₦airaland Forum

Long over due. When the import duties were high locally assembled cars was almost as expensive as their foreign counterparts, so the essence of hiking the import duties has already been defeated. What i've discovered with nigerian economics whenever an imported item is banned or import duties hiked in other to protect locally manufatured, instead of the locally manufactured goods to become cheaper and available, it becomes almost as expensive as the foreign goods, making the purpose of protecting locally manufactured goods defeated. I believe the problem is either we lack the capacity to produce the goods we are banning or our locally manufacturers are just greedy with hiking their price unecessarily for huge profit

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cannot claim to be autonomous when lecturers are paid by the government, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said on Wednesday.
He said autonomy can only work when a university generates its resources to pay workers and meet its obligation.Ngige spoke while defending his ministry’s budget before the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment. Striking lecturers have refused to call off their seven-month strike because of disagreement with the government over the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS).
ASUU claimed that enrolling on the platform would erode the autonomy of the university system.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday issued a 14-day ultimatum to parties to resolve the lingering strike or face nationwide protests.
Ngige, according to a statement by his media aide, Emmanuel Nzomiwu, told the lawmakers that the Federal Government was addressing the strike holistically to ensure that other unions in the university system were carried along.
Besides, the minister said the Federal Government has met most of the union’s demands.
“Out of the eight demands of ASUU, the government has solved five. We have made N50 billion available; N20 billion for the revitalisation of the universities and N30 billion for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).The union agreed and went back to their members, only to return and say that the money for EAA should be for ASUU members alone, excluding other unions, namely, SSANU, NASU and NAAT,” Ngige said.

He explained that the Federal Government cannot ignore the other unions as such could be counter-productive to the smooth running of the university system.

“We cannot ignore the other unions whose services are indispensable for the full functioning of the university. If we ignore them, even if ASUU calls off the strike, the other unions will down tools-close the lecture rooms, the libraries, the laboratories- and, even the university gate,” the minister said.

On the contentious issue of IPPIS, the minister said the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS), which ASUU brought as an alternative has been sent to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for assessment.
Ngige, however, faulted the claim by ASUU that IPPIS would erode university autonomy.

“They said that university autonomy is being eroded. Autonomy cannot work when the government is paying the lecturers. It can work only when the governing council generates its resources to pay workers.

“IPPIS has blocked all leakages and exposed those who are not paying taxes, as well as those who underpay.

“So, we are meeting again with ASUU soon, so that they can also hear that other unions in the university have developed their payment system against UTAS. Do you now realise why we are tackling this problem holistically?,” the minister asked the lawmakers.

Addressing the concerns of the senators on the worrying unemployment situation in the country Ngige called for a systemic re-evaluation of the educational system with an emphasis on technical education.

He stressed the need to manage our resources and make concerted efforts to create jobs through multi-lateral and multifaceted approaches, including agriculture.

NANS resolved to organise a nationwide mass protest to press home its demand for the immediate reopening of all universities.

This is part of resolutions reached in a communiqué issued yesterday in Enugu after NANS Students’ Leaders Emergency Virtual Meeting held on Nov. 9.

The communiqué said the continued strike was an organised crime against students’ career and educational pursuits.

The statement reads in part: “The government has failed to prioritise education, hence the failure to deploy necessary fund for a complete overhauling of the education sector and total revitalization of university education in Nigeria.

“The association noted that governments had not earmarked meaningful budgetary allocation to the sector in line with the recommendation of UNESCO 26 per cent educational budgetary allocation.

“NANS has affirmed the perpetual and continued industrial actions by ASUU as the only tool to press home her demands as an organised crime against students’ career and educational pursuits.

“Consequently, NANS with no hesitation declares 14 days ultimatum for both ASUU and FG to resolve their impasse for our campuses to re-open or risk mass protest tagged #EndASUUStrike Nationwide – with economic shut down as the major target.”
https://thenationonlineng.net/ASUU-cant-claim-varsity-autonomy-says-fed-govt/

Notice of industrial action as a result of dissatisfaction with payment of salaries of our members in federal universities and colleges of education by IPPIS and non implementation of memorandum of action of march 2018 by federal government

the Four unions in the university should agitate to pull out of ippis. Ippis na scam. enough is enough

CrazyMan:
Are you trying to be sarcastic... how can you say a Pharmacist stands more chance of securing a job than a doctor?

