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Tacha signs new deal.
This ex bbn housemate for season 4 , who was disqualified, Tacha has achieved so much , this includes her new deal with a skin care company.
Tacha is obviously winning and making so much progress in the industry, as a successful brand influencer and entrepreneur.
Likewise , her fans , “titans” are really supportive and have shown her so much love.
She made the announcement of her new deal via her Instagram account as seen below;
Nigerians have now been given the opportunity to use their mobile phones to get their National ID cards without going to queue up at any NIMC registration centers, according to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
NIMC have launched their mobile app that will enable every Nigerian gain access to acquire an original National Identification with their photo and print to get their paper or plastic NIN.
NIMC Mobile app will enable you to do your self registration that will allow you prove your identity with your phone anywhere you want use it. (On-the-go). You can as well use it to verify and check citizens and legal residents who already had their NIN. It grants you access to government services like FIRS, FRSC, NHIS, NPF, NYSC, and many others.
If you want get your Nigerian National ID card from your phone, scroll down to see simply steps on how to go about it.
Step1:Download the NIMC mobile app
Firstly you will need to download the NIMC mobile app from Google Playstore for Android phones, while App Store fot iPhone users.
Step 2: fill in your NIN number and phone number
After installing the app, you will have to log in and type your National Identity Number (NIN) on your national identity slip or you can dial *326# in your mobile phone to retrieve you NIN number.
Dial 3463# with the phone number you used to register your national ID card. You will be sent your user ID and an OTP to your phone.
Step 3: Fill in your User ID
After receiving OTP and User ID message, type the User ID and OTP in the provided space.
After that, Welldone! you now have acess to use the NIMC mobile app!
Step 4: Final stage
You will see all the menu in the NIMC Mobile ID app. What you need to do next is click on ‘Show my ID’ and your national ID card is ready for you to download and print out on both paper and plastic format. As simply as that!
Please remember, only those who have applied for their national ID card are eligible to get their National Identity Number that they will use to download the ID card.
If you don’t have a NIN yet, you will have to do your National ID card Enrolment free of charge, please for more information do visit nimcmobile.app to get more clarification.
Please do like, share and follow me for more updates, and feel free to drop your opinions at the comment section below.
Note: All photos are screenshots from NIMC MOBILE APP/
A young man has made history and done himself proud after breaking a 39-year-old record that had existed in an IMSU department. Mbagwu Johnpaul Chiagoziem graduated with a 4.51 in a 5.0 grading system to emerge the first student ever to bag a first-class honour in the department of industrial physics in IMSU.
Johnpaul who hails from Isiala Mbano in Imo State said it was not an easy task studying physics. Napoli boss finally reveals what will happen to Victor Osimhen after breaking COVID-19 rules In a statement made to the University’s 17th Republic Students’ Union Director of Information and Media Comr.
Duru Victor , he said he was motivated to study to graduate with a first-class because his coursemates and senior colleagues always told him that it had never been done before.
It’s no more news that some universities in the country have resumed academic activities while others are to resume on 11th of January and some will also resume on the 18th of January, 2021.
Some students will be wondering why there are changes in resumption date for each university. The reason for the delay or extension in resumption date is mostly due to rate of infection of the deadly coronavirus. Each state has a record of the number of daily infection which also determine the resumption date for schools.
Also, some states in the country are experiencing insurgency, bandits and attacks, therefore the government wants to ensure the security of students before allowing them to resume.
However, there’s are two institutions that will resume late than others. Theses universities have officially announced their resumption date and this means there is no changing of dates.
One of them is the University of Abuja, (UNIABUJA). The university of Abuja is set to resume on the first day of February, 2021 unlike most tertiary institutions in the country that are to resume on or before 18th of January. This was announced by the University’s directorate of academic affairs as endorsed by the Vice chancellor of the institution.
It is seconded by the University of Benin. Academic activities are scheduled to commence at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), on Monday, February 1, 2021. The University’s Senate sat on Monday the 4th of January, 2021 and concluded that students should retire to campus on January 30th, 2021 as lectures will begin on 1st February, 2021.
This therefore implies that students of UNIBEN and UNIABUJA are resuming on the 1st day of February for the first semester of the 2019/2020 academic session which was disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak and academic strike.
