Almost two weeks after students of the Edo State-owned tertiary institutions staged a demonstration on the Benin-Ore Expressway to protest the proposed plan by the academic staff to down tools and the of facilities, lecturers of the institutions on Wednesday began an indefinite strike.
The lecturers, under the aegis of the Coalition of Unions of State-Owned Tertiary Institutions, explained that the strike became a “viable alternative” following what they described as government’s insincerity and unwillingness to address all the issues raised by the various unions in the coalition.
In a statement by the coalition’s President, Fred Omonuwa, and the Secretary General, Imhenrion Martin, the group said the state government failed to used the opportunities provided by the various unions for the peaceful resolution of the contending issues.
It stated that although, several meetings had been held between the government and the unions, the conveners of such meetings, who were representatives of the state government, had “consistently claimed that only the Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, could resolve the issues.”
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FG okays N147.4bn for Benin-Ore, Lokoja-Benin roads, others
The Federal Government on Wednesday approved N147.4bn for two major roads, the Benin-Ore and Okene-Benin expressways.
The government granted the approval at the Federal Executive Council meeting.
The breakdown of the projects includes the execution of Phase II, dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section I, II, III and IV in Kogi State and Edo State.
Also part of the projects is the reconstruction and asphalt overlay of Benin-Ofosu-Ore-Ajebandele-Shagamu dual carriageway Phase IV: Ajebandele-Shagamu KM162 + 586 (Ondo State to KM 261 + 000 (Ogun) in Ogun State.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and his works counterpart, Mike Onolememen, briefed State House correspondent after the FEC meeting, which lasted till 5pm on Wednesday.
They said four sections of the road would cost N75.8bn.
Onolememen said, “Council approved the award of contracts for the execution of Phase II (dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section I, II, III and IV in Kogi State and Edo State in the follow order:
“Contract No. 6135 for the dualisation Lokoja-Benin Road Section I: Obajana Junction-Okene (40.00km) in Kogi State in favour of Messrs CGC (Nigeria_ Limited in the sum of N18,905,502,377.69 thereby revising the contract sum from N11.663,957,682.30 to N30,569,460,059.99 .
“Contracts No. 6136 for the dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section II: Okene-Auchi (26.70km) in Kogi and Edo states, in favour of Messrs Mothercat Limited in the sum of N10,227,820,541.42, thereby revising the contract sum from N11,086,276,140.35 to N21,294,096,681.78.
“Contract No. 6137 for the dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road Section III: Auchi-Ehor (29.20km) in Edo State in favour of Messrs Danata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited in the sum of N23,206,811,244.87, thereby revising the contract sum from N11,659,588,909.69 to N34,866,400,154.56.”
