Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government (FG) has withdrawn its order given to vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and university governing council to immediately open universities.

This was contained in a circular made public by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

LEADINGREPORTERS earlier reported that the Federal Government in a circular titled NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 dated September 23, 2022 ordered Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors to immediately reopen universities.

The FG had asked the pro chancellors and vice-chancellors to ensure that the striking lecturers resume and commence lectures immediately.

The FG’s directive had caused confusion for the university management as the vice-chancellors were unsure of how to go about the decision.

However, the Federal Government in another circular tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/136, which was also signed by the Director, Finance and Account of the NUC, Sam Onazi, the commission withdrew the order.

Though it did not explain why, the letter tagged, “withdrawal of circular NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 dated September 23, 2022” partly read, “I have been directed to withdraw the NUC Circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135, and dated September 23, 2022 on the above.

“Consequently, the said circular stands withdrawn. All pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils, as well as vice-chancellors of federal universities are to please note. Further development and information would be communicated to all relevant stakeholders.

“Please accept the assurances of the Executive Secretary’s warmest regards

The Nigerian electricity national grid has collapsed again, the 7th time this year.

The last national system collapse was recorded on the 13th of June 2022.

Checks by LEADINGREPORTERS on National System Operator’s data showed that as at 12 noon today no power generation plant was on the grid.

Further checks showed that as at 10am, 19 plants were generating a combined 3,302 Megawatts with Shiroro Hydro at 573MW.

In a notice to its customers, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC, EEDC, informed its “esteemed customers of a system collapse which occurred at 10:51am today, 26th September, 2022. This has resulted in the loss of supply currently being experienced across the network.

“Due to this development, all our interface TCN stations are out of supply, and we are unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.

“We are on standby awaiting detailed information of the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo”, the statement by Emeka Ezeh, Head, Corporate Communications, stated.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, which manages the grid was yet to advance reasons for the latest collapse as at the time of filing in this report.

Reno Omokri, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lambasted some claims and allegations Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State made against the embattled National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, in his media interview yesterday.

The Nigerian author also debunked other allegations made against the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar.

Omokri raised 10 issues in a reaction to Wike’s claims and allegations, which he described as “fallacies from Wike’s media chat on the artificial PDP crisis,” said only the constitution of the party should determine the fate of the Senator Ayu, and not any other consideration.

He said, “the Governor of Rivers state, and an esteemed member of our party, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike addressed the press on current issues within our party, and in the encounter he made some utterances which are fallacious.

“I believe he did not lie. It may just be a case that, because of the task of running a very successful state, like Rivers, his memory may have failed him. So I have written the below to refresh his memory.”

While he maintained that embattled National Chairman, Senator Ayu, never promised to resign if a Northern Presidential candidate is elected, reminded Wike that Ayu had rather openly said “on video that he would resign if the PDP asked him to.”

Omokri then queried, “Since the PDP NEC passed a vote of confidence in him, why should he resign?”

Among the 10 fallacies he claimed Wike made in his media chat were that; the PDP did not jettison zoning in favour of the North adding that zoning was jettisoned in favour of the South. “The last PDP President is from the South. By virtue of the party’s Constitution and tradition, the next President should come from the North.

“If Wike has evidence that the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, is not a trustworthy character, he should provide such to the police and other law enforcement agencies.”

The Rivers State governor, had earlier in his media briefing, alleged the Ayu manipulated the process of the party’s presidential primary/national convention in favour of Atiku, claiming that he called several aspirants to withdraw for Atiku.

But Omokri faulted the assertion adding that PDP presidential primaries were not flawed. “They were transparent and watched live on TV by Nigerians. A winner emerged. Many also did not win. Saraki, Tambuwal, Mohammed, Hayatudeen, Dele Momodu, Anyim, Fayose, Emmanuel, Momodu and others have not complained of any untoward happenings.”

On other issues, he said “If the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, convened any illegal meetings in the house of retired generals, then proof of that should be tendered by the one making the allegations.

“How can a man who almost single handedly installed the last two PDP chairmen and many members of the NEC call the same party “arrogant”? If an engineer builds a house and calls it ugly, what is he inevitably saying about himself?

“Wike says Waziri Atiku is surrounding himself with people without much political value, why is he resisting joining the PCC. We need Wike because he obviously has much political value.”

Omokri, however, noted that no member of the party was more important but every member of the party was important.

“The Peoples Democratic Party has a NEC. The NEC can discipline any member according to the Constitution of the party. Every member of the party is a vital picture, but no member is the big picture.

“The PDP Constitution should determine the fate of the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.”

Following the National Industrial Court (NIC) ruling that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) quit their strike and go back to work, ASUU has commented that the industrial court lacks evidence to give such ruling.

ASUU said that the Industrial Court lacks the evidence to back its claims that Nigerian students would lose many lives changing opportunities due to increment of age caused by the ceaseless ASUU strike.

The union made this known in the court documents filed before the Court of Appeal on Friday to challenge the ruling of the National Industrial Court which ordered them to end the lingering strike and resume classes on Wednesday.

The appeal which counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana made available to the public was also accompanied by a request for stay of execution on the ruling by Justice Polycarp Hamman.

The point being made is that, even where the lost academic semesters/sessions are covered upon resumption, the increase in the age of these students who are being deprived of the opportunity to complete their studies as and when due cannot be reversed. Section 2 (2) of the National Youth Service Corps Act for example prohibits any person who is over the age of thirty (30) at the date of graduation from being enlisted into the Service Corps,” the National Industrial court said among other things while delivering its interlocutory judgement.

Reacting, the striking university lecturers contended, “There was no evidence before the lower court about the age of these innocent students being denied of the opportunity to complete their studies.

“Even though the issue of National Youth Service was raised suo motu the Learned Trial Judge did not invite parties to address him on it.

“The Learned Trial Judge made a case for the Respondents by relying on extraneous matters and thereby violated the fundamental right of the Appellant to fair hearing.”

LEADINGREPORTERS Wrote about the intention of ASUU to appeal the judgement of the industrial court following its order for ASUU members to resume work.