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Unicross workers celebrate sack of vice chancellor
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By Francesca Hangeior
The staff of University of Cross River State, Unicross, on Wednesday trooped out to jubilate the sack of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Augustine Amgba.
The workers under the auspices of three unions: Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ,SSANU, and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, were jubilant that the Professor Amgba was suspended by the Governing Council of the University.
The spokesman for the Joint Action Committee, JAC, the umbrella body for the workers in the University, James Igrison said the workers are grateful to the governor of the state, Senator Bassey Otu for backing the sacking Vice Chancellor by the Governing Board of the school.
āWe appreciate the decision of the governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu for hearkening to the cry of workers of Cross River State University who have been wallowing in pain following five months of working without salaries and allowancesā.
He said some months ago, the workers had to demonstrate against the Vice Chancellor for owing them salaries for many month but he remained adamant.
In the current economic situation in the country ,it is utter callouses to owe workers for five months and some of them earn less than a hundred thousand naira and subjecting them to ejection by landlords and embarrassment from money lendersā.
He said the workers locked the gate to the school for many days in protest but the āVice Chancellor who was in Europe at the time of their action when he returned did not as much as address the workers which showed that he was less concerned about the welfare of workers in the University”.
Professor Amgba was suspended by the Governing Council on Monday and directed to hand over to the Vice Chancellor Academics, Professor Stephen Oshang of the Facility of Agriculture.
The State Government is yet to react to the suspension of the Vice Chancellor.
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UNIVERSITY OF BUCKINGHAM (UOB) INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMA OF EDUCATION (IDE)
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in partnership with The University of Buckingham will be sponsoring 150 classroom teachers in Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency for the University of Buckingham (UoB) International Diploma of Education (iDE) January cohort of the 2025-2026 session.
Powered by: Rep. O. K. Chinda
Interested primary and secondary school teachers residing in Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency are expected to fill out the form below for the constituency selection process.
Form: https://forms.gle/rbjWgMk8oBRwqxgf7
For enquiries: Call or WhatsApp Marvin Chinda on:- +2348068581032
The minimum academic requirement is an O’level / WASSCE with 5 credits (Inclusive of Mathematics and English) and currently a classroom teacher.
Kenneth George-Oparati
(Administrator),
Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency Office
Port Harcourt, Rivers State
News
NAHCON endorses four Islamic banks for Hajj savings scheme
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has endorsed four banks to support and implement the Hajj Savings Scheme.
An official in the Information and Publications Division of NAHCON, Abdulbasit Abba, announced the development in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Abba stated, āA significant milestone for the Hajj Savings Scheme, three new Islamic banksāTaj Bank, Alternative Bank, and Lotus Bankāhave officially joined the initiative to support Nigerian pilgrims.
āThese banks will operate alongside Jaāiz Bank, bringing the total number of participating financial institutions to four
The official signing and acknowledgment of the appointment letters took place at Hajj House in Abuja, where representatives from the three new banks received their official letters from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
āThe Commissioner for Policy, Personnel, Management, and Finance, Prince Abdullazak Aliu, presented the letters on behalf of the Chairman/CEO, Prof. Abdullahi Usman.
āThis expansion marks a new era for the Hajj Savings Scheme, ensuring a more robust financial structure to facilitate pilgrimage arrangements for Nigerian Muslims.ā
News
Bodija Explosion: Makinde receives committee report
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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday, received the report of the Committee on the Management/Disbursement of the Bodija Explosion Relief Fund, noting that the state government will look into the recommendations and implement them as appropriate.
Makinde, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, who also doubles as the chairman of the relief fund committee, Abdulraheem Lawal, said the event that led to the setting up of the committee was sad and avoidable.
The governor noted that the state government responded to the explosion by putting in place several measures, including emergency services and post-explosion support services.
He added that the state had to dig deep into the root cause of the explosion, admonishing residents of the state to continue to be security-conscious and alert. The governor assured that the committeeās report would be implemented to support victims of the explosion and bring some relief to them.
He said: āImmediately the explosion happened at Deji Oyelese Close, Bodija, the Oyo State Government moved in to mitigate the level of damage.
āIt also became important for the state government to dig into the root cause of the explosion, which was an unusual incident, particularly in the area where it occurred.
āNo one knew that such monumental damage could occur around that high-brow area of Oyo State in Bodija. Nevertheless, we keep learning every day. This is why we must not take for granted the issue of security around us.
āThe government put this committee in place, of which I am the Chairman. Let me say clearly that my Principal agreed that I must receive this report and that the government will act on the report.
āSo, on behalf of His Excellency, I want to assure you that this report will be looked into quickly and the recommendations therein will be implemented.
āWe know that we do not have the luxury of further delay in implementation. We will put in all the efforts required for quick implementation so that victims of the explosion will be assuaged and assisted without further delay.
āI have to thank the committee members for giving their time. The Oyo State Government really appreciates you for the yeomanās job.ā
Speaking earlier, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd), a member of the committee who stood in for the chairman to present the committeeās report, said the report was in four volumes.
He said: āI stand here on behalf of the chairman of this committee to present the report on the disbursement and management of the Bodija Explosion Relief Fund.
āIt would be recalled that His Excellency inaugurated this committee on the 24th of December, 2024. And as the name implies, the committee came up with recommendations on the disbursement and management of the Bodija Explosion Relief Fund.
āYour Excellency, the committee, in its deliberations, factored its work on the report prepared by the trilateral meeting of the Dejo Oyelese Vigilance Group (DOVG), the Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA), and other experts.
āThe report that is being presented to Your Excellency this morning by the committee has four volumes. Volume 1, which is the main report, is divided into eight chapters, and these represent the deliberations and recommendations of the committee.
āVolume 2 of the report represents the trilateral meeting of the DOVG, BERA, and the Nigerian Society of Engineers on the framework for the distribution of government financial support pledged to the affected persons.
āVolume 3 is a reflection of the breakdown of money apportioned to support respective affected persons, while Volume 4 of the report is a detailed pictorial representation and description of damages recorded during the explosion.
āThe committee would like to express its gratitude to Your Excellency for the opportunity and the confidence reposed in its members.
āI believe that this report would, aside from being beneficial to affected persons, also serve as a proper guide to the government in the disbursement of the support that has been pledged by His Excellency.ā
Also speaking, the president of the Bodija Estate Residents Association, Pastor Muyiwa Bamgbose, said the committee proposed support for different categories of victims, including those who lost loved ones, buildings, vehicles, and other valuables.
He added that the relief fund is a support and not compensation, noting, however, that if the committeeās recommendations are implemented, they will go a long way in assisting the victims.
He said: āWe proposed support for different categories of peopleāfor the families of those who lost their lives and those who lost buildings, vehicles, and the rest. So, it varies.
āWe recommended different figures depending on what we perceived was the level of effect on each of these people.
āOur expectations are that, like His Excellency said, the implementation will be expedited. We have done due diligence, and what we are presenting will be ready to go.
āWe appreciate the expediency that made the state government agree that the Deputy Governor himself should stand in for the governor.
āSo, our expectation is that the implementation will be done with expediency.
āOn the relief fund, if what we recommended is implemented, there is no doubt that it will help. And donāt forget that it is called support. So, you canāt complain. If it was compensation, you could claim what you lost, but this is a kind of support, and it is something that should be appreciated.
āI know that for those who will receive it, whatever they get will be well appreciated.
āWe have shown appreciation to our governor for the treatment of those who were affected during the incident. Our roads are now being done. If we are going to have development, there will be complaints.
āWe appreciate what the government has done so far.ā
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