Kogi State University ASUU Raises Alarm Over Exodus of Lecturers

Kogi State University (KSU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised an alarm over the mass exodus of senior academic staff of the institution due to nonpayment of salaries amongst other issues.

Acting chairman of ASUU in the institution, Dr Daniel Aina, in a release issued in Lokoja said over 40 lecturers have so far left the services of the institution for greener pastures and urged government to urgently address the anomaly before it gets out of hand.

The union listed other issues bedeviling the university to include non-implementation of tax holiday as promised by the government and regularisation of the university law, without which the school would be operating illegally.
In a related development, the students’ unions at the Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, have appealed to the state government and the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) of the institution to resolve their disputes and resume work in the interest of students.

The president of the Student Union Government (SUG) of the institution, Comrade Shaibu Philip Omepa, said the ‘no pay no work’ action embarked upon by the academic staff of the university over a month ago had taken negative toll on students.
He said many graduates of the university that ought to have been mobilised for the National Youth Service as well as for their programmes at the Nigerian Law School have been deprived of the opportunity due to the ongoing standoff between ASUU and the government over wages.

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Kogi Medical Students Appeal to State Govt and ASUU to End 6-Week Old Strike

The National Association of Kogi Medical Students (NAKOMS). on behalf of its members at Kogi State University, KSU, appeals to Kogi state government to reach a quick resolution with Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to end the ongoing 6-weeks old ‘NO PAY, NO WORK’ action embarked on by KSU chapter of ASUU.

This was disclosed in a press statement made by Onoja Emmanuel, the Vice President of the association in Lokoja yesterday 27th may, 2016.

He said this became necessary as the ongoing 6-weeks old strike has an adverse effect on the college of health sciences as the medical academic calendar of the college is being disrupted and also that the college stands a risk of loosing senior lecturers and professors which is one of the major requirements for the further accreditation of the college by the National University Council (NUC) and the Medical And Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The NAKOMS Vice President also appealed to students to avoid violent protest and commended the tireless efforts of the leadership of the student union government (SUG) kogi state chapter, national association of kogi state stu dents (NAKOSS), and the kogi state university medical students association (KSUMSA) for their commitment, up and doing from the onset of the strike.

He advised students to observe restraint in order to avoid unforeseeable repercussions. He also commended he effort of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on his nation building and youth empowerment programmes and stated the association’s support for his administration.
Kogi reports

He further congratulated the governor on his 100days in office celebrated few weeks back and the countless achievements recorded so far by his administration.

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Kogi Government Begins Payment of 5 Months Salary Arrears

Kogi Government on Tuesday announced that it would within the week commence the payment of 5 months salary arrears to its workers.

Governor Yahaya Bello told newsmen in Lokoja said that the salary arrears would be paid from the N20 billion bailout funds received by the state government from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Bello said that government had no intention of keeping the money for other purposes, stressing that it would be strictly used to offset the backlog of workers salaries.

The governor said the workers would receive their money through their bank accounts.

“We have a list of genuine workers being owed salary arrears, no committee will be set up to appropriate the bailout funds. The payment will follow the normal process in place for salary payment to workers through bank transactions,” he said.

On recent protest by some local government staff who were not on the cleared list released by the staff verification committee, the governor assured that the full authenticated list would be released soon.

“No single genuine worker will be left out unpaid, as a genuine worker, you will be screened and remain in service. After the exercise , if you are left out, the unions should come forward with such names and you will be paid. Those benefitting from the rotten system will not want the exercise to succeed; no way for ghost workers. It is not the present exercise that is the problem, the crime committed in the past is the problem, we will not be intimidated,” the governor said.

Bello also reiterated the resolve of the administration to probe all contracts awarded by his predecessors.

“Those who looted, we will fish them out, recover the looted funds and prosecute them,” the governor added.

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Kogi State University Students Leadership Demand End To KSU Asuu Strike

MORE than a month into the recent declaration by the Kogi State University Chapter of Academic Staff union of Universities (ASUU) of a “No-Pay-No-Work” stand, leadership of students of the institution has come out to appeal to all stakeholders to find a common ground to address issues concerning the situation.

According to leaderships of both Student Union Government (SUG) and the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS) in the institution, who spoke at a Press Conference held in Lokoja, the students are at the receiving end of the standoff, and appealed to government to get back to the negotiating table with ASUU.

