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ASUU Strike: End in sight as union meets with Gbajabiamila and House leadership

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ASUU Strike: End in sight as union meets with Gbajabiamila and House leadership

ASUU Strike: End in sight as union meets with Gbajabiamila and House leadership

…Industrial action end in a matter of days

The ongoing industrial dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal government could be over in a couple of days, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila said Monday evening.

He also disclosed that the leadership of the striking lecturers is set to sign an agreement to end the dispute based on the recommendations by the House that was presented to President Mohammadu Buhari by the House Leadership.

The Speaker also revealed that having received the House recommendations on the issue, President Buhari would on Tuesday, make a pronouncement towards the final resolution of the issue.

Having assured the leadership of the striking workers at the last meeting with the House leadership and other stakeholders that they (ASUU) would be invited for feedback from the meeting with Mr. President, Gbajabiamila expressed delight that the President’s disposition to the House’s intervention was positive.

He said: “I have visited the President twice. We spoke with Mr. President. There was one of the sticking points, the issue of no work no pay, the President did ask to digest the recommendations and would have one more meeting, which we did on Friday after the budget presentation.

“That meeting was even better than the first one we had with him and Mr. President has agreed to certain things but I’m not going to talk about that now.

“He would disclose whatever it is tomorrow (Tuesday) on that one remaining issue.

“But beyond that, the other issues have been taken care of. We were able to make sure that what ASUU was asking for in terms of the Revitalization Fund, in terms of salary, there has been significant improvement.

“Revitalization has been provided for in the budget, we made sure of that. The salary structure has been looked at, and there’s been an improvement as well and we made sure of that.

“The issue of UTAS is another important issue, both ASUU and the Office of the Accountant General and the government have agreed that they would work together to resolve the peculiarities of UTAS required for the payment plan and IPPIS. They will sit down together, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education will also be part of that tripartite sit-down arrangement to include all those things that are required by ASUU in the IPPIS platform.

“So I believe we’ve covered ground, we’ve covered most of the thorny issues and what we have agreed with ASUU now is basically to put everything on paper and sign off.

“I believe if we had met yesterday and the papers had been drawn up, I’m sure ASUU would have called off the strike today.

“But we’ve only just met today.

“As I have stated, hopefully in the next couple of days, of course, once ASUU gets back to its base as well, once that is agreed, I’m very hopeful and very excited about the possibility or probability that the strike will be called off in a matter of days”.

Gbajabiamila appreciated the union leadership for allowing the House leadership to make an input towards a lasting solution to the crisis, noting that short notices for meetings as well as public holidays were not enough to stop the union leaders from honouring invitations to meetings.

In his response, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Sodeke, who led other members of the union to the meeting, corroborated the views expressed by the Speaker over the signing of the agreement to end the strike.

He said: “My union operates bottom-up. We don’t take decisions without their consent. So we have agreed that between now and tomorrow.

“We are going to get some documentation signed so that we can take them to our members, and we will do that as quickly as possible in the interest of Nigerians and the students so that this can be resolved as soon as possible.

“From what we have seen today, I think for the first time since our actions started, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel”.

While appreciating the efforts of the Speaker and the House towards the resolution of the dispute, Osodeke, however, expressed optimism that the end of the strike is in sight.

Saying that the interest of the children who have been at home for so long is paramount, Osodeke noted that the union believed that the intervention of the House is genuine and could be trusted.

ASUU Strike: End in sight as union meets with Gbajabiamila and House leadership

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Education

Pay us all our dues or prepare for indefinite strike…. ASUU to the federal government

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Pay us all our dues or prepare for indefinite strike…. ASUU to the federal government

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the federal government’s failure to remit third-party deductions, such as cooperative contributions and pension funds belonging to its members.

Chair of unimaid branch Dr Habu Mshelia in a recent interview described the action of the federal government as a serious breach of legal and ethical obligations to it’s members and called for it’s immediate reversal.

Dr Mshelia regretted that this systemic sabotage which started with the introduction of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS) not only erodes trust but also jeopardizes the future retirement benefits of those who have faithfully contributed to these schemes.

“ASUU demands immediate rectification of this injustice and full restoration of financial integrity across all remittance channels.” He warned.

Mshelia maintained during the parley that ” These deductions, taken from members’ salaries, have not reached the appropriate bodies, crippling welfare schemes and jeopardizing future retirement benefits.

He added that: “This injustice must be urgently addressed to restore financial integrity and protect the economic well-being of our members.

“Since the adoption of IPPIS, these remittances have been withheld, crippling welfare schemes and threatening the financial security of our members. Worse still, the government’s actions appear to deliberately undermine the GIFMIS platform under the guise of salary vetting by IPPIS.

“This has led to consistent delays in salary payments, often by one to two weeks, causing unnecessary hardship and anxiety among academic staff.” Said the chairman.

