Covid: Nigeria Borrow Food Items From ECOWAS

 

The Federal Government on Sunday said a total of 5,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains were borrowed by Nigeria from the food stock of the Economic Community of West Africa States.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, disclosed this while receiving the 3,999 tonnes of cereals donated to the Federal Government by ECOWAS with its donors and financial partners.

The minister received the 3,999 tonnes of cereals on behalf of the Federal Government at the Hotoro Grain Depot, in Kano State, according to a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of  agriculture

The Federal Government on Sunday said a total of 5,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains were borrowed by Nigeria from the food stock of the Economic Community of West Africa StatesThe Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba-Shehuri, disclosed this while receiving the 3,999 tonnes of cereals donated to the Federal Government by ECOWAS with its donors ad financial partners.The minister received the 3,999 tonnes of cereals on behalf of the Federal Government at the Hotoro Grain Depot, in Kano State, according to a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Baba-Shehuri explained that to address the incessant worrying food crisis in the West African sub-region, especially in the Sahel, the heads of government of ECOWAS member states decided to establish a Regional Food Security Reserve Programme.

He said this necessitated the signing of contract agreement between ECOWAS and the ministry’s Department of Food and Strategic Reserve on July 7, 2017.

According to a story on Punch, The minister said, “The government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria loaned 5,000MT of assorted grains from ECOWAS stock which was agreed to be paid back on grain for grain basis

Modalities had been put in place to replace the ECOWAS stock before the advent of COVID-19 pandemic. That notwithstanding, I can assure you that the stock will be replaced in due course.”

On the donation by ECOWAS, the minister said it would be used to support the most vulnerable populations to help mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

Nigerian health workers gives two weeks to begin total strike over errors in Hazard allowance payment and others te

the joint health sector unions and assembly of healthcare professionals have issued a fifteen day strike notice to the federal government over failure to correct errors and omissions in the payment of three months COVID-19 hazard allowance among other issues.

 in a letter signed by JOHESU National Chairman and other executives and addressed to the minister of health, with copies to the secretary to the government of the federation, the health workers say the 15-day ultimatum which starts from sunday August 30 is also to push for payment of all withheld salaries, including April and May, 2018.

Find original letter bellow

Ghana and Africa's Big Brother Nigeria Fight Dirty Over Traders Harassment in Accra

NIGERIA WARNS GHANA, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

PRESS RELEASE FROM MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, ABUJA

The Nigerian Government is deeply concerned by the incessant

harassment of its citizens in Ghana and the progressive acts of

hostility towards the country by Ghanaian authorities, and will no

longer tolerate such.

In this regard, the Federal Government is urgently considering a

number of options aimed at ameliorating the situation.

The Federal Government has been documenting the acts of hostility

towards Nigeria and Nigerians by the Ghanaian authorities. These

include:

- Seizure of the Nigerian Mission's property located at No. 10, Barnes

Road, Accra, which the Nigerian Government has used as diplomatic

premises for almost 50 years. This action is a serious breach of the

Vienna Convention.

- Demolition of the Nigerian Mission's property located at No. 19/21

Julius Nyerere Street, East Ridge, Accra, another serious breach of

the Vienna Convention.

- Aggressive and incessant deportation of Nigerians from Ghana.

Between Jan. 2018 and Feb. 2019, 825 Nigerians were deported from

Ghana.

- Closure of shops belonging to Nigerians. Over 300 Nigerians shops

were locked for four months in Kumasi in 2018; over 600 Nigerian shops

were locked in 2019 and, currently, over 250 Nigerians shops have been

locked.

- Residency Permit requirements, for which the Ghana Immigration

Service has placed huge fees, far higher than the fees charged by

the Nigerian Immigration Service. These include the compulsory

Non-citizen ID card (US$120, and US$60 for yearly renewal); Medical

examinations, including for Covid-19 which is newly-introduced (about

US$120), and payment for residency permit (US$400 compared to the

N7,000 being paid by Ghanaians for residency card in Nigeria)

- Outrageous stipulations in the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre

Act. When the Act was initially promulgated in 1994, a foreigner is

required to invest at least US$300,000 by way of equity capital and

also employ 10 Ghanaians. This Act has now been amended twice, with the

2018 GIPC Act raising the minimum capital base for foreign-owned

businesses to US$1m. Though targeted at foreigners, it seems GIPC's

definition of foreigners is Nigerians. The GIPC Act also negates the

ECOWAS Protocol.

