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ASUU strike: Fed Govt registers breakaway faction CONUA

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The Federal Government, on Tuesday, said it would direct Vice-Chancellors of federal universities to reopen their institutions following the registration of two new unions.

The unions are the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway faction of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

CONUA is led by Niyi Sunmonu, an Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. teacher, while NAMDA is headed by Nosa Irhue.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige, who presented letters of approval to the leaderships of CONUA and NAMDA in Abuja, said with the development, students who have been at home since February 14, when ASUU began its ongoing strike can now return to the classrooms.

He, however, was silent on when the resumption would commence.

However, speaking on the registration of CONUA, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke said: “It is not worth my reaction.”

Ngige defended the registration, saying that CONUA and NAMDA can now co-exist with ASUU in the university system,

His words: “It may be noted that Section 3(2) of the Trade Unions Act, CAP. T14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004 gives the Minister of Labour and Employment powers to regroup an existing Trade Union of Workers or Employers.

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“The section under reference states ‘no combination of workers or employers shall be registered as a trade union save with the approval of the minister on his being satisfied that it is expedient to register the Union either by regrouping existing trade union or registering a new trade union or otherwise, however….’

“In view of the above, I Senator, Chris Ngige, in the exercise of the power conferred on me as the Minister of Labour and Employment, do hereby approve the registration of Congress of Nigeria University Academics (CONUA), and Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) as trade unions.

“They are accordingly entitled to all rights and privileges accruing to such academic Association/organisation including but not limited to receiving check off dues of their members in accordance with Section 17 of the Trade Unions Act.

“They are also to have members in the Nigerian University Pension Management Company Limited (NUPEMCO) and being on CONUASS Salary Structure/Scheme, they are equally entitled to Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and all other allowances attached thereto.

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“ASUU, despite bickering, experienced protests from a large majority of her members including CONUA and NAMDA members.”

The minister said the government, through the Registrar of Trade Unions, was looking at the alleged failure of ASUU to render its audited accounts.

Ngige added that a special committee of the ministry headed by the Permanent Secretary has been set up to look at the matter before an appropriate action aimed at “preserving the Integrity of our National Labour Administration System” was taken against ASUU.

He said: “ The non- rendering of an audited account by ASUU is an infringement on the provisions of the Trade Unions Act as stated in Section 40 on the powers of the RTU to call for accounts of Trade Unions at any time.

“Also, when ASUU finally “rushed” in an account as had been requested, the RTU was unsatisfied as to the manner in which the account in question had been kept and prepared, the sufficiency or otherwise of existing checks against irregularity or fraud, and other caveats provided by section 41 (1) and (2) of the Trade Unions Act.”

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National Coordinator of CONUA Sunmonu said the union applied for registration as a trade union since 2018.

Sunmonu assured that CONUA would work to ensure that the nation was not traumatised again by academic union dislocations in the country’s public universities.

NAMD President AIrhue said the registration had given medical and dental academicians in the university and other tertiary institutions a legal voice in the determination of the training requirements, management of the training system, and the welfare of her members.

He said: “Before today, the peculiarity of the medical and dental training was increasingly emasculated triggered by bodies that capitalised on the lack of a voice for medical and dental practitioners in academics, particularly in the university system.

“With this registration, a platform has been created for medical trainers/teachers to start the process of gradual reversal to the known normal medical training environment that was punctured in the early 2000s.”

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Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: VGC chairman found dead inside his car in Lagos

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1. A Lagos-based man, Gihan Mbelu, has reportedly died in his vehicle in the Victoria Garden City area of Lagos State on Friday. It was gathered on Sunday that 42-year-old Mbelu had reportedly parked his car, a Mercedes C300 4Matic, running for several hours while he sat motionless in the car.

 

2. In response to the devastating tanker fire incident in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu has directed federal agencies to continue providing support to the state government in addressing the aftermath of the tragedy. President Tinubu’s message, contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, also extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the fire incident.

 

3. As the demolition of properties along the right of way for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway begins, the federal government has promised to conduct the process with sensitivity, aiming to minimize disruptions to the lives of those affected.

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4. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says two notorious drug kingpins: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian and Agbo Chidike Prince have been sentenced to life imprisonment for dealing in cocaine. Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said this brings to an end to their years of criminal enterprise of exporting cocaine across continents.

 

5. No fewer than 40 observers have been deployed by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to Togo, ahead of the parliamentary and regional election. The elections have been scheduled for April 29, 2024. This was revealed in a statement by the regional body.

 

6. Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Sunday, April 28, warned petrol stations against hoarding of fuel as scarcity hit the state. Adeleke through his chief of staff, Kazeem Akinleye, who is also the chairman, Petroleum Monitoring Taskforce, warned against creating artificial scarcity.

