The Federal Government has moved to fix the critical missing link in its effort to develop the country’s gas sector by inaugurating Governing Council of the Midstream & Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF).
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who inaugurated the nine-member Council today, August 30, charged members to work seriously to mobilise funds for the provision of the critical infrastructure for the gas industry.
Sylva said that the inauguration of the Council was a further demonstration of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to reposition the nation’s energy sector “to drive economic development and prosperity for our people, our nation and value to our partners, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA).”
In March 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari declared January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2030 as “The Decade of Gas Development for Nigeria,” to set the road map towards a gas-powered economy by 2030.
Sylva noted that although the Federal Government has put in place several programmes towards achieving the decade of gas initiatives and developing the huge gas potentials of the country, he however lamented that the missing link was the absence of the basic gas infrastructure to help realise the objectives.
He said that a key cause of poor gas production, gas flaring and low domestic gas utilisation was the gas infrastructure deficit in the country.
“It is estimated that more than $20 billion yearly will be required over the next ten years to bridge these gaps,” the Minister said.
The Fund, established under Section 52 of the PIA, resides as a Directorate in the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
As a Directorate within the Authority, the Minister said the Fund would be expected to benefit from its internal reporting, operational and organisational processes adding that in accordance with the PIA, 2021, the Council “shall supervise and make investment decisions for the Fund”.
Section 52 (3) provides for the Governing Council to supervise and make investment decisions for the Fund.
Sylva urged the members of the Council not to take their responsibilities lightly stressing that urgent steps need to be taken to bring gas infrastructure closer to “our people to enable them benefit from government policy in this regard”.
The composition of the Council according to the minister was carefully done in view of the importantance of gas to the growth and development to the economy.
“The Midstream and Downstream sector is where the jobs could be created and value added to the economy,” Sylva said urging the Council members to take their assignment seriously.
“There is an urgent need to focus on the major strategic plans and key initiatives to enable government set a clear trajectory to achieving the noble objectives of establishing the Fund,” he further stated.
Terms of reference for the Council include identifying critical and relevant stakeholders that can increase domestic utilisation of natural gas, LPG and Auto gas, and
develop a roadmap for transforming gas to a value addition product in Nigeria.
The Council has the Minister of State Petroleum Resources as Chairman and the Executive Director MDGIF as chief executive officer.
Other members of the Council include Dr Scholastica Nnaji representing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Mr Victor Omata representing Federal Ministry of Finance, Farouk Ahmed Chief Executive Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); Mr Ahmed Bobboi; Abdullahi Bukar; Mr Effiong Abia while the Legal Adviser, NMDPRA will serve as the Secretary of the Council.
The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kolo Kyari has given assurance that importation of petroleum products will be a thing of the past from next year, 2023.
Mele Kolo, who spoke to news men today, August 30, at the weekly ministerial briefing at the Presidential villa, Abuja said that the combined production capacity of the Dangote refinery when it comes on stream and the NNPCL, will eliminate the importation of the petroleum product.
He said that beyond stopping importation of petroleum products, Nigeria will be a hub of export of the products.
Mele Kolo explained that NNPC owns 20 percent equity in the Dangote Refinery, saying: “not just that, we have the right of first refusal to supply crude oil to that plant because we saw this energy transition challenge coming.
“We knew that a time will come when you will look for people who will buy your crude oil, you will not find. And that means that we have locked down the ability to sell crude oil for 300,000 barrels minimum by right for the next 20 years.
“Also, by right, we have access to 20 percent of the production from that plant as a part of our equity.”
He said that when the Dangote refinery comes on stream by latest, the middle of next year, with the capacity to produce 650,000 per barrel capacity and a different technology, it can crack the crude in a manner that there would be more gasoline than a typical refinery.
“That refinery has the ability to produce 50 million litters of PMS per day.
“So, a combination of that and our own ability to bring back our refineries will completely eliminate the importation of petroleum products into this country next year.
“You will not see any importation into this country next year. This is very pratical, this is very possible.”
He said that but for now, even if all the four refineries in three locations of the country are completed at 90 percent of installed capacity, they will only be able to raise 18 million litres of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) or petrol.
“That means that even if all of them are working today, we will still have a net deficit of PMS imported to this country.
“This is what it means, because our population has grown, demand has grown and the middle class has grown, such that the volume of PMS required in this country has grown exponentially.
“Certainly, if they all come back we will still need to do more and happily also.”
Three former Presidents of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) at different times: from right, Femi Adesina, currently the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity; Garba Deen Muhammed, current Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and Garba Shehu, current Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on media and publicity posed for a snapshot when they had a chanced meeting today, August 30, at the Presidential villa, Abuja.
