Sacked workers petition Buhari over YABATECH rector

Some sacked employees of the Yaba College of Technology, led by Mr. Olu Ibirogba, a former bursar, have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make public the outcome of the investigations into the allegations levelled against their Rector, Dr. Kudirat Ladipo.

Making the outcome of the probe public, they said, would prevent further “perpetration of injustice” in the nation’s oldest ivory tower.

The workers made this known in a petition dated July 6, 2016, but obtained by our correspondent on Monday.

According to them, many months after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and a ministerial probe committee looked into the allegations of fraud against the rector, the public have yet to know about the outcome of the report.

Ibirogba and co, in a petition to Buhari, dated June 10, 2015, and entitled “Large scale stealing and victimisation by YABATECH authorities: Appeal for intervention so that we are not silenced”, accused the rector of engaging in corrupt practices, among other things.

For instance, they claimed that the Governing Council of the school approved N5m monthly security vote for the rector, an allegation the latter had denied.

But following a series of allegations of financial and administrative abuses preferred against some vice-chancellors and rectors, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had last December instituted probe panels to visit such schools, including YABATECH.

Others are the Federal University, Dustin-Ma, Katsina State; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State; University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State and the University of Abuja.

On the list also are the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State; Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State; Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State and the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

The panels submitted their reports in January.

Senate to transfer teachers’ salaries from recurrent to current expenditure

PHOTO: deltaanalyst.wordpress

The Senate may propose movement of teachers’ salaries from recurrent to current expenditure, with a view to ending non-payment of emoluments.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, in Ilorin, yesterday, said the current system where salaries of primary school teachers are paid by Local Government Areas (LGAs) is detrimental to educational growth.

Saraki, who was accompanied by the Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Yahaya Kaura, and his counterpart on Ethics and Privileges, Bala Ibn Na’allah, bemoaned the present trend of funding education in Nigeria where focus is placed on infrastructural growth at the tertiary level, to the exclusion of primary education.

The Senate President made the disclosure during assessment of readiness of the proposed Ansaru Islam University, Ogidi Oloje, Ilorin, Kwara State, for approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Police petitioned over death of Uniport final year student

A petition has been forwarded to House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions over alleged extra judicial killing of Peter Chibuzor Ofurum, a final year student of Accounting, University of Port Harcourt by members of the Nigeria Police Force during a peaceful protest.

The petition which was signed by Barrister Amobi Nwulu, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Abuja, explained that students of Uniport were on peaceful demonstration on 11th April, 2016 against increase in school fees and ‘no fees, no examination policy’, when the incident happened.

It explained that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ndokwa Lale invited the Police, having phoned the Acting Commissioner of Police, Rivers State then, Mr. Mobolaji Adesanya, who later directed an assistant Commissioner of Police with instruction that no life should be wasted.

“The Police arrived the scene and were friendly with students, but after the Vice Chancellor sent for him and discussed, they came out shortly and became hostile to students”, it added.

The petition further indicated that the VC of Uniport became an accomplice, noting that it was on his orders that Police began shooting of students, and thereafter, late Peter Chibuzor Ofurum was shot from the back twice, which led to his death instantly.

The petitioner urged the Committee’s intervention, stressing that earlier petition forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Education had not been responded to, even as the Police authorities were unwilling to unravel circumstances that led to the death of the victim.

AAUA alumni opens Ibadan branch

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Alumni Association has opened its Ibadan, Oyo State branch. The ceremony, attended by 40 members was held at Tantalizers Eatery in the Students’ Union Building of the University of Ibadan (UI).

The National President, Mr Patrick Oluyide, said the branch’s establishment was in line with the association’s constitution, which allows creation of chapters in towns and cities across the globe without compromising the conditions for  formation, including a minimum of 20 members.

Presenting the charter of the association to the branch, Oluyide urged the executive members to steer the group’s affairs in line with the constitution.

Oluyide said he was encouraged by the zeal of members and the manner they coordinated themselves. He advised them not to rest on their oars in raising the association’s membership in Ibadan.

Daughter of late president of Nigerian prostitutes graduates as overall best in Mathematics, Chemistry

Sabina Green ( not real name), daughter of the late Jessica Oluchi Elvis, former President of National Association of Nigerian Prostitutes, NANP has graduated from secondary school.

The 16-year-old girl who passed out from a popular private school in Ikotun area of Lagos, last Friday was crowned the overall best in Mathematics and Chemistry.

Following the death of her mother last year, life has never remained the same for the young girl who now occupies her mother’s bungalow in Lagos with her aunt – Clara. Elvis died October 25 in Edo State after suffering from heart-related disease.

In a brief chat with DAILY POST during her graduation ceremony, the 16-year-old shared with our reporter what she missed most about her late mum.

She recalled with nostalgia how her mum died in a Benin hospital due to doctor’s lackadaisical attitude.

Speaking on her next plan after secondary school, Gree said, “I will put in for JAMB next year. I want to study Bio-Chemistry in the university, but not in Nigeria.”

She warned the media to desist from calling her late mum prostitute, adding that her late mum never involved in bed-to-wealth business.

EFCC arrests FUTA, AAU students for alleged N16m internet scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office has arrested five suspected undergraduate scammers for about N16million Internet fraud.

They are four from the Federal University of Technology Akure, (FUTA) and another from  Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba ,  (AAUA).