Comrade Shaibu Philip Omepa, President of SUG in the university, told our correspondent that the students have waited so far for the industrial action to be addressed for them to continue their exams to no avail; hence, they were fed up.

According to him, it is in the best interest of both government and ASUU in their institution to bring the situation to an end as all parties concerned are suffering several consequences arising from it.

He said while the students have been pushed to the wall over the matter, their leadership believes in consultation and dialogue as best means of addressing issues, rather than confrontation and called on those concerned to sheath their swords and shift grounds to allow for amicable resolution of the issue.

On his part, Comrade Abdulmalik Hadi, President of National Association of Kogi State Students, said the situation has resulted in several negative outcomes such as delay in mobilization of graduates from the school for the mandatory Youth Service and Law School, brain drain and loss of academics from the institution to others, delay in academic calendar for the university among others.

The students leader, who further said that the strike has resulted in the loss of several lives of some of the most brilliant students in the school, said the students have had enough and are pleading for government and ASUU to come to their aid.

They said all efforts they have made so far to see the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to ensure that they bring the situation to his attention has not seen the light of day, as his aides have frustrated their efforts in that regard.

Meanwhile, in a strongly worded letter to the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, the Chief Judge of the state the Director, State Security Service and the State Commissioner of Police seen by our reporter, the students have called on them to wade into the matter before it got out of hand.

The letter reads in part: “it will be recalled that the strike started since 14th April, 2016 and it was expected that there will be fast response which is yet to be seen after several mediatory roles played by the university’s management and coalition of student bodies.”

In another part, “In a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the governor and the Special Adviser on Education on 24th and 25th of April respectively, we were assured that in two weeks time, the situation will be addressed, but till now, it has not been addressed.”

They therefore appealed to them to wade in and end the lingering crisis in their institution.



credit:Kogi reports

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#KSUAsuuStrike: Students Should Disregard Rumours About The Strike Being Called Off

 

All Kogi State University Students Are Advised To Disregard Rumours About ASUU Strike Being Called Off.

Earlier today, a news about the ongoing ‘No Pay, No Work’ strike action by the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) – Kogi State Chapter being called off went viral.
Hereby, causing unnecessary tension amongst the students of the school.

The news which stated that students are to resume school on the 30th of May, have been confirmed to be false.

Mr. Emmanuel Ogiri (Viral) who handles the Ksuforum.com site, denied being involved in passing out such rumour. And that there is no such update on the forum.

Hence, we advise all students to stay calm and keep checking www.Madeinksu.com, www.Ksuamebo.com www.KsuForum.com, as we would make sure that any news about the strike (As long as it is true) is updated on our platform.

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Open Letter To Kogi State Governor "Yahaya Bello" - By Kogi State University P.R.O Ogiri Cosmos Ogiri

If SUG is not in support of the strike, I cosmos on my personal capacity is in support of it.

If SUG wants to truncate the strike, I would rather plead that the students join me in Aluta to force the Government to wipe the tears of our fathers, uncles, and brothers who all have bills to pay too.

 It is a pity so many thinks it is all about Yahaya Bello but no it is not a fight against him but a fight for justice from KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT which is a continuous process.

It is also unfortunate that our new Vice Chancellor has been caught in this kind of situation, Sir I know you so well that in your capable capacity you will never want the lecturers to go on strike, you gave them 50,000 each during December period (Advanced Payment).

I have heard of your numerous pleas and insatiable letters to ASUU to suspend their strike action. Sir it was as a honor to you (As a new Leader) that ASUU never went on strike during  the last semester exams. May God protect you, your job, your ideas and well wishes for we the students loves you, your innovative and proactive policies.

Mr. Governor, nobody is using anybody against your government. Our lecturers are now chronic debtors. Some of them have families and bills to pay, Sir if at this stage you thinking of witch hunting what would you say when they come for their Earn Allowance for two years? If at all it is witch hunting will you let the youths and leaders of tomorrow suffer?

Will you let those witch hunters hunt our career? The brain is depreciating, education is on the collapse in Kogi State; qualitative primary education, no solidified policies for the secondary education and here we are...no serious educational impact.

Sir. If at all Kogi State University lecturers are not captured in the total bailout, not to talk of Batch A or B. Because as at the time Wada the former governor pleaded the Federal Government for a bail out KSU lecturers salary was not an issue but their earned allowance; Sir will you let our learning spirit diminish?
How much is it that you cannot sincerely source for, 100Billion? No! Just A billion naira.

