By Hillary Akalugwu

Some non-academic staff of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest over an alleged Federal Government failure to meet their demands.

The workers under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Union of Universities (SSANU) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) walked around some major roads in UNN campus singing solidarity songs with placards.

Some placards carried by the protesters read “FG pay us the arrears of the new minimum wage”, FG correct inconsistencies in the IPPIS”, Enforce FG/NASU/SSANU 2009 agreement and Constitute visitation panels of public universities”.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the protest, Comrade Paul Eruah, Chairman of UNN-JAC said they embarked on a three-day protest to urge government to address some of its demands contained in the 2009 agreement with the union.

According to him, the 3-day protest was in compliance with directive from the JAC national leadership to members nationwide.

“This three-day protest will last from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, and if government does not meet our demands, we will embark on an indefinite strike when public universities resume,” he said.

The UNN-JAC chairman listed some of the demands to include inconsistencies in the Integrated Personnel Payment Information System (IPPIS), nonpayment of earned allowances and arrears of new minimum wage.

Others are delay in renegotiation of FG/NASU/SSANU 2009 agreement, Nonpayment of benefits to retirees and delay in constituting of visitation panels to public universities.

It would be recalled that, the national JAC had last week directed its members nationwide to embark on a 3-day protest starting from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, 2021 to press home their demands.

Comrade Clifford Amoke, NASU Chairman in UNN, was among those that participated in the protest. (NAN)

By Abujah Racheal

The Federal Ministry of Education says the Jan.18, 2021 date for schools to resume is not sacrosanct, hence a new date may be announced depending on  the nation’s COVID-19 indicators.

The Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu gave the hint on Monday in Abuja,  at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the  PTF in December 2020, ordered schools in the country to remain closed until Jan. 18, 2021.

Adamu said,“When we decided on that date, it was just a target toward what we are working on.

“’Of course we are keeping it in view and looking at what is happening in the society and then it is supposed to be subject to constant review.

“’Even today at the PTF meeting, we looked at the rising figures and thought we should probably take another look at it. On the Jan.18, 2021 date for schools  resumption, we are reviewing it,” he said.

The minister added that the issue was considered  at the PTF meeting  held on Monday and the ministry would take it up on Tuesday. (NAN)

By Joan Nwagwu

The Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) have threaten to embark on a three-day protest from Jan. 12.

The unions in a circular jointly issued on Sunday in Abuja said that the planned strike was to protest the non implementation of an agreement reached with the Federal Government.

The unions under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) issued the circular to all branch chairmen of the unions in the universities and Inter-university centers.

The circular was signed by General Secretary of NASU, Mr Peters Adeyemi and  president of SSANU, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim.

Adeyemi said that a JAC meeting was held on Jan. 8, where the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached and signed with the Federal Government on Oct. 20, 2020 was reviewed.

He listed the agitations of the unions to include inconsistencies in the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information Systems (IPPIS) payment, non-payment of Earned Allowances (EA), and non-payment of arrears of minimum wage.

He also fingered the delay in the renegotiation of Federal Government, NASU and SSANU negotiation of 2009, as part of the agitations.

According to him, other demands are the non-payment of retirement benefits of out-gone members, teaching staff usurping headships of non-teaching units in clear violation of conditions of service and establishment procedures.

Adeyemi also decried the neglect and poor funding of state universities and the non-constitution of visitation panels for universities.

He added that in view of this development, the JAC, therefore, directed that a general meeting of its committees in all branches of universities and Inter-university centres be mandatorily held on Jan. 11.

“The meeting is to sensitise members on the issues, as contained in the MoU.

“That a three-day protest should hold from Tuesday, Jan. 12 to Thursday, Jan.14, at each branch from 8a.m to 4p.m each day,” he said.

According to him, state, zonal and national officers of JAC shall monitor the three -day protest, to ensure strict compliance by branches.

“Every branch should ensure that all members participates fully in the protests, while all COVID- 19 protocols are to be complied with.

“As the branch protests mark the beginning of a series of industrial actions to be undertaken by JAC, you are to await further directives immediately after the three- day protest,” he said.

He added that every branch must comply and strictly adhere to the directives. (NAN)

By Clara Egbogota

The Delta State government announced on Saturday that schools in the state would resume academic session on Jan. 18, a week’s delay in the Jan. 11 resumption date earlier announced.

