By Elijah Ugani
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is set to call off its eight month strike after the federal government of has accepted to pay the Union 70bn.
This was disclosed in ASUU official Twitter handle after the Union met with the representatives of the federal government.
Instead of being happy that the strike will be called off, many students took to twitter to ask ASSU to foot drag resumption to January, 2021.
By George Odok Jr
The Student Union Government of the Cross River College of Health Technology has concluded plans to lead a massive protest to Gov. Ben Ayade’s office for failure of the governor to restore the salary structure of staff of the College.
Addressing newsmen in Calabar, SUG President of the institution, Bassey Chima Kedemiti, said that the incessant strike embarked upon by staff of the institution over the salary structure had disrupted their academic calendar and directly prolonged their stay in school.
It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of the institution embarked on a one week warning strike over the suspension of its Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education and Academic Salary Structure by the state government.
The suspension of the Consolidated Polytechnic Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Educational Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) by the state government in Nov. 2019 has been described by members of the unions as “unwarranted”.
CONPCASS and CONTEDISS salary structures were approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in 2010 and implemented in 2011 for all Polytechnics, Monotechnics and College of Health Technology in Nigeria.
The SUG President lamented that their license examination have been put on hold because of the incessant strikes by lecturers of the institution over the salary structure.
“We are a population of over 5,000 students and we are hitting the street on a peaceful protest on November 30th if the state government fails to restore the salary structure of our staff.
“We are going to block the road on that day and there will be no movement along Mary Slessor road in Calabar. As the SUG President, I am going to lead over 3,000 students in a peaceful protest if the state government doesn’t restore the salary structure of staff of this institution.
“I know what our students can do, hence it will be nice for the governor to restore the salary structure and allow us have a smooth academic calendar,” he said.
Also speaking, the NACRISS President of the Institution, Comrade Obongha David Igri, said that the state government had neglected the welfare of their staff since 2017.
According to him, “College of Health Technology Calabar hardly embark on strike, not until this present administration came on board”.
“I must tell you the truth, the state government has not tried in meeting with the demands of staff of this institution.
“Students were supposed to have graduated and be mobilised for NYSC, but the state government had drastically reduced the salary of staff of this institution.
“We appeal with the state government to restore the salary structure of staff of this institution for the sake of the students.
“I am joining my strength with the SUG President to say that if the salary structure is not restored, we will embark on a massive protest on November 30th to the governor’s office,” he said.
By Elijah Ugani
As part of their efforts to contribute to free flow of vehicular movement in Calabar, street children popular referred to as scolombo boys have taken to control traffic in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The Lumine News caught the boys on camera while driving through Marian by Crunches, at Prof. Eyo Ita House.
As at the time of this report, it was unclear what happened that the traffic police in charge of the bit was/were absent.
This act of service as displayed by these boys has clearly shown that, if they properly integrated into our planning, they can be more productive in all sphere of life.
This has however invalidates the erroneous notion that street children are good only at begging. Government or Civil Society Organizations can develop a strategy to engage this boys productively.
The Cross River Police Command has arrested three suspects who looted insecticide pumping machines from the Calabar Rice City during the EndSARS protest on Oct. 24 in Calabar.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulkadir Jimoh, who paraded the suspects on Thursday in Calabar, said they were arrested at 8miles axis of Calabar on their way out to Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
According to him, the state command had earlier announced and gave out 48 hour grace period to looters who looted both private and public properties to return them to the police or face arrest.
He said “In line with the Inspector General of Police directives, we gave out a grace period for all those who looted public and private items to return them to the state.
“Earlier today, our vigilant officers intercepted a lorry loaded with insecticide pumping machines that were looted from the Calabar Rice City.
“After much interrogation, the suspects failed to explain how they came about the machines. It was an aide to Gov. Ben Ayade on Agriculture that came in an identified the machines.”
By Elijah Ugani
The management of the Nigerian Police Force NPF, Lagos State Command has stated that its officers had returned a woman’s purse containing #115,000.00 to her.
The Lagos State Police Command made this known on its verified twitter handle @rrslagos767, noted that “While on patrol this evening around Igando, Officers of the Lagos State Police Command saw a red purse falling from a lady on a bike.
“They picked it up and tried signaling the rider but he mistook it for an attempt to arrest him.
“Gradually they followed the bike to her destination, then handed it over to her.
“She confirmed the sum of *N115,000* and a *Tecno phone* inside the purse were all intact”
By Elijah Ugani
The Speaker of the House of representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajamiabila has suspended the police officer attached to his convoy whose stray bullet killed one of the newspaper vendors, when the officer shut into the air to disperse unidentified men who attempted to obstruct the speaker’s convoy.
The Speaker took to his verified twitter handle to disclose this, noted that “A horrible incident has taken place. This evening (yesterday) as I left the national assembly, I stopped as usual to exchange pleasantries with the newspaper vendors at the corner. Many of them have known me since I first moved to Abuja and it was a friendly exchange.
“Unfortunately, after the convoy set out in continuation of movement, unidentified men obstructed the convoy which got the attention of security men in the convoy who shot into the air to disperse them.
