THE” CHILD MARRIAGE” BILL
The senate on Wednesday the 17th of July passed a brutish proposal claiming that a woman is deemed to be “full of age” once she is married irrespective of the age she did so. This regressive action came after the senate’s resolution to alter section 29(a) of the proposed constitutional amendment stipulating that a woman shall qualify for marriage only when she attains 18 years, deleting age specification for women who were once married, claiming that a woman is deemed to be” full of age once she is married irrespective of the age she did so. This “child marriage” bill is motivated excessively by some men’s perverted state, some of whom have found themselves in the legislative body. These lawmakers who are given to such lewdness, carnality and immoral self indulgence have taken it upon themselves to sponsor and support an amoral motion instead of tackling national issues of utmost importance.
One of the chief crusaders for this shameful act is the much maligned senator Sani Ahmed Yerima a former governor of Zamfara who gained notoriety for his marriage to an underage girl from Egypt. You see Yerima was the first northern governor to adopt the sharia law where there were incidents of chopping of hands popularly referred to as the “short sleeve and the long sleeve cut” the fascinating thing is, the former EFCC boss Ribadu, indicted Mr “sharia” of direct stealing of state funds during his tenure as governor. It is a wonder why there is a selective adherence to the law, both the big man and the small man should have their hands chopped if they steal, that’s only logical right?
Nigeria is a large nation with divergence in socio-cultural milieu and religious beliefs so it is evident that we cannot all share similar ideas and views, and the respect and toleration of opposing views is advocated. However issues that deals with human right protection such as the child right act should supplant all deviations in opinion. Therefore Senator yerima’s statement a few years ago stating that he does not have to obey child rights Act because as it contravenes his religious belief was made out of bad taste. I’m a adherent of the believe that there should be a modicum of secularism in government and as much as possible religion should be separated from politics, and the constitution should be sovereign at all times so in the event there is a clash of jurisdiction the federal laws supersedes all other subsidiary law. I’ll rather not go into the intricacies of Islam’s view about marriage, but there are not many things I find more repugnant than using the religion of Islam or any other one for that matter to justify abominable practices. Mr yerima continual insistence on the passage of this bill based on Islamic tenet could be adjudged to be wrong as the Quran did not explicitly permit child marriage, and the common argument that prophet Mohamed had his wife Aisha betrothed to him at six and consummation cannot be verified, as the authenticity of that story has been debunked with historical events that contradict such a possibility. Some Islamic scholars through rigorous study of evidences stated that Aisha may have been at least 19 years of age during her consummation therefore putting to bed the myth of her being nine when she had her first sexual intercourse. And even if the practice was culturally acceptable during the prophet time on earth it must be noted that Islam is not against the evolvement of socio-cultural related laws.
This resolution which is reckless will result in the contravene section 21 of the Childs Rights Act which says no person under the age of 18 is capable of contracting a marriage; and any marriage contracted by a minor is null and void and has no effects whatsoever. If we say the constitution is supreme, and the Childs rights Act is part of the constitution, it contents supersedes any religious or social-cultural nuances. It is obvious that this motion spearheaded by senator Yerima is a selfish one, and a clear attempt to give legitimacy to the abominable marriage practice of him and men of his ilk. Nigerian must ensure that religious rights must not be used a guise for selfish purposes, and the fundamental human rights of all must be protected.
This move by senator Yerima and his cohorts shows the general insensitivities that public office holders have towards the plights of the masses, especially that of the girl child and this must not be allowed to stand, pressure should be put on the remainder of the legislative house to do the right thing and ensure that this motion is kicked out of this house, ensuring that Nigerian children enjoy the benefits of the Child Right Act of 2003 and the girl child is continually protected and given equal rights, especially from the implications and complication that comes up from early marriage, the VVF,RVF and the likes. Let us not be mere observers, we must do all that must be done to protect the rights of Nigerian children and as Edward burke put it “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. GOD bless Nigeria. Written by steve Jayeoba
W
Saturday, 20 July 2013
Friday, 12 July 2013
Harvests of horror in Lagos, Kaduna
Eight feared dead, 10 injured as three-storey building collapses in Lagos, another in Kaduna
TRAGEDY struck in the early hours of Thursday as a three-storey building located at 29b, Oloto Street, Off Cemetery Road in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos State collapsed, killing at least eight persons.
