Tag: Chukwuma Soludo

  • Soludo Approves FG-ASUU Agreement For Ojukwu Varsity From 2027

    Soludo Approves FG-ASUU Agreement For Ojukwu Varsity From 2027

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has approved the implementation of the 2025 renegotiated agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities for staff of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, beginning in January 2027.

    The university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Harrison Madubueze, announced the approval in a statement issued on Friday.

    According to Madubueze, the decision was communicated to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Omenugha, through the Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Peter Onwualu.

    Omenugha expressed appreciation to the governor on behalf of the university management, Senate, staff and students, while also commending the leadership of the institution’s labour unions.

    She described the approval as the fulfilment of assurances previously given by the state government concerning the implementation of the agreement.

    The statement said the implementation had remained elusive under previous administrations, which it accused of failing to fulfil commitments to university staff.

    It added that the decision aligned with Soludo’s education agenda, which seeks to restore teaching as a respected profession by ensuring that educators receive appropriate motivation and rewards.

    The university management said the implementation formed part of broader efforts to improve the institution’s standards and position it as a university of global standing.

    The Federal Government and ASUU reached a renegotiated agreement in 2025 following prolonged disagreements over university funding, lecturers’ welfare and working conditions.

    Although the Federal Government oversees federal universities, state governments are responsible for decisions concerning the implementation of such agreements in their state-owned institutions, including Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

  • Anambra Debate: Governorship candidates reluctant to condemn IPOB

    Anambra Debate: Governorship candidates reluctant to condemn IPOB

    The activities of the pro-Biafra group, IPOB, appeared to have been a difficult issue for the governorship candidates in Anambra State to deal with during the just concluded political debate.

    Andy Uba of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were the only three candidates who participated in the Arise News-organised debate, out of the 18 that have been cleared for the November 6 election.

    IPOB agitation in Anambra and other South-east states has led to several killings and destruction, with the attendant militarisation of the region.

    All the three candidates showed reluctance at the debate to condemn the activities of IPOB which has been proscribed by the Nigerian government. The three said it was necessary for the government to dialogue with IPOB.

    “In life, I have seen good men do wrong things, and I have seen wrong men do good things. So, it’s always good to get to the activities of any group or any person, and support what is good and condemn what’s bad,” said the PDP candidate, Mr Ozigbo.

    “There are certain things IPOB does, through agitation and on things that happened, that I support. But when they get to some extreme, then I condemn,” he added.

    Mr Ozigbo said insecurity in Anambra was caused by the way the APC-led government at the centre and the APGA-led government in Anambra were doing things.

    He said those who “created” the insecurity cannot be the ones to mediate in any dialogue with IPOB.

    “That’s why you need a Valentine (Ozigbo), a useful person to deal with the issue of IPOB,” he said.

    The APGA candidate, Mr Soludo, who described himself as a “pan-Nigerian”, said he does not support the agitation for an independent republic.

    Just like the other two candidates, Mr Soludo said IPOB “deserves to be heard”.

    “The agitation cannot be shut down with a gun. We need to have a dialogue, bring everyone to the table and discuss specific issues that are their agitations,” he said.

    The candidates’ reluctance to condemn IPOB at the debate is perhaps to avoid a backlash at the poll which is just a few days away. It also underscores the complexities of the security challenges in the state and the South-east region.

    Apart from insecurity, the candidates talked about economy, education, environment and the healthcare in Anambra.

    (Premium Times)