Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Oke Ogun Polytechnic Sacks 184 Workers For Protesting Against Poor Salary, Working Conditions

Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr. B.L. Ojo signed the sack letters seen by SaharaReporters, stating that the institution no longer required the services of the affected staff members.

The management of Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State, has sacked 184 workers of the institution.

Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr. B.L. Ojo signed the sack letters seen by SaharaReporters, stating that the institution no longer required the services of the affected staff members.

“I have the directive to terminate your Part-Time Appointment with the institution by giving you a month’s notice. The termination takes effect from 2nd July, 2021,” part of the letter read.

The action is coming few weeks after the workers took to the streets to protest alleged casualisation by the institution’s management.

Spokesperson for the workers, Adekunle Lookman had said the protest was staged to demand the regularisation of their appointments.

Lookman also accused the polytechnic management of paying lip service to their welfare, lamenting that they were poorly paid.

“Some of us had been recruited since 2011 as casual staffers, with N20,000 monthly salary, which was later increased to N30, 000 before tax deduction.
“We want people to know that the state government is cheating us and they are calling us slaves for working for them,” he had said during the protest.

“About 187 of us (teaching and non-teaching), with families and dependants, taking home less than N30,000 a month. It is disgusting.

“Worse still, they have refused to regularise our appointment, even after using us for accreditation of some of the courses.”

Lookman said the protest was necessary because the government had turned deaf ears to their demands, adding: “They are happy as we continue to suffer.”

Another worker, Adebayo Samson, said the government had issued a white paper on the regularisation of their appointments, wondering why it had refused to implement it.

“This is a copy of the white paper that was issued in 2019 but up till today, it has not been implemented.

“What is happening to us here is nothing but modern-day slavery and cheating, hence our resolve to embark on this peaceful protest,” Samson had said.

Reacting to the latest development, Kola Akanbi asked Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and prevent the acting management of the Polytechnic, led by Engineer M.B Fasasi from giving his ‘good administration a bad name.’

He said, “Not minding the good works and reputation of the Governor, the management of The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki (TOPS) has decided to give him (the governor) a bad reputation by terminating the appointment of 184 casual/part-time workers of the institution.

“The sacked staff have been working with the institution, some for 10 years, some 8, some 6, some 4 while they are being paid stipend of not more than N30,000. They are holders of BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees. They have helped the institution during accreditations and have been working to help the institution.

“On 3rd June, 2021, the casual/part-time staff were issued termination of appointment letter by one Mr Ojo B.L., the acting Registrar of the institution. On whose directive did Mr Ojo act? Government? Governing Council or Management of the institution? This remains a mystery because the government of Engr Seyi Makinde, that is giving hope to the people could not have given a directive to terminate their appointments.

“The Council of the institution could not also have directed it either. Did the management of the institution, under its acting Rector, Engr M.B. Fasasi, deem it fit to terminate their appointments after working for more than a decade with the institution? One would wonder, what the management wants to gain from laying off 184 casual staff of the institution who are saddled with the bulk of teaching and instructional activities in various academic units.

“To further worsen the situation, the termination letter also states that: ‘However, you may wish to re-apply if you are still interested in rendering your services to this great noble institution.’ Why lay them off in the first instance if you still want them to re-apply? Are there arrangements made for the years wasted? These casual/part-time staff members have been helping in upholding the institution in that they have been used to man departments where there are no permanent staff members on the ground.

“While institution like The Polytechnic, Ibadan has placed an internal advertisement to take care of the interests of their casual staff, the callous acting management in TOPS can only think of termination of appointment. Mr Ojo B.L. who acted as APC (All Progressives Congress) collation officer in the last regime should not be allowed to tarnish the image the image of our dear Governor.

“The Executive Governor is implored to look into this situation to prevent the school from further disintegration. Since this acting Management assumed office, the vehicle of the institution has been in reverse gear. A visit to the school will prove that instead of progressive and forward movement, it has been from one problem to another. Under this management, there has been division, chaos, and crisis of all sorts. Now, they have laid off 184 staff members for reasons best known to them. Why the hurry, when you know the substantive management will soon be put in place?

“Your Excellency sir, you are appealed to wade in so as prevent the acting management of TOPS under Engr Fasasi M.B. from giving your good administration a bad name, which it does not deserve. We also want the Visitor to investigate the clandestine motive behind this mass sacking.”