- Media war against Nigerians in Ghana. The negative reportage of

issues concerning Nigerians resident in Ghana by the Ghanaian media is

fuelling an emerging xenophobic attitude towards Nigerian traders and

Nigerians in general. The immediate fallout is the incessant

harassment and arrest of Nigerian traders and closure of their shops.

- Harsh and openly-biased judicial trial and pronouncement of

indiscriminately-long jail terms for convicted Nigerians. There are

currently over 200 Nigerians in the Nsawam Maximum prison in Ghana

alone.

The Federal Government will like to put on record the fact that even

though over 1 million Ghanaians are resident in Nigeria, they are not

being subjected to the kind of hostility being meted out to Nigerians

in Ghana.

Also, Even though the main reason given for the seizure of Federal

Government property at No. 10, Barnes Road in Accra is the non-renewal

of lease after expiration, the Ghanaian authorities did not give

Nigeria the right of first refusal or the notice to renew the lease.

By contrast, the lease on some of the properties occupied by the

Ghanaian Mission in Nigeria has long expired, yet such properties have

not been seized.

Nigeria has time after time demonstrated its fidelity to the long

cordial relations with Ghana. But indications, especially in recent

times, are that Nigeria's stance is now being taken for granted and

its citizens being made targets of harassment and objects of ridicule.

This will no longer be tolerated under any guise.

In the meantime, the Federal Government wishes to appeal to its

citizens resident in Ghana to remain law abiding and avoid engaging in

self help, despite their ordeal.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Honourable Minister of Information and Culture

Abuja

28 Aug. 2020

Owed Salaries: Judiciary Workers union Fails to convince court for Edo State Governor to pay

A suit filed by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria seeking to freeze the account of Edo State Government over alleged refusal to obey a court order asking the state to offset seven months salary arrears owed members of the Union since 2015, has been dismissed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja 

In the application by the union seeking to enforce the judgment of a Federal High Court which ruled in their favour, Justice Okon Abang held  that the suit was filed in bad faith with the aim of crippling the activities of the state government a few weeks to a major election.

Justice Abang insists that the Union adopted a careless and non charlant approach to enforce the judgment secured since January 2014 having failed to take steps to enforce it only for the plaintiff to  approach the court during vacation asking it to freez the entire accounts of the state  without stating the exact amount allegedly owed the workers.

while dismissing the suit justice Abang emphasised that the exercise is  speculative and laced with ulterior motive .

Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria in Edo State had in 2014 joined their counterparts in the thirty-five states and the FCT to protest over the alleged failure of the state governments to grant autonomy to the Judiciary.

Source: Ait.Live

Nigeŕian Former Minister Attacks Journalist, Gets 'a cup full' reactions with condemnations

 

Nigerian Union of journalist first to react through a statement below

Media Release:                  n August 25,2020 

FFK's attack on Daily Trust reporter, totally reprehensible 

The Nigeria Union of Journalists- NUJ condemns the gangster-like outburst by Chief Femi Fani Kayode against the Cross River State Correspondent of the Daily Trust Newspaper, Eyo Charles who asked him a simple question which he felt was embarrassing. 

In his reaction, Kayode assaulted the journalist and threatened him for daring to ask such a question. 

By denigrating the journalist, Fani Kayode has exposed himself the more as an intolerant and unstable person who will not want his activities closely scrutinised by the Media.

It is instructive to remind the likes of Fani Kayode that it is the Constitutional right of Journalists to monitor and keep a check on people and institutions in power. 

By delving into politics and holding political office, Fani Kayode is very conversant 

with the watchdog role of the media. 

For him to have embarked on assessment of projects in some states, even though we are yet to be told under what platform, he is doing so, it is proper for the media to hold him to account for his actions and decisions.

His reaction  was totally unacceptable, dishonourable and reprehensible and we demand for retraction of his untoward, irritating and awkward utterances which negate simple decorum and civility. 

We are more shocked that the same Kayode who had in recent times, used his social media handles to call leaders to account is at the same time attacking a Journalist for a simple demand for him to unmask those behind his nationwide tour. He had already visited six states. This is indeed, terribly disappointing.

Chris Isiguzo

NUJ President

See reaction of the former minister below....

