Vol.1No.5 29^{TH September, 2003.}

EDITORIAL: This is the first ‘loud’ government for some time now (Qasim’s was a quiet one) that has not witnessed an impeachment, beautiful enough. The Speaker said, "I have seen no reason whatsoever to impeach the President". One big question is, how come not?

D’ Herald set out to do an x-ray of the ruling class, interviewing the EXCO, S.R.A officers and political hot shots like Okadigbo. One thing was clear, there is much politics in the state.

The budget it seems is a budget for running the Union’s government not the students’ Union. The president and his Financial Secretary have decried this, and for the first time in some years now, we have a budget with capital expenditure of up to N350, 000 and for the very first time, a government with no take off grant. Strange enough, the budget proposals of the S.R.A were higher than that of the EXCO. This raises the question of how effective the S.R.A is.

On the whole though, when you consider the proverb which says, "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king" and you consider the recent history of the S.U.G, Terab hasn’t done too badly.

This edition is the first of two that give you an insight into the state of the Union.

For: Editor-in-chief

"You may not be interested in the dialectical but the dialectical is interested in you". (Karl Marx)

"You may not be interested in the political but the political is interested in you". (Herman Berman)

Definitely, these two men were referring to politics and dialectics as they would refer to elements of the weather with regards to the average man. For example, "You may not be interested in the hot sun of Maiduguri but the hot sun of Maiduguri is interested in you". If you still do not understand, what it means is that you cannot escape the effects of political happenings around you whether you participate or not; so it would be better to influence things in your own way, so that it may affect you better.

This is not the case with campus unionism these days. The political has become politics, a more proper word for it being scheming. Comrades shout great Nigerian students when there is in fact nothing great about Nigerian students. The word in those days of unionism was the cause, now it is interests. Recently in an interview with some S.U.G officials, when asked about the root of recent problems between the Sec.Gen. and President, the Treasurer, before he could be stopped ( the Fin. Sec actually made to stop him) blurted out: INTERESTS.

Comrade Alphonsus aka Okadigbo also when asked about why he resigned his political adviser post, said INTERESTS. To cap it, the President told us in an interview, "Politics cannot be divorced from Unionism. The question is where did Presido learn his lessons on unionism?

The Sec. Gen. on his recent fracas with the rest of the EXCO, instead of going to the SRA as any self-respecting comrade would do, wrote something and pasted it on the walls, a publicity stunt - typical political move. The President, instead of responding as any self respecting comrade would, chose to keep silent - a typical political manoeuvre (keep the suckers in suspense). Then he went on and suspended the Sec. Gen.

Now before anybody knows what exactly happened, they are talking of reconciliation. If Lenin were alive, he would order all of them to be executed.

From our investigations in preparing this publication, we discovered a lot of things about the Sec. Gen./Presido saga, things enough to fry them all. They all have soiled fingers. If you asked who stole the meat in the cooking pot, either party would point to the other and they would all be right. Yes, things are that bad.

That our dear president is a big schemer is scientific fact. That his Sec. Gen. is equally witty is almost divine law. Okadigbo, when we spoke to him, shouted a lot about being the father of campus politics and his being abandoned by Terab which is why he left his advisory post. He sounded quite bitter, but ended up saying, "I still advise Terab".

Why we didn’t scandalise them? The point is not whether they are telling you the truth but why they are telling you.

Even as the ideal situation exists only in the books it will not be too out of place to say that the relationship between the leaders (SUG) and the led (students) is far from ideal. The characteristic flavour of this relationship could perhaps be best described as one of suspicion and distrust (on the part of the congress) and dismay (on the part of the SUG). Hear the President himself, "The moment you say great Nigerian students, there is need for everybody to gather instantaneously, but that is not the case". I hear you Presido, could it be because the students know they are not great? One fact is that you have a timid congress. A congress that grumbles instead of struggles.

