₦airaland Forum

Ten06:
You are actually in a very strong position already.

You have:

Time

Patience

Stable electricity

Good hardware

Savings that remove desperation

A willingness to learn slowly


Those things matter more than many people realize.

Your systems are more than enough for almost every remote tech career path. Your HP ZBook Fury 16 G9 alone can handle software development, cybersecurity labs, cloud work, AI tools, video editing, virtualization, and heavy multitasking.

The bigger question is not:

> “Can my system handle tech work?”



It is:

> “Which tech path fits my personality, patience level, and income goals?”



Since you specifically want:

remote work

sustainable income

international earning potential

long-term stability

legal work from home

gradual but dependable growth


…then I would advise you to avoid hype-driven areas and focus on fields that:

1. Have global demand


2. Can be learned from home


3. Can be freelanced remotely


4. Do not require university degrees to enter


5. Still pay well years later



Here’s the truth many people won’t tell beginners:

The tech industry is now divided into:

overcrowded “everyone is doing this” fields

and practical high-income fields where skilled people are still scarce.


You should aim for the second category.


---

The 5 Best Remote-Friendly Tech Paths For You

1. Software Development (Most Dependable Long-Term)

What it is

Building websites, apps, systems, and software.

Why it is powerful

This is still one of the strongest remote careers in the world.

A good developer in Nigeria can work for:

U.S. companies

European startups

remote agencies

freelance clients

SaaS companies


And earn in dollars.

Best part

You do not need to be a genius in mathematics.

Recommended route for you

Start with:

HTML

CSS

JavaScript


Then move into:

React

Node.js

Databases

APIs


Eventually:

Full-stack development


Income potential

Very high once skilled.

Difficulty

Medium.

Time before earning

6–18 months realistically.


---

2. Cybersecurity (Excellent For Your Personality)

This one stood out strongly while reading your message.

You sound like someone who may enjoy:

working quietly

learning deeply

staying indoors

technical investigation

structured systems


Cybersecurity fits that personality well.

What it involves

protecting systems

finding vulnerabilities

securing networks

ethical hacking

cloud security


Why it is valuable

Cyber threats never stop. Companies always need security people.

Remote opportunities

Very strong internationally.

Areas inside cybersecurity

SOC Analyst

Penetration Testing

Cloud Security

Governance/Risk/Compliance

Security Automation


Best beginner route

Start with:

Networking basics

Linux

Cybersecurity fundamentals

CompTIA Security+ concepts

TryHackMe labs

Wireshark

Basic Python


Income potential

Very high internationally.

Difficulty

Medium to high.

Time before earning

8–24 months.

But once established, it can become very stable.


---

3. Cloud Computing + DevOps (Massively Underrated)

This is one of the strongest remote career paths today.

What it is

Managing servers, applications, cloud infrastructure, automation, deployments.

Using platforms like:

Amazon Web Services

Google Cloud

Microsoft Azure


Why I like this path for you

You already have strong hardware. You seem patient and methodical.

Technologies involved

Linux

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

CI/CD

Cloud platforms

Scripting


Reality

This field is harder initially than web development.

But:

fewer people master it

competition is lower

salaries are often higher


Time before earning

1–2 years.

Long-term sustainability

Excellent.


---

4. Data Analytics / Data Engineering

Good if you like:

logic

organization

patterns

business insights


Tools

Excel

SQL

Python

Power BI

Tableau


Easier entry than software engineering

Yes.

High income ceiling?

Moderate to high.

Remote opportunities?

Good.

Recommended if:

You want something slightly less coding-heavy.


---

5. AI-Assisted Tech Work (Very Important Today)

Do not misunderstand this part.

I am NOT saying:

> “Become an AI prompt engineer.”



That hype is unstable.

What is valuable now is:

> combining AI tools with real technical skills.



For example:

Developers using AI become faster

Cybersecurity analysts using AI become more productive

Data analysts using AI work smarter


AI should become your assistant, not your profession.


---

What I Would Personally Recommend For YOU

Based on your tone, patience, setup, and desire for sustainability:

Strongest recommendation:

Cybersecurity + Cloud

OR

Full-Stack Development + AI tools

These combinations are powerful internationally.


---

Your Biggest Mistake Would Be…

Trying to learn:

everything at once

10 programming languages

6 career paths simultaneously


That destroys progress.


---

What You Should Do In The Next 12 Months

Phase 1 — First 2 Months

Learn computer fundamentals properly.

Topics:

How the internet works

Networking basics

Linux basics

Git/GitHub

Command line


This foundation is CRITICAL.


