July 25, 2022

[GIST] SPN Supports Planned Nationwide Protest, Says Buhari Government's Condemnation Of Action Is Illegal, Irresponsible

[GIST] SPN Supports Planned Nationwide Protest, Says Buhari Government's Condemnation Of Action Is Illegal, Irresponsible

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The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has condemned and rejected the recent claim by the Nigerian Government that the planned nationwide protest scheduled for July 26 and 27, 2022 by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with the striking workers in public universities and colleges of education is illegal.  
The SPN, in a statement on Saturday signed by its Acting National Chairperson, Abiodun Bamigboye and National Secretary, Chinedu Bosah said rather, it considers the pronouncement of the government, through Mr Lai Mohammed, the Minister for Information and Culture, as "not only illegal but also irresponsible".


"This is because it is an attack on the democratic right to holding a peaceful protest which the irresponsible Buhari government has made necessary by keeping students at home for more than five months," it said. 
It further said, "Again, the NLC being an umbrella body of trade unions which include Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, Seniors Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, SSANU, currently on strikes for months, has the historical responsibility of organising a solidarity action to strengthen the agitations of its affiliates in struggle regardless of whether or not is directly having a pending issue with the government.
"It is in line with this working-class solidarity that SPN being a pro-working people political party reiterates its support to the various, ongoing strike action of the staff unions in universities as well as College of Education Academic Staff Unions (COEASU). We believe that the demands by these striking trade unions are genuine and in the best interest of public education. 
"SPN strongly advocates adequate funding of education that is linked to human development and gives every Nigerian the opportunity to acquire the fullest human development towards the advancement of the productive forces.
"However, it must be stated that this is possible only when the mainstay of the economy and big industries are publicly owned and democratically run and controlled by the working class people. 
"This is in order to guarantee the generation of adequate resources and their judicious use for the benefits of the vast majority. Unfortunately, the Buhari-led government and other sections of the capitalist ruling elite are incapable of adopting this kind of socio-economic arrangement that guarantees free and quality education for all because of their self-serving, parochial looting and profit first interest as well as the lack of objective to industrialize the economy and make it more productive. 
"The uneven and combined development, as well as the looting of public funds, have made it possible for the ruling elite to be insulated from the poor education system as their children get quality education at a more expensive rate in Nigeria and abroad. Hence, the ruling elite are not bothered even if our schools are closed down for 2 years as a result of legitimate strike actions or the education system is embarrassingly poor as it is in the current situation."
According to the SPN, it welcomes the planned mass protest called by the NLC in solidarity with the striking unions scheduled to take place across the 36 states on July 26 and Federal Capital Territory, FCT on July 27, 2022. 
"We strongly feel that this solidarity action is long overdue, and hence we call on the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to take this solidarity action with seriousness in terms of mobilization and commitment," it said. 
"The NLC leadership should not organize this action with levity just like it did with some other past actions without adequate and proper mobilisation. Neither should the planned actions be unjustifiably called off at the eleventh hour."
The socialist party said the January 2022 botched mass action against the planned removal of fuel subsidy emboldened the government and oil marketers to increase fuel price from N165 to between N175 and N220 depending on the location. 
"The same way the strike action called off in September 2020 emboldened the government and electricity companies to increase electricity tariffs 3 times within a year with commitment for 6month periodic increment," it added. 
It, therefore, called on the "Trade Union Congress (TUC) to join the solidarity action in order to provide stronger class solidarity in support of the striking workers and students. It is important to note that it is a consistent struggle that can force the government to meet the demands of education workers and grant concession for more funding to public education". 
It continued, "Therefore, SPN calls on the NLC and TUC to come together for more sustained solidarity mass action including a 48-hour general strike, as the next stage, as a means of mobilising the Nigerian working people and youth not only in support of students and the striking workers but also against all anti-poor policies. 
"These include but not limited to hike in the price of petroleum products, increment in tax, inflation, hike in electricity tariff, underfunding of education and healthcare, casualization and contract staffing, jumbo salaries and perks for top political office holders, fraudulent contract system etc. This is the only way the trade union movement can adequately checkmate government and private sector attacks as well as defend the interest of workers and the masses.
"We call on all pro-labour and pro-students organisations to give active solidarity to this ongoing strike as well as the planned mass protest taking place on July 26 and 27, 2022. 
"Beyond this is the need to note that the continued stay in power by the self-serving capitalist ruling elite is antithetical to the interest of the working masses and the poor. By the logic of the iniquitous capitalist system especially in a neo-colonial economy with a backward ruling elite, ordinary Nigerians will always be subjected to all manners of socio-economic and political attacks. 
"Hence, there is an urgent need for trade unions, pro-masses organisations, and working people to build a pan Nigerian mass working people’s political party which can build a revolutionary mass movement to usher in a socialist change. This is in order to ultimately put the working class people in power and bring about real democracy wherein society will be planned and organized to meet the needs of all."

