[EDUCATION] NASU shuts down LASPOTECH main campus over 'unpaid salaries'

Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH main campus in Ikorodu has been shut down by aggrieved staff and members of NASU
  According to reports, the campus has been grounded for two consecutive days following agitations by non-academic staff who are kicking over non-payment of accruable salary arrears among other sundry issues.  The strike action by the staff under the aegis of Non-Academic staff union (NASU) grounded all activities of the school especially academics, administrative and even commercial activities.  Yesterday saw the three gates of LASPOTECH completely shut down while some students had to gain entry by scaling the fence into the premises.

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ASUU Strike: ‘Operation No Resumption, No Election’ – Nigerian Students Declare

Due to the ongoing ASUU strike, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced its plan to boycott the upcoming general elections.

The students union in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Danielson Akpan on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, said the lingering ASUU strike is a deliberate ploy to disenfranchise students who registered for the elections within their school environments.
The statement further says the union took the decision following the prolonged disagreement between the federal government, ASUU and ASUP.
The statement reads:
“The leadership of NANS after careful observation of the continued insensitive shut down of our universities due to the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and Academic staff union of polytechnics wish to unapologetically declare ‘Operation No Resumption, No Election’
“It appears that the gains recorded in the last few weeks has been eroded by the consistent shut down of our schools and barely 12days to the commencement of the general elections. it is instructive to note that the students’ constituency constitutes the largest votes segment, registered voters with 22.3m as released by INEC.
“These continuous strike actions by both ASUU and ASUP has not only brought increased pain on students and parents it is now seen by us as a deliberate ploy to disenfranchise our members, especially those who are registered within their school environments.
“Consequently Nigerian students have decided to take their destinies in their hands, enough of politics being played with our future. We wish to inform the general public that Nigerian students would resist any election conducted in any part of the country should pour campuses be shut till election date.
“We are conscious layers of the nation and on no account shall we allow this disenfranchisement of the largest voting population of our members in a major election to pass due to no fault of the students. We have 22.3m registered students, eligible to change re destiny of the nation.
We refused to be sacrificed in exercising this obligatory demand to our nation at this crucial moment. Our voices must be heard and our votes must count.
”To this end, the NANS leadership wish to declare ‘Operation No Resumption, No Election.”

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FG, ASUU Resume Negotiations Today

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, says ASUU will suspend its 10-week-old strike if the Federal Government agrees to release N50bn to revitalise public universities and N20bn to pay lecturers their allowances in their meeting on Monday.
The union resumes its negotiation with the Federal Government, and Ogunyemi insists they body will not shift its ground unless the government makes a commitment to release the money.
However, he said ASUU had lost confidence in the government since it failed to honour previous agreements.
Ogunyemi, who spoke with reporters in Ibadan at the weekend, said ASUU had rejected government’s proposal of N20bn to be paid in two tranches to revitalise public universities.
He said the union had asked the government to include the earned academic allowances in the 2019 budget.
He said, “We want them to pay N50bn as a sign of commitment this quarter.
“Our members have rejected the 20bn proposed by them that will be spread over two quarters in 2019. Our members have insisted on the release of at least N50bn.
“On the earned academic allowances, with N105bn not yet paid, our members are saying that even if you (government) are releasing N20bn, let it be stated clearly that it is only for ASUU members, and the balance which you promised to pay by four instalments, attach timelines to the balance and figures.
“In 2017, this government promised to include the earned academic allowances in the budget so that we won’t be talking about arrears. If the government had included it in the 2018 budget, we would not be talking about arrears now. “Our members are saying the government should take steps to include it in the 2019 budget and that is not late because they are still working on the budget.”

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2 students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic die in accident while returning from a nightclub (graphic photos)

Two students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo state have died in an accident which occurred on their way back from a nightclub.
The men - Tobiloba Daniel (popularly known as Nash) and Elijah - were involved in a lone car crash in Akure in the wee hours of today.
They were rushed to a nearby hospital but were confirmed dead.

Friends and schoolmates have taken to Facebook to express shock at the sudden death of the vibrant young men.

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PEFTI Film Institute partners Covenant University

PEFTI Film Institute recently partnered with the prestigious Covenant University to
provide added practical training for the university’s Mass Communication undergraduates. The intensive session lasted from 16 th – 22 nd December 2018, and took place at PEFTI Campus in Ajao Estate, Isolo, Lagos State.

The Film and Broadcast Workshop organised by PEFTI, integrated Content Creation, Script-Writing, Acting, Cinematography, Directing and Editing. The 105 students were in the capable hands of PEFTI’s best lecturers; as well as two renowned industry practitioners who have worked with several notable brands - Steve Sodiya (Wedding Party 1 & 2, Figurine, Wives on Strike, etc) and John Adeloju (Google, X-Factor, AFRIMA, etc).

During the one-week session, the 200, 300 and 400 Level Mass Communication undergraduates also visited wapTV, Nigeria’s leading Family Entertainment TV channel, where they received thorough, real-world experience with the operations of different departments at the station. They even co-hosted interactive live programmes which were watched by millions of viewers across Nigeria via all Satellite TV providers of wapTV Network; namely DStv 262, StarTimes 116, GOtv 102, StarSat 189, PlayTV 275 and MyTV.





