FG Directs Oil Firms to Cut Offshore Workforce NNPC, DPR differ over Nigeria’s petrol stock Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja of COVID-19 pandemic in the on essential duties should be Petroleum Corporation the current nationwide supply for travel to offshore/swamp country. nominated and permitted to (NNPC) and the DPR at of the product. location and obtainment of The federal government has Director, the Department of travel to offshore and other the weekend disagreed over “All travels to and from offshore safety Permit 2019,” it directed oil and gas companies Petroleum Resources (DPR), remote locations. the country’s total stock of offshore/remote locations stated, adding: “Non-essential to reduce the workforce on Mr. Sarki Auwalu, said in a The circular was issued petrol, as fears continue to shall strictly be in line with their offshore platforms in view circular in Abuja that only staff just as the Nigerian National grow over the sustainability of the guidelines and procedure Continued on page 10 ASUU Demands N1.1tn for Universities’ Revitalisation... Page 8 Monday 30 March, 2020 Vol 25. No 9121. Price: N250 www.thisdaylive.com T RU N TH & REASO ARISE TV Panelists Laud Nigeria’s Handling of Pandemic Warn of tougher days ahead Our Correspondents Channel, the broadcast arm but warned the federal health practitioners around the how it would handle the next halt the spread of the virus. of THISDAY Newspapers, government not to rest on world, among others, alerted few weeks would determine Among the contributors Contributors at a forum yesterday lauded Nigeria’s its oars. the federal government that whether or not Nigeria would organised by Arise TV management of COVID-19 The panelists, comprising tougher days were ahead and be able to flatten the curve and Continued on page 10 Buhari Locks Down Lagos, Ogun, Abuja as COVID-19 Cases Rise to 111 Suspends flight operations Promises stipend for vulnerable people, gives three-month moratorium on development bank loans I feel well, says Kyari, moves to Lagos for further tests Anambra, Ekiti, Benue, Ogun, Yobe, Abia close borders Dangote, Sanusi, Bello test negative Stallion group pledges rice and fish supply to govt hospitals Air Peace evacuates 274 Israelis to Tel-Aviv Our Correspondents full restriction of movements within the three areas for 14 With effect from 11.00 p.m. days. today, Lagos State, the Fourteen fresh cases were epicentre of COVID-19 in recorded yesterday to bring Nigeria; the neighbouring the tally to 111 with nine new Ogun State, and the Federal infections recorded in Lagos Capital Territory (FCT), would and five in FCT, according be locked down, President to data from NCDC Twitter Muhammadu Buhari directed account. yesterday. The presidential broadcast The president, in a came on the same day Buhari’s nationwide broadcast in Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba which he outlined efforts by Kyari, in a statement signed his administration to contain by him and posted on the the virus, which as at yesterday official twitter handle of the had infected 111 people, with presidency, @NGRPresident, one death, directed the Federal broke his silence on his Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 status, saying on Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure Continued on page 10 Celebrating 68, Tinubu Donates MR. PRESIDENT ON COVID-19... N200m to Fight COVID-19... Page 9 President Muhammadu Buhari during his nationwide broadcast on COVID-19 in Abuja…yesterday 2 MONDAY MARCH 30, 2020 •THISDAY MONDAY MARCH 30, 2020 • THISDAY 3 4 MONDAY MARCH 30, 2020 •THISDAY MONDAY MARCH 30, 2020 • THISDAY 5 6 MONDAY MARCH 30, 2020 •THISDAY MONDAY MARCH 30, 2020 • THISDAY 7 8 MONDAY, ͻ͸˜ͺ͸ͺ͸˾THISDAY Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike NEWS Email [email protected], 08066066268 ASUU Demands N1.1tn for Universities’ Revitalisation Accuses FG of breaching 2019 pact Union hasn't notified govt about strike, says Ngige Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja balance of the arrears up to 2016 universities. government of trying to apply Ogunyemi, however, said Senator Chris Ngige, told should be paid by the federal He said the failure to “carrot and stick approach” the union was still open for THISDAY that ASUU was yet to Academic Staff Union of government while it would be honour these agreements had in order to intimidate and dialogue, adding that the inform the federal government Universities (ASUU) has given enough time to calculate angered members of the union, hoodwink the lecturers into union has forwarded a notice that it had embarked on strike. demanded N1.1trillion from the what was outstanding for 2017 fuelling their decision at the submission by seizing their of commencement of strike to "We have not received notice federal government for what it and 2018. NEC meeting to immediately February salaries and offering