This piece about academics in Nigeria may offend the arrogance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) if ASUU is repressive or it will excite ASUU’s patriotism to bootstrap the Nigerian Academics to his pride of place in the global league of universal institutions called universities.
I write this piece to expose, as an insider, the realities of Academics in Nigeria towards rescuing the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) from the asphyxiation of ASUU and redirect ASUU to the path of patriotism.
The truth is that like Saul who later became Paul, ASUU has ignorantly become the enemy of the Nigerian State. Why and How? You may ask! Permit me to begin with the answer to “the why.” ASUU pride herself as being the most educated, knowledgeable and intelligent set of Nigerians. This, obviously, is not true. I assert that education is not certification, knowledge is not qualification and intelligence is natural, it is not grammar. Even the grammar, we do not write or speak it better than others.
ASUU should be humble enough to accept that we are not paid for certificates acquired, but we are paid to do our job of teaching, impactful research and community services within and outside the university with utmost professionalism and integrity and without fear or favour. If we say the truth, every Nigerian graduate has one or more lecturers that taught him/her that he/she wondered, and is still wondering, how the lecturer got thus far, even to the peak. I mean Professors! Maybe I am one of those lecturers, but it is high time we said the truth. Besides, many of the excellent students could not come into academics because we are guilty of what we accuse FGN – nepotism and tribalism!
ASUU may say they are not responsible for promotion or employment in any university. Who then does? ASUU members of course! Vice Chancellors, Deans, Heads of Departments and Professors are not military officers, APC or PDP members but ASUU members. ASUU is only interested in collecting dues with no mechanism in place to maintain the integrity and progression of Academics in Nigeria. It is important Nigerians know that FGN does not interfere in the appointment and promotion of Academic staff in any university. ASUU should drop this pride and let us move Nigeria forward.
The second reason why ASUU ignorantly persecutes Nigerians is that they are lost in ecstasy against the Nigerian state. They have abdicated their role of clamouring for members’ welfare and have constituted themselves into a quasi-political party and self-made opposition to any government in power. Most Nigerians who are either polygamous or from polygamous home, will agree that the wife that antagonises her husband the most, get the least from her husband no matter how good or rich the man is.
Permanent Secretaries or Judges earn more than a Professor they will tell us and get us drunk with the wine of pride, adducing these categories of workers enjoy what they enjoy because they are puppets to politicians or government in power; and that ASUU will not falter its integrity and will remain the voice of the downtrodden.
Enough of this hypocrisy! At least in recent times, ASUU decides who rules this country and it is only when there are disputes, the judiciary arbitrate. When many staunch ASUU supporters discuss how they went about conniving with politicians of varying political parties to get them or their cronies installed in power, you will weep for this country.
Politicians in Nigeria, particularly, in recent times will sincerely accept in their heart of hearts that Lecturers have lost the integrity or love they profess they have for Nigerians as against the politicians or other public office holders. Is it not some of us that connive with some students to have unmerited qualifications they use to occupy these public offices? Why accuse who your members aided to power of incompetence or misrule? ASUU is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
ASUU like most trade unions should concentrate their energy on their members’ welfare – they should always come out straight with their welfare demands instead of their holier and richer than thou posture. We should be humble to say the truth, our salary is not enough not because we are better than other Nigerian workers or earn less but because of the nature of our job – even if we have all the comforts and tools to do research, we spend a fortune to get them published.
On the average, a Lecturer will require thirty to forty publications with about 1/3rd of them published with foreign currency, to be a Professor. To say the truth, a dedicated Lecturer with high integrity, which most of us are, is poor. With sustained support for any government in power, in our capacity as academics, the cooperation of other trade unions, and logical persuasions, we will get something from the government. Something is better than nothing! Do not judge us based on our packaging. We are suffering but smiling! Instead of ASUU to consistently market this truth, they have worsened the poverty of Nigerian academics by avoiding it; claiming that the Nigerian Universities are poorly equipped and citing autonomy and other smoky issues.
For the smoky issues, I will show later that ASUU is the problem and they know too. Nigerian Students! Poor salary is our problem and the genuine cause of our anger and persistent strike; not any acclaimed love for you. If we love you as claimed, why do we suspend most strikes after financial settlement from FGN. Some University Academics extort students financially and sexually and yet we claim we love the students and that we are fighting their course. What has ASUU done as a union to protect innocent students from this oppression. Absolutely Nothing! What a hypocrisy!!
