₦airaland Forum

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has restated his call for true federalism as a panacea to Nigeria’s problems.
While speaking at the Obafemi Awolowo University at a program organised by the Faculty of Law on Thursday, Mr. Abubakar said in a true federal system, the federal government would have little or no need for some ministers as their issues would be handled by the federating units.
“We have a government that gives power to the central government and leaves the federating units with nothing,” he said.
“The current structure can be called unitary federalism.”
The politician, who is rumoured to be interested in the 2019 presidential race, said the current Nigerian structure makes the country economically indolent and doesn’t serve the citizens well.
“The restructuring of our federalism is not really a threat on our unity,” he said.
“The federal government has no point having a ministry of agriculture and health; they ought to only have units that will monitor the ministries. But instead they go on to appoint ministers.”
“What is the federal government’s business with having a health minister and minister of agriculture?” he asked.
Mr. Abubakar also accused his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of not heeding to one of his advice on power projects.
“I once advised the president not to invest in independent power projects but focus on captive power projects, but I was not listened to; the world is shifting from oil to other sectors and we are not doing that in Nigeria,” he said.
Commenting, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Anthony Elujoba, said Mr. Abubakar’s visit, though unexpected, was well appreciated by staff and students.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/225339-nigeria-not-need-ministers-agriculture-health-atiku-says.html

The University of Ilorin is enmeshed in a controversy over the alleged improper promotion of a wife of the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Abdulganiyu Ambali.
The lecturer, Taiwo Ambali, was among 112 academic staff whose promotion was recently announced by the university with effect from October 1, last year.
Mrs. Ambali was promoted from the position of Lecturer 1 to Senior Lecturer. But some of her colleagues protested that the promotion was in breach of the regulations guiding staff promotion at the university.
Under the regulations, they said, a staff cannot be promoted to Senior Lecturer until after three years of service as Lecturer 1.
Mrs. Ambali was a lecturer at the University of Maduguri when the University of Ilorin where her husband is the Vice-Chancellor offered her appointment as Lecturer 1 through a letter of May 30, 2015.
Following the release of the list of the 112 newly promoted academic staff, Kayode Afolayan and Solomon Oyelekan, in their capacities as the Chairman and Secretary respectively of a faction of the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, wrote a letter of protest on February 6 to the vice-chancellor in which they accused him of nepotism over the inclusion of his wife in the list.
ASUU has two factions in the university, dating back to the crisis of 2001 when the university expelled 49 lecturers. The lecturers were reinstated in 2009 on the order of the Supreme Court.
In their letter of protest, Messrs. Afolayan and Oyelekan insisted that Mrs. Ambali’s initial appointment by the university should have been to the position of Lecturer 2 instead of Lecturer 1, and that she was not in any event due for promotion until after three years of her previous appointment or promotion.
In a prompt response to the letter in which the lecturers had raised other issues, the university management on the same February 6 issued queries to Messrs. Afolayan and Oyelekan, accusing them of “malicious allegations and publications”.
The university directed the officials to explain within 48 hours why disciplinary actions should not be taken against them for the alleged infractions.
A day later on February 7, the university followed up with letters to the two officials suspending them from their duties as lecturers.
Reacting to the development, the Zonal Coordinator of the Ibadan Zone of ASUU, Ade Adejumo, condemned the suspension of the officials as an “act of illegality and cowardice”.
“This latest act of illegality and cowardice by the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin is a classic case of corruption fighting back when you fight corruption”, Mr. Adejumo said in a statement.
ASUU accused the Vice-Chancellor of indecency in the appointment of his wife, Mrs. Ambali, as a senior lecturer in the university.
“By appointing his wife on ‘temporary appointment basis‘(without prior advertisement or interview), by placing her on Lecturer 1 after a fresh Ph.D. (while many staff Ph.D. who had put in years of service in the University are still on Lecturer 2 even after Ph.D.), and by promoting her after only one year (when all other staff have to wait for three years), Professor Ambali certainly breaks new grounds in corruption and indecency in the so-called ivory tower,” the union stated through Mr. Adejumo.
“The Union warns that the actions by the University of Ilorin pose a great danger to democracy, to decency, and to the anti-corruption efforts of the present government. How can the government proudly claim that it is encouraging citizens to ‘blow the whistle’ against corrupt officials while allowing its agencies to openly victimise whistle blowers?
“If University officials can be so openly corrupt under the glare of anti-corruption agencies, then what is the future of the fight against corruption? And how can democracy and justice thrive when a University, an institution that is supposed to nurture leaders and democrats, openly practise dictatorship and illegality while suppressing debate or dissent?”, the union further queried.
The Vice-Chancellor has, however, faulted ASUU’s stance on the promotion of his wife and denied the charge of nepotism.
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Ambali pointed out that the promotion of any academic staff is the sole responsibility of the Appointment and Promotion Committee, (AP&C), stressing that Mrs. Ambali was duly promoted following legal procedures.
“My wife commenced her career at the University of Maiduguri as a Lecturer II Officer in 2006 and was promoted to Lecturer I in 2009. She later transferred her service to the University of llorin and was recently promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer by the AP&C.
“This act was sequel to the approval of both the department and faculty management team.” Mr. Ambali stated.
Mr. Afolayan however faulted the Vice-Chancellor’s position. He disputed Mr. Ambali’s claim that his wife, having been a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, was entitled to the position of Lecturer 1 offered her by the University of Ilorin.
“If you look at the promotion letter, when she got to University of Ilorin, she was promoted to lecturer 1 on temporary basis”, Mr. Afolayan argued in a conversation with PREMIUM TIMES.
“Even then, she ought to spend three years in University of Ilorin before she can be promoted to Senior Lecturer. She was also promoted to Lecturer 1 on Level 7, which would mean that she had spent seven years as Lecturer 1, which is another wrong information”, he stated.
“When the AP and C was to meet, her own (Mrs. Ambali’s) case was treated specially. The Vice-Chancellor had said he did not know about the promotion, how come he is now saying it is legal? He formed a special panel for his wife and promoted her to Senior Lecturer. The promotion ought to have come in 2018.
“Even if she were to be promoted on accelerated basis, there should have been a newspaper advert stating that there is vacancy in the position of Senior Lecturer in her department. But none was done. They promoted her on special recognition without following due process, which is totally wrong.
“Those are the issues. The Vice- Chancellor cannot feign ignorance in the case and cannot defend it. You don’t transfer years of service from Maiduguri to Ilorin”.
When PREMIUM TIMES spoke earlier with the spokesperson of the university, Kunle Akogun, on the controversy, he had said the suspension of the two lecturers had nothing to do with the promotion of anyone in the university.
“Why will anyone be suspended based on an allegation? It is not true”, he stressed.
Mr. Akogun explained that the two lecturers were suspended for “acts of insubordination, not attending classes, indiscipline and gross misconduct.”
He added further that “The two lecturers are not our ASUU Executive Council members”.
“Our own ASUU Chairman, Dr. Abdulrahim, has not been suspended by the university, he is the only one we know”, Mr. Akogun stated.
The academic staff union has had two factions in the university since the protracted crisis at the university that led to the expulsion of 49 lecturers in 2001 for participating in a national strike called by ASUU over a dispute with the Nigerian government.
After eight years of litigation, the Supreme Court in 2009 directed that the lecturers be reinstated and all their salaries and other entitlements from the day of their suspension paid to them.
Although the university complied with the court judgement, it has remained at odd with the national body of ASUU which had backed the expelled lecturers throughout the protracted crisis.
As a fallout of the crisis, the university management does not recognise or relate with the local faction of ASUU which is recognised by the national body of the union, while the local faction that the university recognises does not participate in the activities of the national body, especially in union strikes over industrial dispute.
This has ensured that the University of Ilorin for close to two decades now has been able to protect its academic calendar from disruption by teachers’ strike.
Messrs. Afolayan and Oyelekan are officials of the faction recognised by the national body but which is ignored by the university management.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/224152-promotion-of-vice-chancellors-wife-brews-controversy-at-university-of-ilorin.html