But one cannot heap the blame squarely on an insensitive congress. Is the congress being sensitised? The congress is uninformed and desperately needs a bridge of communication with the EXCO. The Chairman, House Committee on Information gave us flimsy excuses for the absence of a bulletin; no time, no this, no that.

Fine, we realise the mistake of the EXCO, but what exactly is their duty? Is it not to watch our backs? Any good man knows the back is his to carry first before it is someone else’s to guard.

PRESIDENT

Terab when asked about SUG/Management relationship said, "It should naturally not be very cordial". That’s a new one, we have always known an SUG picked by management. No matter how ardently management denies this, it is true.

Terab said of management, "It is a listening one, but slow in action". The EXCO has chorused one other thing: management is in the habit of hijacking its plans /projects. The proposed pure water project was cited as an example. After a number of such incidences, the SUG has decided there is room for competition, it will carry on with whatever project it has. If management wants, it can compete. Now that is unionism.

Concerning the limited liberty granted the SUG, the president admitted it is a good thing because SUG abuses liberty sometimes.

On the whole, it seems the SUG is satisfied with goings on. They expect some of the treatment they are getting. The president however made one prayer, that management will learn to respond. Amen to that.

The Speaker of the SRA begged to be quoted on this." The constitution of the SUG is a very deficient one. It is in serious need of a review." For saying this, the man ought to be addressed more properly i.e. ‘The Honourable Speaker’, but one thing questions this honour. What has he done about the deficient constitution? He gave a very long story about how the Constitutional Review Committee has done nothing.

One of the glaring deficiencies is that there is no judicial arm of the Students Union. The House Committee on Code of Conduct is trying to fill in the gap but that isn’t good enough. Not suprisingly, the Speaker is the "sole interpreter of the law". The good thing is he cannot interpret anything the house does not agree with.

A number of very silly laws still exist in our constitution. We encountered one during the course of this publication. When we asked the treasurer how much money was in the SUG account, the Fin. Sec. interrupted by quoting some rather absurd clause in section 4 about officers not disclosing details of their jobs! Of course the Fin. Sec did not want the Treasurer to tell us, but again, the law was in the Constitution, subject to funny interpretations.

The Honourable Speaker, custodian of the constitution, you will be leaving a great legacy behind if you initiate the making of a real constitutional review committee, with professionals as consultants. A committee that will have the power to work even after this government is gone, until its work is done. It will be an honour for us that day to call you Honourable Speaker, Sir.

It is important to remember that the Qasim government reviewed the constitution but due to the short life of his administration, it could not be deliberated upon by the House. Now the reviewed copy is nowhere to be found. Big question!

A conversation with the average unionist will tell you they are all dead. Aluta is just a song, they don’t even like singing it these days.

The SRA almost never makes an attendance of up to 60% when it sits. Less than 20% of the senators say anything at all during sessions, but that may not tell you much. A proverb says, ‘A fool who does not talk will appear a wise man’, but the moment he opens his mouth, the fool in him comes out.

Our politicians, their silence is the silence of the dumb (that other dumb). When they talk, they become that proverbial fool. But on a second thought, you realise that not all of them can be fools. The truth is that even they do not believe in what they are saying. They do not have feelings for the union, so when they talk, they yarn chaff. Most of them are involved for the "certificate". It is what they will tell you, on a personal note.

The rest, those who talk a lot and do not appear so foolish, their words are empty. They talk because they like hearing themselves talk. The egocentric politicians, dyed in the wool of capitalists, they know the union but they do not care for it. THOSE, THOSE ARE THE REAL FOOLS.

THE COMRADES? LIKE WE SAID THEY ARE DEAD. ONLY A FEW REMAIN AND THEY ARE THE ONES EVERYBODY THINKS OF AS FOOLS.

Vol.1 No.4 8^{TH September, 2003.}

EDITORIAL: Unimaid seems to be in a race with the indefatigable Vice Chancellor, J.D. Amin, standing out as the umpire, dictating the shots.