You're obviously joking.

the person you quoted is saying the truth. Pharmacy has more job opportunities than medicine as it is now in our country. i'm telling you as someone who is involved in the medical sector. in other words you can easily get a job as a pharmacist than as doctor presently in nigeria.

long overdue. The discrepancies in pay is becoming unbearable with obfuscating explanation from IPPIS. Waiting for NAAT and SSANU to take their official position

Now the question is, who will plant the rice?

a timely piece. why force other people not to enrol. why deny others the freedom of association

Academics in Nigeria? Say the truth!
Understanding ASUU as the Clog in the Wheel of Progress.

This piece about academics in Nigeria may offend the arrogance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) if ASUU is repressive or it will excite ASUU’s patriotism to bootstrap the Nigerian Academics to his pride of place in the global league of universal institutions called universities.

I write this piece to expose, as an insider, the realities of Academics in Nigeria towards rescuing the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) from the asphyxiation of ASUU and redirect ASUU to the path of patriotism.

The truth is that like Saul who later became Paul, ASUU has ignorantly become the enemy of the Nigerian State. Why and How? You may ask! Permit me begin with the answer to “the why”. ASUU pride herself as being the most educated, knowledgeable and intelligent set of Nigerians. This, obviously, is not true. I assert that education is not certification, knowledge is not qualification and intelligence is natural, it is not grammar. Even the grammar, we do not write or speak it better than others.

ASUU should be humble enough to accept that we are not paid for certificates acquired, but we are paid to do our job of teaching, impactful research and community services within and outside the university with utmost professionalism and integrity and without fear or favour. If we say the truth, every Nigerian graduate has one or more lecturers that taught him/her that he/she wondered, and is still wondering, how the lecturer got thus far, even to the peak. I mean Professors! Maybe I am one of those lecturers, but it is high time we said the truth. Besides, many of the excellent students could not come into academics because we are guilty of what we accuse FGN – nepotism and tribalism!

ASUU may say they are not responsible for promotion or employment in any university. Who then does? ASUU members of course! Vice Chancellors, Deans, Heads of Departments and Professors are not military officers, APC or PDP members but ASUU members. ASUU is only interested in collecting dues with no mechanism in place to maintain the integrity and progression of Academics in Nigeria. It is important Nigerians know that FGN does not interfere in the appointment and promotion of Academic staff in any university. ASUU should drop this pride and let us move Nigeria forward.

The second reason why ASUU ignorantly persecutes Nigerians is that they are lost in ecstasy against the Nigerian state. They have abdicated their role of clamouring for members’ welfare and have constituted themselves into a quasi-political party and self-made opposition to any government in power. Most Nigerians who are either polygamous or from polygamous home, will agree that the wife that antagonises her husband the most, get the least from her husband no matter how good or rich the man is.

Permanent Secretaries or Judges earn more than a Professor they will tell us and get us drunk with the wine of pride, adducing these categories of workers enjoy what they enjoy because they are puppets to politicians or government in power; and that ASUU will not falter its integrity and will remain the voice of the downtrodden.

Enough of this hypocrisy! At least in recent times, ASUU decides who rules this country and it is only when there are disputes, the judiciary arbitrate. When many staunch ASUU supporters discuss how they went about conniving with politicians of varying political parties to get them or their cronies installed in power, you will weep for this country.

Politicians in Nigeria, particularly, in recent times will sincerely accept in their heart of hearts that Lecturers have lost the integrity or love they profess they have for Nigerians as against the politicians or other public office holders. Is it not some of us that connive with some students to have unmerited qualifications they use to occupy these public offices? Why accuse who your members aided to power of incompetence or misrule? ASUU is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

ASUU like most trade unions should concentrate their energy on their members’ welfare – they should always come out straight with their welfare demands instead of their holier and richer than thou posture. We should be humble to say the truth, our salary is not enough not because we are better than other Nigerian workers or earn less but because of the nature of our job – even if we have all the comforts and tools to do research, we spend a fortune to get them published.

On the average, a Lecturer will require thirty to forty publications with about 1/3rd of them published with foreign currency, to be a Professor. To say the truth, a dedicated Lecturer with high integrity, which most of us are, is poor. With sustained support for any government in power, in our capacity as academics, the cooperation of other trade unions, and logical persuasions, we will get something from the government. Something is better than nothing! Do not judge us based on our packaging. We are suffering but smiling! Instead of ASUU to consistently market this truth, they have worsened the poverty of Nigerian academics by avoiding it; claiming that the Nigerian Universities are poorly equipped and citing autonomy and other smoky issues.