 

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[GIST] IPOB Commends UN Working Group For Calling For Immediate Release, Compensation For Nnamdi Kanu By Nigerian, Kenyan Governments

[GIST] IPOB Commends UN Working Group For Calling For Immediate Release, Compensation For Nnamdi Kanu By Nigerian, Kenyan Governments

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) for condemning the arrest of the leader of the separatist group, Nnamdi Kanu, through its International Working Group. 
The group also commended Kanu's international lawyer, Bruce Fein for his efforts in drawing the attention of the body to the plight of the IPOB leader. 


An international Working Group had declared the arrest of Kanu as unlawful and an infringement on his international human rights.
It also called for the immediate release of the IPOB and compensation by the Nigerian and Kenyan governments for the way he was treated. 
The Working Group on arbitrary detention, under the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), disclosed this in a statement published on its website.
The group comprises scholars and experts who specialise in human rights issues and related laws.
Fein, the American lawyer of the IPOB leader had petitioned the group over an alleged gross violation of his client’s rights.
The UN group in its report also described Kanu’s repatriation from Kenya in June 2021 as “illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional extradition.”
In a statement on Sunday, IPOB commended the Working Group, Fein and everyone working to get victory for the detained IPOB leader. 
The IPOB leader was detained after he was arrested in Kenya and repatriated in June 2021.
He was arrested over his agitation for Biafra and by extension, Nigeria’s breakup.
He has since been detained by Nigeria's secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) and his trial for terrorism-related offences commenced in a Federal High Court in Abuja, the country's capital. 
IPOB, in the statement from its publicity secretary, Emma Powerful on Sunday, said, "We, the global and noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the supreme leadership of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hereby commend Attorney Bruce Fein for the professional job in regards to the recently issued United Nations Opinion, condemning the extraordinary rendition of our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and directing the Government of Nigeria to release him unconditionally and to compensate him.
"In the same vein, we commend all those who quietly labored and assisted in achieving this landmark victory. It is indeed a great milestone for our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB and Biafrans worldwide.
"We also express our profound gratitude to the United Nations and its Working Group for their courage in reaching this decision and issuing an opinion that comports with the tenets of international laws.
"It is our hope that Nigeria, as a member of the United Nations, will take heed and promptly obey and implement the UN directives to the letter. We caution that this is not a Nigerian court order that is often disobeyed without consequences." 
The statement by the working group said, “The Working Group is mindful that article 9 (2) of the Covenant requires that anyone who is arrested is not only informed of the reasons for the arrest but also promptly informed of any charges against them. 
"As explained by the Human Rights Committee in its general comment No. 35, the obligation encapsulated in article 9 (2) has two elements: information about the reasons for the arrest must be provided immediately upon arrest and there must be prompt information about the charges provided thereafter. Failure to do so violates article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 9 of the Covenant, and principle 10 of the Body of Principles, and renders the person’s arrest devoid of any legal basis.
“Consequently, Mr. Kanu’s arrest without an arrest warrant and with no explanation as to the reasons for his arrest violated his rights under article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 9 of the Covenant and principles 2, 4, 10, and 36 (2) of the Body of Principles,” it said.
The UN group in its report also described Kanu’s repatriation from Kenya in June 2021 as “illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional extradition.”
It read, “On 30 December 2021, the Working Group transmitted the allegations from the source to the Governments of Nigeria and Kenya under its regular communications procedure. The Working Group requested the Governments to provide, by 28 February 2022, detailed information about the current situation of Mr. Kanu and to clarify the legal provisions justifying his continued detention, as well as its compatibility with the obligations of Nigeria and Kenya under international human rights law, and in particular with regard to the treaties ratified by the two States. Moreover, the Working Group called upon the Government of Nigeria to ensure Mr. Kanu’s physical and mental integrity.
“On 25 January 2022, the Government of Nigeria submitted a reply in which it stated that, given that the case is on-going in national courts, “any reaction by the Federal Government of Nigeria will be unconscionable.”
“The Working Group regrets that it received no reply from the Government of Kenya and that it also did not seek an extension in accordance with paragraph 16 of Working Group’s methods of work.
“The Working Group has maintained from its early years that the practice of arresting persons without a warrant renders their detention arbitrary. This lacks any valid legal basis under any circumstance.
"Judicial oversight of any detention is a central safeguard for personal liberty and is critical in ensuring that detention has a legitimate basis. In the circumstances attending the detention of Mr. Kanu at an unknown location, the Working Group finds that his right to an effective remedy under article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 2 (3) of the Covenant were violated. 
"He was also placed outside the protection of the law, in violation of his right to be recognised as a person before the law under article 6 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 16 of the Covenant.
“The Working Group also considers that Mr. Kanu’s time in detention following his arrest constitutes pre-trial detention, which violated the prescriptions of article 9 (3) of the Covenant in so far as Mr. Kanu was not presented before a judicial authority within 48 hours and no individual assessment of the appropriateness of his pre-trial detention took place.
“The source asserts and the Government does not contest that on or about 29 June 2021, Mr. Kanu was subjected to extraordinary rendition to Abuja, Nigeria, with no prior judicial hearing before a judicial or administrative body. The source emphasizes that Mr. Kanu was not given access to counsel and was denied any judicial proceedings all together whilst in Kenya. The source notes that, according to Nigeria’s Attorney General, Mr. Kanu was apprehended and transported to Abuja with the cooperation of Nigerian intelligence officials and Interpol.
“The source claims that, in the present case, there was no fair and public hearing concerning Mr. Kanu’s removal from Kenya to Nigeria. The source stresses that involuntary expulsion to a foreign State without a hearing by judicial authorities does not conform with due process considerations. 
"It is clear from the facts as narrated by the source and not contested by the Government that Mr. Kanu was never presented to a court before leaving Nairobi. Instead, he was unwillingly taken, outside any legal process and without any legal protection. He was forcibly conveyed from Nairobi to Abuja under an arrangement between the Kenyan and Nigerian Governments, and with the cooperation of the Nigerian Intelligence officials and Interpol, as confirmed by Nigeria’s Attorney General.

