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ASUP Mobilises Lecturers As Strike Ultimatum Expires

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The 15-day ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics to the Federal Government to meet its demands is set to expire on October 23.

The group had threatened to embark on strike should the government fail to address the contentious new scheme of service for polytechnic lecturers across the country.

As the deadline approaches, more lecturers have endorsed the ASUP National Executive Council’s position to mobilise members to withdraw their services once the ultimatum expires.

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ASUP Zone D Coordinator, Dr Iloma Richard, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the government has yet to address the contentious issues in the new guidelines.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Customs Generates N4.2tn Revenue In 9 Months

Richard said that ASUP had suspended its planned industrial action on July 22, following the Federal Government’s intervention, which mandated the National Board for Technical Education to review the disputed guidelines.

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“The strike was suspended to create the necessary environment for the speedy resolution of all contentious issues through the stakeholders’ engagement process.

“Regrettably, as I speak, no progress has been made in this direction due to the obvious reluctance of NBTE.

“The union has also noted, with regret, a similar attitude of the government towards other welfare needs of the union’s members,” he said.

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READ ALSO: ‘EFCC Unconstitutionally Established’ – Renowned SAN Writes National Assembly

The union leader highlighted the alleged disregard for quality control in polytechnic education, warning that, if allowed to persist, it would lead to the collapse of technical and vocational education in the country.

According to him, polytechnic lecturers in Zone D, comprising the South-South and South-East states, would withdraw their services once ASUP’s NEC issues such a directive.

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“This position has been articulated by our national leadership and formally communicated to all relevant authorities, with a subsisting 15-day ultimatum effective from Oct. 8.

“We shall not hesitate to swiftly mobilise our members from all chapters in the zone if, upon the expiration of the ultimatum, NEC directs any form of industrial action,” Richard added.

READ ALSO: Fire Wrecks Havoc In Ogun, Burns Vehicles, Injures People

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NAN reports that the contentious issues in the new scheme include the delayed stakeholders’ engagement in the scheme of service and the non-release of the stakeholders-validated Condition of Service for polytechnics.

Other issues include the inconsistent provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Act and the Laws establishing state-owned institutions, particularly concerning the appointment of Principal Officers.

Additionally, concerns were raised over the delayed implementation of a 35 per cent and 25 per cent salary review for state-owned polytechnics, as well as the release of arrears for federal polytechnics.

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ASUP also demanded the release of a second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention fund and the immediate capture of members’ peculiar academic allowance, among other issues.

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[JUST IN] Trump’s Threat: Nigeria Ready To Work With US, Other Countries To Wipe Out Terrorists – FG

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The Federal Government has said Nigeria is willing to work with the United States and other countries to wipe out remnants of terrorists and criminal elements in Nigeria.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this during a world press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

While acknowledging that Nigeria is faced with insecurity challenges, he clarified that it is not targeted at any religion or group, as peddled by faulty data.

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He saud in the last two years, President Bola Tinubu has deepened his commitment to dealing with insecurity, evident in the country’s improved standing on the Global Terrorism Index and recent change of security service chiefs.

READ ALSO:Ex-US Mayor, Sultan Clash Over Alleged Christian Genocide

He called on the United States and other nations to support President Tinubu in ridding the menace of criminals and terrorists making life unbearable for Nigerians.

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“The Nigerian government is willing to work with other international bodies, including the United States, to ensure that criminals are permanently wiped out.

“We welcome support from international partners, including the US, to deal with its security challenges.

“President Tinubu is taking the lead to resolve all challenges with the US, including other countries.

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READ ALSO:Ex-US Mayor, Sultan Clash Over Alleged Christian Genocide

“Nigeria is not running away from the fact that we have a big insecurity situation.

“The government and people of Nigeria have taken note of the US stance over the alleged violation of human rights.

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“President Tinubu is determined to confront and end security challenges,” he said.

Recall that last week, US President Donald Trump threatened military action in Nigeria if nothing is done about alleged killings of Christians.

This comes after Trump designated Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’.

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Edo Twin Babies Died Of Natural Causes — Autopsy Report

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An autopsy report regarding the death of twin babies who were referred to a medical facility in Benin has revealed that the babies died naturally.

The twin babies were referred to Med-Vical Medical Centre, Benin, on August 2025 in a severely ill condition and extremely premature.

The babies died in the hospital which led to family members and friends accusing the hospital of masterminding the death of the twins through negligence.

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The widespread of allegations prompted the Edo State Police Command to initiate an investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of the babies.

READ ALSO:I Apologise For Mutilating You, Let’s Reconcile, Former FGM Tells Estranged Daughter

In the autopsy report conducted by a team of pathologists —Dr. Ducan Iyawe, Dr. D.E Imasogie, Dr. K.O Abinokhauno, and Dr Ijomone, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, it was revealed that the baby died of natural causes.

