News
FG Not Planning To Strip Varsity Councils Of Responsibilities,
….Begs ASUU To Accept IPPIS Plartform
The Federal Government has said that it was not planning to take over the responsibilities of the Universities Governing Councils in the country by forcing them to enroll in the IPPIS
Head of Service, Folashade Yemi-Esan, also urged the union during an enlarged meeting brokered by the leadership of the House of Representatives to end the lingering ASUU strike, to accept the IPPIS.
She pleaded that the peculiarities of the union would be accommodated on the platform.
Following complaints of attempts by the Federal Government’s to strip the Universities Governing Council of its administrative power through the deployment of the IPPIS, Yemi-Esan allayed the fears of the striking lecturers that the government would not take away the responsibilities of the Governing Council of Universities in the administration of the schools.
Similarly the Accountant General of the Federation, Sylvia Okolieaboh, has said that the government was ready to accommodate the peculiarities of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) platform.
The Accountant General of the Federation pleaded with ASUU on Thursday during a meeting brokered by the leadership of the House of Representatives to resolve the ongoing strike by the academic union.
The Accountant General of the Federation (AoGF) revealed its readiness to accommodate issues of concern to ASUU over the payment platforms, Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) that constituted a major part of the issues that led to the strike
Okolieaboh disclosed that he was ready to accommodate issues of concern to ASUU over salary payment in order to bring an end to the seven months old strike.
He explained that adopting UTAS, which ASUU demands, might bring about unwholesome demands from various other agencies to be paid with the platforms of their own choice.
“If there are peculiarities in the university salaries system, what we need to do is to sit down with ASUU and identify them and address them in IPPIS. We are willing to accept, if the answer is yes, then the whole of the issues will be resolved.
“What we need to do, in my own opinion, is to sit down with ASUU and know what the issues are and address them inside IPPS.
“One of the risks in adopting UTAS is that everybody will come and say give us our own salary platform. As we speak, the military is on IPPS, the police is on IPPS. They have their own peculiarities.”
This was at the instance when Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the Leadership of the House would meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the resolution of the ongoing face-off between the Federal Government and ASUU, on the outcome of its interactions with the various stakeholders in the dispute next week.
The Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, further advised that only one payment platform be adopted for payment.
He said having more than one payment platform was too expensive for the government, especially given the paucity of funds.
But the President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said that it was not the first time the government was making a promise of looking into the issues and yet failed.
He did not accept the proposal on IPPIS but insisted on the autonomy of the university which is what the laws stipulated, even as he said that Nigeria was the only country where salaries of lecturers were paid through the office of the Accountant General.
Osodeke also queried why NITDA has refused to make available the report of the last test on UTAS, insisting that the report must be available for them to study.
“The Nigerian people have a law that says that the Universities are autonomous. What we want is real accountability. Allow the Universities to operate on the basis of the laws of the country.
“Circulars should not dictate what goes on in the University system. It’s this perception that the Universities are corrupt and cannot manage themselves is what has put us into this problem.”
But the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, in response said universities should fund themselves if they seek full autonomy.
According to him, he had in the ongoing negotiations urged ASUU to accept the IPPIS, which can still accommodate their peculiarities, while discussions continued.
He commended the leadership of the House for encouraging ASUU to stick with IPPIS to address their grievances.
He , however regretted that ASUU went on strike when negotiations were still ongoing without notice and stress that he would not accept the failed systems.
But the Speaker said if the Government is to accommodate ASUU’s issues in the IPPIS, seeing the UTAS report amounts to nothing.
He said what is important is that the universities resume as soon as possible so students can go back to school.
“We will give you the report. But we do not want delays. So the issue of UTAS let us say we are waiting to study the report. What are we doing here? What is on ground now is this that the government sits with you and ask ASUU what are the problems with IIPPIS, we would fix those problems. They did it with the military, and the health sector and others.”
According to the Speaker, the leadership, in the next couple of days, will put up a report of its interactions with key stakeholders in the dispute and come up with recommendations that will enable the President to view the issues at stake from an informed second option.
Speaker Gbajabiamila said that the information gathered from the extensive interactions would assist the leadership in arriving at fact-based recommendations for the resolution of the crisis.
He said that the interest of the children who have been at the receiving end of the trade dispute should be paramount, the speaker therefore appealed to both sides to give in and make concessions from their initial demands.
He said: “We will put together our recommendations and our thoughts and take it to Mr. President, that’s why we are here to interface and look for solutions.
“Again let me repeat, we are running a government, nobody, no individual, no group, whether you are legislative, judiciary or whatever can be above the government, can be above the law.
