Education

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

Published

1 day ago

September 26, 2024

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.”

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15 Years on, FG Yet to Meet ASUU Demands as Union Plans Showdown

Bassey Marshall

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Education

15 Years on, FG Yet to Meet ASUU Demands as Union Plans Showdown

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

After about fifteen years of meeting deadlocks in its negotiations with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared its readiness to down tools.

The Union has, however, issued a 14-day warning ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve some lingering issues dating as far back as 2009, or the union will embark on a fresh strike that would paralyze the nation’s university education sector.

The president of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, disclosed that the lecturers union is seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.

In a statement he issued on Wednesday, Osodeke explained that the union had given the Nigerian government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the union.

He said the union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony and university education delay that arise from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to resolve the agelong crisis.

The ASUU president said the union is also demanding the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action, and expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics.

According to him, the union is also demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.

ASUU president pointed out that agitation for funding to revitalise public universities which is partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, adding that the payment of Earned Academic Allowances is also partly captured in the 2023 federal government budget.

While identifying proliferation of universities by federal and state governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of governing councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for IPPIS as other demands of the union, Osodeke asked the Federal Government to be serious and sincere in its dealings with the union moving forward.

Education

Federal University of Education Pankshin Secures ₦10 Billion Take-off Grant from FG

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The Federal University of Education, Pankshin (FUEP) in Plateau State has secured a ₦10 billion take-off grant from the Federal Government.

Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, the representative of Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, who sponsored the bill for the institution’s upgrade, announced the government’s approval of the funds at the official unveiling of the university.

Gagdi expressed excitement over the approval, which he noted was first signed by former President Buhari.

He recalled how critics attacked him on social media when a “big problem” within the Ministry of Education delayed the implementation of the approval.

Gagdi noted that he has been exonerated and urged President Tinubu to ensure the approved funds are released by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the project.

According to him, this issue has become a significant challenge for new universities.

Gagdi said, “Buhari approved the bill, overriding the Ministry of Education to commence immediately, but it became a big problem, giving room for some people on social media to castigate Gagdi, claiming he lied. Today, I am exonerated.

“I went and appealed to President Tinubu that every new university always has a problem getting releases from TETFund, and Mr. President approved over ₦10 billion take-off grant for the Federal University of Education Pankshin.”

Investors King gathered that the Federal University of Education was recently upgraded from the Federal College of Education Pankshin.

With the ₦10 billion support, the government aims to assist the institution in achieving a smooth transition.

In addition to the ₦10 billion take-off grant, the institution received government approval to hire 161 staff members before its official launch.

Education

JAMB Faces N3.6 Billion Liability as Fiscal Responsibility Commission Demands Payment

Published

2 weeks ago

September 10, 2024

Samed Olukoya

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has brought the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) before the House of Representatives for failing to remit N3.602 billion to the Federal Government Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

According to Mr. Bello Aliyu, who represented the FRC at the House of Representatives meeting, JAMB owed N390.725 million in liabilities after the 2021 record was computed. This amount jumped to N3.602 billion following the 2022 audited financial statement.

“The new liability as of 2022 is N3.602 billion. We notified them via our letter written on March 14, and sent another reminder, which we just submitted as of August 31.

“There was no response to the letter from the board,” he said.

Rep. Bamidele Salam, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said the remittance demanded by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) is not subject to personal interpretation.

He emphasized that it was a matter of law or regulation, and had nothing to do with the argument over the 25 percent and 50 percent remittance as claimed by JAMB.

The Committee unanimously ordered JAMB to pay the sum to the commission and provide evidence within 30 days.

Reacting to the verdict, Mr. Mufutau Bello, Director of Finance and Administration at JAMB, said the liabilities resulted from the increase imposed on the organization by the FRC.

He explained that the FRC wanted the board to remit 50 percent of its generated revenue.

“As an organization in 2019, because of our commitment to revenue remittance, the Federal Government reduced the cost of our registration from N5,000 to N3,500.”

This, according to him, was for the benefit of all Nigerians. He noted that JAMB had been remitting 25 percent annually and that they operate within the education sector.

“We have not increased any of our charges in the last eight years; rather, we reduced the fee from N5,000 to N3,500, which represents 30 percent of our revenue.”

“The Accountant-General always gives us the concession to remit 25 percent,” he said.