It is clear from all quarters that J.D’s approach, if not totally emancipatory, is revolutionary. He has shown that he means business. The race to get the semester on course, the race to complete registration and the race to put unimaid on the web. The recent dress code policy is yet a pointer to J.D’s determination to put decorum back into a school heading for the rocks and channel the path to what an ideal tertiary institution should look like.

But, is the terrain (unimaid) smooth? The athletes (students and staff) seem not to be completely enjoying the big game. In as much as we appreciate the vigour of the V.C, the attendant irregularities associated with the race calls for concern.

J.D. has vowed to conduct exams from Nov. 22 and end the semester by Dec. 20, if ASUU doesn’t take light! Although ASUU seems to be finding romance with the new Minister of Education all is not well with the Association. ASUU (unimaid) recently met to jigsaw on withheld salaries; disgruntled ASUU and a poor V.C may not after all be the best of friends.

In all, it’s time to get your race gears on!

"I have a lot of plans for this school, but I am weighed down by financial incapability". These are the words of a tired-sounding V.C last Friday (5/9/03).

He has started already on a radical note, but there are potholes further ahead.

The university’s infrastructure is in a mess, the hostels in serious need of repairs and there is not enough money. Unimaid is heavily in debt according to him. The university has not received full salary requirements for the past 4 years. A month’s salary runs up to N120 million. To pay salaries, monies from other sectors have to be diverted to salary payment.

Capital projects are also out of the question. "For the past 2 years we have not received capital funds."

The debt load is difficult to quote accurately, so says the VC. "It keeps on increasing everyday". The authorities owe banks, lecturers and different sections of the university, for their money has been diverted to either salary payments or other absolutely necessary projects.

The V.C told us the school has started seeking for alternative sources of funds - individual philanthropists and organisations. A 5% commission has been promised to whoever can source cash from a philanthropist.

Also, the house rent of lecturers’ living quarters has been increased by 100% i.e. from N400 to N800.Hostel accommodation fees will also be increased, but J.D says it will be reasonable.

A disgruntled ASUU has met twice this semester to talk about their withheld strike salary. Now, their house rent has been increased by 100%. The V.C has told us he is ready for their attacks.

For the withheld salary issue, he says he will show them the financial record of the university and ask them how he should source the money with which to pay them. It should be recalled he loaned the money from a bank to pay lecturers after resumption instead of a month’s payment as Obasanjo directed.

To cap it up, the man is bitter about ASUU and its threats. Says he, "The strike has not changed anything. They should realise by now that they cannot force the government to improve university funding".

It is a miracle how this semester’s registration was undertaken (1 week) compared with last semester’s that lasted up to 16 weeks. Of course not everybody liked the idea.

Naturally, students didn’t like the trouble. But it worked fine though there were several cases of fainting and bloody injuries. Students have paid N5000 late registration fees, it remains to be seen if they will have to defer due to late registration. The part 1 students have had the hardest time of it, but perhaps it is good orientation to make them more serious than their predecessors.

More naturally, didn’t like the trouble. They were forced to work from early morning to late evening. A lot of them grumbled and some did not even comply, but now most of them are commending the VC. We hope for our own sakes at least, that they come out for lectures the way they did for registration, even if they grumble.

NO ARMLESS BLOUSES, NO TRANSPARENT CLOTHES, NO BOOBS SHOWING DRESSES, NO LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.

Well and well again, students will not like the idea and again students will like the idea. Some students are tired of the sexual harassment. Remember Celestine Babayaro was convicted of sexual assault because he walked around in pants IN HIS OWN HOUSE. The kind of clothes we see these days all over the place, going by the logic of Celestine’s conviction, it is more than assault, it is WAR.

Some people think it is a violation of their human right to dress as they wish. Some on the other hand think that kind of dressing is a violation of their human right to peace of mind.

Well, it is a matter of logic, this argument, and a matter of humane reason. The truth, however way we want it, is that the authorities have gone and done it and JD insists it will be enforced. The Senate decided on it and the students’ council approved it.