Our Tuesday friends for today are Jemima Osunde and Tomike Adeoye.
Jemima Osunde is a Nigerian actress, model and Physiotherapist. She is a native of Edo state and was born into a family of 5. The nollywood star has starred in so many movies, which includes ; Jungle Jewel, Quams money and many more. In 2019, Jemima graduated from the University of Lagos with a degree in physiotheraphy.
Tomike Adeoye is a brand influencer, media personality ,microbiologist, enterpreneur and actress. She graduated from the University of Lagos in 2016, where she studied Microbiology. She started acting, working in radio and TV stations in school. She starred in her debut movie , ‘Jenifa’s diary’ in 2015, as Tania. She is also an influencer for many brands.
Tomike and Jemima are both stylish,fun together and they obviously complement eachother.
Bandits attacking travelers along at the dreaded Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway reportedly killed 3 babies alongside 6 other travelers. According to reports, the victims were on their way to a ceremony at Doka, Birnin-Gwari Local Government.Bandits reportedly kill babies, travelers along Kaduna Highway.
Also, a total of 11 people were kidnapped by the bandits on the same day at Dan Kungi village in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, PR Nigeria reports. This was contained in a statement by the chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Progressives Union, Mr Salisu Haruna, on Monday.
The statement titled;
“Alarming rise of banditry and killings in Birnin Gwari general area,’ added that more than 40 persons were abducted by the bandits between December 20, 2020 and January 4, 2021, adding that “some of them (abductees), have been reported terribly ill.”
The statement read in part,
“The New Year 2021 has begun in sorrow and tears for the people of Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. “On Sunday, 3rd January, 2021, bandits laid siege on innocent travellers at Zankoro, along dreaded Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway, killing nine people (including three infants) that are on their way for a ceremony at Doka, Birnin-Gwari LGA”.
“Similarly, the bandits came out today, Monday, January 4, 2021 at the same Zankoro around 9am, shooting indiscriminately and abducting unspecified number of people and wounding six others that are now receiving treatment at Buruku”.
“In the last two weeks, bandits terrorising the people of Birnin Gwari, especially those travelling along Birnin Gwari-Funtua and Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highways have become intensely aggressive as they continue to kill and abduct innocent citizens unabated”.
“There are more than 40 abductees currently at the mercy of the bandits who were kidnapped between December 20, 2020 and Monday January 4, 2021; some of them have been reported terribly ill”.
“A total of nine innocent travellers were killed at Zankoro along Birnin Gwari-Kaduna highway on Sunday, January 3, 2021. A total of 11 people were kidnapped at Dan Kungi village on Sunday January 3, 2021″.
“BEPU, therefore, calls on the government to deploy immediate response squad to mount offensive operations along Birnin Gwari, Kaduna and Birnin Gwari-Funtua highways.”
Two Abia lawmakers to leave PDP for APC…We should be conscious of legal implications-Chinda, PDP caucus leader
It will be recalled that the twilight of the 2020 legislative year in the national assembly witnessed a gale of defections with many of the main opposition lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, leaving to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
On December 15, 2020, two members of the House, Hon. Datti Yako from Kano State and Danjuma Shittu from Taraba State exited their respective parties for APC.
While Yako left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Shittu left the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
Their defection letters read by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila cited leadership crises in their respective states as reasons for ditching the parties upon which they were elected.
Similarly, on December 17, 2020, Hon. Sam Onuigbu, a two-term member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency of Abia State in the House also dumped PDP for APC.
The lawmakers’ departures however drew the ire of the minority leadership which demanded that their seats be declared vacant.
But the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila declined, saying it was the responsibility of the courts.
He recalled past defections that benefited the PDP as a former ruling party.
Of particular mention were those of the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
“Some years ago, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House decamped to the PDP. Did you ask for their seats to be declared vacant? Now, that former Speaker has left the PDP and rejoined the APC. Are you saying I should declare his seat vacant?
“Is it me or you or the court that should interpret the constitution? I am not the court”, Gbajabiamila said, hitting the gavel in acceptance to the defections of Onuigbu.
The paper could authoritatively inform that the APC would welcome two more lawmakers from Abia in the coming weeks.
“You know it is a personal decision. But what I know is that two PDP lawmakers will soon join APC”, he said.