Still on ASUU’s “Nollywood” love for Nigerians, is it in the interest of Nigerians, that ASUU proposed and accepted 70years retirement age for the professorial cadre? NO! It was because the Judges were given 70years. Even after 70years, some ASUU members still want to stay on contract in FGN payroll while they receive gratuity and pension. The youths have no job, the old do not want to retire and yet they claim they love Nigerians.
ASUU should explain to Nigerians why a Lecturer that became an Associate Professor at the verge of 65years should be given extra five years in service. Somebody should help me tell ASUU that it is even in our culture as Africans to have the most elderly ones among us settle our disputes. Besides, rules and discretion are two desiderata deployed in legal practice. Discretion made law an axe that requires the very experienced because of the possible intrigues of lawyers. I assert that no other human task can be as an axe as law. Greed blinded ASUU, they forgot we have other legal means of income as Part-time teaching, external examination and assessment, an Adjunct lecturer position in another University, royalties, market for our books as in most tertiary institutions, opportunity for political office outside our place of work while in service which the Judges may not have.
Legally, Judges are not allowed to romance with any political party or its members. We all saw what happened recently with one of our finest Judges in the court of Appeal because her husband has affiliation with a political party. She had to withdraw from a case in the interest of the country. Before you call me APC puppet, I did not vote for APC in both the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, but I wholeheartedly accepted the position of the majority and the wisdom of the Judiciary. Before I digress, this singular act of envy by ASUU that claim to “love” Nigerians has contributed greatly to youth unemployment in civil service as other union began to also request for additional five years in service.
Why Nigerian civil servants were on strike for addition of five years to their retirement age, a European nation with longer life-expectancy and lower youth unemployment went on strike to reverse their retirement age that was increased by a year.
I have so far exposed my conviction on why ASUU has become an enemy of the Nigerian state. The reasons are pride, greed, and lack of instrument to enforce integrity and professionalism among its members.
This lack of instrument may draw pity to ASUU as a crippled toothless tiger before its members. ASUU however relies on two unholy but potent instruments of control – propaganda and intimidation, to satisfy its pride and greed. ASUU coarse its members and their families with fear – fear of career progression and academic opportunities irrespective of their capabilities. The truth is that majority of the Lecturers in Nigerian Universities are sick and tired of the incessant strike by ASUU and the lack of innovative means of engaging government; as evident by the about 55% of its members who stood with the FGN on the deployment of IPPIS despite ASUU’s intimidation.
Some notable Professors or politically aspiring Lecturers had to hide to register with IPPIS to evade the fury of ASUU. ASUU cannot love us more than us! The UNIBEN branch of ASUU robbed me and others that subscribed to IPPIS of our Christmas rice which we contributed towards and threatened us with queries; but I trashed mine. I was insulted and promised that ASUU will work against me if I should contest or vie for position in any University. Do not fear for me! I have never and will never fear any cult. The finality of man is death and death by truth is holy and paradise assured.
If ASUU is truly democratic, they are supposed to bow to the voice of the majority. The truth on the IPPIS issue is, you may not like Buhari or the APC lead FGN, IPPIS is a holy ICT innovation capable of effectively preventing corruption, without a fight, on our national payroll. Globally, preventive means of checking corruption is cheaper and greener than the curative means of fighting corruption. No doubt, as with all ICT innovations and deployments, there are bound to be teething problems which do wear away with time. IPPIS provides the long-awaited opportunity for ASUU to exercise their academic autonomy and bootstrap Nigerian Universities to its pride of place. I wish to let Nigerians know that all ASUU is saying about IPPIS is pure propaganda against FGN.
I challenge ASUU to an open debate on IPPIS. Let us examine the smoky issues of funding, infrastructural decay and autonomy that ASUU has consistently used to blackmail FGN and woo the sympathy of Nigerians. It is important to note that the National University Commission (NUC) is an instrument of FGN to ensure Nigerian Universities meet up with global standards. NUC is doing an excellent job to guarantee high standard university education for Nigerians and foreigners alike.
The resource verification and the regular accreditation instruments and implementation procedures are second to none in the globe. I affirm that NUC make use of ASUU members to perform virtually all their task of maintaining standards in the Nigerian Universities. Oh! I may be accused of NUC sponsorship. My apologies, NUC.
I pity FGN, ASUU will recommend to FGN through NUC that all is well and, in most cases, excellent and the same ASUU is fighting FGN through the Presidency and Labour ministry that everything is in total collapse. Who then is the problem, FGN or ASUU? Have we heard ASUU complained to NUC about resource verification or accreditation instruments or exercises? No! Does NUC (FGN) report and enforce ASUU’s findings and recommendations on which university or its programme should be sustained? Yes! Who made strike part of our university calendar? ASUU! Who prepares the university for accreditation or resource verification? ASUU! Who are the phoney resource persons particularly in private universities? ASUU! Who does accreditation or resource verification? ASUU! Who affirms that our universities and its programmes are particularly in good form? ASUU! Who awards the degrees? ASUU! Who is saying our university system is dilapidated and substandard? ASUU! My Nigerian universities, your midwife has become your murderer, prosecutor, advocate and judge. ASUU why? Who therefore is the clog in the wheel of progress of Academics in Nigeria?
