There is discord among members of the University of Abuja’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) regarding the indefinite strike recently announced by the union. Following the declaration of the strike on Thursday, a faction of lecturers known as the “Anti-strike ASUU Members” distanced themselves from the decision.

The announcement of the strike came after the Abuja chapter of ASUU concluded its congress at the Permanent Site of the institution. However, immediately after the strike declaration, the Anti-strike ASUU members held a press conference to express their opposition to it.

Abubakar Kari, the dean and former convener of ASUU National Political Committee, along with Prof. M. Y. Gana, the former Nigerian ambassador to Japan and head of the Department of Agriculture Engineering, asserted that a select group within the local ASUU leadership was pushing for the strike to serve their own interests rather than the broader concerns of ASUU members and the University of Abuja.

Kari emphasized that they, representing numerous other like-minded members, were committed to protecting the integrity of the University of Abuja’s academic calendar and ensuring the smooth operation of the university. They strongly opposed the decision to initiate an indefinite strike without seeking the input of ASUU members through a vote, stating that it did not align with ASUU’s standard procedure for calling a strike.

Therefore, they asserted that the so-called strike did not accurately represent the views of the majority of ASUU members and was invalid.

The national President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has said that N615,000 minimum wage demand is the most realistic amount.

Ajaero made this statement on Thursday during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today monitored by DAILY POST.

DAILY POST reports that the federal government had approved a pay rise of between 25 and 35 percent for civil servants across various consolidated salary structures.

But the NLC rejected the increase, saying it was too low.

During the interview, Ajaero said that the labour unions were receiving pressure from workers, while the government was calling them names.

“If you are talking about realistic, the N615,000 demand is the most realistic amount. And being realistic is not about collecting a salve wage. Never.

“And we have a breakdown of this into 30 items. Accommodation is about N40,000. I want you to tell me where you can get a room and a parlour for N40,000 in Abuja. Electricity/power we allocated N20,000. The current tariff will not last you for more than one week.

“Utility and water is just N10,000. The cooking gas cylinder is filled for N14,000. You have to buy twice a month as the case may be. Food for six people: four children plus husband and wife. We allocated N9,000 per day. It’s N1,500 per person. If you calculate it, you get N240,000 per month. We look at medical and allocated N50,000, assuming you are not on admission and no major ailment.

“Education we allocated N50,000, assuming your children are on free education. Sanitation, N10,000. Transportation, N3,000 for 30 days. If you sum all the items up, you will have N615,000,” he said.

CREDIT: DAILY POST

Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna and a prominent social commentator, emphasized that Nigeria should not only be recognized as the most populous country in Africa but should also excel across all sectors of its economy. He made these remarks while attending the Inaugural Memorial Lecture of Prince Emeka Obasi, the late Publisher of Business Hallmark, titled ‘If this Giant Must Walk; Manifesto for a New Nigeria’.

Reflecting on his tenure representing Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly and his role as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sani noted that Nigeria has yet to reach its full potential.

Despite Nigeria’s population of 220 million people, Sani pointed out that being a ‘Giant of Africa’ should extend beyond mere numbers. He advocated for Nigeria to excel in manufacturing, exports, shipbuilding, automobile production, information technology, agriculture, and education. Sani stressed that Nigeria’s status as a ‘giant’ should not be limited to population size alone.

Expressing dismay at the persistent challenges facing the country, Sani called for concrete actions to address these issues. He questioned why Nigeria, endowed with abundant natural resources, continues to grapple with problems like water scarcity, power shortages, and hunger, attributing these challenges to self-inflicted causes rather than divine intervention.

Sani emphasized the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly the threats posed by terrorists and bandits. While acknowledging some progress in tackling these issues, he stressed the need for decisive action to combat terrorism and kidnapping, which are destabilizing the nation.

Advocating for substantial investments in science and technology, Sani highlighted the importance of a well-equipped and adequately funded security apparatus to combat threats effectively. He underscored the critical role of security in Nigeria’s progress, emphasizing that without it, the nation cannot move forward.