Yahaya Bello pay our lecturers. Yahaya Bello save our youths from idleness. Yahaya Bello don't let the devil build more work shops in Kogi.

Signed...By Ogiri Cosmos

PS: Keep Sharing Among Friends till They all see it. Watch out for my next move, we must get back to class.

Support: www.ksuforum.com

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Kogi State University ASUU Chapter Has Joined NLC In The Ongoing Strike

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Partakers of illegal strike are liable to N100k fine or six months jail term- Minister of Labor, Ngige says

Minister of Labor, Chris Ngige, says according to the laws of the land, anyone participating in an illegal strike is liable to a N100k fine or six months jail term. ‎He said this while speaking with newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja yesterday May 18th. He said:

"If you embark on a strike that is illegal, if you don't give 15 days notice especially if you are a member of essential service, you will be liable to a fine of N100, 000 or six months in jail. If we invoke it now they will say this is a ruthless government but they(labor) are going outside the law.

This is a change government and we want to bring everybody on board into a peace and orderly process"

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Fuel Hike: SSANU Joins NLC Strike

SENIOR Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU yesterday joined in the nation-wide strike organised by the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

Though, SSANU was in a capacity building workshop for its members and National Executive Council, NEC, meeting with the theme, “Trade union leadership skills in a challenging environs” at Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, MINILS, Ilorin, Kwara state, the union said as an affiliate of the NLC it has to abide by the directives of the union.

National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Ugwoke had before joining the strike said that workshop was geared towards equipping members with the required union solidarity and cohesion in the face of challenges.

Ugwoke who was represented by the Deputy President of SSANU, Comrade Moses Adeniyi-Aogo, further said that the capacity building workshop was to equip members more on how to improve their capacity for negotiation.

“The training will help members on how to maintain peace and order, to be current with labour leaders and capacity to survive in challenging situations.

SSANU considers training as a continuous process.” On joining the strike, SSANU noted that other unions in the universities including the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities, ASUU, have had peaceful solidarity on campuses.

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Fuel Price Hike: NLC Chairman Leads Members On A Massive Protest In Abuja (Photos)

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) members led by their chairman -Comrade Ayuba Philibus Wabba have staged a protest in Abuja to register their displeasure with the recent increase in the fuel price…

The protesters who gathered in their numbers -were seen in their uniforms and with their flags as they moved around the metropolis.

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Fuel Hike: ASUU Declares Nationwide Strike

National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Biodun Ogunyemi has mobilized members of the union for strike and mass action commencing Wednesday to force the Federal Government to revert the pump price from N145 to N86.50.

In a letter sent to members of the congress nationwide and read at the University of Ibadan Chapter where the Chairman, Dr Deji Omole mobilized members to get ready for mass resistance to what he called the obnoxious and callous policy of fuel price increment.

According to Omole, the policy of subsidy removal was the most criminal ambush from the Mohammadu Buhari-led federal government to empower the rich and cripple the poor.

The ASUU boss who said that the common denominator to all Nigerians is poverty added that the same APC government that failed to pay civil servants for months is now celebrating budget signing with the legalization of black market.

Omole who noted that many state governors who now align with the removal of subsidy ran their states aground through wasteful spending‎ added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should beam search lights on state governors.

ASUU boss noted that the coup against the masses adding that since Nigeria runs motorized economy, Nigerians cannot be forced to carry the problems created by the rich and friends of government.

‎ASUU president in the letter entitled “Increase in Pump price of Premium Motor Spirit to N145 perlitre: Proposal for Joint Action with NLC stated that ASUU members are called upon to according to our Union’s principles, fully respect Article 2 of the Constitution of ASUU; that our Union and members shall work for the protection and advancement of the socio-economic interests of the nation. Branch Chairpersons are to conduct emergency congress meetings on Tuesday 17 May 2016 to mobilise our members for the action commencing on Wednesday. All branches of ASUU nationwide are to comply”

Ogunyemi anchored the position on “delayed, partially paid and in most cases unpaid salaries for a number of months by state, federal and local governments, disguised retrenchment of workers, especially by State Governments, in the name of verification exercise and endless hunt for ghost workers and heavy taxation”.

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Yahaya Bello Meets APC Leadership on Kogi Crisis

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello yesterday held a closed door meeting with the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for over two hours, to find a solution to the crisis in the state.