For the smoky issues, I will show later that ASUU is the problem and they know too. Nigerian Students! Poor salary is our problem and the genuine cause of our anger and persistent strike; not any acclaimed love for you. If we love you as claimed, why do we suspend most strikes after financial settlement from FGN. Some University Academics extort students financially and sexually and yet we claim we love the students and that we are fighting their course. What has ASUU done as a union to protect innocent students from this oppression. Absolutely Nothing! What a hypocrisy!!

Still on ASUU’s “Nollywood” love for Nigerians, is it in the interest of Nigerians, that ASUU proposed and accepted 70years retirement age for the professorial cadre? NO! It was because the Judges were given 70years. Even after 70years, some ASUU members still want to stay on contract in FGN payroll while they receive gratuity and pension. The youths have no job, the old do not want to retire and yet they claim they love Nigerians.

ASUU should explain to Nigerians why a Lecturer that became an Associate Professor at the verge of 65years should be given extra five years in service. Somebody should help me tell ASUU that it is even in our culture as Africans to have the most elderly ones among us settle our disputes. Besides, rules and discretion are two desiderata deployed in legal practice. Discretion made law an axe that requires the very experienced because of the possible intrigues of lawyers. I assert that no other human task can be as an axe as law. Greed blinded ASUU, they forgot we have other legal means of income as Part-time teaching, external examination and assessment, an Adjunct lecturer position in another University, royalties, market for our books as in most tertiary institutions, opportunity for political office outside our place of work while in service which the Judges may not have.

Legally, Judges are not allowed to romance with any political party or its members. We all saw what happened recently with one of our finest Judges in the court of Appeal because her husband has affiliation with a political party. She had to withdraw from a case in the interest of the country. Before you call me APC puppet, I did not vote for APC in both the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections, but I wholeheartedly accepted the position of the majority and the wisdom of the Judiciary. Before I digress, this singular act of envy by ASUU that claim to “love” Nigerians has contributed greatly to youth unemployment in civil service as other union began to also request for additional five years in service.

Why Nigerian civil servants were on strike for addition of five years to their retirement age, a European nation with longer life-expectancy and lower youth unemployment went on strike to reverse their retirement age that was increased by a year. I have so far exposed my conviction on why ASUU has become an enemy of the Nigerian state. The reasons are pride, greed, and lack of instrument to enforce integrity and professionalism among its members.

This lack of instrument may draw pity to ASUU as a crippled toothless tiger before its members. ASUU however relies on two unholy but potent instruments of control – propaganda and intimidation, to satisfy its pride and greed. ASUU coarse its members and their families with fear – fear of career progression and academic opportunities irrespective of their capabilities. The truth is that majority of the Lecturers in Nigerian Universities are sick and tired of the incessant strike by ASUU and the lack of innovative means of engaging government; as evident by the about 55% of its members who stood with the FGN on the deployment of IPPIS despite ASUU’s intimidation.

Some notable Professors or politically aspiring Lecturers had to hide to register with IPPIS to evade the fury of ASUU. ASUU cannot love us more than us! The UNIBEN branch of ASUU robbed me and others that subscribed to IPPIS of our Christmas rice which we contributed towards and threatened us with queries; but I trashed mine. I was insulted and promised that ASUU will work against me if I should contest or vie for position in any University. Do not fear for me! I have never and will never fear any cult. The finality of man is death and death by truth is holy and paradise assured.

If ASUU is truly democratic, they are supposed to bow to the voice of the majority. The truth on the IPPIS issue is, you may not like Buhari or the APC lead FGN, IPPIS is a holy ICT innovation capable of effectively preventing corruption, without a fight, on our national payroll. Globally, preventive means of checking corruption is cheaper and greener than the curative means of fighting corruption. No doubt, as with all ICT innovations and deployments, there are bound to be teething problems which do wear away with time. IPPIS provides the long-awaited opportunity for ASUU to exercise their academic autonomy and bootstrap Nigerian Universities to its pride of place. I wish to let Nigerians know that all ASUU is saying about IPPIS is pure propaganda against FGN.

I challenge ASUU to an open debate on IPPIS. Let us examine the smoky issues of funding, infrastructural decay and autonomy that ASUU has consistently used to blackmail FGN and woo the sympathy of Nigerians. It is important to note that the National University Commission (NUC) is an instrument of FGN to ensure Nigerian Universities meet up with global standards. NUC is doing an excellent job to guarantee high standard university education for Nigerians and foreigners alike.

The resource verification and the regular accreditation instruments and implementation procedures are second to none in the globe. I affirm that NUC make use of ASUU members to perform virtually all their task of maintaining standards in the Nigerian Universities. Oh! I may be accused of NUC sponsorship. My apologies, NUC.