“We can’t be against and I’m speaking specifically to ASUU, we did not say because the court has given judgment, that’s the end of our conversation. In spite of the court judgment, we are still looking for solutions, we didn’t even address it here, I don’t want to address it.
“Otherwise, we could have ve said, if government has given judgment, I don’t know if there’s a stay of execution, I don’t know.
“We are appealing to you, the Judiciary has spoken, the Executive has spoken, the Legislature is about to speak together with the Executive; everybody cannot be wrong and only one person is right. For me I’m happy with the solution on UTAS, no victor, no vanquished, everybody is being carried along.
“For the sake of emphasis, the House is pleading with you, let’s put all interest aside and look at the interest of our children.
“The white paper we told you we’ll get, the letter is here, it’s now waiting for the President’s final approval.
“On revitalization, I asked the DG budget here if provision has been made in the budget. We made a promise to you, and we are staying by that promise.
“Regarding the issue of UTAS, you said you haven’t seen the report; we have it here, so we’ve been working for you”.
Speaker Gbajabiamila further assured the striking lectures that the House leadership would invite the leadership of ASUU following the outcome of the meeting with the President as soon as it is held.
“When we make our recommendations, we are going to meet with Mr. President and interface on your behalf”, he assured them.
Those in attendance included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who was represented; the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Chris Ngige; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan; the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Sylva Okolieaboh; the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze; the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, represented; as well as the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta among others.
Also present was the delegation from ASUU led by its National President president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.
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Senators in the 10th session of the National Assembly have donated N74m to support the victims of the devastating flood that ravaged Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, last week.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, disclosed this on behalf of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, when he led some senators to Maiduguri on Tuesday.
According to Senator Barau, each of the 108 Senators would donate N500,000 (N54m), while he personally contributed N10m. The Northern Senators Forum also donated N10, totalling N74m.
The Senators, who were received by the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, included the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis(Zamfara Central), Senator Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi (Nasarawa South) and Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North).
Others are Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West), Senator Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang (Plateau North),
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) and Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central).
Senator Barau commiserated with the Borno State Government and the entire people of the state over the devastating flood.
” Your Excellency, we are here to register our condolences and commiserate with you and the entire state over the ugly flood incident in this beautiful Borno last week.
“Whatever touches Borno has touched the entire country. This is why I’m here with some of my colleagues, even though the President of the Senate was here yesterday (Monday) representing the Senate as a whole.
” But it’s our tradition, normally in an occurrence such as this, even if the father or a leader came to register his condolences, that doesn’t stop those that are under him to go individually or collectively and commiserate with the victims.
” We commiserate with you, and we pray that may Allah grant those who lost their lives Jannatul Firdaus. May Allah SWT quicken the recovery of the injured persons, and may He make those who lost their valuables regain them as soon as possible.
” Yesterday, when the President of the Senate came, he did not tell you what we intended to donate. The situation of the victims profoundly touches us. After our meeting yesterday, we agreed to donate the sum of N54,000,000 (Fifty Four Million Naira). Each senator is donating N500,000, which will be N54m.
” Personally, I am donating the sum of N10 million. I pray that this flood will not occur again in Borno State and the entire country, ” he said.
The Senators also paid a condolence visit to Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, who represented Borno Central in the Eighth Senate over the demise of his mother last week.
Contrary to its assurances, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and independent marketers have continued to import substandard and off-specification Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, into Nigeria.
Investigation revealed that the ‘dirty petrol’ could account for as much as a quarter of the estimated 50 million litres of daily consumption when the volume imported by independent marketers is added to that of the NNPCL.
According to a Motor Tanker Vessels Report of Friday, September 13, 2024, sighted by our reporter, the combined amount of petrol imported through the Apapa, Tincan, Lekki, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri ports stood at 261,938 metric tonnes.
These deliveries were imported from the same sources deemed off-specification and damaging to automobiles.
Of the reported quantity, NNPCL received 134,938 metric tonnes, while independent marketers received 127,000 metric tonnes, accounting for about one-quarter of the amount of petrol consumed by Nigerians every month.
The off-specification petrol imports were received as months-long fuel queues persist across the country leaving Nigerians no option but to buy the fuel even as NNPCL management continues to assure that all is well.
An industry source, who does not want his name mentioned to protect his business interest, said: “They (NNPCL and independent marketers) have brought into the country the same kind of fuel that was condemned as dirty petrol but they know people are forced to buy this because the queues and shortage are forcing people to be desperate.”
…As Deputy Speaker Narrates How PAP’s Support For PISE-P, Others Can Enhance Peace
Nigeria has strongly advocated payment of taxes by multinationals and billionaires globally to support African countries exposed to the effects of climate change.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu and leader of the Nigerian delegation to the ongoing special sitting of the Committees of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in South Africa on Tuesday presented the country’s position.
