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We Have Been Pushed To The Wall – SSANU, NASU, NAAT Tell FG
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Non-academic staff in the nation’s universities, on Sunday, told President Bola Tinubu-led government that they are being pushed to the wall.
The workers stated this following the refusal of the government to pay their almost six months’ withheld salaries.
Their grouse is that their counterparts in the academic staff unions have been paid part of their own withheld salaries.
According to the workers, the action of the government smacks of injustice and they may no longer be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the university system.
The workers are under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU).
The National President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, told Vanguard that his union has been taken for a ride by the government more than enough.
‘ It is sheer injustice that a section has been answered and the other section being taken for a ride. We have had enough of this nonsense. They paid the academic staff over three months ago and they keep promising us. My members are already fed up with this endless promissory note that has failed to materialise.
“We are tired of the endless promises by the Minister of Education. We only see him on television making one promise after the other. We are writing a protest letter to the government and after the Sallah break, we will give the letter to the minister. As for our union, we can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the system. Enough is enough,” he stated.
On his part, the National President of NAAT, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, said his union waited for the promise by the National Assembly to wade into the matter.
“The House of Representatives told us they would intervene in the matter. At a point in time, we would have taken some drastic steps, but the lawmakers said we should give them some time to wade in. They said they were on recess, and after they resume, they would do the needful. However, what we later got to know is that they passed a resolution on the matter.
“We have got to the stage that some drastic steps have to be taken. We will soon convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the association and then we know what to do next. It is unacceptable that some workers went on strike, a section was paid their withheld salaries, while the other was left in the lurch,” he said.
The National Secretary of NASU, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, expressed disgust that the government would still be playing that type of game among workers in its employ.
“It is very unfair and we have exercised enough patience and we are running out of it. The President gave an order regarding paying the salaries last October and eight months after, nothing has been done. What is baffling is that academic staff were paid part of their salaries, while non-academic staff were left out. The university system cannot run alone on the wing of academic staff, a bird does not fly with one wing,” he said.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu last October ordered that the salaries be paid.
They were withheld following the industrial actions by the staff unions in the university sector in 2022.
The academic staff went on strike for eight months and were paid four out of the eight months’ salaries in February this year.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has lamented that the northern part of the country is grossly lagging behind in terms of development particularly in education and agriculture, causing the region to suffer significantly.
Sanusi said this on Saturday at the 50th anniversary of the visit of the founder of Faidha Tijjaniyya in West Africa, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, in Jos, Plateau State.
The Emir, who was the guest speaker at the event, said the North had failed to capitalise on its huge population, noting that significant percentage of people from the region are mostly agrarian farmers who lack the requisite knowledge on modern agricultural technology.
He urged stakeholders in the North to invest in education and agriculture for the betterment of the region and its people, adding that the north must wake up.
Delivering a lecture on the imperative of harmonious coexistence in a multi-ethnic/religious setting, the Emir recalled that 50 years ago, late Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, visited Nigeria from Senegal on the invitation of the then former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, to foster peaceful coexistence among the Muslims and non-Muslims in the then Benue-Plateau State.
He added that his grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi I, received Sheikh Nyass under the permission of the then Governor of Benue-Plateau State, J. D Gomwalk.
While commending the present administration in the state for its support and commitment towards activities of Muslim community, Sanusi urged Muslims in the state to complement the efforts of the state governor to achieve sustainable peace and development.
News
Agidigbo FM denies organising Oyo’s tragic children’s party sponsored by Ooni’s ex-wife’s foundation
Agidigbo FM, a prominent private radio station, has disclaimed involvement in the ill-fated children’s festive party that tragically resulted in multiple deaths on Wednesday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The tragedy which struck on Wednesday morning at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan when a stampede occurred during a children’s Christmas party.
The station’s management clarified they were not sponsors or organisers of the event, contrary to initial reports. It identified the organiser as WINGS (Women In Need Of Guidance and Support), whose founder is Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
Eyewitnesses report that many children were trampled in the chaos, with several others injured and currently receiving treatment at the University College Hospital in Ibadan.
The exact number of fatalities and injuries is still unknown, but the incident has sent shockwaves through the community.
Reacting in a press statement shared via his personal X profile, Governor Seyi Makinde also confirmed the multiple deaths during the stampede as reported by SaharaReporters.
He added that the organisers of the event had been arrested and that an investigation was ongoing to unravel the cause of the tragedy.
Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, was a key organiser of the tragic children’s festive party. Additionally, Agidigbo 88.7 FM, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, had actively promoted the event in the days leading up to the devastating incident.
A press statement signed by Olayinka Abdul Wahab, Director of Programmes at Agidigbo FM on Wednesday evening, however, denied the involvement of Oriyomi and its organisation in the planning of the event.
The statement reads: “This is to inform the general public that the management of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, received the news of the tragedy that heralded the children’s fun fair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, organized by the WINGS foundation with great shock and wholeheartedly commiserate with the families involved.
“Amidst the tragedy, the news making the rounds says that Agidigbo FM is the organizer of the children’s funfair. However, the management wishes to state that Agidigbo FM is not the organizer of the event but one of the media outfits used to promote the event.
“Upon receiving the notice that a mammoth crowd had assembled before 5 am this morning at the venue, Agidigbo FM, the people’s voice, used all media strategies to sensitize the populace with jingles and public service announcements, from that time that people should stop going to the venue of the funfair.
“The organizers of the event also did all they could to ensure that the tragedy was curtailed by deploying security apparatus, medical officials, and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of those affected by this tragic event.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Lagos for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at noon on Wednesday, December 18.
Tinubu had earlier today presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the 10th National Assembly in Abuja.
His arrival was disclosed in a post via the X handle of his Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, on Wednesday, December 18.
The caption reads: “President Tinubu arrives in Lagos where he will spend the Christmas. He is received by H.E #jidesanwoolu and members of the Lagos Executive Cabinet.”
Upon arrival at the Lagos airport, Tinubu met his ‘longtime friend’, Abiodun Ayo Yinka (a.k.a Papa Ajasco).
Disclosing this, Olusegun wrote: “Beautiful moment between PBAT and his long-time friend, Mr Abiodun Ayo Yinka (a.k.a Papa Ajasco) at the Presidential Wing of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.”
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