The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Sokoto State University, Prof. Bello Yarima, has stated that the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, has approved the payment of lecturers’ outstanding salaries just a week before they commenced strike.

Bello disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Sokoto.

He said payment had already commenced to deserving persons while stressing the importance of understanding and tolerance from the union.

He highlighted that a committee was constituted by the visitor, Aliyu, had investigated the issue and forwarded the agreement on the cumulated demands to the government before the strike commenced.

”Surprisingly, it was on the day the committee submitted its findings, the lecturers embarked on strike. The accumulated payments ranging from four years and below were incurred before Governor Aliyu took over,” Yarima said.

He explained that avenues of contacts, appeals and solicitations were exploited by the management and university governing council before the industrial action but to no avail.

”However, we are happy that the strike has been called off within seven days and normal academic activities have resumed, although administrative duties were not altered little alignment was ensured in the students’ time-table.

”We must commend the visitor for approving outright payment of all outstanding arrears, in view of the fact that the backlogs were incurred before he took over.

”Visitors are so magnanimous to accommodate all the demands, and urge the workers to reciprocate the gesture through more commitment and dedication to their duty, ‘ Yarima said.

According to him, a constructed female hostel is scheduled for handing over from the contractor to argue the existing students’ accommodation challenges.

He added that rehabilitation of lecture halls, theatre, staff quarters and other structures in the institution were ongoing.

The acting V-C revealed that the state government had provided additional private security outfit to complement the existing school security towards a more secured environment.

Yarima further disclosed that all the 22 undergraduate and post graduate courses in the university were fully accredited by the National Universities’ Commission (NUC).

”We presented an additional six postgraduate courses for resource verification, waiting for approval. These courses comprised a PhD. in Economics, Msc. Economics, PhD. Environmental Sciences and Waste Management, PhD. Microbiological Science, Msc. Biological Science and Applied Biology,” he said.

NAN recalls that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, SSU branch in February embarked on an industrial action to press home their demands.

These demands include; non-implementation of 25 and 35 per cent salary increment and its consequential adjustment and payment of arrears of the 25 and 35 per cent salary increment from Jan. 2024 to date.

Others are; payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance for seven academic sessions and payment of outstanding promotion arrears for three academic sessions among others.

(NAN)

The Security Adviser to Kogi Governor, retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, says security operatives are on the trail of abductors of 18 passengers in a bus belonging to the ABC Transport.

The passengers were kidnapped on Sunday.

Omodara disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lokoja.

NAN recalls that the bus, reportedly heading to Abuja on Sunday, March 16, from the South East was reportedly hijacked by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers at Oloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi, a border town between the state and Enugu State.

Reliable sources told NAN that all passengers of the bus, including the driver were abducted by the gunmen.

However, Omodara, who confirmed the incident, said that a combined team of security operatives have launched a manhunt for the abductors.

He said the operatives In Kogi, including the Military, Police, DSS, NSCDC and Vigilante groups were in strong synergy to ensure rescue of the victims.

“Just on Wednesday, all the security heads met twice to see that we get the kidnappers and rescue the victims,” he said.

According to him, it is this kind of synergy, and cooperation from residents, who provide us with useful information that helps us to succeed.

He said that Kogi has recorded a drastic drop in kidnapping incidents and crimes due to synergy and cooperation from residents.

The state security adviser said though they might not be able to completely eradicate crime in the state, they were making efforts to tackle anyone that reared its ugly head.

He assured families of the abducted passengers that they would be released unhurt.

“We want Kogi to be a safe haven for all residents and passers-by alike.”

(NAN)

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has offered to offset the medical bills of victims of an accident involving a truck and multiple vehicles near Karu Bridge, along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Abuja on Wednesday.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, disclosed the development in a statement on Thursday.

The FCT Emergency Management Department confirmed that 10 persons died, while 30 others suffered major burns and are currently hospitalised.

According to the statement, the minister also sympathised with the victims, and directed the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, to ensure prompt treatment of the injured, which she did.

Wike said he had been briefed that seven of the 17 casualties received were referred to the National Hospital, while six of them with minor injuries were treated successfully, and three others with severe burns and inhalation and crush injuries are currently receiving treatment.

“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sympathised with victims of the motor vehicle accident that occurred yesterday’s evening, in Karu, Abuja. He offered to foot the medical bills of the casualties.

“The minister, who described the accident as avoidable, expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and directed continuation of treatments of those who sustained injuries.

“Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister said when he heard about the accident, he immediately directed the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, to ensure prompt treatment of the injured, which she did.

“On my directive, the Mandate Secretary on Health and Environment, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe was in Asokoro District Hospital, till today’s morning and she was among the medical personnel who attended to the 17 casualties brought to the hospital.

“She briefed me that after initial stabilisation, seven of the 17 casualties received were referred to National Hospital, six with minor injuries were treated successfully, three with severe burns and inhalation and crush injuries are currently receiving treatment. However, one of the casualties with third degree burns passed away while being resuscitated,” the statement partly read.

The minister also called on road users, particularly heavy duty vehicle drivers, to adhere strictly to speed limits, while expressing sadness that the lives lost and vehicles destroyed in the accident could be avoided.

He also called on the Federal Road Safety Corps and other agencies to intensify efforts to maintain conpliance with traffic rules.