“As the Working Group has previously observed 9 international law regarding extradition provides procedures that must be observed by countries in arresting, detaining and returning individuals to face criminal proceedings in another country and in ensuring that their right to a fair trial is protected. This is also an explicating obligation arising from article 13 of the Covenant which requires that the person who is to be expelled “be allowed to submit the reasons against his expulsion and to have his case reviewed by, and be represented for the purpose before, the competent authority or a person or persons especially designated by the competent authority”.
The Working Group finds that all these requirements were ignored in the present case and the removal of Mr. Kanu from Kenya amounted to extraordinary rendition.
“Further, the Working Group notes that this was preceded by the secret detention of Mr. Kanu. As the Working Group and other experts have stated regarding State responsibility in the joint study on global practices in relation to secret detention in the context of countering terrorism: Secret detention, involving the denial or concealment of a person’s detention, whereabouts or fate has the inherent consequence of placing the person outside the protection of the law. 
"The practice of “proxy detention”, where persons are transferred from one State to another outside the realm of any international or national legal procedure (“rendition” or “extraordinary rendition”) for the specific purpose of secretly detaining them, or to exclude the possibility of review by the domestic courts of the State having custody of the detainee, or otherwise in violation of the well-entrenched principle of non-refoulement, entails exactly the same consequence. 
"The practice of “proxy detention” involves the responsibility of both the State that is detaining the victim and the State on whose behalf or at whose behest the detention takes place.
“It is aimed at avoiding all procedural safeguards, is not compatible with international law. The Working Group has previously found a violation of article 9 of the Covenant and the detention to be arbitrary where individuals were transferred to another country outside the confines of any legal procedure, such as extradition, were not allowed access to counsel. This is precisely what happened to Mr. Kanu.
“Secret detention, involving the denial or concealment of a person’s detention, whereabouts or fate has the inherent consequence of placing the person outside the protection of the law. The practice of “proxy detention”, where persons are transferred from one State to another outside the realm of any international or national legal procedure (“rendition” or “extraordinary rendition”) for the specific purpose of secretly detaining them, or to exclude the possibility of review by the domestic courts of the State having custody of the detainee, or otherwise in violation of the well-entrenched principle of non-refoulement, entails exactly the same consequence. 
"The practice of “proxy detention” involves the responsibility of both the State that is detaining the victim and the State on whose behalf or at whose behest the detention takes place.
“In the light of the foregoing, the Working Group renders the following opinion: In relation to Kenya and Nigeria; The deprivation of liberty of Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Kenny Okwu-Kanu, being in contravention of articles 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 2, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary and falls within Categories I, II, III and V.
“The Working Group requests the Governments of Kenya and Nigeria to take the steps necessary to remedy the situation of Mr. Kanu without delay and bring it into conformity with the relevant international norms, including those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“The Working Group considers that, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, the appropriate remedy would be for the Government of Nigeria to release Mr. Kanu immediately and for both Governments to accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law. In the current context of the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the threat that it poses in places of detention, the Working Group calls upon the Government of Nigeria to take urgent action to ensure the immediate unconditional release of Mr. Kanu.
“The Working Group urges the two Governments to ensure a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Mr. Kanu and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights."

