The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete’s branch, has asked the State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to restore quarterly subvention to the institution.
ASUU equally asked the Governor to implement Earned Academic Allowance ( EAA) for the academic staff of the university.
The union while congratulating the Governor on his emergence as the chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) said: “We will like to remind him of the situation of academic staff in Kwara State University, particularly on the promises he made during our meeting with him on Tuesday, 18th October, 2022 during which he made firm commitments to us on addressing the issues of the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) for academic staff of the university and the restoration of subvention to the university which has only survived through thick and thin in almost 10 years.”
Noting that the governor would bring quality leadership to NGF, the union in a statement signed by its branch chairman, Dr AbdulGaniyu Salahu added: “We will like to remind the Visitor to our university of his assurances to us that the EAA and quarterly subvention to KWASU would be actualized before or by June 2023.
“Our union believes that the governor is a man of his words and is committed to fulfilling his promises in the interest of the continued peace and academic stability in KWASU, particularly as our university remains the most academically stable university in Nigeria as of today, graduating students as and when due. We will like to see that record remaining unbroken.
“On our own as a union, recently granted full status by the national body of ASUU, we will continue to work, along with our members, for the progress of our dear university, Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.“
ASUU described AbdulRazaq’s emergence as NGF’s chairman as well deserved.
Subsidy Removal
Meanwhile, a former Dean of the Postgraduate School, University of Ilorin, Professor Badmas Lanre Yusuf, has reacted to the withdrawal of subsidy on fuel otherwise known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), saying that it took effect without consultation with the masses.
He noted that many Nigerians were taken aback that the federal government proceeded with the removal of subsidy on petrol without reaching out to them through the National Assembly to ascertain its desirability.
Yusuf, a Professor of Islamic Studies, stated this in his Juma’ah sermon delivered at Hilal Crescent Mosque in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
He said President Ahmed Tinubu’s pronouncement on fuel subsidy during his inauguration in Abuja was received with mixed feelings because the downtrodden masses are at the receiving end.
The Don, who pointed out that some categories of workers have remained stuck to a particular salary structure in the last ten years, explained that the government ought to have increased the salaries of workers if it was bent on removing fuel subsidy.
Yusuf decried the negative effect of the development on the masses, who patronize same markets as wealthy people for their households’ needs.
The Professor of Islamic Studies, however, took a swipe at fuel marketers for displaying hypocrisy on the new pump price of petrol, saying that they would not have complied immediately if the price was to have been reviewed downward.
“When the new President spoke about the focus of his administration, I don’t know whether it was to the joy, surprise or sadness of every Nigerian. The first major speech by the new leader did not send any happiness to the citizens. Rather, it made citizens to be sad because of the removal of subsidy (on fuel).
“Even by the time subsidy was not removed, we were in a serious economic quagmire, that if you are going to the market rather being very happy, you will be sad. Because by the time you bring out your money, you will not be able to buy sufficient provision that you need in your family.
“Immediately the subsidy was removed, the pump price of petrol jumped up. The fuel marketers displayed very rare act of hypocrisy because if the government is bringing down the pump price and you expect them to immediately implement it, they will tell you that no, the supply we have is what we are selling now. But they didn’t even wait for a minute, they skyrocket the price.
“And the government is talking about palliative. There are some sections of the workers whose salaries had not been reviewed in the last 10 years even though we are going to the same market. If the government is talking about palliative, what you will expect them to do is to review up the salaries of the downtrodden workers whose money has not been enough to take them home”, Yusuf said.
Kindness
The Kwara State Director of the National Orientation Agency ( NOA) Mr Olusegun Adeyemi has stressed the need for Nigerians to be kind and be their brother’s keeper especially at such challenging times.
Adeyemi stated this while receiving in audience the
Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, Kwara State chapter during an advocacy visit in respect of the association’s 2023 week.
According to the State Director, “these are challenging times indeed and the little help we can give one another, especially the less privileged will go a long way to provide succor and attract God’s blessings.
Adeyemi congratulated FOMWAN for the 2023 week activities which included a visit to orphanages in Ilorin.
The Director further appreciated FOMWAN for being a good partner of NOA in the task of nation building and urged the association not to relent in its efforts.
The State Vice President of FOMWAN and State Youth Coordinator, Biliqees Oladimeji who led other members of the Association on the visit lauded NOA’s proactive efforts which the association has been both at State and Local Government levels.
The State Vice President said the 2023 celebration of the association’s week in Kwara features laudable interventions in education, empowerment, health, community development and heartfelt prayers for the country with respect to subsidy removal and success of the new administration.
The State Vice President who is also the Director, Federal Information Centre in Kwara State admonished Nigerians to not just be patient with the federal government, rather, “We all should play our part well in building the nation of our dreams.”
