Metro

Tinubu Urged To Release ASUU’s Withheld Salaries

Published

4 months ago

June 6, 2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to release the eight months’ salary arrears of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) withheld by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

In 2022, the ASUU embarked on an eight-month strike over the non-implementation of their demands by the federal government.

At the time, the government had threatened to invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy on the striking lecturers.

After the strike was called off, the then Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said the government was not going to pay anyone for work not done.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former federal lawmaker, Professor Haruna Yerima, said the settlement of the eight-month arrears would create a mutual and understanding between the university union and the president.

Yerima, who teaches at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, urged Tinubu to leverage on the last week judgment delivered by the president of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, that it is within the right of the federal government to withhold the salaries of workers who embark on industrial action.

He said the court, however, held that it is a violation of university autonomy for the federal government to impose the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform on members of ASUU who reserve the right to determine how their salaries should be paid.

He said, “Looking at the NIC judgement it is clear that President Tinubu can intervene, release the withheld salaries of ASUU members, to foster a harmonious relationship between his administration and the union,” he said.

“President Bola Tinubu should be magnanimous enough to pay the eight months withheld salaries of ASUU members. This will go a long way in nipping in the bud the circumstances and trajectories that snowballed into the 2022 industrial action by the union.”

Headline

LASTMA, others combat Ilupeju industrial fire outbreak

Published

1 hour ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

The operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency responders at early hour on Saturday combated an industrial fire outbreak at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass.

Mr Taofiq Adebayo, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos on Saturday.

Adebayo stated that the industrial fire outbreak took place at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass beside Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ilupeju area of Lagos.

“The Traffic Officer of LASTMA, Mr Ayo Olaosebikan (Falcon) of Zone 21, confirmed that LASTMA rescue team arrived at the scene of the industrial fire outbreak around at 6:30a.m. before other emergency responders were contacted by LASTMA.

“Immediately we arrived at the scene of the industrial fire, we quickly informed other emergency responders particularly the Lagos State Fire, Rescue Services and the Nigerian Police.

“The causes of industrial fire could not be immediately ascertained, he said.
Olaosebikan noted that preliminary investigation revealed that the storage and factory section of the petrochemical company were seriously affected by the fire outbreak.

According to him, emergency responders on ground include Federal and State Fire Services, policemen and LASTMA Response Unit.

Olaosebikan said that neither injury nor death had been recorded.

Headline

NGO takes free medical outreach to Plateau community

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

GDG Wellness Initiative, an NGO, on Saturday offered free medical services to no fewer than 400 indigent persons in Gyel community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

Mr Gyang Dung-Gyang, founder of the initiative told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the exercise was his little way of giving back to the society that made him.

He said that he was spurred by the plight of the people and the urgent need to reach out to them, in view of the current economic realities and its implications on their health.

Dung-Gyang said that he had been organising such outreaches annually, adding that the current hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy had made this year’s outing unique.

“It’s my heart desire and passion to reach out to the vulnerable and the needy in the society.

“And it’s not just this, we have been able to give scholarship to some students, with some already graduates.

“Today, we have planned to treat a minimum of 400 persons but from the way it is going, it may exceed that number,” he stated.

The outreach Team Lead, Mr Pam Chong, listed some of the medical services to include testing and treatment of patients for aliments such as malaria, hepatitis B & C, high blood pressure, diabetes among others.

Chong, a pharmacist, told NAN that the medical team comprised of doctors, nurses, lab scientists and pharmacists.
He said cases that they were unable to handle would be referred to hospitals that could handle them.

The team lead said that they have sufficient drugs to treat over 400 patients.

Mr Ishaya Pam, Vice President, Gyel Development Association of Jos South LGA, lauded GDG Wellness for the gesture, which he believed would improve the health and wellbeing of the people.
Pam prayed God to bless the organisers of the outreach to continue to impact the lives of the less privileged.