The Federal Government has withdrawn the order mandating vice-chancellors of universities to reopen universities as the ASUU strike continues.
In a circular issued on Monday, the National Universities Commission (NUC), had mandated vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors, and governing councils to re-open federal universities following months of closure due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s strike.
But on the same day, the NUC issued another circular, tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/136, in which it withdrew the order.
“I have been directed to withdraw the NUC Circular Ref: NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135, and dated September 23, 2022, on the above subject, “the circular, signed by the Director, Finance, and Account of the NUC, Sam Onazi, read.
“Consequently, the said circular stands withdrawn. All pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils, as well as vice-chancellors of federal universities, are to please note.
“Further development and information would be communicated to all relevant stakeholders. Please, accept the assurances of the Executive Secretary’s warmest regards.”
The letter was tagged “Withdrawal of circular NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 dated September 23, 2022”.
Before the order, the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja had ruled that ASUU should call off the strike, a move which the union rejected and had since filed an appeal.
The counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, based the appeal on 14 grounds.
Meanwhile, for the All Progressives Congress (APC); or the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to extend their hold on power during the general elections of 2023; according to African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, would be “inhuman, unholy, wicked, and disgusting.”
At the same time, he advised Nigerians not to support the PDP or APC; claiming that both parties have made matters worse for the country’s citizens.
In a statement released by his campaign office in Abuja, on Sunday, September 25, 2022; Kachikwu said that the two parties have mismanaged the nation for the past 20 years; leaving Nigerians severely poor and elevating the nation to the title of “poverty capital of the world.”
He said that the two parties are synonymous with greed, avarice, corruption, and cluelessness; therefore, should no longer be entrusted with the task of managing the rich human and material resources of a potentially great country like Nigeria.
Further, he bemoaned the fact that the nation has continued to trail behind in all development metrics since 1999; particularly when the PDP came to office and held it until it was replaced by the APC in 2015.
In addition, Kachikwu charged that both parties were responsible for the collapse of the economy; as well as the impoverishment of Nigerians, whose daily living conditions were getting worse and worse.
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Kachikwu said: “Today, the inflation rate has rallied to a 17-year high of 20.5 per cent up from 8.06 per cent in 2014 before the APC took over the reins of power at the centre in 2015, notwithstanding the humongous debt the party has amassed for the country through reckless borrowing.