---

Phase 2 — Choose ONE Path Only

Do not branch around.

Pick:

software development OR

cybersecurity OR

cloud/devops OR

data analytics



---

Phase 3 — Daily Learning Routine

You need consistency more than intensity.

Even:

3 focused hours daily for 1 year can completely change your life.



---

Platforms I Strongly Recommend

For Learning

[freeCodeCamp](https://www.freecodecamp.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

[The Odin Project](https://www.theodinproject.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

[CS50 by Harvard](https://cs50.harvard.edu/x?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

[TryHackMe](https://tryhackme.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

[Coursera](https://www.coursera.org?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

[roadmap.sh](https://roadmap.sh?utm_source=chatgpt.com)



---

Very Important Reality Check

Your first income may be painfully small.

Maybe:

$50

$100

$300


Do not panic.

Remote careers compound.

A skilled person earning in dollars from Nigeria can eventually build:

financial stability

location freedom

consulting income

freelance clients

remote employment

even tech businesses later


But the first stage is usually quiet and difficult.


---

Final Advice

You currently have something many people lack:

room to focus without immediate survival pressure


Use this season carefully.

Do not chase:

crypto hype

fake forex mentors

“AI cashout” schemes

copy-paste online businesses


Build a real technical skill.

A real skill may take 2 years to mature… …but it can feed you for 20 years.

OloriDesire:
You have no jobs and you have these powerful laptops?

Who you dey lie give?

Oya continue with whatever fetched you the money to acquire those engines.

Nairaland and fake lives.

ManLikeL:
Nlfpmod
Mynd44


Please help move this to the right section sirs.

HelenaWills:
Sweetheart, first off, building is in a government reserved area that means anyone who bought would likely have a high-end lawyer that would vet and check every single comma in your documents. No one will make an offer if the documents aren't complete and legit. That alone strikes out any possiblity of legal erring since the house is sold already.

BUA REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICALS, AKWA IBOM: AN UPDATE

Contrary to a misleading report stating that our 200,000 barrels/day refinery is at 90% completion, BUA wishes to advise the public to disregard such misleading reports that did not emanate from us.

As we make remarkable strides on our Akwa Ibom refinery project, we are proud to share that construction is progressing steadily. Whilst the refinery is not at 90% completion, we are however on track to meet our delivery timelines in collaboration with our partners. This BUA Refinery & Petrochemicals project represents a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s refining capacity and energy security.

Our other energy projects, including the construction of a mini-LNG plant and several new hybrid power plants across the country to add additional capacity to our over 1,000MW installed captive power generation capacity, are also progressing rapidly.

The public is advised to verify any news through our official channels and platforms so as not to be misled by mischievous persons.

At BUA, we remain committed to transparency and excellence. As we have consistently done with over 12 of our completed mega industrial projects worth over $ 3.5 billion in the past 10 years, we will continue to keep you updated with verifiable and accurate information only where necessary, and as milestones are achieved. We appreciate the public’s interest and enthusiasm for this transformative project as we work together in building a stronger industrial and manufacturing base for a self-reliant Nigeria.

Signed:
Management

JUST IN: Extradition process have been completed for Simon Ekpa to be returned to Nigeria from Finland.

NNPCL PRESS RELEASE

NNPC Ltd Reaffirms Progress on Port Harcourt Refinery and Addresses Misleading Claims

The Board and Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) express heartfelt appreciation to Nigerians for their support and excitement over the safe and successful restart of the 60,000 barrels-per-day Old Port Harcourt Refinery. This achievement marks a significant step forward after years of operational challenges and underperformance.

We are, however, aware of unfounded claims by certain individuals suggesting that the refinery is not producing products. For clarity, the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90%. The refinery is producing the following daily outputs:

Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha): Blended into 1.4 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS or petrol)

Kerosene: 900,000 liters

Automotive Gas Oil (AGO or Diesel): 1.5 million liters

Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO): 2.1 million liters

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Additional volumes

It is worth noting that the refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals (formerly Eleme Petrochemicals), to produce gasoline that meets required specifications. Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes.

Additionally, we have made substantial progress on the new Port Harcourt Refinery, which will begin operations soon without prior announcements.

We urge Nigerians to focus on the remarkable achievements being realized under the able and progressive leadership of President Bola Tinubu and to support efforts aimed at delivering more dividends to the nation. Malicious attacks on clear progress only undermine the significant strides made by NNPC Ltd and the country.