the federal government. of strike from ASUU and until described as the revitalisation of “Again, it was agreed that the commence the indefinite strike. them some amount as in lieu However, the Minister of we do we will not comment the universities. government should mainstream He accused the federal of EAA. Labour and Employment, on the matter," he said. Speaking to THISDAY on the the payment of the allowances indefinite industrial action by in the annual budget as from the union, ASUU President, Prof. 2019 but nothing happened," Biodun Ogunyemi, said the union he said. embarked on the strike to compel ASUU president explained that the federal government to honour the agreement with the federal an agreement it entered into in government was that it would 2009, which was renegotiated pay EAA in four installments in 2019. beginning in November 2019. He said the National Executive According to him, the Committee (NEC) of the union government reneged on the deal rejected the federal government’s and did not bother to reach out proposals on the amount to be to the union on why it could not released for revitalisation of meet the payment obligation. universities, payment of earned He said members of ASUU academic allowances and timeline were displeased and had insisted for setting up visitation panels that the government must go for universities. back to the original plan or at When asked to state the least release N220 billion as a specific areas of dispute with demonstration of commitment the federal government, ASUU to the pact. president said: "We have outlined Ogunyemi also listed other issues that are outstanding from issues in dispute to include our 2019 agreement, including the non-setting up of visitation the revitalisation of universities, panels, which was supposed to which the government promised have been done latest March 2019; to process the report of the checking the poor funding of state inter-ministerial committee on universities and arranging for a sustainable sources of funding. platform using the auspices of They gave us that document but the National Economic Council there was nowhere it mentioned (NEC) to hold discussions with UBA AGAINST COVID-19... the outstanding balance of about governors on how to address Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka (left), and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo- N1.1 trillion in terms of timeline the situation and the issue of on how to inject that fund into granting an official licence to Olu, during the presentation of a cheque of N1 billion to the governor as the UBA Foundation’s donation to the fight against revitalising our universities.” Nigeria Universities Pension COVID-19 in Lagos...yesterday Ogunyemi added that on Company (NUPENCO) to ensure the issue of Earned Academic sustainable and accountable Activities (EAA), both sides management of the pension had in 2019 agreed that the of the academic staff of the NCDC Prioritises COVID-19 Residents Groan as Lockdown by States Takes Toll Test for High Profiled Nigerians Our Correspondents between the state and Rivers and Martins Ifijeh samples can be taken. having symptoms. “Although the World Delta states through which food Revealing this to THISDAY, “For those who reply in the Health Organisation (WHO) The closure of markets and supplies enter the state. Nigeria Centre for Disease an epidemiologist with NCDC affirmative, we try to find out recommends for more testing, boundaries by some states as part In Niger State, the curfew Control (NCDC) has been in Lagos State, who preferred which kind of symptoms they you know we have limited of the efforts to contain the spread imposed by Governor Abubakar conducting COVID-19 tests to remain anonymous, said have. If this doesn’t meet the reagents, so we try to ensure of the COVID-19 pandemic has Sani Bello has virtually paralysed on high profiled Nigerians, NCDC does not have enough symptoms we are looking those who are tested are inflicted economic hardships on the socio-economic life of the who demanded for it, but reagents to go round, hence for, we tell them to access those who really meet our residents of the states, THISDAY’s people as all markets have asked ‘ordinary’ citizens he advised people to adhere healthcare in any government requirements. Many people investigation has revealed. remained closed for the period who also requested for same strictly to the case-definition hospital near them. call in but only a few are In Bayelsa State, the total of the curfew. to strictly follow its case- before being qualified for “If they had a contact with qualified. When we don’t shutdown declared by the Petrol filling stations are also definition rule for testing; a testing. confirmed cases as well, we oblige others, they go on government has led to the scarcity closed during the period of the situation that has left many “However, there are also ask the same questions.