Business
SSANU, NASU commenced strike today, as ASUU insists on industrial action
The associations stated that the strike was premised on the inconsistencies of the IPPIS in the payment of salaries.
Joint Action Committee of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have announced the commencement of a 14-day warning strike, with effect from October 5 to October 19.
This is coming on the heels of the insistence by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to continue with its 6 months old strike over the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and decay in the university system.
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This disclosure was made in a statement jointly signed by the National President, SSANU, Samson Ugwoke; and General Secretary, NASU, Peter Adeyemi.
They stated that the strike was premised on the inconsistencies of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System in the payment of salaries, and the non-payment of Earned Allowances to members.
Both unions listed some of the issues that led to the strike action, which includes; non-payment of national minimum wage and retirement benefits to our members, the delay in the renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU Agreements, the non-payment of benefits to retired members, as well as academic staff usurping the headship of non-academic units, and poor funding of state universities.
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Part of the statement also read, “Please note that this warning strike is a prelude to a full-blown, total and indefinite industrial action, if the grievances highlighted above are not properly addressed.’’
While addressing Journalists after a joint congress of the 2 unions in front of the University of Lagos Senate building on Friday, the Branch Chairmen of UNILAG chapters of SSANU and NASU, Olusola Sowunmi and Kehinde Ajibade, said they were now rejecting IPPIS because the government refused to take care of the peculiarities of the university system, after it had earlier promised to do so.
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Sowunmi said, “We are disappointed with the turnout of things. The IPPIS failed to meet our expectations and our retired members are not being paid as at when due. Also, we are not being paid the new minimum wage that other agencies of government have been enjoying. The new wage is a matter of law as it was an act of parliament.”
On his own, Ajibade said if the government could find means of paying other workers the new minimum wage, it should also pay them.
He said, “Just as the government has given schools notice of resumption, our National leadership also gave us the notice to announce this warning strike over a month ago. After the two weeks, if nothing is done to address our concerns, we will meet and deliberate on the next line of action.”
Business
MTN leads with market share of 40.41% in telephony subscription
NCC reports indicate that MTN leads other GSM operators in Nigeria with 83.3m telephony subscribers as of October 2020.
The report released by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that MTN leads the pack of the GSM operators in Nigeria, with active subscribers for telephony services of 83,331,682 as of October 2020, representing 40.14% of the entire operators’ subscriber base.
According to the report, MTN is followed by Airtel with 56,214,072 telephony subscribers (27.08%), Globacom 55,079,362 (26.53%), and 9Mobile with 12,953,121 subscribers (6.24%).
READ: MTN, Vodacom launched 5G in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 – GSMA Report
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Other key highlights of the report
- The telephony subscribers recorded a 1.3% month-on-month growth, from 204,869,652 recorded in September 2020 to 207,578,237 as of October 2020; as well as 15.3% year-on-year growth from 180,000,075 in the corresponding period in 2019 (October 2019).
- The internet subscribers recorded a 0.9% month-on-month growth from 151,063,413 recorded in September 2020 to 152,481,376 as of October 2020; as well as 23.8% year-on-year growth from 123,123,676 in the corresponding period in 2019 (October 2019).
- In telephony subscription and as of October 2020, MTN recorded 0.8% month-on-month growth as well as 26.5% year-on-year; whereas in internet subscription, it grew by 1.0% month-on-month and 24.6% year-on-year.
- Similarly, Airtel recorded 1.7% month-on-month growth as well as14.5% year-on-year on telephony subscription; whereas in internet subscription, it grew by 1.1% month-on-month and 21.2% year-on-year.
- Globacom recorded 1.5% month-on-month growth as well as 9.6% year-on-year on telephony subscriptions; whereas in internet subscriptions, it grew by 0.8% month-on-month and 36% year-on-year.
- 9Mobile recorded 1.8% month-on-month growth but dipped by 12.4% year-on-year on telephony subscription; whereas in internet subscription, it grew by 0.3% month-on-month and dipped 12.6% year-on-year.
- In October 2020, only 73.5% of the operators’ subscribers on telephony services subscribed to internet services; 73.7% in September 2020 and 68.4% in October 2019.
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What you should know
- According to the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), information and communication sector contributed 9.57% to the overall Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in the country’s third-quarter in 2020.
- No doubt, the telecom sector has remained resilient amid the COVID-19 pandemic given the surge in the demand for data usage and increase in total mobile subscribers.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several organizations have adjusted to remote workspace/digital workspace – a new way of life in the office space that is expected to increase data services, and further enhances growth in the sector in the short to medium term.
- The performance trajectory of the sector may subsist with more gains, considering the concerns that the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is lurking around the corner.
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Business
BUA Cement signs contract to build 3 Plants in Adamawa, Edo and Sokoto States
BUA Cement Plc has disclosed that it is set to sign a contract for the building of additional production lines in three states.
The Management of BUA Cement Plc has disclosed that the Company is set to sign a contract for the building of additional three production lines, with an installed capacity of 3 million metric tonnes per annum each this week.
This disclosure was made by the Company in a notification issued and signed by the Company’s Secretary, Mr. Ahmed Aliyu.
In line with the information contained in the disclosure, the contract will be signed between the Company and Sinoma CBMI of China.
