National Association of Nigerian Students Gives ASUU and FG 14-day Ultimatum

 

The National Association of Nigerian Students  (NANS) held a crucial meeting on 9th November,2020 to discuss the unending squabbles between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)

PREAMBLE:

The NANS under the leadership of Comr. Chidi Ilogebe, summoned an emergency students' leaders meeting, with the sole aim of fashioning collective views and way Forward approach to the lingering ASUU prolonged strike.

ATTENDANCE:

The meeting had in attendance the NANS president, members of NANS National Executive Council, Senate President, Principal Officers of the NANS Senate, Zonal Coordinators, JCC Chairmen, Selected SUG Presidents and Some Prominent Students' Leaders from the six geopolitical zones of the federation.

DELIBERATIONS:

The meeting after exhaustive discussions, heated debates and constructive arguments considering the legitimacy and validity of ASUU demands and the Federal Government response and position thus far, resolved as follows:

1. That NANS declares the necessity of minimum of two academic session school fees waiver for Nigerian students in both State and Federal Institutions in the spirit of Covid-19 palliative to ameliorate the economic effects of the lockdown occasioned by the global pandemic to avert mass drop out of students which may increase crime and criminality among youths in the country.

2. That the government has failed to prioritize education, hence the failure to deploy necessary fund for complete overhauling of education sector and total revitalization of university education in Nigeria, through a meaningful budgetary allocation to the sector in line with the recommendation of UNESCO 26% educational budgetary allocation, which can be traced as the root cause of incessant strike by the Academic Staff Union(s) in all Nigeria Tertiary Institutions.

3. That NANS has affirmed the perpetual and continue industrial actions by the ASUU as the only tool to press home her demands as an organized crime against students' career and educational pursuits. Consequently, NANS with no hesitation declares: 14 days Ultimatum for both parties (ASUU and FG) to resolve their impasse for our campuses to re-open or risk Mass Protest #EndASUUStrike Nationwide with economic shut down as the major target.

4. That while both Government and ASUU lose nothing at the end of every strike actions, both salaries, promotions and other emoluments among others flows uninterrupted; Nigerian students are the greatest losers as their career stand delayed, Stay on Campus Extended, House Rent/Hostel Fee Incurred, NYSC age limit Exceeded, Federal/State Job age requirement exceeded among other negative effects and impacts on general life plan of an average Nigerian student which are considered an act of deliberate wickedness.

5. That NANS, on behalf of Nigerian students shall approach the Federal High Court to seek legal redress on ASUU and FG in demand for compensation/Damages for Nigerians students' time wastage, life plan disruption and career delay. These shall include; Mandatory Alternative Modalities for ASUU to press home her members’ demand without interrupting academic calendar; NYSC age limit extension, mandatory removal of age limit for Federal and State job employment, unconditional two academic session school fees waiver and among others respectively.

6. That the leadership of NANS, lead by Comr. Chidi Ilogebe will proceed to have a press conference to address Nigeria students, Federal Government and ASUU on our positions and next line of action as resolved therein.

Signed:

Amb Salahudeen A Lukman (Comr)

Chairman Communiqué Drafting Committee.

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Comr. Danladi Jonah

Vice Chairman

Communique Drafting Committee

Modibo Adama Federal University Yola, Adamawa State

Comrade Ogunsanya Rasheed

JCC Chairman Lagos

Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija-Epe, Lagos State

Member.

Comr. Nwafor Joshua (JP)

Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.

Member

Rt. Comr. Adai Pius

SUG President, Federal University of Agriculture Markurdi (FUAM), Benue State. Member

Rukkayya Yusuf

ABU Zaria,Kaduna State.

Member

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Another Protest Looms if We Fail to Do These Things

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lawan said the oil sector and the white collar jobs could no longer provide the required employment to keep the youths busy and financially stable.

Sanwo-Olu to Save Billions for Lagos by Scrapping Pension for Tinubu and Others

 

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday announced his bold intention to abolish the payment of pension and other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies.

He made his intention to repeal the Public Office Holder Act 2007 while presenting the 2021 budget to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Abolishment of the Payment of Pension Law 2007 will mean the stoppage of pension payment to Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and other individuals that served as governors and deputy governors in Lagos State.

Apart from pension running into millions, ex governors are entitled to a house in Lagos and FCT with 3 exotic cars every 3 years.  Their ex-deputy Governors are only entitled to a mighty house in Lagos with 2 cars. 

This is the same practice across Nigerian states. Some former Governors are in the Senate, house of Representatives and many are political office holders on appointments like ministers etc and still collecting money meant for the development of Lagos and other states. 

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PDP Asks Buhari to Draw Lessons of Unity from Biden's Speech

The Peoples Democratic Party has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari, to draw lessons from the post-election remarks of the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, by addressing the divisiveness, nepotism and marginalisation which are plagueing his regime.

This was contained in a statement titled, ‘US Election: PDP Congratulates Joe Biden, Americans…Says US Election is a Lesson To Leaders,’ signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Sunday.

The party congratulated the US President-elect, Joe Biden, on his successful election as the 46th President of the United States.

