News

Strike: FG orders VCs to reopen universities, resume lectures

Published

2 years ago

September 26, 2022

admin

The Federal Government has asked vice-chancellors to reopen universities and resume lectures.

According to reports, the Federal Government gave the directive through the National Universities Commission (NUC) in a letter signed by Sam Onazi, director, finance and accounts of the NUC, on behalf of Abubakar Rasheed, executive secretary of the commission.

The letter was said to have been addressed to all vice-chancellors; pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities.

“Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; Restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses,” the letter reportedly reads.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been on strike since February 14 over the federal government’s failure to meet its demands relating to the funding of universities and lecturers’ salaries and allowances.

Several meetings between the union and the federal government had ended in deadlock.

The Federal Government recently filed a suit against the union at the national industrial court over the lingering strike.

READ Outrage, knocks trail FG’s suspension of Twitter in Nigeria

The industrial court had ordered the lecturers to suspend their strike.

Subsequently, ASUU filed an appeal against the judgment of the industrial court.

On September 6, the Federal Government met with pro-chancellors and vice-chancellors of federal universities over the lingering strike.

News

UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2024

admin

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

Ngelale said Tinubu believes that Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience to ensure that no Nigerian student suffers a paucity of funds in the quest for tertiary education.

On April 3, Tinubu signed the student loans amendment bill into law to provide Nigerians with quality and accessible education.

The law will allow Nigerian students in tertiary institutions to access low-interest loans for tuition and other academic needs.

Subsequently, the president appointed Akintunde Sawyerr as the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the fund.

Tinubu also appointed Frederick Oluwafemi Akinfala as the executive director of finance and administration, while Mustapha Iyal will serve as the executive director of operations of NELFUND.

READ FG hands over 1,618 civil servants with ‘fake’ employment letters to ICPC

News

JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

6 hours ago

April 26, 2024

admin

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

More to follow…

READ Remi Tinubu welcomes first 2024 baby in Abuja

News

ICPC detains TETFund boss ‘over questionable N7.6bn project’

Published

10 hours ago

April 26, 2024

admin

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, confirmed the development on Friday.

Bakare said that Echono was invited by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

“The executive secretary of TETFund is here with us. He has been invited for questioning. He is still in custody. He was invited yesterday.” Bakare said.

“He was invited on Thursday. He has not been released. He’s still with us. Investigation is still ongoing.”

It was earlier reported that TETfund awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing (PGM) within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively without the approval of the federal executive council (FEC), which is required for the contract size.

The contract was to provide capacity building course and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.

READ APC claims 40 million membership

In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.

The agency said it was wrong to say they were contracts, whereas they were ICT projects implemented under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which doesn’t require competitive bidding in public procurement.

TETFund further said its disbursement guidelines were approved by the president on the recommendation of the “Fund’s Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Honourable Minister of Education in line with the TETFund Act 2011″.

In an interview with TheCable, Echono said there was no form of irregularity in the N7.6 billion project.