The Federal Government has moved to register a rival union to the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
This is coming as members of ASUU, who have continued with their 10-month old strike, are scheduled to resume their negotiations with the Federal Government on Friday, November 20, 2020.
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This hint was given by the Minister for Labour and Employment, Sen Chris Ngige, on Thursday, November 19, 2020, when the leadership of Congress of University Academics (CONUA), led by its National Coordinator, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
While receiving a delegation of CONUA’s leadership whose membership is drawn from university lecturers opposed to ASUU, Ngige commended them for initiating the process to register the union and assured them that their application for registration as trade union would be treated with fairness and without fear or favor.
READ: FG’s directive on IPPIS does not affect us – ASUU
The minister expressed regret for the long strike by ASUU, saying that it had impacted negatively on the educational development of the country.
Ngige said, “We are receiving you in audience formally today in this ministry. We have the right to receive associations of persons that are workers, whether we have registered them or not, just as you have the right to apply for registration which is the lawful thing to do.
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“The review of your application for registration is ongoing. I have put up a committee to look into that review. I will ask the committee to wind up its work. We are giving them four weeks from today to turn in their report to the ministry. Part of our job here is to register unions; it is also part of our job to make sure that unions that are not functional are helped.
READ: FG to slash import duties on tractors, buses, others in 2020 Finance Bill
On his part, Sunmonu pointed out that CONUA was enjoying large followership with many universities registering more members by the day since it came on board in February 2018.
While pleading with the minister to use his good office to ensure the registration of the association as an independent academic union, he said that CONUA was established due to irreconcilable differences between its members and ASUU.
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Sunmonu said, “CONUA members are not members of ASUU and we are not ready to be part of ASUU due to irreconcilable differences and modes of operation.’’
“ASUU no longer represent our interest and aspirations. CONUA fits to be described as a group of people who are independent academics and who have decided to come together to form a union committed to the advancement of education in Nigeria.”
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He condemned the prolonged strike in the university system and encouraged unions to rather engage the government constructively rather than down tools every time, considering the negative effect of that on the educational system. He said that CONUA, if finally registered, would always constructively engage the government.
He said, “The government cannot see what we see and we will not see what the government sees, but when we have our mind made up in a constructive manner, we will come to a reasonable agreement to further progress our universities and for the advancement of the nation.
“We want to ensure a seamless and uninterrupted academic calendar in the university system. “This strike has done more damage than good. As academics and researchers, we are supposed to have evaluated the effect of the strike on our institutions, especially on our collective psychic.
“From the preliminary report that we have, the strike has done more harm than good to our universities. Nigerian Universities should rank comfortably with any other university in any part of the world.”
It can be recalled that ASUU has been on strike since March 2020 due to disagreement with the Federal Government over the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) amongst other issues, which the university lecturers said contravenes the policy on autonomy for Nigerian universities.
BUSINESS
FG proposes tax incentives for companies that donated to Covid-19 relief fund
The FG is proposing granting of tax relief to companies that donated to the COVID-19 relief fund under the private sector coalition (CACOVID).
The Federal Government, in the new 2020 Finance Bill which was approved by the Federal Executive Council, has proposed a tax relief to companies that donated to the COVID-19 relief fund under the private sector coalition, CACOVID.
This follows the effort of government to provide more incentives and reduce the tax burden on Nigerian businesses and individuals in the face of a harsh economic environment caused by the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
This was contained in a statement from the presidency at the end of the virtual National Economic Council (NEC) meeting which was presided by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The approved Finance Bill 2020 which was presented to the state governors at the NEC meeting has some of the following highlights in the bill which is being sent to the National Assembly for passage;
- Reduction in duties on tractors from 35 to 10 per cent
- Reduction in duties on motor vehicles for the transportation of goods from 35 to 10 per cent
- Reduction of levy on motor vehicles for the transportation of persons (cars) from 35 per cent to 5 per cent
- Exemption of small companies from payment of education tax under the Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFUND)-companies with less than N25m turnover are eligible
- 50 per cent reduction in minimum tax; from 0.5 per cent to 0.25 per cent for gross turnover for financial years ending between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021
- Granting of tax relief to companies that donated to the COVID-19 relief fund under the private sector coalition (CACOVID)
- Clarification that only compensation for loss of office up to N10million would be tax-exempt. (Clarification that it is the employer’s obligation to account for tax on payments relating to compensation for loss of office.)
