Niger Delta
ASUU Rules Out Further Negotiation With FG
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has ruled out the possibility of further negotiations with the federal government saying that it would go back to work only when the government signs the 2008 agreement with the union.
Our correspondent reports that the president of ASUU, Prof. Uka Chukwu Awuzie, said in Calabar that the two and a half years of lobbying, dialogue and negotiation were enough time for government to act.
Presenting ASUU’s case on the strike in answer to the recent claims by the Minister of Education, Sam Egwu on National Television, Awuzie said that if the federal government signs the agreement in the next 2 hours, ASUU would immediately call off the strike.
He dismissed claims of the minister on why the government wants to review the agreement before endorsing it saying, “the issues raised by the minister fly in the face of indisputable facts and provoked the government’s insincerity and insensitivity.”
According to him the issue of reviewing the agreement because of the global economic meltdown as claimed by the minister need not arise as the agreement was reached and communicated to government in 2007 when the price of oil was about $50 per barrel, noting that oil currently sells for about $70 per barrel.
“The issue of meltdown has been brought to the centre stage by the government because it has misplaced its priority and relegated the education of the citizenry of this nation to the background,” Awuzie stated.
He added that even though the present government touts education as one of the issues in the seven point agenda, the allocation to education in the 2009 budget betrayed its lack of commitment to the education of Nigerians.
“ASUU believes that with an average of N120 billion earned from oil each day, government should be able to fund education effectively, including free and compulsory education, under a fair and conducive environment. If it considers this impossible, then money should be enough to increase access to education by a greater majority of our people. We cannot aspire if the bulk of our citizenry remain uneducated as is the case today.”
On the adoption of an alternative to strike as a means of pressing home their demand, he called for suggestions on a better alternative warning, however, that such must not include lobbying, dialogue and negotiations.
“For lobbying, we have lobbied for two and half years. Dialogue has become a discussion between the deaf and dumb.”
Our correspondent further gathered that the Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Jerome Egbe, has called on the federal government to grant the demands of the striking university lecturers as part of the demands for the federal government to sign and implement the December agreement government had with ASUU.
He questioned the logic of pushing for vision 2020 when “there is no consideration to develop human resources. President Yar’Adua’s administration will only achieve its vision when there is a departure from the deceit of previous administration,” he said.Egbe noted that students will “unequivocally support any struggle that can improve the status and well being of Nigerians, lecturers and we will frown at any attempts by government to deliberately frustrate our teachers who, by their calling, are poised to build the future of the youths.”
He said students were not impressed by the administration’s seven point agenda, saying: “NANS is unimpressed about President Yar’Adua’s seven point agenda. Our president and his government should realize that the hope of this country rest on the shoulders of lecturers.”
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) is installing ICT equipment in five designated secondary schools in Ogoniland in Rivers State.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Neinibarini Zabbey, who dropped this hint during the commissioning of two water projects in Beeri Community and Bunu Community by the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the installation of ICT equipment in five designated secondary schools is part of the pilot phase of HYPREP’s Information Technology-supported classroom project.
He noted that the project held the kick-off meeting penultimate week as a necessary first step toward implementing the socio-economic study of Ogoniland, stressing that these interventions align with the long-term effort to create sustainable alternative livelihood for oil-impacted communities in Ogoniland.
He said HYPREP is also engaging in innovative research to enhance the science and practice of remediation and restoration, as it intentionally builds the capacity of Ogoni youths and women.
According to him, this includes research to improve post-remediation soil fertility with biofertilizers made from indigenous microbes, restore the West African cockle, and utilise biodegradable bags in mangrove nurseries to prevent plastic pollution.
The Project Coordinator disclosed that the Beeri water facility with a tank capacity of 900, 000 litres will serve seven communities while the Bunu water project, with a capacity of 850,000 litres will serve three communities, stressing that access to clean water is a fundamental human right in sync with UN SDG6(clean water and sanitation).
He said the commissioning ceremony also proves that HYPREP is making significant progress in the Ogoni cleanup implementation process, as it remains focused on meeting set timelines for project completion.
Zabbey noted that across Ogoniland, over 100 HYPREP projects are at advance stages of completion, and expressed delight that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration is now at 79 percent completion.
He equally indicated that as of today, HYPREP has planted 1,279,139 mangrove seedlings, as part of its efforts to restore oil-degraded mangroves in Ogoniland, saying the mangrove restoration programme is ecologically sound and community-driven.
“These efforts align with our broader vision of ensuring that the people of Ogoniland enjoy a cleaner and healthier environment that supports economic activities and other needs,” he said.
At 30.8 percent of the job completion rate in phase 1 of the shoreline cleanup, he said, “we observe the gradual recovery of livelihood and indicator species, such as periwinkles, oysters, crabs and mud skippers, adding that some community people have shared similar testimonies, expressing their excitement on social media at the return of the food species.
He further disclosed that HYPREP has provided medical equipment, including radiology, life support systems, theatre equipment, surgical instruments and microbiology equipment in order to strengthen the capacity of some health facilities in Ogoniland.
According to him, HYPREP has also installed complementing 30KVA solar power sources at Bori General Hospital; Terebor General Hospital; Kpite Health Centre; and Nchia General Hospital.
He equally hinted that the planning for the comprehensive health impact study has advanced, and implementation by the World Health Organisation(WHO) is expected to begin in the second quarter of the year.
He said the distribution of start-up packs to 5,000 Ogoni women and youths trained in 21 skill areas is almost concluded.
Zabbey thanked the Minister of Environment for his strategic guidance and leadership, which have been essential in keeping HYPREP on track; and the Minister of Regional Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh; the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall; members of HYPREP Governing Council; as well as Chairman and members of the Ogoni Trust Fund for their support.
While emphasising that HYPREP’s work goes beyond infrastructures and environmental remediation, the Project Coordinator said, as outlined in the official Gazette establishing the project, ensuring security and promoting peace building efforts in affected communities remain at the core of HYPREP’s mandate.
“We recognise that the Ogoni restoration effort and the broader sustainable development of the area cannot flourish without peace, which is why HYPREP has continued to actively implement initiatives that foster dialogue, reconciliation and community engagement,” he said.
On the strength of this, he said the Project Coordination Office had trained Ogoni traditional rulers and key stakeholders to advocate for Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR), adding that the training had a widespread impact, allowing beneficiaries to effectively emerging conflicts and other challenges at the community level, contending that the training would continue this year, as the project strives to empower more traditional rulers and additional key stakeholders, to constructively address conflict, enhance community engagement and develop conflict resolution mechanisms that promote peace and harmony in the public interest.
He revealed that HYPREP has faced challenges like restricted access to polluted sites, targeted misinformation, chieftaincy disputes, baseless court cases and other actions that have sometimes slowed project activities.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the commissioning of the water projects is “a testament of our unwavering commitment to sustainable peace and development as well as remediation and restoration of Ogoniland.”
While expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to environmental sustainability and restoration of Ogoniland, said his leadership has ensured that the recommendations of the UNEP report are not only implemented but expedited to bring tangible benefits to the Ogoni people.
He noted that the President’s commitment to peace, environmental justice and socio-economic empowerment in Ogoniland has been a beacon of hope for communities long affected by environmental degradation, stressing that access to clean and potable water is not just a necessity but a fundamental human right.
According to him, water projects delivered under HYPREP are part of the Federal Government’s commitment to the restoration of Ogoniland.
Through HYPREP, he said, “we are not only remediating polluted sites but also ensuring that communities benefit from clean water supply, improved healthcare and sustainable livelihoods,” contending that the contamination of water sources due to Hydrocarbon pollution has devastating consequences on the health and livelihoods of the people of Ogoniland, as the provision of potable water to the communities is a critical step towards improving public health, reducing water borne diseases and enhancing the overall quality of life, saying it also signifies a renewed commitment to ensuring that the people of Ogoniland reap the full benefits of the environmental remediation efforts.
“We will continue to ensure that communities in Ogoniland have access to clean, safe and sustainable drinking water. With this initiative, but restoring hope and dignity to communities being deprived of this essential need.Let me emphasise that water projects like this is only one of many incentives planned under the comprehensive remediation efforts in Ogoniland.We remain committed to ensuring that other critical needs such as healthcare, education and economic empowerment are addressed to create a sustainable future for the people of the region,” he said, and assured the people that HYPREP will continue to deliver it’s mandate efficiently, ensuring transparency, accountability and community involvement in all aspects of the remediation process.
Lawal commended the management of HYPREP under the leadership of Prof Neinibarini Zabbey for the relentless commitment and efforts towards the actualisation of the water projects, and appealed to the people to take ownership of the various projects.
Donatus Ebi