Nigeria Establishes 2 New Universities Of Technology, Upgrades Four

The Nigeria government has announced the establishment of two additional universities of technology in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom, while also upgrading and equipping four others.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Sonny Echono disclosed this to Journalists in Abuja on Monday.

Adamu said that a National Institute of Technology (NIT) would be established in Abuja to serve essentially as a postgraduate centre devoted to research and innovation.

He said ,” this will draw the best graduates from the six universities of technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria”

“Recall that at the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he promised to establish an apex National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Abuja with six Satellite Universities of Technology, one in each geo-political zone of the country.

“This was captured in the 2015 APC Manifesto and also stressed in the Education for Change: Ministerial Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022 of the Ministry. The objective is to stimulate rapid technological transformation of the country.

“After a comprehensive review of the policy by key stakeholders in the education sector, it was resolved that the four existing Universities of

Technology located in Yola (North East), Akure (South West), Owerri (South East) and Minna (North Central) be upgraded and equipped.

“While two additional Universities of Technology to be located in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom States, would be established for the purpose.

Similarly, a National Institute of Technology (NIT) shall be established in Abuja. The institute shall be patterned after similar institutions in Singapore and Malaysia.

“This is to serve essentially as a postgraduate centre devoted to research and innovation, drawing the best graduates from the six Universities of Technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria,” he said.

Adamu said that the president had also approved the phased development programme, compelled by the country’s lean resources.

He said that the two new Universities of Technology would be established in 2021, while the upgrade of the existing four Universities of Technology and the National Institute of Technology would come up in 2022.

Adamu said the president had also observed from the report of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the weak institutional capacity for disease control and surveillance in the country, particularly with respect to medical facilities, trained personnel and supporting infrastructure.

“With the recent establishment of the only Federal Government-owned University of Health Sciences, Otukpo in Benue State and the huge gap in doctor-patient ratio as well as in medical research and production of pharmaceutical products, government recognised the compelling need to establish two other specialised universities in Health, Nutrition and Medical Sciences.

“These universities will be located at Azare, Bauchi State and Ila Orangun, Osun State. These shall lay a solid foundation for building national preparedness and resilience in anticipation of future challenges in the health sector, while reducing medical tourism to countries like India, UAE, Egypt, Europe and the U.S.”

Adamu said that the president had also approved a take-off grant of N4 billion each for the Universities of Technology and N5 billion each for the Universities of Health Science from the funding Resources of Tetfund.

He said that the ministry would collaborate with the Federal Ministries of Health, Science and Technology, Communications and Digital Economy, the FCT Administration as well as other relevant agencies and Institutions to facilitate speedy actualisation of these projects.

CAS reduces match-fixing ban for former Nigeria coach Siasia

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Monday reduced to five years the suspension for “corruption” of former Nigerian national team coach, Samson Siasia, in a match-fixing affair.

The court ruled that the life ban, imposed by FIFA in April 2019 after Siaisia was found guilty of agreeing to join a match-fixing ring in 2010, was “disproportionate”.

The CAS ruling upheld the guilty verdict but reduced the length of the ban and set aside the additional fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000).

“The Panel determined the imposition of a life ban to be disproportionate for a first offence which was committed passively and which had not had an adverse or immediate effect on football stakeholders,” CAS said in a statement, adding that a five-year ban would still punish Siasia.

The fine was dropped as the panel felt it would be “inappropriate and excessive” on top of the ban.

It noted that Siasia, who is 53, had not benefitted financially and had been hit in the pocket by not being able to work in football.

His suspension “from any football-related activity, nationally or internationally” is backdated to August 16, 2019 and runs until 2024.

The former striker played 51 times for Nigeria, including at the 1994 World Cup, and won a French Championship medal with Nantes in 1995.

He was coach of Nigeria between 2010 and 2011 and took the team to the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Siasia was caught after a wider investigation involving Wilson Raj Perumal, who confessed to international match-fixing.

Perumal, a Singaporean national, was arrested and jailed in Finland in 2011 for fixing top-tier football games there.

He later collaborated with investigators.

No school is safe until govt negotiates with bandits – Gumi

Sheik Abubakar Gumi, a well-known Islamic preacher, claims that there are 100,000 armed bandits in the North-West alone.

The bandits abducted schoolchildren, according to Gumi, who were upset that he bargained with them without involving the Federal Government.

No school could be safe unless the government dealt with the herdsmen, according to the cleric.

During an interview with The PUNCH on the kidnapped students of Tegina Islamic School in Niger State, he revealed these things.

