The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused Vice Chancellors (VCs) of Nigerian Universities of conniving with state governors, traditional rulers and other politicians to hijack staff employment without due process in the varsities.
The President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, who spoke in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, during the Heroes’ Day Celebration of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), lamented that most of the staff members employed through the back door have become scavengers in the system who go after money, forgetting what they were employed to do.
Osodeke said that university employment was supposed to be done through advertisement, but that no university in the country has advertised for vacancies in the past ten years.
According to him, the staff strength of universities has tripled even without the advertisement of vacancies, blaming vice-chancellors of employing unqualified persons.
“Before now, university employment was done through advertisements followed by rigorous interviews, but now how do people get here? Through temporary appointments.
“That’s the problem that we have today. I do not know of any university for the past six to ten years that has advertised, but the staff strength has tripled.
“VCs just sat down somewhere and packed people from traditional rulers, governors, and all other politicians into Nigerian universities as lecturers, most of them now scavengers in the system, going after money and all manners of things.
“Unfortunately, university employment has turned into a constituency project, and we have to struggle to reverse this misnomer and bring sanity to the system.”
The ASUU president vowed that the Union would fight the anomaly to restore sanity to the system.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has sworn in the immediate past Federal Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong, as a member of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, the 10th Senate. Lalong took the oath of office on the floor of the Senate today, December 20 after which Senator Akpabio congratulated him. Lalong is a former governor of Plateau State and the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaigns during the 2023 presidential poll that produced President Bola Tinubu.He will represent Plateau-South on the platform of the APC. Lalong, who is also former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, had tendered his resignation to President Tinubu earlier yesterday, December 19. Speaking soon after his inauguration, Lalong said that he actually wanted to be a senator after he served his tenure as governor in May 2023. “This was my first choice, to be candid.” He said that he opted to hold the position of minister in the interim and on the invitation of Tinubu because he had a case he was pursuing at the courts. Lalong promised to do his best to serve his electorate to the best of his abilities. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, had on November 7, upheld the judgment of the lower tribunal, which declared Lalong the winner of the Plateau-South Senatorial District election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Napoleon Bali, as the winner. Bali had scored 148,844 votes, while Lalong recorded 91,674, according to INEC. But Lalong challenged the result on the grounds that the PDP had no proper structures in the state on which a candidate could contest an election.
A total of 113 Nigerian Army Generals have retired from the service. They are made up of one full General, one Lieutenant General, 67 Major Generals and 44 Brigadier Generals. At the Regimental Dinner Night organised in honour of newly retired and retiring Nigerian Army senior officers in Abuja, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, the officers for their sacrifices and unwavering commitment to the nation’s stability. He assured them of prompt payment of their pension. He acknowledged the support of the Nigerian Army in the growth of democracy in the country. Badaru said that this has made the Army a shining example in the West African region and beyond, urging other services in the region to take a cue from the Army. A statement today, December 20, by the Director of the Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, quoted the minister as calling on the Army to continue to remain loyal to the constitution and support the development of democracy in the country. “The minister charged members of the Armed Forces to remain loyal and sustain the culture of supporting democracy in Nigeria and across the shores. “He added that the disposition of the Armed Forces towards democracy had made it a shining example in West Africa and an influencer in the comity of nations. “The minister noted that the occasion provided the Nigerian Army the opportunity to reflect on its service and profound dedication as demonstrated by the retired and retiring senior officers. “He noted that the Federal Government will continue to do all within its reach to improve the well-being of serving and retired personnel.” The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, thanked President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and the defence minister for their untiring support to the Nigerian Army. He reaffirmed the unalloyed loyalty of the Nigerian Army to the President and the nation in the discharge of its constitutional roles in defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria. He advised the retired senior officers to appreciate God and the Nigerian Army for a successful sojourn in the ‘noble profession of arms’ and attaining the point of meritorious disengagement from active service.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has signed an agreement worth $21.7 million with eleven firms in Nigeria as beneficiaries for take-off of the Delta-2 Projects. This is the outcome of the bilateral collaboration between the federal government of Nigeria and the Czech Republic.
In a statement today, December 18, NASENI said that the Nigerian beneficiary companies are expected to come up with various products and services to be injected into the Nigeria economy.
It said that the Delta-2 Programme is being implemented by the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer/Information Exchange (PICTT), NASENI as implementing Agency for Nigeria, working in partnership with the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR).
NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, was quoted to have said at the opening ceremony today the Delta 2 programme, which was launched in 2022, has been designed with the aim of funding and enabling research, development and innovation projects in Agriculture, Mining, and General Manufacturing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
He said that with $21.7 million set aside to finance the selected projects, TA CR will contribute $11.7 million while NASENI will contribute $10 million as counterpart fund.
He said that the bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the Czech Republic began on 15th May, 2014.
Halilu emphasized that the Delta-2 Programme was yet another manifestation of NASENI’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate of transforming Nigeria’s technology and innovation landscape, through sustained focus on its 3Cs principles of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization.
“Ultimately, our goal is not just to produce prototypes and models, but to ensure that the outcomes of the partnership are taken to market; that they are available commercially for consumers and end-users to benefit from, knowing that the real value of technology lies in market usefulness and application, our vision in the new NASENI that we are building is to create values and to be relevant in the market.”
The CEO reiterated that for every single kobo that NASENI will invest into this phase of the Delta-2 program, to develop new projects and products, the Agency will realize almost six naira in commercial returns, in addition to job creation opportunities, capacity building and technology transfer.
“That is what NASENI stands for: leveraging technology and talent to deliver returns that benefit Nigeria on multiple levels.”
Halilu congratulated the selected beneficiaries of the projects, and asked them not to take this massive opportunity for granted as the funds would be deployed with a sense of service and responsibility.
According to the Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Technology Transfer/Information Exchange on Delta 2 Projects, Dr. Dahiru Mohammed, the program was launched on 18th May, 2022 with 285 proposals received from various companies registered in Nigeria. He stated that the evaluation of the proposals was carried out diligently by members of the Assessment Committee who were selected from the Nigerian Academy of Science, Nigerian Academy of Engineering (as research experts) and the Nigeria-Czech Republic Trade and Investment Council (NCTIC).
The process was well coordinated by experts in both fields of research and business and ably assisted by the PIC secretariat.
“It is noteworthy that the distribution of the beneficiaries of the awards spans across the country, having all zones represented.
“The funds are ready and we eagerly look forward to start implementation in January 2024. The funding of the projects is scheduled to last between 12 to 36 months,” Dahiru said.
He said that the idea behind the Delta-2 projects was to yield patents, pilot plants, proven technologies, software, certified methodologies, processes and specialized maps, and databases, among others, which is expected that the outcomes of the various projects will have a direct and immediate positive impact on the average Nigerian farmers, miners and MSME operators.
The resulting technologies from these collaborations will be transferred and domesticated in Nigeria through NASENI and other research institutions and private companies.
At the event, goodwill messages came from the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji; Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Chief Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Alhaji Aminu Iya Abbas and the Chairman, House Committee on NASENI, Honourable Taofiq A. Abimbola, who reassured the Agency of better enabling laws and collaborating partnership for better productivity.
This came even as NASENI signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) for production license for the establishment of Coal-based fertilizers in Nigeria with PT Saputra Global Harvest. The agreement with SAPUTRA covers three key areas.
Halilu said: “Food Security is one of the priority areas on the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President is determined to build a Nigeria that is not only able to feed itself in an affordable manner, but also one that is able to produce surplus food for export.”
Others are: the supply of machinery and equipment that will enable us produce coal-based fertilizer for use in Nigeria; the capacity development component, which is the training of Nigerian personnel on the use and maintenance of these equipment; and the licensing that gives Nigeria the permission to produce the coal-based fertilizer according to the prevailing standards of quality already established by Saputra.