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, has announced its resumption date, months after a strike by lecturers crippled academic activities in the school.
This is contained in an internal memorandum sent to all staff and students of the institution, and also made available on the University’s news portal.
“All staff and students are hereby informed that the University will reopen for normal activities on Friday, January 27, 2017,” the memo says.
It adds: “Students are to note the following for compliance: Friday, January 27: Resumption; Friday. February 3: Revision week ends; Friday. February 10: Lecture free week ends; Monday. February 13: 2015/2016 Harmattan Semester Examinations begin.”
The statement was signed by Jacob Agboola, the registrar of the university.
The school had been closed since June 2016. The governments Oyo and Osun recently paid N500 million for payment of outstanding workers’ salaries, prompting the resumption.
But the Academic Staff Union of Universities, LADOKE chapter, has vowed to continue with its strike until all key issues are resolved.
Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES shortly after the release of the circular informing students of resumption, ASUU chairman, Biodun Olaniran, said lecturers would not resume work except issues of funding are attended to.
Mr. Biodun said the Congress of ASUU remained on its earlier stance. He also said ASUU was not consulted before the resumption date was announced.
He said the Congress had agreed to wait till the visitation panel submits its reports and other welfare issues are attended to.
When asked what would be the fate of the students, the ASUU Chairman who had earlier hoped that the payment of N500 million would lead to reopening of the varsity said, “They(Students )should impress it on the government to do the needful by showing commitment to the funding of the University”.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/221389-lautech-annouces-resumption-lecturers-vow-continue-strike.html

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babulicious:
As reactions continue to trail the outburst of Governor Abiola Ajimobi at a protest organised by students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technolgy, LAUTECH, the governor’s daughter has gotten involved in the controversy.
Mr. Ajimobi’s daughter, Ajibola, labelled the protesting students “Generation of Mannerless Children” on her Instagram page.
“Generation of Mannerless children, they don’t respect their parents , how will they respect the Constitution” , the governor’s daughter said in apparent reaction to the students’ outburst on January 9.
Ajibola Ajimobi who got married last September is believed to be the second child to the Oyo governor.
LAUTECH students had on January 9 protested the continued closure of the university since June last year.
While addressing the protesting students, an angry Mr. Ajimobi told them to do their worst.
The Oyo governor, whose state jointly owns the university, miffed by the outbursts of the protesting students, said the closure of the university for over 7 months was no big deal.
“Your school being locked for eight months is no big deal. Is your school the first to be locked, if this is how you will come to talk to me, go and do your worst, I dare you,” he said.
Nigerians have continued to lampoon the governor since the video was released as Ajimobi continued to trend on Twitter on Sunday morning.
Reacting to the governor’s daughter’s statement ,the Senior Assistant to Mr. Ajimobi on Media, Yomi Olayinka, said the governor’s office is not aware of it.
“As the governor’s spokesman, I am not aware of this development and I cannot comment since I am not aware,” he said.
When asked what he feels about such comment even if he was not aware , he said, “Well, I will call Mrs. Ajibola to ask her what she meant by that, but for now I don’t want to speculate, so I can’t react to anything of such.”
LAUTECH has been shut since June 2016, due to the inability of Osun and Oyo states to meet their obligations financially to the institution.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/220533-ajimobis-daughter-labels-protesting-lautech-students-generation-mannerless-students.html

cc lalastical fynestboi moderators

As reactions continue to trail the outburst of Governor Abiola Ajimobi at a protest organised by students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technolgy, LAUTECH, the governor’s daughter has gotten involved in the controversy.
Mr. Ajimobi’s daughter, Ajibola, labelled the protesting students “Generation of Mannerless Children” on her Instagram page.
“Generation of Mannerless children, they don’t respect their parents , how will they respect the Constitution” , the governor’s daughter said in apparent reaction to the students’ outburst on January 9.
Ajibola Ajimobi who got married last September is believed to be the second child to the Oyo governor.
LAUTECH students had on January 9 protested the continued closure of the university since June last year.
While addressing the protesting students, an angry Mr. Ajimobi told them to do their worst.
The Oyo governor, whose state jointly owns the university, miffed by the outbursts of the protesting students, said the closure of the university for over 7 months was no big deal.
“Your school being locked for eight months is no big deal. Is your school the first to be locked, if this is how you will come to talk to me, go and do your worst, I dare you,” he said.
Nigerians have continued to lampoon the governor since the video was released as Ajimobi continued to trend on Twitter on Sunday morning.
Reacting to the governor’s daughter’s statement ,the Senior Assistant to Mr. Ajimobi on Media, Yomi Olayinka, said the governor’s office is not aware of it.
“As the governor’s spokesman, I am not aware of this development and I cannot comment since I am not aware,” he said.
When asked what he feels about such comment even if he was not aware , he said, “Well, I will call Mrs. Ajibola to ask her what she meant by that, but for now I don’t want to speculate, so I can’t react to anything of such.”
LAUTECH has been shut since June 2016, due to the inability of Osun and Oyo states to meet their obligations financially to the institution.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/220533-ajimobis-daughter-labels-protesting-lautech-students-generation-mannerless-students.html

babulicious:
Accounting students in Obafemi Awolowo University on Friday removed the president of their departmental association, John Akpan, over an alleged N5000 fraud.

