Rector Admonishes Students To Shun Cultism

MATRICULATING students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, have been advised to avoid cultism if they must graduate from the institution.

  Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Abdullahi Sule, who spoke at the matriculation ceremony of students admitted for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions explained that getting involved in cultism as well as other anti-social activities can tarnish the image of the school and parents of such students.

  Sule, who spoke at the Bagudu Waziri Auditorium venue of the ceremony added: “Engaging yourself in any form of vices or anti-social activities such as cultism, examination malpractice, indecent dressing and drug abuse will jeopardise your future.

  “Remember that the Federal Government in 1979 prohibited secret societies, and any student found being involved would be expelled,” he said.

   The Rector also advised freshmen to always remember their primary aim, which is to acquire knowledge and skills, and to balance their spiritual life with academics for a meaningful life.

  “Always strive to know the truth and don’t patronise rumours, as rumours are dangerous and can be very destructive. It is for you to be able to sift what is good and reject what is bad.”

  He further stated, that there are plans underway by the school to commence National Diploma (ND) programme in welding and fabrication, computer engineering, pharmacy technology, horticultural technology, industrial and labour relation, purchase and supply and tourism; and also Higher National Diploma (HND) programme in tourism and purchase and supply as soon as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) gives its approval.

ASUP Suspends Strike 

More facts have emerged on what prompted the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) to suspend the strike earlier scheduled to start on Wednesday, last week.

    The decision to call off the proposed strike was based on resolutions reached at the meeting involving the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, House Committee on Education and the union, last week, Tuesday.

   As part of the resolutions, the Ministry of Education withdrew the circular suspending the implementation of CONTISS 15 and also directed the councils and management of Federal Polytechnic, Oko and the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, to withdraw the circular proscribing union activities in their institutions.

 The school authorities of the two schools were also mandated to ensure that such circular is publicised on campus.

   As contained in the statement made available to press by ASUP zonal coordinator, Zone C, Mr. Babatunde Dosumu, the Minister of Education is expected to convene a tripartite meeting of councils, management and unions to resolve the impasse at the Federal Polytechnics in Oko and Ado-Ekiti.

   Among other resolutions, Shekarau gave strong assurances to meeting the other demands of ASUP, which summed up to 13. 

   ASUP Chapters nationwide, therefore, were mandated to maintain status quo, pending decision of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union scheduled to hold in March.

LASU Refunds Fees 

Authorities of the Lagos State University (LASU), on Thursday commenced the refund of about N307 million, being the accumulated excess fees paid by the students during the fee hike regime.

   Report has it that, the school authorities had refunded a total of N209 million to 100 and 200 level direct entry students for 2013/2014 academic session. 

   Addressing staff and students of the school, the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor John Obafunwa, said: “What many had thought was impossible is what we are witnessing today. Some individuals tried to take advantage of the slow pace of the refund and to soil the minds of stakeholders and the students.

  “Government had to look for money to make the refund. It is a process that involved many people, including the House of Assembly. The governor had to scrutinise all the papers and eventually, approved the refund.”

  Obafunwa also revealed that LASU had to put the collection of fees on hold to ensure the refund was made.

  “We did not ask any student to pay school fees because we wanted to first make the refund. That will put us in a moral position to ask them to pay their fees.”

Continuing, the VC said the process of the refund had to go through various ministries before it could be approved, adding that the second tranche of the payment would be made in the next two weeks.

“We have assured the students that the money is going to be refunded and we have also asked them to provide their account numbers and other necessary details while we are still pursuing the process. Some students have already received alerts since Monday for the first tranche. Once we receive the second tranche, everybody will be refunded,” Obafunwa stressed.

  Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Chief Fatai Olukoya, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the exercise was a proof that the government was committed to the fulfillment of the promise it made concerning the refund.

  Reading from the governor’s speech, the adviser noted that LASU is, today, the only state university in Nigeria with the lowest fees.

IMOPOLY Students Protest N20, 000 Acceptance Fee

Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Ohaji, within the week protest against the N20,000 acceptance fee and other levies imposed on them by the school authorities.

   The students were said to have confronted the school’s Rector, Rev. Fr. Wence Madu, to explain the reason for the payment of N20, 000 as acceptance fee and another N5, 000 fee for those that gained admission into the school without taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

  According to the protesting students, the declaration of total free education in the state implies that no Imo indigene will pay school fees, but that is not what obtains in IMOPOLY. 

    When Fr. Madu was confronted, he said he had no knowledge of the fees, which further infuriated the students.