The poor publicity, the V.C says, will improve and violators will be sent out of classes, laboratories, offices and other such places. Normal disciplinary action will be taken against unruly students. Prof. Amin says he will go about it gently at first then roughly, if he has to. According to him, "It is not too indecent and not too strict, it goes with any conviction one may profess to."

It has worked in other universities, the most recent example being O.A.U, Ile- Ife, where they even banned forms of Hijab until the MSS fought it.

Last semester witnessed an unprecedented wave of exam malpractice. Some people attributed it to the unending admission/registration exercise, late commencement of lectures and other irregularities on the part of staff and students. 31 cases have reached the security division and normally only cases that have been resolved or concluded at the Exams and Records reach the security division. Of these 31 cases, 9 were cases of impersonation.

A big catch was also made; a certain lecturer in the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering was caught and booted out of campus.

PART I 19 CASES

PART II 5 CASES

PART III 3 CASES

PART IV 3 CASES

SMS 18 CASES

SCIENCE 4 CASES

EDUCATION 3 CASES

ARTS 2 CASES

Mercenaries have been introduced into the system. A student of ABU and Ramat Poly were caught writing exams. A part II Law student was also caught with 3 different ID cards of 3 different departments.

This new trend may spell doom for the once saintly unimaid if the authorities do not get at the root of recent unbecoming behaviour in the university.

Internet services in the campus have been quite erratic since inception. This however, is going to be over soon according to Lawan Bundi of the Management Information Systems and Mr. Peter, Head of computer services.

The reason for the poor service according to them is because the university wanted the best. The university owns the latest state of the art satellite brand, the K-U BAND which has been found to be affected by the weather conditions. However, installation of the more common C-U BAND, which can function under more adverse weather, has since commenced. Mr Peter promised it would be completed in one week. We pray we have it this semester.

Extension of services has also been promised to Ramat Library, Medical College, Dept. of Library Science and the VC’s office. All faculties and hostel blocks are also likely to benefit.

New products and services will include voice mail, Internet phone, and videochat online. If we take Mr. Peter by his words we should expect all these in a week’s time. We pray so, because for Naija, e get as things be.

ASUU Unimaid branch met last Wednesday, 3rd September to discuss withheld salary. It seems the lecturers do not want to let go. D’Herald had a talk with Dr. Dada, Unimaid ASUU chairman. Here are the cards on the table.

A strike is definitely out of the question from the national body. The national chairman instead told the various local branches to go home and "shake body" to their VCs and get what they can get. The reason for the no strike order is because of an injunction, which mandated ASUU to suspend its last strike for negotiation to commence. Moreover, following the Senate’s intervention (between ASUU and FG) ASUU has given the Senate its goodwill that it shall not go on strike if the Senate delivers. The Senate on its part has promised that Obasanjo has given them a listening ear on ASUU. Dr. Dada however insists that ASUU national body will bare its fangs if need be.

At its meeting, ASUU decided pressing the University straight away would be unfair, so they decided to take a "coax before coerce" strategy. So ASUU has written a letter to the Pro-Chancellor who they say is their real employer. The letter, they say, seems harmless. However it can be harmful.

ASUU is going to meet in 3 weeks time to decide on what to do next, depending on what happens.

They may do this if nothing good happens especially, as Dr.Dada says, the 2nd Semester results which can prevent the take off of the next session. They still have other cards in their sleeves, which Dr. Dada says he cannot disclose for "propaganda warfare" reasons.

ASUU appreciates that the VC. is not in an easy situation. The two universities that have been paid have a smaller salary scale than unimaid. Unimaid, with about 700 lecturers, has a salary load of N120million while FUT Yola, comparatively, has just N45million monthly load. That is why they can afford to pay without trouble.

ASUU says it understands J.D’s predicament, "But he should try and do something".

Vol.1 No.4 8^{TH September, 2003.}

EDITORIAL: Unimaid seems to be in a race with the indefatigable Vice Chancellor, J.D. Amin, standing out as the umpire, dictating the shots.