Let us move forward together in building a stronger and more self-sufficient energy sector.

Olufemi Soneye
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Ltd

November 26, 2024

This followed the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The monetary policy rate measures the benchmark interest rate.

The CBN governor Yemi Cardoso announced this in Abuja on Tuesday during the last MPC meeting of the year at the apex bank’s headquarters.

Cardoso said the MPC voted unanimously to raise the MPR by 25 basis points from 27.25% to 27.50%; and retain the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 50% for Deposit Money Banks and 16% for Merchant Banks.

The CBN chief also said the MPC retained the Liquidity Ratio (LR) at 30% and Asymmetric Corridor at +500/-100 basis points around the MPR.

BREAKING: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State.

NNPC Ltd Delivers Port Harcourt Refinery, As Plant Begins Truckout of Products

Today, Tuesday 26th November 2024 at 1.45pm

Watch the Commissioning and trucking out Event LIVE.

illicit:
I hope Wike in Tinubu's government won't be like Saraki in Buhari's govt (first term)


Hmmmm

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) party in the just concluded polls, Atiku Abubakar has said he would have picked his challenger in the Labour Party, Peter Obi again as his running mate should he have remained in the party.

Atiku said this on Thursday during a world press conference on the 2023 presidential election. According to him, Obi left PDP in 2022 when it was obvious he won’t get the party’s ticket. He said his choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State was part of his commitment for a balanced ticket after Obi’s exit.

“I would have picked Obi again as my running mate if he was in PDP. But he left for Labour and I can’t stop him. Yes, he took most of our votes in the South East and South South states but that won’t make him president without the North.

”Recall that Obi was running mate to Atiku in the 2019 presidential election. They lost election to President Muhammadu Buhari won then seeking a second term in office.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, February 25, conducted the presidential and National Assembly elections and, subsequently, announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, winner of the election.

INEC declared the former Lagos State Governor winner of the election after he polled 8,794,726 votes.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced Tinubu as the winner at the International Collation Centre in Abuja, during the early hours of Wednesday.

The former Lagos State governor came out tops in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and secured significant numbers in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726.

This is almost two million votes more than his closest rival — former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

Atiku, 76, who has now run for presidency six times, got 6,984,520 votes, while the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, who, in less than a year, galvanised young voters in a manner some have described as unprecedented, finished the race with 6,101,533.

The federal government on Friday continued negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to put an end to the eight-month-old strike action. ASUU embarked on a nationwide strike on March 23 to demand “revitalisation allowance”, earned academic allowances, renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, visitation panels, among other demands.

Premium Times reported how the federal government, last Friday, made some concessions to the striking university lecturers through their union. The government offered N65 billion to Nigerian universities to address some of the lecturers’ demands. The government also agreed to pay the lecturers their outstanding salaries using an older payment platform, GIFMIS, different from the controversial IPPIS. The N65 billion seeks to address the issue of earned allowances and ”revitalisation of universities”. Before the government introduced IPPIS to the union last year, the lecturers were receiving their pay through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

The meeting
The Friday meeting, which was scheduled for 11 a.m. started at 2:25 p.m. with the labour minister, Chris Ngige, presiding. He said the government gave the union some offers last week and “they promised to consult with their members and get back to us”.

“We pray for a fruitful discussion that will bring our children to school,” he said. In his remark, the national president of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the position of the union members had been documented and will be presented to the minister. Mr Ngige declared the commencement of the technical session of the meeting at 2:35 p.m.

ZONAL chapters of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have said they will meet this week to review the union’s ongoing strike.

The national body of the union and the Federal Government could not agree on the universities teachers’ demands, apart from the N65 billion the government released to the union last week.

ASUU Chairman at the Abia State University (ABSU), Mr. Victor U. Nkemdirim, announced yesterday that the union would meet tomorrow to discuss and pass a resolution on the lingering face-off between the government and the union’s members.

Nkemdirim, who said he was in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, for a zonal meeting of the union, told The Nation on phone that the union’s members in the zone would examine a memorandum from the national body and later take a position on it.

The union leader said the members would report back to the national leadership on the zone’s position.

“The ASUU national body asked various chapters nationwide to hold congresses between Monday and Wednesday to deliberate the resolutions on the items being discussed. Ours will be on Wednesday. We have no resolution for now until the congress meet by 7 a.m on Wednesday.”

But the union’s chairperson at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof. Chinyere Echendu, spoke with The Nation yesterday on phone at the end of the chapter’s meeting.

She said the university’s chapter had sent its position to the zonal chapter, which would communicate same to the national body.

