NEWS
ASUU Condemns Sack of 5 Lecturers in LASU, Others
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa Chapter in Ondo State, has condemned the sacking of five members of the union in some universities.Dr Rotimi Olorunisola, ASUU Chairman, OAUSTECH chapter, disclosed to journalists on Wednesday in Okitipupa, that some lecturers were “illegally” sacked by the Governing Councils of Lagos State University (LASU), Kogi State University (KSU), and Ebonyi State University (EBSU).
Olorunisola said that the actions of these institutions were not only a violation of the due process required for the termination of academic staff, but also an assault on the autonomy of the academic profession.The don said that it was unacceptable that lecturers, who were dedicated to knowledge pursuit, research, and nation-building; should be treated with disdain by their institutions.He added that the unjust dismissals of the lecturers were clear attempt to undermine academic freedom and silence the voices of those who are working tirelessly to uphold the high standards of education in Nigeria.According to him, the governing councils acted in direct contravention of established labour laws, university statutes and the principles of natural justice.“ASUU will not stand idly by while our members are unlawfully victimised and their rights trampled upon.“We categorically state that these sackings are illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross abuse of power.“We demand the immediate reinstatement of all lecturers wrongfully dismissed, and we call on the Federal Government, state authorities, and all stakeholders in the education sector to intervene swiftly to correct this grave injustice,” he saidHe said that ASUU would stand united in the fight for justice, and resolute in defending the rights and dignity of all academic staff in the country.“Failure to rectify this situation will leave ASUU with no option but to escalate our actions in defence of our members’ rights.“ASUU will not be intimidated or suppressed by illegitimate actions that disregard the rule of law and the collective agreements that govern our institutions,” Olorunisola added. (NAN)NEWS
Customs Intercept Contraband Worth N510.92m in Two Conths
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone C, says it intercepted contrabands with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N510.92 million between July 15th and September 15th, 2024.The zone covers the six states in the South-South geopolitical zone and the five states in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
This is contained in a statement signed by Jerry Attah, Public Relations Officer, NCS, Zone C, and made available to journalists on Wednesday. According to the statement, Comptroller Michael Ugbagu, NCS, Zone C, gave the statistics while showcasing the seized contraband to relevant regulatory agencies at the Government Warehouse in Edo.Ugbagu said that the zone also recovered the sum of N25.57 million from demand notices raised based on some infractions noticed, making a cumulative sum of N536.49 million recorded within the months under review.“The DPV was derived from our seized goods, which include 49,699 sachets of various brands of tramadol and 3,350 bottles of various cough syrups with codeine without an NAFDAC number.“1,015 sacks of dry donkey meat and skin, 75 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing, 463 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 269 pieces of used pneumatic tires, and 56 cartons of smuggled foreign tomato paste.“More worrisome is the interception of 49,699 sachets of various brands of tramadol and 3,350 bottles of various cough syrups with codeine without NAFDAC registration numbers.”He noted that the cough syrup with codeine and tramadol without NAFDAC registration numbers, if not intercepted, could have had adverse effects on youths.He added that the items were mostly intercepted along the Ewu-Okada/Benin expressways based on credible intelligence. (NAN)NEWS
APC Forum Decries Deplorable Condition of Federal Roads
The Forum of Stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has decried the deplorable condition of some federal roads in Nigeria. Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the North-Central Chairman of the forum, said this in an interaction with newsmen on Wednesday in Jos. Zazzaga described some of the federal roads as ”death traps”, particularly those within the north-central region.
He said that some of the deplorable roads in the region include Jos-Akwanga, Makurdi-Oturkpo-Otukpa, Makurdi-Ankpa, and Jos-Saminaka. Other roads that needed urgent attention, he said, included Suleja-Minna, Ejule-Otukpa, Ganawuri-Manchok, Lokoja-Abuja, Lapai-Agaie-Bida, Birnin-Gwari-Bokani-Mokwa, Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora. ”Currently, the north-central region has the most deplorable roads and highways in the country. ”These deplorable roads have brought severe hardship on the people and lost lives and property through preventable road traffic crashes. ”We call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure the rehabilitation of these roads because good roads are vital enablers of development,” he said. The chairman also called on governors of states within the region to reconstruct the dilapidated roads and seek refunds from the federal government. ”Though these are largely federal roads, they are located within states, and the beneficiaries are the people of these states. ”So we call on state governments to reconstruct these roads and seek refunds from the federal government,” he added. (NANNEWS
Yuan Strengthens 7. 087 Against Dollar
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 160 pips to 7.087 against the dollar on Wednesday.This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China’s spot foreigners exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)