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The final report was read in the presence of the Edo State Commissioner of Police, the state Ministry of Health, and the Nigerian Medical Association (Edo State Chapter) on Wednesday.

The findings listed the cause of death as foetal squames in the lungs leading to respiratory distress, acute foetal asphyxia, neonatal sepsis and bronchopneumonia

The autopsy has shown clearly that the baby died of natural causes and there was in fact no case of negligence, secrecy, or any form of malpractice as alleged,” the report stated.

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The medical team emphasized that all the babies’ organs were intact, adding that death resulted from complications associated with extreme prematurity and severe illness.

The twin babies were originally delivered prematurely in another hospital, referred to another private facility before subsequent referral to Med-Vical Medical Centre for advanced neonatal intensive care and life support.

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“Despite the hospital’s intervention, the infants could not survive the severe complications linked to their early birth and critical conditions,” the report stated.

Reacting to the report, Ms. Onyedikachi Nwizu of Med-Vical Medical Centre’s Management, expressed relief at the findings, but described the allegations as “false, malicious, and devilish.”

READ ALSO:US Revokes Visas Of Foreigners Who Mocked Kirk’s Assassination

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She disclosed that though pained by the loss of the babies, the hospital had instructed its legal team to take steps to redeem its reputation, which had been “seriously dented” by the false accusations.

Recall that parents of the babies, Mr Jerry Sylvester and Mrs. Edwina Jerry had earlier petitioned the Edo State Commissioner of Police, accusing Med-Vical of professional misconduct and concealment.

Their allegations circulated widely on social media and were reported by several news outlets, prompting the police to order a formal autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.

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Ex-IYC President Demands Toru-Ebe, Oil River States Creation, 33 LGs In Bayelsa

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Pioneer president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC),
Dr Felix Tuodolo, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to create Toru-Ebe and Oil River states.

The former commissioner for Ijaw Affairs in Bayelsa State also urged the government at the centre to create 33 Thirty-three (33) additional Local Government Councils for Bayelsa State.

Tuodolo, who said Bayelsa is one of the largest oil and gas producing states in Nigeria, added that the state accounts for a substantial portion of the country’s oil production, estimated to be around 35-45%.

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He noted that despite the state’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, land and river mass and huge potentials for steady growth and development, the state currently had only eight (8) Local Government Areas, emphasising that Thirty-three LGAs were proposed for creation to make Bayelsa a constitutional state since the 1999 Constitution stipulates that every state must have a minimum of ten LGAs.

READ ALSO:IYC Urges Tinubu To Sack NCDMB Boss

The statement read, “Importantly, the three major tribes in Nigeria all have their own states. The Yorubas have six states, the Hausa- Fulani has 19 northern states and the Igbo has five, and now seven with the resolutions to create a sixth state for them and an extra state in each Geo-political zone, which Ijaws strongly supports. But the Ijaws do not have a single state because the only Ijaw state, namely, Bayelsa, does not even meet the requirement of a state with only eight LGAs. The proposed new thirty-three LGAs for Bayelsa must be created for the Ijaws to accept that they have a state. Nigeria should take seriously the creation of 33 additional LGAs in Bayelsa State. This 33 LGs creation was as old as the creation of Bayelsa State.

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“These including other demands made by the INC Global in the envisaged new constitution include: (d) Protection and remediation of the Ijaw environment (6) Federal resource contribution through resource control and payment of tax (1) True federal Constitution (with no unitary colouration) (g) Reintegration of own vide the wholesale prosecution of the Ijaw struggle for self-determination, which had lasted centuries (h) Improve the quality and quantity of representation in the Ijaw region”, he added.

Dr Tuodolo also threw his weight behind the call by the INC Global the creation of Toru Ebe State out of the present Ondo, Edo and Delta States.

READ ALSO:Tompolo, Otuaro: Call Your Subjects To Order, IYC Tells Itsekiri Monarch

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He argued that the oil revenue from the Ijaw areas in the three states accounts for the largest revenue accruing to the National Economy, stressing that despite the receipt of the 13% Derivation Revenue by the 3 states (Delta, Edo and Ondo), the Ijaw areas which are mineral producing had been denied of any meaningful development.

“The proposed state with a population of 2.7million people has natural landscapes with beautiful beaches and lengthy coastline which can be annexed into a blue economy and tourism that will make the State economically viable”, he noted.

The INC Global also demanded the creation of the oil river state.

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We proposed Oil Rivers State that will comprise Ijaws in Rivers and Akwa ibom States. These areas remain the most naturally blessed but environmentally degraded in the entire world with massive oil (exploration) and gas flaring threatening the very survival of the People”, he emphasised.

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