It was further learnt that what is principally necessitating the exit of the lawmakers is their little of no chance with the PDP to secure a returning ticket having served two terms on the platforms.
When contacted to speak on the matter, the leader of the PDP caucus in the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda from Rivers State asked members to wary about their willful exits from the political parties that elected them into the House when there is no division or crisis.
Chinda warned that someday, the legal provisions on defection may apply to their legislative seats in the National Assembly.
“On the issue of defection, my position is that members are free to take political decisions particularly when it comes to the party you want to associate with but while doing that, they must also be conscious of the provisions of the law, that’s the legal implication.
“Where you choose to leave a party on whose platform you were elected for another political party and there is no division in your party, I think that the honorable thing to do is to, on your own, forgo the seat and allow INEC to conduct a fresh election to fill that position. If you do wish to come back, you can still contest under your new party.
“It is because we lack respect for our laws that is why we are having problems and challenges in our society. So, we cannot in one breath be talking about the rule of law and in another breath neglect the rule of law.
“Yes as members of the various political party, if anybody leaves APC for PDP, I will feel happy and commend him but even at that, it doesn’t in any way erase the legal implications of such movements.
“So, I will advise that while you are free to leave, let us be conscious of the provisions of the law and let us be honorable enough to allow the law to take its full course.
“I pray to see one member who one day will announce his defection and at the same also succumb to the provisions of the law and also ask that his seat be declared vacant for him to go back to the polls under his new party if he wants to come back to the Parliament”, Chinda said.
Former University of Lagos Vice-chancellor,Professor Ibidapo Obe , has died of COVID-19 complications. He was the vice chancellor of Unilag between the years, 2000 – 2007.
The late professor was born on the 5th of July, 1949 in Old Ife , Osun state, Nigeria. He served as a Visiting Research Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo, USA (1980–1981).
In 2007, he was a Visiting Research Professor at Texas Southern University in Houston, USA. He was appointed as the Vice chancellor of the University of Lagos in year 2000, succeeding Jelili Adebisi Omotola. He was later succeeded by Tolu Olukayode Odugbemi in 2007 after his successful tenure.
He was honoured with a Post Doctoral Distinction Award Fellow in 1976. He was also a fellow of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada (1977–1979)Fellowship of the Academy of Science and Engineering.
He was a member of the following professional bodies;
Fellow of the Africa Academy of Science.
Fellow of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS)
Late Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe (1951-2021) was a Nigerian professor of Systems Engineering educational administrator and former Vice chancellor of the University of Lagos. He died on the 3rd of January 2021 from COVID19 complication.
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the take-off of the Special Public Works Programme nationwide on Tuesday, January 5th, 2021.
Minister of State for Employment and Labour, Festus Keyamo, made the disclosure in a tweet Sunday night.
He also disclosed that all state structures of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) are “already in top gear for the take-off ceremonies.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the take off of the Special Public Works Programme (engaging 774,000 unemployed itinerant Nigerians) to begin nationwide on Tuesday, January 5th, 2021.
“The scheme is engaging 1,000 artisans and unskilled workers from each of the 774 local government areas in the country. The target is to create 774,000 jobs for three months”.
“The commencement date has been changed several times. It was originally billed to kick-off October 1, 2020. It was later rescheduled to commence November 1, 2020 but it didn’t go ahead as planned. There was another failed take-off in December 2020”.
There was no communication on a new take-off date until Keyamo’s announcement on Sunday.
On December 15, 2020, the House of Representatives again called for the immediate suspension of the controversial scheme.
The lawmakers asked the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning not to fund the scheme.
The National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity had been at loggerheads over the recruitment of the workers for the scheme.
In July, both chambers of the National Assembly suspended the programme after alleging that they had been sidelined.
They had also sought to be actively involved in the recruitment of the beneficiaries, a move which Keyamo had opposed.
No fewer than 2,311 persons have now called for the sacking of the First City Monument Bank Managing Director, Adam Nuru, over alleged infidelity with a former worker with the bank, Moyo Thomas.
The petition is requesting the Central Bank of Nigeria and the FCMB board to dismiss Nuru on ethical grounds.
A cross-section of Nigerians had stated that a sexual relationship between Nuru and his subordinate was unprofessional and called for the sacking of the MD.
Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has extended the stay-at-home order for all State Public Servants on Grade Levels 14 and below to Monday, January 18, 2021, to stem the tide of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Head of Service (HoS), Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said this, on Sunday, in a signed statement, noting that the directive excludes staff on essential duty as well as First Responders.
Muri-Okunola urged all public servants to stay safe and ensure continued adherence to all COVID-19 protocols in order to rid the state of the pandemic.
Obasanjo tells Nigerians that the past year, 2020, was a challenging one due to the coronavirus pandemic which claimed over a million lives .
As for a former Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, he is alive because God kept him and for that, he is very grateful .
Obasanjo said anyone, especially Christians, who refuse to thank God will be failing in very significant every duty.
Ex-president , Olusegun Obasanjo has urged all who survived 2020 and made it to 2021 to show gratitude to God.
According to the former president, though 2020 was a tough and challenging year, Christians will be failing in their duties if they refuse to give thanks to God.
Obasanjo stated this at the second annual thanksgiving service of the Ogun state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Father Mbaka has prophesied said President Buhari’s administration may be facing extinction and can only be saved if action is taken .
According to him, those in the political circle have looted so much and disgraced Nigeria enough. The cleric said God was angry with the leaders and what will befall them if they don’t change will be unbearable .
The fiery priest warned that no one should attempt to attack this prophecy of his, else the person will become a victim . A Catholic priest, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has prophesied the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.
Speaking during the popular annual December 31 Crossover Night ministration, Mbaka, who is the spiritual director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), said this will depend on the president’s ability to act fast and save his government.
The Nation reports that the cleric advised Buhari’s government to create employment opportunities before Nigerian youths embark on restiveness that may consume this administration.
Rev.Father Ejike Mbaka Adoration ministry Prayer Line Songs and Praises He stated: “The Holy Spirit of God asked me to warn the government of the day to be very careful; to change policies and take care of the youths without politicising their (youths’) condition.
That the government should rise and urgently create jobs and innovate opportunities that would benefit the youths of the nation because they have suffered so much. “Don’t politicise the condition of the youths, otherwise, they will arise and end the political system.
“Should the government fail to do so as soon as possible that time is coming when the youths will rise against the government”
The activists were said to have written their statements but according to sources, the police claimed they were still studying the contents
The personal physician to human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has arrived at the headquarters of the Intelligence Response Team in Guzape, Abuja, formerly used as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad office.
The doctor arrived at the detention facility to carry out a medical examination on him following the injuries inflicted on him by the police.
Armed policemen had on New Year’s Eve brutalised and arrested Sowore, alongside four others.
They inflicted injuries on him, with a deep cut on his nose bleeding profusely.
One of those arrested with him, Michael, was also injured in the mouth during the incident.
The activists were said to have written their statements but according to sources, the police claimed they were still studying the contents as at the time of writing this report.
It is not yet clear what offence the police are planning to file against the activists.
Many Nigerians have condemned the police for using brutal force in an attempt to arrest innocent and unarmed Nigerian citizens who chose to celebrate the crossover into the New Year with a candlelight procession.
Abdullah, who spoke from Kaduna State, stated that the First Lady was entitled to her privacy and she could decide to answer such questions or not.
The Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, the Office of the First Lady, Mr Aliyu Abdullah, has parried questions demanding Aisha Buhari’s whereabouts during an interview on television.
While speaking on a Channels Television programme, Abdullahi had been asked the whereabouts of the First Lady, but he tendered an apology and said he was not on air to discuss such issue.
Abdullah, who spoke from Kaduna State, stated that the First Lady was entitled to her privacy and she could decide to answer such questions or not.
Bloggers had exclusively reported on December 15 that Aisha had been in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, since September after the wedding of her daughter, Hanan, and she had therefore not been involved in any government activity.
It was gathered that the First Lady was not in a hurry to return, despite spending over three months, as she reportedly stated that the Aso Rock Villa was not secure for her family.
This came especially with a shooting incident in June which caused panic among the Villa occupants.
The last public event the First Lady held in the country was on September 4, when a flamboyant wedding was held for President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, and Mohammed Turad.
When asked during the television interview where the First Lady was at the moment, Abdullah said, “I am sorry. This is not part of what I was invited here to discuss in your studio.