It is clear from all quarters that J.D’s approach, if not totally emancipatory, is revolutionary. He has shown that he means business. The race to get the semester on course, the race to complete registration and the race to put unimaid on the web. The recent dress code policy is yet a pointer to J.D’s determination to put decorum back into a school heading for the rocks and channel the path to what an ideal tertiary institution should look like.

But, is the terrain (unimaid) smooth? The athletes (students and staff) seem not to be completely enjoying the big game. In as much as we appreciate the vigour of the V.C, the attendant irregularities associated with the race calls for concern.

J.D. has vowed to conduct exams from Nov. 22 and end the semester by Dec. 20, if ASUU doesn’t take light! Although ASUU seems to be finding romance with the new Minister of Education all is not well with the Association. ASUU (unimaid) recently met to jigsaw on withheld salaries; disgruntled ASUU and a poor V.C may not after all be the best of friends.

In all, it’s time to get your race gears on!

"I have a lot of plans for this school, but I am weighed down by financial incapability". These are the words of a tired-sounding V.C last Friday (5/9/03).

He has started already on a radical note, but there are potholes further ahead.

The university’s infrastructure is in a mess, the hostels in serious need of repairs and there is not enough money. Unimaid is heavily in debt according to him. The university has not received full salary requirements for the past 4 years. A month’s salary runs up to N120 million. To pay salaries, monies from other sectors have to be diverted to salary payment.

Capital projects are also out of the question. "For the past 2 years we have not received capital funds."

The debt load is difficult to quote accurately, so says the VC. "It keeps on increasing everyday". The authorities owe banks, lecturers and different sections of the university, for their money has been diverted to either salary payments or other absolutely necessary projects.

The V.C told us the school has started seeking for alternative sources of funds - individual philanthropists and organisations. A 5% commission has been promised to whoever can source cash from a philanthropist.

Also, the house rent of lecturers’ living quarters has been increased by 100% i.e. from N400 to N800.Hostel accommodation fees will also be increased, but J.D says it will be reasonable.

A disgruntled ASUU has met twice this semester to talk about their withheld strike salary. Now, their house rent has been increased by 100%. The V.C has told us he is ready for their attacks.

For the withheld salary issue, he says he will show them the financial record of the university and ask them how he should source the money with which to pay them. It should be recalled he loaned the money from a bank to pay lecturers after resumption instead of a month’s payment as Obasanjo directed.

To cap it up, the man is bitter about ASUU and its threats. Says he, "The strike has not changed anything. They should realise by now that they cannot force the government to improve university funding".

It is a miracle how this semester’s registration was undertaken (1 week) compared with last semester’s that lasted up to 16 weeks. Of course not everybody liked the idea.

Naturally, students didn’t like the trouble. But it worked fine though there were several cases of fainting and bloody injuries. Students have paid N5000 late registration fees, it remains to be seen if they will have to defer due to late registration. The part 1 students have had the hardest time of it, but perhaps it is good orientation to make them more serious than their predecessors.

More naturally, didn’t like the trouble. They were forced to work from early morning to late evening. A lot of them grumbled and some did not even comply, but now most of them are commending the VC. We hope for our own sakes at least, that they come out for lectures the way they did for registration, even if they grumble.

NO ARMLESS BLOUSES, NO TRANSPARENT CLOTHES, NO BOOBS SHOWING DRESSES, NO LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.

Well and well again, students will not like the idea and again students will like the idea. Some students are tired of the sexual harassment. Remember Celestine Babayaro was convicted of sexual assault because he walked around in pants IN HIS OWN HOUSE. The kind of clothes we see these days all over the place, going by the logic of Celestine’s conviction, it is more than assault, it is WAR.

Some people think it is a violation of their human right to dress as they wish. Some on the other hand think that kind of dressing is a violation of their human right to peace of mind.