Some residents who assisted in rescue operations said eight persons, including a couple, a baby and five others lost their lives in the unfortunate incident
But government officials dismissed the figures saying only four bodies have been recovered from the rubble.
General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who coordinated rescue operations confirmed the number of casualties adding that 10 persons have so far been rescued from the rubbles as at the time of filing this report.
Osanyintolu said: “The building at 29 Oloto Street, Ebute-Metta collapsed at about 2.30am this morning. We have rescued10 people and four bodies recovered so far. Rescue operation is still on-going”.
The LASEMA GM said the building had already been marked by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) for structural integrity test before the incident.
He added: “We are on top of our challenges, we have extended rescue efforts to the ground floor. Before the building collapsed, a lot of occupants had vacated the premises”.
Also confirming the incidence, South-West zonal spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye,
told journalists that the agency got information that the building started cracking at about 1:30am and finally collapsed at about 2:00am.
He confirmed that about 10 rescued victims who sustained several degrees of injuries have been taken to hospitals for treatment.
There were combined efforts by officials of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Red Cross, NEMA, LASEMA, the state Fire Service, as well as youths in the area who made
frantic efforts to rescue some other persons believed to still be trapped under the rubbles.
A pregnant woman and an 18-month-old boy were among the dead, as armed police officers struggled to fight off hoodlums carting away properties. “The owner of the building is still on the run,” witnesses said.
According to Farinloye, an occupant defied a directive to evacuate the building as emergency agencies arrived. “The young man tried to rescue his father. Unfortunately, he lost his limbs as well as his father in the process.
“Most of these houses are not modern buildings; they are old houses family members inherited from original owners. The building that collapsed had previously been marked for refurbishment and renovation,” he said.
One of the residents of the ill-fated building rescued from the rubbles, Balkiss Abdulamid said she was at the balcony of the second floor when the building came down.
Another survivor who was so confused and looked shattered said though she had been living in the vicinity for the past two years, she just packed into the house last Monday.
Also, a three-storey building also collapsed yesterday afternoon in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria. Witnesses said that no fewer than 10 persons were trapped in the aged building.
The unfortunate incident which occured on Hadeija road, near the Kaduna Central Market, drew the attention of the Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Mukthar Ramalan Yero and officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigerian Red Cross (NRC), Armed Soldiers, Police, Road Safety personnel and Nigerian Civil Defence Corps for rescue efforts.
A trader, Musa Sule, told NAN that the building located between Ibrahim Taiwo by Hadeja Road housed tenants who traded in tyres.
According to him, the building had shown signs of cracks, but no one thought it was going to collapse today. It did by 3.10p.m.
Rescuers were able to pull out two women who were quickly rushed to Saint Geralds Catholic Hospital for medical attention.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 10 buildings have collapsed in the state since January 2013, claiming at least 15 lives and properties worth millions of naira.
The trend of building collapse thus prompted the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to set up a Tribunal of Enquiry in May 2013 to unravel its major cause.
The Tribunal is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the governor next month.
TRAGEDY struck in the early hours of Thursday as a three-storey building located at 29b, Oloto Street, Off Cemetery Road in Ebute-Metta area of Lagos State collapsed, killing at least eight persons.
Some residents who assisted in rescue operations said eight persons, including a couple, a baby and five others lost their lives in the unfortunate incident
But government officials dismissed the figures saying only four bodies have been recovered from the rubble.
General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who coordinated rescue operations confirmed the number of casualties adding that 10 persons have so far been rescued from the rubbles as at the time of filing this report.
Osanyintolu said: “The building at 29 Oloto Street, Ebute-Metta collapsed at about 2.30am this morning. We have rescued10 people and four bodies recovered so far. Rescue operation is still on-going”.
The LASEMA GM said the building had already been marked by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) for structural integrity test before the incident.
