Ajayi Crowther varsity to conduct drug tests for students, staff

Ajayi Crowther University has decided to subject students, porters, and security personnel to mandatory drug tests, according to a report from the institution’s alumni executive. This is coming in the wake of the death of a student who was said to have been beaten to death by some of his colleagues. Recall a 200-level Mechanical Engineering student at the institution, Akpo Alex, had, last week, been beaten to death by some of his colleagues. The beating was said to have been occasioned by an alleged stealing of a phone belonging to one of them. “He also said that every one of the students, university porters, and securities would be subjected to drug tests, and if they are found culpable, they would be expelled and dismissed with immediate effect,” the school’s alumni executive report signed by its president, Hon Busoye Ogunlade, stated on Thursday, quoting the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo.  The report comes after the alumni executive visited the university management to get updates and offer suggestions in the aftermath of the student’s death. During the visit, the Ajayi Crowther University vice-chancellor informed the alumni that all individuals involved in the incident, including the suspected perpetrators, a porter, and two security personnel accused of rape, are currently in police custody awaiting legal proceedings. “The porter of the same hostel where the incident happened is still in police custody till date. Also, the two securities who were reported for rape are to appear in court today, May 30, 2024,” the report stated. In addition to the drug testing measures, the university has increased its security presence on campus, with civil defence officers working alongside existing security personnel. The report also mentioned that the parents of the deceased student visited the university and suggested ways to raise awareness among students about proper channels for reporting incidents instead of taking matters into their own hands. The alumni executive expressed its commitment to working closely with the university management to uphold the institution’s vision and ensure the safety of students. “We told the management that the Alumni as a body would keep working hands in hands with the university to ensure the vision of its establishment is well pursued to the core,” the report stated. Earlier, the VC noted that the school has learnt from this incident and has beefed up security and monitoring while encouraging students to report whatever is happening around them to the vice-chancellor and other management staff.

Flights disruption imminent as NiMET staff begin strike Monday

Travellers may experience flight disruptions as Aviation unions have instructed Nigeria Meteorology Agency staff to begin strike action on Monday, May 20, 2024. Aviation unions are National Union of Air Transport Employee Association of Nigeria, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations and Technical and Recreational Employees. This imminent strike as disclosed in a letter dated 14 May 2024, Wednesday, stems from management’s failure to address 45 months of minimum wage arrears and consequential adjustments for staff members. NiMET is charged with the responsibility to advise the Federal Government on all aspects of meteorology; project, prepare and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology; and to issue weather (and climate) forecasts for the safe operations of aircrafts, ocean going vessels and oil rigs. The union, represented by the three General Secretaries: Ocheme Aba, Abdulrasaq Seidu, and Waheed Sikiru, wrote a letter addressed to NiMET’s Director General, Prof Charles Anoske, with the subject line ‘Re: Failure to Pay 45-Month Arrears of Minimum Wage Consequential Adjustment—14 days ultimatum.’ The ultimatum had been issued, and management responded with what seemed like a compromise: paying off the 45 months of arrears in installments. They also expressed their dismay that the agency’s staff has been awaiting the palliative payments sanctioned by the Federal Government since October 2023. Furthermore, they highlighted that the 25-35 per cent salary increase has not been implemented for them, alongside NiMET’s exclusion from receiving Peculiar Allowances. “Furthermore, our Unions through a joint letter dated 4, April 2024, did request for review of the outdated conditions of service. To date the management has deemed our Unions unfit for any response,” it read. The letter further reads, “The above catalogue of woes, and others unmentioned confirm that NiMET Staff have been consigned to the lin bin of abject poverty – worse than any existing aviation establishment. In our considered view, it is inhuman on the part of management to be forborne with these conditions and irresponsible on the part of unions to tolerate this situation for this long. “Therefore, this letter serves as notice to the management of NiMET that the staff members of the agency are, by a copy of this letter, directed to withdraw all services with effect from Monday, May 20, 2024, unless and until the outstanding 42 months arrears of consequential adjustment is fully liquidated. “NIMET Salary structure is adapted to an appropriate Federal Government approved structure and all accruable payments liquidated, Management commences review of the outdated CoS with our Unions with a definite timeline for delivery and actualisation.”

Staff Capacity Building: OAGF pledges collaboration with ASCON

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) is to work with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) to provide the requisite capacity development training for treasury staff.  The Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein dropped the hint when the Director-General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Mrs. Cecelia Gayya led a delegation from the institution to her office Tuesday in Abuja.  According to a statement by Director (Press) Bawa Mokwa, Dr. Madein said capacity development is essential for effective performance, assuring that Office will sustain a deeper collaboration with ASCON in that regard.    She noted that, “Challenges abound in every position one occupies and every task has its own demands. The complexities will keep increasing and the ability to overcome and achieve the desired result will definitely rely more on the exposure, in terms of skills and knowledge of global trends”.   While reaffirming that staff training is a cardinal policy of her office, the AGF called on the management of ASCON to include Treasury staff in its capacity building programmes on any area within the civil or public service.  She applauded the management of ASCON for considering the Treasury Academy, in Orozo, Abuja as its study Centre, adding that the OAGF will provide all the necessary assistance to bring the idea to fruition.  On her appointment as the first female AGF, Dr. Madein acknowledged that the office comes with much expectation from the government and Nigerians, promising that she will put in her utmost effort to discharge the responsibility creditably.  In her remarks, the Director General of ASCON, Mrs Cecelia Gayya congratulated Dr. Madein on her appointment as the first female AGF and expressed optimism that she has the capacity and experience to succeed in the office.    Mrs. Gayya confirmed that ASCON was willing to partner with the OAGF on staff training and other areas as may be required of it, adding that the institute was working towards making the Treasury Academy in Abuja one of its study Centers.  She said the institute had commenced the training of Chief Executives of parastatals, agencies and commissions, and that the AGF will be included in the next session of the training which will commence in September.