Education
UNICAL suspends lecturer over alleged misconduct
The University of Calabar (UniCal) has suspended one of its lecturers, Joseph Akpan, over alleged misconduct.
The institution’s Vice-Chancellor (V-C), Prof. Florence Obi, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Calabar.
She said the suspended lecturer allegedly altered 235 examination result scripts using his privileged position as Head of Department (HOD) of Pharmacology.The V-C added that Akpan allegedly altered students’ scores in the Introduction to General Antimicrobial Pharmacology (PHM 311) course results.
She claimed that as HOD, Akpan altered the scores in 235 result scripts out of the 242 result scripts entrusted in his care.
“The lecturer also (allegedly) gave out marks to two students, who did not participate in the examinations,” she said, adding that only five scripts were genuinely marked without alteration.
The V-C alleged that Akpan admitted the misconduct before the Senate Examination Misconduct Committee, (SEMC).
According to her, the lecturer allegedly admitted that he inflated the scores of students in PHM 311 in order to protect the image of the department, which management finds ridiculous and unacceptable.
“Consequently, the management of the University has directed that he should be relieved of his appointment as HOD and Coordinator of PHM 311, as well as suspended from duty with effect from Oct. 8, 2024.
“Akpan’s official responsibilities are to be reassigned to other qualified lecturers in the department.
“He has also been directed to stay away from the university forthwith unless while responding to the invitation of relevant committees,” she said. (Vanguard)
Education
NASU, SSANU suspend strike
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non teaching staff unions in tertiary institutions, says it has suspended its ongoing strike for one month, effective from Nov. 5.
JAC comprises the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Mr Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU said this in a statement jointly signed by Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU on Sunday in Abuja.
JAC had directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike on Oct. 28, to protest non-payment of their salaries for months and non- implementation of other demands.
Adeyemi said the decision to suspend the ongoing strike for a month was due to exhaustive deliberations held with the Federal Government.
According to him, these high-level engagements culminated into extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that two out of the four months salaries would be paid in staggered forms.
He said that a payment of the agreement had been made in October 2024, adding that the second month would be paid by the end of November.
”Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new Minister of Education and the leadership of the Department of State Services.
“The leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing strike be suspended for one month effective Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint congress in their respective campuses.
“We wish to reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N5O billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations,” he said.
(NAN)
Education
FG releases funds for payment of NASU, retirees’ entitlements
The Federal Government has released funds for payment of withheld salaries of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities (NASU).
Mr Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.According to Mokwa, the Federal Government also released funds for payment of benefits to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS).
He said that payments to NASU had commenced, adding that many members had confirmed receipt.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to efficiently cater for the well-being of Nigerian workers and retirees.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had commenced a nationwide strike on Monday.
The SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said that the strike would continue for the next seven days unless the government addressed the grievances raised by the unions.
The unions had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum, urging the Federal Government to rectify the disparities in the payments among universities’ unions.
Education
IGP launches school Protection Squad in Anambra
The Inspector General of Police, IG Kayode Egbetokun has launched Schools Protection Squad in Anambra State to ensure security in educational institutions of all cadre in the state.
The squad, a creation of the IGP, is coordinated by CP Ogunlowo as a way to secure schools and also reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 13, Ukpo, AIG Godwin Aghaulor who represented Egbetokun during a stakeholders forum on security of schools in Anambra State on Tuesday said the forum offers promising steps and measures geared towards prioritizing, and improving security in and around schools and learning institutions in Anambra State.
He said: “Our presence here today is a testament to our collective will and effort to support the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force in promoting the Federal government agenda of prioritizing school protection in Nigeria, as this is one of the many strategic forums on school protection that has been initiated and ongoing in many parts of the country.
“The safety and security of our educational institutions are paramount, and it is imperative that we work together to protect and safeguard our students and educators. Collaboration and integration between host communities and security agencies play a significant role in fostering to secure and harmonious coexistence.
“Nigeria Police Force has also embraced the project by establishing the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) in all the States of the Federation and the FCT, as well as the training of State Coordinators and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) nationwide.”
The forum had the theme: Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education, and featured paper presentation from Prof Chidozie Nwafor, Head of Department in the Department of Psychology in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam said to address the challenge of insecurity in schools, the command adopted a multi-faceted approach.
He listed the approaches to include conducting regular security assessments and developing emergency response plans, enhancing access control and surveillance systems, collaboration with law enforcement agencies, and training of educators and staff on security protocols.
Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim commended the IG for housing the state as one of the pioneer states for the launch of School Protection Squad.
He said the Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo is working hard to ensure security and a beautiful education system in the state.
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