- Introduction of software acquisition as qualifying capital expenditure to improve the ease of doing business
It should be noted that before the Finance Act 2019, compensation paid to an employee for loss of office over and above N10, 000 was subject to capital gains tax.
It was also pointed out that part of the decision which was reached at the meeting, was the setting up of a committee chaired by the Vice President to engage with youths and other critical stakeholders in addressing the deeper roots of the #EndSARs protests.Other members of the committee are governors drawn from the 6 geopolitical zones across the country. They include Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sokoto State Governor representing northwest; Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Borno State Governor representing northeast; Abubakar Sani Bello, Niger State Governor representing northcentral; Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State Governor representing southwest; Engr. Dave Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor representing southeast; and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor representing south-south.
The Committee has the mandate to engage the youth, religious organization, civil society, security agencies regarding the issues and recommend effective solutions towards strengthening national unity among others.
The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), which was launched on March 26, 2020, is a private sector-led organization in Nigeria established to assist the government in the fight against the coronavirus disease across the country.
This follows the announcement made by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. The purpose of the relief fund is to “support the efforts of the Federal government in containing the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, ensure patients get the care they need and frontline workers get essential supplies and equipment and accelerate efforts to provide tests and treatments.
BUSINESS
Nigeria can become an exporting nation through indigenous entrepreneurship – Pantami
Pantami stated that Nigeria can become an exporting nation if it leverage on indigenous entrepreneurship.
BUSINESS
Unemployment inevitable if government fails to support MSMEs – Commissioner
The Commissioner for Commerce has stated that government’s failure to support SMEs will increase poverty and insecurity in the State.
Mrs. Lola Akande, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, has stated that it is imperative for the government to support SMEs, as failure to do so would lead to a massive job loss and increase in poverty and insecurity.
According to a news report by NAN, Mrs. Lola Akande, represented by Mrs Helen Adesina, Director of Commerce in the ministry, made this statement at the Annual Seminar of the Small and Medium Enterprises Group (SMEG) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday, tagged “Positioning SMEs for Growth in the New Normal’’.
Mrs. Helen Adesina disclosed that the importance of MSMEs in any economy can not be overemphasized as they account for two-thirds of global employment and half of GDP, she said SMEs create jobs and put food on peoples’ table.
As MSMEs are already faced with challenges of cash flow, competition from larger companies, non-existent economies of scale in raw materials sourcing, it is imperative for the government to support SMEs, as failure to do so would lead to loss of employment, and an exponential increase in poverty and insecurity.
Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, the President of LCCI, also explained that one of the most strategic moves towards reflating the nation’s economy is supporting SMEs. She said that ideas on strategies that would help position small and medium business operators for sustainable growth in the new normal should be put forward.
She commended the interventions by the fiscal and monetary sides of authorities in cushioning the impact of the pandemic on the business community.What they are saying
Mrs. Lola Akande, represented by Mrs. Helen Adesina, said:
“The importance of MSMEs in any economy is impossible to be overemphasized, as they account for two-thirds of global employment and half of GDP. SMEs create jobs and put food on peoples’ tables. Sadly, SMEs are particularly susceptible to folding up as a result of the COVID and post-COVID economic situation.
“These businesses were already faced with challenges of cash flow, competition from larger companies, non-existent economies of scale in raw materials sourcing, marketing, sales and distribution, as well as, a lack of relevant managerial skills and skilled employees.
“Failure to bolster these vulnerable SMEs with necessary tools to overcome this new normal will lead to loss of employment, a reduction in the spending power of the average citizen and ultimately, an exponential increase in poverty and insecurity.’’
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