By George Mgbeleke

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has criticised the decision of the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu to proceed with the flamboyant tour of the United Kingdom to honour the invitation for a state visit by the King of England, Charles 111, arguing that a Commander-in-Chief of an Armed forces waging a major war on terror and for him going away at the time that dozens of soldiers and civilians are killed, maimed and housing assets of ordinary citizens worth several billions of Naira, doesn’t make any sense.

In a statement by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko,HURIWA said: ” Mr. President, it is insensitive and unacceptable that you continued with your ‘joyful’ and entertaining trip to visit the palatial mansions of the English monarchy at this time of weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth by many of our citizens caught up unfortunately in the bombing campaigns by the same terrorists that your government has failed spectacularly to rein in but your administration has continued to carry out the unconstitutional reintegration and Rehabilitation of the so-called repentant terrorists.

“MR. PRESIDENT, you are aware that just Yesterday, the entire Borno State and Maiduguri particularly which is as big as France, was thrown into mourning by terrorists who killed dozens including a breastfeeding woman and her baby. Yet the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria has jumped into the presidential jet to go and have sessions of dining and wining with the richest monarch in Europe. Where is the African cultural value and sense of empathy and caring for one another that the head of state of a Nigeria that is in war would happily continue with this sort of joyful and entertainment filled royal hosting by the King and Queen of England? Sir, this is intolerable and absolutely appalling. How a Father abandoned his wounded and killed citizens to travel to England for a mere state visit that bears no relevance to the wellbeing and welfare of millions of citizens facing crushing poverty and buffeted by bloody violent attacks by terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and armed non state actors?

“All around the globe, global media networks are reporting that bombs exploded in at least three locations in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state Monday night, killing and injuring scores of people, the emergency services told The Associated Press, citing possible suicide bombings.

“Explosions were heard in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, where Nigeria’s homegrown jihadi Boko Haram extremists have waged an insurgency for more than a decade.

“The blasts occurred at the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two local markets, known as Post Office and the Monday Market, according to Sirajo Abdullahi, head of operations at Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, in Maiduguri.

“There are casualties and they are still managing the causalities at the hospital,” Abdullahi said. “We can’t give the actual figure until we count.”

Besides, the Nigerian military that has of late suffered multiple ambushes by terrorists of ISWAP and Boko haram terrorists said in a statement earlier it had repelled attacks by suspected Islamic militants in the early hours of Monday on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

“HURIWA agrees that for years, Nigeria has been battling a complex security crisis from different armed groups, especially in the northern part of the country.
Jihadi extremist groups, including Boko Haram and one of its factions, have been blamed for intensified attacks targeting Nigeria’s military bases in the northeast of the country this month. But attacks in Maiduguri in Borno state, which is the epicenter of Nigeria’s 17-year struggle with extremist armed groups, have been rare in recent years after military operations.

HURIWA quoted the media as stating that Bagoni Alkali, an eyewitness to the blast, told The Associated Press he brought wounded people to the hospital for emergency treatment.

HURIWA theb continued: “The question on the lips of empathetic Nigerians from far and wide is why at this mourning period is our President and his wife travelling to be hosted by the King and Queen of England? Did we elect Tinubu to embark on meaningless globetrotting gambit for personal enjoyment? Couldn’t our president have excused himself from this unworthy trip so he takes strong steps and measures to battle the terrorists threatening to wipe off thousands of citizens of the map of the world and face of the earth?

HURIWA lamented that an eye witness aforementioned even said that “Right now, over 200 people have been injured and are receiving care in the accident and emergency department,” but yet the President deems it fit to go to England for merry making? Mr. President, is this a great decision? Will the Kingbof England visit Nigeria if a terrorist group bombs any part of the UK?”

HURIWA expressed disappointment that the President embarked on the journey to England which absolutely is all about dining and wining with the Royal family in England and would definitely not be about crushing the phenomenal rise in bloody attacks targeting Nigerians.

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By Our Correspondent

To end lingering strike of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and non-academic staff unions, the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, has approved the release of additional N300 million to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and non-academic staff unions of Taraba State University in a major move to resolve the ongoing strike at the institution, bringing the total sum to N500 million.

The Commissioner, Ministry for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mike Dio Jen disclose this while speaking with Journalists in Jalingo.

He said that the present administration under Governor Dr Abgu Kefas inherited backlog of salaries, approved over N3 billion to clear all that is owned to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), including Non-academic staff of the institution, NASU.

“Governor Kefes has released another N300 million added to the N200 million earlier released few days ago as part of agreement to clear all outstandings owing staff of the institution.

“Today, ASUU has no justification to continue with its ongoing strike action, this present administration inherited blacklog of salaries from previous administration,” he said.

According to him, the Governor has shown greatly commitment to the University.

“When Governor Kefas assumed office nearly three years ago, he inherited over N4 billion in unpaid salaries at the university. He immediately intervened with more than N1 billion, but within a shorter time after he increased the minimum wage of workers the salary bill rise to Seven Hundred Million Naira monthly.

He highlighted that the governor spent over two billion naira for building of female hostels, Nakowa hostel and renovations.

“This are efforts the governor has put to ensure that the University maintained its standard.

“The governor few weeks ago approved over two hundred and fifty million naira for Accreditation of courses and one hundred and sixty one for Convocations in all the Tertiary institutions of the state.

According to him, over N2 billion has been spent on the renovation of hostels in the institution, while a new Hostel known as the Makowa has also been constructed to improve students’ living conditions.

“Immediately we came on board we sworn into action, they were Seven demands brought by the academy union and the non-academy staff union, and all the seven demands were discussed and solved, five of them were completely settled, then the two major demands that were left is the issue of pension and gratuities, payment of backlog of salary areas and the EAA and AA.

“When the governor came in, he proved the point of agreement where two hundred million was released to them, and there was an agreement that the government will release the sum of N50 million monthly until such a time that the entire thing will be settled.

“Be it as it may, the situation we have in this country the income or resources at the disposal of the government is not consistent, its fluctuate, even what we get from the federal account is not consistent and there are competing demands, look at insecurity, it is consuming the resources we have in the State.

“When the government slashed the school fees by 50% which is the main revenue, the government decided to take over the entire payment of salaries which was Three hundred and Eight million (308,000,000) per month to Six hundreds and thirty seven million, eighteen thousand four hundreds and fourthy four naira, ninety seven Kobo per month because of the implementation of the new minimum wage which is the highest paid institution in the northern Nigeria,” he said.

The Commissioner highlighted some of the governor’s achievements in the University, noted that, Governor Agbu Kefas had earlier spent over N2b for the renovation of the hostels and N400,000,000 was expended for the building of the new hostel in the institution also gave approval of over N1.43b was given to release for the accreditation of courses in the six higher institutions in the state.

He therefore called on ASUU to reciprocate the government’s efforts by calling off the ongoing strike action and returning to classrooms, adding that the present administration remains committed to strengthening the university and improving the welfare of both staff and students.