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July 24, 2022

[GIST] African Action Congress' Presidential Candidate, Sowore Publicly Declares Assets

[GIST] African Action Congress' Presidential Candidate, Sowore Publicly Declares Assets

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The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has publicly declared his assets ahead of the 2023 general elections.
A civic organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had challenged the activist to publish details of his assets and to publicly commit to rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the elections.


“Dear ‪@YeleSowore‬ Ahead of the February 2023 presidential election, we're again calling on you to show leadership by urgently publishing details of your assets and publicly rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the elections,” SERAP had tweeted.


Responding, Sowore said he had two cars, a house in his hometown in Ondo State worth N5million among other assets.
He added that he had never operated any offshore account(s) or worked with a tax haven to hide any asset.
“I have 2 used cars: a Toyota Camry & Lexus RX 350, a home in my village worth maybe N5m, three iPhones, a Galaxy Note 10 Lite (if you could call those assets), SaharaReporters Media Group (don’t know the worth as of today), a four bedroom bungalow in New Jersey & nothing more,” Sowore said.
“The Federal government of Nigeria froze my bank accounts since 2019 after I was arrested over ‪#RevolutionNow‬ protest on August 3rd 2019. A ‪@gtbank‬ account I operated in Nigeria had N4,800 left in before my arrest, I managed to open a ‪ @kudabankhelp‬ with N463.00 as of this evening.
“I reject vote-buying on or before 2023 election date. I also recently opened a ‪@capitalone‬ US bank account that has in it about $300, I have a ‪@ZenithBank‬ campaign account for the ‪#Sowore2023‬ Presidential account. I have nothing more besides financial support that I occasionally get from friends and family (if those count as assets).
“I have never operated any offshore account(s) or worked with a tax haven to hide my assets. These are the assets I have in my entire life.”
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[GIST] 2023 Elections Will Determine If Nigeria Would Sink Or Not – Northern Elders Forum

[GIST] 2023 Elections Will Determine If Nigeria Would Sink Or Not – Northern Elders Forum

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The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says the 2023 general elections would the most decisive since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.
NEF spokesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, stated this on his verified Twitter handle on Saturday.


Baba-Ahmed said the 2023 elections would show if Nigerians have decided to reverse the journey to destruction.
He pointed out that the next general election would show if Nigeria would sink towards destruction.
Baba-Ahmed added that Nigerians would decide the fate of the country at the polls next year.
He said, “2023 elections are the most decisive since 1999. They will show whether we have decided to reverse the journey to destruction, or we will sink irretrievably towards destruction. Will you be part of those who will decide, or will you watch others do it. Register and vote. Seven days left.”

