Folarin Kehinde

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige stormed out of a meeting between stakeholders of the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), been spearheaded by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajibiamila.

The meeting which had representatives from both FG and ASUU dissolved into a heated argument, climaxing in the exit of Chris Ngige.

Ngige before leaving the meeting, accused the ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke of encouraging Nigerians to vote out the All-Progressives Congress (APC) In the upcoming elections.

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila called on the aggrieved parties including Chris Ngige and Emmanuel Osodeke to sheathe their swords and shift ground in the interest of the country and that of the students who have been away from their studies for seven months.

When Osodeke talked, he lamented that the salaries of the lecturers are paid from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which is not the order of the day in other countries.

Osodeke said, “Is there any country in the world where salaries of lectures are paid from the office of Accountant-General of the Federation? Where is the idea of the law? Let’s be patriotic to Nigeria. Are they using it in Central Bank (of Nigeria)? Are they using it in NITDA?

“So let’s respect the peculiarity rather than trying to put all of us into a small hole. And finally, sir! No country in the world will harvest the data of the academics, package it and give it to a foreign company. No country in the world! Thank you.”

Osodeke also told Ngige while leaving that he can go and tell lies to the public.

A Former Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, has advocated that region must now form the component units of the federation in Nigeria, saying the country must return to true federalism for it to develop.

He said this in a lecture he delivered at the forum organised by the Coalition of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups held in Ibadan. A copy of the lecture was made available to our correspondent on Sunday.

Opadokun also said Nigeria must reverse the Independence/Federal Constitution which it practiced and made it the Giant of Africa after the independence.

He said each region must decide the number of states it would have and states should decide the number of councils it wants to have.

According to Opadokun, “Nigeria, like Germany, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, Iraq, Indian, Malaysia, Russia, Pakistan, USA must now be a federation of regions.”

He said, “The Independence Constitution, upon which Nigeria secured her Independence, allocated spheres of influence to the regional and central governments, which made the component units independent and equal, while they were coordinating at the centre on an equal basis.

“The Central Government was not the boss of the component units. The Federal Constitution in practice enabled all governments to compete healthily as they provided services to the citizens, using the natural and human resources in their regions to improve the standard of living of their people.

“It’s an undeniable fact that the spectacular achievements recorded under the Federal Constitutional Governance remain unmatched and unsurpassed milestones of Nigeria’s identity till date. For example, the Western Region under Chief Obafemi Awolowo recorded spectacular feats summarised in his 1959 valedictory address.

“The Independence/Federal Constitution, under which Nigeria prospered and was considered the Giant of Africa, is the antidote to our stunted growth and political instability. To that Independence/Federal Constitution, we must return for a reversal of our misfortune.”

He said Nigerians must choose to either continue with the unitary system that the government is practicing in the name of federalism or return to true federalism before the 2023 elections.

He also described as absurd the refusal of the Federal Government to grant Amotekun the approval to bear sophisticated weapons to protect the Yoruba people while the same government gave the Kaduna militia the right to obtain weapons.

Speaking on the insecurity in the country, Opadokun said the Nigerian government had failed woefully to discharge its responsibility of protecting the people.

“While the Yoruba people prompted their governors to establish a state outfit to give them some security respite, the Central Government has failed to give the states approvals to buy ammunitions that will empower the Amotekun outfit to protect citizens. Conversely, the Nigerian State is ready to deploy Nigeria Police officers or civilian outfits (like Tompolo) with guns and ammunition to protect inanimate objects,” he added.