He was said to have committed the fraud by declaring that the department paid N15,000 as gate fee during a visit to a zoo in Ibadan while it was later discovered that the actual fee paid was N10,000.
An investigative committee led by a 400 level student, Ajilore Ayo, set up to look into the allegation against the president confirmed the fraud.
The committee presented its finding to the legislative council of the association during its sitting held at the ICAN Lecture Theatre of the institution.
After deliberations on the report, the speaker, Ajayi Emmanuel, announced the impeachment of the president who was immediately relieved of his duties.
Speaking after the decision, Mr. Akpan maintained he was innocent of the allegations.
“Basically, the speaker doesn’t like me and I am not surprised at the decisions. I will fight this crisis with all I have got”, he said.
Also speaking, the speaker said as Accounting students, their watchword should be justice and integrity and that this was what led to Mr. Akpan’s removal.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/220420-university-students-impeach-department-president-alleged-n5000-fraud.html

cc
moderators,

if we can start to have some sanity in the system !

fp material

Accounting students in Obafemi Awolowo University on Friday removed the president of their departmental association, John Akpan, over an alleged N5000 fraud.

He was said to have committed the fraud by declaring that the department paid N15,000 as gate fee during a visit to a zoo in Ibadan while it was later discovered that the actual fee paid was N10,000.
An investigative committee led by a 400 level student, Ajilore Ayo, set up to look into the allegation against the president confirmed the fraud.
The committee presented its finding to the legislative council of the association during its sitting held at the ICAN Lecture Theatre of the institution.
After deliberations on the report, the speaker, Ajayi Emmanuel, announced the impeachment of the president who was immediately relieved of his duties.
Speaking after the decision, Mr. Akpan maintained he was innocent of the allegations.
“Basically, the speaker doesn’t like me and I am not surprised at the decisions. I will fight this crisis with all I have got”, he said.
Also speaking, the speaker said as Accounting students, their watchword should be justice and integrity and that this was what led to Mr. Akpan’s removal.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/220420-university-students-impeach-department-president-alleged-n5000-fraud.html

Olanrewaju Oyedeji

Accounting Students In Obafemi Awolowo University on Friday 13th of January 2017 removed their president over 5000naira fraud. He was said to have committed the fraud when the department paid a visit to a zoo in OAU and paid 10000naira as entrance fee, the president was alleged to have declared 15,000naira as the money spent either.

At a sitting held in the ICAN Lecture theatre of the institution, the speaker of the Students body Ajayi Emmanuel received a report from the investigative committee led by Ajilore Ayo, set up by the body to look into an earlier allegations of fraud leveled against the President.

After deliberations the speaker announced the impeachment of the President over defrauding the Association and asked that he be relieved of duties immediately.

Speaking after the decision , NUASA OAU President John Akpan denied all allegations leveled against him vowing fight it to a standstill ,he said "basically the speaker doesn't like me and I am not surprised at the decisions".

Mr John a four hundred level OAU Student said " I am not guilty of fraud and really what can 5000naira do to me".

Also speaking the speaker of the house said as Accounting students their watchword should be justice and integrity and that is what led to his removal.



http://theinsidernewsng.com/oau-accounting-students-impeach-president-over-5000naira-fraud/

The much-publicised protest by students over the seven-month closure of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, ended in controversy on Monday as student leaders fought over a largesse, allegedly from Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Students from various universities had gathered for the protest in Ibadan, capital of one of the two owner states of the university, when Mr. Ajimobi agreed to meet with their representatives to assure them of his commitment to the reopening of the university soon.
After the meeting, the governor was said to have released some money for the entertainment of the representatives.
But a disagreement over how to share the largesse soon became physical and deteriorated into a free-for-all among the student outside the State Secretariat office of the governor.
One of the student leaders, Fawole Isreal, told PREMIUM TIMES that the commotion occurred because the representative who collected the money decided to spray it on the protesters.
An aide of the president of the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Olanrewaju Umar, blamed the student leaders of LAUTECH for collecting money from the governor.
Another LAUTECH student, Oyedeji Ahmed, condemned the gesture of the governor.
“At a time when Oyo cannot pay salaries, why will the governor give out N500, 000 to students?” Mr. Ahmed quipped, adding that the gesture was an encouragement of “corruption”.
The Senior Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Students Affairs, Bolaji Azeez, however defended Mr. Ajimobi, saying he only acted “as a caring father”.
LAUTECH has been shut down since last June. But the two owner states have promised to reopen it by February 1. They also promised to contribute N200million each in an intervention fund to settle outstanding salaries.
Mr. Ajimobi is scheduled to meet with leaders of the university’s branch of the Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities on Wednesday as part of the process of resolving the crisis that forced the closure of the school.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/220067-lautech-student-leaders-free-governors-n500000-largesse.html

The governing council of Obafemi Awolowo University has been reconstituted after it was dissolved by the federal government in 2016.
The new council is to be chaired by Yemi Ogunbiyi. Other members include Adekunle Sanni, Muhammed Bello Kaoje, Felix Madubuike and Inowei Akono.
The new chairman of the governing council is a former lecturer in the then Department of Drama and Literature of the university, and a former director of Daily Times Nigeria.
He also served as the Executive Director of the Guardian Newspapers in charge of Public Affairs and Marketing.
The former governing council, headed by Rowland Ndoma-Egba, was dissolved over the crisis that rocked the OAU over the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor.
The council is expected to stay for four years.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/219854-oau-gets-new-governing-council.html

leofab:
Is there any other usefulness of a lady other than being a tool for the mere satisfaction of the male counterpart? Am ashamed of being a Nigerian woman

my sister, no mind them.jare, u can port to Zimbabwe or Kenya, I can work your free visa ,u hear?