On the position of the union at the end of the meeting, Prof. Echendu said: “As a branch, we have met and considered the proposal of the government.

“We have taken a resolution and have given the mandate back (to the national body) to continue with the meeting by Friday.

“It is not possible to tell you the resolutions that we reached. We have taken a position in my branch and the position we have given to our zonal coordinator, which he will present to the national body. The national body will present this to the national strike committee. The national strike committee will present it to the Federal Government.

“Whatever each branch has presented will be brought together for consideration and for a position to be taken.

“That is the way it works. There is nothing like yes or no answer in what you are asking me.”

The Sokoto zone of the union yesterday said it was also holding consultations on the latest overtures by the Federal Government before a meeting at the National Executive Council (NEC) level will determine its next line of action on the union’s strike.

The Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Jamilu Shehu, told The Nation that there is ongoing consultations in the various zones on the offer made by the federal government which could take up to next week before a final decision is conveyed to the National Executive Committee of ASUU for further action

Shehu, who also oversees varsities in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina states, insisted that the consultations must be concluded before any announcement by the NEC of the association.

The chairman of ASUU chapter at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Dr. Lazarus Maigoro, also said the chapter was still awaiting details of the overture by the Federal Government to the national body.

Maigoro, who spoke on phone with The Nation in Jos, said: “Government has made some offers but the details are not yet available to us.

“Consultations are still ongoing on the way forward.”

ASUU Chairman at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Dr. Kudu Dangana said: “The Federal Government is not serious. There are very important issues to address as raised by ASUU, but the Federal Government is playing with our demands.”

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has restated the commitment of Federal Government to end the eight-month strike embarked on by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

He described as untrue, comments that government officials have been foot-draggers in the ongoing negotiations with the university lecturers because their children school abroad.

Ngige said, “I have three biological children in public schools. They are in public schools; they are not in private universities. Unlike ASUU members who have most of their children in private universities, three of mine are here. So, I am a very big stakeholder in the public tertiary school system.”

The minister, who spoke on an Arise TV interview monitored by The PUNCH, added, “So, when ASUU says politicians don’t care because they have taken their children abroad, Chris Ngige cares because my children are not abroad even though they have dual nationality – two of them have American citizenship; they can be in America but I choose them to be here with me.

“So, ASUU cannot accuse me of not being nationalistic enough. Anything that will help the university system here, I am in the forefront.”

The PUNCH had reported last Friday that the Federal Government accepted the demand by ASUU that the lecturers be exempted from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

The government also offered to increase the Earned Allowances to university staff from N30 billion to N35b and the Revitalisation Fund from N20b to N25b.

The development came after weeks of negotiations and disagreements by the FG and ASUU, which proposed the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as its preferred payment platform.

Reading out the communique at the end of a seven-hour negotiation with ASUU members in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, had said the government also agreed to ASUU’s demand to pay their members’ salary arrears from February to June through the old salary payment platform, Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System.

Speaking further, Ngige expressed optimism that the lecturers will accept the new offer by the government. He urged ASUU to hasten consultations with its members so as to return to the negotiation table and conclude talks before Friday.

The breakthrough in negotiations is expected to end the eight-month strike embarked on by the university lecturers as parents and students wait on ASUU to call off the strike.

Senior citizens under the aegis of Association of Nigeria Universities Alumni (ANUA) yesterday declared their readiness to mediate between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government, to end the eight-month strike.

The association said it has resolved to ensure that unemployed graduates are registered, to secure social security allowance for them from the Federal Government.

The newly-elected Chairman of the group, Dr. Stephen Fasakin, said at the national convention of the association in Imo State University, Owerri that one of his mandates was to unify the alumni associations of the universities under one umbrella.

He said: “Under my leadership, we shall embark on the creation of a website where every unemployed graduate shall be registered. We shall pursue a bill for the payment of social security allowance to the unemployed graduates, to be taken by the National Assembly

“Under my watch, we shall encourage graduates to be more interested in politics so that we can salvage this country from the greedy office holders. Graduates must take over the position of leadership and responsibilities. We shall facilitate a better serving condition for corps members.

“One area where university growth has suffered is the area of alumni associations’ collaboration. We shall not close our eyes to that. On that note we shall take a bold step in resolving this current conflict between the government and ASUU so that universities will resume.”

The chairman urged members to be committed to the association, saying: “The association shall be committed to you too.”

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities has said the University Transparency Accountability Solution can be ready in three weeks if the Federal Government is committed.