The Way Forward:
(i) ASUU should apologise to FGN and Nigerians for negligence, misdirection, and disruption of university calendar at least in the last two to three decades; and put a final stop to the incessant strikes in the public universities in Nigeria.
(ii) ASUU should accept that other public or civil servants are equally important.
(iii) ASUU should come out straight with their unique welfare nature; with respect for constituted authorities as enshrined in our holy books.
(iv) ASUU should henceforth, “call a spade, a spade” and do their job with fairness, professionalism and integrity without any fear or favour.
(v) ASUU should device ethical means of enforcing professionalism, integrity and standards in Nigerian Academics commensurate with global norm. It is hoped that this divine ambush on ASUU on his way to “Damascus” will redirect ASUU’s focus from its misplaced intention to a genuine course of Nation building and promotion of Academics in Nigeria. This piece is my opinion and not that of my university or professional bodies.
Prof. Godspower Ekuobase, PhD, MCPN. Professor of Services Computing Department of Computer Science University of Benin, Benin City Edo State, Nigeria Email: godspower.ekuobase@uniben.edu Tel. +234(0) 8064951845.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed gratitude to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for releasing $265 million out of foreign airlines’ blocked funds accumulated for the sale of flight tickets.
the body said: “IATA welcomes the Nigerian Government’s release of $265m of airlines’ blocked funds. We will continue to engage with it on expediting the release of the remaining amount so that airlines can continue providing the connectivity Nigeria requires without disrupting and harming its economy and jobs.
“We encourage other countries, in Africa and elsewhere, that are blocking the repatriation of foreign airlines’ funds, to follow Nigeria’s example and release the money they are withholding. Without it, airlines cannot afford to serve those countries. This would be detrimental to the people and businesses that depend on the market connectivity those airlines provide.
“IATA speaks and leads the industry on matters of common interest. While IATA cannot speak for individual airlines, we hope the release of blocked funds with assurances and safeguards to prevent a recurrence, will persuade affected carriers to continue serving Nigeria.
“Even after this welcome and sizeable release, there will still be more than $200m of airlines funds blocked in Nigeria.”
As previously reported by IATA, the following other African countries continue to block airlines’ funds:
Following the decision at its meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State at the weekend to continue with their strike, a cross-section of Nigerians have condemned members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Nigerians, who took to Twitter to react to the extension of the strike which began on February 14th, 2022 after the federal government failed to meet some of its demands, majorly turned against the union, calling for the sack of the unwilling members.
Below are some comments:
@MbahTheCreator, “At this point Asuu are the problem. Miracle kosisochukwu
@IamShola_best wrote: “The Federal Government should just allow those that want to resume among the lecturers go back to class and dismiss the rest and pay those that resume, then recruit new people to take the place of those that will be dismissed.”
@Israell1942, “Asuu is such a useless union that even under Obi they’ll go on strike. They’ve gone on strike under every administration. Everybody knows ASUU is the one and only problem.
@vixsonics, “The thing that is hurting the feelings of these ASUU people is that, they are not going to receive free 6 Months of Salaries for the time they were on Strike.
@Dambatta_1, “They should keep extending it while the country’s future keeps staying at home. The solution is for FG to proscribe the organization, sack all of them and employ those that are ready to work. If not for ASUU, many students would’ve been graduates by now.”
@Homodayor, “It seems our leaders don’t value education due to the manner in which the strike is being handled by the Ministers of education and labour while Fmr pre. Obasanjo said he went to Minna to discuss the national agenda. Does it mean education is not vital? The strike has been going on four more than 6months.
@miracle_emedo, “Pls how is Asuu the problem …you know ASUU can start and run the school like a gov sec school where u come to school and never see your lecturer cause they might start a side Business to meet up with this messed up economy if this govt did their job would ASUU be on strike?
@japaprofessor_ wrote: “Sad, students should better start getting productive and stop hinging their hopes on the outcome of FG-ASUU meetings.”
@AhanotuIkenna wrote: “Sad to say, but students should forget going to school this year. I don’t see that strike being called off till after the elections except if something happens.”
@ukange_davidx wrote: “Every time they call for a meeting. I always have this feeling we Gonna get bad news.”