FFK's FORMAL STATEMENT ON THE ENCOUNTER WITH A RUDE JOURNALIST IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVERS STATE. 

During my tour of the South and after a long and successful press conference in Calabar, Cross Rivers state, a journalist put up his hand for the last question and said,

"Well we do not know who is bankrolling you".

This is not a question but an assertion and an insult. 

And if this insulting ASSERTION were made before Trump or OBJ I know how they would have reacted.

Below is my response and I have no apology to offer for it. 

The young man apologised to me during the press conference and sent his apologies to me after the conference. I have accepted his apologies in good faith and moved on. 

I have always had respect for journalists and I always will. Those of them that know me or have worked with or for me over the last 30 years can attest to that. 

However there is a distinction between asking a question and offering a gratuitous insult . 

This is all the more so when it is clear that the assertion was sponsored  and engineered by my political enemies who wanted to use the young man to insult and embarrass me and question my integrity. Well they got more than they bargained for. 

I repeat this was not a question but an assertion and an insult and I will not accept that from any man born of woman. Thank you.

ADDENDUM: 

Permit me to add the following to my earlier statement. I have taken note of the report by Daily Trust on the incident. The content is false. I didn't send any of my security men to threaten their reporter.

I only reprimanded him for a premeditated plan to embarrass me and he apologised thereafter. That was all.

This is not a battle between me and the esteemed Nigerian journalists who respect the ethics of the noble profession.

 I have always been and will always be a friend to journalists and a champion of freedom of speech. What I will not accept are brazen insults from an  individual in the name of journalism. 

The assertion or assumption that I am being bankrolled by anyone is deeply insulting. 

Finally to the NUJ I say you have got me completely wrong. It would have been better if you had heard my own side of the story and established who was behind this whole incident and attempt to embarrass me, who paid for it and how much they paid before going to press. Nevertheless I still hold you in high esteem.

And the journalist tells his story...

My story by Journalist assaulted by Femi Fani-Kayode

written by Daily Tracker

August 25, 2020

 

Day former minister threw caution to the wind, drenched me with venom

Eyo Charles, Calabar

One that has risen to become spokesman to president of a country and later a minister aside other important public offices should be seen as one that is a diplomat and statesman.

But Chief Femi FaniKayode failed in his public carriage last week when he rounded up his visit to Cross River State where he spent about a week, probably on the ticket of the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade.

To climax the visit, he had asked Alhaji Rasheed Olanrewaju of the AIT to invite some media houses so that he can relay report about his extensive guided tour of Ayade’s projects mostly in the southern part of the state.

The invitation was kindly extended to Daily Trust newspaper, a frontline national newspaper, I work for since  early 2011.

I obliged the invitation not that I was deliberately left out of the guided tour led by Ayade but so that it would afford me opportunity to hear more from the former minister why he said if the national PDP secretariat denied Gov Ben Ayade the honour to control all party structures in the state, he, Ayade and good number of politicians in the party would pull out of the party. Of course, it would be interesting to read and see his body language over his new found romance with Ayade, I thought.

The press briefing was fixed for Thursday 20 August 2020 by 10.30am at Ayade’s private hotel situated adjacent to his palatial house in the State Housing Estate Calabar.

The hotel was believed to be moribund before now but having been refurbished, distinguished persons and government guests are routed there instead of to the massive, well furnished Lakeside hotel in Tinapa Business Resort owned by the state government or other presidential lodges in Calabar which are now reportedly vandalised or converted for private use.

The government house press crew including Channels TV, NTA, state owned Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, AIT led by Mr Christian Ita, the chief press secretary, Imani Odey (special adviser to Ayade on electronic media) and Rasheed Olanrewaju, correspondent of AIT (chairman of government house press crew). Other journalists from some national papers present included, Mr Gill Nsa-Abasi of NATION, Aniekan Aniekan of ORACLE Today, David Odey of the PUNCH, Richard Ndoma of the Leadership, George Odok of NAN, Ikechukwu Uche of Vanguard, etc.

FaniKayode came with his own media team and security details, including Police officers, some of them who he shouted at even in front of journalists carried his baggage.

The former minister spent over one hour speaking highly of Gov Ayade, extolling his academic and political qualities and how that his acumen, sagacity, intelligence and versatility have largely been ignored even with massive, gigantic and plethora of projects he has initiated in the state.