Last week, the FG had told ASUU to transit to Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System pending when UTAS would be ready for use.

However, in an interview with The PUNCH, ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, said there was no need to transit to IPPIS since UTAS could be ready in at most three weeks if government was sincere.

“What is left for UTAS to pass integrity test is what we have started with National Information Technology Development Agency; we have submitted documents to NITDA.

“If government demonstrates sufficient goodwill and support, we can put the final stage behind us as a matter of weeks, maybe two to three weeks at most. It is the goodwill, commitment that we are now looking for.

“Rather than focusing on that, government is insisting that there is a transition; transition for how many weeks, how many months? This last week, they still paid some of our members who are not on IPPIS. So, what platform did they use?

“We have been telling them, use the platform you have been using to pay people; why the insistence on IPPIS? That is the reason we are saying there is a hidden agenda about IPPIS.

“At the appropriate time, we will expose those who are behind it. We have submitted every document, except if they want to sit on the documents. If they don’t want to sit on the documents why are they saying we should go back to IPPIS,” Ogunyemi queried,

While reacting to the issue of the N30bn Earned Academic Allowance offered by the FG which ASUU said it would be for its members alone, Ogunyemi explained that the union negotiated for ASUU not for other unions.

He added that it was illogical for the government to say other unions would benefit from it.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities yesterday urged the Federal Government to pity the children of ordinary Nigerians and quickly attend to their demands noting that they are tired of strike action.

The union disclosed that FG is rushing the union to resume because the government is scared of youths’ protests after they saw their demonstration during #EndSARS agitations.

The Akure Zone of the union, represented by Dr Olayinka Awopetu of the Federal University of Technology, Akure; Dr Kayode Arogundade of Ekiti State University; Dr Adeola Egbedokun of Obafemi Awolowo University; and Dr Gabriel Omonijo of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, in a press conference, disclosed the position of the union.

The statement, which was read by the union zonal coordinator, Prof. Olu Olufayo, explained that the lingering industrial action of the union was to get the FG to fulfil the agreements of 2013 and 2019 and not primarily about Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS).

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, our issues remain funding for revitalization of public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, visitation panels to universities and renegotiation of 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement. Since 2009, we have conscientiously approached the government to be faithful to implement the agreement it freely entered into with the union. The current struggle derives from this history.”

According to him, ” We are tired of the strike. Our children are attending the public institutions and it is sad that those frustrating our agitations, their children are not attending schools in Nigeria. It is so unfortunate. FG is intentionally starving us for our members to compromise and resume.”

Prof Olufayo averred that meetings with the federal government of late have not solved these issues as the government is bent on dishonouring the agreement.

“Our students have stayed home for almost a year, we are not the cause, we started our strike before COVID-19 and those students are fed up and it was part of what contributed to #EndSARS and the FG realised that. They are now calling for negotiations that they turned down months back. The students during #EndSARS, they also included end bad governance. I know that students in Kwara State universities gave FG two weeks ultimatum to sort the issue with ASUU, else they will hit streets with protest, that scared the government and they are rushing us to resume.”

He thereby urged FG to pity the children of ordinary Nigerians and quickly attend to the lingering issues without delay saying “the public should not blame ASUU for further damage to university educational system but hold the federal government responsible”.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have pleaded with the federal government to have mercy their children and those of ordinary Nigerians bearing the brunt of the protracted strike by quickly attending to their demands to enable them resume immediately.

The union had in March, 2020 embarked on the industrial action to press for their demands and kick against the use of force by the federal government to enroll its members on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

But eight months into the nationwide strike, the federal government has remained adamant about getting committed to meeting their demands, while the union is insisting it will not call off the strike.

Addressing a press conference at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife yesterday, members of the Akure Zone of the union cried out, saying they were tired of the strike.

The Zone which was represented by the chairman of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Dr Olayinka Awopetu, Ekiti State University, Dr Kayode Arogundade, Obafemi Awolowo University, Dr Adeola Egbedokun and Federal University Oye- Ekiti, Dr Gabriel Omonijo alleged that the federal government was rushing them to resume because of fear of protest by youths.

In the address which was read by the union zonal coordinator, Prof Olu Olufayo, the ASUU members explained that the lingering industrial action of the union was to get the federal government to fulfill the agreement of 2013 and 2019 and not primarily about Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS).

They stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, our issues remain; funding for revitalization of public universities, payment of earned academic allowances, visitation panels to universities and renegotiation of 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement. Since 2009, we have conscientiously approached the government to be faithful to implement the agreement it freely entered into with the union. The current struggle is derived from this history.