The Oyo and Osun state governments have said that they do not plan to increase the tuition fee of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH.
This position was revealed to PREMIUM TIMES by the Special Assistant to the Oyo state Governor on Youth and Student Affairs, Bolaji Afeez, and spokesman of the Osun state Government, Semiu Okanlawon.
The development indicates that the governments of the two owner states of the university have rejected the recommendation of the visitation panel they set up on how to overcome the financial challenges of the university.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the panel, headed by a senior advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun, had recommended a 100 percent hike in tuition fee.
But the recommendation did not go down well with students. The Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and students planned to hold an “Occupy LAUTECH” protest on January 9 against the recommendation.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had also warned the authorities against increasing tuition fee.
“It is normal, we (ASUU) are against commercialisation of education so it is true that we will stand against any attempt to increase the tuition fee”, a lecturer in the university told our correspondent.
If the panel’s recommendation is adopted, students will pay between N130,000 and N150,000 as tution fee per session.
But the Oyo State governor’s aide, Mr. Afeez, stressed that “LAUTECH will resume by January and no tuition will be increased”.
He said the state governments had not given anyone in the institution the directive to increase tuition fee.
“I can state it that there are no plans to increase the tuition fee of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology as the state Government has not said anything of such,” he said.
“It is true that the (Oyo state) governor asked that LAUTECH increase internally generated revenue, but the truth is there are other ways the government is planning and it is not necessarily through tuition hike.”
When asked whether the increase was part of the recommendations of the visitation panel the governments set up on the crisis in the university, the governor’s aide declined to comment.
“Well, the governments will come up with their position soon on the panel report but there are no plans to increase the fee, it is only a rumor that we plan to increase the tuition fee”, Mr. Afeez said.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Okanlawon, quipped: “Is it possible to increase the tuition fee when the Oyo state government has also stated a position against it? There are no such plans, we are not aware of such plans.”
On the resumption of the university by January, Mr. Okanlawon said “The panel is working hard to ensure that we have a quick resumption as we all want the university to be reopened. We are very hopeful of a January resumption”.
The Registrar of LAUTECH, Jacob Agboola, also denied that tution fee would be increased.
“Well, there is no decision to that effect, we have no plan to increase the fee, there is no decision to that effect”, he said.
He was also hopeful that the school will reopen in January.
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology was shut down in June due to the inability of the owner state governments to fund its operations.
The government afterwards set up the visitation panel to look into how the university can overcome its financial challenges.
The finance committee of the panel, led by Grace Akinola, a professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, worked on how the cash-strapped university can expand internally generated revenue.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/219328-oyo-osun-govts-deny-plans-increase-lautech-tuition-fees.html

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Olanrewaju Oyedeji

The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho appears set to resume in January as the owner states of the university consider the report of a panel they set up on the crisis that has kept students away since June.
Multiple sources, however, told PREMIUM TIMES that a key recommendation of the panel is an increase in tuition and other fees to shore up internally generated revenue as a solution to the recurrent funding challenges of the university.
Another recommendation, said the sources, would be to share out the faculties to the owner states under a new funding arrangement.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in the university had declared a strike on June 9 to protest inadequate funds to run the institution and pay the workers.
LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun, the two states that constituted old Oyo State before Osun was excised in 1991 to form a separate state.
PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively report that the visitation panel set up by the governments of the two states has concluded its work and is about to submit its report.
A member of the committee, who pleased anonymity, confirmed the development.
The spokesman of the university, Lekan Fadeyi, in a chat with PREMIUM TIMES said there was confidence the protracted crisis was coming to a close and that the management was waiting for the directive to reopen the university.
Mr. Fadeyi cited the visitation panel as a demonstration of the seriousness Oyo and Osun state governments attached to resolving the crisis.
A top source in the University, who also asked not to be named, said the reopening of the university hinged on the submission of the report of the visitation panel.
“Nothing can be done until they submit their report and then the directive to open the university will follow soon, all things being equal”, said the source.
In an audio obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, expressed dismay over a recent street protest by students of the university on the long closure of the institution.
“One of the students called me that they were arrested by the police”, the governor, speaking in Yoruba, said in the audio. “I asked them what they have done and they said they blocked the main road. Why will they block the main road, for what?
“Well, there are universities that operate without subvention and a committee has been set up to look at how LAUTECH can operate; when they submit their report in January, we will reopen the university.
“There is no subsidy anywhere again, but some students should not start going on the streets to protest, if there is anything wrong, one doesn’t have to fight”, the governor said.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the academic staff had at some point turned down an offer of 41 percent of their salaries from the university management.
It is not clear whether the management intends to go ahead with the payment before a white paper on the report of the visitation panel is released.
“If they receive alert on Monday (December19), if ASUU changes her stance, the university will resume for sure by January,” a top management staff told this newspaper at the weekend.
The protracted crisis in the university had been blamed on the failure of Osun state to meet its financial obligation to the university.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/218377-lautech-may-hike-student-fees-ahead-planned-january-resumption.html

Olanrewaju Oyedeji

Nigeria’s education sector has again received much lower than the 26 percent of national budget, as recommended by the United Nations.
In the 2017 budget proposals presented Wednesday by President Muhammadu Buhari, N448.01billion was allocated to education, representing about 6 percent of the N7.30 trillion budget, contrary to the recommendation by UNESCO.
The global organisation recommended the budgetary benchmark to enable nations adequately cater for rising education demands.
Out of the sum earmarked for the sector, N398.01billion was allocated to recurrent expenditure and the balance of N50billion allocated to capital projects.
Recent allocations by the federal government to education have shown marginal yearly increases however, except for the N367.73 billion (6.01 percent) in 2016 which saw a decrease from the allocations for the preceding years.
The figures include N492.34billion in 2015, N493billion in 2014 and N426.53billion in 2013. The allocations were N400.15billion in 2012, N306.3billion in 2011 and N249.086billion in 2010.
The situation is not much different in the states. In 2016, 33 states of the federation had allocated N653.53 billion (10.70percent) of their combined total budget estimates of N6.1 trillion to education.
Recently, the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities went on strike to demand increased budgetary allocation to the education sector.
The demand was in reaction to the poor state of facilities in public universities across the country, with some of the institutions even defaulting in salary payment.
Earlier this year, most of the federal universities in the South-west of Nigeria were shut down by workers citing decrepit facilities and generally poor learning environment.
To underscore the situation, no Nigerian university is ranked among the top 800 in the world or among the top 10 in Africa.
Although the Nigerian Government has continued to state its commitment to the education sector, a comparative analysis with budgetary allocations by other countries even in Africa indicated that the government has never put its money where its mouth is.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/218097-2017-budget-nigeria-fails-meet-un-benchmark-education.html

Olanrewaju Oyedeji

The governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, says he has not earned salary since he assumed office six years ago.
He said this during the launch of Oodua FM in Ile-Ife on Sunday.
“When people complain about our financial state, I begin to wonder if they think I am spending people’s money. Some of you do not know that I have not received any salary since I became governor- of Osun state, why will I take that of others,” said Mr. Aregbesola, who became governor in November 2010.
According to the pay package prepared by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and which became effective 2009, a state governor earns a monthly salary of N2.2 million.
He is however entitled to several other perks, including constituency allowance of N4.44 million, hardship allowance N1.11 million, leave allowance N222, 370.00, and newspaper allowance N333,555.75.
Osun State has been in deep financial crisis for a long while and has been unable to pay salaries of workers.
Besides, the governor who began his second term in office in November 2014, has not appointed commissioners.
The poor financial condition of the state has also made it impossible to live up to its obligations to the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, which it jointly funds with Oyo State.
Mr. Aregbesola said the economic crisis was not only affecting Osun state but also other states, noting “there is no free money anywhere.”
He explained that he refused to appoint commissioners because of the state’s poor financial condition.
“How will I have commissioners when we have no money?” he asked.
“The minority leader of Osun state House of Assembly wrote a post on Facebook complaining that I have not paid them. We don’t have the money, even the minority leader does not have a car.”
The governor advised the owner of the radio station, Rotimi Makinde, to use it for the development of the state, rather than for politics.
Mr. Aregbesola criticized the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation for allegedly performing below expectation.
According to him, “Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation has set standards but they just do things anyhow. There was a time that Osun state was almost torn apart through the media but Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation refused to act.”