“I would not be speaking on that because it is not part of what we agreed for me to come and discuss. So let us leave that issue out of the interview, please.
“Let me say it this way again, the First Lady, although married to the President, nevertheless is a citizen of this country, who is entitled to her right to privacy.
“So, I think if she chooses not to speak on a particular matter, she is entitled to her privacy and that is where I wish to leave the issue as of now. It is her right and she did not choose to speak on it.
Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, on Monday signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill of N141.6 billion into law.
Bagudu had on November 27, presented the budget of N141.6 billion for 2021 to the state House of Assembly.
The budget had over N92.2 billion as capital expenditure while N49.5 billion was for recurrent expenditure, representing 65 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.
While signing the budget in Birnin Kebbi, the governor noted that the budget was graciously approved and passed by the state’s house of assembly.
Bagudu, who prayed that the 2021 budget performance would be better than 2020, described this year as a tough one globally because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“But locally, it is also tough for us because of other factors, particularly the flood disasters that affected the state,” he added.
He also lamented the inability of the state to get the expected internally generated revenue, making it difficult for the government to deliver on its promise of providing citizens’ basic needs.
“Our inability to collect the revenue has been a major challenge, and no matter how noble the executive wished to be, it could not deliver the much expected dividends to the people.
“But in spite of the limited resources, we have been able to still deliver on some of those promises we made to the people.
“I am glad President Muhammadu Buhari has led us very well, and we have been able to deliver to a certain extent, but obviously there is need for more resources to support the bigger dreams and opportunities,” he said.
He, however, said the state had recovered from the flood, and had procured fertiliser to be distributed to farmers who had been affected by the disaster by first week of January, 2021.
“We want to do more than we did in 2019 in agriculture, we are encouraging the executives at other levels to encourage local government areas to guide us on how to do more than that.
“The experience we had from the flood disaster has shown that we need to invest in the upland rice production, and we need to start early because the production begins in the dry season.
“And to do that, we have to secure seedlings and ensure they are are distributed much earlier before the start of the rainy season,” he said.
The governor also commended the house of assembly for the speedy passage of the budget and for its support to the state government in order to deliver on the people’s mandate.
Earlier, Speaker of the house, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kamba, commended the governor for his commitment towards developing the state.
“We had worked tirelessly; day and night, in order to fulfill the promise we made to ensure a speedy passage of the budget, and it was passed on Dec. 26, and we are delighted to present it for your assent into law.
“We pray God Almighty to bless your efforts and those of the house for our dear state to move forward,” Kamba added.
The Third Mainland Bridge will be reopened at midnight following the closure for repairs on the bridge.
The Federal Controller of Works Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, confirmed this on Sunday.
According to Popoola, the contractor was able to achieve the task within 48 hours, contrary to the initially scheduled 72-hour timeframe.
“We have completed the casting of the three number expansion joints on Third Mainland bridge.
“Therefore, the bridge shall be opened at 12:00 midnight Sunday 27th December, and no longer Monday 28th December.
“That is 48 hours and no more 72 hours,” Popoola said.
The closure of portions of the bridge which commenced earlier in the year, had initially been scheduled to last six months and divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway.
The process was, however, extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in Lagos, thereby extending the completion date from January 2021 to February.
For the yuletide season, which was also a public holiday, the bridge had to be shut down totally in order to stop vibrations caused by the movement of vehicles.
The National Coordinator of Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 Sani Aliyu says the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to Nigerians free when vaccination begins.
Aliyu made this known on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily.
He also revealed plans by the Nigerian government on delivering and administering the vaccine and gave the assurance that Nigerians will be freely vaccinated.
“Yesterday, the President gave the PTF the mandate to proceed with preparations with regard to the vaccine.
“The President has also given us a marching order that the COVID-19 vaccine be made available in Nigeria.
“The COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Nigeria making use of the GAVI arrangement. We already have the assurance that we will have 20% of our population accommodated by GAVI, which is about 40 million Nigerians. They won’t need to pay for that (the vaccine),” the PTF coordinator said.
He added that although there are fears that Nigerians may be reluctant to receive shots of the vaccines, efforts are being made to sensitise many and deliver the vaccines across the country.