 
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[GIST] PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Challenges APC Rival, Tinubu To One-hour TV Interview

[GIST] PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Challenges APC Rival, Tinubu To One-hour TV Interview

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The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to an hour-long Television interview.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Tinubu camp lambasted Atiku, saying he was ill-prepared for the Nigerian presidency and bungled a TV interview, and couldn't address specific issues thrown at him.


Reacting to the allegation of Tinubu Campaign Organisation that he was not prepared to lead the country because of some of the issues discussed during his last Television interview, the former vice president dared Tinubu to take up the challenge.
“‘We would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk. Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat,” Atiku said in a statement which Paul Ibe, his Media Adviser, issued on his behalf.
Ibe added that the former vice president was “amused to read the knee jerk response from the Tinubu Campaign Organisation to the wave making interview granted by Atiku Abubakar.”
He said the Tinubu campaign “exposed its gross desperation and vacuousness by citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999, to declare Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s stance on engaging in a side business while he was a young custom officer as a breach of the law. It is pertinent to educate the Tinubu campaign organisation that Nigeria is not under a military regime and our Constitutions are not retroactive in nature.”
“Atiku Abubakar has earned Master’s degree from Anglia Ruskin University. We challenge any of the present Presidential candidates to present an equal or higher degree. Moreover, his university attendance is a matter of verified record. Can we say the same about some other persons?”

 
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[GIST] PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Challenges APC Rival, Tinubu To One-hour TV Interview

[GIST] PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Challenges APC Rival, Tinubu To One-hour TV Interview

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The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to an hour-long Television interview.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Tinubu camp lambasted Atiku, saying he was ill-prepared for the Nigerian presidency and bungled a TV interview, and couldn't address specific issues thrown at him.


Reacting to the allegation of Tinubu Campaign Organisation that he was not prepared to lead the country because of some of the issues discussed during his last Television interview, the former vice president dared Tinubu to take up the challenge.
“‘We would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk. Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat,” Atiku said in a statement which Paul Ibe, his Media Adviser, issued on his behalf.
Ibe added that the former vice president was “amused to read the knee jerk response from the Tinubu Campaign Organisation to the wave making interview granted by Atiku Abubakar.”
He said the Tinubu campaign “exposed its gross desperation and vacuousness by citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999, to declare Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s stance on engaging in a side business while he was a young custom officer as a breach of the law. It is pertinent to educate the Tinubu campaign organisation that Nigeria is not under a military regime and our Constitutions are not retroactive in nature.”
“Atiku Abubakar has earned Master’s degree from Anglia Ruskin University. We challenge any of the present Presidential candidates to present an equal or higher degree. Moreover, his university attendance is a matter of verified record. Can we say the same about some other persons?”

 
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[GIST] Delta State Ex-Governors, Ibori, Uduaghan, Others Shun Okowa's PDP Rally Amid Party Crisis

[GIST] Delta State Ex-Governors, Ibori, Uduaghan, Others Shun Okowa's PDP Rally Amid Party Crisis

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The lingering crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), following the party's primaries especially that of the governorship is yet to abate.
SaharaReporters learnt that former governors, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan on Saturday shunned the party's "Mega Rally" held at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, stadium, Ozoro, headquarters of the Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.


Also conspicuously absent at the rally were an aggrieved senator representing Delta South senatorial district and former governorship aspirant, James Manager, the state deputy governor and former governorship aspirant, Kingsley Otuaro, former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Peter Mrakpo among other stakeholders of the party. 
The party in the state has been divided into two camps and engulfed with crisis following the PDP primaries where Okowa was accused to have secretly supported and imposed his preferred candidate on the people across the state.
A chieftain of the party in the state who pleaded for anonymity said, “One faction is being led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who has thrown his weight behind his anointed governorship candidate and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori and the second faction is being led by the former governor James Ibori whose anointed governorship candidate and former Commissioner for Finance, David Edevbie is being frustrated by Okowa.
“Okowa has vowed that over his dead body should Edevbie, his immediate past chief of staff be the governor of the state. The current crisis if not properly handled will consume the party in the 2023 general elections.
"With what is happening now, the party has no governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections because of cases in court bothering on the discrepancies in academic credentials of the state governorship candidate and speaker of the state house of Assembly, Sheriff.”