By Olanrewaju Oyedeji

In my few years of Journalism across Nigeria especially as a Student I have picked interest in my state Development probably because I feel patriotism, I hail from Ikire and have links to Ondo state, as a young Journalist who has seen it all for what it takes to be a successful Journalist, I feel writing this is very appropriate.
The truth is in Osun state whenever a radio springs up we have the political touch that people say is the reason why the owners founded it, no gainsaying we have a situation in which persons use radio as a means of tackling each other, it is true that controlling the media goes a long way in boosting your political career, little wonder that people pay a lot of millions and even billions to Media Moguls to air their political campaign for just hours, such is the power of media and the recognition of this fact.
During the last election in Osun state it was very feasible that media played a huge role in determining so many things but that is a story of another day.
The birth of Oodua FM is however new to the environment of Osun state.
I picked interest in the station long back before now and took out time to find out about the reason for its existence been someone with much curiosity and eagerness .
While we may feel that the owner of Oodua FM is a politician, I am surprised by the massive investment that has been given to Osun state through Oodua FM, while so many persons may not have had the opportunity to pay a visit to the place, whoever does will see that the future is really bright for the quest of Ooni of Ife to make Osun state a centre of attraction, the facilities are not just the reason why I am writing this but the various spelt out vision of the radio and the independence the radio is set to enjoy.
While Ile-Ife needs to live up to its tourism bill, the believe is that in the politics of this Oodua FM will play a pivotal role, for a station that can boast of world class equipments, branding and great projection, we maybe having something different from the norm in Osun state,something different in terms of goal, reason for the station, pattern of achievement,more tourist attraction to the state and Ile-Ife especially.
You may want to agree with me that no massive investment comes to a locality without a multiplier effect on the Economy of the location, just like job opportunities will be created and society will be developed, it is very pertinent to state that in the vision of any society the role of media cannot be downplayed and really the vision of the Oodua land will be complete more with Oodua FM.
While the commissioning takes place within two days,one must join all Ile-Ife indigenes including all states around the South West having been opportuned to travel around the South-Western states in hoping for the best for Oodua FM and for the best for dreams of its owner in the establishment.
While one must encourage further modern day investment in the media,one must also encourage sincerity of purpose in this pursuit and goal without any ulterior prejudice or motive just like Oodua FM poses based on the vision and dream of the founder.


Olanrewaju Oyedeji is a Journalist, Former National Chairman of Nigerian Campus Editors, International writer,Author,Social Media Enthusiast and On-Air Personality .

 October 29, 2016  TheInsiderNews
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Olanrewaju Oyedeji
The National Association of Nigerian Students have passed a vote of. No confidence of the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos Professor Rahmon Ade Bello.
NANS through her Senate President Salam Oyejide during a Press Briefing with PressMen in Osun State said “We have seen that the University of Lagos Management has refused to listen to cries of Students on their suspension and to reinstate them,however as this NANS is different from every other NANS,we are passing a vote of no confidence on the Vice Chancellor of this institution,he seems not fit to rule UNILAG due to his anti-student policies”.
University of Lagos had earlier suspended; President, Muhammed Olaniyan; Speaker, Adeyanju Adeonipkun; General Secretary, Emmanuel Afolabi; Public Relations Officer, Jumai Fagbui; Chief Whip, Akinnubi Pedro; Sport Secretary, Anita Kaizer, and Financial Secretary, Oluwatobi Ojo all of UNILAG Students’ Union over their role in a protest held to protest absence of electricity and water on Campus in the month of April 2016.
Salam also said NANS would want antigraft agencies to look into the books of all Universities in the South Western region of Nigeria “We are demanding that the Economic and Financial Crimea Commission should look into the Account of the South Western Universities in Nigeria as a lot of Financial anomalies are ongoing”.
Oyejide Salam also unveiled the plan of the body to fight for independent Students’ Unionism through a bill that would be sent to the National Assembly “We want independent Students Unionism and we would ensure we work towards that, If the National Assembly fails to pass this bill into law,we would ensure a mother of all protests is held to demand this bill is passed,our Students are been victimized and lots seems to be happening, if we can have an independent union we would put stop to all that”

Olanrewaju Oyedeji



The Academic Staff Union of Universities has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s dissolution of the governing council of the Obafemi Awolowo University following a leadership tussle in the institution in July.
ASUU said the dissolution of the council and the removal of Ayobami Salami as vice chancellor contravened an agreement reached between the union and the federal government.
The union’s position was based on the report of its visitation committee set up by its National Executive Council (NEC) and submitted at a meeting of the union at the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, last Friday.
The committee said the council, which was dissolved, was duly constituted and should not have been tampered with.

“The Governing Council followed the process of selection of Vice Chancellor to its conclusion,” it noted.
The committee also recommended the condemnation of the action by the national headquarters of ASUU stating that the action of President Buhari breached the university autonomy agreement reached between the federal government and ASUU.
The committee headed by the national vice president of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, had eight members, including two zonal coordinators and three immediate past zonal coordinators.
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, had approached a Federal High Court in Osogbo in the wake of the crisis, demanding that the processes that led to the emergence of Mr. Salami as vice chancellor be discarded and deemed illegal.
The ensuing protests and legal battles led to the intervention of the federal government and subsequent dissolution of the institution’s governing council on July 1, 2016 after Mr. Salami was asked to step aside pending the determination of the suit at the court.
The Public Relations Officer of the University, Olanrewaju Abiodun, disagreed with ASUU, arguing that the institution is owned by the Federal Government.
“Federal Government owns the university and has the right to determine the vice chancellor of the university,” he told PREMIUM TIMES.
“The same ASUU was in OAU when President Buhari ordered the appointment of an acting vice chancellor; only the federal government can determine who is the vice chancellor of the university”.
However, the Federal High Court Osogbo on October 10 transferred the case involving NASU and OAU to the National Industrial Court, Ibadan, after declaring that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
The decision by ASUU has pitched the other unions against it as NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, have rejected the report and its recommendations.
NASU’s chairman, Wole Odewumi, said the decision of the Federal High Court inu Osogbo was in the union’s favour, vowing to resist any effort to restore Mr. Salami as vice chancellor.

The Chairman of ASUU, OAU branch, Caleb Aborisade, said he would not add further comments on what had been stated in the report.
But his SSANU counterpart, Ademola Oketunde, rejected the report, saying ASUU had no right to determine who becomes vice chancellor of the institution.
“What right does ASUU have to say a particular Prof Salami should return as the vice chancellor? Are they the Federal Government?” he said.

