Strike continues, says ASUU

University teachers said yesterday that their strike will go on — 89 days after it began.

This is in spite of the intervention by Vice President Namadi Sambo in bringing the lecturers back to the negotiation table.

The teachers are seeking proper funding of education and the payment of their N87 billion earned allowances.

These are part of the 2009 agreement between the teachers and the government. The government has offered N30 billion for the earned allowances and made available N100billion for projects on the campuses. The lecturers rejected the offer. The strike has been on since July 1.

The latest position of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the umbrella association of the teachers to go on with the strike, was made known yesterday by University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter Chairman Dr. Karo Ogbinika, in a statement.

When YABATECH students rose against violence

The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos was in turmoil last Thursday, as some students went after a group of boys suspected to be cultists, who macheted a student. The action disrupted academic and social activities. WALE AJETUNMOBI and MARK ORGU (300-Level Educational Management, School of Technical Education, YABATECH) report.

SOME students were having a nice time in the Complex Hall’s common room when the boys arrived, blocking the entrance. They stopped people from entering or leaving. Unaware of what was happening, Chinonso Anyankura, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Association of Anambra State Students, arrived on the scene. He insisted on going in and the boys, who were suspected to be cultists descended on him. The attack on their colleague infuriated other students.

The following day, they went after the boys, who macheted Chinonso.

‘NANS has become a tool for politicians’

Jude Ezeibe, a student of Agric Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), is the president of the National Association of Abia State Students (NAASS). In this interview with EMMANUEL AHANONU (Political Science, University of Calabar), he speaks on the challenges of being a students’ leader.

Why did you join students’ unionism?

It is because I have the passion to serve my fellow students and be their voice, so that they can be heard. I want to make sure that their welfare is guaranteed every time.

What are your objectives?

I want to give a voice to students. I also want to take the association of Abia students to a level where it will be respected by the government and the people as the mouthpiece of youths.

BBM for Android, iOS now here

• Paul Omorogbe & Seyi Sokoya 

• A fortnight ago we had written that BlackBerry Messenger would be available on multi-platforms, namely Android and iOS, the operating system that runs the iPhone and iPad.
  
  We are glad to announce that BlackBerry confirmed on Wednesday that its messenger service would come to Android and iOS this weekend. To be specific, the Android version was launched on Saturday, while the iOS version hits the App Store today.
  BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) was previously exclusive to BlackBerry users, and is much loved by the BlackBerry faithful worldwide. However, Nigerians seem to love it most judging by how fast BlackBerry became the craze among the populace and has continued to be up till now.

Blackberry reveals date BBM messaging will go to rivals

From this weekend, users will no longer need to own a Blackberry device to access its BBM messaging service.

Blackberry has confirmed BBM will be available as a free download for Apple and Android devices but not for Windows phones.

The move comes as the Wall Street Journalreports that Blackberry will lay off 40% of its staff before 2014.

Widening the appeal of BBM could be a clever way for the company to reinvent itself, said experts.

"Blackberry is having a tough time, sales are down, it is losing market to Windows phones and it needs to do something to stop the rot.

BlackBerry Messenger to launch on Android, iOS this weekend

Free downloads to open BBM to rival smartphone platforms

By Neil McAllister

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will be available for download on Android and iOS devices beginning this weekend, the struggling Canadian smartphone maker has announced.

BlackBerry has been teasing the idea of separating its popular social messaging app from its smartphone platform since May, and it even made the app available on select Android-powered Samsung phones in a stealth pilot program in Africa last month.

Blackberry expands BBM chat app to Android and iOS

Blackberry's boss said he was excited to be able to invite more people to join the BBM service

The Q5 is being offered in red and pink colours as well as black and white options
The Blackberry Messenger (BBM) app is to be offered as a download to run on rival platforms.

Blackberry said it would initially offer texts, photo messages and group sharing functions on devices running Google's Android and Apple's iOS operating systems from "the summer".

When comrades meet

How can unionism be used for the benefit of students? Members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) learnt the know-how during a visit to the chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Comrade Ayodele Adewale. TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE (HND II Computer Science) reports.

ALL was quiet at the secretariat of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State last Wednesday during a visit by some students union leaders. About 10:30pm, members of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Students’ Union Government (SUG) arrived at the council to keep an appointment with the chairman, Comrade Ayodele Adewale.

Exam malpractices: Offenders face five -year imprisonment

Any West African Examination Council (WAEC) candidate caught indulging in examinations malpractices in any part of the country risks a minimum of five years imprisonment and N200, 000 fine.

This is because the Federal Executive Council has approved the memo from the Ministry of Education seeking to amend the WAEC Act 2004 in line with the 2003 convention in Ghana.

Aliyu to Fed Govt: honour agreement with ASUU

•Govt urged to implement pact 

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday urged the Federal Government to honour the 2009 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the interest of the students.

He frowned at the annual nine per cent national budgetary allocation to the education sector as against the 26 per cent benchmark approved by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Aliyu described the development as “unfortunate”.

Govt begs NANS not to protest

The Presidential Committee on the implementation of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities yesterday begged the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) not to protest over the lecturers’ strike.

The committee chairman, who is also the Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan, made the appeal when students visited him in Abuja.

