Education

Strike Action to Linger Till May – ASUU

Published

3 years ago

March 14, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has disclosed in a statement that its strike action has been extended by two more months. The union revealed this decision at a prolonged meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC).

The NEC meeting was held at the union’s national secretariat at the University of Abuja. The meeting was said to have started on Sunda, 13th March and stretched to early Monday, 14th March.

During the meeting, ASUU accused the Nigerian government of insensitivity and peddling lies, stating that the Muhammadu Buhari-led country is not paying close attention to the union. “Yes, we have extended the strike by eight weeks pending when the Nigerian government would find the university system worthy of the desired attention,” A member of the NEC who preferred anonymity told newsmen.

The spokesperson also revealed that a secular is currently being drafted to that effect and will be available soon.

Investors King recalls that the union had, in February, warned the Nigerian government against misleading the public.

ASUU also denied the alleged failure of its proposed University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). ASUU President, Mr. Emmauel Osodeke, revealed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and Director-General, NITDA, Mr Isa Pantami, had earlier accused the union of failing both at the UTAS and at an ‘integrity test.’

Speaking to journalists, the president of the union revealed: “This press statement is necessitated by the need for ASUU to put the records straight on the grounds already covered in our patriotic struggle to get the government to deploy UTAS as a suitable solution for salary payment in our university system. Let us put it on record that an integrity test was carried out by NITDA on Aug. 10, 2021, in NUC where relevant government agencies and all the end-users in the University system were present. At the end of the exercise, all, without exception, expressed satisfaction with UTAS as a suitable solution for salary payment in our universities. This was attested to by the report coming from NITDA then to the effect that UTAS scored 85 per cent in User Acceptance Test (UAT).”

Emmanuel also disclosed that the NITDA Technical Team, had conducted a comprehensive functionality test that reported that out of 687 test cases, 529 cases were satisfactory, 156 cases queried and two cases cautioned.

The union’s worry is that while the process is still ongoing, the NITDA went ahead to claim that ASUU had failed the integrity test.

The update has sent a wave of many Nigerians who have taken to the social media platform, Twitter, to tweet their reaction.

Many have pointed out how the strike has affected them and how the country’s education should be placed in a state of emergency.

Here are a few reactions

Useless set of people they don't think about future leaders wasting people's time always in meeting no good things has ever come out of the meeting

— Chris (@Chris14100222) March 14, 2022

House of rep members rejected a bill to mandate children of public office holders to study in Nigerian Unis.

If Nigeria were to be a better country, the people especially students will protest till this is passed into law!

FG, SG, ASUU, even student unions re all irresponsible!

— Epistle (@lumydepistle) March 14, 2022

Just learnt that @ASUUNGR has extended their strike action by two months, meanwhile @mbuhari is chilling in the UK. By the time the strike action is over Nigerian students would have lost practically another semester and someone wants you to vote for the characters causing this?

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) March 14, 2022

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Education

NYSC Gives Fresh Update on ₦77,000 Monthly Allowance for Corps Members

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has shared an update on the recent increase in corps members’ monthly allowance.

Investors King reported that the Di rector General of the NYSC through the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, on September 25, announced the government’s decision to increase the corps members’ allowance.

The NYSC revealed that the monthly allowance of corps members was increased to ₦77,000 after the recent increase in the national minimum wage.

According to the NYSC, the new wage, which represents a 133.33 percent increase from the ₦33,000 previous monthly allowance is expected to take effect from July 2024.

This report left corps members with high hopes and excitement.

However, their excitement was short-lived as their September allowance failed to reflect the new amount.

In an interview monitored by this platform, Brigadier General Ahmed explained why the corps members are yet to receive the new allowance.

He said, “Not only the corps members, even our staff members’ salary has been increased about four to five months ago, but it has not been implemented yet. But we are hopeful that the new pay will be implemented soon, but the funds have not been released to us yet.

“The information we have did not specify when the new allowance will be paid, but we were assured that their monthly allowance has been increased from 29th July 2024.”

Ahmed assured corps members that the NYSC is actively engaging with the relevant authorities to ensure the speedy implementation of the new allowance.

Education

ECOWAS Donates $380 Million to Electrify Public Schools and Health Centres Across 18 African Countries

Published

2 weeks ago

September 27, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) has announced a donation of $380 million for public schools and health centres in 18 African countries.

The donation was announced by the Senior Adviser on the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project at the ECOWAS Commission, El hadji Sylla, during a stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

According to Sylla, with the move, the ECOWAS aims to promote a new innovative chain to electrify public schools.

Sylla, who stated the goals of the initiative funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund, and the Dutch government, revealed that the project will kick off from Nigeria and Benin.

He noted that the project covers 15 countries in the ECOWAS region.

According to Sylla “The cost of the project is $380m, and we want to promote a new innovative chain to electrify public institutions. Our target is to electrify schools and health centres to improve service delivery.

“We are piloting the project in Nigeria and the Benin Republic. The project covers 15 countries in the ECOWAS region and four countries in the Sahel region,” Sylla said.

“We are targeting schools and health centres to improve service delivery,” Sylla said, adding that the project is expected to be completed in five years across all participating countries, with the pilot phase in Nigeria and Benin to be executed within 18 months.

In Nigeria, the initiative will begin with electrification projects in selected schools and health centres in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Nasarawa states,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who was represented at the meeting by Bem Ayangeaor, noted that electrification in Nigeria has seen significant growth.

He, however, attributed the growth to the grants and subsidies flowing into the sector.

“I do not doubt that the rural electrification space in Nigeria, thanks to grants and subsidies, has grown significantly and will soon reach a stage where public support leverages private sector financing at higher efficiencies than it is presently done.

“A stage where the private sector would be more excited in investing in the electrification space because of the benefits to be gained,” Adelabu said.

Education

Federal Government Approves 133% Allowance Boost for NYSC Members, Now ₦77,000

Published

2 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced an increase in the monthly allowance of corps members in Nigeria.

The news was announced on Wednesday by the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed through the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, following the federal government’s approval.

In a statement sighted by Investors King, the NYSC revealed that the monthly allowance of corps members has been increased to ₦77,000 after the recent increase in the national minimum wage.

This represents a 133.33 percent increase from the ₦33,000 previous monthly allowance.

According to Embu, the increase was in line with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 by the President Bola Tinubu-led government.

The service expects the increase to boost the morale of corps members and motivate them as they serve their motherland.

As detailed in the statement, the new allowance will take effect from July 2024.

The statement reads, “The Federal Government has approved the increase of corps members’ monthly allowance to N77,000 with effect from July 2024.

“This is in line with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.

This was contained in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated 25th September 2024 and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta”.

“Before this, the Director General, NYSC Brigadier General YD Ahmed, had paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman in which he solicited for a robust welfare package for corps members.

“The NYSC boss is thankful to the Federal Government for the timely gesture and is optimistic that it will not only bring much-needed succour to the corps members but also boost their morale and motivate them to do even more, in their service to the nation.”