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Many varsities will soon shut down over electricity tariff hike, ASUU warns
President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke has said most Nigerian universities are on the verge of shutting down over the unbearable cost of electricity.
Prof. Osodeke said this during the opening of a two-day national conference convened by ASUU in Abuja with the theme: “Nigeria in a State of General Crisis: The Search for a New Path to Development,” on Thursday.
The ASUU president said while public universities receive N15m monthly from the federal government as running costs, the electricity bills of some universities run between N200m to N300m monthly.
Osodeke said the classification of electricity consumers into bands has increased the cost of most universities, adding that the rise in electricity cost was hampering the administration of most public universities in the country.
The university lecturer said this has forced some universities to channel their internally generated revenue to the running of their operation.
He said: “We are so challenged. But let me give you a quick example, the University of Lagos; University of Ibadan; Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Nigeria, Nsuka. What they get from the government account for the overhead running of the university in a month is N15million. Meanwhile, the University of Lagos needs about N200 million naira to pay the electricity bill. It is this IGR that you talk about that is used to pay for the electricity.
“One of the universities today is closing down because they have been given an electricity bill of N300 million. What the government gives you to run the system is N15 million, and you get a bill for electricity alone of N300 million. Where is that money coming from? You have to run the laboratories. You have to run the diesel. You have to run the fuel for vehicles.
“That is where the IGR is going today. Not being able to run the system, to buy books in the library, to run your library, to earn those things. They are all part of their so-called IGR, and that is what they talk about. But you know what? A government that will give just N15 million for UNILAG to run, will in turn, give one Senator N21 million a month. The government gives a system N15million, but an individual gets N21million. That’s where our priority is.
“For whatever reason, they have refused to fund the university systems as it was in the earlier part of our history.
“From the way we are going, if nothing is done, many universities will close up because they can not afford the so-called Band A and Band B.”
Lamenting the dire situation of some academics in the country, the ASUU President said farming has become even more lucrative for lecturers, especially when a professor is left at the mercy of earning less than N300,000 per month and still has to cater for his family and publish journals.
Osodeke also criticised the proliferation of universities in the country, warning that they were merely running on skeletal manpower as most of the lecturing staff were out of the country searching for greener pastures.
He described the situation within the university system as very disturbing, stressing that most of their members are dropping dead.
ASUU also revealed how rigging is perpetrated by the political class, which warranted their members to stay away from electoral processes after the 2015 general elections.
According to Osodeke, academicians still presiding over elections are doing so in individual capacities, not as ASUU members.
He revealed that what the politicians do is bring figures from the polling units and give them to the presiding officers to announce.
He said rigging will be eliminated if members of ASUU are involved in the entire electoral process starting from the ward levels to local governments and the national collation of results.
Osodeke said: “ASUU was asked to help conduct the (2015) election. That first election went well, though there were still issues. When the elections were over, we called for a meeting and put up a committee together to study what happened.
“By the time they finished, they came with a report that even though our colleagues are involved in the election, rigging is done at the polling booths and local government collation centres.
“What our colleagues do is just collate what they have been given. They give you a report, and you just write it down. So we found out that rigging is done there, and given to our members to collate.
“We went to INEC and asked that we participate from the polling unit up to the final stage and they refused. We wrote to them that ASUU, as a body, will not participate in any election.
“If you recall, before any election in this country, we will come out with a statement that we are not part of the election, but our members are Nigerians. They have their freedom, and they can go and do anything.”
Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki charged the university lecturers to come up with solutions to the challenges facing the country.
Maiyaki said the present challenges facing the country required a multi-stakeholder approach which members of the academia are capable of championing.
He said academics lead not only in ideas and academic theories but also in critical matters like crafts, politics and socio-cultural matters, religion, and morality.
Maiyaki said: “Therefore is no class of persons more qualified than members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the urgent task of searching for solutions to the current predicament of Nigeria and Nigerians. The challenges we face as a nation require rigorous analysis and the development of actionable solutions.
“I am absolutely confident that you have the intellectual resources, that your members are uniquely positioned to execute this charge in facilitating conversations about taking our nation to a more sustainable and more progressive future.”
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero said leaders in the country go abroad to receive medical treatment.
“When they (leaders) are coming back they come up with neoliberal policies and impose it on us. Today, Nigeria is running cap in hand to collect money from the International Monetary Fund. When you talk they place charges on my head – terrorism financing, cybercrime, and others,” he said.
He accused the federal government of failing to fulfill all the agreements it entered with organized labour.
The NLC leader said the government has stopped the payment of the N35,000 wage award since February and has also failed to fulfill its promise to make the refineries work.