“We have continued to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Primary Healthcare Development Agency. The NPHCDA has a lot of experience in delivering vaccines across the country. They were involved with the polio vaccination and even at the moment, they are responsible for the delivery of the growth in child vaccination across the country, so they have a lot of experience.
“A lot of work is going on behind the scene. The NPHCDA has a committee, the Minister has set up an advisory committee and the PTF is now coming in to make sure we coordinate effectively.
“The biggest challenge we will have with the vaccine is not going to be the logistics, the biggest challenge will be the public acceptance of the safety of the vaccines and allowing themselves to be vaccinated, the challenge will be very similar to the one we have with polio,” he added.
The Federal Government has extended the deadline for the provision of National Identification Number by telecommunication service subscribers.
This was contained in a statement on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
The statement titled, ‘Extension of Registration Period and Cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees’, was jointly signed by the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Umar Danbatta; and Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Aziz.
It read, “The National Task Force on National Identification Number and SIM Registration met today, 21st December, 2020.
“The meeting was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman – NCC, EVC-NCC, DG-NITDA, DG-NIMC, ECTS/ECSM-NCC, Chairman ALTON, CEOs of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Moble in attendance.
“Based on the endorsement of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the following resolutions were made:
“Three (3) weeks extension for subscribers with NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 19th January, 2021; and
“Six (6) weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from 30th December, 2020 to 9th February, 2021.”
The statement further stated, “NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens attend the registration in full compliance with Covid-19 protocols – particularly the use of facemasks which remains mandatory and maintenance of social distancing.”
The NCC had last week ordered telecommunications companies to within two weeks suspend phone subscribers who have no NIN.
Large crowds had besieged NIMC offices in Lagos on Monday in a bid to register and obtain the National Identity Number.
The House of Representatives and several Nigerians had expressed concern over the sudden directive of the Federal Government and had asked that the deadline given for the registration be extended.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has slammed the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for failing to call off its strike.
Reacting to a statement credited to the University of Jos (UNIJOS) chapter of the union led by Dr. Lazarus Maigoro, Ngige alleged that the union has bluntly refused to reciprocate the Federal Government’s offers by refusing to either teach, conduct researches or engage in other academic values for which they are paid.
He insisted that while the Federal Government has fulfilled all the demands over which ASUU went on strike on March 9, 2020, the union strangely claims ‘patriotism’ as basis for the prolonged industrial action.
Ngige said;
“It is rather ASUU, which has bluntly refused to reciprocate the Federal Government’s offers by refusing to either teach, conduct researches or engage in other academic values for which they are paid, that should be held responsible.
“Strangely, ASUU claims ‘patriotism’ as basis for this prolonged industrial action, forcing every patriot to raise concern over this weird definition of patriotism by ASUU officials.
“Living by its words, the Federal Government has fulfilled all the demands over which ASUU went on strike on March 9, 2020.
“The visitation panels to the universities have been approved by the President and will swing into action once the universities re-open. The office of the Attorney General of the Federation, on the other hand, is also rounding off the gazetting of the panels while the National Universities Commission (NUC) has received the approved list which will be published later next week.
“Also, the revival of the Renegotiation Committee for the 2009 ASSU/Federal Government Agreement demanded by ASUU has been set up by the Ministry of Education with Prof. Munzali as Chairman, replacing the ex-chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN.) The new committee is currently meeting.
“Similarly, government has acceded to a hybrid payment platform, which is not 100 per cent IPPIS, for the payment of salaries and Earned Academic Allowances/Earned Allowances, pending the result and conclusion of the integrity and usability test on the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) by the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
“Besides, government has also processed for payment, the sum of N70 billion, comprising N40 billion for Earned Academic Allowances/Earned Allowances and N30 billion for revitalisation of the universities. The Accountant General of the Federation, at present, awaits the accounts details from the Federal Ministry of Education and the NUC for the remittance.
“Of note is that even while ASUU was on strike during the COVID-19 lockdown, government, on the insistence of the Minister of Labour and Employment, and out of compassion, paid them February, March, April, May and June salaries to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 on them and their families and further made every entreaty to them to come on board virtual negotiations with a view for an early call-off of strike, to enable students benefit from virtual/online classes, fashionable at the time, and even now, all over the universal academic community, but ASUU bluntly refused…”