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[GIST] PRP Backs Nigerian Labour Congress’ Nationwide Protests, Says Buhari Government Exploiting Nigerian Students

[GIST] PRP Backs Nigerian Labour Congress’ Nationwide Protests, Says Buhari Government Exploiting Nigerian Students

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The People’s Redemption Party, known as the Real PRP, has expressed support for the Nigerian Labour Congress nationwide protest to demand an end to the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) strike.
The real PRP in a release on Friday by its national chairman, Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu, said the Nigerian government was exploiting the Nigerian students, and it was necessary to “mobilise, organise, and march against de-education, and for the fulfillment of ASUU's genuine demands.”


The party described the Muhammadu Buhari-led government as a “failed and reactionary federal government” while calling for all Nigerians to join the mass action.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria embarked on a legitimate total strike on the 14th February 2022. It did so after several appeals, diplomatic efforts and warning strikes to draw the attention of the federal government to the union's demands, and to the government's own responsibility to respect agreements sealed under its authority. Further, the academics, as usual, engaged in broad consultations with stakeholders and its general membership, all in an effort to stave off the last option in industrial relations: strike. Though these efforts were not perfect, they carried the support of the majority.
“The demands of ASUU were not necessarily new or unknown to their employer, the federal government, via its education ministry. If there was anything new in the package, it had to do with roping university salary administration with the single treasury account system adopted by the federal government. Here the snag was a choice between the state imposed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the union's preferred University Transparency Account System (UTAS). Both sides were agreed that the payroll and personnel information system needed improvement. In sum, ASUU's demands, among other things, centred on: improving facilities, funding, payment of withheld  salaries and allowances; a new salary package; and ASUU proposed electronic payment system (UTAS), as against that imposed by the government (IPPIS). 
“The PRP is aware of the hushed fears of government, that acceding to ASUU demands will trigger copycat strikes in the entire higher education sector and outside it. Already polytechnics are on the move, so are monotechnics and sister institutions. All are justified in this struggle for sector survival and improvement under a generalised system of state education sector exploitation and  'de-leveraging', as opposed to systematic leveraging of for-profit higher and sub-higher institutions owned by cronies and 'vulture capitalists'. Even here, the less influential amongst these have come under the hammer of extortionist taxation, while operators in underclass neighbourhoods have to invent multiple charges to stay in the school business and still make profit at the parents expense.
“Although previous administrations have underperformed in their handling of industrial relations in the higher education sector, this administration has outperformed most in its insensitivity, incompetence, and sheer lack of good faith to resolve the issue. So third party participants in the negotiations have observed and categorically stated. The tortuous negotiations between ASUU and the federal government's team have not just dragged on for too long, but amount to regime sabotage of the nation's development. Children of ranking public office holders, as ordinary folks are quick to point out, school abroad where there are no ASUU strikes and lost semesters.
“While we in the real PRP declare our unflinching support for the ongoing ASUU strike and for NLC`s solidarity protest coming up on the 26th and 27th of July 2022, we view the Nigerian student as among the most oppressed and exploited in the world, both by government and a few odd actors amongst the teaching and administrative fraternity in the higher education sector. This, however, is no time for blame game. The fight at hand is a good fight. Let's network, mobilise, organise, and march against deeducation, and for the fulfillment of ASUU's genuine demands by a failed and reactionary federal government and the exploitative social system that it represents.
“Recall that in this struggle for salvaging the university system, some have, in the long wait, passed on, while others, especially students, may never return back to campus again, futures permanently altered. For this reason alone, it is justified to hold an unaccountable government accountable, in the only language it understands: mass protest. 
“We call on all real PRP members nationwide to join the protest on the 26th and 27th of July 2022.”

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[GIST] I Will Tell Nigerians Actual Truth About Atiku Presidency – Governor Wike Says

[GIST] I Will Tell Nigerians Actual Truth About Atiku Presidency – Governor Wike Says

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The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he will soon reveal the “actual truth” about the recent happenings in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and his relationship with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said it had become pertinent for him to speak and reveal to Nigerians all that had transpired in the PDP since the emergence of former Vice President, Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of the party.