FKK said he lives in the northern part of the country. He said he was in Cross River to see his friend, Ayade whom he has been pulled to due to his extraordinary achievements and though with about the poorest federal allocation yet he has been able to perform more than those with much state resources.

He said soon after the COVID19 lockdown was lifted, he visited Zamfara,Anambra and five other states to meet with the governors, to appraise extent of their projects.

He said although a PDP man yet the visit was across party lines. For instance, at Anambra state where he was hosted by Willie Obiano, an APGA governor, he could see that he was constructing the biggest airport in the country.  But when he shared the secret with Ayade, Ayade told him he has already acquired nearly a quarter of Obudu LGA where he hails for an international cargo airport, that his own will, on completion, be the biggest in the country.  According to FKK, he agreed with them over what he saw in both States, having himself built the Port Harcourt airport when he was aviation minister.

He spoke about how Bakassi was unjustly ceded to Cameroon when he was in Obasanjo’s government, and how the Supreme Court also nailed the plight of Cross River by almost simultaneously ruling that the entire 76 oil wells once owned by the state now belong to Akwa Ibom State, thereby making Akwa Ibom the richest in the country.  He pleaded that federal government should revisit both thorny issues, and also create a special status for Cross River.

Time for question. Christian Ita moderated. But Olanrewaju interjected and sought permission from the ex-minister that questions be limited to what FKK has said.  But FKK himself said, “There is no problems at all. They should ask any manners not questions”, that he is equal to the task.

Many asked questions. Gill Nsa of the Nation, for instance, asked whether his national tour had any political undertone such as having presidential ambition.  A reporter from the state owned TV asked whether some of the 33 projects he said Ayade has embarked upon  such as the 278km superhighway from Bakassi to the border of Benue State as well as the Deep sea port were not, in fact, White Elephant projects. FKK disagreed strongly and said what Ayade needs is Federal Government to take over the projects and that Nigerians would see that the superhighway for instance will boost trade and integrated Nigerians.

Now the question that would break the carmel’s back! When I was recognised, I asked, “Sir, please you did not disclose to us who is bankrolling you…..”. FFK did not allow me to land with the question when he threw caution to the wind and shouted at me, and said the press briefing was over.

He then rained terrible abuses on me, calling me unprintable names; that I was sponsored to come and ask and insult him.

“How dare you ask me such a very stupid question!  I know that you, a hungry-looking, brown envelop journalist, you are sponsored to ask me such insulting question. You can look into my eyes and ask me such demeaning question! I cannot take that!

“I am a very rich lawyer who has been in government; who has been detained many times by governments.  I have a very rich background. How can you ask who is bankrolling my tours of the states. It is very insulting, and I cannot take that. You are very stupid.  I know your publishers, I will call them in next few minutes. You have to be fired. I cannot answer any more questions from you or from any other reporter. This conference has ended. I have very short temper…..”, he said.

It took the intervention and pleas from chief press secretary to Governor Ayade, Mr Christian ita and other journalists before the ex-minister would leave the Daily Trust reporter, saying “You can go ahead and write your rubbish.  I have marked you”.

When he returned to his suite, he sent one of his security aides to further threaten me.  The man accosted me, saying what effrontery do you have  to ask such a stupid question, and what was my next action.

Sensing how tensed up the atmosphere was, I said to the man, “ I had apologized to the ex-minister. If the usage of the word ‘bankroll’ was offensive to him, then i withdraw it. What more should I do?”. I then sneaked away.

Now the ex-minister is circulating a doctored video claiming I was rude to him. What could be farther from the truth!  I have a modest background and well trained as a high priest to respect people of all standing. Please note too that I am a Bishop in the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, which exalted stand can never allow me to descend to insulting public figures or anyone.

This is also to colleagues that have called to express unhappiness that I did not ‘give it back to FKK’.

The aforelisted journalists should be asked if I made any other statement aside the question.

Below is the reaction of the newspaper house:

Fani-Kayode’s Attack on Daily Trust Reporter: Our Stand

The management of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust and other titles, would like to condemn the reprehensible actions of Femi Fani-Kayode, who in a video clip now gone viral, verbally assaulted – repeatedly – our reporter, Eyo Charles in the course of doing his job. The encounter occurred in Calabar, Cross River State, in the morning of Thursday 20, August 2020 at a hotel, during a roundtable with invited journalists.

