Education / News

We’ve forced government into renegotiating 2009 agreement — ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities says it has forced the Federal Government into renegotiating the 2009 agreement with it.

The union made this known in a memo titled: “Strike bulletin number 6,” by its National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.

In the memo made available to all branches of the union, Osodeke said the renegotiation had reached an advanced stage.

He said so far, the union has had a total of five meetings with the representatives of the Federal Government, while two meetings were held with the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu. The memo read in part: “Our iron-cast resolve has forced the government to sit down and negotiate with us.

“We have had five meetings with the Federal Government team and two meetings with the Minister of Education.

“The renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement is progressing smoothly and has reached an advanced stage. However, we must remain focused to the end of this struggle.

“The University Transparency and Accountability Solution has been tested for the third time.

“So far, the National Information Technology Development Agency has tested UTAS and University Peculiar Personnel and Payroll System, and will start testing the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System by next week.

“We are undeterred by the antics of some government officials in this respect.

“It is clear that hunger, misinformation, distortion of facts, intimidation and other sundry acts of arm-twisting have failed to break our resolve to date; they should not break us now.

“Ignore fake news and divisive information emanating from social media and a section of the press. If in doubt over any issue, contact your chairperson for correct information. “We are at the threshold of victory. Let us keep faith with the union. A people united can never be defeated.”…

News / politics / Religion / Security

Owo attack: Akeredolu directs flags to fly at half-mast for seven days

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has directed that flags should be flown at half-mast in all public buildings, facilities and official residences for seven days in honor of the victims of the Owo terror attack on Sunday.

This is contained in a statement issued by Akeredolu’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde on Monday  in Akure.

”In honor of the victims of this unfortunate attack, I hereby direct that all flags be flown at half-mast for seven days, starting from Monday to June 12.

”It is a collective loss to the people of our dear state. ”The attack on innocent worshipers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa Street,Owo is a deliberate and calculated assault on the people of the state.

”Those who unleashed this unprovoked terror attack on our people have tested our collective resolves.

”We will not be deterred in responding appropriately to this dastardly act,” he said.…

News / politics

Osinachi: FG files 23-count charges against her husband

The Federal Government has filed 23-count charges against Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of late popular gospel artist, Osinachi.

Recall that the “Ekwueme” crooner died on April 8, 2023 after her husband allegedly assaulted her several times.

Nwachukwu was charged under sections 104 and 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The defendant was charged with culpable homicide contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code, which is punishable with death. The case, with charge number: CR/199/2022, was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on May 20, 2022 by the Head, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetun.

The 42-year-old musician died after spending days at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.

Nwachukwu was consequently arrested by the police after colleagues of Osinachi, who was a lead singer at the Dunamis International Headquarters, Abuja, accused him of beating her.

Count one reads: “That you Peter Nwachukwu, 56, male, on the 8th of April, 2022 at Aco Estate, opposite police station, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did commit an offence to with: culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu by your various acts of violence and aggravated assault with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence of your acts.”

Count two reads: “Statement of offence: Wilfully placing a person in fear of physical injury contrary to section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”…

Education / News

Strike: ASUU payment platform failed integrity test, FG insists

The Federal Government says it is still waiting for the Academic Staff Union of Universities to upgrade and return to it the Universities Transparency Accountability Solution, which was said to have failed integrity test.

ASUU embarked on a one month warning strike on February 14 to press home its demands involving about N1.3 trillion.

The union also wants the Federal Government to adopt the UTAS payment platform to replace the Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, however, insisted that UTAS has failed the necessary tests that should qualify it to be used as a payment platform. Inuwa stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

Reacting to the contentious issues that led to the ongoing ASUU strike, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, said when he received a letter from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, requesting a review of the submission and the technical ability of the software of the system, he forwarded the request to NITDA

Pantami said: “NITDA conducted their own analysis, their own testing and sent same back to me, and I drafted a cover letter I forwarded to the Minister of Labour and Employment, and I copied the two Ministers of Education, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and also office of the Accountant General of the Federation and even NUC (National University Commission).”

Pantami, however, directed the Director-General of NITDA, who sat beside him, to give the situation report on the matter.

Inuwa said: “When we received the request to review UTAS, you know building complex system like UTAS that involves employees’ personal data and also payment system, we have to subject it to best practice tests before approving.

“Normally, when we are reviewing that kind of system, we perform three tests.

“Firstly, because when you’re …