The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said it had not been informed of any pay rise given lecturers in federal institutions. ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this in an interview with our correspondent on Friday. He was reacting to a circular issued by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding the increment. “We have not been informed of such a development and when we are officially notified, we are going to react,” he told our correspondent on phone. However, the National President of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, said he was aware of the circular. He added that the pay rise was not enough, but that his union would not reject it. “In fact, that circular ought to have taken effect many months ago. We met the then Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, over the matter. “The thinking then was that the circular would be made public last March and the effective date of its effectiveness would be as from January this year and the arrears paid. “What they are offering is not enough but we are not rejecting it. However, this is to be taken different from the general upward review of salaries of public workers in view of the current economic crunch in the country,” he said. Recall that the FG had earlier opposed 25% pay rise for lecturers, when it raised that of professors by 35%. However, in a circular No: OAuGF/ SW/C/QP/1395/VOL.1/11, dated September 21, 2023, issued to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, the Auditor-General said the implementation was approved by the Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting.

  The Police Command in Benue on Friday said one Terhemba Tyochivir committed suicide on Thursday in Makurdi, the State Capital. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident to the Newsmen. She said before his death, he was a student of Government Secondary School, Gboko. Anene said that the details of the incident remained sketchy even though it was reported at the E Division Police Station, Makurdi. She said that the deceased was rushed to Bishop Murray Hospital Makurdi, where Doctors confirmed him dead.

  Six of the 24 students of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State kidnapped in the early hours of Friday (today) have been rescued, Channels Television reports. A top military source close to the Commander of 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, Gusau, confirmed this to our correspondent, following the bandits’ invasion of the Sabon-Gida community of Bungudu Local Government Area. He said the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed is currently leading the operation with other security agencies in the forest along Tsafe Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The source also confirmed that several bandits were neutralised during the ongoing operation with some weapons recovered. Earlier, a student of the school, who asked to be anonymous for security reasons, told Channels Television that over 24 schoolmates, mostly ladies, were abducted during the attack. A resident of Sabon-Gida identified as Nazeer Sabon-Gida also confirmed that the gunmen invaded the community around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately. According to him, three students’ hostels were attacked and all the students in the hostels were taken away by the bandits. In a related development, the Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the abduction of the students. The spokesperson for the command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, in a telephone conversation on Friday said the command has yet to confirm the number of the students abducted. He also confirmed that the rescue operation was ongoing.

  Exiled former Central African Republic president Francois Bozize, who became a rebel leader, has been sentenced in absentia to forced labour for life for conspiracy and rebellion, authorities said Friday. Bozize, 76, who was in exile in Chad until March when he moved to Guinea Bissau, heads an alliance of rebel groups called the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), formed in December 2020. The ex-president, who seized power in the CAR in 2003 but was toppled a decade later, was sentenced on Thursday, according to a judgement sent to AFP by the justice ministry. Two of Bozize’s sons and 20 other co-accused, who included rebel leaders, were also handed the same sentence in absentia They were also convicted of compromising the internal security of the state and “murders”, according to the judgement by an appeals court in the capital Bangui. The judgement gave no details on the time period concerned or the crimes. Civil conflict has torn CAR, one of world’s poorest countries, since 2013 when Muslim-dominated armed groups ousted Bozize. Bozize set up armed militias known as the anti-Balakas, who were mainly Christian, to try to regain power. The conflict lost intensity from 2018, but the country still suffers bouts of violence and remains deeply poor.

  On investigation, we can confirm that former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania rang the Nasdaq closing bell in September 2011. We had reported the claim made by the special adviser to the Nigerian President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the first African President to ring the Nasdaq closing bell. On September 20, 2023, President Tinubu rang the closing bell of Nasdaq at Times Square in New York as part of the ringing ceremony, which was aimed at attracting investors to promote Nigeria’s economic image on the global stage. Credit: Channel Television

  The Police Command in Abia has confirmed the murder of Mr Chigozie Chigbu, 65, by Unknown assailants in his compound on Thursday. The Police PPRO, ASP Maureen Chinaka disclosed this in a press release she issued to newsmen in Abia. Police said Chigozie Chigbu’s lifeless body was found in his compound in Umumba, Nsirimo, Ubakala, Umuahia following an incident report at Ubakala Police Division in Abia on Sept. 21. “It was reported that the lifeless body of an individual was discovered in One Mr Chigbu’s compound. The deceased was later identified as Chigbu Chigozie, a 65-year-old resident of Umumba Nsirimo, Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA. “He was found lying in a pool of blood with multiple machete wounds to his head,” she said. Chinaka said that unfortunately, Chigbu was later confirmed to be dead, noting that the police personnel promptly visited the crime scene, collected evidence, and took photographs. Chinaka said the victim’s body had been transported to the mortuary, where it would undergo autopsy to further investigation into the crime. According to her, some suspects have been arrested and preliminary investigations are ongoing. She said the case would be subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and assured the public that the police was working diligently to apprehend the criminals. She also urged anyone with information that might be useful regarding the murder case to contact the police immediately.