The agreement is building on the initial MoU signed between NASENI and Saputra in September 2022, as part of steps to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Indonesia, while also supporting the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) has set a production target of two million barrels of crude oil per day in 2024. The Chairman of the NNPCL Board, Pius Akinyelure, announced this today, December 18, and advocated a comprehensive overhaul of the national security architecture to address losses incurred from oil theft and pipeline vandalism. He spoke after the official inauguration of the board and management team for the NNPCL by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential villa in Abuja. He said: ”We have assured Mr. President of our collective effort to ensure turn around in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. “To make it a company we will all be proud of, a company that will help sustain the economy and create some level of prosperity for Nigerians. “It is not an easy task, but we know we have the challenge of oil stealing, the vandalisation of our pipelines. Our commitment is to produce at the rate of two million barrels per day anytime from next year. “But to do this, we have to overhaul our security architecture so that the incidences of stealing vandalisation of pipelines can be reduced. And this will possibly help to build up our cash flow. And we will become a better nation.” The Federal Government revealed that more than N4.3 trillion worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases within a period of five years. Oil theft has drastically hampered the growth of the country’s oil production with Nigeria losing between 5 percent and 30 percent of daily production. About 619 million barrels of crude valued at $46 billion were stolen from 2009-2020. Nigeria has continually failed to meet its daily production quota as set by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Recently, Nigeria’s OPEC quota was reduced from 1.742 million barrels per day to 1.38 million barrels per day. Yet, the country is still struggling to meet this quota as daily production output was 1.184 million barrels per day and 1.249 million barrels per day in May and June 2023 respectively. The only female member on the board, Dr. Eunice Thomas, said that they are committed to increasing “productivity, improve the economy and sustain the environment. “We will provide power for the people of Nigeria; we will industrialize the energy and transit from fossil fuel to more sustainable green energy. “I am really challenged. But I would like to begin by thanking President Bola Tinubu for finding me worthy to sit on that board. “I am aware of the challenges and his expectations of the board. I agree with the management of the NNPCL, they’ve done quite a lot so far and we will be working together with pleasure to increase productivity, improve the economy and sustain the environment,” Thomas said. The board members inaugurated on today, December 18, include Umar Ajiya as Chief Financial Officer, Ledum Mitee, Mr. Musa Tumsa and Mr. Ghali Muhammad as Non-Executive Directors. Other Non-Executive Directors are Professor Mustapha Aliyu, David Ogbodo and Ms. Eunice Thomas.
President Bola Tinubu has given members of the Board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited a marching order on the increase in production. He asked them to take a look at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and know what the pitfalls are. “The Cabinet members and Board should decide what we can do differently for production increase, profitability, and governance. It is in your hands. I will work with you.’’ Inaugurating the Board of the company today, December 28, President Tinubu confirmed that so far, the Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari Kolo, is doing very well, “and doing all that I know. The President advised that corporate social responsibility should be given priority for the Niger Delta, considering the devastating effects of oil exploration and exploitation on the environment. “It is not about us. It is about the well-being of the entire country and the lifeblood of the nation. We should care more about the environment. We will do more for security to minimise stealing and vandalisation.” The President directed that more attention should be given to gas as Nigeria transitions to cleaner energy, adding: “We need to show that we are committed to the welfare of our country. In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure, commended the President for the removal of petrol subsidy, saying that the nation would have drowned in debt, but for his decisiveness. “Our focus is to increase production. We must address the problem of stealing and pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta. We are aware of the efforts in the past, but we will do more.” Source: NAN.
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called for a law to enable the officers of the Commission to arrest and prosecute people with questionable, unexplained wealth.
According to him, that is one of the strong methods for checking the criminal activities of treasury looters in the country.
The Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, quoted Olukoyede as making the call at a two-day International Law Conference organised by Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State. The theme of the conference is: “Unexplained Wealth in the Global South: Examining the Asset Recovery and Return Trajectory.” Olukoyede said that several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Mauritius, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago, have embraced the Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) since it came into force in 2018. He said that for Nigeria, the EFCC is still relying on the provisions of Section 7 of its Establishment Act to check the menace. “The issue of unexplained wealth is not a local issue. There are jurisdictional legislations across the world to tackle it. To date, countries of the world are faced with criminalities emanating from money laundering practices and illicit funds. “This circumstance led to the promulgation of Unexplained Wealth Orders, UWOs that came into force in 2018. Several countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Mauritius and African countries like Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean have come up with UWO. “Nigeria is yet to come up with a national legislation on it.” The EFCC boss, who was represented at the conference by the Abuja Zonal Commander, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Adebayo Adeniyi, stressed that treasury looters would have little cover if the issue of unexplained wealth is tackled more seriously across the world. “In Nigeria today, unexplained wealth has become practical means of tracing, identifying, investigating and prosecuting corruption cases. “As an anti-graft agency, suspects of any economic and financial crimes are usually required to declare their assets in the course of investigation. “The basis for this is to properly establish their true asset base and their linkage or otherwise to any act of corruption. Owing to the absence of legislation on the issue of unexplained wealth, the EFCC continues to rely on provisions of Section 7 of its Establishment Act to handle it.” Olukoyede said that the concerns about unexplained wealth relates more to asset tracing, investigation and recovery, adding that nations are rapidly settling for non-conviction-based asset forfeiture. “The reason for this is simple because unexplained wealth can only be beneficial to the state if they are forfeited. “Since inception, the EFCC has secured sizable assets from fraudsters. They range from houses, vehicles, barges, jewellery, money, furniture items, landed properties, among others.” He said that the procedures for asset forfeiture usually involve the prosecution of the suspected fraudster, as assets may be forfeited on an interim basis or be forfeited permanently, depending on the position of the law and the court. Source: NAN.