He added: “We are on top of our challenges, we have extended rescue efforts to the ground floor. Before the building collapsed, a lot of occupants had vacated the premises”.
Also confirming the incidence, South-West zonal spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye,
told journalists that the agency got information that the building started cracking at about 1:30am and finally collapsed at about 2:00am.
He confirmed that about 10 rescued victims who sustained several degrees of injuries have been taken to hospitals for treatment.
There were combined efforts by officials of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Red Cross, NEMA, LASEMA, the state Fire Service, as well as youths in the area who made
frantic efforts to rescue some other persons believed to still be trapped under the rubbles.
A pregnant woman and an 18-month-old boy were among the dead, as armed police officers struggled to fight off hoodlums carting away properties. “The owner of the building is still on the run,” witnesses said.
According to Farinloye, an occupant defied a directive to evacuate the building as emergency agencies arrived. “The young man tried to rescue his father. Unfortunately, he lost his limbs as well as his father in the process.
“Most of these houses are not modern buildings; they are old houses family members inherited from original owners. The building that collapsed had previously been marked for refurbishment and renovation,” he said.
One of the residents of the ill-fated building rescued from the rubbles, Balkiss Abdulamid said she was at the balcony of the second floor when the building came down.
Another survivor who was so confused and looked shattered said though she had been living in the vicinity for the past two years, she just packed into the house last Monday.
Also, a three-storey building also collapsed yesterday afternoon in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria. Witnesses said that no fewer than 10 persons were trapped in the aged building.
The unfortunate incident which occured on Hadeija road, near the Kaduna Central Market, drew the attention of the Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Mukthar Ramalan Yero and officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigerian Red Cross (NRC), Armed Soldiers, Police, Road Safety personnel and Nigerian Civil Defence Corps for rescue efforts.
A trader, Musa Sule, told NAN that the building located between Ibrahim Taiwo by Hadeja Road housed tenants who traded in tyres.
According to him, the building had shown signs of cracks, but no one thought it was going to collapse today. It did by 3.10p.m.
Rescuers were able to pull out two women who were quickly rushed to Saint Geralds Catholic Hospital for medical attention.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 10 buildings have collapsed in the state since January 2013, claiming at least 15 lives and properties worth millions of naira.
The trend of building collapse thus prompted the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to set up a Tribunal of Enquiry in May 2013 to unravel its major cause.
The Tribunal is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the governor next month.
UI students’ protest paralyses commercial activities o
IBADAN — STUDENTS of the University of Ibadan, yesterday, paralysed commercial activities in the ancient city when they moved out of campus to protest Federal Government’s alleged insensitivity to myriad of problems in education sector.
The angry students went on a peaceful protest to major streets in the city with various placards with inscriptions such as ‘Nigeria: Giant or Dwarf of Africa,’ ‘Education is dead in Nigeria,’ ‘Adieu to education sector in Nigeria,’ among others.
During the protest that lasted for hours, vehicular movements were paralysed as motorists going to places like Mokola, Dugbe, Ilorin and other northern parts of the country could not.
As a result, commuters, transporters and passengers groaned while trekking long distances.
The students called for the resignation of the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai.
The protest was supervised by Divisional Police Officer of Sango, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akinfenwa, who ensured that hoodlums did not hijack it.
Led by SUG President UI, Babatunde Badmus, the students in a communiqué read during the protest, complained about unnecessary establishment of more tertiary institutions in Nigeria while the available ones suffer neglect.
They also called for modernisation of decayed facilities and obsolete style of teaching in tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the best interest of the future of the nation and Nigerians.
“While politicians like Chief Obafemi Awolowo spent so much on education our president today, is non-chalant to the extent that he takes pride in jetting out while pressing national issues that need his attention arise. Ruqayyatu Rufai should resign if she lacks the clue to the problem in the education sector.
“They take their children out of the country to private universities and cripple public universities in order to deprive the children of the masses right to education. We shall resist this attempt,” the student union leader said.
The angry students went on a peaceful protest to major streets in the city with various placards with inscriptions such as ‘Nigeria: Giant or Dwarf of Africa,’ ‘Education is dead in Nigeria,’ ‘Adieu to education sector in Nigeria,’ among others.