NUC lacks capacity to develop tertiary education –Don

An education consultant, Prof. David Iornem, has said the National Universities Commission and other government agencies lack the capacity to develop the country’s tertiary education.

 Iornem, a former senator, noted that the NUC, vested with the responsibility of seeking budget expansion to enable the universities to develop, instead engaged in antics that frustrated the institutions from getting the money.

‘Don’t force pupils to learn’

The Head Teacher, Lifetrees Nursery and Primary School, Oyingbo, Lagos, Mrs. Grace Adeogun, has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner pupils are being taught in some schools.

The educationist said this while speaking on the integration of Nigerian and British curricula in Lagos on Thursday.

She noted that pupils should not be forced to learn; rather, they should be encouraged to explore and learn at their own pace.

Police arraign three for kidnapping, raping UNILAG student

Three men, Bashorun Babajide,  Aje Olumayowa, and Babajide Ajayi, have been arraigned before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for allegedly kidnapping and raping an undergraduate of the University of Lagos.

In the eight counts which the police preferred against the defendants, it was alleged that after raping the girl, the men also took snapshots of their victim and posted them on the Internet.

It was alleged that within a few days of the upload, the nude photographs went viral on social media, exposing Titiloye to ridicule and shame.

Would You Rather Have Better Sex or More Money?

The list of reasons to do the deed just keeps getting longer. Medical researchers are coming forward saying that having enjoyable sex can decrease the risk of heart disease in men, increase longevity in women, decrease general pain and make you feel younger.

But, perhaps most interestingly of all, Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz, authors of "You: Being Beautiful" (and, of

18 pieces of advice for new grads

The following is an imaginary commencement address to graduates about to work by the Chief Executive Officer of Accretive Solutions, Richard A. Moran, a social scientist and best-selling author. He’s an expert at organisation effectiveness (and recognised as a top LinkedIn Influencer!) He offers 20 pieces of amazing advice targeted specifically for new grads:

PENGASSAN berates FG over ASUU strike

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has berated the federal government over the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) which has crippled academic activities in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, PENGASSAN Public Relations Officer (PRO) says the body, “views with deep concern and discontent the ongoing and indeed a recurring strike in our nation’s ivory towers by the Academic Staff Unions of our Universities (ASUU) which has entered its 9th week without any sign of being resolved soon as parties in the crisis continue to trade blame and spoil for more actions on the matter.”

NANS gives Fed Govt seven-day ultimatum on ASUU strike

Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has given the Federal Government seven days to end the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

The students gave the ultimatum at a press conference held at International Press Centre in Ogba, Lagos.

NANS Chairman, Lagos chapter, Yakub Eleto, said: “The consequences of the ASUU’s industrial action have been dire for Nigerian students. We know that there would be no development in the face of instability in the education sector. Government must save our education system from collapse.”

Students slam govt over strike

Students of Nasarawa State University (NSU) in Keffi have expressed concern over the government’s unwillingness to honour the 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

A 300-Level student of Political Science, Moses Ndung, blamed the Federal Government for the ongoing ASUU strike.

He said: “I think it is morally wrong for the government to have reneged on its promise. No amount of investment in education is too much. The government should play their part of the bargain so that Nigerian students can return to their classrooms. “

ASUU strike: N’ Assembly wants NNPC, CBN, TETFUND intervention

The National Assembly is reaching out to three key agencies of the Federal Government in efforts to  end the strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The agencies are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Findings by The PUNCH on Sunday showed that the Senate and House Committees on Education initiated the joint move “as an urgent intervention strategy to save university education from crumbling.”

The Minister of Finance,  Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had stated  last Wednesday  that meeting ASUU’s demands would cost the government N92bn.

Strike: Poly, education college lecturers may join ASUU

There are indications that lecturers from  polytechnics and colleges of education may join their counterparts – the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

According to sources from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, the union may resume its suspended strike, due to a lack of remarkable progress from the government on the union’s wage dispute.

Following promises made to the union, it suspended its strike on July 16 for one month. But as of Sunday, the Federal Government had yet to fulfill the promises made to ASUP, which has stirred up a fresh round of controversy.

NUC misapplied Universities' money, bungled courses accreditation-ASUU President

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, in this interview with vanguard newspaper, blames government for the dwindling fortunes of education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) for misapplying universities’ Stabilization Fund.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Okojie, is shifting the blame on the rot in the universities to the authorities which he accused of lacking in good leadership. What is your take?
The accreditation exercise conducted by NUC in all programmes in the universities was a charade.

ASUU v FGN: Education costs and price of ignorance

Education is very costly and quality education is even more expensive. Our people certainly know better when they say: “If you think education is too expensive, then try ignorance.” Anyone with a modicum of intellectual capacity would not need further explanation as to the direct connection between national wellbeing and the quality of education in place.

It is no accident that all the successful countries of the world today are those that have invested heavily in the education of their children while the most underdeveloped ones are those with the lowest per capital investment in education and, sadly, Nigeria is one of them.

I must confess my embarrassment by the present Academic Staff Union of Universities strike which has seen our campuses shutdown for weeks with no hope in sight for immediate resolution. The case of ASUU is an old one; but for a willful disregard of scholarship, the last thing anyone who has the interest of the nation at heart would like to