@Miniboyyrn_ wrote: “Tho my sister is crying for a big help, we wey dey
Two pilots in the service of one of the world’s largest airlines – Air France — have been suspended following a mid-air fight in the cockpit.
According to reports, the fight, which resulted to blows, has earned both pilots serious sanctions which included being barred from active flying for now.
The professional misconduct was said to have happened sometime in June 2022 on a flight from Geneva and Paris.
The pilot and the co-pilot of the Airbus A320 had a disagreement that degenerated into a physical fight mid-flight shortly after takeoff while the plane climbed to its cruising altitude.
Although the cause of the fight could not be confirmed at press time, the two men reportedly took each other by the collars and potentially hit or slapped each other before the noise alerted fellow crew members.
A source said the disagreement might be a personal reason or a professional cause such as the co-pilot’s refusal to follow instructions.
One pilot’s version of the events indicated an “inadvertent blow” that led to the escalation of aggression.
The other pilot claimed that it was a slap while the other one alleged the other threw a wooden object in his face.
Upon hearing the noise in the cockpit, members of the cabin crew stepped in to defuse the situation just as the tension died down.
One member of the cabin even stayed in the flight deck with the pilots for the remainder of the journey to ensure peace and record the situation for later review.
The plane, however, landed safely in Geneva with all passengers and crew, without any further interruptions.
A spokesperson for the airline confirmed that the flight proceeded as usual and that the pilots are awaiting a decision by management on their inappropriate behaviour.
He said: “the incident ended quickly without affecting either the conduct or the safety of the flight which continued normally” and specified that the airline had removed the pilots involved from active flying pending a managerial decision.
It was learnt that the incident was not referred to France’s Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority, the Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses (BEA), which confirmed it was not notified of the incident as there were no consequences for the flight.
The news of the in-flight fight followed a report by the BEA published earlier this week, which points to several potential safety violations from the carrier, “most notably, a flight on December 31, 2020, from Brazzaville (Congo) to Paris onboard an Airbus A330.”
After a fuel tank leak was discovered, the pilots in question failed to follow standard emergency procedures of shutting down the engine to decrease the risk of the leaking fuel catching fire.
The aircraft successfully diverted, and all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has advised Nigerians to get fully involved in acquiring digital skills, even as he vowed that Nigeria’s march towards attaining 95 percent digital literacy in 2030, as contained in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), 2020 – 2030, will be pursued vigorously.
Pantami, who spoke today, August 29 at the graduation of participants at a two-week Digital Job Creation Training for the North-East in Gombe, which was facilitated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said: “the reason we train citizens is because digital skills are no longer considered a luxury, but necessities required in any business you do. If you want to be successful, you need to have digital skills.’
“ICT is not just an independent sector but the key enabler of all other sectors today. It enables opportunities in education, in health, in agriculture, in security, in defence, in manufacturing, in trade, in investment and in industry.”
He, therefore, advised the participants to adopt innovation-driven enterprises and to utilize the training they have received to improve their economic status and make Nigeria a better place.
“We have to utilise ICT in order to make our country a better place. We must use ICT even for our personal economic benefits amongst others. Therefore, we want to encourage you not to waste your times online but rather to use the knowledge you have acquired to make Nigeria a better place and at the same time, derive many economic benefits from it.”
The Minister highlighted that recent reports of the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, about the performance of each sector of the economy, which indicated an unprecedented ICT’s contribution of 18.44 per cent to the economy, as very heart-warming about the prospects of the industry meeting with the expectations of the relevant policies.
“So, by implications, we set a record last year and we surpassed that record this second quarter of 2022 without involving the digital services. Only the ICT sector contributed 18.44 per cent, which can be attributed to the policies which we have introduced in the sector.”
He said the training which has taken place in nine other states, including the Federal Capital Territory, will be conducted throughout the remaining geopolitical zones.
The Digital Job Creation Training is a two-week programme targeted at youth desirous of developing and enhancing their ICT skills in order to promote and enhance growth in the yet untapped and commercially viable digital economy both locally and globally. Each participant at the training received starter packs comprising laptop with accessories, MiFi Modem with three months data subscription, and some money.
Managing Director of TAJBank Limited, Nigeria’s non-interest lender, Hamid Joda has announced that very soon, the bank will begin the issuance of its N100 billion Sukuk bond.
According to Joda, in a statement today, August 29, the commencement of the bond followed the signing of all parties for issuance of the first ever non-interest private Sukuk bond offer in the nation’s capital market.
He said that the bank has secured all regulatory approvals required for opening the Sukuk to the general public, adding that the bond would be listed on the Nigerian Exchange.
