Headline

ASUU Laments FG’s Failure To Honour Agreements

Published

1 year ago

June 26, 2024

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) branch has lamented the consistent failure of the federal governments to honour agreements and fulfill promises bothering on the welfare of its members.

Dr Ibrahim Inuwa, the Chairman, ASUU, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi made the lamentation on behalf of the members in a news conference in Bauchi on Wednesday.

He however, declared that ASUU remained undaunted in the patriotic mission towards the welfare of its members and repositioning the university system for global competitiveness.

According to him, the struggle for a better, improved and affordable quality education for Nigerians is not that of ASUU alone to fight and achieve but parents, students and teaming youths of the country stood and watched from afar.

“It is a collective struggle that we all must collaborate to actualize by ensuring that the government does the needful.

“We therefore, call on all patriots in the media, labour movement, student groups and civil society organisations and all other stakeholders to join our resolve to reposition the Nigerian university system for a transformed Nigeria.

“We reiterate the fact that the suspension of our strike in 2022 was a patriotic act based on trust for those who intervened. We sincerely hope and wish that our union will not be compelled to resume the strike in the nearest future,” he said.

Inuwa also called on President Bola Tinubu to use his good offices to see to the signing and immediate implementation of the Prof. Nimi Briggs Committee agreement on the renegotiation of salaries of academic staff of Federal Universities.

He said that non implementation of the agreement has the implications of denying Academics a wage that was consistent with the current economic reality, continued poor funding of the Universities and the respect for academic freedom.

The ASUU chairman explained that for 15 years, its members have remained on the same salary system while all efforts for renegotiation failed, thereby making them remain stagnant on the same spot.

Headline

NAFDAC Warns Against Use Of Excess Hydroquinone In Cosmetics

Published

9 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned users of bleaching creams to refrain from using products containing excessive hydroquinone to safeguard their health.

NAFDAC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr Hamis Yahaya, advised in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent used to treat hyperpigmentation, such as melasma and age spots.

Yahaya said that the approved quantity of the chemical substance in cosmetics was only two per cent.

According to him, NAFDAC conducts checks on market products to ensure public health and safety.

“The black colour provides natural protection against harmful radiation due to melanin content.

“Applying creams with hydroquinone contents more than two per cent is harmful. Mixing creams by non-experts is wrong.

“Hydroquinone affects the health of the users gradually, including causing cancer,” he said.

Yahaya urged the media to raise awareness about the dangers of cosmetics that could endanger consumer lives.

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AU Helicopter Crashes In Somali Capital – State Media

Published

14 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An African Union helicopter crashed Wednesday at the airport in the Somali capital Mogadishu with eight people onboard, state media said.

The aircraft was part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), tasked with fighting the Al-Shabaab militant group.

The state media agency Sonna said the AUSSOM helicopter, carrying eight people, “crashed during landing at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde Airport this morning after departing Balidoogle”.

“The fire has been contained, and authorities are assessing the situation,” it said in a post on X.

Sonna quoted the country’s civil aviation authorities as saying that “flight operations remain normal”.

There were no further details given, but unverified clips and images shared online showed a plume of black smoke over the city.

The AUSSOM mission faces funding difficulties, even as fears of an Al-Shabaab resurgence are stoked by attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.

Headline

Australia Cancels Kanye West Visa Over ‘Heil Hitler’ Song

Published

14 hours ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

Australia has cancelled US rapper Kanye West’s visa over his song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the government said Wednesday.

The 48-year-old musician, who has legally changed his name to Ye, released “Heil Hitler” on May 8, the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

West — whose wife Bianca Censori is Australian — has been coming to Australia for some time because he has family in the country, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.

“He’s made a lot of offensive comments. But my officials looked at it again once he released the ‘Heil Hitler’ song and he no longer has a valid visa in Australia.”

Burke said the rapper’s cancelled visa was not intended for holding concerts.

“It was a lower level, and the officials still looked at the law and said: You’re going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism — we don’t need that in Australia,” he told public broadcaster ABC.

Asked if it was sustainable to bar such a popular figure, the minister said: “I think what’s not sustainable is to import hatred.”

But he said immigration officials reassess each visa application.

Australian citizens have freedom of speech, Burke added.

“But we have enough problems in this country already without deliberately importing bigotry.”

AFP