspondent on phone. The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS has described the ruling of the court that ASUU should go back to work, while the case involving it and the Federal Government is being heard, as a win-win situation for all the stakeholders in the matter. The National President of NANS, Comrade Usman Barambu, told Vanguard on Wednesday that the Federal Government must, however, not see the ruling as a victory over ASUU. “It is a win-win situation for all, the government, the students, par...

 ASUU: NANS kick against court judgement SAMBLOG  Sep 21 The National Association of Nigerian Students has fualted the court judgement mandated the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call of its 7 month strike. The PUNCH  reports that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Wednesday  ordered the ASUU to call off its ongoing nationwide strike . ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home the demands for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues. Several meetings between ASUU and the Federal Government had ended in a deadlock. But reacting to the ruling in a statement, NANS National Public Relations Officer, Giwa Temitope, said the judgement betrays equity. The student union spokesperson explained that rather than direct ASUU to return to classroom, the court should have ordered the Federal Government to sort the striking lecturers.  According to the students union, the fact that they had to dra...

 Strike to be called off soon as ASUU, Reps meeting ends progressive SAMBLOG  Sep 20 ASUU/House of Reps Meeting Outcome . . . …as House summons Finance Minister, Accountant General, Auditor General of the Federation, others over UTAS, IPPIS The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila and the leadership of the House are to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the resolution of the ongoing face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Gbajabiamila, while addressing journalists after a 4-hour meeting with the leadership of ASUU, led by its president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke and the officials of the Ministry of Education led by the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah on Tuesday at the National Assembly noted that on his return from the 77th session of the United National General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the House leadership will present the agreement reached with the striking workers. Gbajabiamil...

FG didn’t take ASUU to court — Ngige SAMBLOG  Sep 19 The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Monday, said the Federal Government did not take the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to court over the prolonged strike of the union, as some people claimed.  The Minister also regretted that the ASUU leadership does not even understand the import of the Collective Bargain Agreement, CBA negotiation alleging that they lack the nutrients of labour unionism. Senator Ngige in a statement by Olajide Oshundun, Head of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, said he would have failed in his duties if he didn’t refer the matter to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) after seven months of protracted discussions and negotiations with the union, which failed. The Minister spoke in Abuja, at the public presentation of the NLC at 40 publication, titled, “Contemporary History of Working Class Struggles.” SAMBLOG REPORTS.

 STRIKE: COURT HEARS FEDERAL GOVT’S SUIT AGAINST ASUU TODAY SAMBLOG  Sep 19 National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja will today hear a suit filed by the federal government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the union’s ongoing strike. The court had summoned the federal government and ASUU to appear before it on Monday September 12th, 2022 over the seven-month-old strike. However, at the first hearing, Justice Polycap Hamman adjourned the matter till Friday, September 16th, to enable both parties to file the necessary papers for the suit. But at the resumed sitting on September 16th, the court announced that the case is further adjourned till today after hearing both parties’ comments. The judge had earlier on Monday ordered the federal government and ASUU to file and exchange their written submissions and fixed today, Friday, for a further mention of the case. The government application is seeking an order to restrain ASUU from continuing with its ...

 ASUU strike: Buhari promises to look into no-work, no-pay, other demands SAMBLOG  Sep 16 President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to make further consultations on the demands by the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.  The President made the promise after meeting with the Chairman and select members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.  Recall that ASUU proceeded on one-month warning strike on 14th February over the alleged inability of the Federal Government to meet up with their demands and has been extending the strike up till date. Some of the demands include the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, payment of Earned Academic Allowance, the inconsistencies occasioned by IPPIS and demand for replacement of the payment platform with the University Transparency Accountability Solution, UTAS, among others. SAMBLOG REPORTS 

ASUU strike may end Sept 20, says Counsel to ASUU, Falana SAMBLOG  Sep 16 The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has fixed September 19 to deliver ruling on the suit filed by the Federal Government against the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on September 20. Meanwhile, ASUU has given a glimmer of hope that the dispute may be resolved at a scheduled stakeholders meeting with members of the House of Representatives. Counsel to the association, Mr. Femi Falana has informed the court that ASUU will be meeting stakeholders in the House of Representative on September 20 to ensure that the matter is resolved. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige had on behalf of the Federal Government filed the suit before the court by way of referral to resolve the issue of the ongoing strike by ASUU. Specifically, the suit is seeking the order of court directing ASUU to call off its seven months strike. When the case was called yesterday, counsel to the Fed...

 FG Vs ASUU: Court Adjourns Case Till September 16 SAMBLOG  Sep 12 A Court adjourns to  September 16th  the case between the federal government and the academic staff union of universities (ASUU). Justice Polycap Hamman adjourned the matter to enable both the Federal Government to file the necessary papers for the suit. The Federal Government approached the National Industrial Court (NICN) sitting in Abuja, requesting an order for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume while the dispute is being addressed. A statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, said the matter was on Thursday, 8 September, referred to the Registrar of NICN by the Minister, Chris Ngige. ASUU embarked on an initial four-week strike  on 14 February  and has continued to extend it as talks with the government fail. SAMBLOG REPORTS 

 FG ASKS COURT TO ORDER LECTURERS BACK TO WORK SAMBLOG  Sep 12 The federal government has referred the prolonged strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) for adjudication. This followed the failure of dialogue between the union and the Federal Ministry of Education.The government requested an order of the court for ASUU members to resume work in their various universities while the issues in dispute were being addressed by the NICN in line with the provisions of Section 18 (I) (b) of the TDA Cap T8. LFN 2004. A statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, said the demand was contained in a referral instrument addressed to the Registrar of NICN, dated September 8,2022, and signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige.In the matter billed for mention  at 9am today , the federal government aske...

  ASUU STRIKE: FG PROPOSES N200BN FOR VARSITIES, 35% INCREMENT FOR PROFESSORS SAMBLOG  Sep 7 The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government could only afford 23.5% salary increase for university lecturers while a 35% increment will be enjoyed by professors. The minister also noted that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), warned against signing agreements which the government will not be able to meet. Adamu disclosed this during a meeting he had with vice-chancellors and other stakeholders in the university system in Abuja. The minister noted that the government told ASUU, “That the Federal Government can only afford a 23.5% salary increase for all categories of the workforce in federal universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward review. “Henceforth, allowances that pertain to ad-hoc duties of the academic and non-academic staff (members) shall be paid as and when due by the Governing Councils...

 FG INTEND TO PAY ACADEMIC ALLOWANCE ONLY IF ASUU CALL OFF STRIKE SAMBLOG  Sep 4 It was gathered yesterday that the striking lecturers will be paid their Earned Academic Allowance from the N50 billion released by the federal government only after they have called off their strike. Government said the N50bn was set aside for the university based unions as part of efforts to end the strikes. The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions had suspended their strikes for a period of two months, following a meeting with Education Minister Adamu Adamu. They were followed by the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) which also put its own three-month strike on hold. The Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Gong, said in Abuja that government had met ASUU’s demands and the union would have its own share of the N50 billion. His ...