News
ASUU Reveals 84 Lecturers Died Due To Unpaid Salaries
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that 84 of its members tragically passed away between May and August 2024 due to economic hardships, worsened by unpaid salaries and the increasing cost of living.
This alarming statistic was shared by the union’s president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, during an interview on Channels Television’s program Inside Sources with Laolu Akande.
Professor Osodeke expressed deep concern over the deaths, attributing them to the severe challenges faced by university lecturers across the country.
“In just three months, from May to August, Nigerian universities lost 84 academics.
These deaths are directly linked to the suffering our members are enduring,” he said.
He further criticized the government’s failure to pay lecturers their due salaries under the controversial ‘no-work, no-pay’ policy, which was implemented following the 2022 strike action.
Despite the hardships, many lecturers are still struggling with unpaid salaries, making survival difficult as the cost of living continues to rise.
The ASUU president highlighted the additional burden caused by recent economic policies, such as the fuel price hike and increased electricity tariffs, which have made life even more difficult for academic staff.
“You’re withholding over three months of salaries, and in the same breath, you’ve increased fuel and electricity costs. How are people supposed to cope?” he lamented.
Professor Osodeke emphasized that for Nigerian universities to perform at their best, the government must provide better funding and improve the working conditions of lecturers.
He disclosed that despite his 15 years of service as a professor, his monthly salary is just N420,000, an amount he believes is grossly inadequate for academic staff who are expected to compete with their counterparts globally.
“How can we expect Nigerian lecturers to compete on a global stage when they are not well-paid?” he questioned.
ASUU has been locked in a long-standing dispute with the Federal Government over issues such as improved funding for universities and the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.
On September 25, 2024, the union issued a 14-day ultimatum, urging the government to resolve these matters, including the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 industrial action.
In 2022, Nigerian universities were shut down for eight months as both academic and non-academic unions went on strike, demanding better welfare packages and improved working conditions.
In response, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari implemented a ‘no-work, no-pay’ policy, freezing lecturers’ salaries during the strike period.
However, in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four out of the eight months’ withheld salaries, a gesture that has done little to quell ASUU’s demands for full compensation.
The union continues to push for more substantial reforms to prevent further loss of lives and to ensure that Nigerian academics can thrive in a more supportive and fair working environment.
News
Ekiti Moves Closer to Energy Independence with New Electricity Licenses
The Governor of Ekiti State, Bioduna Oyebanji, has shared an exciting update on the state’s energy sector.
The governor announced that Ekiti has granted operational licenses to 14 electricity investors as part of a broader strategy to improve the state’s energy infrastructure.
This includes 3 distribution companies, 4 generation companies, 2 mini-grid generation companies, and 5 meter asset providers.
These licenses aim to strengthen power generation, streamline distribution, and ensure more reliable metering for residents, marking a major step forward in Ekiti’s energy development.
Currently, Ekiti receives around 20-25 MW of electricity from the national grid, which is far below the state’s estimated requirement of 120 MW.
This gap has often resulted in power shortages that affect both residents and businesses.
To address this, the state government has set an ambitious target of achieving 130 MW through a robust, locally managed state grid.
This will not only reduce dependency on the national grid but also empower Ekiti with more control over its energy future, fostering sustainability and stability.
The decision to decentralize electricity markets in Ekiti aligns with the 2023 Electricity Law Enactments, which were designed to give states the authority to manage their own electricity markets.
The law enables states to license providers who can meet the specific needs of their local communities, ensuring a more tailored and efficient power supply.
Governor Oyebanji emphasized the importance of this initiative for the future of Ekiti.
He expressed his confidence that this move will stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, and improve the quality of life for all Ekiti residents.
With a more stable and reliable power supply, businesses in Ekiti will be able to thrive, contributing to the overall economic development of the state.
Additionally, residents will benefit from more consistent electricity, reducing the challenges posed by power outages and improving their daily lives.
Governor Oyebanji thanked everyone who believes in the state’s vision and progress, acknowledging the collective effort required to achieve such ambitious goals.
News
Nigeria’s National Power Grid Collapses Again, Marking the 12th Time This Year
On Thursday, Nigeria was thrown into darkness as the country experienced another collapse of its national power grid.
This disruption, which occurred at approximately 11:20 a.m., caused a nationwide power outage, affecting millions across the country.
The incident was confirmed by the Nigeria National Grid on X, where they posted, “BREAKING: Another Grid Setback Experienced,” signaling the severity of the situation.
This is the second time the national grid has failed in the past week, bringing the total number of collapses this year to twelve.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the national grid, has yet to provide a detailed statement on the cause of Thursday’s collapse.
However, earlier in the week, TCN attributed a similar incident on Tuesday to a combination of line failures and generator trips, which are often caused by technical faults or mismanagement within the system.
These explanations, though, have done little to quell the growing concerns over the state of the power sector in the country.
In a related development, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had received an investigative report on the persistent grid collapses just the day before.
While the findings of this report have not been made public yet, it is expected to provide critical insights into the underlying causes of the grid’s instability.
This report comes at a time when the Nigerian government is under increasing pressure to find long-term solutions to the nation’s power crisis.
With the power grid collapsing so frequently, the impact on businesses, healthcare, education, and daily life is becoming increasingly severe.
News
22 Miners Feared Dead in Taraba-Adamawa Mining Pit Collapse
At least 22 miners are feared dead after a mining pit collapsed at an illegal site in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which spans Gashaka LGA in Taraba State and Toungo LGA in Adamawa State. The miners were searching for gold in a restricted area known as Buffa.
Local sources report that all 22 miners are presumed dead. Toungo LGA Chairman Suleiman Toungo confirmed five bodies have been recovered, though he couldn’t specify the total number still buried. The area, despite frequent ranger patrols, is known for continued unregulated mining activities, often carried out at night.
Adamawa Police spokesperson SP Suleiman Nguroje noted recent fatalities from pit collapses, adding that police are working with park authorities to address the illegal mining.
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