I pity FGN, ASUU will recommend to FGN through NUC that all is well and, in most cases, excellent and the same ASUU is fighting FGN through the Presidency and Labour ministry that everything is in total collapse. Who then is the problem, FGN or ASUU? Have we heard ASUU complained to NUC about resource verification or accreditation instruments or exercises? No! Does NUC (FGN) report and enforce ASUU’s findings and recommendations on which university or its programme should be sustained? Yes! Who made strike part of our university calendar? ASUU! Who prepares the university for accreditation or resource verification? ASUU! Who are the phoney resource persons particularly in private universities? ASUU! Who does accreditation or resource verification? ASUU! Who affirms that our universities and its programmes are particularly in good form? ASUU! Who awards the degrees? ASUU! Who is saying our university system is dilapidated and substandard? ASUU! My Nigerian universities, your midwife has become your murderer, prosecutor, advocate and judge. ASUU why? Who therefore is the clog in the wheel of progress of Academics in Nigeria?

The Way Forward:

(i) ASUU should apologise to FGN and Nigerians for negligence, misdirection, and disruption of university calendar at least in the last two to three decades; and put a final stop to the incessant strikes in the public universities in Nigeria.

(ii) ASUU should accept that other public or civil servants are equally important.

(iii) ASUU should come out straight with their unique welfare nature; with respect for constituted authorities as enshrined in our holy books.

(iv) ASUU should henceforth, “call a spade, a spade” and do their job with fairness, professionalism and integrity without any fear or favour.

(v) ASUU should device ethical means of enforcing professionalism, integrity and standards in Nigerian Academics commensurate with global norm. It is hoped that this divine ambush on ASUU on his way to “Damascus” will redirect ASUU’s focus from its misplaced intention to a genuine course of Nation building and promotion of Academics in Nigeria. This piece is my opinion and not that of my university or professional bodies. Thank you.

Prof. Godspower Ekuobase, PhD, MCPN. Professor of Services Computing Department of Computer Science University of Benin, Benin City Edo State, Nigeria Email: godspower.ekuobase@uniben.edu Tel.: +234(0) 8064951845
cc Richiez , olawalebabs , Fynestboi

The haphazard government continues

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Lets continue to observe the results as it trickles in

Cross river state, you already know

senatordave1:
Apt? Seems the author is less senseless than you.

see this mumu crossriverian o. I'm ashamed that you are from crossriver state.

zombies on rampage after a very apt analysis by the author

Ali baba has aptly encapsulated it. so i have nothing to add to it.

i thought they said power is now at 7000MW. Chai zombies and lies is like that jacob zuma pics. If you know you know.

let the ignorant educate themselves here.

thank God there are records. Otherwise they were already twisting the narrative to suit their ill actions already. This should be on front page.
cc Lalasticlala

WritePal:
In the eyes of the international community, bubu has already cast doubts on the credibility of the coming next elections. US, UN, EU, France, Germany, China, UK and other world powers are watching the emerging despot in Nigeria.

Is it not ridiculously outrageous, utterly laughable and bemusing the kinds of incredibly lame arguments paid bmc hate mobs make here, after receiving new lies from their abuja coordinator, bashir ahmed? One asked whether US followed protocol when they killed Osama? Abeg, where's the correlation, bikonu ? Another was making flabby attempts to compare Sanusi during GEJ's era with Onoghen?? Na wa ooo Are they all empty-brained at that bmc center? I mean classic zombies?? No intelligent interviews before appointment? They mostly talk like SSCE school leavers!! .

Another one opened a thread with inferior infographics making basket arguments that bubu has powers to remove CJN. He was just going round in circles without actually saying anything intelligent or tangible.

For a little education for these enemies of the Nigerian state, there are 3 EQUAL ARMS of government. Is it okay for Saraki (as head of the legislature) to suspend bubu? or CJN to suspend bubu under the guise of an unsubstantiated claim? So, why is bubu suspending CJN when they're equal? You should have paid attention in your Government class in SS 1

Majority of them are daft.

HigherEd:
NJC says buhari is wrong
NBA says buhari is wrong
Court of Appeal says buhari is wrong
Lawyers say buhari is wrong
EU says buhari is wrong
USA says buhari is wrong
The senate says buhari is wrong
Supreme court justices say buhari is wrong

But one intellectually colonized buhari fanatic/worshipper on nl would come here to spill rubbish.