The statement reads partly, “The election is a lesson to leaders that power resides with the people and that there is a limit to how any individual can hold a people to ransom.

“The PDP charges President Muhammadu Buhari to draw lessons from the post-election remarks of the US President-elect by addressing the divisive tendencies, nepotism and marginalization which characterize his administration as well as other actions and policies that threaten the stability, unity and development of our nation.

Also, in congratulating the US President-elect, the PDP urges him to use his new office to promote world unity, peace, global economic, political and international trade collaborations with focus on Africa as well as the developing world.

What's your view on this advice of PDP to  President Buhari? Pen down your thoughts in the comments section below. 

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#EndSARS: Maintain Peace as We're Leaving The Stage Soon Buhari Urges Protesting Youths

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, told Nigerian youths who have been protesting under the auspices of #EndSARS that it is in their interest to maintain the peace. He further said his own generation “is on the last lap, we are exiting.”

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, Nigeria’s former Minister of Environment, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement was titled, “It’s in the interest of our youths to keep the peace, says President Buhari.”

Speaking specifically on the recent #EndSARS protests and the aftermath destruction of public and private property, the President was quoted as saying that, “Our own generation is on the last lap, we are exiting.

“It is in the interest of the youth to keep the peace. They want jobs, infrastructure, and development.

“I have sent a team led by the Chief of Staff (Prof Ibrahim Gambari) to go round the country, talk to traditional rulers, who will then talk to the youths. The views of the youth have been heard.”

Buhari was also quoted to have said that his regime inherited severe infrastructural deficits.

He said that was what his regime was working hard to correct and that it is doing its best within the limits of the available resources.

“That (infrastructural deficit) is what we are fighting to correct. We can’t just sit, fold our hands, and do nothing. We are doing our best within the limits of resources,” he said.

The President was also said to have rued the fact that COVID-19 has shrunk the global economy, noting that “this is something you can’t see, smell, or hear,” but which has wrought devastation on lives and livelihoods around the world.

On climate change, he said Nigeria was concerned about the recharge of Lake Chad, which has great implications on security, irregular migration, and livelihoods.

The Deputy Secretary-General was quoted as telling the President that she was on a courtesy call with her team to flag interest in challenges that concern the UN, particularly COVID-19, climate change, security, and humanitarian responses to the diverse challenges.

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#ENDSARS: FGN is Trying the Resolve of Nigerian Youths

Nigerian Youths protested against the high handedness, extortion and barbarism of an offshoot of the Nigerian Police, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for over 2 weeks, lives were lost and properties damaged

The FG and many respected Nigerians appealed to the youths to end the protest because of hijack by same government sponsored hoodlums. The #EndSARS protesters were promised  to stop the protest with a promise to look into their demands.

They agreed and stopped the protest only for the government to freeze the accounts of notable amongst the protesters and have some in jail. Those in hospitals are being threatened instead of being cared for. Families of those who lost their dear ones cannot come out for the fear they will be killed or jailed. 

Is this the right way  of looking into our Nigerian youths demands? The best thing expected of a responsible government is to critically look  into every point raised in the course of the protest and address them squarely to avoid the repeat of such embarrassing events in Nigeria. 

Honestly, FG of Nigeria should know by now that there's a massive hunger in the land. An hungry man is an angry man. Angry Nigerians are more than the happy ones. The implications are that angry Nigerians are like time bombs waiting to explode with little provocation.

Instead of government addressing the serious issues raised with other burning issues affecting Nigerians,   It's been widely reported that the bank accounts of notable 20 EndSARS supporters were frozen by the Central Bank of Nigeria after it got court order to do so. This particular act by the Central Bank has sparked a lot of negative and angry reactions from Nigerians on social media as they expressed their displeasure towards this recent development. Why would a government that ought to be handling burning issues be busy pursuing shadows? Why can't FGN devotes more energy to freezing Boko Haram terrorists sponsors accounts all over the world?

A CBN that can't manage or regulate Nigeria economy very well is now pursuing innocent Nigerians while failing in all its primary responsibilities to Nigerians. It is debasing and abuse of office as against international best practices all over the world. 

What's your take on this embarrassing steps of the government and CBN? Let's know your views in the comment section. 

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10 Things to Know as Joe Biden Becomes the 46th President of United States of America

 

Democrat Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States of America with over 290 electoral college votes while the incumbent Republican president Donald Trump is still struggling with 214 votes

There are many things you need know about Joe Biden electoral victory:

1. He is the oldest, 78, to contest for American presidency. 

2. The first to have a black woman as Vice President in America history. 

3. The 4th to win an incumbent President in America history. 

4. Kamala Harris is the first woman Vice President 

5. First Democrat to win in Arizona in the last 24 years. 

6. The first Democrat to win in Georgia in the last 28 years.

7. Also a democrat to win the heartland of America; Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

8. Joe Biden won both popular votes and electoral College. 

9.   A President that was elected through both normal voting and vote mailings due to COVID-19 pandemic.

10.  Garnered the highest votes in the history of US Presidential elections. 

What's your take on these great feats?