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40% Revenue: ASUU mobilises members for indefinite strike, rejects plan by Tinubu govt
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged its members across the country to prepare for an indefinite strike action over the failure of the present administration of President Bola Tinubu to honour the agreement it made with the union.
ASUU also condemned the implementation of the Federal Government directive mandating public universities to remit 40 per cent of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to the coffers of the government.
The union disclosed this in a communiqué by the union president, Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday.
It also strongly condemns the recent fascist attack on the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo State.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Kaduna State University (KASU), Kaduna, Kaduna State, from Saturday 11th to Sunday 12th November, 2023 and deliberated on several issues affecting the Nigerian University System (NUS) and our dear country, Nigeria,” the statement reads in part.
“NEC reviewed the state of the struggle for improved conditions of service, funding for revitalization, university autonomy and academic freedom, removal of federal universities from the illegally imposed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the amendment of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to curb the unbridled proliferation of state universities, and other related matters.
“NEC observed that successive governments have failed to honour several Agreements reached with our union, especially the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement. NEC noted that even the little gains of the 2022 strike, which led to budgetary provisions of funding for revitalization and the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), are yet to be activated due to the non-release of the allocated funds, NEC, once more, calls on the Federal Government to set in motion without further delay the process of concluding the renegotiation exercise in line with the fundamental principles of the Professor Nimi Briggs’ Committee and release the funds allocated for the payment of EAA. Towards this end, NEC directs all branches of ASUU to immediately commence the conscious mobilization of its members.
“NEC reiterated its earlier position on the wrongful dissolution of Governing Councils of universities without recourse to the laws establishing them. NEC reiterated that, apart from its erosion of the extant laws on university autonomy, the recent dissolution of the Governing Councils of Federal Universities has negatively impacted the governance of those institutions in terms of the career advancement of our members and such other matters which require the attention of the Councils. NEC, therefore, calls on the President Bola Tinubu-led Administration to reinstate the Governing Councils of Federal Universities without further delay.
“NEC reviewed the implications of the recent directive to Federal Universities to remit forty per cent (40%) of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to the coffers of Government. NEC condemns the directive in its entirety because it would further impoverish and emasculate the Nigeria University System. For the avoidance of doubt, universities are not revenue-generating agencies because the obligatory fees paid by students are to provide the necessary tools for them to be properly educated. NEC calls on the relevant institutions of the state to remove universities from this category of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) regarded as revenue-generating centres because of its implications for the affordability and accessibility of education in the country.
“NEC strongly condemns the fascist and vicious attack on the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo state. NEC shall resist any attempt to paint the legitimate demands of the working people of Imo state and elsewhere in Nigeria in partisan colourations and demands that the perpetrators of this dastardly act should be fished out and punished in line with the provisions of the law.”
The special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy communication, Daniel Bwala, says the Nigerian leader and US President Donald Trump will meet “in the coming days” to discuss claims of Christian genocide in the country.
The statement follows Trump’s remark that the Nigerian government has ignored attacks on Christians, a claim that has sparked fierce debate.
Bwala highlighted the commitment of both leaders to combatting insurgency and terrorism.
The presidential aide said Trump has supported Nigeria by authorising arms sales, which Tinubu has effectively utilised in the fight against terrorism, yielding significant results.
Addressing the controversy over whether terrorists in Nigeria target only Christians or all faiths, Bwala said any differences in perspective would be resolved during the upcoming meeting, which could take place at the State House in Abuja or the White House in Washington.
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Christians Genocide in Nigeria: Trump Threatens Military Action Against Islamist Terrorists
If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”
United States President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he has asked the US Department of War (Defence Department) to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.”
In a post on his Truth Social, Trump said the US government will also immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria if Christian killings continue.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, “guns-a-blazing,” to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.
I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action.
If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!”, the post read.
President Trump’s threat is coming barely 24 hours after he directed that Nigeria should be designated as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over claims of Christians genocide.
The countries of particular concern are the nations the US finds have engaged in severe violations of religious freedom.
In a post on Truth Social Friday, Trump had said: “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.
I am hereby making Nigeria a “COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.”Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, responded to the Christian genocide claim, declaring that Nigeria has constitutional guarantees to protect Nigerians of all faiths.
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expanded to another level, as the Senator Samuel Anyanwu–led National Working Committee (NWC) announced the counter-suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, citing alleged incompetence, misappropriation of party funds, and pursuit of personal interests.
Ohibaba noted that those who were also suspended are the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, among others.
According to Senator Anyanwu, all the suspended officers will be referred to the party’s disciplinary committee for further action.
The announcement by Anyanwu comes shortly after the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, announced his suspension as the party’s National Secretary by the NWC.
Others suspended alongside Anyanwu are the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
Ologunagba had told journalists in Abuja on Saturday that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
He noted that the suspended party officials have been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee.
He said that during this period of the suspension, they cease to function in their respective capacities.
According to him, in the case of the National Secretary, Pursuant to Section 36(2) of the PDP Constitution as amended in 2017, the Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Arc. Setonji Koshoedo shall act as the National Secretary.
He added that in the case of the National Legal Adviser and the Deputy National Legal Adviser, the National Director of Legal Services has been directed to oversee the activities of the Department.
Tinubu, Trump to Meet Soon Over Christian Genocide Claims
Christians Genocide in Nigeria: Trump Threatens Military Action Against Islamist Terrorists
BREAKING: Anyanwu-Led PDP NWC Announces Counter-Suspension Of Damagum, Others
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