Now i believe that majority of commenters especially in politics section are daft or they just choose to be daft. something that is glaring and so obvious in our constitution, they are still saying saying buhari is right, it means so many people are educated illiterates, even when it is clearly written and you can read for yourself. Some even go as far as drawing comparison with what happened to the ex CBN governor. Majority of them are just plainly hopeless.

pedel:
A competent court ordered the president to suspend the CJN and the order has been upheld.
What has the FG done wrong? Which part of the constitution was violated in carrying out the order of the court?
Is the CCT not constitutionally empowered to exclusively hear cases relates to code of conduct of public office holder?
The right thing for everyone involved to do is to go and argue the competency of the court or bring charges against the FG for obeying court order.

chairman go an educate yourself more on this matter, stop trying to be clever by half, which just exposes your ignorance.

imam07:
Why are u shouting. As if this pdp guys are Saint too. So u want me to condemn Buhari and embrace saraki that has turned my state apology state.

baba go and sit down some where and stop disturbing my mention, if you lack the capacity for intellectual diaglogue. what has saraki and your state has to do with the judiciary?

koboko69:
Was this your position when sanusi was suspended fir blowing whistle...
Na PDP teach APC...deal with it or shut the hell up

you talk without reasoning. Is the post of CJN equal to or equivalent to CBN? Is CBN one of the three arms of government?

Moukandjo:
You PDP sycophants should stop deluding yourselves! Buhari is not contesting against Obama or Mandela; he's contesting against a freaking shameless international thief like Atiku! There's nothing Buhari does that'll make the shameless international thief be a viable option to Buhari's supporters!

SMH. i would not indulge this foolishness.

Successdude:
With regards to the bolded, dey der dey deceive yourself... You think countries like Kenya and Ghana are waiting for you bah ? Mtchew

Find out what kenya is sufferring now as a result of the instability in somalia. What of chad and niger and cameroon as a result of boko haram? Na you dey decieve yourself when u have a functioning brain meant for thinking.

pedel:
Africa didn't collapse when Libya fell.
Everyone to their problems.
It is very sad when we tribalise and politicize everything that happens in the country.
The constitution never protect the ordinary citizen but the politicians. The same chief justice would have sentenced an man who 'mistakingly' or 'forget' about money they didn't earn legitimately.
Your roads are bad, you are hungry and have no social welfare support which the ruling elites suppose to provide; for which you suppose to call for impeachment of your politicians.
Instead you are fighting to support a useless constitution that has no provision to protect you from corrupt politicians and also defending corrupt judicial officer who would have resigned or stepped down to protect the office he occupies.

Then fight for the constitution to be amended. The rule of law is the rule of law, there is no sentiments attached to it. You can't be the judge, the jury and the executioner. We have a constitution, it must be abided to until amended, because that is what you'll sware to uphold when you are innaugarated into office. Going by your arguments it means cases should no longer be tried and the courts should be disregarded. Even murderers have a right to be tried in the court before being sentenced. That is what a society devoid of anarchy does. Upholding the rule of law is sacrosanct, sentiments has no place in it.

Shafiiimran99:
"If Nigeria goes down, the entire African continent will be affected" says who?

baba use your brain. Is nigeria not feeling the effects of what is happening in far away Lybia with weapons finding its ways to our shores. How much more Africa's largest democracy? Nigeria's stability is too important and strategic for Africa's stability especially in this age.

rusher14:
Let's assuming what you wrote is true.

What about the people who welcomed Buhari to Too state just today ?

The news is still circulating. so many there are not aware of what has just happened. Its now downhill for him from now moving forward. some of his supporters are condeming it already. others are just silent.

don't be fool by the public displays of zombies in this forum. Deep down they regret the knee jerk action of their pay master, and are trying every thing possible to make it appear as normal. I'm happy that those who love this country are speaking up against this madness. They underate the power of social media that enthroned their boss, it will be what will be his undoing. He who kills by the sword, dies by the sword.

long overdue.

wowcatty:
You must think it's still the era you use Yoruba as you wish. What do the 3 you mentioned have to do with the your problem? Don't you have leaders in your region to cry to? These 3 have no business in any matter that has nothing to do with Yoruba. Also, the last 5 chief justices had 2 years each and so is this very one y'all crying over, nothing has changed. You all want to remain in Nigeria, so deal with whatever you get from it and stop disturbing us.

Chairman i was trying to buttress the fact that the cabals are behind this decision, and why the aforementioned people who will always defend this government has gone mum. But you've chsoen to toe the line of shallow thinking, where tribalism is your bread and butter