Ajaero urged all the university-based unions to come together and declare a day of national action to force the government to reposition the education sector.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Popular Ilorin-born musician cum comedian, Alhaji Mukaila Senwele, is dead
Announcing his death, a friend of the deceased, Alhaji Omotosho Owofitimi, wrote: ‘R.I.P, my friend Mukaila Senwele.’
At the time of filing this report, the cause of his death could not be ascertained
Details soon……
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Federal Government has announced an update to its basic education curriculum, introducing 15 new trades to improve students’ practical skills and employability.
This new curriculum is set to take effect in January 2025 for primary and junior secondary students across the country.
The revised curriculum is expected to improve job prospects for students when it is implemented in January 2025, helping them meet the challenges of a rapidly changing economic environment.
These changes are expected to provide students with a broader range of skills and better prepare them for the job market after completing their education.
New trades introduced in the curriculum
The updated curriculum includes 15 new trades, covering various sectors, including construction, technology, and agriculture. Among the new trades introduced are plumbing, tiling and floor works, and POP (Plaster of Paris) installation.
These skills are expected to give students a foundation for work in the construction and building industries. Additionally, trades like event decoration and management, bakery and confectioneries, and hairstyling have been added to offer students opportunities in the service sector.
The perceived goal is to help students develop skills they can use in their careers, whether they choose to work for a company or start their own businesses,” the National Orientation Agency noted in its post.
The inclusion of these practical skills seeks to meet the growing demand for vocational expertise in Nigeria’s economy.
Preparing students for a changing job market
With these updates, the government aims to make students more competitive in the labour market by equipping them with practical skills. In addition to construction and service-related skills, the curriculum now includes courses on GSM repairs, satellite/TV antenna installation, and CCTV and intercom installation. These technical skills are particularly relevant as technology continues to drive global job markets.
The curriculum also includes a focus on agriculture, with students being taught skills related to crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and livestock farming, including poultry and rabbit rearing.
These agricultural skills are designed to support the country’s vast agricultural sector, giving students the knowledge to contribute to Nigeria’s food production and rural development.
Incorporating digital literacy and emerging technologies
Another important addition to the curriculum is the inclusion of basic digital literacy, which covers IT and robotics.
The government has prioritized teaching these skills to students from an early age, preparing them for the growing digital economy.
By incorporating IT and robotics into the curriculum, Nigeria drives to foster a new generation of professionals who are well-versed in emerging technologies, ensuring they are ready for the demands of a modern workforce.
The National Orientation Agency highlighted that this update in education will not only provide students with the skills required for current jobs but also prepare them for future opportunities in fields that are rapidly evolving, such as tech and digital services.
Impact on Nigerian youth and employment
The introduction of these vocational skills is also seen as a response to the high unemployment rates in Nigeria, especially among young people.
By teaching students practical trades, the government hopes to reduce youth unemployment by providing more pathways for self-employment and increasing the availability of skilled labor in key industries.
The revised curriculum is expected to improve job prospects for students when it is implemented in January 2025, helping them meet the challenges of a rapidly changing economic environment.
The government’s efforts to provide relevant skills training will hopefully have a long-term impact on Nigeria’s workforce.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Hon. Shola Olofin as Chairman of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and 44 eminent Nigerians as chairpersons and Chief executive officers into various boards.
Tinubu also appointed Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as board chairman of Federal Airport Authority Of Nigeria (FAAN) and the 2023 governorship candidate of the APC in Kano State, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as the chairman of Federal Mortgage Bank Of Nigeria (FMBN).
According to a statement by the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, made available to journalists on Friday, Senator Magnus Abe was also appointed as board chairman of National Agency For Great Green Wall, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi as board chairman of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Hon. Hilliard Etta as named Chairman of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The statement read in part: “The President has also appointed a new managing director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a director-general for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
“President Tinubu directs the board chairpersons not to interfere with the management of the organisations, emphasising that their positions are non-executive”.
See full statement below:
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
APPOINTMENT OF BOARD CHAIRPERSONS AND CEOS
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed board chairpersons for 42 federal organisations and a secretary to the board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services.
The President has also appointed a new managing director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a director-general for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
President Tinubu directs the board chairpersons not to interfere with the management of the organisations, emphasising that their positions are non-executive.
