THE ICONS ORGANIZATION

Adedoyin Oguntade  Some residents in Maintenance have voiced their frustrations over the recent surge in electricity tariffs, which have resulted in uncomfortable living conditions and financial burdens. The increased electricity rates have led to a reduction in power supply to these hostels, forcing residents to adhere to strict timetables for electricity usage. Additionally, the rise in tariffs has also triggered a hike in house rents across some of these hostels. Residents under Band A, which includes certain tertiary institutions, are particularly affected by the increase in electricity tariffs. Previously enjoying a campus-like power supply, these residents now find themselves grappling with limited electricity availability. Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musliu Oseni, revealed during a press briefing in Abuja that customers under Band A will now have to pay ₦225 per kilowatt-hour, a significant jump from the previous rate o...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken a significant step in its restructuring efforts, leading to the dismissal of over 200 officials on Friday. This decision comes amidst an ongoing disengagement process within the institution, which had already seen 117 staff members relieved of their duties between March 15 and April 11, 2024. Issuing sack letters on May 24, 2024, the CBN's Human Resources Department cited a "restructuring process" aligned with the bank's new mission as the rationale behind the dismissals. The aim is to reorganize the institution for more effective operations, necessitating a realignment of its structure with its functions and objectives. Earlier, in February, the apex bank had redeployed approximately 1,500 staff members to its Lagos office. This move aimed to ensure a more even spread of talent and skills within the organization, in line with recommendations from the facility manager and the Committee on Decongestion of the CBN ...

This is Ayodele Kehinde Abisola, a student of Mass Communication, exploring the dilemma of students residing off campus and their plight as a result of the hike in transport fares to campus. Over the past month, students at Obafemi Awolowo University have been grappling with the repercussions of a recent hike in transport fares, particularly those who reside off-campus. The increased costs have ushered in a wave of frustration, stress, and fatigue among the student body, significantly impacting their academic engagement. Moromoke, a first-year student in the Sociology and Anthropology department, epitomizes the struggles faced by many. Hindered by the inflated transportation expenses, Moromoke's attendance has dwindled, attending classes only twice a week due to financial constraints. Once a diligent student, she now finds herself lagging behind, unable to participate in impromptu tests and jeopardizing her academic performance. For students like Christianah, a third-ye...

Mr. Sunny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, on Sunday, May 25, commended TETFund's vital role in supporting tertiary institutions and emphasized the need to prevent corruption and mismanagement.  He implemented reforms to enhance the agency's effectiveness and ensure the fulfillment of its responsibilities in Nigeria. Echono made these remarks when he received an award for "Outstanding Public Servant of the Year" from Champion Newspapers Limited.  He acknowledged the reforms may not be welcomed by all but he stressed the importance of focus in serving the nation's educational needs despite ensuing challenges. He said, ” We are glad that testimonies from beneficiaries – schools and individuals, are positive and encouraging. However, because it is an agency that is known to be achieving a lot, and one that is responding to things in positive manner, we attract the attention of a lot of people." He mentioned that receiving the award from th...

In a significant move aimed at improving the welfare of employees in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has commenced the implementation of a new minimum wage of N70,000. This development comes as a fulfillment of his promise to prioritize the well-being of workers in the state. The announcement of this increase was made during the recent inauguration of the Labour House in Benin City. Prior to this adjustment, the minimum wage stood at N40,000. The decision to raise the minimum wage is intended to alleviate the adverse effects of the challenging economic conditions resulting from policies such as the removal of fuel subsidies and other government directives at the federal level. Chris Nehikhare, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, emphasized that this wage increment underscores the Edo state government's unwavering dedication to the welfare of its workforce. He also highlighted that the prompt implementation of the revised pay scale before the end...

 Ayanfe Oluwafemi Friday May 24 at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, there was avalanche release of several results of the courses taken in the 2022/23 Harmattan Semester across the 13 Faculties in the institution.  Surprisingly, SSC 105, a general Harmattan mathematics course for all 100-level students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and some other Humanities related disciplines had its results released during SSC 106 lecture - a follow up of the earlier said course, at the said hours of 4:00p.m on Friday, 24th May 2024.  The release of the results was said to have caused an uproar which disrupted the ongoing lecture. The students lamented over the released results claiming that the results were regulated and that the actual scores were not awarded because over half of students' population obtained a '40E' as their grade while a few had Cs, Bs and few As. On further enquiry about this incident, Opeoluwa a 100-level student of the Department of Ent...

Adedoyin Oguntade  The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Ibadan zone on Friday, May 24, stated that it has lost about 60 of its members due to withheld academic allowances totaling ₦92 billion by the Federal and State governments with fatalities recorded between November 2023 and February 2024. The Zonal Coordinator, Professor Oyebamiji Oyegoke, highlighted the dire consequences of delayed payments resulting from lack of medical care and sustenance. Oyegoke called attention to the failure of the government to implement the promised mainstreaming of earned allowances into monthly salaries, in federal and state universities as agreed upon in the 2022 Federal government/ASUU Memorandum of Understanding.  He clarified that the government committed to funding earned allowances rather than having them paid through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of individual universities.  Oyegoke emphasized that despite agreements in the December 2020 FGN/ASUU Mem...

