Education

No Response From Federal Govt, Says ASUU

Ultimatum: No response from Federal Govt, says ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Tuesday said the ultimatum it issued in July did not elicit any response from the Federal Government.

The National President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Oshodeke, in an interview with one of our correspondents, stated that government had not implemented the agreement it reached with the union nor responded to the ultimatum.

The union had on July 19 issued a fresh ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay the outstanding 10-month arrears of its members’ salaries or be prepared for another industrial action.

The union gave government till August 31 to meet its demands including the resolution of issues relating to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform.

Between September 10 and September, 2021, all ASUU zones across the country held press conferences calling on the government to implement their demands.

They also asked Nigerians to hold the Federal Government responsible if the university lecturers embarked on another strike.

Responding to enquiries on Tuesday, ASUU president said, “Nothing yet, not a single response from the government. For now, we are in Abuja we are meeting soon. No single response from the government. We are meeting this weekend in Abuja. We want to see what we can do between now and Friday to see them. Despite the letter we wrote to them and the press conferences, they are not bothered because nothing is at stake for them.”

The union had accused the government of not implementing the agreement it signed with lecturers in December 2020.

In March 2020, ASUU embarked on a strike action following its disagreement with the Federal Government over the funding of the universities, the IPPIS, implementation of the University Transparency Accountability Solution, funding and revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, promotion arrears and renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement

ASUU had several meetings with government over UTAS and all the above issues were approved with a promise of prompt implementation.

The Federal Government’s assurance of implementation, which was accompanied with the signing of a Memorandum of Action led to the call off of the strike on December 24, 2020 after government also agreed to exclude ASUU from IPPIS.

Speaking at the ASUU-Lagos zone press conference, zonal coordinator, Dr Adelaja Odukoya, said the arrogance with which government had continued to wish away the collective sacrifice of their members, students and parents on the struggles was frustrating.

Odukoya said government’s failure to ensure prompt renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement had consciously “sentenced” ASUU members “to agonising poverty, encouraged brain drain and criminally promoted falling standard of education in the country.”

FG not shunning ASUU, says minister
But in his response, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, denied claims by ASUU that the Federal Government had been shunning its leadership.

The minister, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said there was no way ASUU leaders would reach out the government and nobody would attend to them.

On some of the demands made by ASUU in its ultimatum issued to the government which has elapsed, Nwajiuba insisted that the National Universities Commission was working on them and announcement would be made once the assignment had been completed.

He said, “No one is shunning ASUU. Ask them who they reached out to. I picked your call, didn’t I?

“We have already said the NUC is working on the issues with the universities, once they are done, they will issue a statement.

“There is no way ASUU will reach out and nobody will attend to them.

“The message is simple. The NUC is working on the issues raised, the moment they are done, a statement will be issued to let everybody be aware of the situation on the ground.

Education

No plan to stop under 18 students from writing WASSCE, NECO – Minister

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu has clarified that the Federal Ministry of Education has not stopped students who are not up to 18 years old from writing the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.

Sununu said this while fielding questions from journalists at an event to mark the 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD) on Friday.

According to him, public misconception and misinterpretation of what was said by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, was highly disappointing.

He said that the minister was actually speaking on the 18 years entry age into the tertiary institutions as was practiced in the 6:3:3:4 system of education.

“We have agreed that we are going to consider it as a work-in-progress. The National Assembly is working and we are also working.

“It was shocking to say that a university in this country gave admission to children at ages 10, 11 and 12 years. This is totally wrong.

“We are not saying that there are no exceptions, we know we can have talented students that have the IQ of an adult even at age 6 and 7, but these are very few.

“There must be a rule, and the ministry is looking at developing a guideline on how to identify a talented child, so that parents don’t say we are blocking their children’s chances.

“Nobody said no child will write WAEC, NECO or any other examination unless at age 18. This is a misconception and misrepresentation of what we have said,” he said.

Speaking on the International Literacy Day, Sununu underscored the critical role of literacy in fostering mutual understanding, peace and socio-economic development.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing literacy challenges through the Education for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027).

He highlighted youth and adult literacy as key components, while emphasising the importance of using learners’ mother tongues as a medium of instruction.