During the protest that lasted for hours, vehicular movements were paralysed as motorists going to places like Mokola, Dugbe, Ilorin and other northern parts of the country could not.
As a result, commuters, transporters and passengers groaned while trekking long distances.
The students called for the resignation of the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai.
The protest was supervised by Divisional Police Officer of Sango, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akinfenwa, who ensured that hoodlums did not hijack it.
Led by SUG President UI, Babatunde Badmus, the students in a communiqué read during the protest, complained about unnecessary establishment of more tertiary institutions in Nigeria while the available ones suffer neglect.
They also called for modernisation of decayed facilities and obsolete style of teaching in tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the best interest of the future of the nation and Nigerians.
“While politicians like Chief Obafemi Awolowo spent so much on education our president today, is non-chalant to the extent that he takes pride in jetting out while pressing national issues that need his attention arise. Ruqayyatu Rufai should resign if she lacks the clue to the problem in the education sector.
“They take their children out of the country to private universities and cripple public universities in order to deprive the children of the masses right to education. We shall resist this attempt,” the student union leader said.
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Senators oppose 6 year tenure for President, Govs
THE Senate, on Tuesday, commenced its final debate on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, with an assurance by Senate President, David Mark, that the senators would vote on Thursday on the amended version of the constitution.
In an exercise that lasted more than three hours, virtually all the senators present kicked against the single term tenure proposed for the president, governors and their deputies by the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led Constitution Review Committee.
While the lawmakers unanimously agreed that financial autonomy would fast-track development at the local government level, they vehemently expressed their opposition to the six-year single term tenure, saying allowing it would only lead to the entrenchment of dictatorship and a regime of disrespect for transparency.
The senators were also unanimous in their resolve against the removal of immunity clause for the president, governors and their deputies as recommended by the constitution review committee.
Other amendments to the constitution that enjoyed overwhelming support of the lawmakers included financial autonomy for the Auditor General of the Federation, which Senator Lawan described as “a worthwhile amendment.”
However Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe cautioned his colleagues against the danger of removing the state and local government joint accounts, stressing that it would not solve the problem.
The debate on the report of the constitution amendment continues today and would be rounded up tomorrow.
Christians doubt ceasefire plans
Abuja - Nigeria's largest Christian group doubts plans of a ceasefire between the federal government and members of Boko Haram, saying it would not work because of factionalism within the militant group.
The Christian Association of Nigeria's (CAN's) newly re-elected leader, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, dismissed such plans.
“Which Boko Haram will agree to the ceasefire plan? There have been all kinds of people that claim to be Boko Haram? Now, there are two groups, the Shekau group and Ansaru group," Oritsejafor said in Abuja after his re-election for a new three-year term.
He said while it was a welcome development insurgents pledged to disarm, history had showed the Islamic group is untrustworthy.
"We have seen situations in the past where we have been told told some insurgents had committed to a truce, only for people to be killed the following day," added Oritsejafor.
Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Kabiru Turaki, was confident of a breakthrough.
"The acceptance by Boko Haram to sign a ceasefire agreement with the federal government is a demonstration of the trust the group has in President Goodluck Jonathan," he said.
The Christian Association of Nigeria's (CAN's) newly re-elected leader, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, dismissed such plans.
“Which Boko Haram will agree to the ceasefire plan? There have been all kinds of people that claim to be Boko Haram? Now, there are two groups, the Shekau group and Ansaru group," Oritsejafor said in Abuja after his re-election for a new three-year term.
He said while it was a welcome development insurgents pledged to disarm, history had showed the Islamic group is untrustworthy.
"We have seen situations in the past where we have been told told some insurgents had committed to a truce, only for people to be killed the following day," added Oritsejafor.
Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Kabiru Turaki, was confident of a breakthrough.
"The acceptance by Boko Haram to sign a ceasefire agreement with the federal government is a demonstration of the trust the group has in President Goodluck Jonathan," he said.