Thinking about starting a family? Men's health is becoming a bigger conversation, and one topic that's come up is whether tight underwear can affect fertility. Let's explore the science behind this and what you can do to boost your chances. The Temperature Matters Healthy sperm production relies on the testes staying slightly cooler than the rest of your body. That's why they hang out in the scrotum, outside the main body cavity. Tight underwear, like briefs or boxer briefs, can trap heat around the scrotum. Studies suggest this heat can hurt sperm quality and production. Research from Harvard even showed looser underwear led to higher sperm counts and better quality compared to tighter options. Heat and Sperm Don't Mix The heat from tight underwear might create an environment that's not ideal for sperm production, called testicular hyperthermia. Even a small temperature increase can affect sperm count, how well they move (motility), and overall heal...

Oluwapelumi Solagbade Manchester United vs. Arsenal: A Tale of Two Seasons  The 2023/2024 season saw contrasting fortunes for Manchester United and Arsenal. While United secured a trophy with their FA Cup win, Arsenal emerged as runners-up in the Premier League. So, who had a better season? United's Rollercoaster Ride Manchester United's campaign was a mixed bag. A disappointing eighth-place finish in the league fell short of expectations. However, they found redemption in the FA Cup, lifting the prestigious trophy for the 13th time. This win not only adds silverware to their cabinet but also grants them a spot in the Europa League.  The FA Cup victory, despite the underwhelming league performance, offers a silver lining. It provides a morale boost, a trophy to celebrate, and a chance to compete in Europe. Arsenal's Consistent Climb Arsenal's season was defined by consistency. Finishing second in the Premier League, only behind champions Manchester City, sh...

       Ayanfe Oluwafemi The office of the Financial Secretary of the Great Ife Students' Union recently supported students with a partial scholarship scheme set up by the office of the Financial Secretary to enable students having difficulties in the payments of their tuition fees to pay their fees. This initiative (the first of its kind) is aimed at reducing student dropouts within the university community.  In an interview with the Financial Secretary of the Great Ife Students' Union,  Dblaq said, "When I assumed office, I was determined to make a positive impact on the campus community and my top priority was to establish the Union Scholarship Scheme aiming at reducing student dropouts. Despite facing significant fundraising challenges due to economic constraints, we persevered and successfully supported 39 students. Our major sponsor was Enoch's Hub (owned by an OAU alumnus) and he generously covered 60% of the scholarship funding. Other sponsors were t...

  Oguntade Adedoyin   A release made available on OAU's X account on Sunday, 19th May, stated that Governor Ademola Adeleke has pledged to cover the medical expenses of OAU students undergoing treatment at the University Health and Medical Centre and Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC). The Osun state Commissioner for Education, Honourable Dipo Eluwole conveyed the Governor's sympathy for the affected students and appreciated the University's swift response and care. During his visit to the students, Honourable Eluwole praised their courage and wished them a speedy recovery. Honorable Dipo Eluwole assured parents at the Neurological ward that the students' situation was a natural occurrence, beyond human control. Governor Adeleke pledged to cover all medical expenses for the students' treatment. The Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, appreciated Governor Adeleke's generous support and commended his care for the students and the people of Osu...

  Oguntade Adedoyin   The Academic Staff Union of Universities have kicked against the Federal Government's unveiling of tertiary institutions' governing council. ASUU President, Professor Victor Emmanuel Osodeke in an interview with Punch newspaper explained that, “It is not just about the governing council alone, it is just one of them. Secondly, we said they should reinstate the illegally dissolved governing council. We didn’t say they should constitute a new one. As far as we are concerned, they have not met any.” ASUU gave the Federal Government an ultimatum regarding the reconstitution of governing councils of 111 tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. ASUU President Prof Emmanuel Osodeke emphasized the need for the reinstatement of the dissolved councils, and highlighted that their demands extended beyond this issue to include other requests from the union. Notable figures like Prof. Attahiru Jega, Wole Olanipekun, Yusuf ...

SERAP, BudgIT, and 136 Nigerians have sued the Central Bank of Nigeria over the cybersecurity levy. The plaintiffs, The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, BudgIT and 136 concerned Nigerians, argue that the CBN's directive to deduct a cybersecurity levy from customers' accounts may be unlawful. The CBN issued a circular last Monday instructing financial institutions to impose a 0.5% levy on electronic transactions under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024. President Bola Tinubu asked the CBN to suspend the controversial cybersecurity levy policy pending a review. Plaintiffs are seeking a court ruling on whether the CBN's directives violate sections of the Nigerian Constitution and are unconstitutional. They are demanding the CBN be restrained from enforcing the circular dated May 6, 2024, to prevent the unlawful deduction of cybersecurity levies from bank customers' accounts. The lawsuit argues that the CBN's...

    Adedoyin Oguntade Parents and teachers have expressed disappointment at the 77% failure rate reported by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). They argued that the results did not accurately reflect the candidates' abilities, citing issues like network glitches and inadequate computer systems preventing some students from taking the exam. The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, reported that out of the candidates whose results were released, 8,401 scored 300 and above, while 1,402,490 scored below 200. This disparity in scores underscores the need to address the challenges faced by students during the exam. Furthermore, the public's reaction to the results reflected widespread disappointment, with some attributing the poor performance to distractions like social media, TikTok, and cyber fraud activities. These external factors may have contributed to students' lack of focus and preparation for th...