MAAUN Group of Universities has congratulated Prof. Amina Salihi Bayero on her appointment as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, Nigeria.

The appointment was approved by the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, following a recommendation by the University Governing Council after a rigorous selection process.

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement personally signed by the Founder of the universities, Prof. Gwarzo and released to newsmen on Thursday in Kano, Nigeria.

Prof. Gwarzo, who doubles as the President of the Association of Africa Private Universities (AAPU), described the appointment of Prof. Salihi Bayero as “well- deserved” in view of her academic pedigree and wealth of experience.

“As a distinguished scholar of Analytical Chemistry and the first female PhD holder in Chemistry from Bayero University Kano, I have no doubt that Prof. Salihi Bayero will deliver on her mandate,” Prof. Gwarzo said.

He also expressed confidence that the new VC who served in various academic and administrative capacities, would bring about the needed transformation and development in the university.

Prof. Gwarzo commended the university Governing Council for recognising her accomplishments by giving her the appointment and Governor Yusuf for approving the appointment.

The MAAUN Founder prayed to almighty Allah to guide and give the new VC the wisdom to steer the university to greater heights.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) BUK chapter said the union has set 31st December as the target date for a nationwide indefinite strike by the union.

The Chairman of SSANU BUK chapter, Comrade Mustafa Aminu, stated this after rising from a meeting of the association held at Bayero University main campus.

Malam Mustafa Aminu told newsmen, including Nigerian Tracker correspondent, that there is need for the Government to invite their members for discussion in order to curtail the planned nationwide industrial action.

According to him, the issue of their 2009 Agreement is yet to be implemented by the Government, which includes 23 percent, 35 percent, and the earned allowances.

Initially, the Government agreed to give 40 percent for SSANU, but when the money was released, which is 50 billion Naira, the Government decided to give 40 billion Naira to their sister union ASUU and decided to give other unions, including SSANU, the remaining 10 billion Naira to share, which is very unfair and uncalled for, and they are not happy with it, said Mustafa Aminu.

On their grievances, there are many if one checks the 2009 Agreement, which includes autonomy.

Mustafa Amin added that they are calling on the Government to do something, noting that if the target date is reached without calling them, the strike will be total and indefinite.

He said of all the unions in the University, which included ASUU, SSANU, and NASU, only ASUU was called by the Government for discussion.

He said it is like you are having four children in your house and you call the eldest for discussion; definitely the remaining children will not be happy.

He said ASUU has an aggressive nature of pressing home its demand, while SSANU is administrative.

Members of the union, Bayero University chapter, who retired this year were supported with funds ranging from 250 thousand Naira to 150 thousand Naira.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Chris Ngige, former Minister of Labour, and as well former governor of Anambra State, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fred Chukwuelobe, the ex-Minister’s media aide, confirmed this in an update on Thursday morning.

Chukwuelobe gave the real situation of things while reacting to reports that Ngige, who was governor of Anambra, had been abducted.

“I have been receiving calls in the past hour from friends and journalists seeking the veracity of the news making the rounds that His Excellency, Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra state and immediate past minister of labour and employment, ‘has been kidnapped, Ngige is with the EFCC. He was not ‘abducted’ or ‘kidnapped’,’” he posted on Facebook.

It is unclear why the agency detained Ngige as the anti-graft agency is yet to react to the development as of the time of filing this report.

Ngige is the second ex-President Muhammadu Buhari-era minister to be detained by the EFCC in recent times.

Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is also in custody.

Malami had disclosed that he was being probed over recovery of “Abacha loot”.

“The EFCC informed me that its inquiry relates to an alleged duplication in the recovery of the $310 million Abacha loot, which by accrual of interest rose to about $322.5 million as at the time I eventually succeeded in recovering the funds for the federal Government and, flowing from that assumption, two allegations were majorly raised, namely; abuse of office, and Money laundering,” he had said in a statement.

He, however, described the allegations as baseless, illogical and wholly devoid of substance, saying they would collapse, when subjected to facts and elementary logic.