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects were arrested   at  an Off- Campus residence  located at Anuoluwapo Close, Stateline Hotel Road, off FUTA South Gate, Akure, Ondo.

The statement said: “ The fraudsters who are between 20 and 23 years of age include: Adeleke Paul (21),  Adebiyi Tayo Abudu (22) , Akinsanmi Olusola Adeniyi (21), Ogundile Ademola James (23) and Okali Ugochukwu (21).

“The commission got wind of their activities through series of intelligence.  Paul and his co-travelers, who go about with the name Tsunnami Gang and Young Pablo Money allegedly swindled unsuspecting foreigners and others to the tune of N16million recently.

“The suspected fraudsters engaged in fraudulent activities of obtaining money by false pretences through scam mails.

“Paul is a penultimate final year’s student of Building Technology while James and Olusola are both 400 level students of Agricultural Resources and Mathematics respectively.

“Okali is a 200 level student of Urban and Regional Planning, while Adebiyi Tayo is a 300 level Student of Mathematics of the Adekunle Ajasin University. Akungba, Ondo State.

“At the point of arrest, EFCC operatives recovered a 2006, black Toyota highlander with registration number(Lagos)  LND 112 EG,  2010 light- green Toyota Camry (Muscle) registration number (Lagos) AAA 850 EF, laptops, three Apple iphone6 and three Blackberry phones from them.

“Some implicating documents were also found and downloaded from their laptops.

They are to be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.”

Group blast Kogi state government over students comment

The Kogi Renaissance Group, KRS, has slammed the state governor, Yahayah Bello for threatening to treat students in the state as kidnappers and criminals.

Bello and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), recently locked horns over the former’s threat to proscribe the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Kogi State University chapter.

Lecturers in the school had embarked on strike three months ago to protest against the non-payment of their salaries, a situation which led to the governor threatening to cancel the staff union of the university.

Reacting to the governor’s threat, KRS Executive Secretary, Usman Okai Austin described the governor’s comment against students as a ‘joke taken too far.’

He therefore called on relevant authorities to closely check governor before he completely ruin the Confluence State.

Uniport promises to deliver unforgetable WAUG Games

University of Port Harcourt has began preparations to host the West African University Games (WAUG),  billed for November 22 to December 4, 2016 in Port Harcourt.

The institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Lale Ndowa has assured that Uniport will deliver a memorable WAUG Games with meticulous planning and painstaking execution of the event.

He called on government, corporate sponsors and philanthropists to support the university in this quest.
Lale said the institution places high premium on sports which is why it has invested heavily in facilities and equipment.

Uniport hosted the 1988 and 2004 editions of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).

Working SUG: Union opens campus bakery

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State has opened a bakery to shore up the union’s income. The bakery was inaugurated by the representative of  wife of Kwara State Governor, Mr. B.O. Abioye, who is the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

At the event were the Acting Rector, Dr Kuburat Olaosebikan, Registrar, Alhaji A.O. Raji, Dean of Entrepreneurship Development, Mr Bimbola Arowomole, and deans of faculties.

Olaosebikan, said the project was laudable, praising the union leadership for building an “impressive bakery”.

She said: “Let me commend the rare initiative of the Students’ Union executive for being visionary, pragmatic and forward-looking as reflected in their approach to various issues relating to the welfare of their colleagues. We must applaud the efforts of these young men and women for giving purposeful meaning to students’ unionism.

Olaosebikan called on alumni association and corporate organisations to complement the management’s efforts in improving the standard of education and research. She said the management would continue to support students’ innovation and idea.

Abioye described the project as “a great achievement” by the SUG, saying it would drive students’ entrepreneurship skills. He advised the students’ leaders to use the facility to book business skills of their colleagues.

The SUG President, Yusuf Imram, said: “We noticed entrepreneurship has become a necessity in this period when white-collar jobs are scarce. We embarked on the project with an intention to equip and prepare our fellow students for life after school. This is the first phase of our legacy entrepreneurship project. We also intend to establish water firm.”

The bakery has started producing breads since the beginning of the current semester, with massive patronage by students because of the affordability.

Students with disability decry descrimination

Students living with disabilities at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have discussed their challenges, calling on management to initiate programmes to end discrimination against them, reports SARAT ALABIDUN (400-Level Applied Chemistry).

They were in the middle of their meeting in a classroom when the CAMPUSLIFE reporter walked in. Immediately, their  attention shifted to the ‘intruder’, who sat at a corner watching the proceeding.

It was the second meeting of  physically-challenged students at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Physically-Challenged Students (NAPCS), gathered to discuss their challenges.

The NAPCS President, Abdullateef Adetiba, a 400-Level Sociology student, said: “A good constitution is a necessity for the association to be fully recognised on the campus.”

Abdullateef, who was elected the previous week, urged members to come up with ideas on a new constitution. He said the document must reflect the aims and aspirations of the association and its members, adding that the constitution must be written to cater for the physically-challenged who would be offered admission in the new session.

He added: “Our major concern is to join the forces to tackle discrimination against the physically-challenged students. We are human beings too. We need to have a fixed projects and programmes for the members. This must be done through our annual due to ensure that we don’t go about asking people for money.”

Physically-challenged students, Abdullateef believes, have not been treated fairly by the university authorities. He hoped to change their situation, despite the short period of his tenure.