During the roundtable, Charles asked Fani-Kayode who was bankrolling his recent trips around Nigeria, to which the ex-minister responded with a raised voice, insults, and eventually a threat to inflict bodily harm on our reporter. The barrage continued for some minutes, while bewildered journalists, including our reporter, looked on.

The video clip, also released on one of the ex-minister’s social media accounts, was conveniently edited to exclude the question asked by Charles, totally devoid of mischief, simply sought clarification and information, like good journalism should. Said editing paved the way for a social media lynch mob to rain expletives on our reporter, labelling him as ‘rude’. This could not be further away from the truth, and we stand by Charles, and commend him for his calmness during the ordeal.

Daily Trust reporters are responsible professionals, who uphold the tenets of journalism, as well as best practices.

That Fani-Kayode attacks a reporter doing his job, is an indication of the chilling disregard he has towards the media, and its work in investigating and reporting on issues. As always, we stand in solidarity with our reporters, and will continue to fight for the rights of all journalists. After all, journalism is part of the bedrock of democracy; therefore practitioners must not be intimidated or threatened as they carry out their work.

We urge the Nigeria Police to take note, that if anything happens to Charles, Daily Trust will hold Fani-Kayode responsible, especially due to the intensity of the verbal threats he issued during the shocking incident.

The actions of Fani-Kayode are not only reprehensible, but also constitute a setback to press freedom, in a most dire form. This kind of assault raises major concerns over the safety of journalists in Nigeria.

Daily Trust is a completely independent media organisation that does not pander to the whims of any individual or group, no matter how powerful or well-placed in society. We will continue to serve Nigerians – and indeed the world – with quality, reliable reportage, no matter whose ox is gored.

Signed

Naziru Mikailu Abubakar

Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief

UNILAG CRISIS: A Woman Becomes Vice chancellor first in history of the ivory tower, anidst SSANU Protest

The university of Lagos may be experiencing some calm as the Senate of the university elects  for the first time in the history of the university, a woman, Professor Folasade Ogunsola as Acting Vice-Chancellor.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of development Services polled 135 votes as against 31 by professor Ben Oghojafor to emerge winner.

Ogunsola is a professor of Medical Microbiology and specializes in disease control, particularly HIV/AIDS. 

She is also the immediate past provost of College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

Unilag was thrown into crisis after the Wale Babalakin-led governing council sacked the vice chancellor, professor Ogundipe over suspected financial recklessness and misconduct.

The removal came with a barrage of condemnations from the university senate, the Alumni, the local and National Bodies of ASUU, who accused Babalakin's council of not following due process.

Babalakin had appeared on several media justifying his action.

The  embattled vice chancellor, professor ogundipe had already started moves to challenge his removal in court before the intervention of the president, who directed him and Babalakin to recuse themselves from the university and return to status quo.

The president also set up a VISITATION panel to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the rift.

Find SSANU Statement:

24th August, 2020.

President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR,

Federal Republic of Nigeria,

The Visitor, 

University of Lagos, Nigeria.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE VISITOR’S DIRECTIVES SETTING UP A SPECIAL VISITATION PANEL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS AND ORDERING OF A SPECIAL SENATE MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY: A CALL FOR REVIEW 

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) writes to observe the recent directive circulated through the media, dated 21st August 2020 and signed by the Director Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education on the above subject matter.

While SSANU appreciates the prompt intervention of the Visitor in the ongoing crisis and the sincere efforts in nipping the crisis in the bud, the directives of the Visitor as contained in the Press Release have a further tendency to cause more crisis as issues bordering on due process and fair hearing have been trampled upon arising from the Visitor’s directives under reference.

1. COMPOSITION AND MEMBERSHIP OF THE SPECIAL VISITATION PANEL 

The crisis in the University of Lagos has the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a major participant. Indeed, ASUU is the complainant in this matter. 

The composition of the Special Visitation Panel with a preponderance of Professors (ASUU members) is an indication that the decisions of the Panel would be tampered with by ASUU. The fact that they are former Vice- Chancellors also implies the tendency to protect one of their own - an embattled Vice-Chancellor. 

