Education / News

ASUU suspends eight-month strike

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has finally suspended the strike it embarked on since on February 14, 2022.

ASUU ended the strike following intense negotiations with the government and the House of Representatives.

The Guardian gathered that the decision to suspend the strike was taken at the end of ASUU National Executive Council meeting which was held at the ASUU secretariat in Abuja.

“Yes, it has been called off,” a reliable source told The Guardian.

After the discussions with the government, ASUU president Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke had said the union could call off its strike in a few days.

“In a few days, we will put this strike to an end. Let all of us working together and the members of the House of Representatives working together, put a beautiful end to this thing we have started so that every Nigerian will be proud that we have the universities we can be proud of,” Osodeke said.

“We also extend our appreciation to the President for intervening in the ASUU strike. And I want to appeal that in future we should not allow strike to linger. Strike should not go beyond two days; if the way the National Assembly has intervened.

“If we had done that long ago, or those in charge of Labour and Education had done exactly this, we would not have stayed more than two or weeks on the strike.

“Strike is all over the world, UK, U.S. all over, but they don’t allow it to last. So, once again, thank you very much and we hope that working together, in the next few days, we can put an end to this particular imbroglio in the Nigerian educational system.”

ASUU president is expected to release an official circular to its member institutions for the resumption of academic activities in the universities.…

News / Weather

Flood: FG releases relief materials for victims in Anambra

The Federal Government FG has released relief materials mainly food and non food items to flood victims in Anambra State.

An Assistant Director in charge of Response and Rehabilitation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Walson Ibarakumo, said this after a closed-door meeting with officials of Anambra Government in Awka on Thursday.

Ibarakumo said the non food items had arrived but the food items were yet to arrive in Anambra due to the traffic challenges caused by flooding in the confluence town of Lokoja, Kogi State.

The NEMA official and his team were received by Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Deputy Governor of Anambra and Chief Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency.

He said the food consignment had been trapped on the Lokoja axis where flood had rendered the road impassable to vehicular traffic.

He said the food items meant to Anambra were 1,400 (10kg) bags of rice, 1,400 (10kg) bags of beans, 1,400 (10kg) maize, 75 (20kg) of salt, 75 (20 ltr) vegetable oil, 1,000 cartons of seasoning and 75 cartons of tin tomatoes.

The non food items included 7,350 nylon mats, 1,000 treated mosquito nets, 600 cartons of bath soap, 2,500 Guinea brocades (5yrds) and 1,000 units of each of children, women and men’s wear.

Ibarakumo commended the Anambra government for their efforts so far in the response, rescue and intervention operations while expressing hope that the trapped materials would reach the state soon.

On his part, Ibezim thanked the FG for the support but expressed regrets over the devastating impact of the flood on Anambra.

Ibezim said the number of affected local government areas had increased from five to seven with addition of Ihiala and Ekwusigo.

He said new challenges were emerging each new day due to rising water levels and that the government was still busy with containing the disaster which overstretched their preparations.

The Deputy Governor said efforts were being made to provide minimal comfort to victims and that every item meant to cushion their pains would be diligently distributed.…

News / Transportation

FG approves additional N16b to complete Kano-Katsina Expressway

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved an augmentation of N16 billion for the completion of the dualization of the Kano-Katsina Expressway.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known on Wednesday after the FEC meeting.

He spoke while briefing newsmen at the end of the Council’s meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mohammed said: “A memo that sought the Council’s approval for the revised total cost of contract for the dualization of the Kano-Katsina Expressway was approved.

“The contract on the 78km road was actually awarded sometime in 2019.

“The contractor, having done appreciable work asked us for a review of the Bill of Quantity of engineering work.

“The contract deal was augmented with the sum of N16 billion, thereby revising the subsisting contract from N29 billion to N46 billion.”

The Minister also told newsmen that more than N800 million was approved for the procurement of 32 operational vehicles for the NDLEA.

Mohammed added: “The Council approved that the NDLEA buys 32 operational vehicles to enhance its operations.

“I am sure we have all noticed that there has been an improved performance on the part of the NDLEA in the last couple of months.

“Resulting from this enhanced performance, there has been the need for more operational vehicles.

“The good thing about the request is that all the operational vehicles are being bought from local vehicle assembly plants.

“The total cost is N821.7 million.”

On his part, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, told newsmen that the Council approved a Nigeria Mining Chain Revolution Policy.