The bandits had demanded N200m from the victims’ parents, which was later reduced to N150m. Gumi said despite efforts to get the pupils out, the bandits were adamant in their financial demand.

He said, “But we are trying to talk sense to them that these are just innocent schoolchildren. We don’t even have any idea of the condition of the children. We are just saying these are young children trying to study and they did nothing, so why are you trying to take dirty money from their families?

“This (kidnap of Islamic pupils) actually proves to the nation that the bandits are not really indoctrinated, they are just looking for money and I think that this is a good prognosis. They are not targeting a religion; they are not ideologues, which are difficult to deal with. We should not forget that they are not educated, formally or informally. They are just going about with cattle, and suddenly they found a lucrative way of finding money.

“But with good engagement, education and enticements like jobs and other things, they will leave this work. But we need a partner and we need the government to understand. Individuals like me alone cannot do it.

“All those we met (have stopped kidnapping), except for one of them who is kidnapping again, and he told us his reason, that he was neglected and he thought we had the mandate to negotiate. But when he realised that we did not have the mandate from anybody, he said he was going back to his business.

“So, the earlier we go into engaging them, the better. The ones who have agreed to lay down arms, you can engineer them to take care of the rest.”

Gumi stated that the Niger State Government had made steps to free the children, but that the state’s finances were limited.

He claimed that the government could not protect schools unless it first found a way to halt the country’s banditry.

“To secure schools, why not engage the bandits. Engage them; they are not many. You can count them with your fingers. How can you guard schools? It is not possible. In the whole North-West, they may not be more than 100,000 bandits. And that is just a drop in the ocean. That is talking about those with weapons; because not all of them have weapons. Ninety per cent of those who have weapons use them to protect themselves against cattle rustlers. They are victims too. Aerial bombardments will only worsen the situation because when you start killing their children, you remember they also have our children,” he added.

I will Organize An Award Ceremony The Day EFCC Have The Guts To Arrest Tinubu – Deji Adeyanju

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating the former governor of Lagos state Senator Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Hence, this latest report that made media headlines has generated comments and reactions from social media users. This has led Deji Adeyanju a political analyst and commentator to also react to the reports.

According to Deji on his verified Facebook handle, “I’ll organize and award ceremony the day EFCC has the guts to arrest Tinubu”.

Though Deji Adeyanju sarcastically referred to Bola Ahmed Tinubu as ” the bullion van guy” and also shared a picture of a bullion van because, reports had it that during the 2019 elections, a bullion van was seen entering the premises of the former Lagos state governor.

This is a call to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to carry out its job diligently because no Nigerian citizen is above the law and anyone that goes against the laws of the country should be made to face the consequences.

Gernot Rohr Drops Ahmed Musa From Squad To Play Mexico

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, is the biggest absentee from Gernot Rohr’s squad for next month’s international friendly with Mexico in the US.

Heartland goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, has however been recalled to the team.

Ezenwa’s last call-up for Nigeria was in October 2019, as they drew 1-1 with Brazil.

The Super Eagles’ friendly against the Tricolor will take place on July 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

However, Nigeria will be parading only Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) stars. Even though Musa now plays for Kano Pillars, he has not been invited.

Others invited for the clash against Mexico are Enyimba goalkeeper John Noble, Rivers United’s Ifeanyi Anaemena, Enugu Rangers’ Ibrahim Olawoyin and Kwara United’s Stephen Jude.

The invited players are expected to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuye, Abuja on Tuesday, June 22.

However, only 22 players will make the trip to the USA.

CAC Boss Denies N6.54bn Fraud Allegation

The Registrar General/Chief Executive, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Alhaji Garba Abubakar, has expressed the commission’s commitment to the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, adding that it will not in any way be party to corrupt practices.

He said the CAC would continue to work hard to achieve the objectives for which it was established to the satisfaction of its customers and stakeholders.

Abubakar spoke against the backdrop of alleged abuse of power and financial impropriety among others leveled against the management by the CAC staff union under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation , Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).

He vowed that the commission would not be distracted by mischief makers bent on running down the organisation.

The commission in a statement said contrary to the claims by the union, the registrar-general had declared his assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in accordance with provisions of the laws of the land, pointing out that it was laughable that the claimants were raising doubt over the content of asset declaration they are not privy to. “It behooves on them to establish any case of wrong declaration,” it stated.

On the alleged inflation of consultancy fees for tax reconciliation, the commission in a statement issued over the weekend by the Director of Public Affairs, CAC, Duke Ukaga, said the tax consultant was engaged long before the appointment of Abubakar, adding that the former’s fees was based on the percentage of savings made to the commission as contained in his engagement letter.

