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Poly students threaten Abuja airport operations over ASUP strike

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3 years ago

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Polytechnic students, under the aegis of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to ensure an immediate end to the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic.

They made the call during a protest they staged in front of the Ministry of Education at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja.

The association’s President, Sunday Asuku, called on both parties to reach a compromise or risk nationwide protest by students.

According to him, ASUP had been on strike for two months and nothing had been done about it.

He said, “We have written to them but they have declined. The Federal Government workers are being paid their salaries and allowances likewise our lecturers, so who is going to pay the students for time wastage?”

Asuku added that the students’ body had reached out to ASUP which had promised to shift ground if the government would yield to their 15 demands.

He added, “As a student body, we are interested in the government paying the lecturers their minimum wage which is accrued to two years.

“Other MDAs have received theirs since November 2019. Why holding our lecturers to ransom? If you can give them this, then we have the right to hold them accountable for not teaching.

“We want the government to call ASUP back to a round table and give them what belongs to them, or else by Monday, we will grind activities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.”

However, the Minister of State for Education, Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, while addressing the students said everything that had to do with ASUP had been settled.

According to Nwajiuba, the decision to call off the strike now lies with the union.

The minister said, “Every one of us is pained by what is going on in the polytechnic sector of our education. Many of us spoke with ASUP at the time of their warning strike that we are not running an ad hoc government.

“Nothing ends today, even if I die today, Nigeria will continue and there is nothing that will stop Nigeria.

“When ASUP wanted to start this strike, we wrote them and said everything that ASUP requested for has been agreed upon, we do not have one area of disappointment.”

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Education

Glisten Academy Felicitates with Muslims on Eld-el- Maulud

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3 weeks ago

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September 16, 2024

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* Emphasis on the need for selfless service, integrity and social justice

By Ojone Grace Odaudu

As Muslims in Nigeria join others all over the world to celebrate Eid-el-Maulud, the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the management of Glisten International Academy, Abuja has charged the people to reflect on his exemplary life of compassion, integrity and humility.

In a statement by the institution to felicitate with the Muslim community, the Academy said the ceremony will be more significant if the people strive to embody the values of patience, generosity and justice in the society.

The Eid-el-Maulud celebration, according to the statement, should remind the people of the importance of kindness, honesty and dedication to serving others selflessly.

Dr Samira Jibir
Proprietress, Glisten International Academy

“As we mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we reflect on his exemplary life of compassion, integrity, and humility. This occasion reminds us of the importance of kindness, honesty, and dedication to serving others. Let’s strive to embody the values of patience, generosity and justice in our communities”, the Academy wrote in its statement.

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Education

Pegging WASSCE/NECO Candidates’ Ages Detrimental to Children’s Development – NAPPS

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1 month ago

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September 1, 2024

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By Ojone Grace Odaudu

Proprietors of Private Schools have expressed concern over the Federal Government’s directive to peg the age of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) candidates.

Alaka Lukman, Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos Chapter, expressed this concern in an interview with the Newsmen in Lagos.

The Federal Government recently directed that candidates under the age of 18 years will no longer be allowed to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO).

Lukman said that pegging the age limit for the candidates for the examinations would lead to delaying and denying some students access to higher education when they complete their secondary education.

Dr Samira Jibir
National President, NAPPS

“The policy of the government gives us room for concern. We believe that the government is only focusing on maturity of the students.

“But this is just one of the mental development of any human being.

“Maturity does not come by age alone. This policy can prove detrimental to brilliant students that finish secondary before they clock 18 years.

“Will they have to wait two years extra, before taking WAEC?

“There is need for the government to give the directive a second thought because it may not be the best for the system and can lead to frustration.

“The development can also lead to potential disparities in students’ educational outcomes, as not all students may have the same opportunities or resources to continue their education until they reach the age of 18.

“Our government should consider the mental health of our students, some are presently facing the pressure of how to quickly go through secondary school because of the financial position of their parents,” he added.

The NAPPS president suggested that the government should rather peg the entry age for students getting into university.

He said admission into university should not be for people at any age.

According to Lukman, the policy will breed teenagers with idle hands roaming about the streets, adding that this can prove detrimental, if an alternative way of engaging these teenagers is not provided.

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Crime

20 Medical Students Kidnapped In Benue Rescued – Security Sources

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1 month ago

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August 24, 2024

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Security sources say 20 medical students who were kidnapped in Benue State have just been rescued.

The operation was coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser.

Security agencies – the police, DSS and military personnel and equipment were involved in the operation, with the support of the Benue State government.

Though the student have regained their freedom according to security sources, details of the rescue operation are still sketchy at the moment.

News of the abduction of the students hit the media space last Friday, attracting reactions from Nigerians who condemned the rising rate of kidnapping in the country.

The victims were said to be on their way to Enugu State, passing through the Otukpo Local Government area in Benue before they encountered bandits.

They were en route to Enugu for a programme when they ran into the kidnappers around Otukpo.

The students were said to be travelling in a convoy of two buses and were coming from the northern part of the country when they ran into the ambush on Thursday evening at about 5:30 pm.

A few days after their abduction, their captors had established contact with the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦50 million to secure the release of their hostages.

IGP orders rescue

Responding to calls for the rescue of the students, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, immediately ordered the rescue of the victims.

In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, the IGP condemned the kidnapping of students.

Egbetokun described their abduction as “truly appalling, callous, and unacceptable”.

He said, “In a display of unwavering commitment to the rescue, safety, and well-being of the young Nigerians, the IGP has ordered the prompt deployment of a substantial number of human and technical resources to augment the manpower of the Benue State Command and ensure the swift rescue of our beloved students. This initiative encompasses the mobilization of additional tactical units from the FID-STS and FID-IRT, the deployment of advanced helicopters and drones, as well as the use of specialized tactical vehicles to facilitate the search and secure the safe return of the victims.

“The Nigeria Police Force stands with the victims and their loved ones during this challenging time, and we are committed to ensuring the safe return of the students.

“The Inspector-General of Police reiterates the zeal of the force to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of the perpetrators and others alike, as the Nigeria Police Force is determined to sustain the fight against crimes and criminality, most especially kidnapping of Nigerians.

“The IGP equally appeals to the general public to provide useful information and actionable intelligence that may aid the ongoing investigation and the rescue operation. Individuals with relevant details are encouraged to contact the nearest police station the state’s command control number or the FHQ via Pressforabuja@police.gov.ng and other helplines.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its mission to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians, and it will continue to work tirelessly to maintain peace, stability, and the rule of law throughout the country.”

Kidnapping In Benue

In the past six years, the federal highway from Otukpo through Ugbokolo in the Okpokwu Local Government Area down to Odoba and Otukpa in Ogbadibu Local Government Area has become one of Nigeria’s dangerous roads to travel due to the notorious kidnap syndicate controlling the thick forests and vast ungoverned spaces.

Some weeks ago, the management team of the Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo, led by the Rector was kidnapped on that axis.

This was aside from several other victims including Catholic priests and many other kidnapping cases of motorists with little or no effort to tame the menace.

 

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