“We would fight this to the last, I am daring ASUU national body, we also have national bodies. Obafemi Awolowo University cannot receive Prof. Salami again, we would rather fight it out. I am also a stakeholder in the university and the statement of ASUU holds no water.”
Another member of NASU who spoke under anonymity, said “Prof Salami can never set his foot on Obafemi Awolowo University Senate Building, we would rather shut down the University, it is impossible.”
Prof. Salami has however hailed the position of ASUU, saying he had been vindicated.

“I am still studying the decision ,I am studying it,” he said when asked by PREMIUM TIMES how he felt about the report of the visitation committee.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/213112-ASUU-rejects-buharis-dissolution-oau-governing-council.html

Olanrewaju Oyedeji

Students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho may not resume anytime soon despite being at home since June 9 when workers of the university began a strike over non-payment of salaries.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities in the university had declared the strike to protest a perennial crisis arising from lack of funds to run the institution and pay its workers.
LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun, the two states that constituted old Oyo State before Osun was excised in 1991 to form a separate state.
The failure of the two states in fulfilling their shared funding responsibility provoked the workers to shut down the institution, just before the students were scheduled to begin their second semester examinations.
Osun, which has since established a university of its own, is the more guilty party in the failure to disburse funds as it owes bulk of the debts that have stalled the operations of LAUTECH.
A perceived lack of commitment by the state to the university prompted the monarch of the host community, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi, to call on Oyo State to take sole ownership of the institution.
Mr. Oyewumi’s call was picked up by a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Olawunmi Oladeji (Ogbomoso North/LP), and nine other members who sponsored a motion for review of the joint ownership of the university.
Following the motion, the Assembly summoned the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Adeniyi Olowofela, and his counterpart for Justice, Oluwaseun Abimbola, to appear before it on September 27 for briefing on the matter.
After the briefing, the Assembly directed the commissioners to submit within two weeks a two-part report containing recommendations for short-term solution to the lingering crisis that would ensure immediate return of students and workers to the university, as well as for how Oyo State could become its sole owner.
The move towards divesting Osun of interest in LAUTECH was however criticized by some prominent indigenes of the state, including the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and Babajide Omoworare, a senator from the state.
The two states, run by the All Progressives Congress, have repeatedly promised to offset their arrears of funds but have yet to match word with action.
PREMIUM TIMES’ inquiries indicate that the two state governments have indeed made some disbursements, but have also attached conditions to access of the funds.
A top management staff of the university, who pleaded anonymity, said Oyo State government disbursed about N500 million, while Osun State has released N50 million from the N3.8 billion it owes the university.
However, according to the source, the Oyo Statey Government has directed that salaries of only workers who are indigenes of the state could be paid from the N500 million it disbursed.
This directive has caused disquiet among the workers, as some view it as a ploy to ease out workers of Osun origin from the university.
Another top official of the university, who also asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak on the development, said the directive was necessary to force Osun State to make up its mind whether it wants to continue as a joint owner of LAUTECH.
“If the state is paying only N50million out of N3.8 billion naira, what do you expect us to do?” the official said.
The official, however, said in spite of the disbursements, “the resumption of students and staff is not yet in sight.”
The various staff unions are also calling for dissolution of the university’s governing council, citing alleged corruption.
When contacted on phone to comment on the crisis in the institution, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Lekan Fadeyi, directed our reporter to the registrar.
The Registrar, J.A Agboola, however refused to speak on the issues raised in this report.
“I know you are a gentleman, I cannot be speaking on what a government has done or not, especially as a public servant. I am not the Bursar”, he said when asked to confirm the release of funds.
When told that the PRO identified him as the right person to comment on the issue, he said
“It is true, I should be the spokesman for the school but I cannot tell you anything on this issue.
“I am not saying no money was paid but I cannot speak on what the governors said”, Mr. Agboola stated.
The Vice Chancellor, Adeniyi Gbadegesin, also declined to speak with the press on the issues.
A don, Timothy Adebayo, who was a former member of the university’s management, would also not comment.
Mr. Adebayo, a professor, said “I am not the Chief Accounting Officer. In fact, I stopped being the deputy vice chancellor since July, so I am not in the best position to comment”.
The Deputy Governor of Osun State, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, who doubles as the state’s commissioner of education, did not respond to several text messages to her phone.
Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the management is considering increasing tuition fees of the institution as an internal measure around the financial problems of the Ogbomoso-based university.




http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/212918-exclusive-four-months-end-lautech-crisis-not-sight.html

Businessman and Ondo governorship aspirant, Jimoh Ibrahim, has warned that the current economic recession facing Nigeria may last for another 20 years if the global oil price continues in its downward trend.
Mr. Ibrahim gave the warning on Thursday at the launch of the book, Worshipper In the Temple of Justice, organised in honour of emeritus professor of law, David Ijalaye, at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University.
“With the current crude oil prices and current situation of the country, except there is a miracle that will chance the situation, we may be experiencing this recession for 20 years,” he said.
“Our Naira has lost its value and this is the worst recession I have seen in many years and nothing seems to be happening.”
Mr. Ibrahim recommended that Nigeria adopts the economic model of Iran in order to record meaningful development.
On the recent arrest of judges by the State Security Services, he noted that the development could whittle investor confidence.
“In a case where a judge is found with over N54 million and that it was found under his bed, no one would want to do business with you,” he said.
“It is very bad and has got so bad, if the Judiciary cannot be trusted so what are we saying.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/212712-nigerias-economic-recession-may-last-20-years-jimoh-ibrahim.html

..."We Protest and beg for resumption"- UI Student Leaders


Student Leaders in University of Ibadan have lamented impact of continued protests in the University, the student leaders said they are tired of physical protests.

This was communicated at a Seminar organized on the use of Social Media as a tool for Agitation. Speaking at the event, Comrade Onifade, Speaker of University of Ibadan Student Union, said "We have to stop protesting physically , physical protests cannot be left out but we only end up getting tired and coming back to beg after two months, however social media is an efficient tool to protest, we are tired of Protesting all the time".

Speaking also the President of Union of Campus Journalists,University of Ibadan, corroborated the position of the Speaker, Mr Oredola Ibrahim while acknowledging the place of physical protests said " We have seen that physical protests has not really worked the way we expect it to, with the social media, we can do alot".

Participants at the event facilitated by Mr Olanrewaju Oyedeji and Mr Oredola Ibrahim also shared similar views and said it would be great if Students can find a way to outsmart the University Management in Protests while maximizing opportunities presented by the Social Media.
This event was held in continuation of the ongoing National Orientation on the use of Social Media as a tool for efficient protests.