All the appointments take immediate effect:
1. NIGERIAN SOCIAL INSURANCE TRUST FUND
– Hon. Shola Olofin, Chairman (Ekiti)
2. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
– Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman (Lagos)
3. FEDERAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA, MINISTRY OF AVIATION
– H. E. Abdullahi U. Ganduje, Chairman (Kano)
4. NATIONAL SUGAR DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
– Sen. Surajudeen Bashiru Ajibola, Chairman (Osun)
5. NIGERIA BULK ELECTRICITY TRADING COMPANY
– H. E. Sulaiman Argungu, Chairman (Kebbi)
6. NATIONAL AGENCY FOR GREAT GREEN WALL
– Sen. Magnus Abe, Chairman (Rivers)
7. NATIONAL TEACHERS INSTITUTE
– Barr. Festus Fuanter, Chairman (Plateau)
8. NATIONAL BOARD FOR TECHNOLOGY INCUBATION (NBTI)
– Raji, Kazeem Kolawole, Director-General (Oyo)
9. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION
– Chief Victor Tombari Giadom, Chairman (Rivers)
10. TEACHERS REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA
– Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Chairman (Adamawa)
11. INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND
– Hon. Hamma Adama Ali Kumo, Chairman (Gombe)
12. NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY
– Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa, Chairman (Abia)
13. SHEDA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX
– Sen. Abubakar Maikafi, Chairman (Bauchi)
14. FEDERAL MORTGAGE BANK OF NIGERIA
– H. E. Nasiru Gawuna, Chairman (Kano)
15. NATIONAL OFFICE FOR TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND PROMOTION
– Sen. Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Chairman (Lagos)
16. NIGERIAN POSTAL SERVICE
– Chief D. J. Kekemeke, Chairman (Ondo)
17. NATIONAL INLAND WATERWAYS AUTHORITY
– Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, Chairman (Sokoto)
18. NATIONAL STEEL COUNCIL
– Prof. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar, Chairman (Nasarawa)
19. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
– Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad, Chairman (Kaduna)
20. NATIONAL BIO-SAFETY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
– Mu’azu Bawa Rijau, Chairman (Niger)
22. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, GOMBE
– Hajia Zainab A. Ibrahim, Chairman (Taraba)
23. NIGERIAN RAILWAY CORPORATION
– Dr.Kayode Isiak Opeifa, Managing Director (Lagos)
24. FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, IDO-EKITI
– Aare (Hon.) Durotolu Oyebode Bankole, Chairman (Ogun)
25. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ABEOKUTA
– Mr Abdullahi Dayo Israel, Chairman (Lagos)
26. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, ASABA
– Dr. Mrs. Mary Alile Idele, Chairman (Edo)
27. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, LOKOJA
– Nze Chidi Duru (OON), Chairman (Anambra)
28. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, OWERRI
– Hon. Emma Eneukwu, Chairman (Enugu)
29. CIVIL DEFENCE, IMMIGRATION AND PRISONS SERVICES BOARD
– Major Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik Rtd, Secretary (Kano)
30. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, UMUAHIA
– Mr. Uguru Mathew Ofoke, Chairman (Ebonyi)
31. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YENAGOA
– Barr. Felix Chukwumenoye Morka, Chairman (Delta)
32. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, YOLA
– Alh. Bashir Usman Gumel, Chairman (Jigawa)
33. DAVID UMAHI FEDERAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, UBUHU, EBONYI STATE
– Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, Chairman (Imo)
34. NATIONAL OIL SPILL DETECTION AND RESPONSE AGENCY
– Chief Edward Omo-Erewa, Chairman (Edo)
35. NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA)
– Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, Chairman (Kaduna)
36. NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE
– Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, Chairman (Borno)
37. AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SHIKA, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE
– Hon. Lawal M. Liman (Chairman)
38. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE KATSINA
– Dr. Abubakar Isa Maiha (Chairman)
39. RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RMRDC)
– Isa Sadiq Achida, Chairman (Sokoto)
40. FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE BIRNIN KUDU
– Dr. Mohammed Gusau Hassan, Chairman Zamfara
41. NATIONAL BUILDING AND ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE
– Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa, Chairman (Nasarawa)
42. SOKOTO-RIMA RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
– Amb. Abubakar Shehu Wurno, Chairman (Sokoto)
43. AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL
– Augustine Chukwu Umahi, Chairman (Ebonyi)
44. FEDERAL SCHOLARSHIP BOARD
– Engr. Babatunde Fakoyede, Chairman (Ekiti)
45. NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS, MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
– Hon. Hillard Eta Chairman (Cross River)
Popular Ilorin based comedian, Mukaila Senwele is d3ad
FG adds plumbing, hairstyling, tilling,, 12 other trades to basic education curriculum(List)
Tinubu names Shola Olofin, Others As Board Chairpersons, CEOs
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