“We must focus on the role of a learner’s first language in becoming literate, which will foster mutual understanding and peace,” he added.

He also emphasised the need for well-trained educators who should be equipped to teach in local languages, as well as the development of follow-up reading materials in these languages.

On his part, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Simon Akpama, reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to integrating multilingual education into schools’ literacy programmes.

“In an increasingly interconnected world, multilingual education is not just a necessity, it is a tool for fostering peace and cultural respect,” he said.

Meanwhile, UNESCO’s Country Representative, Mr Diallo Abdourahamane, re-echoed that literacy remained a fundamental human right, hence the need to create a just, peaceful and sustainable society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ILD which is celebrated annually on Sept. 8, is aimed at highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
(NAN)

Education

Tai Solarin Varsity rusticates 31 students, suspends 47 others for various offences

Authorities of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode have announced the rustication of 31 students and an indefinite suspension of 47 others for various forms of academic and behavioural misconduct.

This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Registrar, Dapo Oke on Tuesday.

Among those sanctioned is Ojo Michael, a 200-level student in the Computer Science Department, who was rusticated for the entire 2023/2024 academic session.

It was gathered that this decision was taken during the university’s Senate meeting held on July 31, 2024.

The statement further stated that Michael was found guilty of forging his Cumulative Grade Point Average in a bid to fraudulently qualify for the Student Union elections.

In addition to Ojo Michael, 17 other students were rusticated for examination malpractice, while five were sanctioned for making threats to life, and one other for fraudulent activities.

The statement also read that the university’s Examination Malpractice and Students’ Disciplinary Committee, after thorough investigations, recommended the penalties.

The university has further suspended 47 students indefinitely for various forms of misconduct, including impersonation.

The Senate emphasised that the affected students are required to stay off-campus to avoid potential confrontations with university security personnel.

The school authorities reiterated their commitment to upholding academic discipline and integrity, warning that any student found guilty of misconduct would face severe consequences in line with the institution’s rules and regulations.

“The Senate, at its Statutory meeting of 31st July 2024 has approved that Ojo Micheal, a 200-level student in the Computer Science Department be rusticated for the 2023/2024 Academic session for forgery of CGPA to contest Student Union Elections.

“17 other students got rusticated for examination malpractice, 5 for threat to life and 1 other for fraudulent act.

“47 students were found guilty of misconduct and were thus given indefinite suspension and another ten for impersonation.

“Other various punishments were also meted out for various misconducts as recommended by the Examination Malpractice and Students’ Disciplinary Committee.

“The affected students have been advised in their interest to stay off the Campus to avoid being embarrassed by the University Security Personnel

Education

UI orders students to proceed on 3 weeks holiday

Authorities of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, in Oyo State, have directed students of the institution to proceed on a three-week break.

The directive comes almost twenty-four hours after the students staged a protest over the increase in their school fees.

The institution, in a statement signed by its Registrar, G.O. Saliu, noted that the decision to direct the students to go on break was taken following a meeting between the management and the leadership of the students’ union.

Saliu said that the break is an opportunity for the students to complete their online registration.

He added that the 2023/2024 first-semester examinations will now start on Monday, 23 September 2024.

Saliu further maintained that the portal for registration will be closed on Friday, 20 September 2024.

He said that all students living within the institution’s hostels are to vacate the hostels by 2:00 p.m. today (Saturday).

He warned that students who fail to register on time will not be allowed to write the examinations.

Saliu said, “Following the meeting of University Management with the leadership of the Students Union today, Friday, 30 August 2024, the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of Senate, has approved a three-week break for students of the University of Ibadan, with effect from Saturday, 31 August 2024, to 20 September 2024.

“The hostels will be reopened for students from 12 noon on Friday, 20 September 2024.

“Students are, therefore, to note the following: The three weeks is to give students ample time to complete their online registration. The 2023/2024 first-semester examinations will now start on Monday, 23 September 2024. The portal for registration will be closed on Friday, 20 September 2024.

“There will be no reopening of the portal for fee payment or course registration after 20 September 2024. Students who do not register appropriately will not be allowed to write examinations. All students are to vacate the University Campus by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 31 August 2024.

“The above is for information and strict compliance, please.”