Kabiru Sokoto disowns Boko Haram
The alleged mastermind of Christmas day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, in 2011, Kabiru Umar, a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto, yesterday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that though he was a high profile member of the Islamic “Shurah Council” in Nigeria, he never joined the Boko Haram sect.
Sokoto, who testified as his own witness, told the court that though he initially had sympathy for the organisation, his elder brother whose name he gave as Suleiman Aliyu Sokoto, persistently warned him not to get himself involved with the sect.
Speaking through an interpreter, he said: “I am a member of the Shurah Council but not under Boko Haram. I did not participate in any bombing.”
Asked by the prosecuting council, Mrs Chioma Onuegbu, if it was true that he got his orders from Abu Shekau, Sokoto said: “As we all know, Shekau is a leader of Boko Haram but not the Shurah Council and it is not true that when I escaped from police custody, I spoke to Shekau on phone.”
Asked if he was aware that it was Shekau that gave orders regarding where bomb attacks should be carried out and that the sect had so many sections, including a wing in charge of armed robbery, the accused replied: “My lord, it can be so, I don’t know but so I have been hearing.
File: Kabiru Sokoto, suspected Madalla bomber at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan
“I am not also aware that there is suicide attack and bombers section inside Boko Haram. What I know is that any society or group must have sections. The prosecution lied against me when it said I was the leader of the sect in Sokoto State. If the government has such evidence against me, then let it bring it before the court.
“During the time crisis started in Maiduguri in 2009, my elder brother. His name is Suleiman Aliyu Sokoto. He accommodated me for some days, then we held a discussion and he told me to stay away from Boko Haram or anything that will cause trouble for me.
“It was not true that I ran into the forest to escape arrest when that crisis started. I was arrested in my house. If I had the intention I would have attacked the police and not wait for them to arrest me right inside my house.”
Asked by the prosecutor if it was not true that he got four credits from the Secondary School Examination Council, SSCE, with English being one of the subjects, Sokoto said: “Yes, it is true that I have four credits, I can’t remember the subjects but it is English language. I sat for the exam in 2003.”
Asked by the prosecutor if it was not true that he got four credits from the Secondary School Examination Council, SSCE, with English being one of the subjects, Sokoto said: “Yes, it is true that I have four credits, I can’t remember the subjects but it is English language. I sat for the exam in 2003.”
The prosecutor asked him: “Then which language did you use in writing the exam?” Sokoto told the court it was English language.
After the accused person closed his case, Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned the matter till October 7 for the parties to adopt written addresses.
It will be recalled that Sokoto had on Monday, told the court that he was innocent of the charge against him, insisting that he was tortured by the police to admit that he was a member of the Boko Haram sect.
Sokoto, who is answering to a two-count charge preferred against him by the government had, through his lawyers, led by Mr. Hassan Lukman, maintained that the government failed to establish a prima-facie case capable of warranting his conviction.
Praying the court to discharge and acquit him, Sokoto contended that none of the six witnesses that testified against him in court was able to establish a nexus linking him to commission of the alleged terrorist act.
He was initially docked before the high court on May 20.
Aside allegation that he trained over 500 men on how to manufacture and detonate Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, the Federal Government alleged that he had prior knowledge that the sect planned to bomb the church on Christmas day but failed to disclose it to law enforcement officer.
ASUU walks out on NASS, ministers
Abuja - The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on uesday in Abuja walked out on the joint National Assembly Committee on Education at a meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Ministers of Education and Labour, Prof. Ruqquayatu Ruf’ai and Emeka Nwogu respectively.
The NASS joint committee on Education had called the aggrieved unions in the nation’s higher institutions for a dialogue on the way forward in their ongoing industrial action.
The meeting was convened by the joint committee on education of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The joint committee had invited ASUU, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Education (COEASU) to a dialogue to resolve the strikes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ASUP strike had entered into its eight week, while the ASUU strike began on July 1.
The committee had asked ASUU to excuse it, while it interacted with ASUP and COEASU, which was viewed as a slight by ASUU.
The representatives of the ASUU left the National Assembly Complex in annoyance, saying they were slighted.
One of the members, who declined to give his name, told newsmen that they had another appointment to attend to.