Star lady in the musical band of Lagbaja, the masked musician, Ego Ihenacho has opened up on why she left him. Ego, who is also a singer and actress, who left Lagbaja’s band in 2006, said: “I just felt I needed to move on and it wasn’t as dramatic as people thought it was. There was nothing and it wasn’t something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.” She told QEDNG publisher, Olumide Iyanda in an interview that Lagbaja actually supported her when she told him she wanted to leave him. “So, it was probably a month after, it just came to my mind, my gut feeling said okay that was the time to move and I told him sometime in October and I mean, it was expected, I wouldn’t stay there forever, as passionate as I am and as ambitious as I am about music. “In fact, I’m surprised I even lasted that long. You know, so he was very supportive, he was happy-sad you know, he was like ‘Okay, I always knew you had this in you so when do you want to?’ and I was like ‘Okay, we just started the new year, December will be like my graduation, so that was like a farewell show and that was it and I moved on.” Ego said that working on her own is tough and that she had to fight for her place as a solo artiste, and she was able to succeed with the help of those who supported her. “Musically, it’s been good, tough, but like I always say, I took some things for granted. It’s not Lagbaja anymore, it’s me with my band. So, you’ve seen me with a band so it’s not going to be hard for you to call me for shows but it didn’t happen that way. “I really had to fight for my place as a band and it was encouraging, I had people who supported me by calling me for shows and it was great. I got the Glo ambassadorship and other opportunities. It was just a mix of the good and bad and here I am, also as an actor, so I’m grateful for the journey.” When asked if she missed the monthly show at Lagbaja’s Motherlan’, the Wura actress said: “I miss Motherlan’ a lot. Like I said, it was just a vibe. There was something to look forward to. we had everybody and there was just that common thing for everybody at that time, you know, the jokes, the music, we had the old, the young it was just amazing. It was just a nice vibe so I miss that.”
At the close of submission of application for those that want to be Ohinoyi, first class King of Ebiraland in Kogi State, no fewer than 72 sons and one daughter of the Kingdom, have submitted applications to the King makers. Among those who have submitted applications are the former Clerk of the National Assembly, Barrister Muhammad Ataba Sanni Omolori, a media chief (owner of Jatto FM in Okene), Isezuo Edward Jatto; former Deputy Governor, Dr. Phillip Omeiza Salawu and Engineer, Professor Ibrahim Onuwe. Others are Professor Angela Orengwu Okatahi (female); three sons of late Muhammad Sanni Omolori former Ohinoyi: Tijjani, Saaki and Abbas as well as Engineer Jibrin Ibrahim and Barrister Momohsani Shaibu. Ataba is also the son of late Muhammad Sanni Omolori. The throne became vacant at the death of the occupant, Alhaji, Dr. Abdulrahman Ado Ibrahim on October 29 in Abuja, after a brief illness. He died aged 94 and was on the throne for 25 years. His predecessor, late Muhammad Sanni Omolori was on the same throne for 40 years and 40 days before his demise in 1996. The Kingmakers’ Committee was inaugurated last week by the State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Deen.
