Thursday, 28 November 2013
Strike: Mixed reactions trail ASUU’s fresh demands
Reactions have continued to trail the recent media reports that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said it will not suspend its ongoing strike until the salaries owed its members are paid and government shows reasonable level of commitment, starting with the release of N100bn this year.
While some parents and students who are in support the fresh demands opine that such is necessary, considering government's past irresponsibility towards keeping to its end of agreements, those who oppose say ASUU should sacrifice its unpaid arrears as part of its struggles.
According to the demands, the ASUU NEC members unanimously agreed that before the strike can be called off, government should pay the four-month salary arrears being owed varsity lecturers while there should be immediate implementation of the N1.2tn offer by the Federal Government to public varsities, starting with the release of N100bn this year.
Though some exco members of ASUU who spoke to Vanguard Learning denied making such fresh demands, the federal government, through the Supervising Minister for Education, Chief. Nyesom Wike, has described the demand as outrageous, saying the new demands would need further discussions.
Wike said: "I will have to see Mr. President to see how government can go about this development, which is not favourable. It is outrageous. ASUU is now making fresh demands and this will definitely need further discussion."
Whoever is saying the truth between ASUU and Federal Government, the reports of the fresh demands have triggered some reactions as parents, students and even university lecturers are divided in their stand.
Commending the efforts of ASUU in improving the standard and quality of education, a student of University of Calabar, who simply gave his name as Bright, said "we know our government is not responsible, therefore, it would be disastrous for ASUU to call off the strike without worthy results. They should ensure that the Federal Government shows enough commitment by immediately releasing part of the agreed funds." In agreement is Williams Rita Titilola, a student of the Lagos State University, who urged ASUU to get government to fulfill at least 80 per cent of the agreement before agreeing to call off the strike, else, those agreements will end up being on the paper it was signed upon.
"Government can't say there isn't enough money to revamp universities because there was enough for them to gallivant round UK all in the name of birthday party", Titilola said.
Urging students not to be carried away by government's propaganda against ASUU, a parent and a varsity lecturer who declined to have her name in print, said "government is only displaying how irresponsible she is, and this is why they plead with us whenever we meet so that we don't expose their inadequacies.
For Samuel Bright, what ASUU is requesting is the best bet considering past engagement with government.
"Since government has only been offering lip services, ASUU, by this request, is only trying to avoid future strikes. So let them settle this once and for all since we have already spent a long period at home. It will be useless not to have something concrete after over five months we have spent at home."
Not everyone shares this sentiment. While some ASUU members under the aegis of a pressure group, Concerned Academics, gave the National Executive Council of ASUU a one week ultimatum to call of the strike, the ASUU Ibadan zone chapter held a meeting to uphold the decision of the ASUU-NEC to iron out some 'grey areas' before suspending the strike.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the Concerned Academics on Monday, Dr. Adeyemi Daramola and Dr. Michael Ogbeide, both lecturers of the Faculty Arts, University of Lagos, said that they represent a majority of lecturers who want the strike called off immediately, and had called a meeting of ASUU members, but had to postpone it because of the UNILAG-ASUU leadership.
The statement read: "We shall call a new meeting if ASUU-NEC fails to suspend the strike before the end of this week. If necessary, we shall take all legitimate steps to ensure that normalcy is restored to all Nigerian Universities as soon as possible."
The group accused ASUU NEC of derailing from the struggle." Daramola and Ogbeide said that the President should be commended for sitting down with the union to discuss the issue and that the union need not waste more time in putting an end to the strike.
Arguing that the national body had kept its members in the dark for too long, the group worried that ASUU could not guarantee that the President would sit with it's NEC again, and that other officers in the government may not be able to iron out ASUU's grey areas.
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Comedian Julius Agwu sues Etisalat for N100m over blocked line
We are solicitors to Mr. Julius Agwu, one of Nigeria's most sought after entertainers (hereinafter referred to as "our client") and on whose behalf we write.
Our client is the owner of the Etisalat GSM phone number 08189555555, which he uses as his business line. On the 8th of October, 2013, our client travelled out of the country and returned on the 17th of the same month. Upon his return, he tried severally to make calls from the aforestated GSM line but same could not connect. Not only could he not make calls, he also could not receive calls on the said GSM line. This continued for some days until he got a message that his line had been blocked by the network provider.
Sequel to the above message, our client promptly visited your Abuja office at Hilton to report the matter. He was attended to by one Miss Joan, who informed him that somebody swapped his line. After our client successfully answered the security questions put to him, he was informed that his line had been restored, but the credit balance on the line was not returned.