Another said, "asking us to excuse them is a slight; why should they ask us to excuse them; what is it that they want to discuss that we cannot be part of.’’
The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije (PDP-Abia), tried to defend ASUU’s actions, but members said there was no rationale for ASUU to leave.
Chukwumerije said that the committee would intensify its negotiation with the government to ensure that the issues at stake were resolved.
"All we are urging is that you call an emergency meeting with 24 hours because the students are getting restive.
"We need to understand that if these students go out of hand, it will cause more problems for the country.
"Please trust us to keep to this two weeks we have given you to try and implement your demands,’’ he said.
Sen. Sunny Ugbuoji (PDP-Ebonyi), said it was unacceptable for ASUU to walk out on the committee as this showed a disregard for the entire parliament.
"ASUU has walked out on us and this should be said in plain terms. What meeting can be more important than this meeting?’’ Ugbuoji asked.
Rep. Farouk Lawan (PDP-Kano), said that no matter what other meeting ASUU had, "it was wrong to walk out on us, we were trying to resolve a matter concerning the unions.’’
Lawan said ASUU should have been patient and waited to hear from the members and the ministers, noting that no other meeting could be more important.
He urged the committee chairmen not to relent in rescheduling another meeting with ASUU in the interest of the students who were still at home.
He described the "snub" by the ASUU representatives as not expected of university lecturers.
Rep. Jerry Alagbaso (PDP-Imo), said ASUU’s action was unacceptable and advised that a letter be written to the union expressing the committee’s disapproval.
"It is arrogant for them to snub us knowing that this meeting is in the interest of our children.
"I suggest that a strong-worded letter be written to the union to tell them that we are not happy with their action,” he said.
Earlier, the committee had appealed to ASUP to call off its eight-week old strike, saying that the committee was in talks with the Federal Government on the way forward.
The committee, however, expressed optimism on the solution within two weeks.
The ASUP President, Chibuzor Asomugha, told the committee that the union would hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and try to do the bidding of the National Assembly.
The President of COEASU, Emmanuel Nkoro, appealed to the committee and the ministers to look into his association’s demands to avert any strike action.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquayatu Ruf’ai, and her Labour counterpart, Emeka Nwogu, appealed to ASUP to convene a NEC meeting and call off the strike.
Both ministers gave the assurance that the Federal Government was looking into issues raised with a view to reaching an amicable resolution. (NAN
The meeting was also attended by Ministers of Education and Labour, Prof. Ruqquayatu Ruf’ai and Emeka Nwogu respectively.
The NASS joint committee on Education had called the aggrieved unions in the nation’s higher institutions for a dialogue on the way forward in their ongoing industrial action.
The meeting was convened by the joint committee on education of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The joint committee had invited ASUU, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Education (COEASU) to a dialogue to resolve the strikes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ASUP strike had entered into its eight week, while the ASUU strike began on July 1.
The committee had asked ASUU to excuse it, while it interacted with ASUP and COEASU, which was viewed as a slight by ASUU.
The representatives of the ASUU left the National Assembly Complex in annoyance, saying they were slighted.
One of the members, who declined to give his name, told newsmen that they had another appointment to attend to.
Another said, "asking us to excuse them is a slight; why should they ask us to excuse them; what is it that they want to discuss that we cannot be part of.’’
The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije (PDP-Abia), tried to defend ASUU’s actions, but members said there was no rationale for ASUU to leave.
Chukwumerije said that the committee would intensify its negotiation with the government to ensure that the issues at stake were resolved.
"All we are urging is that you call an emergency meeting with 24 hours because the students are getting restive.
"We need to understand that if these students go out of hand, it will cause more problems for the country.
"Please trust us to keep to this two weeks we have given you to try and implement your demands,’’ he said.
Sen. Sunny Ugbuoji (PDP-Ebonyi), said it was unacceptable for ASUU to walk out on the committee as this showed a disregard for the entire parliament.
"ASUU has walked out on us and this should be said in plain terms. What meeting can be more important than this meeting?’’ Ugbuoji asked.