He explained that the policy would reduce the exportation of raw ore so that Nigeria could benefit more from its value chain.

Adegbite said: “The ministry was able to pass a memo in Council.

“It is essentially on a policy drive initiated by this administration and that is what we call Downstream Policy.

“Essentially, it’s to prevent us from exporting raw ore from Nigeria so that we can have some benefits before minerals are exported.

“Essentially, the …

Foreign / News / politics

FG grants citizenship to 286 foreigners

The Federal Executive Council has granted Nigerian citizenship to 286 foreign nationals.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made this known to State House Correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting.

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

Aregbesola said the successful candidates emerged out of 600 applicants. He disclosed that 208 of those approved were granted citizenship by Naturalization, while 78 others were granted citizenship by registration, and they cut across various countries of the world.

He said: “The Ministry of Interior through me presented the Advisory Committee on Nigeria citizenship approval to the Council today.

“And is the first set by the end of this first quarter or latest by the middle of the year another set will be presented to council.

“But what is it about?

“We received 600 applications from several people, foreign nationals who have been residing in Nigeria, but desirous of being Nigerians.

“These applicants are from virtually every part of the world.

“Americans, North and South Koreans, Australians, Europeans, Arabs, Asians, all over of the South Africa.

“Out of the 600 applicants, the Advisory Committee approved for the consideration of the council 280.

“Before the presentation, let me say, some agents of government scrutinized these applicants.

“The Agencies are the Department of State Services, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the state of domicile of those individuals.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federal Government had in 2017 granted 335 foreign nationals citizenship.

Also commenting on Wednesday’s approval, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the decision as groundbreaking, especially at a time “when some Nigerians say the country is unfit to live in”.

Mohammed said: “It’s a groundbreaking memo as it will tell you because just as some people think Nigeria is not a fit and proper place to live, we have thousands of people who are applying daily all over the world from virtually every continent to be citizens of Nigeria.

“I think that is very …

News / politics / Security

Ribadu speaks on report he blamed government officials for banditry

Nuhu Ribadu, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has blamed most of the country’s challenges on fake news peddled by the social media.

Ribadu spoke on the development in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on Sunday at a news conference he addressed.

He was reacting to reports in the social media that he accused some top government functionaries of sponsoring banditry in the country.

The former EFCC boss said it was time for him to clear the air on the issue, which he said had been on for some time. He said: “July 2019 was the first time I came out to know about it, and I came out with a very strong denial, saying that it was a fabrication and had no basis.

“It was a piece of rubbish with very bad grammar and factual destruction, but indeed very damaging.

“I reacted very strongly after that, it didn’t stop and I was forced again to issue a statement denying it.

“I thought that would have been the end of it, but not long afterwards, it started coming back again and I am worried and concerned.”

Ribadu said globally, people who were worried and concerned and wanted to fact-check had been getting in touch with him, adding that he had continued to respond to the issue every single day.

He said: “I want to again deny in the strongest term and send a message to everybody to disregard the statements, it is not fair, it is not just.

“It is very sinful for you to create something from no where and attribute it to an innocent person who doesn’t know anything about it, I have nothing to do with that message.

“This is my strongest denial, everybody should please disregard the statement: it is not from me, it is not true.”

Ribadu said he had been inundated by messages from friends and associates who wanted to find out if the tweets on the issue were actually from him.

He, however, said he had made a formal complaint …

Health / News

FG commends NARD, offers N47b as hazard allowance

The Federal Government has commended the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors for suspending its nationwide strike that had lasted for 63 days.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, gave the commendation on Wednesday in Abuja.

He spoke when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association, who led NARD’s executive members on a visit to his office.

Ngige, who commended the new NARD leadership, led by Dr. Godiya Ishaya, for asking its members to return to work, disclosed that the federal Government had increased the aggregate money in the 2022 budget for hazard allowance from N40 billion to N47 billion annually. He said the latest strike would not have degenerated to the point it got to if the former NARD leadership had given their members the correct information.

The minister said the Federal Government was not indebted to any doctor up till August 2 when NARD embarked on the strike.

He, however, noted that there were contentions about allowances such as Medical Residency Training Fund and some doctors who were not paid the Special COVID-19 allowances.

The Minister assured that all the contentious issues were being addressed, including the payment of Medical Residency Training Fund and Special COVID-19 allowances for those omitted.