List Of Applicants For The Vacant Stool Of Ohinoyi Of Ebiraland So Far. 1. Mall. Salami Audu Jibril Okene 2. Yusuf Abubakar Amuda Okene 3. Alh. Dr. Amin Abubakar Obaje Okene 4. Mall. Ibrahim Ahi Ondeku Adavi 5. Shehu Ahmed A. Ivaju Okene 6. Ibrahim Hakeem A. Omuya Okene 7. Mall. Abdullahi Abdulfatai Badogu Okene 8. Muhammed Yunusa Adavi 9. Engr. Jibrin Ibrahim Okene 10. Prince Haruna A. Yusuf Okene 11. Mr. Sadiq Ozovehe Umar Ajaokuta 12. Barr. Momohsanni Shaibu Okene 13. Hon. Sidiq Abdulrahaman Osomose Okene 14. Alh. Siyaka Ayihi Odoba Okene 15. Ohida Wahab Ohiku Okene 16. Dr. Philip Omeiza Salawu Okehi 17. Ibrahim Jibril Adavize Okehi 18. Alh. Umar Muhammed Mudashiru Okehi 19. HRH Alh. Dr. Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje Okene 20. M. A Sani Omolori Okene 21. Alh. Alkahi Abdulrahaman Bello Okehi 22. Yusuf Maishadu Adavuchi Okehi 23. Suleiman Godwin Ogirima Okehi 24. Ahmed Ayimi Momohjimoh Ajaokuta 25. Mall. Ismaila F. Sule Ajaokuta 26. Dr. Anabe Aliu Tijani Adavi 27. Isezuo Edward Jatto Adavi 28. Abdullahi Jabar Ametuo Okehi 29. Prof. Angela Oregwu Okatahi Okehi 30. Abdulmalik Salawu (Amas) Okene 31. Hon. Hussein Yusuf Okene 32. Alh. Lasisi Sule Oseyiza Ogu Ajaokuta 33. Dr. Abdulrahaman Musa Ovavu Adeiza Okehi 34. All Ado Adams Okene 35. Engr. Abubakar Yakubu Mosuwa Okehi 36. Salihu Yunusa Okene 37. Ohioze Itopa Salami Okehi 38. Abanika Taiye Haruna Ohiani Okehi 39. Isa Abdullahi Obaro Okene 40. Hassan Salawu Odoba Okene 41. Alh. Muktar O. Isa Sani Okene 42. Abdullahi Enebere Jimoh Adaaja Okehi 43. Mall. Yakubu Jimoh Okene 44. Engr. Mohammed Okatahi Ibrahim Okehi 45. Mall. Abdulrahaam Suberu Okene 46. Abbas Muhammed Sani Omolori Okene 47. Mr. Ohiare Itopa Salami Adavi 48. Momohjimoh Bello Ajaokuta 49. Tijani Sani Omolori Okene 50. Ohida Abdulmaliq Haruna Okene 51. Babatunde Unwaha Ajaokuta 52. Muktar Muhammed Okene 53. Shaibu Raimi Okene 54. M. M. Salami Okene 55. Abdulrahim Adinoyi Okehi 56. Abdulmalik Abdulrazak Onuku Ajaokuta 57. Saaki Muhammed Sani Okene 58. Omonanyi Adams Okene 59. Alh. Ahmed Adams Okene 60. Ilyasu Yusuf Badoko Okene 61. Engr. Audu Okikiri Edward Okene 62. Zubair Adinoyi Ilyasu Okene 63. Ahmed O. Usman Okehi 64. Mr. Lawal Babameigida Abu Okehi 65. Dr. Banny Adeku Ojiah Okene 66. Alh. Abdullahi Isah Ogu Okene 67. Mall. Sule Buhari Omeiza Okene 68. AY Abdulwahab Okene 69. Engr. Prof. Ibrahim Onuwe Abdulmalik Okehi 70. Tahir Adam Abdullahi Okehi 71. Muhammed Bashiru Yakubu Okehi 72. Ibrahim Hudu – Okene.
Picture shows the new palace of Ohinoyi, built by Governor Yahaya Bello.
Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has bagged the traditional title of Gbobaniyi (genius) of Ijebuland in Ogun State of Nigeria. The title was conferred on him by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, making El-Rufai the first non-Yoruba person to receive such a chieftaincy title from the Awujale in his nearly 64-year reign. The ex-governor wrote on X, late Friday, that he was grateful to the monarch for the honour. He wrote: “I am pleased to announce that on Saturday, the 16th of December 2023, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona the Paramount Ruler and Awujale of Ijebuland will honour my brother and confidante Otunba Jimi Lawal with two chieftaincy titles for his contributions to the Ijebu Kingdom and Nigeria, along with his wife Maryam Lawal. “I also am privileged to be the first Nigerian outside of South-West of Nigeria to be conferred with a chieftaincy title by the Awujale in his nearly 64-year reign. “I am to be recognised as the Gbobaniyi of Ijebuland. I am grateful to Kabiyesi Awujale for the recognition and thank all those who have wished me well for this.”
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