Connect with us

National News

Slash lawmakers’ salaries by 50% to meet ASUU’s demands – Ndume

Published

on

Slash lawmakers’ salaries by 50% to meet ASUU’s demands – Ndume

By Hamza Suleiman

 Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has called for a 50 per cent slash in the salaries  of the national assembly by half to allocate it to the Academic Staff  Union of Universities,(ASUU) in order to meet their pressing demands.

Ndume made the call while reacting to the alleged half pay for the academic staff in Maiduguri on Thursday.

Ndume, a former Senate Leader, advised the federal government to constitute a high powered standing committee of respected educationist and patriotic Nigerians to meet with the ASUU leadership to address lingering burning issues.

“Even if it means that the National Assembly will reduce sitting allowances or be paid on  casual allowances basis whenever they sit at the Lower and upper chambers,  by cutting the recurrent expenditure in the budget of the federal lawmakers to settle the ASUU arrears, let it be. It will be in the overall national interest of Nigerians

“We only assemble twice or so per week and get paid as such.

“Civil servants who worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and were paid their full salaries and allowances monthly.

“So why will the federal government cut university lecturers salaries because they went on legitimate strike? Which constitutionally,  they are fighting for their and privileges.

“As a matter of priority and as a public servant in the legislative chambers, we don’t work; so why don’t you just give us half salary and then pay ASUU.

“It is high time they resolve the issue once and for all even if they have to borrow or make supplementary budgets.

READ ALSO: https://dailypost.ng/2022/10/29/journalists-in-yobe-boycott-government-activities-over-alleged-intimidation-harassment/

“We are budgeting 20.5 trillion for 2023,  I don’t see any reason why the government will not budget one trillion to address the lingering challenges of the education sector including ASUU strikes.

“Eight months, student were at home doing nothing and they are the public and we are the public servants. In the budget of 2023, the over head is 43 per cent.

“If you can spend N8.3trillion on public servants why don’t you spend  N1trillion in public universities.

“Some of those involved in the negotiations do not have children in public universities.

“How can you be talking about something that you have no stake in? I don’t have a child in public schools, all my children are schooling outside the country; most politicians are like that too and they are the once negotiating.

“With this to me, we will not get any where. Even if we got somewhere it will be temporary because other people will be playing to the gallery.

“Some of them will be claiming to be defending the interest of the federal government and the others will be pretending to be defending the interest of the masses and at the end they are only playing to the gallery,”he said

NAN

Slash lawmakers’ salaries by 50% to meet ASUU’s demands – Ndume

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National News

Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA

Published

on

Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.

Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.

She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.

According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.

She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.

“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.

“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.

While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.

She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.

The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.

“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.

Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.

Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.

She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.

The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda

Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA

Continue Reading

National News

Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue

Published

on

Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue

By: Michael Mike

Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.

The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.

This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.

Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.

Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.

Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue

Continue Reading

National News

FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary

Published

on

FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.

The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.

Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.

He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.

The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.

He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.

FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights