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ASUU Issues Fresh 14-Day Ultimatum to FG Over Unresolved Issues
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a new 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, urging them to address unresolved issues that have long been a source of contention.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, announced in a statement released on Wednesday, highlighting the union’s growing frustration with what they see as the government’s lack of commitment and continuous delay in fulfilling their obligations.
The ultimatum, which began on Monday, September 23, 2024, puts pressure on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take immediate action to resolve the outstanding matters.
According to Osodeke, the government’s repeated failure to honour past agreements has forced the union to take a stronger stance.
“In light of these ongoing challenges, ASUU has decided to extend another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, starting from September 23, 2024.
During this time, we expect all lingering issues to be fully addressed to the satisfaction of our members,” Osodeke stated.
He also made it clear that the union will not be held responsible for any disruptions or strikes that may occur if the government fails to seize this opportunity to prevent an impending crisis in the education sector.
The ultimatum represents ASUU’s final effort to avoid industrial action, but the growing tension indicates that another strike may be on the horizon if their demands are not met.
The unresolved issues that have plagued ASUU’s relationship with the government include matters related to funding for public universities, implementation of past agreements, and other key areas that directly impact the working conditions of academic staff and the overall quality of education in Nigeria.
This latest ultimatum has sparked renewed concerns among students and parents, who have faced repeated disruptions in the academic calendar due to previous ASUU strikes.
Many are watching closely to see how the government will respond, as failure to meet the union’s demands could lead to another prolonged strike, further destabilizing the university system in Nigeria.
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“You Can Still Have Subsidy Without Long Queues” — Rufai Oseni Speaks On Subsidy
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
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Sanwo-Olu Speaks on Lagos’ Power Challenges and the Need for Change
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
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Sanwo-Olu Declares August 20 Public Holiday in Lagos for Isese Festival
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
