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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige , has expressed optimism that the prolonged strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities will be resolved by next week when the Federal Government team meets the union leaders again .

He , however , said if the matter was not resolved by then , he would explore the provisions in the labour law and other channels. Government had previously appealed to the union to call off the strike .

Speaking on Politics Today on
Channels Television, the minister said the government had met six of the union ’ s nine demands and that they would meet again next week with the hope of ending the prolonged strike .

He stated , “ Even if countries go to war , at the end of the day they come to the negotiation table . I ’ m inviting them (ASUU ) next week. We are doing side meetings on our part and we are collating everything . I ’ m collating responses from the Accountant General of the Federation ’ s Office and everybody who has something to do with this matter .

When asked if it meant that the lecturers may not return to the classrooms in the next one or two weeks , he said , “ I ’ m not looking at that ( long) period . I ’ m an optimist on this matter . By next week, we will conclude this matter . There are so many options left . We have the labour laws and I have options left to me in the labour laws . I have other channels. ”

The minister , who said his children had also been at home as a result of the strike , explained that government had agreed to give the University Transparency Academic Solution , the payment platform proposed by ASUU , a trial . He however said the feedback he got from the National Information Technology Development Agency , the agency mandated to follow- up the trial with ASUU , showed they had just concluded the first phase and that the second phase to assess the functional requirement of UTAS had not been done .

He added , “ UTAS has yet to be ready but government will not discourage them. And we have told them there is no need using the same old method of strike to make demands since such had been deployed since 2017 . ”

“ A committee that looked into the Needs Assessment of universities held a workshop on how funds could be generated came up with the recommendation that other things could be done to raise funds , because revitalisation cannot be done through the budget , especially when the country is running a deficit budget , ” Ngige added .

Punch

MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has said the Federal Government was addressing the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, holistically to ensure that all other unions in the university system were carried along.

The Minister said this while defending the budget of his Ministry before the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment.

Reacting to the concerns expressed by the senators on the prolonged ASUU strike, Senator Ngige told the committee that the Federal Government has met most of the demands of the union.

According to him, “Out of the eight demands of ASUU, the government has solved five. We have made N50 billion available. A total sum of N20 billion for the revitalisation of the universities and N30 billion for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

“The union agreed and went back to their members, only to return and say that the money for EAA should be for ASUU members alone, excluding other unions, namely, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT.”

He said, “We cannot ignore the other unions whose services are indispensable for the full functioning of the university. If we ignore them, even if ASUU calls off the strike, the other unions will down tools-close the lecture rooms, the libraries, the laboratories- and in fact, even the university gate.”

He said, “They said that university autonomy is being eroded. Autonomy cannot work when the government is paying the lecturers. It can work only when the governing council generates its own resources to pay workers.

“IPPIS has blocked all leakages and exposed those who are not paying taxes, as well as those who underpay.

“So, we are meeting again with ASUU soon, so that they can also hear that other unions in the university have developed their own payment system against UTAS. Do you now realize why we are tackling this problem holistically?”

“White-collar job syndrome has afflicted us. We have green and blue-collar jobs that will feed people and give them shelter. Agriculture can give us jobs. We have Anchor Borrowers but we can do more. The educational curriculum is straight-jacketed. That is why everybody is in the labour market looking for jobs.

” It is for us to wear our thinking caps and see what can be done. We budgeted 60 percent for constituency projects to train people in empowerment. But, when you give empowerment to people, they sell it. They tell you that this is not the kind of job they want to do. They don’t want to engage in soap making or baking, welding, and fabrication. Even mechatronics, which we are encouraging because of its computer-based component, they are not going there,” he said.

Vanguard

The West African Examination Council, WAEC, Nigeria has stated that registration for 2020 second series West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE registration ends today, November 13.

This is as they called on those who were yet to complete the registration process to do so before the portal closes on Sunday, November 15.

The Acting Head of Public Affairs WAEC Nigeria, Mr. Demianus Ojijeogu said that: “This is to inform all prospective candidates and stakeholders that registration for the above examination ends today, Friday, November 13, 2020.

“However, for those who have already purchased PIN, upload will continue till midnight of Sunday, November 15, 2020, after which the site for the registration of entry would be closed.

“Provision will be made for ‘Walk-In’ candidates to register 24hrs before the commencement of the paper they intend to sit,” Ojijeogu explained.

Vanguard

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company , a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , has increased the ex- depot price of Premium Motor Spirit , also known as petrol , to N155 . 17 per litre from N147 . 67 per litre .

The PPMC disclosed this in an internal memo with reference number PPMC/ C/MK /003 , dated November 11 , 2020 , and signed by Tijjani Ali .

The memo, a copy of which was seen by our correspondent, said the new ex – depot price would take effect from today (Friday).

The National Operation Controller , Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria , Mr Mike Osatuyi , in a telephone interview with news correspondent, said the over N7 increase in ex – depot price would translate into an increase in pump prices .

He said , “ The implication of the increase in the ex – depot price is that there is going to be an increase in the pump price. We are expecting the pump price to range from N 168 to N170 per litre.

“ Crude oil price is going up , ” he said , noting that the Federal Government has fully deregulated petrol prices .

Following the deregulation of petrol prices in September, marketers across the country adjusted their pump prices to between N 158 and N162 per litre to reflect the increase in global oil prices.

