The Academic Staff Union of Universities has accused the Nigerian government of inflicting hardship on lecturers and students.

Speaking on Friday at a press conference organised at the University of Lagos by the Lagos Zone of the union, the Zonal Coordinator, Prof Adelaja Odukoya, explained that it was imperative to update Nigerians about the events that transpired after the last nationwide strike that was suspended on October 14, 2022, ASUU’s interactions with the present administration, and the possible consequences of the lack of notable actions by the authorities.

ASUU had over time lamented the government’s refusal to fulfil the agreements it had with lecturers.

Odukoya said the government had shown consistent insensitivity to agreements and the well-being of patriotic academics in Nigeria’s public universities.

“The government has persisted in inflicting misery on lecturers and students in Nigeria, despite their sincere efforts to elevate our public universities to a global standard. ASUU is unfazed in its patriotic endeavors.

“To reposition the Nigerian university system, we call on other patriots in the media, labour movement, student organisations, and civil society organisations to join ASUU in the rejection of the government’s master-slave posture on labour matters,” he said.

Odukoya insisted that despite its promises ahead of assuming office, the Bola Tinubu administration had failed to live up to expectations concerning the issues that had been at the forefront of the union’s recent strike actions, the last being from February to October 2022.

Some of the issues he highlighted were the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU 2009 agreement, withheld salaries, unpaid arrears of earned academic allowance, removal from integrated personnel and payroll information system, public universities and the treasury single account, and proliferation of universities.

Speaking on TETFUND and foreign partnerships, Odukoya said, “As if the abuse and violation of TETFUND by the government are not enough, our union has further noted reports in the media, not refuted, of TETFUND’s intention to help King’s College, London, to establish a medical school in Nigeria in the name of partnership.

“We urge the leadership of the Fund to provide further updates on this proposed course of action and allay fears that it is contemplating funds meant for the development of Nigerian institutions for the development of foreign ones. We believe very strongly that there are many areas in which the agency can strengthen its interventions to the benefit of Nigerian universities.”

The federal government has said that the Port-Harcourt refinery would begin operation by producing two million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol and 2.2 million litres of diesel per day.
The government said this after an inspection tour of the facility along with the leadership of organised labour.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who disclosed this, said the refinery was 80 percent completed.

She explained that the old plant would begin with 54,000 barrels per day, while the new plant which is currently going through its last phase of completion would also begin production before the end of the year.

“The combined capacity of the two plants, when fully on stream, would produce 10 million litres of PMS per day,” Onyejeocha said in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun on Thursday.

A scheduled visit to the Port-Harcourt refinery was one of the points listed in the 16 – points agreement reached with the government last year by organised labour.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to social dialogue with organized labour and other stakeholders towards achieving industrial peace and harmony, while prioritising workers’ welfare.

She appealed to union leaders to see the strike as the last option.

The minister said: “Issuing of constant strike threat could send wrong signals to potential investors. This is not healthy for our business environment.”

According to the statement, the minister met with the leadership of TUC to review the progress reports of agreements reached in October 2023 between the government and organised labour.

“During the review, the minister read each item on the memorandum of understanding among which were the payment of four out of six months on wage award, the committee of minimum wage review, payment of outstanding salaries and wages of tertiary education workers in federal- owned educational institutions, suspension of VAT on diesel, payment of N25,000 conditional cash transfer to 3,140,819 households, including the pensioners.

“While she said the government has made a huge financial commitment to the provision of CNG Buses and conversion Kits, she also explained that the procurement process was slowing down the launch but measures were already in place to fast-track the process.

“The minister explained that the government has commenced a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders on tax incentives, just as the leadership crises rocking NURTW and RTEAN have been resolved.

“Among the progress made are subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country, government’s engagement with various state governments and the private sector on the issue of the implementation of wage award for their workers, and plans to encourage MSEs in the country to create jobs and boost the economy.

“Speaking on the inspection visit to the Port-Harcourt refinery by TUC and federal government delegation, the minister said reports by organized labour and government established that the Port-Harcourt refinery is 80% completed,” the statement said.

The leadership of TUC led by its Secretary General, Nuhu Toro commended the government for the progress recorded so far in implementing a substantial part of the agreement, but differed with the government on some of the items.

He said, for instance, that while the issue of RTEAN has been resolved, that of NURTW has not been resolved.

“If the issue of the president of the union has not been resolved, it suggests that the issue of NURTW has not been resolved.

“You have carefully done justice to the items, and we commend you and the federal government, but we expect fulfillment of all the agreements,” said Nuhu Toro.

He said some of the items have not been fully implemented but from their own assessment, the government has achieved 50% implementation.

According to Toro, “50% is a pass mark, but we urge you to do more. We know there are challenges, but we are very optimistic that they could be addressed”.

While the minister disagreed with the 50% rating by the union, citing reasons, Comrade Toro said 50% is a good performance on the side of the government.

Deputy President of TUC, Kayode Alakija, thanked the minister for her consistency with union leaders and appealed to her to back some of the gray areas with data to reconcile them.