“We are tired of the strike. Our children are attending the public institution and it is sad that those frustrating our agitations, their children are not attending schools in Nigeria. It is so unfortunate. FG is intentionally starving us for our members to compromise and resume.

Prof Olufayo noted that meetings with the federal government recently have failed to solve their demands because the government is bent on dishonouring the agreement earlier reached.

He urged FG to pity the children of ordinary Nigerians and quickly attend to the lingering issues without delay saying.
He continued: “The public should not blame ASUU for further damage to the university educational system but hold the federal government responsible.

“Our students have stayed home for almost a year, we are not the cause, we started our strike before COVID-19 and those students are fed up and it was part of what contributed to #EndSARS and the FG realised that. They are now calling for negotiations that they turned down months back.

The students during #EndSARS also included End bad governance. I know that students in Kwara State universities gave FG two weeks ultimatum to sort the issue with ASUU else they will hit streets with protest, that scares the government and they are rushing us to resume”.

In the same vein, the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU), Abuja zone, has stressed that the ongoing industrial action by the union is for the interest of the university system and Nigerians in general.

Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend on behalf of the zone which comprises Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Federal University of Lafia and University of Abuja, chairman of the zone, Professor Theophilus Lagi said what the union is doing is patriotic.

He said Nigerians should always blame federal government for failing to fulfill its agreement by implementing the MoA of 7th February, 2019, and other issues such as Renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, Revitalization fund to public universities, Earned Academic Allowance, Visitation Panel to public universities and proliferation of state universities and governance Issues in them.

Lagi who further stressed the need for government to allow theunion adopt University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) said, “Not just federal government accepting the UTAS because in principle we have agreed over time that once UTAS is accepted and it is has passed through integrity test then federal government will deploy it to be use within the university system and that the understanding between the union and government but to our shock and recently when the government invited the union for discussion government is still insisting that our members should go back and register with the IPPIS pending when the UTAS is ready.

“It is not very logical as if the government is still bent on forcefully encouraging our members to migrate to the IPPIS. The reason behind all these is what is not very clear to us because over time we have demonstrated the superiority of UTAS over IPPIS it captures our peculiarities and it respects agreement between individuals, even state universities what they have entered into concerning tax which ofcourse, does not recognize. “IPPIS is purely designed for civil service but it does not take cognizance of the peculiarities of the university system.”

On the claim that so many ASUU members had already registered on the IPPIS platform, Lagi said, “It depends on where you are getting the statistics from because you can lie with statistics because as far as we are concerned insignificant number of our lecturers did not only willingly register with IPPIS.

“Some of them were forced to register and that is the major reason while government decided to stop salaries of academic staff across Nigerian universities to force them to be hungry so that they will run and register with the IPPIs and we think that is callous on the side of whoever is thinking that by starving university lecturers they will migrate on the platform.

“I am calling on the government to at least respect what we are doing, what we are doing is patriotic and is for the interest of the university system and for the interest of Nigerians. We should be encouraged instead and not to be treated with disdain,” he appealed.

We are ready to resume – Lecturers

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said its members are ready to end the seven months strike only when lecturers’ demands are met.

Prof Moyo Ajao, Chairperson of ASUU in UNILORIN who spoke at a press briefing on Wednesday said lecturers are ready to return to their duty post but they won’t work on an empty stomach.

Represented by the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Ade Adejumo, Ajao said lecturers will return to work when the government to releases their withheld salaries, remit the check-off dues of the union to the rightful owner.

He said: “We are ready to suspend the strike as our children too are tired of staying at home but we cannot work on empty stomachs while politicians’ homes and warehouses are filled with palliative materials that they don’t even need.”

The face-off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities has continued to deepen with the government insisting that Nigeria is the only country where lecturers walk away after shutting down Universities.

The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, said these in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Monday.

He said, “The reason we want ASUU back in school is that there is a purpose for which we built these Universities. In other places in the world, you can’t shut down the University system and just walk away.

“It is only in Nigeria they do it and that is why, repeatedly over the years, it had become a crack; people just take joy in destroying the lives of these young men, so that they will be on the streets, so that they will do protest.

“This has nothing to do with the government. The monies government is going to pay these lecturers are monies gotten from other incomes; the monies are Nigerian people’s money and we hand it over to lecturers for a job they brought them to do for Nigerians and they don’t want to do it, they just collect their money and walk away.”

The minister advised lecturers not willing to continue teaching to leave the system for those who are interested.