Mshelia who briefed newsmen recently in Maiduguri said their lingering campaign against the wrong doings of the federal government was not a mere statement but a call to conscience. “A reaffirmation of their unwavering commitment to the defence of quality education, academic integrity, University autonomy and the dignity of university staff across the country.

“We speak today not only for ourselves, but for the future of Nigeria’s youth, for the sanctity of our institutions, and for the soul of a nation that must choose between progress and decay.

“Let it be known: ASUU will not remain silent while the foundations of our universities are eroded. We will not stand idle as agreements are dishonoured and our members are subjected to economic hardship and institutional disrespect.

The union leaders then called for the completion of certain unfinished businesses which they believe will bring harmony between them.

On the desperate need to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, Mshelia warned that
“The government’s refusal to sign the renegotiated agreement continues a troubling pattern of broken promises. Sixteen years after the original agreement, meant to address chronic underfunding, poor infrastructure, and inadequate remuneration, most of its provisions remain unfulfilled.”

Dr Mshelia regretted that certain reports like the 2012 Needs Assessment and pledges (MOU & MOA) made in 2017 and 2020 have all been ignored by the Federal government adding that “The Yayale Ahmed Committee Report now joins this list of abandoned commitments; Nemi Briggs Committee report; Professor Munzali Jubril committee report; the Babalakin led committee report.

He stressed that : “This persistent sabotage of Collective Bargaining condemns lecturers to poverty amid rising inflation and unbearable living costs. ASUU rejects this economic injustice and will resist any attempt to erode the integrity of Nigeria’s university system. Enough is enough.”

On payment of withheld salaries and arrears, the chairman regretted that “many of our members continue to suffer from unpaid salary arrears amounting to but not limited to 25–35% wage award. Promotion arrears, legally due to academics who earned them through merit, remain unpaid in many institutions including ours for over four years.

“Additionally, the punitive withholding of three and a half months’ salaries during the 2022 ASUU strike persists as an act of victimization. Immediate settlement of most of these arrears is essential to restore fairness, boost morale, and maintain industrial harmony within the academic community.

Speaking on terminal benefits of retired members, Mshelia lamented that members of the union were treated as trash instead of given the dignity of an emeritus professor.

“How on earth do you pay a professor 150k as pension after his selfless service to the nation? AProfessors who have dedicated over four decades to educating generations retire on a meagre ₦150,000 under the Contributory Pension Scheme, while inflation exceeds 21%. This is not just a labour issue; it is a national disgrace.

Assault on University Autonomy

“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri Chapter, unequivocally condemns the recent unilateral decision to rename the University of Maiduguri as Muhammadu Buhari University. This action is not only provocative, it is a blatant violation of the principle of university autonomy and a grave affront to the values of academic freedom, institutional integrity, and democratic governance.

“Universities are not political ornaments to be rebranded at the whim of power. They are intellectual sanctuaries, built on decades of scholarship, sacrifice, and service. The name University of Maiduguri is deeply rooted in the cultural, historical, and academic identity of the region. It reflects the aspirations of generations and the legacy of a community that has nurtured knowledge in the face of adversity.

“To erase that legacy without consultation is to insult the very soul of the institution. The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu policy statement, imposed without engagement with the university community, governing council, or stakeholders, sets a dangerous precedence. It signals a shift toward the politicization of our universities, where decisions are made not in the interest of education, but in pursuit of personal glorification. If allowed to stand, it will erode the credibility of our institutions and undermine the autonomy that is essential to their survival.

“ASUU stands as the unwavering voice of academic integrity and institutional independence. We do not respond with emotion, we respond with facts, with principle, and with resolve. The widespread rejection of this renaming, from alumni, students, staff, and civil society, is both justified and necessary.

“We call on all members of the Union, and indeed all Nigerians who value education, to continue their clear-eyed perspectives and decisive pronouncements. These have always guided our deliberations as we chart a path forward. Let it be known: We reject this ill-conceived and deeply offensive decision. We demand its immediate reversal. We reaffirm that the identity of a university must reflect its heritage, not serve as a monument to political power.

“The legacy of UNIMAID—painstakingly built over five decades—will not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. ASUU will not relent, will not surrender, and will not allow the autonomy of our universities to be trampled in silence.”

” We call on the Federal Government to honour its commitments. Parents, students, and the Nigerian public to see this as a fight for the future. NANS and student bodies to demand their right to quality education. Civil society, labour unions, religious and traditional leaders to intervene before another shutdown”.
He concluded.

Pay us all our dues or prepare for indefinite strike…. ASUU to the federal government

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United Nations Nigeria Reaffirms support for Malala Fund and Girls’ Education

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United Nations Nigeria Reaffirms support for Malala Fund and Girls’ Education

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations in Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to work with Malala Fund in its mission to advance the right to education and address the challenges that keep millions of children, especially girls, out of school.

