Nigeria Times

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nsukka Zone, has raised alarms over the Federal Government’s failure to address key issues affecting Nigeria’s university system, warning that a fresh strike may be imminent. Zonal Coordinator Raphael Amokaha issued a statement on October 2 in Makurdi, expressing concerns about the government’s neglect of critical demands.

Amokaha explained that ASUU has refrained from industrial action since the suspension of its 2022 strike out of patriotism, but the union’s patience is wearing thin due to the government’s continued failure to honor its commitments. He criticized the government’s rejection of a negotiated agreement and warned that unless immediate action is taken, ASUU will have no choice but to strike again.

Key demands include finalizing the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, releasing withheld 2022 salaries, paying overdue wages for staff affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and improving funding for public universities. Amokaha emphasized that the blame for any future strike will rest solely with the government if no resolution is reached.

The House of Representatives has rejected the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) conferred on Speaker Tajudeen Abbas by President Bola Tinubu. The lawmakers expressed displeasure over what they perceived as discrimination against the lower chamber, pointing out that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was awarded the higher Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

This decision followed a motion of urgent public importance introduced by Rep. Philip Agbese, with members arguing that the House should be treated equally with the Senate. The motion, signed by 360 members, called for the abolition of the “upper chamber and lower chamber” designations, asserting that both chambers of the National Assembly are equal.

Israel has declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as persona non grata, banning him from entering the country. The decision, announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday, follows Guterres’ failure to unequivocally condemn a recent missile attack on Israel by Iran.

Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, targeting multiple areas on Tuesday night. While world leaders condemned the attack, Guterres issued a statement calling for de-escalation in the Middle East without specifically condemning Iran. This omission angered Israeli officials.

Katz criticized Guterres for not denouncing the attack and accused him of failing to address atrocities committed by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Katz declared that Israel would continue defending its citizens and uphold its dignity, with or without the UN chief.

Political economist Pat Utomi has voiced strong criticism regarding the alarming levels of poverty in Nigeria, stating that the country should feel ashamed for having more impoverished individuals than India, despite India’s population being seven times larger.

Utomi expressed his concerns at “The New Tribe” during a Global Village Square Town Hall meeting held in Victoria Island, Lagos. He lamented, “This country of great potential, as we celebrate 64 years of independence, is still crawling. It has become the place of domicile for the poorest people on the planet. The Brookings study a few years ago showed how, in absolute numbers, there are more poor people in Nigeria than in India. That should make anybody feel ashamed. How? Explain to me how the richest can become the poorest.”

Highlighting the decline of cultural values in Nigeria, he attributed the nation’s challenges to a loss of moral integrity. “Fundamentally, progress is dependent on culture, on your values. And if you look at Nigeria, the one clear thing is the collapse of culture. The values have gone south. I mean, people don’t have a sense of shame anymore. Our political class is an embarrassment,” he remarked.

Utomi also addressed the deterioration of Nigeria’s institutions, particularly within the justice sector, which he believes is a significant barrier to attracting foreign investment. He stated, “The Nigerian judiciary is considered a joke around the world. Nobody takes it seriously. Investors don’t come to Nigeria because they say to you, ‘If I have a dispute with a partner in Nigeria, going to court is a waste of time. Complete waste of time.’ And so they go to a country where the returns can be less, but where at least they know some justice can be obtained from the courts.”