"The University mgt knows that Student get tired of physical protests and that they will beg to resume after a while"-UI SRC Speaker

..UI SU Set to explore use of Social Media for Agitation


http://theinsidernewsng.com/we-are-tired-of-protesting-always-ui-student-leaders/

At a point when there seems to be lots of anomaly in our society, at a time when youths are at receiving end of many harsh situations, at a time when we demand for improvement in our citadels, at a time when the sun has eaten deep into our skin, writing this is quite important, not because there is the urge to write but because we have to think ourselves of ways which we can solve our own problems.

I have followed world rankings and it is painful that no Nigerian University is among the top 1000, same in Africa, no Nigerian University is among the top ten, for a country with so many vibrant youths, natural resources, abundance of professors and blessed with intellectuals, we should weep in our hearts that even we are not local champions, rather we are champions in a disorganized society, it is slap on us as Students that the destiny of Nigerian Education has failed to improve over the years, true we have tried , we have made efforts, we have been on the streets, we have fought, our colleagues sacrificed their life but it seems all is not working as we really want it.

Is it not painful that in all major Universities located in the South West , we have had issues of victimization and suspension, we have had chaos, we have misunderstanding, do we not see that the biggest undoing in our Education sector is our inability to really fashion a way forward for the future, if we have really tried our best, do we not think it is high time we look for other ways to really solve the issues we are facing.
Do we not think that it is enough that Students die and still we complain if same issues all the time, the blood they shed, of what benefit do we attribute it to , a better education system, but it is even better in the 1980's than it is now, although you will agree with me that there is population inflation in the Education sector.

I posit to us all that really, we have to sit down and find a better way to agitate, we have to ensure that the view of those out there about us is proven wrong, the truth is when we keep doing same thing people really get tired of us.

Sincerely, I believe that the rot in Education sector is not just about the Government, we have to sit up too, we have really decide what we want, is it that we are fighting for relevance or we really want a developed education sector?
If we see that Academic Staff Union of Universities has a strong front in the country, it us Because to a large extent they are united, same with NASU, but where is our NANS?
If we would taken serious , we have to show that we are able to handle our own affairs, the frontier body that should collectively amplifier our voice has failed us, in a case where at NANS Convention we have persons taking harmful equipments there, in a case where this leaders beg around for money, in a case where we showcase ourselves as "garage guys" where is the intellectualism in us?
Those who should stand for us and who should discuss our interests are not interested In our affair really, if we would get a good front with the federal Government, the President would not just talk to anyone on the street, rather this same set of leaders would be the one they would talk to, but in a case where they are not after our interests, do we think we can fight our battle as individual schools when we are divided against ourselves?


My colleagues, even as we demand Change, do we not see that we are quite wrong in a way, how many times have we questioned the way little funds schools get are spent ? I mean how many times have we done that in a united voice , even if the Federal Government is not funding Education enough, why can't we come together to peacefully demand for an audit of Universities Account even with the autonomy Institutions enjoy, are we not concerned that development has not even matched with our protests? In a case where we still have students with no equipments, in a case where companies don't even trust our first class candidates, we have fought the battle as individual schools and we have not achieved our aim, the only thing is that we need to be united, we can't agitate if we are not united, if we still behave like mediocres, we can't blame leaders when we are not even leaders with common integrity ourselves.

Sincerely,we need to fashion a better way to agitate, except a law is passed against victimization,suspension of Student leaders, the truth is, there would be continued victimization, even with the fact that our protests mostly turn violent because we are protesting on streets where we have our police force that usually want to shut us up, in the streets where it is unsafe, in the streets where protests gets hijacked easily, our protests too has not yielded enough, maybe because activists still have refused to upgrade methodologies to 21st century realities.
We had an online agitation in OAU and we were successful Because for the first time, schools came together with sincerity of purpose and agitated for one purpose and that is the reopening of OAU, it was not even violent, we did not even have to go on the streets, imagine the situation in which we can have a united voice to speak, a situation where we would love not money more than agitations, a situation in which we would face realities when confronting issues, a situation in which we would allow youthful exuberance to overtake us, a situation in which we would not allow morality to leave in the process of activism.

My colleagues, it is imperative that we really sit down and act, what i am really saying is, when last did we call a real National Summit of Nigerian Students to get ideas on how we can progress as Students , on what we really want ,we don't do that, we keep fighting and end up begging later , doesn't that show cowardice? It is better we dont talk than to talk like we don't even understand why we are talking, I posit that our leaders have failed us , in a case where Students union leaders are tried for corruption, do you think even the management will take this same persons serious when they protest, students that have begged for money from authorities cannot get respect of sane authorities, it is not possible.


Colleagues, we have to wake up, we are not getting any better, we need to really know what we want t, enough of deaths, activism isn't extremism, our leaders have been insincere with us all the while, that is why we fail to really get the impact we want as Students, we have now turn protests to fun, leaving the ideals, what is the essence of protesting, and coming back to sign an undertaking, isn't that mockery? What is the essence of protesting really. Getting suspended, do we not understand that it shows that we have to rethink.

I am taking Universities on lecture of how to use Social media to protest, I challenge us all to sit down and ask our leaders to be sincere for once and really stop deceiving us, it is time we really sit down as Students and gain our name back, our NANS isn't functioning, we need to state what we want, we need to stop the protests of everyday, we need to have our own summit, we need to behave like intellectuals, only then would we taken serious, we have achieved little, but sincerely, it is not enough because we have failed as Students especially as Students Leaders, NANS seems to be confused on what they really stand for.

I wish all stakeholders would see sense in this my letter to us all and we start asking questions rather than been taken as fools, it been years and still counting, we need to wake up.


Yours sincerely,

Olanrewaju Oyedeji
National Facilitator,
Training on use of Social Media as a Panacea to constant Crisis In our campuses
Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com
09055552048

Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo


The National Association of Nigerian Students' has called for an independent investigation into alleged cases of funds diversion in the national assembly.

The senate secretariat of the association made its position known in a press statement issued by itsSenate President-elect, Oyejide Salam.

The students' body also‎ asked the speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara to resign over allegation of budget paddling.

Salam explained that thorough investigation would help to build public trust in the national assembly.

He added, "It is a great disappointment that scarce funds that should be used to develop key sectors of the government such as education, health, security and reviving of Nigerian Economy in these trying times were systematically allocated to non-existing projects with the sole aim of converting such into personal use in the nearest future.               

"The Senate Secretariat of NANS use this medium to call for an independent investigative committee to look into this issue of budget padding in the National Assembly so as to forestall such in the future and call for resignation of Mr. Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.‎"

He expressed displeasure ‎over alleged corruption cases in the Nigeria national assembly, saying it was affecting the growth of Nigeria.

Salam, who is a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, described the allegation of budget paddling as a betrayal of trust and high handedness. 