It is our informed observation therefore, that a fair and unbiased Panel, representative of all stakeholders in the University system should have included at least a retired Registrar, a retired Bursar, and a prominent individual with undoubted integrity, who should be a former Pro-Chancellor and not a Professor, as Chairman of the Panel. With the present composition and membership of the Panel, the Federal Government may have unwittingly handed over the Panel to ASUU to return victory to its member and condemn all others. 

SSANU therefore calls for a re-composition of the Panel to reflect neutrality, fairness and proper representation and not using ASUU to probe itself as the situation currently is. The principle of natural justice is lost in the present composition of the Visitation Panel and it is totally condemned by SSANU. 

2. DIRECTIVE RECUSING THE PRO- CHANCELLOR, DR. BABALAKIN FROM OFFICIAL DUTIES 

SSANU appreciates the intention of the Visitor by directing the recusal of the Pro- Chancellor and Professor Ogundipe from official duties during the period of the Visitation. It is assumed that the directive on recusal is to enforce peace in the University pending the outcome of the Visitation. 

SSANU however wishes to note that the Visitor may have inadvertently fallen into the ASUU position of seeing Dr. Babalakin as the problem of the University of Lagos. To the best of our knowledge, the decision to remove Professor Ogundipe was a decision of Council and not Babalakin. It would have been fairer if the Visitor had directed the entire Council to recuse itself from official duties until the end of the Panel’s assignment than asking Babalakin alone to recuse himself. 

We wish to therefore observe that this directive personalizes the decisions of Council to Dr. Babalakin which in itself does not do justice to the issues on ground. 

3. ON THE DIRECTIVE TO THE UNIVERSITY SENATE TO CONVENE TO ELECT AN ACTING VICE CHANCELLOR 

The directive of the Visitor to the effect that the University of Lagos Senate should hold a Special meeting to elect an Acting Vice-Chancellor conflicts with Paragraph 3(iii) of the same Visitors directive.

 In one breath, the Visitor directed the Visitation Panel to determine whether the process (if any) leading to the appointment of the Acting Vice-Chancellor for the University was consistent with the provisions of the enabling Act, while in another breath, directing that the Senate meets to nominate an acting Vice-Chancellor for confirmation by the Governing Council. 

The implication of the above, is that the Visitor had already ruled that the appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor by the Council was illegal, hence, the need for Senate to convene to elect an Acting Vice-Chancellor. 

SSANU has reason to fear if the Visitor had not been compromised by some forces within the University system whose entrenched interests are already manifesting in the conflicting directives. From the above conflicting directives, it is only obvious that the Visitation Panel would only be working to the answer.

 An interesting dimension to the Visitors’ directive to convene a Senate meeting without a Vice-Chancellor in place is an aberration as the Registrar is not empowered by any law to summon Senate unilaterally. For the sake of emphasis, the Registrar is not a member of Senate but its Secretary. It also needs telling that the supposed meeting of the Senate of the University of Lagos held on Thursday, 13th August, 2020 and presided over by one Professor Chioma K. Agomo is one of such aberrations that have crept into the University of Lagos saga, because apart from the meeting being called by a “removed” Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate (albeit in contention), and in the absence of the Registrar and Secretary to Senate, the presiding officer (Professor Agomo) holds no statutory office (either as VC or DVC) that empowered her to preside over such meeting which sought to pass a vote of no confidence on the Council and calling for its immediate dissolution. 

As a corollary to the above, the recusal of the Pro-Chancellor implies that the confirmation of an Acting Vice-Chancellor nominated by the Senate by Council would be in the absence of the Pro-Chancellor. Who convenes a meeting of Council in this instance and is an office of Acting Pro-Chancellor existent in the laws?

CONCLUSION

SSANU while not unconcerned about the principles of natural justice i.e. fair hearing and due process in the removal of Professor Ogundipe as Vice- Chancellor of University of Lagos, is equally worried that the underlying allegations of fraud and corrupt practices seem to be lost due to technicalities. Government should be concerned that the major agitation of the loudest voices in the University system has always been that of poor funding of the University system. Ironically, those same voices use every tricks, threats and forceful actions to ensure that corrupt practices that fritter away the meagre resources allocated by Government are covered up, while perpetrators are allowed to escape. This is reflective in the actions of the ASUU Branch of University of Lagos, pre-emptively ensuring that the Governing Council of University of Lagos would not sit to take decision on the alleged infractions of Professor Ogundipe, by threatening the Pro-Chancellor not to step into the University of Lagos, and declaring him persona non grata. This violent trend is only a stock in trade of ASUU to cover up its own and has been witnessed in many universities where allegations of financial improprieties have been levelled against Vice-Chancellors. It would be recalled that the Autonomy Act was brought into being by acceding to the demands of ASUU. This Act has however caused ASUU to hijack Council with a majority of Council members being its members thereby rendering the Federal Government powerless in the running of the Universities. Only Universities with strong willed Pro-Chancellors have a semblance of Councils. Others are at the whims and caprices of Vice-Chancellors once they have the support of ASUU. This is the reason for the loud complaints of ASUU where such strong-willed Pro-Chancellors exist. To allow the status-quo to remain would be sounding a death knell for the University system.

Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke, fcpa

President

Cc: The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Education.

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission.

Suspected multi-billion fraud in NTA/Startimes satelite Deal

Nigeria's government owned television station, NTA appears to be in deep waters as Nigerian Senate uncovers a suspected multi-billion Naira fraud in the Joint Venture operations between the State-owned television and a Chinese Satellite Pay TV, StarTimes.

The allegation surfaced as Senate through its Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning which is currently considering the details of the

2021-2023 MTEF & FSP documents; scrutinizes the spending and expenditure of the Nigerian Television Authority for 2021.

The Senate Panel was surprised to find out that the multi-billion naira deal with StarTime was not included anywhere in the documents submitted to it and presented by the Director-General, Mallam Mohammed Yakubu.

Trouble started for NTA after the Chairman of the Senate Panel, Solomon Olamilekan asked why NTA was blocking StarTime from being registered with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

In response, Yakubu denied the allegation; stressing that NTA couldn't have blocked StarTime as it was currently in a Joint Venture Agreement with company.

The DG's statement was enough however to prompt further questions from the Senate Panel; askin to know how much NTA had earned from the JV with StarTime over the years.

But even more curious to the Senate Panel was that the JV was not stated anywhere in the documents NTA submitted for Senate perusal.

The Senate Panel had grown quite suspicious at this point; demanding to see records of what NTA generates from production, adverts and documentaries.

It also asked that NTA should return on Monday with its debt profile containing the names of its debtors, the date, amount incurred as well as the name of the official who authorized it for publication. 

The NTA entered the Joint Venture with StarTime in 2010 with a sharing ratio of 70-30 in favour of the Beijing based company.

Irked by NTA's outing; the Senate Panel ordered that henceforth all revenue generating agencies of government should remit all their earnings into the Consolidated Revenue Funds out of which their cost of collection will be given to them.

The panel believed that this arrangement will not only shore up revenue for government but also block wastages in the system.

Covid-19: JOHESU Suspends Local Strike, Plans Bigger showdown with Government from Tuesday

 

Just when the National body of the joint Health sector unions, JOHESU is calling for an emergency meeting on tuesday over planned strike, the  University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Chapter has suspended its ongoing 7-day warning strike.

While the National body is unhappy over errors and ommissions in the payment of three months COVID-19 hazard allowances, the UITH chapter is cheerful for the supply of adequate personal protective equipment, PPEs, which was responsible for the 7 days down tool.

Information obtained from AIT Crawl News Bar indicates JOHESU National body is meeting in Abuja on August 25, 2020 with a bag full of issues, some of which the National Chairman and president of the medical and health workers union, Biobelemoye Josiah has struggled to explain in several fora

JOHESU Chairman UITH, Olutunde Oluwawumi told newsmen shortly after several hours of meeting with executive members at the University of Ilorin Teaching hospital that the health workers were forced to embark on the action also because of non-payment of promotion arrears smong others demands.

The UITH JOHESU insists that the warning strike is being suspended because some of their demands have now been met partially by the management of UITH.

Oluwawumi however implored the Chief Medical Director of UITH, Professor Abdullahi Yusuf to wtite his name in gold by keeping to all the promise he made to the workers.

ASUU'S MEDIA BRIEFING LEADS PRESIDENT BUHARI TO CONSTITUTE VISITATION PANEL FOR UNILAG, SUSPENDS BABALAKIN AND OGUNDIPE, SACKS ACTING VICE-CHANCELLOR

 

Barely three days after the academic staff union of universities, ASUU at a media briefing called for an immediate solution into UNILAG  crisis, President Muhammadu Buhari, as Visitor to the University of Lagos has constituted a Visitation Panel to look into the remote and ommediate causes of the  crisis in the university. 