Punch

Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has lifted the curfew imposed on the state following the disruption of peace recently.

This, according to the Governor, was due to the compliance by residents with government’s effort to restore peace in the state.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, citizens can now go about their businesses and other transactions beyond 8:00pm without any hindrance or restrictions with effect from Wednesday November 11.

She stated: “The government has once again observed the level of compliance to all directives aimed at restoring tranquility to our dear State, and hereby appreciates the citizens for their patience and understanding. The government also appreciates security agencies for their efforts in maintaining law and order in the State.

“With effect from Wednesday November 11, residents of the State are free to go about their businesses without any hindrance or restrictions, while security agencies continue to discharge their duties to forestall breakdown of law and order.

“The government urges every citizen to be wary of actions that can upset the peace and harmony that the State is reputed for, and not hesitate to provide useful information to security agencies in case of suspicion of violence in any of our communities.

“The government is also calling on parents and guardians to continue to caution their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous elements to jeopardize the peace of the State”, Egbemode stated.

Vanguard

The Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate , has been shut down indefinitely as the crisis between the Students Union of the institution and the management led by the Provost , Dr Jospeh Adeagbo , got messier .

The Students Union ’ s President , Olaitan Muhammad , in an interview with news correspondent on the telephone confirmed that the college had been shut down by the Governing Council .

The students had embarked on protests over the alleged failure of the college to produce identity cards for students despite collecting money from them.

They claimed that some dangerous animals had been attacking them during lectures because of the bushes surrounding the place.

But the management of the school in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the college , Adeniyi Jolaoso , said academic and social activities were going on well at the college before the students suddenly embarked on a protest on November 5 .

The statement read , “ The college management wishes to assure that it charges one of the lowest school fees in the country, in consonance with the directive of the Governor Seyi Makinde- led administration and payment of all fees is made into the Treasury Single Account ( TSA ) of the Oyo State Government.

“ So , there are no outrageous fees charged by the college . Any demand for any payment other than that into the Treasury Single Account should be reported immediately.

“ Students are also encouraged to pick up their ID cards that have been lying down ready for collection at the Student Affairs office while those who are yet to undertake their photo capture for the student ID card should approach the schedule officer at the ICT and collect their ID card not later than one week after the capture . ”

Punch

The House of Representatives has asked the Inspector General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , to forward a list of slain officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force especially those who died during the recent # EndSARS protests.

Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs , Bello Kumo , told the IGP , who appeared before the lawmakers in Abuja for 2021 budget defence , that that budgetary allocation would be made to compensate the slain policemen and repair the damaged or burnt stations.

Kumo told the police boss that the Speaker , Femi Gbajabiamila ; Deputy Speaker , Ahmed Wase, and the leadership of the House mandated him to convey the instruction to him ( Adamu) .

At least , 11 persons have been reported dead with five hospitalised following the outbreak of a strange sickness in the Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State .

The five persons being hospitalised are said to be battling for survival .
Unconfirmed report indicated that it was an outbreak of cholera as the symptoms closely compare with the deadly disease .

However , the state government said the claim could not be immediately established as results of samples taken from the victims were still being awaited .

Residents of the community said tthe first case was recorded at Ariku village, where five people had, so far , been reported dead .

It was learnt that the disease later spread to Lagun village where six persons were confined dead .

The Caretaker Chairman , Lagelu Local Government Area , Mr Kelani Abdullahi , said the cause of the cases was being investigated.

Abdullahi said , “ So far , 11 persons have lost their lives to the epidemic , with five persons hospitalised while four persons have been discharged. ”

The Commissioner for Health in the state , Dr Bashiru Bello, said , “ The tests carried out on the affected persons are still premature and the samples collected have not confirmed the sickness to be cholera . ”

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has warned political office holders and policymakers against paying lip service to youth unemployment.

He challenged his colleagues in positions of authorities to factor youth employment and empowerment into the 2021 budget so as to escape another round of # EndSARS protests.

Lawan gave the warning when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Mr Sabo Nanono , led top officials of his ministry to defend its 2021 budget before the Senate Committee on Agriculture .

The Senate President said , “ Recently , we had protests by some of our youths . Some of them, very genuine , were seeking the attention of leaders and they got the attention .

“ So , our budget , especially for 2021 , should be mindful of what we do to provide employment opportunities for these youths .

“ They demonstrated , they protested because they could do so . There are so many other people who may not be youthful but are also in the same need . They didn ’ t protest .

“ Let us meet them where they are , we don ’ t want to wait until they also start to grumble or protest we should be proactive . ”

Nigeria may be heading towards another economic crisis with crude oil production threatened as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to proceed on a nationwide indefinite strike.

The strike may also affect fuel supply across the country.

PENGASSAN said the directive became exigent following the federal government’s breach of agreement on Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) implementation and redundancy in Baker Hughes.

The association had on November 2, 2020, issued a seven-day ultimatum to government agencies and institutions to protest its members’ inclusion in IPPIS.

PENGASSAN, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, regretted that upon the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, their demands had not been met.

“In view of the above and with the expiration of the ultimatum and subsequent extension, you are hereby advised to withdraw your services effective 12 midnight on Sunday, November 8, 2020.

“Please ensure that your branch members fully comply with this directive while you await further directives,” the statement said.

The statement urged all zonal offices to monitor compliance and report the same to the national secretariat of the union.

Thisday