‎He said, "We will not tolerate any act of corruption either in the upper or lower chambers of the legislative arm of government of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"Nigerians have been engulfed with the issue of budget padding in the last couple of months, this clearly shows the level of high handedness, betrayal of trust and self seeking enrichment of National Assembly members."




http://theinsidernewsng.com/budget-paddling-nans-asks-dogara-to-resign-seeks-independent-investigation/

I learnt ASUU wants to go on strike, definitely that would put on hold lives of several thousands of students but ASUU needs to clarify issues too, what can the ASUU monitoring committee say about the lines released to Universities during Jonathan's era, were this funds utilized by majority of Universities for what they were meant for?
what can ASUU say about alleged mismanagement by various Universities administrations, is ASUU concerned about it?
The state of Federal Universities what can ASUU say, in a case where no University in Nigeria is among top 1000 in the world, where are the fruits of ASUU Strike?
same issues reoccur all the time, or is the strike for ASUU's own interests?
Students should not be used as jokers rather sincerity should come to play in all.

Larrysam

A Student of Obafemi Awolowo University punched the University porter in the face over issues of bedspace allocation, The Insider has learnt.
According to eye witness accounts, the Student from Department of English was involved in a fracas over the allocation of a room in Awolowo hall(Room Withheld).
It was gathered that trouble started when the student claimed to have been given a bedspace in the room , however another student also claimed same space, the argument that ensued thereafter led to the intervention of the University porters.
The Student allegedly hit a male porter in the face after he was accosted to provide slip showing his legal ownership of the bedspace in contention.
The University it was gathered asked him (the Student) who he is and the Student alsobfired same question to the porter.
According to an eye witness who pleaded anonymity "It was during the argument that the Student hit the porter in the face".

Speaking with the Warden of Awolowo hall, he confirmed the case and said " Although it happened but it was by mistake and not intentional, we are handling the case currently ".

Several Students have been paraded for assaulting their fellow and have received degrees of punishment by Students Union security committee members, recently, Fajuyians dealt with Man O' War, for alleged Assault on Students.
The Student, Ismail Tunde is in his finals in Department of English OAU, he however declined comment when contacted.

OAU: Student ‘Punch’ University Porter Over Bedspace Fracas - http://theinsidernewsng.com/oau-student-punch-university-porter-over-bedspace-fracas/

OAU Students have launched #ReopenOAU Campaign on twitter

Nairalanders that are OAU Students let's join voice to demand #Reopening of OAU..

Students are rotting at home

let's lend a voice please..
Join The #ReopenOAU Social Media Campaign Today -

Today, Association of Campus Journalists OAU will be leading a massive social media campaign to demand that OAU be reopened,
The Association requests all Students to join the Campaign to get OAU reopened

Read their Press Statement below


http://theinsidernewsng.com/join-the-reopenoau-social-media-campaign-today/

cc lalasticlala

Olanrewaju Oyedeji
As the Controversy on who becomes the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University rages on, The Insider can exclusively report that the court case set for July 6th has been postponed.
A new date is set to be picked on Thursday, July 7th 2016.
This development was confirmed by the Counsel to Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities Barrister S.T.A Raji.
The NASU and SSANU counsel also said that the case will drag for long, he said "The case has to be postponed due to the holiday, we will be in court on Thursday,7th July, to pick a new date, the judges will also commence their holiday on July 16,2016 and therefore the case will drag for long especially with antics from OAU dissolved council, the judges will resume by October and then the hearing will continue, we have not commenced the case proper".
Barrister S.T.A further revealed that the University has not filed a defence to the case NASU and SSANU filed against them, he said " We cannot commence a court case without the defendants(OAU) filing a defence, they have refused to file a defence and that will make the case longer, remember that when the case starts properly, there are lots of things to do, even if NASU and SSANU loses which is not possible, we(NASU and SSANU) will still appeal, when we appeal nothing can go on again, this is a long case especially with the delay tactics employed by the dissolved Governing Council, what we are arguing now is case of contempt not even the real case ".
The lawyer also advised that anyone that thinks that the FG cannot dissolve the Governing Council that they should file a case at the court rather than "writing articles".
On the sacking of Prof Salami as VC he said " There was never a VC before as even their(OAU) Counsel claimed so in court and this we are accepting so it so the issue of Prof Salami shouldn't arise, I believe the FG would appoint an Acting VC for the during of the case so there won't be a vacuum"
A Federal Court sitting in Osogbo was earlier set to commence hearing on legality of Prof Salami as VC of the University on July 6th ,2016 which Is a Public holiday.
meanwhile prof Salami has reacted to the VC tussle, read more via



http://theinsidernewsng.com/oau-new-vccourt-case-postponed-new-date-to-be-picked-on-thursday-july-7th/

Olanrewaju Oyedeji

The federal Government of Nigeria has dissolved the Governing council of Obafemi Awolowo University.
The Governing Council has been asked to hand over to the Registrar of the University till further notice.
This was announced on Nigerian Television Authority and confirmed to The Insider by NASU OAU Chairman.

This is due to the ongoing Protest against emergence of Prof Salami as new VC of OAU

Federal Government dissolves OAU Governing Council - http://theinsidernewsng.com/federal-government-dissolves-oau-governing-council/

..Seeks investigative panel,petitions Presidency
Olanrewaju Oyedeji

The Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has blasted the New Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University Prof Ayobami Salami labelling him as corrupt.

This is just as the Two Union called for the Probe of Prof Bamitale Omole, former VC of OAU under who the new VC was one time Deputy Vice Chancellor.

The two Unions said this during a press conference with Journalists from Obafemi Awolowo University under the Aegis of Association of Campus Journalists OAU.
Comrade Wole Odewunmi and Comrade Adegoke of NASU and SSANU respectively alleged that a lot of financial atrocities was committed by the outcome OAU Vice Chancellor part of which Prof Salami who is now the Vice Chancellor was Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics.

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities Chairman, Comrade Adegoke said "This is not an issue of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or ICPC, we once petitioned them and its surprising that we got two reports for one petition, I even went to see the Chairman ICPC then but it was clear that they would not be fair with the case of corruption, this time around we have petitioned the Presidency last week and we have received acknowledgement of our petition, we want them to set up an investigative panel and we want issues settled with probing of over 3.6billion intervention fund that was not utilized during Prof Omole's tenure".

The Non Academic Staff Union of Universities Chairman, Comrade Wole Odewunmi hinted that they will not back off from the Protest until their cries and pleas are heard, " We have suffered as workers and enough is enough , we cannot keep suffering, corruption is high in OAU and we want it settled this time" Odewunmi said.

OAU has been in crisis since the emergence of Prof Salami as Vice Chancellor of the institution.






http://theinsidernewsng.com/oau-nasussanu-blasts-new-vc-says-corruption-under-him-as-former-dvc-bigger-than-efcc-icpc