Joda described the bank’s latest investment initiative as a very important milestone in the annals of Nigeria’s capital market development, while assuring investors of good returns on their investment in the TAJBank Sukuk bond.
“The Sukuk bond issuance is a very important milestone in the history of Nigeria’s capital market.
“I believe that after this issuance, we will see a number of companies in the Nigerian market coming out to issue Sukuk bonds and that will lead to deepening of the non-interest market and eventually economic development of Nigeria.
“My message to the investing public is to take advantage of the opportunity in view of its potential for good returns.’’
Joda said that the instrument is coming out at an expected rate of 15 per cent.
“It is also an ethical instrument and there are very few ethical instruments out there and I believe a lot of investors are looking for instruments that have ethical leaning.”
Also speaking, TAJBank’s Executive Director of the bank, Sheriff Idi, emphasised the importance of the Sukuk bond to the bank’s operations.
He said that TAJBank had capacity to provide financial support to needy enterprises with the attendant positive implications for the nation’s economic growth.
“In the last two years of the bank’s operations, we have raised additional capital apart from the Sukuk we are issuing now. With the Sukuk bond issuance, we wanted to raise TAJBank’s capital base to about N30 billion by the end of the year.
“That means we can now finance those sectors that probably some initially thought we cannot provide funding support. That is the essence of this Sukuk bond issuance.”
Idi said that when the bank commenced business about two years ago, its capital base or finance obligor element was little, adding that it limited the bank’s financial support to people and businesses.
According to him, in view of the lender’s improved capital base and other positive financial trajectory recorded over the last two years, TAJ Bank will be fully positioned to surpass public expectations.
“It will ensure improved returns to shareholders and more positive impact on the economy. In the last two years, we have raised additional capital apart from the Sukuk we are issuing now.”
The bank’s Chairman, Alhaji Tanko Gwamna, said that the Sukuk bond would benefit investors in multidimensional ways.
According to him, the impact of the Sukuk bond on the economy is that we are trying to provide more liquidity for the economy and return on the investment is very favourable.
“We are virtually competing even more than what is available in the market because its potential returns on investment is going to be very huge to investors.
“The funds raised through the Sukuk bond and innovative deployment to needy sectors of the economy will help to create jobs and boost economic activities.
“It will also improve the non-interest banking sub sector’s contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the years ahead.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has virtually declared war on those who are in the habit of attacking police officers and men in the line of duty across the country.
He cried out loud: “attacks on police officers and men in the line of duty would no longer be tolerated under whatever guise, as the Force holds the lives of its personnel sacrosanct.”
A statement today, August 29 by the Force spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that the police boss has directed all Police Commands and Formations to ensure that individuals who engage in assault on police officers, irrespective of preceding factors, are made to face the full wrath of the law via swift prosecution in courts of competent jurisdiction.
Usman Alkali, who condemned the recent trend of assault on Police Officers and men in uniform, carrying out official and lawful duties in various locations across the nation, emphasized that attacks on Police Officers, who are uniformed agents of the state, is both illegal and an affront on the rule of law.
“Inspector-General of Police while reiterating the commitment of the Force to ensuring protection of lives and property, stressed the importance of according respect to the fundamental rights of Police officers and other security operatives, in order to enable them advance their sacred mandate of serving and protecting the citizens better and maintenance of law and order.”
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ASUU Is The Problem Of Education In Nigeria, By Prof. Godspower Ekuobase
This piece about academics in Nigeria may offend the arrogance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) if ASUU is repressive or it will excite ASUU’s patriotism to bootstrap the Nigerian Academics to his pride of place in the global league of universal institutions called universities.
I write this piece to expose, as an insider, the realities of Academics in Nigeria towards rescuing the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) from the asphyxiation of ASUU and redirect ASUU to the path of patriotism.
The truth is that like Saul who later became Paul, ASUU has ignorantly become the enemy of the Nigerian State. Why and How? You may ask! Permit me to begin with the answer to “the why.” ASUU pride herself as being the most educated, knowledgeable and intelligent set of Nigerians. This, obviously, is not true. I assert that education is not certification, knowledge is not qualification and intelligence is natural, it is not grammar. Even the grammar, we do not write or speak it better than others.
ASUU should be humble enough to accept that we are not paid for certificates acquired, but we are paid to do our job of teaching, impactful research and community services within and outside the university with utmost professionalism and integrity and without fear or favour. If we say the truth, every Nigerian graduate has one or more lecturers that taught him/her that he/she wondered, and is still wondering, how the lecturer got thus far, even to the peak. I mean Professors! Maybe I am one of those lecturers, but it is high time we said the truth. Besides, many of the excellent students could not come into academics because we are guilty of what we accuse FGN – nepotism and tribalism!