Mr Patrick Ukah, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education said in a statement issued in Asaba, that no student or teacher would be allowed into any school without a facemask to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“All schools are once again directed to observe all the COVID-19 safety protocols as stipulated in the guidelines.

“No child or teacher is to be allowed into the school compound without facemask.

“School infirmaries are requested to rise to their responsibilities of ensuring regular temperature checks on all entrants into school compounds,’’ he stated.

He added that students in boarding schools would arrive on Sunday, Jan. 17.

“There will be resumption tests on Wednesday, Jan. 20. The tests will be part of the students’ continuous assessment.

“Parents and guardians are urged to strictly adhere to the new dates and prepare their children for resumption,’’ the commissioner stated.

He expressed the ministry’s regret at the inconvenience the postponement of the earlier dates would cause pupils, students, parents and other stakeholders in the education sector. (NAN)

By Francis Onyeukwu

Dr Abidemi Babalola, Research Fellow, Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, says governments should engage thorough breed archaeologists to meet the Coronavirus (COVID-19) challenges.

Babalola said this during an exhibition marking 60 years of excavations of archaeological materials in Igboukwu in Anambra on Wednesday.

The event held at the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMMN) centre, Umudege, Igboukwu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exhibition was jointly organised by Babalola and Dr Kingsley Daraojimba of Archaeology and Tourism Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

According to Babalola, from historical accounts, the COVID-19 pandemic which began in Wuham, China, was not the first of its kind in human history.

“If governments could engage the services of archaeologists, through their expertise, they can uncover how past pandemics recorded in the past were treated.

“Such findings might help end this present problem,” the archaeologists argued.

He added that the exhibition was part of three-year-old activities on the continuation of work on Igboukwu archaeological discovery which was started 60 years ago by Prof. Thurstan Shaw.

Prof. Anslem Ibeanu, the immediate past Head of the Department of Archaeology and Tourism, UNN, also called for the establishment of radiocarbon dating laboratory in Nigeria.

Ibeanu said such laboratory would help facilitate more archaeological discoveries capable of developing the tourism sub-sector in the country.

“If government invests in this area, it will help open the tourism industry which has the potential to provide jobs for millions of people in our nation,” he said.

Dr Emeka Okonkwo, the current head of the department, said UNN and Cambridge University as well as other partners were working hard to get more information on the archaeological materials found in Igboukwu.

He said efforts were on to include Igboukwu in the world heritage list, adding that more assistance was required for the accomplishment of the target.

Also, Daraojimba, co-organiser of the event, said since 2018 when he and Babalola began the project, efforts had been made to integrate the community in advancing archaeological discovery projects.

“We have visited Igboukwu community several times, engaged primary school pupils across the three quarters of the town, with the aim of laying basic foundation on archaeological discovery here,” he said.

Wife of the late traditional ruler of Igboukwu, Nwakego Ezeh, thanked the Federal Government for the NCMMN centre in the area and also Prof. Shaw for pioneering Igboukwu archaeological discoveries.

Others who spoke at the event were Dr Alex Anozie, the traditional ruler of Igbo people living in Oyo State and Mr Christian Ike, the President-General of Igboukwu community, among others. (NAN)

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Enugu State Ministry of Education says all schools in the state will resume on Jan. 18, 2021.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uchenna Eze, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Monday.

Eze noted that the decision was reached at a meeting between the ministry and major stakeholders in the education sector on Monday.

The commissioner said that all schools in the state have been advised to ensure full compliance with the NCDC guidelines for the containment of COVID-19 before resumption.

He said: “The ministry will constantly monitor compliance when schools resume.

“It was also decided that to help engage the students/pupils, all tertiary institutions, basic and post basic schools are advised to activate their e-learning programmes”.

In another development, Enugu State Government, in its efforts to contain the second wave of COVID-19, has suspended the annual prayer session held at the Government House, Enugu.

The government, however, directed all civil servants to resume duties in their various offices, with strict compliance with NCDC guidelines. (NAN)

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The National Mathematical Centre (NMC) says it has trained no fewer than 100 participants in a foundation postgraduate course in `real analysis’, a branch of pure mathematics, to enhance learning of mathematics among students.