Rep. Farouk Lawan (PDP-Kano), said that no matter what other meeting ASUU had, "it was wrong to walk out on us, we were trying to resolve a matter concerning the unions.’’
Lawan said ASUU should have been patient and waited to hear from the members and the ministers, noting that no other meeting could be more important.
He urged the committee chairmen not to relent in rescheduling another meeting with ASUU in the interest of the students who were still at home.
He described the "snub" by the ASUU representatives as not expected of university lecturers.
Rep. Jerry Alagbaso (PDP-Imo), said ASUU’s action was unacceptable and advised that a letter be written to the union expressing the committee’s disapproval.
"It is arrogant for them to snub us knowing that this meeting is in the interest of our children.
"I suggest that a strong-worded letter be written to the union to tell them that we are not happy with their action,” he said.
Earlier, the committee had appealed to ASUP to call off its eight-week old strike, saying that the committee was in talks with the Federal Government on the way forward.
The committee, however, expressed optimism on the solution within two weeks.
The ASUP President, Chibuzor Asomugha, told the committee that the union would hold its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and try to do the bidding of the National Assembly.
The President of COEASU, Emmanuel Nkoro, appealed to the committee and the ministers to look into his association’s demands to avert any strike action.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquayatu Ruf’ai, and her Labour counterpart, Emeka Nwogu, appealed to ASUP to convene a NEC meeting and call off the strike.
Both ministers gave the assurance that the Federal Government was looking into issues raised with a view to reaching an amicable resolution. (NAN
Monday, 8 July 2013
Federal Ministries
Federal Cap ita l Territory Ministry
Capital Road, Area II, Garki, P.M.B 25, Abuja
Tel: 08073536633
Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources
Federal Capital Development Authority
Sec ret ariat Complex, Block
A, Area II, Garki, Abuja
Tel: 08034582025
Federal Ministry of Aviat io n
Federal Secret ariat Complex
Federal Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Ol d Federal Secret ariat Complex, Block G&H,
Area 1, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Defence Defence Headquarters Ol usegun Obasanjo Way,
Opp. Agura Hotel, Area 7,
P.M.B. 196, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Educatio n
Federal Secret ariat Complex, Phase III, Shehu Shagari W ay, Maitama District, P.M.B. 146, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Environment
Mabushi Hills,
P.M.B. 111, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Finance
Federal Ministry of Finance Complex
Ahmadu Bello Way, Central Business District, P.M.B.14, Garki, Abuja
Tel: 08033354909
Federal Ministry of Inter ior
Ol d Federal Scret ariat Complex, Block F, Area 1, Garki,
P.M.B. 7007, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Justice
Justice Headquarters
Opp. Bayelsa House (Izon Wari),
Off Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama District, P.M.B. 192, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Labour and
Productivity
Federal Scret ariat Complex, Block
4A, Shehu Shagari W ay, Maitama District, P.M.B.
4, Garki, Abuja
Tel: 08033156526
Federal Ministry of Mines & Stee l
Develo pment
2, Luanda Crescent, Opp. Rockview Hotel ,
Off Adetokunbo Ademola Cres cent, Wuse II, P.M.B. 107, Garki
Abuja
Federal Ministry of Niger De lta Affa irs
Federal Secret ariat Complex, Phase I,
Shehu Shagari W ay, Maitama District, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Petro leum Resources
NNPC Towers
Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business
District
P.M.B. 449,
Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Police Affa irs
Federal Secret ariat Complex,
Phase III, Shehu Shagari W ay,
Maitama District, P.M.B. 41, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Power
Federal Secret ariat Complex, Phase I, (AnnexIII)
Shehu Shagari W ay, Maitama District,
Federal Ministry of Women
Affair s & Socia l Dev.
New Federal Secret ariat Complex, Annexe III,
Shehu Shagari W ay, Maitama
District,
P.M.B. 229, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Works, Housing & Urban Dev. Mabushi
Hills,
P.M.B. 111, Garki, Abuja
Federal Ministry of Youth
Develo pment
Head of Service Building, Block C, Federal Secret ariat Complex, Phase II,
Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama
District, Abuja
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