Surprisingly, our client's aforestated line was blocked again after he left your said Abuja office. Once again our client visited your office at the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Ikeja, Lagos to lodge a complaint, but painfully, nothing was done about it.
However, after sometime, our client was invited for a meeting at your head office in Lagos on the 14th of November, 2013 which he duly honoured. Present at the meeting (in addition to the officials of your organization) was Mr. Mobolaji Okusaga, the Managing Director of The Quadrant Company, in his capacity as media agents/managers for Etisalat Nigeria.
At the end of the meeting, our client was told for the umpteenth time that they would get back to him, which they again failed to do.
LOSS OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
It cannot be over emphasized that your actions of unlawfully blocking and/or swapping our client's line occasioned loss of business opportunities to him. As you are aware, our client as one of the most sought after Nigerian entertainers needs his phone line to be easily accessible to keep his business going. It therefore goes without saying that our client has lost some business opportunities as a result of your actions.
TAKE NOTICE that we have our client's firm instruction to demand and hereby demand the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) as compensation for the loss of business opportunities and the inconvenience caused our client by reason of your unlawful and unjustified blocking and/or swapping of our client's Etisalat GSM phone line.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that in the event that you fail, refuse or neglect to accede to our above stated demand within seven (7) days from the receipt of this letter, we shall be compelled to set in motion against you, all legal machineries necessary to obtain legal remedy for our client.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.
Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S5 release date set for March/April.
A new report from South Korea says that Samsung is already working on its next generation of the Galaxy S flagship series and the Galaxy Gear 2 smartwatch.
According to ETNews, the Galaxy S5 will hit production lines in January 2014, up to three months earlier than expected, and launch in March or April – again, earlier than expected.
The company will reportedly make up to 1 million Galaxy S5 units in January and up to 6 million in February.
The Galaxy S5 will reportedly come in two different versions, a premium metal model with a flexible OLED display and a plastic model that would feature a non-flexible screen
Other rumored specs for the Galaxy S5 smartphone include a 5-inch OLED display, 64-bit Exynos / Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 3GB o RAM, 16-megapixel camera, 4000mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat
The same publication says that the second-generation Galaxy Gear model will be launched at the same time with the new Galaxy S5. The new smartwatch will reportedly be 15% to 20% thinner than the Galaxy S4 , although other details about the device have not been mentioned
It's official! BBA contestants Beverly Osu and Bimp are a couple!
Pics: Tiwa Savage & Teebillz step out at MTV Base Shuga premiere
Newly wed couple, Tiwa Savage and TeeBillz made their first appearance as a couple at the MTV Base Shuga premiere which held yesterday, November 26th at the Silverbird Galleria in VI. Lagos.
Tiwa who plays the role of club owner, Sade in the third season of the award winning drama series joined a host of other celebrities like Basketmouth, Banky W, Bovi, Alex Ekubo, OC Ukeje, Uru Eke, Damilola Adegbite, Toolz and others to witness the premiere of the first Shuga season ever shot in Nigeria. See more photos of the hot couple after the cut...
Rivers Assembly: Gone with the wind
The National Assembly took over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly almost four months ago. The action may have stopped the steep decline to Armageddon, but following that what else?
The takeover of the Rivers State House of Assembly last July was informed by the fracas that engulfed the House on Tuesday, July 9 on the floor of the chambers.
*Empty chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly
Lawmakers had on that day engaged in a free for all with 27 members loyal to Governor Chibuke Amaechi pitched against five who are known to be hostile to the governor. Following the fight, the House sharply divided into two with acrimonious bearing towards one another until the House of Representatives intervened.
One of the 27, Tonye Harry, who was also, a former Speaker of the House, recently passed on, leaving the majority supportive of the governor at 26.
The five anti Amaechi lawmakers claimed to have impeached the Speaker of the House, Hon Otelemaba Amachree during the crisis on the floor of the House and elected a Speaker, Hon Evans Bipi.
While the pro Amaechi legislators maintained that there was no impeachment. They also insisted that the impeachment claim by the anti Amaechi lawmakers could not have been possible with only four members. Because the one who was purportedly elected Speaker would not have voted for himself in the alleged election.
Meantime, attempt to reconvene the House by the pro Amaechi lawmakers about two months after the show of shame on the floor of the House resulted in another free for all by supporters of the two factions in the premises of the assembly.
The supporters moved their fight closer to the Government House, Port Harcourt that same day. Security men who stepped in to quell the ugly situation allegedly fired canisters of teargas into the Government House.
The House of Assembly has since remained under lock and key after that botched attempt to resume sittings by the pro Amaechi lawmakers. None of the factions have been allowed access into the premises.