  The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked lands belonging to the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and a former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke in Abuja. A notice issued on Thursday by FCT’s Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, Obi and Imoke’s lands are part of the 165 plots whose certificate of occupancy was revoked. According to the notice, Wike revoked the rights to the lands because the owners failed to develop them. “The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA hereby informs the general public that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, revoked the underlisted plots with names and titles as reflected in our records for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development,” the notice stated. Aside Obi and Imoke, other prominent Nigerians affected include former Minister of National Planning, Udo Udoma; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ufot Ekaette; a former Edo North senator, Victor Oyofo; and the late publisher of the Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah. Also affected are former Supreme Court justice and Chairman of the 2005 National Conference, Niki Tobi; former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi; Chidinma, wife of former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka; and Paul Nwabiukwu, media aide to the Director General of WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Corporate establishments like BUA, Julius Berger, and Honeywell also had their allocations revoked. Since his appointment as FCT minister in August, the former Rivers State governor has repeatedly vowed to step on toes to correct the Abuja Master plan.

  Troops on Operation Hakorin Damisa have uncovered a gun manufacturing factory in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Nigerian Army in a statement said the discovery followed a week-long intelligence operation that finally led to the capture of a wanted gunrunner, Napoleon John who has been on the wanted list of OPSH. The suspect who confessed to the crime led troops to a concealed factory where arms of different caliber were sold by one Monday Dunia. When quizzed, Dunia confessed to having been in the business for more than five years fuelling the crisis in Kaduna and neighbouring Plateau States. A thorough search of the factory led to the recovery of 22 different weapons which included seven pistols, two locally fabricated AK 47 rifles, two military grade AK 47 rifles, and nine revolvers. Others include one submachine gun, rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, machine tools, and a gas cylinder. Meanwhile, the troops raided another hideout in Adua 1 village in Kafanchan. The troops recovered additional 2 x AK-47 Rifles, 2 x revolver rifles, live rounds of 9mm and 7.62 ammunition, 6 x dangerous daggers, one x hacker axe, several empty cases of 7.62mm special rounds, two mobile phones, one fragmental jacket. Also recovered are two Police uniforms, one military camouflage trousers, one ammunition magazine carrier, one pistol holster, one military grade camel pouch, one police combat helmet, two masks, four identity cards, gunpowder, shrapnels, charms and amulets. While commending troops for their doggedness and resilience, the GOC/ Commander OPSH also vowed to ensure all fleeing syndicate members were arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law. He warned sponsors and perpetrators of criminalities to immediately abandon their evil ways and embrace lawful means of livelihood. General AE Abubakar also thanked the general public for their unwavering support in the fight against criminality and urged them not to relent in furnishing the troops with actionable information. He further assured to treat information provided with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.

  The University of Lagos (UNILAG) may have raised fees for students running their degree programmes under its Institute for Continuing Education (ICE). A student of mass communications undergoing the part-time programme told TheCable on Thursday that their fee was raised from ₦175,000 to ₦225,000 with no official announcement. In July, the federal university announced a general hike in its fees meant to affect full-time students from September 1. The fee increase, affecting both fresh and returning students operating regular programmes, caused a campus protest. The university, in response, granted micro fee cuts to the students who continued to grumble in dissatisfaction. But in a new development, the ICE students are now raising the alarm over a fresh hike affecting them. The student who spoke with TheCable also warned that a protest may ensue if an ongoing effort to secure a reversal of the hike proves abortive. “In August, our class representative told us the full-time students saw an increase in their fees. We asked if ICE students were affected. We were told there is no increase yet. We were later told there will be none,” the source said. “On September 12 when our results dropped, we were told to log onto the portal and pay our fees and that the good news was that our fee rates are still the same. I checked and it was true. There was no hike, the same ₦171,000. “Before now, ₦150,000 had been for the school fees while ₦21,000 covers obligatory fees. “But on September 19, our course representatives alerted us that our fees had been increased. I checked and discovered it has been increased to ₦225,000. This is ridiculous. We are just ICE students taking evening classes. “Why should we pay ₦225,000? During strikes, we still sit at home like the day students. We do not get special treatment to receive lectures. And our fees are already higher than those at the Distant Learning Institute (DLI). I can’t afford ₦225,000. We are to resume from break on October 3, and they increased fees on September 19. “Some of us work during the day and go to class in the evening. After we hustled ₦171,000, the management added ₦54,000 to the fees. If this trend continues, they might increase it again and we will end up paying over ₦300,000. “The economy is harsh. I do not earn a salary, so I have to trade and even miss my tests to make ₦171,000 alone. I cannot afford to drop out because my programme has already been delayed by the strike and pandemic lockdown.” As of the time of this report, sources within the UNILAG management had yet to respond to enquiries by TheCable on the matter. A protester, who also spoke on UNILAG’s fee cuts for regular students, said the university is already issuing refund forms to undergraduates who were pressured to pay the hiked fee rates under different circumstances. “While the move is welcomed, I just want to remind them that 20,000 here, 5,000 there, and 3,000 somewhere kind of reduction is not what we are fighting for,” the protesting 500-level student added. “They should be ready to refund more because these fees must be reverted. A ₦350,000 hike went back to ₦25,000 at the Lagos State University in 2013. It’s about to repeat itself in UNILAG. The students will defend their interest.”