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SSANU, NASU To Begin Warning Strike March 18 Over Members 4 Months Unpaid 2022 Salaries

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The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union have declared a 7-day warning strike – beginning March 18, 2024 – to demand the payment of four months of their members’ withheld salaries after the 2022 nationwide strike.

The decision was part of the resolution of the joint action committee of the two unions, after a meeting which held in Akure at the weekend.

According to the SSANU president, Mohammed Ibrahim, who read the communiqué of the meeting to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the decision to embark on the warning strike was taken as a last resort since several protest letters and other communications with the Federal Government did not result in the payment of the withheld salaries.

The statement added: “If nothing is done by the Federal Government to positively address this situation and respond to our previous letters to them, the members of the two unions may be forced to meet soon to take all lawful and stringent decisions on the matter”.

The fresh development comes on the heels of the unions accusing FG of treating their members with “disdain”.

President Bola Tinubu had directed the payment of withheld salaries for university workers owing to their strike of 2022.

However, SSANU, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) said they were yet to get salaries for the said period and had issued a one-week ultimatum about two weeks ago.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the SSANU chief alleged abandonment of the unions by the FG.

“We have to speak like this because we have been clearly shown that we do not matter in the system. But we all know that no university can function without the non-teaching staff because professionals majorly populate us. We own the engine of the administration of every university. They are treating this segment of staff with some disdain. It does not speak good of the system,” he said during the show.

SSANU and NASU said they have done everything within their powers to prevail on their members to maintain industrial peace and tranquility.

“While we appreciate the Federal Government for paying our academic counterpart, we also deem it necessary that our members are also paid,” the statement said, adding that the unions could no longer guarantee industrial harmony on the campuses should the government fail to pay them.

 

BIG STORY

National Grid Instability Will Persist Until Repairs Are Completed — TCN

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says instability in the national grid will likely persist as the system undergoes repairs after another round of shutdown.

The national grid collapsed again on Thursday, the second time in 72 hours, leaving the country in darkness.

Providing updates on the incident in a statement, Ndidi Mbah, general manager of public affairs at TCN, said the grid experienced a disturbance at approximately 11:29 am, caused by a sudden rise in frequency from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz.

She said the frequency surge was triggered by issues at one of its substations, which was then shut down to prevent further complications.

“Recovery efforts began immediately, and the Abuja Axis was restored within 28 minutes. Recovery is still ongoing,” the statement reads.

Mbah said the TCN is actively engaged in significant repair work on several critical transmission lines and substations.

The facilities, according to Mbah, include the 330kV transmission lines along the Shiroro-Mando axis, major upgrades at the Jebba transmission substation, and the restoration of the second Ugwuaji-Apir 330kV transmission line.

The public affairs manager said following the submission of the investigative report on the causes of previous grid collapses, TCN has started working to address the identified weaknesses in the transmission system.

Mbah said efforts are afoot to address the gaps outlined in the report and to strengthen the grid’s overall stability and resilience.

“These efforts include both technical upgrades and strategic interventions based on the committee’s recommendations,” she added.

“However, it is important to note that while these repairs and improvements are underway, some degree of instability in the system is likely to persist until all major works are completed.”

Mbah, acknowledging the impact of the disruptions, appealed to the public for their patience and understanding during the challenging period.

She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improving the reliability of electricity supply, acknowledging the crucial role that stable power has in supporting Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.

The TCN official also assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to secure the grid’s long-term stability, following the investigative committee’s recommendations.

She added that the transmission company is addressing infrastructure issues, including damage from vandalised transmission lines.

On October 5, the grid experienced a collapse – the ninth time in 2024.

TCN had blamed a series of lines and generator trippings for the instability of the grid and a partial disturbance.

On October 17, Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, said the frequent system failure at the national grid is inevitable due to the outdated infrastructure.

Adelabu also said the country will continue to experience grid disturbances until there is a complete overhaul of the system.

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BIG STORY

Defence HQ Declares ‘9 Lakurawas Lerrorists’ Wanted

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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared nine suspected members of the “Lakurawas” terrorist group wanted.

They are Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba a.k.a “Abu Muhammed,” Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.

Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

Buba noted that the new terror group emerged from the “Niger Republic” following the coup, which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and the country.

He said the terrorists began infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from “Niger Republic” and “Mali.”

Buba added that prior to the coup, joint border operations with Nigerien security forces had kept the terrorists away.

He said the group continues to use the vast under-governed areas to evade troops and harass local populations.

“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited the difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some North Western states to spread their ideology,” he said.

Buba added that the group was initially welcomed by locals who believed they had good intentions.

He noted that the locals failed to inform military and security agencies of the terrorists’ movements.

He assured Nigerians that troops have sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts to weaken the terrorists.

He said the troops are “actively locating the terrorists to neutralise their threats.”

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BIG STORY

Equitorial Guinea Sacks Senior Government Official, Baltasar Engonga Over “Sexcapade”

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The Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been dismissed following the discovery of over 400 explicit videos involving him with high-profile women across the country.

The dismissal, ordered by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, was confirmed by Real Equatorial Guinea, which referenced Decree No. 118/2024, issued on November 4.

According to the decree, Engonga’s removal was due to alleged professional misconduct and personal behavior deemed incompatible with his public position.

The scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation involving the 54-year-old economist, leading to a surprise search of his house and office by ANIF officials.

During the search, they uncovered several CDs containing explicit videos that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.

One of the women involved has since committed suicide. It has not been confirmed whether Engonga will face prosecution for his actions.

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