Ngige said: “The previous NARD leadership hoarded information from your members.

“Instead, things wouldn’t have degenerated.

“There is no need being pugilistic.

“We know that we have opposition to our government.

“It doesn’t mean that if we are doing something right, we should not be praised.

“If the former NARD leadership were not playing politics, they should have reported well to their members, especially after the intervention of the Elders Forum, of which the President and Secretary General of NARD were members.

“You are lucky to have me, a medical doctor and health system manager, here as the Minister of Labour and Employment.

“So, when the matter came, the issues are clear to me.

“But when you bring advice to both parties on how things should be done and it is thrown away completely, …

Education / Law / News

UNILAG: Why Babalakin quit — FG

The Federal Government has explained that overbearing posture was responsible for the removal of the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Dr. Olawale Babalakin, SAN.

It also maintained that Babalakin was not exonerated of any wrongdoing by the General Martin Luther Agwai-led Regular Visitation Panel to the university.

The Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Bem Goong, who explained in a statement, insisted that the former Pro-Chancellor remained indicted and removed from office.

The statement reads: “The Senior Advocate of Nigeria had accepted his guilt by resigning hours before the release of the White Paper that came out of the Special Presidential Visitation Panel, adding that the hostility towards the Permanent Secretary for doing his job is unnecessary and unjustifiable. “After weeks of media hostilities over another contrived crisis in the University of Lagos, the Federal Government has maintained that the embattled former Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council of that University, Dr. Olawale Babalakin, SAN, was not exonerated by the General Martin Luther Agwai-led Regular Visitation Panel to the university.

“Following his indictment for breach of due process and flagrant disregard for the university laws in the aborted removal of the Vice-Chancellor and the unilateral appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor, the Special Presidential Visitation Panel and the White Paper, thereof, recommended and approved, respectively, his removal from office and the dissolution of the Governing Council.”

While condemning the campaign of calumny as a desperate attempt to distract and slow down the rising profile of the university, Goong said facts on the ground spoke to the contrary.

Asked to clarify whether the second (Regular) Visitation Panel exonerated Babalakin from the indictment of the Special Visitation Panel, Goong said: “It is embarrassing for a lawyer of Babalakin’s standing, a SAN for that matter, to say that a Regular Visitation Panel has exonerated him from the indictment of an earlier visitation panel on three grounds.

“First, the Regular Visitation Panel was not, is not, and cannot be an appellate body for the Special Visitation Panel.

“Administratively, the …

Foreign / News / politics

FG hails Akinbiyi on appointment as first Nigerian Commissioner in Australia

Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has congratulated Abiola Akinbiyi on her recent appointment as the first Nigerian Community Representative Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission in Australia.

Akinbiyi’s appointment was announced alongside others by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hon. Ros Spence.

Spence is also the Premier of Victoria of the Australian Labour Party.

Each Commissioner is recognized for their skills and life experience championing cultural and religious diversity across Victoria. In a congratulatory message, the NIDCOM boss said Akinbiyi’s appointment has proved her leadership prowess and passion towards women and youth empowerment.

Dabiri-Erewa urged her not to relent in her service to humanity but remain focused and strive to achieve more in the service of mankind.

Akinbiyi, a community leader and advocate, an award winning entrepreneur and also a Woman and Youth mentor, holds a Bachelor degree in pure and applied mathematics from Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology, Ogbomoso, and also holds a B.Sc in Nursing.

She is also a graduate of African Leadership Development Programs (Leadership Victoria), where she was nominated for Women in Leadership and Entrepreneur of the year 2018 by African Media Australia, winner of 2018 Business and Entrepreneurship (Afro Shine Award), also by African Media Australia.

Akinbiyi, nee Sarumoh of Ibadan, Oyo State, has served in many developmental committees and associations, a mentor to many African youths with multiple successful outcome.

She has also been privileged to speak in different community events that helps to empower African youth and the newly arrived migrants in Australia.

A registered nurse, nurse educator, an IT professional and an entrepreneur with a passion for community development and cultural diversity who believes in positive Integrations and unity, irrespective of race, social status, ethnicity, religion or gender.

She is happily married to Dr. Akinsola Akinbiyi, a high profile consultant psychiatrist in Australia, and the marriage is blessed with lovely children.…

News / politics

FG Insists Twitter’s operation is illegal despite ECOWAS court ruling

Eighteen days after the micro-blogging platform, Twitter, was suspended in Nigeria, the Federal Government insists operation of Twitter in the country’s social media space “is not legally permissible.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this yesterday when he appeared before a House of Representatives investigative hearing. He said Twitter was used to disseminate information “that endangers the life and security” of Nigerians and cause disunity in the country.