According to a statement signed by  ministry of Education spokesman, Ben Goong on Friday August 21, 2020, the President took the following additional decisions:

1. The Panel is to submit its report within two weeks.

2. The Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin, SAN and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, have been suspended from office as they are both to recuse themselves from performing their functions in office during the period of the Visitation.

3. The Senate is to convene urgently and appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor for the university.

With this decision, the President has sacked the Acting Vice-Chancellor purportedly appointed by the Babalakin-led Council.

Health workers get easy visa to UK

Government launches Health and Care Visa to ensure UK health and care services have access to the best global talent

The new Health and Care Visa will make it cheaper, quicker and easier for healthcare professionals from around the world to come to the UK.

The Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care have today announced the new Health and Care Visa will be launched this Summer, creating a new fast-track visa route for eligible health and care professionals and delivering on a key manifesto commitment.

They have also today announced further details on how the exemption to the Immigration Health Surcharge will work for health and care staff, who will now be permanently exempt from this charge.

The Home Secretary and Health and Social Care Secretary have together developed the Health and Care Visa to demonstrate the government’s commitment to deliver for the NHS and wider health and care sector. It is designed to make it easier and quicker for the best global health professionals to work in the NHS, for NHS commissioned service providers, and in eligible occupations in the social care sector.

The legislation needed to open this new route will be laid in Parliament today and health professionals will be able to apply from August.

The new Health and Care Visa will come with a reduced visa application fee compared to that paid by other skilled workers, including exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Health and care professionals applying on this route can also expect a decision on whether they can work in the UK within just three weeks, following biometric enrolment. Those working in health and social care who do not qualify for the Health and Care Visa will still be able to claim a reimbursement from the Immigration Health Surcharge if they have paid this on or after 31 March.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

We are indebted to overseas health and care professionals for their tremendous contributions, not just in saving thousands of lives throughout this crisis, but for the vital role they play year-round.

This new visa is part of our new immigration system making it quicker, cheaper and easier for the best and brightest health and care professionals from around the globe to work in our brilliant NHS.

Health and care professionals from all over the world have played a vital role in hospitals and care homes across the country fighting coronavirus. The introduction of the Health and Care Visa follows a number of unprecedented measures to show the UK’s gratitude to health workers from overseas.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said:

Our health and care system has always had a proud tradition of welcoming overseas staff to work, train and live in the UK, and I’m proud that the NHS is a destination of choice for talented people from around the world.

The unwavering commitment, skill and compassion staff have shown during the fight against this deadly virus is nothing short of phenomenal, and the reimbursement of the immigration health surcharge recognises the enormous contribution of those who have come to the UK to work in health and social care.

I’m incredibly proud of our health and care workforce and look forward to welcoming new professionals from across the globe to continue the fantastic work to ensure our health system remains the best in the world.

Right across the immigration system the Home Office is already supporting frontline healthcare staff through initiatives such as visa extensions and the creation of the bereavement scheme.

The Prime Minister has previously announced that health and social care workers will be permanently exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge going forward, and Immigration Health Surcharge payments made since 31 March will also be refunded.

As part of the launch of the Health and Care Visa, those who apply via the visa and their dependants will be exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The government has already began refunding Immigration Health Surcharge payments for any healthcare professionals on Tier 2 visas who have paid since 31 March 2020, and this process will continue. More information will be published on the Immigration Health Surcharge GOV.UK pages for customers to contact us directly if they believe they are due a refund. The Department of Health and Social Care is currently working with the sector to set up operational arrangements for reimbursing health and social care staff outside the scope of the Health and Care visa. These arrangements will commence from 1 October in 6 month reimbursements.

The new Health and Care Visa will apply to eligible roles within the health and care sector. The events of recent months have illustrated just what a crucial role the care sector plays in UK society. The government is working closely with the sector to support and recognise the contributions of care workers. This includes a widespread focus on training and introducing a proper career structure to provide opportunities for those in the sector and makes it an attractive profession for prospective carers.

The independent Migration Advisory Committee has been very clear that immigration is not the answer to the challenges in the social care sector and, as we implement the new immigration system, we want employers to focus on investing in our domestic workforce.

Source: www.gov.uk