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BREAKING: ASUU Set To File Complaint Against FG Over Registration Of CONUA, NAMDA

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The Federal Government’s registration of the two factional unions, according to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, has prompted the union and it is ready to file a complaint with the National Industrial Court (NIC).

“ASUU will appear in court. It will be the NIC,” ASUU’s attorney Femi Falana said on Thursday on Channels Television.

The FidelinfoNews reports that the development was also confirmed by Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of ASUU, in a conversation with Punch correspondent on Thursday morning.

The Federal Government on Tuesday registered two factional academic unions – the Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

The registration of the two factional unions took place as talks between ASUU and the government broke down amid the over seven-month strike by lecturers of public universities.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Tuesday, explained that the two bodies will exist alongside ASUU, adding that the two associations will enjoy the rights and privileges accorded to other academic unions in the tertiary education system.

However, Falani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the registration of CONUA and NAMDA is illegal. He said according to the Trade Unions Act, only one union is allowed to operate in every sector.

“You can’t have two trade unions in the same sector. Only a union is allowed to be registered for all academics in Nigeria.

“That is the essence of the classification of trade unions because we used to have mushrooms in the First Republic so the government restructured the unions and grouped all academics together and all non-academics together. You can’t have two or three in one field,” he said.

Falana said there is a Supreme Court judgment on the proliferation of trade unions – the Erasmus Osawe V Registrar of Trade Unions.

The senior lawyer also said the apex court ruled “that your freedom of association is not totalled; it is also regulated by the Trade Unions Act so that there will be no proliferation of trade unions”.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022, over unpaid allowances, poor welfare, and payment software, among others.

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Education

OAU Announces New Resumption Date

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The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday, announced a change in the resumption date for the students of the institution.

Fidel Info reports that the management said the students were earlier expected to resume March 15, 2023, but would now return to campus on March 21, 2023.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewwaju, explained that the change was caused by the shift in the date for the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“Consequent upon the postponement of the governorship and House of Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the university administration hereby notifies the general public, particularly students, that the resumption of academic activities earlier scheduled for March 15, 2023, has been shifted to March 21, 2023.

“Consequently, students are expected back on campus on Monday, March 20, 2023, and to resume academic activities accordingly. We wish our students a safe trip back to the campus,” the statement partly read.

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Education

UNILAG Extends Resumption Dates Following Election Postponement

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The University of Lagos has said it has shifted its resumption date to Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

Fidel Info reports that A statement signed by the university stated that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, approved that the resumption of academic activities be postponed to Tuesday, March 21, 2023, adding that all other activities of the university, including inaugural lectures and meetings (excluding teaching), should continue as scheduled.

It explained that the postponement of resumption to Tuesday, March 21, 2023, was due to the re-scheduling of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections from Saturday, March 11, 2023, to Saturday, March 18, 2023.

It read, “It would be recalled that the federal government had directed that students of higher institutions across the country should vacate their schools ahead of the 2023 general elections. As a result, the University Senate had approved the suspension of academic activities (teaching) from Tuesday, February 21, 2023, to Tuesday, March 14, 2023.”

“Once again, members of the university community are implored to remain safe and security conscious as well as orderly, civil and responsible in utterances and engagements, online and offline.

“Further updates would be provided as the need arises in the coming days.”

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Education

Kwara Gov Names Emir of Lafiagi, Others Board Members Of Education Trust Fund

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Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has appointed a board for the state’s Education Trust Fund, with members drawn from great backgrounds.

Fidel Info reports that the Governor appointed philanthropist Abdulhakeem Uthman Mustapha (SAN) as the chairman of the Fund that is a strong component of the Kwara State Education Transformation Agenda (KWETA), and is designed to mobilise resources to support infrastructural development and growth in the public sector education in the state.

KWETA had been borne out of the state’s Kwara Education Futures summit in 2021. Another component of it is the KwaraLEARN, which introduces technology and improved accountability and transparency to the basic education sector.

A.U. Mustapha, as he is fondly called, is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Manchester Business School, Suffolk Law School, Business School Netherlands, Nigerian Law School, and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

He is the principal partner at the A.U. Mustapha & Co. law firm headquartered in Abuja, and is currently a member of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s Advisory Committee on Digital, Literacy, Productivity and Emerging Skills. He is President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal’s Board.

He is the 2nd Vice President of the Third Estate Foundation Ilorin, a coterie of statesmen who continually discuss public issues, community development, and offer support and advice.

The Emir of Lafiagi Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu, a strong advocate of eduction, is another influential member of the Fund.

Kudu is renowned for his wealth of experience in the financial sector.

Kemi Mary Adeosun, Permanent Secretary representative of the Ministry of Education Human Capital and Development, is also a member of the board as the representative of the Ministry.

Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, holder of the national honour Officer of the Order of Niger, co-founder of Andela and former managing director of Flutterwave, is also on the board of the Fund.

Iyinoluwa, general partner and co-founder of Future Africa that provides support for mission-driven innovators, is a renowned entrepreneur reputed to be one of 62 global founders of unicorns the size of Andela and Flutterwave.

Deborah Adekeye (Ph.D), a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Ilorin, is another board member of the Fund.

The Fund will also kick-off with Oluwadamilola Fatimah Amolegbe as the Executive Secretary.

Damilola, who collaborated with the Ministry of Education on the Kwara Education Futures Summit in 2021, has worked on some of Kwara’s transformational changes in education, including KWETA and KwaraLEARN.

An alumnus of Manhattan College, New York City, and Vivian Fowler Memorial College, Lagos, Amolegbe is the founder of ‘W. Amolegbe Consulting.

She sits on the boards and is a member of Dar Al-Awqaf, Okeya Community Development Association, Okeya-Ipo 100, She Builds Lives, and Reach Nigeria, among others.

The Kwara State Education Trustfund board will grow to include more members to accommodate different demographies. The Fund can be reached at  www.KWETF.NG along with its social media handles.

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