A valedictory session for the late member of the House who represented Degema constituency, Late Hon Harry had to hold at the Port Harcourt club because of the crisis.
The situation also affected staff of the assembly as they have been denied access to their offices.
It is not clear if the lawmakers are getting their salaries since the fracas. Although, Hon Bipi who claimed to be Speaker of the five anti Amaechi lawmakers said the others were being paid while they the five lawmakers were not getting their salaries.
But leader of the House, Hon Chid Lloyd in several newspaper reports before the National Assembly took over the functions of the House said no member of the House had been paid salaries since the place was sealed up by security operatives.
Corroborating the position of the Leader of the House, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Leyii Kwanee said there was no way anybody could talk of payment of salaries at a time fierce looking security operatives had taken over the complex.
"Fierce looking policemen have taken over the Assembly. The Clerk of the Assembly, the Accountant and the Administrative staff of the Assembly cannot do anything. Do you discuss salaries in such situation? These things are very worrisome," he asked?
Continuing, he said the whole nation was looking up to the National Assembly for leadership. "The National Assembly has to give direction to the country now. It is sad nobody is ready to come to the aide of Rivers people", he said.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon Kwanee also told Vanguard that he was not aware if the National Assembly had sat over any issue relating to the Rivers State House of Assembly since it took over its functions.
"It is not to my knowledge. We had expected that the motion passed by the National Assembly would have been respected by now especially the one urging Mbu (the state Police Commissioner, Mr Joseph Mbu) to leave. We are so shocked and surprised that since they returned they had not said anything. There had been no comment. The whole nation is looking up to the National Assembly for direction at this very critical moment of our democracy", he stressed.
The ugly situation is also delaying the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the state.
Governor Amaechi appointed Justice Peter Agumagu as the Acting Chief Judge of the state in August and he has remained in that capacity since then.
Kwanee added that it is the duty of the House of Assembly to ratify recommendations of the governor for the office. "It is in the place of the governor as enshrined in the 1999 constitution to appoint and the Assembly will ratify. As it is now the man is in acting capacity," he said.
There is no doubt that this is certainly not the best of times for the Rivers State House of Assembly. Indeed, many are perplexed that the National Assembly that took over its functions seems to have forgotten that it has taken up additional challenges.
Unity schools, others begin nationwide strike
ABUJA — MEMBERS of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, in the Federal Ministry of Education including the Headquarters of the Ministry, the Inspectorate Departments and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges nationwide, yesterday, began a four-day warning strike over alleged government refusal to implement agreement between Federal Government and Labour on members' conditions of service, among others.
ASCSN and Management of the Federal Ministry of Education presided over by the immediate past Minister of Education, Professor Rukayyatu Ahmed Rufai, had on March 11, 2013, reached agreement on outstanding labour issues affecting members of the union in the ministry.
Leaders of ASCSN in a letter to the supervising Minister of Education, and cpoied the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Minister, Labour and Productivity, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the Director General, Department of State Service, DSS, intimating them about the commencement of the warning strike, threatened that if government did not address the union's demands between November 26, 2013 and the end of the warning strike, other trade union actions which might include a full blown nationwide strike would be declared to assist the Union to actualise the welfare interest of its members in the ministry.
ASCSN in the letter through its Secretary General Secretary, Alade Bashir Lawal dated November 25, noted that "it is pertinent to state here that the ultimatum given to the Ministry has now expired and nothing concrete was done to implement the agreement even though we have been able to confirm the release of about N825 million by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to the Federal Ministry of Education to pay outstanding promotion arrears to members of staff in the Ministry.
The sum of N298,297,913 out of this amount was actually released in December, 2012, representing promotion arrears for 2011 while N527,643,440 was released for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 promotion arrears."
The letter, however, stated that "It is, however, disheartening to note that eight months after the signing of the agreement and three months after the August 27, 2013 meeting, almost all the issues agreed upon, particularly payment of promotion arrears to affected members of staff were not implemented by the Ministry."
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Wayne Rooney did not score but played a role in four of United's goals.
Antonio Valencia put United ahead in the 22ndminute, Emir Spahic's own goal in the 30th doubled United's lead and Jonny Evans got the third in the 65th. Chris Smalling steered home the fourth in the 77th and Nani completed the rout in the 88th.
United won 4-2 at home and scored a total of nine goals against a team that sits second in the Bundesliga, but was outplayed on Wednesday.
The victory gave United 11 points in Group A before its final match against second-place Shakhtar Donetsk, which beat Real Sociedad 4-0 to move onto eight points.
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