The governor is at loggerheads with the state chapter of the party, which accused him of sidelining them and appointing members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into his government.

He is also accused of being behind the crisis in the House of Assembly.

Bello drove himself to the party secretariat about 12:15pm in a maroon Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), accompanied by his security details.

He moved straight to the office of the National Deputy Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu and held a closed-door meeting with him, which lasted about two hours before meeting the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

At the end of the meeting, the governor refused to speak with reporters, who approached him to know the outcome of his visit to the national secretariat.

The Nation learnt that the party may not be happy with Bello over his action since he was sworn in as governor.

Sources said the APC national leadership slammed him for side-lining the executives of the party in his appointments, as well as not consulting stakeholders before making his executive bills and programme.

They were said to have asked the governor to make funds available to the party for overhead and told him that he was a governor of circumstance and should utilise the opportunity to write his name in gold.

Credit: The Nation

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Kogi State University to Resume, as Gov Bello Shops for Funds

 

Students of the Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, are worried that for three weeks running they are still at home, as a result of the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), KSU chapter.

According reports, the industrial action has grounded activities within the campus and its environs.

Recall that members of ASUU, KSU chapter, had previously embarked on a ‘no pay, no work’ action, of which government turned deaf ears to their demands, before they finally dropped tools three weeks ago.

According to the report, government’s insensitivity to the plight of the lecturers is seriously taking its tolls on the students, who are now pleading that government should facilitate moves to call off the strike.

Responding to questions filed to him by Campusnews, Promise Emmanuel, a 400 level student of Mass Communication of the school, called on the government and the lectures to find a way out of the problem, adding that the situation does not speak well of the state and the students.

“I don’t think it is proper to blame the lecturers, who for five months have not been paid their salaries, or the state government that lacked the financial capacity to meet the lecturers’ demands. However, both parties should for the interest of the students and the state work out modalities to come out of the situation.

“We are tired of sitting at home and, therefore, appealed to the state government to fast-tack actions to end the strike for the interest of the students and the state.

Speaking with Campusnews, an undisclosed government source, said the lecturers would soon go back to the classroom, as the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is working out plans to raise fund to settle the lecturers and bring back life to the comatose university community.

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Kogi State Government To Secure a Bail out fund Of N50.8b From CBN To Pay Striking Workers

Bail out have been requested and it is our hope that before three to four weeks Kogi State will receive it own bail out from the Federal Government."

News reaching the us at the moment (though unofficial) is that Kogi State Government has finally secured a multi-billion bailout fund from the Central Bank of Nigeria following it approval on Wednesday.

The state was said to have applied for N50. 8 billion bailout fund to offset outstanding salaries and pension arrears of civil servants in the state with a repayment period of 20 years.

Kogi is arguably the only state out of 27 States that requested for the fund that was yet to be received but Kingsley Fanwo, The Chief Press Secretary to the governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello, announced the exciting news via His social media on Wednesday evening.

So let's watch and pray that Kogi state University lecturers are paid.

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Kogi State University SUG Excos Meet Kogi State Government About Strike -

The ever conscious Students Union Government SUG 2016 in the quest to meditate on the issues that led to the strike met with Kogi State Government.

We could remember that the Unions Vice President Comr Edogbo Anthony in a speech last week asked students to debunk rumors and promised the students that the Union will do everything within its power to bring an end to the strike as soon as possible.

Ogiri Cosmos the Public Relations Officer of the students Union government reports that the SUG leaders met with the governor of Kogi State represented by the Chief of Staff, assured the student that

"Yahaya Bello's administration will not neglect the welfare of it's civil servants"

The economic situation of the country is not effecting only Kogi state in isolation to other Nigerian states.

Onoja, the Chief of Staff urged the lecturers to go back to class that "this month salary will be paid, bail out have been requested and it is our hope that before three to four weeks Kogi State will receive it own bail out from the Federal Government."

As such, ASUU are called upon to reconsider their position as Yahaya Bello's administration has never shy away from their welfare.

Philip Omepe Shaibu the student union government president in response has asked Students of Kogi State University to dust their books and get prepared to come back for their exams in few weeks time. "In less than three weeks we will be in class for our exams."

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Kogi Workers to Resume Strike Over Non-payment of Salaries

Organised labour in Kogi said on Monday in Lokoja that it would resume strike to impress it on the state government on the need to pay outstanding five-month salary arrears to workers.