Following the suspension, the green chamber had mandated its committees on communication, justice, information and culture, and national security and intelligence to investigate the circumstances behind the decision.

Speaking at the investigative hearing, Mohammed said the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 does not permit foreign companies to do business in Nigeria if not registered. He said Twitter cannot be given the legitimate rights to operate until it is incorporated in Nigeria.

“As it regards operation of foreign companies in Nigeria, the law provides that a foreign company, which fails to take necessary steps to obtain incorporation as a separate entity in Nigeria for that purpose, but until so incorporated, the foreign company shall not carry on business in Nigeria or exercise any powers of a registered company,” he said.

“Hence, flowing from this background a foreign company as Twitter cannot be clothed with the legitimate rights to operate as a company registered in Nigeria, as they are not licensed, accordingly.

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is also observed that the operations of Twitter in the Nigerian social space is not legally permissible when it is used in airing of information that endangers the life and security of the majority of citizens of Nigeria.”

Mohammed said Twitter’s suspension is backed by international laws including articles 24, 25 and 26 of the African Union on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (CCPR).

He said the government would not hesitate to suspend other social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Google hangout, and others if they are found to be promoting posts or statements capable of destabilizing the country.

There was a …

Education / News

FG establishes two new Universities of Technology, upgrades four others

The Federal Government has announced the establishment of two additional universities of technology in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom, while also upgrading and equipping four others.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sonny Echono disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

Adamu said that a National Institute of Technology (NIT) would be established in Abuja to serve essentially as a postgraduate center devoted to research and innovation.

According to him, this will draw the best graduates from the six universities of technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria. “Recall that at the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he promised to establish an apex National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Abuja with six satellite universities of technology, one in each geo-political zone of the country.

“This was captured in the 2015 APC Manifesto and also stressed in the Education for Change: Ministerial Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022 of the ministry. The objective is to stimulate rapid technological transformation of the country.

“After a comprehensive review of the policy by key stakeholders in the education sector, it was resolved that the four existing universities of
technology located in Yola (North East), Akure (South West), Owerri (South East) and Minna (North Central) be upgraded and equipped.

“While two additional universities of technology to be located in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom States, would be established for the purpose.

“Similarly, a National Institute of Technology shall be established in Abuja. The institute shall be patterned after similar institutions in Singapore and Malaysia.

“This is to serve essentially as a postgraduate center devoted to research and innovation, drawing the best graduates from the six Universities of Technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria,” he said.

Adamu said that the president had also approved the phased development program, compelled by the country’s lean resources.

He said that the two new Universities of Technology would be established in 2021, while the upgrade …

Foreign / News

Twitter ban is Indefinite says FG

Despite widespread anger over the ban on Twitter use in the country, indications emerged, yesterday, that the Federal Government is not ready to shift grounds.

Coming a day after the government met with some envoys, which ended in both parties sticking to their guns and some very influential clerics continuing the use of the popular micro-blogging platform, a top government functionary, last night, told The Guardian that the ban remains indefinite for now as the administration insists ongoing tough on social media regulation.

“In fact, there will be a public communication today or tomorrow asking all foreign social media companies to register before they can be allowed to operate in the country.”

The source further confided that the outcome of Monday’s meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with envoys of the United State, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada and Ireland may not have the blessing of the presidency.

“The government may have regretted the meeting with envoys, giving the impression the Minister may have acted without the full backing of the full house, that is the Presidency. This is because it is believed Twitter has two standards; one for Nigeria and one for other countries. So, for now, the government is not backing down.”

The inkling of the government’s hard stance on maintaining its position despite public criticism emerged when the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), restated his stand on the ban of Twitter by deactivating his account yesterday.

Only the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari, had similarly deactivated her Twitter account as soon as the ban was announced on Friday. Many top government functionaries and institutions are still maintaining their Twitter accounts. Many have described the ban as an attempt to gag the media, an attack on press freedom, freedom of expression and an attempt to pass the controversial Social Media Bill.

Malami had on Saturday ordered the prosecution of Nigerians defying the Federal Government’s last Friday’s ban on Twitter as a result of the platform’s deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet even …