Dr James Ajie, the Acting Coordinator, Mathematics Programme, NMC disclosed that at the virtual training at Sheda, Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Monday.

He said that the four-day training was targeted at mathematics graduates.

Ajie also said that although the programme was for graduates of mathematics, who intended to further their studies in mathematics, undergraduate students could equally benefit from it.

He further said that the training was part of the center’s agenda to promote effective teaching and learning of the course among students and lecturers.

According to him, real analysis was a pure mathematics course, that is fundamental to all mathematicians; as every graduate of mathematics was supposed to have knowledge of real analysis.

“Any user of mathematics should also have some knowledge of real analysis because for someone to have confidence that the result he/she got is right you are supposed to do some analysis.’’

Ajie noted that the programme was also aimed to checking the falling standard of mathematics education across the country, as well as enhance the performance of both students and lectures.

The acting coordinator further explained that as a subject, mathematics lacked teachers and lecturers in most schools and universities, while urging governments, at all levels, to encourage the teaching of the subject, at all levels for the development of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 100 participants had benefited from the programme, comprising undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates and lecturers of mathematics, from across the country and beyond, since it began.(NAN)

By Veronica Dariya
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday warned the public not to fall prey to fraudsters and rumour mongers.

The board, who gave the advice in a weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar, said that it has yet to begin the sale of the 2021 Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms.

”JAMB reiterates that it has not began sale of its 2021 UTME and Direct Entry (DE) application forms, neither has it announced a date for the exercise.

”The clarification became necessary following fake news that the board has began the sale and was urging prospective applicants to procure same from some nebulous selling outlets.

”The public is to note that the news of purported sale of the registration forms is false and an attempt to mislead the public.”

The board stated that it has defined channels of communicating to the public and has not delegated any persons or group of persons to handle the sale on its behalf.

It also added that the public would be duly informed on the commencement of the exercise via appropriate media platforms once it was done planning the process.

JAMB explained that the delay in the start of the sale of the application forms was as a result of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic in the country but would conclude arrangements soon.

The board urged all to always confirm information relating to its activities on the provided online platforms, so as not to fall prey to the antics of fraudsters.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 2.1 million candidates registered for the 2020 UTME and Direct Entry.

By Nefishetu Yakubu

The Edo chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed its members to shun enrollment into the state government’s contributory pension scheme.

The directive is contained in a statement issued by the Assistant General Secretary of the union, Mr Moni Itua and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Benin.

Itua said that the decision was a follow-up to the resolution of the State Wing Executive Council (SWEC) of the union at its last meeting held on Dec. 29, 2020.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the union had, on Dec. 29, 2020, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government over alleged failure to meet its 10-point demand, bordering on poor conditions of service, among others.

Itua said: “I have been directed to inform all school heads and primary school teachers not to fill any document having to do with contributory pension scheme, no matter the source of such document, until the union directs otherwise.

“The above directive became inevitable because the two fundamental issues raised by the union concerning the pension scheme have not received government’s positive response,” he said.

According to Itua, the fundamental issues yet to be resolved include the tier of government that will be responsible for the monthly remittance of 10 percent to the pension accounts of individual teachers, particularly those at the primary school level.

Also, the NUT wants the state government to cater for the accrued gratuity entitlements of teachers, prior to the commencement of the scheme, as provided by law.

Itua said that the directive to the teachers not to fill any pension document had become inevitable as a result of the failure of the state government to address the two issues regarding the scheme. (NAN)

By Desmond Ejibas

The Rivers Government on Sunday approved the reopening of all public and private nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state, with effect from Jan. 4.

Mr Chidi Adiele, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, announced the reopening of the schools in a statement in Port Harcourt.

“The Rivers Education Ministry wishes to announce that, with the approval of Gov. Nyesom Wike, the school calendar published in August 2020 stands.

“Accordingly, both public and private schools in the state are hereby reminded that schools will resume on Jan. 4, 2021 for normal academic activities.

“Schools are to maintain all COVID-19 protocols, including the wearing of face masks, use of hand sanitiser and staggered classes.

“The classes are expected to be staggered morning and afternoon sessions in order to avoid overcrowding,” he said.

Adiele wished pupils, students, parents and guardians the very best in the academic year. (NAN)