Well, it is a matter of logic, this argument, and a matter of humane reason. The truth, however way we want it, is that the authorities have gone and done it and JD insists it will be enforced. The Senate decided on it and the students’ council approved it.

The poor publicity, the V.C says, will improve and violators will be sent out of classes, laboratories, offices and other such places. Normal disciplinary action will be taken against unruly students. Prof. Amin says he will go about it gently at first then roughly, if he has to. According to him, "It is not too indecent and not too strict, it goes with any conviction one may profess to."

It has worked in other universities, the most recent example being O.A.U, Ile- Ife, where they even banned forms of Hijab until the MSS fought it.

Last semester witnessed an unprecedented wave of exam malpractice. Some people attributed it to the unending admission/registration exercise, late commencement of lectures and other irregularities on the part of staff and students. 31 cases have reached the security division and normally only cases that have been resolved or concluded at the Exams and Records reach the security division. Of these 31 cases, 9 were cases of impersonation.

A big catch was also made; a certain lecturer in the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering was caught and booted out of campus.

PART I 19 CASES

PART II 5 CASES

PART III 3 CASES

PART IV 3 CASES

SMS 18 CASES

SCIENCE 4 CASES

EDUCATION 3 CASES

ARTS 2 CASES

Mercenaries have been introduced into the system. A student of ABU and Ramat Poly were caught writing exams. A part II Law student was also caught with 3 different ID cards of 3 different departments.

This new trend may spell doom for the once saintly unimaid if the authorities do not get at the root of recent unbecoming behaviour in the university.

Internet services in the campus have been quite erratic since inception. This however, is going to be over soon according to Lawan Bundi of the Management Information Systems and Mr. Peter, Head of computer services.

The reason for the poor service according to them is because the university wanted the best. The university owns the latest state of the art satellite brand, the K-U BAND which has been found to be affected by the weather conditions. However, installation of the more common C-U BAND, which can function under more adverse weather, has since commenced. Mr Peter promised it would be completed in one week. We pray we have it this semester.

Extension of services has also been promised to Ramat Library, Medical College, Dept. of Library Science and the VC’s office. All faculties and hostel blocks are also likely to benefit.

New products and services will include voice mail, Internet phone, and videochat online. If we take Mr. Peter by his words we should expect all these in a week’s time. We pray so, because for Naija, e get as things be.

ASUU Unimaid branch met last Wednesday, 3rd September to discuss withheld salary. It seems the lecturers do not want to let go. D’Herald had a talk with Dr. Dada, Unimaid ASUU chairman. Here are the cards on the table.

A strike is definitely out of the question from the national body. The national chairman instead told the various local branches to go home and "shake body" to their VCs and get what they can get. The reason for the no strike order is because of an injunction, which mandated ASUU to suspend its last strike for negotiation to commence. Moreover, following the Senate’s intervention (between ASUU and FG) ASUU has given the Senate its goodwill that it shall not go on strike if the Senate delivers. The Senate on its part has promised that Obasanjo has given them a listening ear on ASUU. Dr. Dada however insists that ASUU national body will bare its fangs if need be.

At its meeting, ASUU decided pressing the University straight away would be unfair, so they decided to take a "coax before coerce" strategy. So ASUU has written a letter to the Pro-Chancellor who they say is their real employer. The letter, they say, seems harmless. However it can be harmful.

ASUU is going to meet in 3 weeks time to decide on what to do next, depending on what happens.

They may do this if nothing good happens especially, as Dr.Dada says, the 2nd Semester results which can prevent the take off of the next session. They still have other cards in their sleeves, which Dr. Dada says he cannot disclose for "propaganda warfare" reasons.

ASUU appreciates that the VC. is not in an easy situation. The two universities that have been paid have a smaller salary scale than unimaid. Unimaid, with about 700 lecturers, has a salary load of N120million while FUT Yola, comparatively, has just N45million monthly load. That is why they can afford to pay without trouble.

ASUU says it understands J.D’s predicament, "But he should try and do something".