According to the statement issued by Mr. Aliyu, the three plants with an installed capacity of 3 million metric tonnes per annum each, will be located at Adamawa, Edo and Sokoto States.
This, however, when completed, is expected to increase the total installed production capacity of the cement manufacturer by a cumulative 9 million metric tonnes per annum.
What you should know
- In a publication by Nairametrics six months ago, the Chairman of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu, disclosed that the company was set to establish a three million metric tonnes cement plant and 50 megawatts power plant in Guyuk and Lamurde local governments of Adamawa state, in the North Eastern region of Nigeria.
The Chairman stressed that the Guyuk Cement Plant as proposed, would be a major investment in the North-East by BUA and the company would ensure that raw materials are sourced locally.
Why this matters
The additional three production plants with an installed capacity of 3 million metric tonnes each are expected to add to the robust infrastructure of the cement manufacturer.
- These plants when completed in 2022, in addition with its 3rd cement line of 3millon mtpa in Sokoto which has been booked for commissioning in mid-2021, are expected to increase the total installed cement production capacity of the company from 8 million mtpa to 20 million mtpa.
- This will enable the manufacturer to secure its place in the Nigerian Markets and unlock Pan-African opportunities elsewhere in the continent.
- This move is expected to place the company higher than Lafarge as the second-largest cement manufacturer in Nigeria, with a total installed capacity of 10.5 million mtpa, but lower than Dangote’s total national installed capacity of 29.25 million mtpa.
What they are saying
The founder of BUA Group Plc, Abdul Samad Rabiu, in his statement at the 2020 Institute of Directors Dinner, said:
- “I am happy to announce that our 3rd cement line of 3mmt per annum in Sokoto is expected to be commissioned in the middle of 2021, and I am also pleased to inform you that we are commencing the construction of 3 more cement plants of 3 million tonnes each in Sokoto, Edo and Adamawa at the cost of $1.050billion, which should be completed by the end of 2022. The contract signing is expected to happen this week.”
Speaking about impressive developments in the foods segment of the Group, Rabiu said:
- “BUA is also looking to combine our foods businesses – from sugar, flour, pasta to list as BUA FOODS on the NSE by the end of 2021. In sugar, we have our integrated plantation in Kwara State set to produce 200,000 tonnes of refined sugar, 20million litres of ethanol annually and 35MW of power – all utilizing the by-products of cane sugar.”
Business
Canada invites fresh 5,000 Express Entry candidates for permanent residency
Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 469 in order to be invited.
The Canadian government in its latest draw invited another 5,000 immigration candidates to apply for its permanent residency, making it a total of 102,350 issued year-to-date.
Invited candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 469 in order to be invited, the same as required in the last round in November.
- In case of a tie between candidates, IRCC applied the tie-breaking rule. This indicates that candidates who had a CRS score of 469 or more, needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before June 4, 2020.
- This is the second time in a row that the CRS requirement has dipped to 469. The CRS requirement had typically hovered above 470 for all program draws.
READ: Applications for Canadian Permanent Residency hit 27,900 in 4 months
The number of ITAs issued to date is the highest it has ever been. Canada surpassed its ITA target on November 18, when a record-breaking 5,000 ITAs were issued. There has also never been a single year where the number of ITAs issued surpassed 100,000.
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The large number of invitations is in line with Canada’s commitment to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants in 2021, most of which will be coming through the Express Entry system.
READ: Canada invites 3,350 Express Entry Candidates to apply for PR in May draw
What you should know
- Express Entry is Canada’s immigration application management system for three federal economic-class programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.
- A set number of the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence through regular draws from the pool. These invitation rounds typically take place every two weeks and the vast majority involve candidates from all three Express Entry-managed categories.
- Candidates are ranked based on a score awarded under the CRS, which considers factors such as age, education, skilled work experience, and proficiency in English or French.
- A set number of the highest-ranked candidates are issued an ITA for Canadian permanent residency through regular draws from the pool. Although, while a job offer is not required in order to be eligible under the Express Entry system, the CRS does award additional points to candidates who have one.
READ: Canada invites 4,500 Express Entry Candidates, as cut-off score drops to 470
Why this matters
This serves as an opportunity for Nigerian youths who will be seeking to travel out for academic and work purposes, especially at a time when strike actions have disrupted academic activities in the country and unemployment rate skyrocketed as a result of covid-19 lockdown.
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MTN leads with market share of 40.41% in telephony subscription
BUA Cement signs contract to build 3 Plants in Adamawa, Edo and Sokoto States
Surge in buying interest drives bullish bourse
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Anonymous
October 6, 2020 at 9:46 am
If I may ask… What does the federal universities lecturers have to offer…. No technology.. No medical improvement,only theory theory theory and copy and paste… Yet they r calling themselves profs and doctors… Illiterate lecturers.. Government should replace them.. Coz they have nothing to offer..
Anonymous
October 6, 2020 at 11:35 am
please this people should help us. What is the essence of education in Nigeria if this remains the nature… All these people their children are schooling abroad and they are here frustrating us. If I had known I wouldn’t have enrolled in the first place, is better to end it in secondary school than this frustration. FG, ASUU and NASU please feel our pains this is too much on us.