The promise was made over the weekend in Abuja during a strategic engagement by the UN team with Nobel Laureate and Malala Fund co-founder, Ms. Malala Yousafzai, alongside the organisation’s executive team and board members. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Fall, underscored the UN’s dedication to promoting inclusive and equitable education for all.

Fall said: “The UN reaffirms its support to the Malala Fund in advancing the right of the girl-child to quality education and breaking barriers to education access,” said Mr. Fall, “No child should be left behind.”

The UN Resident Coordinator led a UN delegation comprising representatives from UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women to the meeting. He emphasized that meaningful societal transformation hinges on robust investment in human capital, particularly through education for girls and empowerment of women.

Fall added that: “Together with the government and our partners, we are committed to dismantling the obstacles that prevent children, especially the most vulnerable, from accessing education.”

He identified key barriers to education in Nigeria, including insecurity, economic hardship, climate change, and entrenched socio-cultural norms. He called for intensified efforts to promote gender equality and strengthen social cohesion as critical pathways to sustainable development.

Malala, who arrived in Abuja on September 26 for the Malala Fund Board of Directors annual meeting, reiterated Nigeria’s central role in the Fund’s global strategy for 2025–2030.

She said: “Nigeria is a priority country for Malala Fund. Since 2014, we have invested over $8 million in Nigerian partner organisations working to break down the barriers keeping girls out of school.”

She outlined the Malala Fund’s strategic priorities in Nigeria, which include: ensuring married and pregnant girls can return to school; increasing education financing and ensuring it meets girls’ needs; and using education as a policy solution to ending child marriage.

The Chief Executive Officer of Malala Fund Nigeria, Ms Nabila Aguele reiterated the commitment of the organisation to ensuring all girls could access and complete 12 years of school in Nigeria. She emphasised Malala Fund’s focus onstrengthening rights and securing resources for girls’ secondary education.

Ms. Yousafzai is expected in Abuja to engage with young girls and education advocates supported by the Malala Fund to hear firsthand their stories, aspirations, and the changes they wish to see in their communities. She will also meet with key government and civil society leaders to galvanize momentum for policy reforms and collaborative action to accelerate progress on girls’ education nationwide.

United Nations Nigeria Reaffirms support for Malala Fund and Girls’ Education

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NOA Campus Debate: Yobe State University emerges winner in North-East

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NOA Campus Debate: Yobe State University emerges winner in North-East

Yobe State University has won the North-East Campus Debate competition organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

The competition themed: “Unity in Diversity: Defining National Identity in Nigeria’s Multicultural Society,” attracted participants from six government-owned universities in the region.

Shehu Abdullahi, Gombe Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Reintegration, said this at the end of the competition, on Thursday in Gombe.

He said Yobe State University beat five others to emerge the winner.

Abdullahi said that Modibbo Adama University, Yola came second, and Gombe State University placed third.

While Federal University, Wukari in Taraba clinched fourth position, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi came fifth and University of Maiduguri sixth position.

Abdullahi commended NOA for organising the competition aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s unity and reawaken national consciousness on the responsibility of citizens to peace and nation building.

Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director-General, NOA, said that the 2025 National Campus Debate was not only about competition but values.

According to Issa-Onilu, the exercise is not merely a competition but a civic engagement platform for grooming young minds intellectually, morally and patriotically.

Represented by Ali Audu, NOA Zonal Director, North-East zone, Issa-Onilu said the debate competition served as a national space for intellectual contest, civic dialogue, and youth expression.

The competition, he said, provided a space where the next generation of Nigerian leaders were called not only to speak but to think, research, reflect and take ownership of the values that will shape Nigeria’s future.

“This year’s edition of the debate has taken on a structured and inclusive three-tier format.

“At the first level, institutions from across all thirty-six states and the FCT submitted video entries that were screened based on strict evaluative criteria.

“From there, winning institutions advanced to this current zonal stage, the face-to-face debate, where they now compete for a place at the national grand finale. That final event, by the grace of God, will take place in Abuja during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

“It will be hosted at the Presidential Villa, with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria himself expected to unveil the National Values Charter, at the occasion,” he said.

He said the competition also served as a call to stakeholders, especially yout6h, to think critically about what it means to be a Nigerian.

“And to explore how our differences can become our strength, and to offer solutions that move us closer to a united and just society.”

Also, Adaline Patari, NOA Director in Gombe State, reiterated commitment towards promoting patriotism, national values and social cohesion.

Ms Maryam Isyaku, a 100 level Law student and Zainab Alkali, a 500 level medicine student, represented Yobe State University in the competition.

They expressed joy over their victory, and urged Nigerians to embrace peace.

Isyaku said Nigeria would benefit everyone more if we stand in unity and harness our differences to build a better nation.

Ibrahim, who dedicated the victory to every girl-child in Yobe, added that, “something good is coming out of Yobe, and the girl-child is at the centre of it all.”

NOA Campus Debate: Yobe State University emerges winner in North-East

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