He said: “We will appreciate it if you back up the VAT with empirical data. You said you got the information from the office of the Finance Minister. So, we would appreciate it if they could supply you with data on how they arrived at the information.”

Among those present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ismail Abubakar; the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, M A. Yusuf and other directors and departmental heads of the ministry.

On the side of the TUC, were its Secretary General, Toro, its Vice President, Alakija Kayode, Deputy President, and two others.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has disclosed that he has no plans to leave the party.

He also described insinuations from certain quarters that he was leaving the party as the handwork of political mischief makers.

Obi, in a statement on Friday, signed by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) said enemies of democracy bent on causing crisis in the Labour Party are the ones spreading rumours about his defection.

The LP candidate, in a statement signed by his media aide, Michael Jude Nwolisa, on Friday, dismissed the trending fake and fallacious news story suggesting that he was parting ways with the Labour Party.

“This is not true and it did not originate from Obi or the Obidient Movement but from mischief makers bent on sowing the seed of discord in the party.

“These rising misdemeanors on the party did not start today as they set out to destroy and disorganize the party all to get at Obi and derail the inevitable journey of rescuing Nigeria.

“Presently our principal is preoccupied with making Nigeria work not on partisan politics which ended on October 26, 2023, when the Supreme Court of the land took their final decision on the general elections.

“Those bent on creating a crisis in the Labour Party are clearly enemies of democracy wishing for the failed status quo to remain.

“OBI’s focus at the moment is on creating an environment where democracy is to be practiced according to the defined tenets not the rascality and all forms of impunity prevalent in the country today

“Peter Obi, therefore, would like to assure Nigerians, particularly the Obidient family that his way with Labour is unshaken and intact and that the struggle to rescue Nigeria from the criminal gangs holding it down will not stop until it’s achieved through the will of the Nigerian people,” the statement reads.

Super Eagles of Nigeria have landed another goalkeeper option as the world football governing body, FIFA, approved the nationality switch of Arthur Okonkwo.

Arthur Okonkwo was born to Nigerian parents in London, England, on September 9, 2001. He developed his football career at Arsenal Academy from childhood.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper gained promotion to Arsenal’s senior team on July 1, 2021, but wasn’t able to establish himself at the club’s senior side.

Hence, Arthur Okonkwo was on loan at Crewe Alexandra between July 29, 2022, to January 15, 2023. He spent the second half of the 2022-2023 season on loan at Sturm Graz.

Since September 1, 2023, Okonkwo has been on loan at fourth-tier club, Wrexham AFC, and he is expected to return to Arsenal at the end of this season.

Since then, the English-born goalkeeper has made 26 appearances in all competitions for Wrexham, in which he kept 11 clean sheets.

Arthur Okonkwo has played for England under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-18 national teams. He has made a total of 11 appearances for all the aforementioned teams.

Now that FIFA has permitted Okonkwo to play for Nigeria, it is left to be seen whether the NFF will invite him to the national team anytime soon.

If that happens, the youngster will compete with Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali for the starting shirt in the national team. Recall that Nwabali overtook Uzoho in the national team and was Super Eagles’ first choice goalkeeper throughout the 2023 AFCON.

Former National President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olumide Akpata, has emerged as the Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate in Edo State.

Akpata won the LP primary election held in Benin City, the state capital, on Friday.

He was declared the winner of the primary after polling the highest number of votes.

Akpata scored 316 votes to defeat other aspirants in a landslide victory.

Chelsea could shift attention to Victor Boniface as they continue their search for a new striker this summer.

The West London side have been linked with Boniface’s compatriot, Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen is expected to leave Serie A champions Napoli at the end of the current season despite signing a new contract last December.

Chelsea, who are desperate to sign a new striker following another underwhelming campaign, face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal for the 25-year-old.

According to BILD chief transfer expert, Christian Falk, the Blues are now keeping tabs on Boniface.

“Nicolas Jackson has not yet managed to solve the striker problem at Chelsea,” Falk told CaughtOffside.

“Someone else could do that in the future: Victor Boniface, [he] came from Saint-Gilloise in 2023 for €16m…Contract until 2028. Current market value €40m. Chelsea are tempting, but Bayer don’t want to sell him.”

Boniface, who is currently sidelined with an abductor injury has scored 16 goals and registered eight assists in 23 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season.

Nigeria Defender, William Troost-Ekong says he would consider playing in the Saudi Arabia Professional Football League in future.

Troost-Ekong was named the Most Valuable Player, MVP, at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

The 30-year-old is said to have caught the eye of a number of clubs in the Saudi Arabian top-flight during the competition.

The centre-back is currently on the books of Greek Super League outfit, PAOK Salonica.

The former Watford player admitted he will be interested in playing in Saudi Arabia if he had the opportunity.

“I can’t tell you that now because it’s not right in front of me,” Troost-Ekong stated in an interview with CNN World Sports Amanda Davies.