"On Atiku, I will speak soon and Nigerians will know the actual truth of all that has transpired in the PDP in recent times," Wike said.
SaharaReporters on July 6 reported that the governor also rejected the call for him to have one-on-one meeting with the Atiku, over the lingering crisis on the choice of running mate.
The PDP has been enmeshed in deep crisis since Atiku picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as running mate for the 2023 general elections.
The crisis has also degenerated to some members of the party calling for the resignation of its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
Wike, who came second in the party’s primary election, had asked Atiku to rather meet with his team for peace talks on the terms proposed to the party, especially as it concerns the resignation of Ayu.
The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, had suggested that Atiku should lead a reconciliation team to Wike, but Wike indicated that he would depend on the advisory from the “Strategy Team.”
Also, a BoT member of the party, Waziri Adamu, had suggested that Wike should be appointed as Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation.
Meanwhile, Wike who rejected the one-on-one meeting with Atiku cited lack of faith in any personal agreement with Atiku.
A source had said, “There is no likelihood of Wike having one-on-one private discussion with Atiku. Shortly after the primary, the governor had a side meeting with Atiku in Abuja and nothing was adhered to.
“He was shocked that Atiku has not told Nigerians what transpired between him and Wike after the primary and how he arrived at Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a running mate.
“Since there was no full disclosure, Wike has directed that fresh talks with Atiku should be with his strategy team members, who will come up with an advisory for him.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  saharareporters, new york Disable advertisements : 

July 23, 2022

[GIST] Secret Police, DSS Report Can’t Stop Nationwide Protests Over Lecturers’ Strike – Nigeria Labour Congress Warns Buhari Regime

[GIST] Secret Police, DSS Report Can’t Stop Nationwide Protests Over Lecturers’ Strike – Nigeria Labour Congress Warns Buhari Regime

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The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Joint Action Committee, comprising the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, have said their planned protest in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities will hold as planned.
The labour unions said they were not aware of any security report by the Department of State Services that advised against the rally, insisting that their protest in solidarity with ASUU over its six months old strike would hold on July 26 and 27, PUNCH reports.


ASUU had on February 14, 2022 embarked on a nationwide strike over the failure of the Federal Government to honour the agreement it reached with the union in 2009.
The issues in contention include the delay in the release of the revitalisation fund for the universities, adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution as the preferred payment platform for the university system and the payment of earned academic allowances to lecturers.
Despite the series of meetings between the Federal Government and the union, the issues have yet to be resolved, prolonging the strike and prompting the intervention of the NLC.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, declared the proposed nationwide protest illegal, saying the NLC had no dispute with the government.
Also on Thursday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, cautioned against the demonstration, saying he received a security report from the DSS that the rally might be hijacked by hoodlums.
But responding to Ngige on Friday in an interview with PUNCH, the Head, Information and Public Affairs, NLC, Mr Benson Upah, stated that the congress was not aware of any security report by the DSS.
He noted that the rally was a symbolic gesture to pressure the government to resolve the five-month ASUU strike, adding that the union’s rallies were always peaceful and that participants had always conducted themselves in a peaceful manner.
He said the police were aware of the protest and would be expected to provide security during the exercise.
He said, “First and foremost, none of our rallies have ever been associated with violence; Nigerians can attest to that. We have always been peaceful; we will ensure we are not implicated. We will carry out our duty as usual.
“I’m not aware of any directive sent to us but I heard the Minister of Labour and Employment saying an advisory came to him, but this will not be the first time such an advisory will be issued.
“Left for the DSS, we will not hold any peaceful rally in this country. At the peak of Boko Haram attacks in Abuja we had our rally. All the rallies were peaceful. I think that is a testimony to our patriotic intention, our organisational capability, our vigilance and the voice of appreciation from Nigerians and we appreciate all of that. We have been able to conduct ourselves reasonably well.”
Responding to the statement by the government that the education minister was not given two weeks to resolve the ASUU crisis, Upah argued that this means the government was not interested in a quick resolution of the crisis.
He noted, “It’s an open ‘cheque’ such that even if it takes till 2023 there is nothing wrong. So, you see why it is necessary for a rally as a platform for people to speak publicly to the issues at stake.
“In a situation like this, what I expect the government to say, given the increasing anxiety, is that the Ministers of Education and that of Labour and Employment are hereby given the mandate to resolve the issues in 48hrs. That would have been more consoling.”

 
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