The commission said the consultant was able to renegotiate the commission’s tax liability, saving about N600 million in the process.

The commission, among other things, denied accusations of abuse of power, financial impropriety and commercialisation of promotion examination in the commission.

According to it, “The 2019 examination was held on October 10, 2020, at JAMB CBT Centres in Abuja, Kano and Lagos. A total of 394 staff members sat for the 2019 promotion examination.

“The result of the examination was published the same day at the commission’s website upon receipt from JAMB.

“At the end of the final collation, a total of 258 candidates were successful and promotion letters were issued to the staff upon approval by the board of the commission. It is highly mischievous for anybody to claim that the process was commercialised.”

The management further clarified that the allegations are “figment of imagination of the AUPCTRE who could still not accept the reality of losing checkup dues of over N2 million monthly from the commission following the stoppage of checkup dues deduction in respect of senior staff.”

Anti-Buhari protesters regain freedom after 68 days in Kogi prison

Emmanuel Larry and Victor Udoka have been granted bail and released from the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Kabba, Kogi State, having spent 68 days in the facility.

The two had been detained since April 5, after participating in the #BuhariMustGo protest, staged against the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

They were physically assaulted and tortured by some youth for distributing posters perceived to be critical of the president in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

A few days later, they were turned over to the police and subsequently transferred to the prison facility. They were denied access to their lawyers.

Society gazette had reported the plight of the activists and how their attorney, Benjamin Omeiza, was deceived by police operatives and officials, who denied him access to his clients.

Many activists and rights groups including Amnesty International have demanded their release from detention, believed to be influenced by Kogi State authorities.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the duo were granted bail by a magistrate sitting in Lokoja.

‘Undaunted’
Speaking in a recent interview, the two shared their unpalatable experiences in the correctional centre but maintained that they are undaunted by the move to silence them.

Mr Udoka said he does not pray that any Nigerian should face a similar fate, beckoning on Nigerians to demand their rights.

“Everybody has to be free to express themselves every day. I should be free.”

The activist stated that the government has trampled on the citizens’ freedom of association, citing the continued incarceration of the Shiites leader, Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky, and harassment of members of his movement.

He, however, advised that Nigerians should resist all attempts to ‘hijack’ the freedom of speech.

Asked if discouraged by his prison experience, Mr Udoka said the fight has just begun and that he is not ready to give up the struggle.

“Giving up is totally out of it. As a matter of art for me, the fight has just begun,” he said.

Also, Mr Larry, who hails from Benue State, narrated how they were manhandled by ‘thugs’, believed to be working for the state government.

“Their plan was to kill us on Easter Sunday,” he said.

According to him, police operatives “supervised a severe beating that was meted out to them by the thugs”.

Meanwhile, police spokesperson, Williams Aya, did not respond to telephone calls and texts put across by our reporter.

Only church investments surviving in Nigerian economy – Bishop Oyedepo

Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winners Chapel has said only church investments are currently surviving in the Nigerian economy.

Oyedepo said church investments are doing well because there are no wrong additions.

Addressing his members on Sunday, the preacher, observed that other establishments and investments may be manipulated to look flourishing but are not.

Oyedepo pointed out that “believers” are doing well in the employment of labour in Nigeria.

He said: “Remove the products of revival from Nigeria economy, there is nothing remaining.

“Let me say this and I am saying this very boldly; the only thing remaining in Nigeria today are the investments of God’s people. The only one.

“You know the other people are busy killing themselves. No plan, no purpose, no forward-looking.

“Check all the employers of labour today in this country, authentic, not manipulated stuff. They are believers.

“Those are products of a revival. Unleashing financial fortune to advance his Kingdom.

“That is why your Church will be building rural Churches and at the same time building the Ark and building every other thing that is coming around.”

Gunmen Kill Former Naija Fm OAP Ejanla In Ibadan

Unknown gunmen have assassinated a former On-Air-Personality, OAP, with Naija FM, Titus Badejo, popularly known as Ejanla.

He was shot outside 407 Club at Oluyole Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday night.

Ejanla had posted snap videos from the club around 8:57 pm.

He was shot by the masked gunmen who came on bike while leaving the club with some friends around 11 pm.

The gunmen were said to have asked all of them to lie down before directly shooting Ejanla repeatedly.

His remains had been deposited at the morgue at Adeoyo Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan.