By Scroll reporter Lagos, Nigeria.

 A renowned economist and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress APC, Prof. Pat Utomi has attributed the backwardness of Delta State to poor governance, noting that Delta today has become like a land ravaged by locust.

He spoke at a reconciliatory visit to some APC leaders in Delta Central hosted by Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu in Warri, Wednesday.

Prof. Utomi stated that Delta state could have become the Dubai of Africa, considering the resources that accrued to the state.

He blamed successive administrations since 1999 for the sorry state of Delta, asserting that they jettisoned great ideas which were freely offered to them to transform Delta and wasted several opportunities.

In his word: “Each time I look at my state, all I feel is shame, all Delta elites should be ashamed of what have become of their state. With all the resources that the state is blessed with, we have nothing to show more than decayed infrastructure.

“To change this narrative; APC in Delta state must reconcile and reconstruct its strategies if we really want a better Delta, if not history will hold us all responsible for not acting when we should.”

In her remark, Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu, a former Commissioner for Education in the state, collaborating Utomi’s view said that Delta state is very sick, due to poor leadership and followership, stressing that the people celebrate incompetency and mediocrity.

Bemoaning the poor state of things in Delta, she noted that; “if nothing is done to change the state of things in Delta, the generation to come will spit on our graves, because Delta has become a failed state.”

While appreciating the need for unity in APC, Dr. Ogbuagu said that there cannot be any meaningful reconciliation until the “illegal” Delta state executive of the APC is dissolved, and an all-embracing caretaker committee put in place, and congress held, the party will just be joking.

By Scroll reporter Lagos, Nigeria.

The Save TASUED and Fund Education Coalition (STAFEC) wishes to seize this medium to inform the mass of the Nigerian populace its dauntless resolve to stage a mass action against the anti student/anti-poor policies of the Amosun led government of Ogun State on the 6th of February 2017. The mass action is aimed at showing our displeasure towards the premeditated neglect of public education especially TASUED by the Amosun Government of Ogun State. We take exception to the illegal and arbitrary tax of N10, 000 imposed on students and we reject in totality, the increment in acceptance fee from N30, 000 to N40, 000. The coalition maintains an outright rejection of the introduction of N25, 000 registration fee; we consider it as fraudulent, thoughtless and unacceptable especially at the time the same students and their unpaid parents barely managed to pay the pocket tearing N76, 500 school fees, astronomical acceptance fee and many other ridiculous charges. We consider it as wicked to impose such enormous burden on poor Nigerian parents at a time of a biting recession that sees the average Nigerian family regard a two square meal as an unaffordable luxury.

The coalition demands immediate reversal of all of these anti-poor policies, a careful probe into the spending of the University management and immediate upward funding of the University vis the prompt/adequate payment of the allowances of Staff Unions of the institution. The government in the past years has deliberately starved the University of the Needed Fund to indeed function as a qualified tertiary institution.  The respective state governments of Ogun State have for a very long time taken a huge delight in Underfunding TASUED. For instance, the Gbenga Daniel led PDP government allocates an insignificant paltry of 61million naira on a yearly basis, although not adequate and timely. The much condemned underfunding of the Gbenga Daniel regime was only surpassed by ridiculous extent of the gross irresponsibility of Amosun led APC government whose immense hatred and disgraceful demeanor for education compelled  him to dwindle yearly allocation of the University to a mere 16million naira (even this has not been paid for quite a number of months).

This inglorious tradition of Underfunding has contributed immensely to the antiquated condition the University finds itself. Else, how does a University that is supposed to be 12 years, the first University of Education in Nigeria, second in Africa and eight in the world and yet cannot boast of modern and adequate learning facilities, decent hostels and other municipal services. It is a height of understatement to regard the laboratories and libraries as obsolete.

The consequence of this unfortunate trend of underfunding aside from the above stated disgusting scenario is inadequate payment of salaries/allowances of members of the University Staff Unions (ASUU, NASU, SSANU, and NAAT). The imposition of arbitrary tax on students is in addition to its illegality a deliberate ploy to exploit mass of students and their poor and unpaid/underpaid parents.

This reckless display of utter ineptitude by government has inevitably influenced the extortionist policies of the management of the institution. The astronomical school fees of TASUED, the increase in the charges of vocational studies (subsequently and fraudulently disguised as registration fee) from N1000 to N25, 000, the imposition of N20, 000 as penalty for late submission of clearance file and the despotic increment of acceptance fee from N30, 000 to N40, 000; are few of the many anti-poor/student policies incited by government unacceptable neglect of the
institution.

While reasserting our resolve to prosecute the February 6 mass action to press home our demands, we reiterate our demand for the immediate reversal of the above stated insensitive policies of the government and management as well as adequate funding of TASUED to the standard of a typical 21st century tertiary institution.

Signed;
Tai Solarin Students’ Union.
The National Secretariat, National Universities Education Student
Association (NUESA).
Alliance of Nigerian Students against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA)
Abraham Adesanya Students’ Union, Students and Youth Activists Support initiative (SAYASI)

By Scroll reporter Lagos, Nigeria.

The Oyo State Government has said it would rigorously contest the legality of the interim injunction emanating from the creation of the 35 Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) and restricting the state from conducting local governments’ election, saying that it borders on the welfare of the entire citizens, payment of salaries and grassroots development.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Oluseun Abimbola, who stated this on Tuesday at a press briefing held at the governor’s office, noted that the state government would abide by all the orders in the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/16/2017 pending determination by the court.

Abimbola pointed out that one the orders directing the 2^nd (Accountant General of the Federation), 3^rd (Central Bank of Nigeria) 4^th (Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission) and 5^th  (Federal Ministry of Finance) defendants to warehouse in an interest yielding account, all monies and or allocations belonging to the distorted 33 constitutionally recognised local governments in Oyo State, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice was an ambush on the allocation meant for the local governments in the state which would affect the welfare of the people, payment of salaries and the development of the grassroots.

The AG and Commissioner of Justice, who was assisted at the briefing by his counterparts from the Ministries of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and Information, Culture and Tourism, Messrs. Bimbo Kolade and Toye Arulogun as well as the Special adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Communication and Strategy, Yomi Layinka, urged the citizens of the state to be peaceful and law abiding, stressing that local governments election would still hold but not until the judicial process affecting its conduct dealt with.

According to Abimbola, “fifteen (15) claimants filed actions on behalf of some villages in some LGs in Oyo and 10 defendants have been joined in the suit which include the Oyo State Government, Oyo State House of Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission,  Federal Ministry of Finance, Independent National Electoral Commission, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission and Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo.

“The suit emanated based of the grievances of these plaintiffs on the creation of LCDAs in about two local governments in Oyo Town. They submitted their petitions to the LCDAs Petitions Review Committee headed by me like other aggrieved parties and they have made their presentations. Our committee has been sitting and complaints have been reviewed. However, we are surprised that the state government is taken to court over the issue they have made presentations on. They have the right to do so under that the provision of the constitution and the legality of the orders will be rigorously contested by the government.

“Meanwhile, we are going to abide by the interim order and that puts the conduct of the already scheduled February 11, 2017 local government election on hold. The nation’s electoral body has been directed not to release the voters’ register and without this, there cannot be election. We want to reassure the citizens that election will hold as soon as we settle the court case. We urge the citizens to be law abiding and be peaceful in their endeavours,” Abimbola stressed.

Speaking at the briefing while responding to questions, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun noted that it is a misrepresentation of facts for some individuals and groups to insinuate that the state government orchestrated the suit, adding that it would be unreasonable for the Oyo State Government to go to court to seek an order aimed at crippling the finances of local governments in the state at a very critical time such as this. He added that the order of the court had far reaching implications on the Government and the governed in the state.

He reiterated that the government has shown its readiness for the conduct of the elections by instituting OYSIEC, setting a date for elections, releasing funds for OYSIEC, printing of election materials and purchase of utility vehicles, pointing out that only a mischievous and cynical mind would doubt the government’s commitment to conduct the elections given the amount of evidence indicating the contrary.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy  Matters, Bimbo Kolade disclosed that majority of the people of the state had embraced the new LCDAs and demonstrated support by volunteering and pledging buildings as offices and homes, furniture and other essentials towards the successful take – off of the new LCDAs. He appealed to the people of the state to remain calm and assured them that government will implement the LCDAs as an actualization of the yearnings of the people.

By Scroll Reporter Lagos, Nigeria.

SAVE TASUED AND FUND EDUCATION COALITION
(STAFEC)

The Save TASUED and Fund Education Coalition (STAFEC) wishes to bring to the notice of your Excellency the numerous abnormalities and countless unfortunate scenarios that have found their abode on the campus of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED). It is pertinent especially at this period of a biting recession to vent our spleen and raise our strong dissent against the spate of heavy extortion of mass of students being perpetrated by the State Government with the connivance of the management of TASUED.

The State government and management of TASUED currently impose fees/charges with questionable and unfounded bases. Aside from the outrageous school fees, there are other charges that can only be regarded as either fraudulent or baseless. We would attempt to do a stepwise enumeration of some of the extorted charges forced down the throat of poor parents of TASUED students.

School fee (freshmen): N76, 500
School fee (Stale students): N66, 500
Acceptance Fee (freshmen): N40, 000
Registration fee (freshmen): N25, 000
Tax Clearance (freshmen): N10, 100
Penalty for late submission (freshmen): N20, 000

THE CONTROVERSIES, DISAGREEMENT AND INCONSISTENCES THAT SURROUND THESE CHARGES

Without having to start from how outrageous and thoughtless it is to impose a fee of N151, 100 on freshmen whose parents fall to the category of workers who are either being owed backlog of salaries or underpaid with N18, 000 minimum wage. This is not in any case an attempt to vindicate the payment of N66, 500 by the stale students; it is wicked and unfair on a population that already considers a two square meal as an unaffordable luxury due to government imposed austerity.

THE CONTROVERSIAL REGISTRATION FEE:
The imposition of the infamous N25, 000 registration fees is another obnoxious policy worthy of vehement condemnation. The University management at the beginning of this session increased what used to be called Vocational Studies (VOS) fee from N1, 000 to N25, 000. The perceived criminality of this thoughtless increment was not only about its outrageous character but its fraudulent implementation. The VOS fee was in the first instance rebranded as registration fee subjected to a different mode of payment and in another bank called the Tai Solarin Microfinance Bank. Aside the fact that the registration fee is not even on the electronic portal page, it was subjected to a different mode of payment, different from the central electronic payment system where all fees are usually paid. This is not only contrary to the new policy of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) but also calls for a suspicious probe. Moreover, what essence is registration fee after the payment of N76, 500 school fee and N40, 000 acceptance fees? These are questions begging for sincere answers. The management in fact has not been able to successfully give a breakdown of the school fee, how each of these fees are spent neither has there been any modicum of justification for the horrendous charges.

THE ACCEPTANCE FEE INCREMENT:
As if the N 25, 000 extorted as registration fee is not enough, the increment in acceptance fee from N30, 000 to N40, 000 remains totally unacceptable and unfair to the mass of the economically battered Nigerian populace. Aside our disagreement and outright rejection of the increment based on obvious and justifiable reasons, we also take exception to the imposition of an additional N10, 000 on students who could not meet up with the early payment of N40, 000. It is irrational enough to deliberately squeeze N50, 000 naira out of the pocket of someone who finds it herculean to afford N40, 000, it is however more maddening and extremely questionable to unravel that the much touted extra N10, 000 finds its way into a different account (Just like the supposed registration fee) probably with the aim of ending into private pockets.

THE N20, 000 PENALTY FOR LATE SUBMISSION OF CLEARANCE FILE (GREEN FILE):
Every numerous and unfathomable occurrence in TASUED further reinforces the claim that the University is out to exploit Nigerian students and their parents by any immoral means necessary. The clearance file contains the admission documents of fresh students. The green file is expected to be submitted upon gaining admission into the University and paying up all necessary charges which in this case has totaled up to N151, 100. With an anti-poor economy that is characterized with suffocating recession and inadequate payment of salaries, it is not unusual to see students who could not meet up with the short payment deadline. This would mean that such students after striving very hard to cough out the pocket tearing N76, 500 school fee, the fraudulent N40/50, 000 acceptance fee, the questionable N10, 100 tax clearance and the unexplainable N25, 000 registration fee, he would still be made to pay additional N20, 000 penalty before he can be allowed to sit for any examination on the campus.

Sir, it would also interest you and the general public to know that this N20, 000 just like the afore-analyzed have no place on the electronic portal of the University website neither is it paid through the general means of payment. Payment is made yet again into a different account; another violation of the extant rule that guarantees the use of TSA.

ON THE INFAMOUS TAX CLEARANCE:
Sir, of all the scores of regrettable and thoughtless extortions meted on students and their parents, this is the most embarrassing, laughable and condemnable. Students of the institution are being made to pay a sum of N10, 000 to obtain a tax clearance before being considered as bonafide student of the University. This tax clearance is in fact part of the document contained in the green file that attracted a penalty of N20, 000 for late submission.
Needless to say that nowhere on the surface of the Universe and the federal government act on taxation is education considered as commodity worthy of being taxed. This is aside the fact that the imposition of tax on students is a violation of the act on personal income tax as students are not workers and hence earn no personal income. Assuming without conceding that the government feigned reliance on the tax clearance of the parents, it would still not be justifiable. Reliance on parent’s tax clearance as a requisite to access public education presupposes that the education is in the first instance free. It would on the other hand amount to maintenance of double standard and extortion on two fronts if education is not free and parents are yet again taxed on education. Moreover, one may be forced to wonder how the government arrived at 10, 000 naira taxation when it is obvious that our parents do not earn the same personal income.

UNDERFUNDING REMAINS THE BASIS OF THE AVALANCHE OF PROBLEMS FACED BY TASUED:
It is worthy of note that TASUED in the past few years has been a victim of deliberate underfunding. The campus during the regime of Gbenga Daniel managed to make do with the insignificant paltry of N61million naira. Your government unfortunately depleted it to 16million naira which is not even paid steadily. It is quite unheard of that a University that is supposed to be the best University of Education in Nigeria and Second best in Africa cannot boast of a decent hostel, modern lecture theatres and adequate learning facilities, neither has your government constructed any new building in the last four years except for TETFUND/ALUMNI interventions. This underfunding has led to inadequate payment of TASUED workers’ salaries and allowances. This was the basis of the heavy and scandalous fee increment imposed on students. This assertion must not be seen as an attempt to justify the ridiculous charges imposed on students but a call on the government to fund our education by at least 26% budgetary allocation as recommended by UNESCO.

Sir, it is our wish that an end is put to all of this myriad of absurdities analyzed by this petition and we forthwith put forward the following demands;
Immediate cancellation of the N25, 000 registration fee
That government put an end to the illegal taxation of students
We demand an end to the fraudulent N20, 000 penalty for late submission of green file.
We demand an immediate breakdown of how all the fees and charges are being spent
We demand immediate Probe of the management of Tai Solarin University of Education.
For the upward funding of TASUED with at least 26% budgetary allocation as recommended by UNESCO.

We demand free, accessible and affordable education for Nigerian students attending Ogun State Tertiary Institutions.
Adequate payment of salaries and allowances of the University Workers.
Signed:
Tai Solarin Students’ Union
The National Secretariat, National Universities Education Student Association (NUESA)
Alliance of Nigerian Students against Neoliberal Attacks (ANSA)
Abraham Adesanya Students’ Union.
Students and Youth Activists Support initiative (SAYASI)
CC;
THE MANAGEMENT OF TAI SOLARIN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
ASUU NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
ASUU TASUED
NASU TASUED
JOINT ACTION FRONT (JAF)
UNITED ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY (UAD)
COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS (CDHR)
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
SOCIAL ECONOMIC RIGHTS AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECTS (SERAP)
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION (EFCC)
THE PRESS

By Scroll reporter Lagos, Nigeria.

An Ijaw leader and chieftain of All Progressive Congress APC in Delta State, Micheal Johnny, has proffered what could be a lasting solution to the lingering land boundary dispute between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities in Warri South West local government and Udu local government areas.

Johnny, also Chairman of Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, through his media office, yesterday, said it is becoming worrisome that over the years the government of Delta state never made any genuine efforts to resolve the boundary dispute which had claimed many innocent lives and properties destroyed.

He said ‘ I am calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, being the chief security officer of the state to use part of the state’s security vote fund to acquire the “disputed land” from both communities, because all panel of enquiries set up by Okowa and previous administration on this matter produced no result”. I know Okowa inherited the Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja land dispute, let it also be on record that it was Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who permanently resolved the land dispute crisis, this should be his thinking and legacy and not playing politics with the crisis, acquiring the disputed land from both communities is the lasting solution”

He said ” at this point the Delta state government should immediately commence the process of acquiring the land from both communities after which a state or federal project be executed on the land to serve as a boundary in between the communities and  for the interest of peace, the people of Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities should corporate and allow the state government to acquire the disputed land, such a land that is often taking the blood of innocent souls should be sold out because our lives are more important than any land”