“Some hours later, after getting to our destination, it was brought to my attention that someone was hit by a stray bullet, contrary to an earlier report by men in the convoy that they applied their security discretion to shoot in the air.
“In the meantime; the officer who fired the fatal shot has been suspended from the convoy pending the conclusion of the investigation.
“My value for human life and my respect for all people – irrespective of social economic status – is what endeared me to these vendors and these are the reasons why I stop my convoy quite often to connect with them.
“For one of them to have been shot by my security detail is horrific and I cannot begin to imagine the grief and loss Ifeanyi’s family must feel on this sad day. No family should have to go through this.
“I am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors.
I have caused a report to be made to the local police station and an investigation has commenced”.
By Itam Ofor
The Cross State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on the State Government and it’s agencies to suspend the 2020 Calabar Christmas Carnival and other related activities.
The Assembly wants the annual Christmas Carnival suspended due to the destruction and looting of infrastructure following the #ENDSARS protest as well as the COVID 19 pandemic currently ravaging the world adding that Government should rather address pressing issues like the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and Security in the state.
The House adopted the resolution following a motion moved by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey (Ogoja) who decried the wanton destruction of infrastructure across the State during the recent #EndSars protest where most of the Carnival events are normally held.
He said, though the carnival Calabar is an international event attracting people from all over the world with economic benefits, the possibility of hosting it this year is not realistic as the venue for some of the activities like the Calabar international conference center (CICC), Tinapa have been looted and vandalized.
Odey also observed that the COVID 19 pandemic is not totally over hence holding the carnival which normally attracts large crowds may have devastating health effects on the State.
Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Joseph Bassey reiterated that the COVID 19 pandemic the world over has recorded very high death rates adding that currently, some Countries are observing a second lockdown hence organizing the usual carnival will be unwise.
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Other Members unanimously supported the motion citing the current bad security situation in the State, the COVID 19 pandemic and the vandalism of infrastructure as reasons to suspend the event for this year.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams observed that all over the world, many international events were suspended because of the COVID 19 pandemic, adding that the safety of citizens is Paramount. He called on all Cross Riverians to join forces with the Government to bring the State back to its feet.
No fewer than three persons have been kidnapped in Calabar the Cross River State Capital in one night, November 18th, 2020.
The Lumine News gathered that the kidnappers are demanding as low as #20,000.00 for their release. Many spectators have continue to maintain that Calabar is no longer safe, the state continue to deny this allegations.
The three persons kidnapped are;
Eunice Peters was picked at Mbukpa market in Calabar south.
The second lady was kidnapped at Atekong drive by Master’s Hair cut.
The daughter of the owner of Sparks Shop was also kidnapped.
As at the time of filling this report, we are yet to confirm whether efforts have made to pay the twenty thousand naira ransom for the release of the kidnapped victims.
The Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu has advised the Vice Chairmen of Local Government to create a harmonious working relationship with their Chairmen to enable them to achieve predetermined results.
Professor Esu gave the advice when the Executive members of the Forum of Vice Chairmen of Local Government Councils paid him a Solidarity/Courtesy visit to him in Government House, Calabar.
He said the role of a Vice Chairman is supportive, cooperative and loyalty to his/her boss while learning the act of being a Vice Chairman through the application of patience., tolerance and humility.
The constitution did not define specifically the responsibilities of the Vice Chairman in Council adding that the roles and responsibilities of the vice is the prerogative of the Chairman, Prof Esu points out.
Continuing, Professor Esu thanked the leadership of the forum for their solidarity visit and expressed sadness over the incidence that took place in October where hoodlums in the guise of #EndSARS protesters looted and destroyed public and private properties in the Calabar metropolis and described it as “gross destruction” by the elements.
He expressed sympathy to some of the Local Government that suffered lose of properties in the incident and advised the Vice Chairmen and their chairmen to brace up to the challenge of Security of their councils to avoid a recurrence.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chairman of Bekwara Local Government Council who doubles as the Chairman of the Forum, Mrs Linda Etako intimated that the visit was to show solidarity and pledge their unalloyed support to the State Governor on the vandalization and looting of properties in the State.
She maintained that the forum is behind him in all his policies to move the state forward.
Adding, the Vice Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Council and Legal Adviser to the forum, Mrs Lauretta Ita pointed out that the Vice Chairmen are very crucial in the administration of the council, saying that they are willing at all times to carryout any assignments as demanded by their bosses.
She appealed to the Governor to create an enabling environment for their Chairmen to carry them along in the administration of the Councils as this will enable them succeed on their Assignments.
Deputy Governor’s Press Unit
18:11:2020
The Honroable Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Cross River State SFTAS Steering Committee, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr has revealed that Cross River State has earned $5,000,000 for the level of work done in the production of its 2020 Amended Budget. The grant was achieved under a performance-based grant, a part component of the World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results.
It would be recalled that the independent verification agents from the Office of Auditor General of the Federation had lauded His Excellency, Sen Prof Ben Ayade and the administration during their visit for its amended transparent, accountable and sustainable state-level fiscal/budget framework.
“The federal government of Nigeria (FGN) has disbursed to the eligible States on the basis of the Amended 2020 Budget results achievement.”
Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr. Hassan Dodo, the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, yesterday in Abuja.