ASUU may say they are not responsible for promotion or employment in any university. Who then does? ASUU members of course! Vice Chancellors, Deans, Heads of Departments and Professors are not military officers, APC or PDP members but ASUU members. ASUU is only interested in collecting dues with no mechanism in place to maintain the integrity and progression of Academics in Nigeria. It is important Nigerians know that FGN does not interfere in the appointment and promotion of Academic staff in any university. ASUU should drop this pride and let us move Nigeria forward.
The second reason why ASUU ignorantly persecutes Nigerians is that they are lost in ecstasy against the Nigerian state. They have abdicated their role of clamouring for members’ welfare and have constituted themselves into a quasi-political party and self-made opposition to any government in power. Most Nigerians who are either polygamous or from polygamous home, will agree that the wife that antagonises her husband the most, get the least from her husband no matter how good or rich the man is.
Permanent Secretaries or Judges earn more than a Professor they will tell us and get us drunk with the wine of pride, adducing these categories of workers enjoy what they enjoy because they are puppets to politicians or government in power; and that ASUU will not falter its integrity and will remain the voice of the downtrodden.
Enough of this hypocrisy! At least in recent times, ASUU decides who rules this country and it is only when there are disputes, the judiciary arbitrate. When many staunch ASUU supporters discuss how they went about conniving with politicians of varying political parties to get them or their cronies installed in power, you will weep for this country.
Politicians in Nigeria, particularly, in recent times will sincerely accept in their heart of hearts that Lecturers have lost the integrity or love they profess they have for Nigerians as against the politicians or other public office holders. Is it not some of us that connive with some students to have unmerited qualifications they use to occupy these public offices? Why accuse who your members aided to power of incompetence or misrule? ASUU is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
ASUU like most trade unions should concentrate their energy on their members’ welfare – they should always come out straight with their welfare demands instead of their holier and richer than thou posture. We should be humble to say the truth, our salary is not enough not because we are better than other Nigerian workers or earn less but because of the nature of our job – even if we have all the comforts and tools to do research, we spend a fortune to get them published.
On the average, a Lecturer will require thirty to forty publications with about 1/3rd of them published with foreign currency, to be a Professor. To say the truth, a dedicated Lecturer with high integrity, which most of us are, is poor. With sustained support for any government in power, in our capacity as academics, the cooperation of other trade unions, and logical persuasions, we will get something from the government. Something is better than nothing! Do not judge us based on our packaging. We are suffering but smiling! Instead of ASUU to consistently market this truth, they have worsened the poverty of Nigerian academics by avoiding it; claiming that the Nigerian Universities are poorly equipped and citing autonomy and other smoky issues.
For the smoky issues, I will show later that ASUU is the problem and they know too. Nigerian Students! Poor salary is our problem and the genuine cause of our anger and persistent strike; not any acclaimed love for you. If we love you as claimed, why do we suspend most strikes after financial settlement from FGN. Some University Academics extort students financially and sexually and yet we claim we love the students and that we are fighting their course. What has ASUU done as a union to protect innocent students from this oppression. Absolutely Nothing! What a hypocrisy!!
Still on ASUU’s “Nollywood” love for Nigerians, is it in the interest of Nigerians, that ASUU proposed and accepted 70years retirement age for the professorial cadre? NO! It was because the Judges were given 70years. Even after 70years, some ASUU members still want to stay on contract in FGN payroll while they receive gratuity and pension. The youths have no job, the old do not want to retire and yet they claim they love Nigerians.
ASUU should explain to Nigerians why a Lecturer that became an Associate Professor at the verge of 65years should be given extra five years in service. Somebody should help me tell ASUU that it is even in our culture as Africans to have the most elderly ones among us settle our disputes. Besides, rules and discretion are two desiderata deployed in legal practice. Discretion made law an axe that requires the very experienced because of the possible intrigues of lawyers. I assert that no other human task can be as an axe as law. Greed blinded ASUU, they forgot we have other legal means of income as Part-time teaching, external examination and assessment, an Adjunct lecturer position in another University, royalties, market for our books as in most tertiary institutions, opportunity for political office outside our place of work while in service which the Judges may not have.
Legally, Judges are not allowed to romance with any political party or its members. We all saw what happened recently with one of our finest Judges in the court of Appeal because her husband has affiliation with a political party. She had to withdraw from a case in the interest of the country. Before you call me APC puppet, I did not vote for APC in both the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, but I wholeheartedly accepted the position of the majority and the wisdom of the Judiciary. Before I digress, this singular act of envy by ASUU that claim to “love” Nigerians has contributed greatly to youth unemployment in civil service as other union began to also request for additional five years in service.