This is contained in a communiqué issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) at the end of an emergency meeting.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Onuh Edoka, the state NLC Chairman; Mr Ojo Ranti Matthew, Chairman of TUC and Mr Aaron Akeji, the Chairman of JNC.

The communiqué stated that previous promises by the state government to pay the salary arrears had not been kept.

It also condemned the payment of salary in piecemeal; adding that salaries for the months of October and November, 2015 were paid three months after each of the month was due.

The communiqué also decried the exclusion of workers employed between January and December, 2015 from receiving the November, 2015 salaries.

It urged the state government to pay those affected because they worked for the month.

According to the communiqué, “the state government is claiming that the employment of the concerned workers was irregular, since there was an embargo on employment in the state.’’

In a reaction, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov.Yahaya Bello, said it would be inappropriate for the workers to blame the government for the failure of the past administrations.

Fanwo said Bello’s administration was able to offset two months’ salary arrears within his 57 days in office.

“Labour was on an indefinite strike before the inauguration of the present administration, but the governor intervened to settle the industrial dispute”, he said.

He said the governor would undertake a holistic appraisal of the situation after the ongoing screening exercise with a view to addressing the salary issue once and for all.

– Kogi Reports

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Kogi State University Nakoss President Advice Ksu Students About The Ongoing Asuu Strike

Advise to all Kogi state University Students to Disregard any Information without a definite or an Authorised Source as regards the ongoing ASUU “No pay No work” Action.

Relying on the widespread of rumour by an unknown person who claimed to be a reporter from The Guardian Newspaper that the State governor has directed that the hostels should be locked and that the strike will last for 4 months, ‘ I wish to first and foremost say that: this report is highly unprofessional and as such lacks credence.

I wish to state that there is already an ongoing negotiation between the state Government and the Union to ensure that the ‘No pay No work’ action is called off, so that lecturers will get back to work and students will resume subsequently. It is important to note that myself and the S.U.G President (comrade Shaibu Philip Omepa) are highly concerned and we are in all possible means appealing to the both parties for their understanding.
Therefore, I urge us all to be patient as the negotiation goes on and there should be no need for panicking and fear as all concerned parties are showing positive response. Informations like that is only meant to cause unnecessary chaos and will only end up having negative impact on the entire University Community and by implication the students the more. As the Negotiation goes on, necessary informations will be made known to the public through the appropriate sources.

Long Live kogi state,
Long Live Kogi State University
Long Live Lovers of Peace and Education.

– Abdulmalik Hadi Adinoyi.
NAKOSS President KSU.

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#KsuDecide: KSU ON STRIKE

Due to the ongoing rumor about the school embarking on an indefinite strike. Our correspondence hit the campus with questions on the view of the students concerning the strike.

It will surprise you to know that 80% of the students want the strike to begin, while 15% of the students want the semester to end so that they can go back home. While the remaining 5% don't have a stand.
Most students complained about poor preparations due to the fact that some Lecturers are yet to complete their course outline.


The question before you now is, Do you want the strike? Yes/No.

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" NEWS ON POINT: Kogi State University Water Vendors Popularly Known as (MERUWA) WENT ON STRIKE 2day [Read more]

Water vendors popularly known as (MERUWA YASO) went on strike due to the rise of dollars which has led to inflation in Nigeria. When we met the president of MERUWA Association in KSU. He promised to call off the strike by 8:ooam tomorrow and also said the price of a keg of water will rise to #30.
So my fellow students lets pray that the dollar fall so we can go back to our usual price.

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KSU NASUU/ASUU STRIKE UPDATE

The outcome of yesterday's NASUU meeting is that they have unanimously agreed that "no going back", since the Governor has given a dead blow their request.

The Management order threatening NASUU to resume or face penalty has been quashed. On the part of ASUU the last meeting they had before the last election was that the State Government in the course of negotiation offered ASUU 90, 000 000 out of the 1.1bilion. ASUU on its part made a counter offer that the state Government should pay them 200, 000 000 and the remaining amount should be paid on monthly instalment of 100, 000 000 per each instalment, so that the remaining payment would be completed under 9months.

The meeting ended inconclusive. They have been no meeting after then, ASUU is still waiting for the State Government invitaion. There is a strong likelyhood that the strike may soon be called-off in their next meeting. So lets keep praying as we wait hopefully.

Thanks i love you all Ksunite. Sign: David Oguche U. 500l law ksu.

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