The Managing Director of PEFTI, Abiola Adenuga, has this to say: “We are really grateful to the Covenant University team who made this possible; especially the Mass Communication H.O.D. - Dr. Olusola Oyero; and the lecturers – Dr. Oscar Odion Odiboh, Dr. Suleimanu Usaini, Dr. Olatunji Oyedepo, Miss Tolulope Kayode-Adedeji and Miss Thelma Ekanem. The students had lots of fun at PEFTI while they were taught best industry practices as well as very practical tutorage with all the latest gadgets; including RED Cinematic Camera, Canon 5D MK IV camera, a wide range of Camera Drones and other ultramodern recording and broadcast equipment.

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NANS Begs FG Over ASUU Strike

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has appealed to the Federal Government to fulfill agreements reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to ensure resumption of academic activities in public universities.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Mr Bestman Okereafor, made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday in Enugu and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to the recent ASUU position and condition for suspension of the ongoing strike embarked upon by the union.
“NANS is also on the know that ASUU had vowed that the ongoing strike would not be called off until the Federal Government fulfills all the agreements both parties reached in their last meeting.
“NANS salutes ASUU for negotiating and reaching an agreement during her last meeting with the Federal Government delegation.
“We believe they (ASUU) have done honourable,’’ Okereafor said.
According to him, NANS is passionately appealing to the Federal Government to fulfill its part of the agreements reached with ASUU in the best interest of Nigerian students without further delay.

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ASUU Gives Least Acceptable Conditions To End Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that the ongoing industrial dispute will continue except certain acceptable conditions are met.
It said to end the strike, the Federal Government must urgently release additional N50 billion to the N20 billion released earlier for revitalisation fund, show evidence of mainstreaming the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) into the 2019 budget and evidence of the payment of shortfall in salaries.
President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in an interview with The Guardian yesterday, said the union rejected the latest proposal of the government after due consultations with members, pointing out that government’s offer was meagre.
He added that the association’s reservations would be communicated to the Federal Government today at the inauguration of the platform for addressing matters relating to state universities.
Ogunyemi said: “The last time we met with representatives of government, they gave us their proposal and we said we will present it to our members and their reactions to the items of the proposal will be sent back to them within a week. And now, we are almost through with the consultation and we will communicate areas of disagreement to them today.
“They are basically two or three major areas; one is on the revitalisation fund. We presented to them that government owed an outstanding balance of N1.1 trillion in five tranches. But what government eventually proposed is something that is far-fetched. They were talking about N20 billion that will be released in two tranches starting from next quarter, and we felt that will not address the issue at hand. Though they said that they released N20 billion earlier, the N20 billion was to be released in 2017, if they released it in November 2018, it is not the same thing.
“Out of the N20 billion that the government released earlier, we have outstanding N200 billion. So, if government can release N50 billion in addition to the N20 billion released earlier; and the remaining N150 billion can be released on quarterly basis within this year, N50 billion each for the remaining three quarters, then it will show a sign of commitment.”
Additionally, the group demanded that for EAA and shortfall in salaries, government should provide evidence of its promises and give specific information and guidelines to its proposals.
“Although government has shown us a paper authorising the release of N15.89 billion to universities, but universities have not confirmed receipt. As far as ASUU is concerned, it is an issue of ‘once bitten, twice shy," he further stated.

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ASUU Vows To Continue Strike Until FG Pays N220 Billion

The Academic staff Union of Universities, ASUU has vowed to continue the over two months strike action. Recall that ASUU in an earlier publication rejected the offer made by the Federal Government after consultations with its members. According to ASUU, the offer from the Federal Government is far from expectation.
Speaking during a telephone interview with newsmen on Sunday, National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi said that ASUU has shifted ground from N1.1 trillion to N220 billion which he said will cover for three quarters in 2019.
He stated that the union was ready to call off the strike if the federal government paid the N220 billion.
When asked if the union was ready to shift grounds from the N220 billion, he maintained: “We have already shifted ground. “We presented five tranches payment to the federal government. If we made request for five tranches of N1.1 trillion and they are not ready to give one, that shows they are the ones not ready to shift grounds.
On the impact of the strike on the February general elections, the president says that ASUU strike has nothing to do with the February elections; adding that the issue with the FG has been on since 2006 and the position of the union has nothing to do with the elections.
“If they know they are banking on students to use for election, then let them do what they ought to do. If they do what we asked them to do, our member can take decision this week and the matter would be resolved.” He said.

Regarding some universities who are trying to boycott the strike, Ogunyemi said: “We know that there are some moves by government agents at federal and state levels to break our ranks. But our members are getting back to us and to a large extent now, our members are resolute. “Yes, there are some overzealous chancellors and administrators in one or two universities who are trying to brake these ranks. However, on the scale of balance, they are not having their ways. On the way of handling the default institutions, he said, “Our union shall handle that.”

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