“The Saudi League is something which is exciting, you saw quite a lot of the best players who were part of the AFCON have headed in that direction and are playing there.

“If that option is in front of me, then, I will have to study it a bit more and consider it.”

Asked if he would love to play alongside Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo’, he said; “Who wouldn’t? One of the best players in the world. We’ll have to see what happens but I’m happy at PAOK.”

The President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has announced plans to create 100,000 jobs for Nigerians before May 29, 2024.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Job Creation, Office of the Vice-President, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, made the disclosure.

According to the presidential aide, the target is to create 384,000 jobs in four years, but the initial 100,000 target is by May 29, 2024.

Adekunle-Johnson, made this known while speaking at the inaugural Job Creation and MSME Quarterly Communications Forum, organised by the Job Creation & MSME Secretariat, Office of the Vice President.

He said the government was focusing on job creation in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“We are saying that by May 29, we will create at least 100,000 jobs. The target is to create 384,000 jobs in four years,” he said.

Adekunle-Johnson also noted that the initiative would be a partnership between the Federal Government and Access Bank.

“Today’s programme is to announce our partnership with the Access Bank, how the bank is trying to support the government with regard to access to funding for MSMEs.

“Right now, the interest rate for loans is between 27 and 29 per cent, but the Access bank is giving us at the rate of 15 per cent.

“The bank is committing N50 billion to support MSMEs. They are even now saying that if you are an MSME and you want to collect N1 to N3 million, don’t worry; the collateral that they need is simplified to enable you to have access to the money,” he stated.

Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who was represented at the event by the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, said the Federal Government was committed to creating an enabling environment for MSMEs in the country in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended no fewer than 48 students from Kwara State University (KWASU) and two Malete residents over alleged involvement in Internet fraud, commonly known as Yahoo Yahoo.

The anti-graft agency claimed the arrest was made following reliable intelligence on the increasing prevalence of internet fraud activities in the state, particularly within educational institutions.

In an effort to combat corruption and illicit activities associated with yahoo-yahoo, the EFCC reportedly conducted thorough investigations, tracking down the suspects and apprehending them in various locations where they were hiding, following days of surveillance on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

Among the suspects are Idris Yekini, Ayantola Segun, Adeshina Taheeb, Mustapha Alamin, Usman Harun, Oladimeji Oseni, Qudus Temitope, Adewunmi Israel, Lukman Uthman, Alamin Ibitoye, Usman Sadiq, Musbau Waris, Ibrahim Oluwatosin, Oladele Israel, and Rafiu Ashimu.

Others arrested include Aransiola Oluwaseun, Akolade Adetola Toheeb, Joseph Samuel, Adewuyi Quadri, Adebayo Olamilekan, Ogunride Gabriel, Abolaji Ismail, Ogundele Samuel Ejiro, Musa Ali Olawale, Isah Oluwatumishe, Abdullahi Abdulmajib, Abdulrahman Abubakar, Olaosebikan Martins, Mazeed Ayomide, Oyeniyi Michael, Moses Bright, Oladipo Victor, Shehu Abdugafar, Abdulmalik Khalid Timileyin, Muhammad Nabil, Adebayo Qudus, and Owoeye Adeyanju.

Additionally, Abdulwaheed Zakariyah, Olaleye Gbenga, Victor Kayode, Samad Olarewaju, Raheem Ayomide, Ismail Abdulbasit, Oluyedun Khalid, Moshood Lawal, Utman Abayomi, and Aransiola Joshua were also apprehended. Furthermore, Babalola Razaq and Godwin Ouna Ejika, residents of Malete, were included in the arrests.

During the operation, authorities seized nine (9) luxury vehicles, twenty-four (24) laptops, and various brands of mobile phones from the suspects.

Upon the completion of the ongoing investigations, the suspects will be promptly presented before the court for arraignment.

The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has granted bail to former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the sum of ₦50,000,000 on charges related to an alleged N10 billion fraud.

The court also mandated that Ahmed provide two sureties owning landed properties within Ilorin, alongside surrendering his international passport as part of the bail conditions.

This development follows the arraignment of Ahmed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge centering on fraud, as reported by Naija News.

The former governor faced the court on Friday, where allegations of misappropriating state funds during his tenure were laid out against him.

Notably, media personnel were restricted from accessing the courtroom during Ahmed’s arraignment, sparking concerns over transparency in the proceedings.

The EFCC’s case against Ahmed includes accusations of diverting N1.6 billion allocated for security and operational costs in Kwara State to finance personal expenses, such as chartering private jets.

A particular count in the charges highlights the alleged fraudulent conversion of N400 million from a N1 billion short-term loan secured by the Kwara State Government from Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

These funds, intended for completing ongoing state projects, were purportedly misused under Ahmed’s administration.

The EFCC said, “Ahmed (while being the Governor of Kwara State) between 2015 and 2019 in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court used an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500, property of Kwara State Government, meant for the security and running cost of the Government of Kwara State, to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited on different occasions for your local travels and which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust or theft.”