Reacting to a paper titled “The Impact of Climate Change and Africa’s Strategic Pursuits Going into COP” delivered by the Director of Programmes and Research, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Mr. Charles Mwangi Nyambura, Kalu proposed a global climate tax to support climate adaptation in the world’s most vulnerable regions, such as Africa, relying however on the submission of Nobel Prize-winning Economist, Esther Duflo.
The Deputy Speaker who bemoaned the recent flooding in Borno, Zamfara States amongst others said that the idea of the climate tax is to help mitigate the impacts of climate change on the continent.
He said: “Africa is disproportionately impacted by climate change despite contributing just 3.8% to the global share of greenhouse gas emissions in contrast to 23% by China, 19% by the US, and 13% by the European Union.
“Climate change undermines Africa’s progress towards sustainable development goals, hindering economic growth and human well-being.
“At present, nearly 600 million Africans lack access to electricity according to the World Bank, which hinders economic growth, industrial development, and access to essential services.
“Furthermore, Africa faces a widening energy gap compared to South Asia and Latin America, which have made more significant progress in bridging their energy deficits.
“Simultaneously, Nobel Prize-winning economist Esther Duflo has proposed a global climate tax to support climate adaptation in the world’s most vulnerable regions, such as Africa. Duflo’s proposal includes a tax on multinational corporations and billionaires to fund climate adaptation in low-income countries, helping them prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate disasters.
“This need for climate resilience was brought into stark focus between August and September 2024, when heavy rains affected many local government areas (LGAs) in Borno State, Nigeria, resulting in significant flooding. These floods devastated various communities, displacing many households and damaging infrastructure, crops, and shelters.
“On September 9, 2024, Maiduguri was hit by a massive flood caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam in the neighboring Konduga LGA, marking the first time the dam had overflowed since 2012. The resulting damage from these floods underscores the growing challenge posed by climate variability and human-induced factors, which have increasingly displaced populations across Nigeria.
“In Borno State alone, the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) identified 320,791 individuals in 65,731 households affected by the floods across 19 LGAs. These include 157,274 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 108 returnees, all severely impacted by the floods”
Kalu who was accompanied to the event by some members of the Nigerian parliament including members of the House and Senators while speaking on Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU) said that food and energy insecurity are emerging threats to the stability and prosperity of African nations.
The leader of the Nigerian delegation to the Pan African Parliament’s intervention highlighted the devastating effects of food insecurity, worsened by climate change, conflicts, and economic disruptions.
Emphasizing that Africa’s agricultural potential remains largely untapped, Kalu called for comprehensive agricultural reforms and investment in agribusiness as solutions to the growing food crisis.
While identifying some pressing issues facing the African continent, the Deputy Speaker also emphasized the pivotal role of education as the foundation for Africa’s future.
He underscored the critical role education plays in shaping the continent’s future, aligning it with the African Union’s goals under Agenda 2063.
The leader of the Nigerian delegation called for continental cooperation to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education.
This, he said, includes addressing gender disparities, supporting rural schools, and increasing funding for teachers and infrastructure.
“We cannot speak of a prosperous Africa when our education systems are failing to prepare our youth for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow,” Kalu remarked, calling for unified education policies across Africa.
Also speaking on the issue of security as one of the most significant challenges that has continued to plague Africa, the Deputy Speaker who recalled Nigeria’s experience stressed the importance of collective security mechanisms, such as the African Union’s African Standby Force, and regional cooperation to combat terrorism, organized crime, and violent extremism.
Kalu also decried the unconstitutional changes in government, condemning
coups and unconstitutional transitions as threats to the continent’s democratic progress.
He called on the Pan-African Parliament to take a zero-tolerance stance on undemocratic change of government, encouraging sanctions and regional interventions to restore democratic
governance.
“We cannot allow a return to the dark days where the will of the people is undermined by the actions of a few,” Kalu said.
In his remarks on how PAP can enhance its role of fostering peace across the continent, Kalu said that the parliament should leverage the kind gestures by the African Union (AU) Peace Fund Committee to support some community- driven initiatives such as Peace In South East (PISE-P).
“How can the African Union’s Peace Fund integrate peace initiatives led by civil society and non-governmental organizations that play a significant role in promoting peaceful co-existence?
“Specifically, how can grassroots and community-driven initiatives, such as the Peace in the Southeast (PISE-P) Initiative in Nigeria, be co-opted into the AU’s broader peace projects to enhance their impact?
“Has the AU Peace Fund provided support for community-led peace initiatives, such as PISE-P or similar programs across the continent, that are crucial in addressing local conflicts? If not, what are the reasons for the lack of engagement with such initiatives? Kalu inquired.
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