BIG STORY

Alumni Association Kicks As LAUTECH Amendment Bill Passes Second Reading

Published

4 years ago

March 16, 2022

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A bill to change the current status of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso from a technical institution to a conventional university has passed second reading in the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The bill is also seeking to change the university’s name from LAUTECH to Ladoke Akintola University (LAU).

However, the LAUTECH Alumni Association (worldwide) kicked against changing the name of the university.

Governor Seyi Makinde had sought to change the university from a technology institution to a conventional one and the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, said on Tuesday that the bill had passed the second reading.

The speaker said, ”The bill has scaled second reading. We are working on it to ensure that our students and others like them have the opportunity of studying any course they like. This time around, they will not be restricted to technical education or courses alone. This shows how futuristic and forward-looking our Governor is.”

But the LAUTECH Alumni Association opposed the renaming in a communique issued on Tuesday following an emergency meeting of the association called by the Global President, Solomon Onilede.

The communique which was signed by LAUTECH Alumni Global Secretary, Prof. A.O Ige, was made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.

The alumni association argued that the university and its students, as well as old students, would suffer greatly if the name was changed from LAUTECH.

The communique read, “That the enabling documents and technical papers that established the university had already captured all the programmes in different fields of study. These programmes are to be rolled out in phases as the university advances; such as agriculture, engineering, medicine, sciences, environmental sciences, pharmacy, law, education, arts, social sciences.

“That licence to establish the University of Technology was given after due diligence and evaluation were carried out ab initio to the technical report.
The word “Technology” does not reside in Engineering exclusively instead, it connotes advancement in different fields of study. Therefore, there is technology in law, technology in arts, technology in education, Technology in pharmacy, technology in agriculture etc.

“That the unique name is LAUTECH, that thousands of graduates of LAUTECH at undergraduate, postgraduate and professional levels, would suffer a huge setback in their places of work which might be irredeemable if the university is renamed.

“Renaming of LAUTECH would demoralize all stakeholders (Staff, Parents, Students, Immediate community, members of Alumni Association and would return the University to zero level. Global and national correspondences would be greatly affected.
Celebrating LAUTECH, the best state university should continue with proper funding for teaching and research so as to occupy a vintage position globally.

“There are several universities of Technology within the country and abroad that run numerous programmes such as laws, technology, education etc.
We sincerely appreciate Governor Seyi Makinde for his unalloyed support to the University.

“It is our prayer that the branded name of LAUTECH be retained even to accommodate the name LAUTECH is strong enough to accommodate all other programmes as envisaged in the technical paper that established the university.”

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BIG STORY

Police Arrest Six For ‘Hacking Telecoms Firm To Divert N7.7bn Airtime’, Recover 400 Laptops, 1000 Mobile Phones

Published

15 hours ago

January 29, 2026

PorscheClassy News

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested six suspects for allegedly hacking into a telecommunication company in Nigeria to divert airtime and mobile data worth N7.7 billion.

A statement on Wednesday by Benjamin Hundeyin, the force spokesperson, said the suspects allegedly gained unlawful access to the telecommunications company’s core systems.

The suspects are Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad.

Hundeyin said operatives recovered two mini plazas, retail outlets containing over 400 laptops, 1,000 mobile phones, and a Toyota vehicle.

The force spokesperson said a “substantial” amount of money was traced to the suspects’ bank accounts.

“The syndicate was responsible for the illegal diversion of a telecommunications company’s airtime and data resources, resulting in an estimated financial loss of over ₦7.7 billion,” the statement reads.

“The breakthrough followed a petition by a Nigerian telecommunications company, which reported suspicious and unauthorized activities within its billing and payments infrastructure.

“Investigations revealed that internal staff login credentials had been compromised, granting threat actors unlawful access to core systems.

“Following weeks of planning, coordinated enforcement operations were executed in October 2025 in Kano and Katsina States, with a follow-up arrest in the Federal Capital Territory.

“The suspects would be charged to court on the completion of the investigation.

“Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has commended the officers involved in the investigation for their professionalism.”

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BIG STORY

NLC Directs Unions To Continue FCTA Strike Despite Court Order

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its affiliate unions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to continue the ongoing strike by workers of the FCT Administration, despite a court order directing that the industrial action be suspended.

The directive was contained in a circular dated January 27, 2026, and signed by Benson Upah, the acting general secretary of the NLC.

In the circular addressed to presidents and general secretaries of all Abuja-based unions, the NLC said it was “reaffirming and reinforcing” its earlier instructions for workers to sustain the strike action until their demands are fully met.

“We hereby reaffirm and reinforce the directive to all affiliate unions in the FCT to not only proceed with the ongoing action but to intensify and sustain it until all workers’ demands are fully addressed,” the circular reads.

The NLC noted that issues such as unpaid wage awards and promotion arrears, non-remittance of pension and National Housing Fund deductions, as well as alleged intimidation of workers, are yet to be resolved.

“These violations are grave, unacceptable, and incompatible with the principles of fairness, justice, and decent work,” the NLC said.

“Affiliate unions are therefore directed to fully maintain participation in the industrial action; reinforce mobilisation of members for all congress-approved activities; and mobilise members to continuously participate in daily prayer and solidarity sessions from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at designated venues across the FCT.”

The NLC warned against any withdrawal from the strike at this stage, saying such action would embolden further violations against workers.

“This struggle demands unity, discipline, and unwavering commitment. All affiliates are expected to comply strictly with this directive in the collective interest of the Nigerian working class. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the circular reads.

On Tuesday, a national industrial court in Abuja ordered workers on the payroll of the FCTA to suspend the strike.

Delivering a ruling, Emmanuel Subilim, presiding judge, held that although the matter before the court amounted to a trade dispute, the defendants’ right to embark on industrial action was not absolute.

He held that once a dispute has been referred to the national industrial court, any ongoing strike must cease pending the determination of the case.

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BIG STORY

Return To Work Immediately Or Face Legal Action, Wike Tells FCTA Workers As Court Orders Strike Suspension

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

PorscheClassy News

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday warned striking staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration to return to work immediately or face legal action, following a National Industrial Court ruling ordering an end to the strike that has disrupted public services in Abuja for over a week.

Briefing journalists shortly after the court’s decision, Wike insisted that the rule of law must prevail and accused political actors of exploiting the industrial action for motives unrelated to workers’ welfare.

“The administration was already in the process of mediation when some politicians hijacked the strike,” he said, adding that several of the workers’ demands were “frivolous” and either unreasonable or already addressed.

Wike said the FCTA approached the court after determining that the strike had been “hijacked by politicians,” despite ongoing dialogue and attention to a substantial number of workers’ concerns.

He highlighted the administration’s efforts to support staff welfare, including salary payments and reforms within the civil service.

The minister disclosed that more than N12bn had just been approved for the payment of January salaries to FCTA workers, describing the move as evidence of the government’s commitment to its workforce.

Pointing to improved revenue performance under his leadership, Wike noted that the FCT had generated over N30bn in internally generated revenue, a significant increase compared with previous years.

He urged workers to recognise reforms implemented by the administration, including the establishment of the Civil Service Commission and infrastructure investments across the territory.

“Workers are largely responsible for the lack of development in states, including the FCT,” he said.

Wike dismissed circulating reports suggesting he had been forced out of his office during protests linked to the strike.

“I was never chased out of the office,” he said, explaining that he had merely stepped out to see President Bola Tinubu off at the airport.

Adopting a firm stance, the minister warned against further disruptions of government operations.

“Anyone who dares to lock the gates again will be made a scapegoat, because the law must be obeyed.”

He alleged that some senior civil service officials had played a role in sustaining the strike, claiming that certain directors were instigating the action, but said this would not prevent the administration from pursuing the right course.

Wike emphasised that engagement between workers and the government did not require direct access to him personally.

“Seeing me in person is not a right,” he said, noting that workers’ representatives had been in discussions with management throughout the dispute.

He concluded by warning that staff who failed to comply with the court order and resume duties immediately would face legal action, signalling a tougher enforcement phase as the FCTA seeks to restore full public services.

Workers of the FCTA, operating under the Joint Union Action Committee, had embarked on an indefinite strike on January 19 over unresolved welfare concerns.

The National Industrial Court issued an interlocutory injunction stopping the strike after an application by Wike.

Justice E.D. Subilim granted the order on January 21 and adjourned the suit to March 23, 2026, for hearing of the substantive case.

Delivering his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Subilim said the defendants’ right to strike was not absolute.

“The defendant’s right to an industrial action is not absolute, but as circumscribed by law,” he said. He prohibited workers from participating in the strike once a dispute had been referred to the court and ordered that any ongoing strike must cease pending determination.

“An order of interlocutory injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendants and respondents, their agents, representatives… together with all other members of the Joint Unions Action Committee … from further embarking on any industrial action, strike, picketing, lockout, or any other form of obstruction against the claimant, parastatals, and political appointees,” the judge added.

Counsel for the claimants, James Onoja (SAN), hailed the court’s decision, urging the unions to obey the order and return to work while allowing room for mediation.

“We commend the court for making an order for the stopping of the strike… I think this is commendable because it will allow the parties to discuss. Our plea to the Union is to allow industrial harmony. They should go back to work and allow for mediation,” Onoja said.

Counsel for the respondents, Maxwell Opara, described the workers as law-abiding citizens and said he would advise the unions to respect the court order.

“The workers are law-abiding citizens. We are going to advise them to respect the court. The one good thing is that the court has also mandated that we commence mediation, not as a matter of advice, in line with the law… we must comply with it,” Opara said.

JUAC President, Rifkatu Iortyer, confirmed that workers would comply, call off the strike and immediately return to work while continuing to “push for other things.”

“We are law-abiding citizens, and because they have said we should return to work, we are returning to work, pending our next appearance,” she said.

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