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7. Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has tackled Northern governors over their recent trip to the United States. In a Facebook post, he said the trip exposed the governors’ ignorance of the country’s constitution. According to him, security is solely the responsibility of the federal government because it is on the exclusive list.

 

8. The naira has demonstrated signs of strengthening against the United States dollar, appreciating by N125 to reach N1,275/$1 over the weekend. The new rate represents a 9.8 per cent increase when compared to N1,400 to a dollar it traded at the close of trading activity on Friday.

 

9. The immediate-past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Sunday, asked his counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to come out of his hiding and answer his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Speaking at a Redeemed Christian Church of God in Makurdi, Benue State during the thanksgiving service organised by his aides for his 63rd birthday celebration, Ortom advised Bello to come out of hiding.

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10.
The campaign coordinator of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Supare, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Alaba Abbey, has been shot dead. Late Abbey was shot dead on Saturday evening at his residence in Supare.

 

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I’ll not govern Rivers on my knees, says Fubara

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Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says he will not govern the state from a position of subservience or weakness.

Fubara made the remarks on Saturday, during a condolence visit to the Ubima, Ikwerre LGA country home of Celestine Omehia, a former governor of the state.

 

Omehia was laying Cecilia Omehia, his mother, to rest.

 

“I have come here with very few respected elders of the state, to come and support you and say to you that we sorrow with you,” Fubara said.

 

“The most important thing is to show our concern and love. Any human being who shows enmity to death, that person is not even normal.

“We also rejoice with you for a life lived well to fulfilment by Mama. We wish Mama a safe journey. Let her stay well where she has gone.”

 

He said politics of bitterness will impede the development of the state and that “it is only in unity that we can move our state forward”.

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“Anybody who claims to love this state should not be party to anything, directly or indirectly that will bring us backwards. We will continue to support every course that will advance the interests of our dear Rivers state,” he added.

“And I am happy to say, and I’ve said it over and again, it doesn’t matter the number of people that are standing with me, I will stand on that side of truth.

“I will not, I repeat, I will not govern our dear state on my knees. If that was the purpose, I will not do that.”

 

Fubara has been locked in a battle for the control of the political structure of Rivers with Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

 

The governor recently redeployed some members of his cabinet who are loyal to Wike.

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Good Morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers This Beautiful Sunday: Benin Traditional Council suspends five chiefs for visiting Ooni

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1. Five officials in the Benin Kingdom have been suspended for allegedly engaging in sacrilegious conduct against Benin custom. The Benin Traditional Council, BTC, said their suspension was because they visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, where they “falsely” claimed to be emissaries of the Oba of Benin and rendered inaccurate account of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife.

 

2. The executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has appointed Michael Nzekwe as his chief of staff. He also appointed zonal directors for each of the 14 zonal commands of the commission.

 

3. One person died on Saturday when a gas tanker explosion occurred after an accident at Ita Oshin area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. Chief Route Commander and Education Officer for Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Florence Okpe, who confirmed the incident, on behalf of the sector commander, Anthony Uga, said the accident occurred at about 4:16 pm.

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4. The Naira yesterday recovered against the US dollar at the parallel market as it appreciated to N1280/$, according to market information obtained by Nairametrics from currency traders. This implied that the Naira appreciated by N120, representing a gain of 8.57 per cent when compared to the N1,400 to a dollar at which it traded on Friday.

 

5. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has said there is a fierce fight to destroy the state. He said this at the country home of Sir Celestine Omehia in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers, on Saturday.

 

6. A resident of Osogbo, simply identified as Seun and the motorcyclist conveying her have been crushed to death in a road accident that occurred in Osogbo, Osun State. Seun was said to be a fashion designer and was also working with a real estate firm. It was gathered that the accident occurred Friday evening around OgoOluwa Area of Osogbo.

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7. The All Progressives Congress has demanded the cancellation of the just conducted local government election in Oyo State. The party claimed that the election was a “sham”, warning that if allowed to proceed, it may damage the state’s reputation.

8. The retired Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye has recounted how he fought the dreaded Niger Delta militants, the Book Haram terrorists in the North East and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, insurgents in the South East and survived all of them without a scar. Speaking during his pullout ceremony at the Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, Adeoye said it was the grace of God that saved him during the dangerous moments.

 

9. Tragedy struck in Rivers State on Friday night when fire from a fuel-laden tanker consumed four persons and about 100 vehicles at the Eleme section of the East-West Road in Rivers State. It was learnt that the tanker collided with another vehicle, exploded and burst into flames that spread to other tankers and many other vehicles trapped in the gridlock.

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10. The Anambra State Police Command has arrested 16 notorious cultists and declared 21 others wanted. In a statement by the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in Awka on Saturday, the feat was achieved following intensified efforts to end the resurgence of cult-related killings in Awka, the state capital.

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