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FG releases N40bn earned allowances to ASUU – Ngige

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ASUU President Prof ,Biodun Ogunyemi

 

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has disclosed that the Federal Government has released N40billion for the payment of earned academic allowances for varsity lecturers and earned allowances for non-academic staff.

Mr Ngige, who made the disclosure during an exclusive chat with The Nation at the weekend, added that the government may release N30billion revitalisation funds to varsities by the end of January.

According to the minister, President Muhammadu Buhari waived the ‘no work, no pay’ Trade Act for striking university lecturers to allow peace to reign.

He said: “We are keeping faith religiously with the implementation of the agreement. In fact, President Muhammadu Buhari has given ASUU members a waiver/ pardon on the no, work, no pay clause in the nation’s Trade Disputes Act.

Breaking:ASUU Suspends Strike

“I had to write officially for the presidential waiver on payment of outstanding wages of varsity lecturers to strengthen our pact and more so we are in a COVID-19 pandemic era.

“So, for harmony and understanding, we decided on compassionate ground not to invoke Section 43 of the nation’s Trade Disputes Act.”

Mr Ngige added that the Federal Government has started paying the outstanding salaries of the lecturers in a “staggered system” because every 31st December of each year, all outstanding recurrent budget (including personnel salaries) is mopped up into the Treasury.

“We paid ASUU members from January to June 2020. The salary arrears outstanding were from July to December and because of mop up into the Treasury, we decided to stagger the payment.

“So far, we have paid July and August salary arrears in December, we will pay September and October with their January salaries as one tranche in January; and November/ December in February alongside their monthly salaries since they have resumed in their offices and research centres.”

On the planned industrial action by the non-academic workers of the universities, Mr Ngige said “I will invite the leaders of SSANU, NASU and technologists for dialogue to arrest their strike.

“I believe if we sit down with them for consultations, they will appreciate our position. We cannot afford to shut down our universities again.

“Their letter or notice of strike has not reached my table but we will engage them in dialogue on all their demands. Fortunately, I am one of the parents affected by strike action in universities. All my children are studying in different universities in the country.”

“The non-academic staff said they disagreed with the way the National Universities Commission (NUC) shared and transmitted the earned allowances by giving 75% to academic staff (lecturers) and 25% to them.

“The NUC came up with that sharing formula based on the past threshold. This administration has even improved the benchmark for the non-academic staff because the last time we had a similar challenge, it was based on 80% for academic staff and 20% for non-academic staff.

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Journalist Hit by Metal Debris from Ongoing Construction – Kano Govt

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Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

The attention of Kano state government has been drawn to a one sided media report bya section of the media revealing that a journalist, with the state own Television station, attached to Government house was hit by a stray bullet.

The incident, which occurred amidst a flurry of misinformation, sparked widespread concern and speculation regarding the safety of journalists covering events at the government house.

However, the government will like to emphatically say that journalists are not under threat in Kano government house. It is however worthy of note to caution journalists to ensure credible source while reporting any development and avoid unnecessary sensational angle that can mislead the public.

For clarity purpose, Naziru Yau, the reporter of the state television station was not hit by any stray bullet.
Instead, he sustained injuries from the metal debris emanating from an ongoing construction at the Kano State Government House, an area that has been barricaded for caution.

The truth of the incident emerged when medical professionals at the government house clinic disclosed the true nature of Mr. Naziru’s injuries.

The journalist, Mr. Naziru, expressed gratitude for the prompt medical attention he received and thanked well-wishers for their concern during his recovery.

Let me emphasized the need for journalists to remain vigilant while carrying out their duties, especially in environments where construction activities pose potential hazards.

We thereby dispel any rumor that had sparked outrage and call for increased safety measures for journalists covering sensitive events.

We also need to underscores the importance of accurate reporting and thorough investigation in mitigating misinformation and maintaining public trust.

In response to the incident, Sanusi Bature the Director General Press at the Kano State Government House have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring the safety of all individuals within the premises and the state in general.

Additionally, have pledged to review and enhance existing safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident, we urge the public to refrain from spreading unsubstantiated claims and to rely on verified information from credible sources.

 

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Journalist Hit by Stray Bullet at Kano Government House

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A stray bullet has struck a journalist from Abubakar Rimi Television, who was serving at Kano Government House.

The journalist, Naziru Idris Yau, confirmed the incident to NIGERIAN TRACKER. He recounted that while they were waiting after a function with some of his colleagues, chatting close to their usual gathering spot at the last Government House gate, he was hit by the bullet.

After an examination at the Government House clinic, the ARTV journalist confirmed to NIGERIAN TRACKER that he is hale and hearty, evident even from his voice.

No security agency or Government House public relations department has yet commented on the incident as of the time of filing this report or the origin of the bullet.

The incident occurred amidst the celebration of World Press Freedom Day, which is observed every 3rd of May by the United Nations.

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End of an era: Reader’s Digest UK closes after 86 years

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Reader’s Digest UK has ceased operations after 86 years of publication. The monthly magazine, known for its health tips, financial advice, and recipes, closed due to the “unforgiving magazine publishing landscape” and the company’s inability to withstand the financial pressures.Once a market leader with a circulation of over 1 million copies per month in the UK in 2000, the publication’s readership had declined sharply in subsequent years, dropping to under 200,000 copies recently.The closure marks the end of an era for the iconic magazine, which was founded in the US in 1922 and first published in the UK in 1938.The editor-in-chief cited the “relentless change” in the media industry and the need for companies to “continuously seek out and implement innovations” to survive.The closure of Reader’s Digest UK serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of adaptability in the face of a rapidly evolving landscape.

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