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

Jos FM radio confirms release of reporters by DSS

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Two Jos Fm (Jfm) radio reporters abducted yesterday by overzealous state security operatives have been released from detention.

A statement signed by the Managing Director of the radio station, Clinton Garuba stated that after mounted pressure on the management of the secret service agency, the two reporters were allowed to go home.

In a statement released Sunday morning by the jos based radio station, Garuba noted that “further to our earlier statement regarding the arrest of our staff, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, who were assigned to cover the burial rites of the late mother of the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, at the COCIN headquarters Church, we wish to inform you that they have been released.”

It went further to state that ” upon confirming that the DSS was holding them, frantic efforts were made to secure their release. Although our efforts were initially rebuffed, they were eventually released.

“This event has once again prompted us to draw attention to the disturbing issues of press freedom violations, human rights abuses, and the erosion of the rule of law by security agencies.

“We want to reiterate that as professionals, our staff did what journalists are trained and ethically mandated to do: they documented an incident on video for public record and accountability.

“We call on the DSS to note that: Their actions in abducting and detaining them are illegal, undemocratic, and unacceptable.

“They represent a blatant violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and personal liberty as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and various international conventions to which our nation is a signatory.

” The press is not an enemy of the state.
Journalism is a public service profession. Our duty is to inform, educate, and hold power accountable, not to serve as mouthpieces of authority. To criminalise this duty is to criminalise truth itself.

“The DSS must act with civility and restraint. We remind the agency that this nation is under civilian rule, not military dictatorship. Security agencies exist to protect citizens, not to intimidate or abduct them.

“Power must always be exercised within the bounds of the law and in accordance with respect for democratic norms.”

The statement further warned that this pattern of intimidation and repression must stop because it sends a chilling message to journalists that telling the truth may lead to persecution.

Such conduct, the statement noted, undermines the very fabric of democracy and fosters a climate of fear and impunity.

“We reaffirm that Jay 101.9 FM will not be intimidated or silenced. Our commitment to truth, objectivity, and the democratic ideal remains unwavering.

“To those who wield power, we remind you that the freedom of the press is the lifeblood of democracy. When journalists are silenced, democracy dies in darkness.

“We call on all citizens, the media fraternity, and the international community to stand in solidarity with us in demanding respect for the rule of law, freedom of the press, and for journalists to carry out their statutory duties without fear or hindrance, as well as respect for human rights.” The statement noted

This reporter recalls that the President of the Church of Christ in Nations COCIN Dr Amos Mohzo was about entering the headquarters building to prepare for the officiating of the service of the late mother of the national chair of the APC when some recalcitrant operatives of the DSS stopped him, his Assistant Secretary General and his Vice President.

They were wrongly stopped from entering the church even after proper identification at a time when the expected visitor President Bola Tinubu had not even taken off from Abuja.

Several efforts by Rev Mohzo and his management team to get into the church was turned down and it was so embarrassing that the young operatives stuck to their guns by refusing the COCIN President from going into the building where he was the landlord and number one Pastor in charge.

Jos FM radio confirms release of reporters by DSS

Environment Minister: Climate Governance Has Be Strengthened in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal has commended the significant achievements recorded under the Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme (NCCRP), describing it as a landmark initiative that has strengthened the nation’s climate governance, improved awareness, and built resilience across various sectors.

Speaking at the Final Project Seminar of the NCCRP held in Abuja, and themed “Climate Change Governance: The Importance, Where We Are, and Way Forward,” Lawal welcomed stakeholders, partners, and participants to what he described as a celebration of Nigeria’s collective progress in the fight against climate change.

Lawal noted that since the launch of the Programme in 2020, the NCCRP has delivered notable outcomes that have positively impacted both national and subnational levels.

He said these include the establishment of a robust Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System and the development of a Climate Change Education Curriculum designed to advance solid waste management practices and enhance climate communication across the country.

The Minister explained that the project has built strong collaboration among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), improved technical capacity, and promoted community participation in environmental governance.

Lawal, while highlighting the achievements so far, said the Climate Change Education Curriculum for basic and secondary schools—now under review by the Federal Ministry of Education, represents a major step toward institutionalizing climate literacy. He also pointed out that the Programme trained media practitioners in climate reporting, which led to the creation of the Nigeria Journalists for Climate Action Network (NIJOCAN) and numerous sensitization programmes run in partnership with media houses.

According to him, the NCCRP also made significant progress in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission measurements in the waste sector, conducted waste assessments in Kano, Ogun, Abia, and Bauchi States, and carried out public awareness campaigns and trainings that further deepened citizens’ understanding of climate issues.

The Minister while acknowledging challenges encountered during the implementation, noted that through proactive planning, capacity-building, and collaboration, the project remained on track. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing policy frameworks, technical guidance, and oversight to sustain the programme’s impact and expand its reach across regions.

He commended the Technical Assistance Team, staff of the Federal Ministry of Environment, particularly the Department of Climate Change and the National Council on Climate Change, for their dedication. He equally appreciated the European Union (EU) and other partners for their technical expertise and steadfast support for Nigeria’s environmental development agenda.

He however urged participants to leverage the lessons and experiences shared at the seminar to shape future strategies and strengthen partnerships toward achieving transformative environmental sustainability.

He said: “Together, we can build resilient communities and deliver sustainable benefits for all Nigerians,” while extending his best wishes for a fruitful and impactful seminar.

On his part, the European Union head of delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Gautier Mignot reaffirmed the steadfast commitment of EU to supporting Nigeria’s climate action agenda, describing the Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme,NCCRP, as a landmark model of effective international partnership for sustainable development.

He commended Nigeria’s leadership in advancing climate governance and environmental sustainability.

The EU representative underscored the urgent and tangible realities of climate change, emphasizing that it is not a distant or abstract challenge but one that directly impacts the lives of millions.

“We see it in the farmer losing his crops to floods, in families enduring stifling heatwaves in our cities, and in communities facing droughts that threaten their food and water security,” he said.

“These are not just statistics,they are human stories shared by millions of Nigerians and Europeans alike, “he added.

He noted that as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria’s leadership in climate action resonates far beyond its borders, serving as an inspiration for the continent and contributing meaningfully to the global climate response.

He described the NCCRP as a symbol of what strong partnerships can achieve, adding that the long-standing cooperation between the EU and Nigeria is built on trust, shared values, and a common vision for sustainable development.

This collaboration, he noted, spans critical sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and good governance, all of which are interconnected and essential to building a greener, more resilient Nigeria.

“The NCCRP stands as a flagship initiative of this partnership, demonstrating that real progress is not just possible—it is happening,” the representative said.

Highlighting the programme’s impact, the EU listed several accomplishments including strengthening of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Systems, enhancing credibility and positioning Nigeria to attract international investors.

Environment Minister: Climate Governance Has Be Strengthened in Nigeria