Why Nigerian civil servants were on strike for addition of five years to their retirement age, a European nation with longer life-expectancy and lower youth unemployment went on strike to reverse their retirement age that was increased by a year.
I have so far exposed my conviction on why ASUU has become an enemy of the Nigerian state. The reasons are pride, greed, and lack of instrument to enforce integrity and professionalism among its members.
This lack of instrument may draw pity to ASUU as a crippled toothless tiger before its members. ASUU however relies on two unholy but potent instruments of control – propaganda and intimidation, to satisfy its pride and greed. ASUU coarse its members and their families with fear – fear of career progression and academic opportunities irrespective of their capabilities. The truth is that majority of the Lecturers in Nigerian Universities are sick and tired of the incessant strike by ASUU and the lack of innovative means of engaging government; as evident by the about 55% of its members who stood with the FGN on the deployment of IPPIS despite ASUU’s intimidation.
Some notable Professors or politically aspiring Lecturers had to hide to register with IPPIS to evade the fury of ASUU. ASUU cannot love us more than us! The UNIBEN branch of ASUU robbed me and others that subscribed to IPPIS of our Christmas rice which we contributed towards and threatened us with queries; but I trashed mine. I was insulted and promised that ASUU will work against me if I should contest or vie for position in any University. Do not fear for me! I have never and will never fear any cult. The finality of man is death and death by truth is holy and paradise assured.
If ASUU is truly democratic, they are supposed to bow to the voice of the majority. The truth on the IPPIS issue is, you may not like Buhari or the APC lead FGN, IPPIS is a holy ICT innovation capable of effectively preventing corruption, without a fight, on our national payroll. Globally, preventive means of checking corruption is cheaper and greener than the curative means of fighting corruption. No doubt, as with all ICT innovations and deployments, there are bound to be teething problems which do wear away with time. IPPIS provides the long-awaited opportunity for ASUU to exercise their academic autonomy and bootstrap Nigerian Universities to its pride of place. I wish to let Nigerians know that all ASUU is saying about IPPIS is pure propaganda against FGN.
I challenge ASUU to an open debate on IPPIS. Let us examine the smoky issues of funding, infrastructural decay and autonomy that ASUU has consistently used to blackmail FGN and woo the sympathy of Nigerians. It is important to note that the National University Commission (NUC) is an instrument of FGN to ensure Nigerian Universities meet up with global standards. NUC is doing an excellent job to guarantee high standard university education for Nigerians and foreigners alike.
The resource verification and the regular accreditation instruments and implementation procedures are second to none in the globe. I affirm that NUC make use of ASUU members to perform virtually all their task of maintaining standards in the Nigerian Universities. Oh! I may be accused of NUC sponsorship. My apologies, NUC.
I pity FGN, ASUU will recommend to FGN through NUC that all is well and, in most cases, excellent and the same ASUU is fighting FGN through the Presidency and Labour ministry that everything is in total collapse. Who then is the problem, FGN or ASUU? Have we heard ASUU complained to NUC about resource verification or accreditation instruments or exercises? No! Does NUC (FGN) report and enforce ASUU’s findings and recommendations on which university or its programme should be sustained? Yes! Who made strike part of our university calendar? ASUU! Who prepares the university for accreditation or resource verification? ASUU! Who are the phoney resource persons particularly in private universities? ASUU! Who does accreditation or resource verification? ASUU! Who affirms that our universities and its programmes are particularly in good form? ASUU! Who awards the degrees? ASUU! Who is saying our university system is dilapidated and substandard? ASUU! My Nigerian universities, your midwife has become your murderer, prosecutor, advocate and judge. ASUU why? Who therefore is the clog in the wheel of progress of Academics in Nigeria?
The Way Forward:
(i) ASUU should apologise to FGN and Nigerians for negligence, misdirection, and disruption of university calendar at least in the last two to three decades; and put a final stop to the incessant strikes in the public universities in Nigeria.
(ii) ASUU should accept that other public or civil servants are equally important.
(iii) ASUU should come out straight with their unique welfare nature; with respect for constituted authorities as enshrined in our holy books.
(iv) ASUU should henceforth, “call a spade, a spade” and do their job with fairness, professionalism and integrity without any fear or favour.
(v) ASUU should device ethical means of enforcing professionalism, integrity and standards in Nigerian Academics commensurate with global norm. It is hoped that this divine ambush on ASUU on his way to “Damascus” will redirect ASUU’s focus from its misplaced intention to a genuine course of Nation building and promotion of Academics in Nigeria. This piece is my opinion and not that of my university or professional bodies.