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ASUU: Ngige Blasts House Chairman On Tertiary Education

Abuja: Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has blasted the House Committee on Tertiary Education, Aminu Goro, for alleged fabrications, outright lies and unwarranted attacks on the floor of the House, towards political gains, saying there was no plan to proscribe the Academic staff union of Universities, ASUU.
Ngige who expressed shock by the lawmaker’s outburst, urged the outgoing House of Representative member to go back and read the Trade Union Act, (2004) and not to rubbish other persons for political survival.
The former minister in a statement from his Media Office, among others, said “The Minister of Labour does not need Presidential approval to withdraw certificates of registration of Trade Unions. The Trade Union Act 2004 permits the Registrar of Trade Unions to cancel a certificate suo moto in Section 7 especially as ASUU had breached Section 3 on the annual rendition of Audited Accounts. ASUU was in default for five years.
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“Another Section of Trade Dispute Act; The Essential Services Act Cap T9 permits the President to proscribe any erring Union involved in an illegal strike but all through the 2022 ASUU strike neither the President nor any of his Ministers in Education or Labour mooted such an idea because the Minister of Labour and Employment has done the right thing by the transmission of an Instrument on the issue to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for adjudication in accordance with Section 17 of TDA. 2004. So former President Buhari and his officials chose the path of the rule of Law in dealing with the unending strike when conciliation failed instead of an arm-twisting proscription as alleged by Aminu Goro.
“Aminu’s cock and bull narrative aimed at sweetening the ears of the audience including fellow outgoing members at the expense of other patriotic Nigerians including the former President should be discouraged by all including the outgoing Speaker. No such incident ever happened on the Executive side and hence the painted scenario never took place at all. This is by no means to say that the Outgoing Speaker and Chief of Staff designates to the President did not contribute to the resolution of the issue with ASUU. He did and passionately too like many others on the government side and the Traditional and Religious leaders. But the ultimate solution and relief came from the Judiciary. Judges of both the NICN and the Court of Appeal who interpreted the relevant sections of the Trade Dispute Act 2004 without fear or favour and ordered ASUU back to the classroom.”
READ ALSO: NLC Writes ASUU, JUSUN, Others Ahead Of Nationwide Strike
He added that ASUU violated section 37 of the Trade Unions Acts CAP T14 that required the registered trade unions to submit their annual audited accounts and financial returns to the Registrar of Trade Unions on or before 1st June every year. Section 7 of the Acts gives the Registrar the power to cancel the certificate of registration of any trade union that deliberately contravened or continue to contravene any provision of the Act after receipt of a warning in writing from the Registrar.
“Warning in writing was duly issued to ASUU in 2019 and 2021 but deliberately and in order to leave them with a window for peaceful resolution this right was not exercise.”
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Enugu Sets Deadline For Digital Charting Of Private Layouts
The Enugu State Government has directed that all registered private layouts and plans be submitted to the Office of the Surveyor General for digital charting and endorsement, as part of its land digitalisation reforms.
In a public service announcement issued on Wednesday, the Surveyor General of Enugu State, Chime Justus, said the exercise would run between October 1 and December 31, 2025.
“In line with the Enugu State Government’s directive on land digitalisation, all registered private layouts and plans are required to be presented to the Office of the Surveyor General of Enugu State for digital charting and endorsement,” the statement read.
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According to him, the process would guarantee “security of property ownership, legitimacy of land documents, and a clear digital identity for all parcels of land.”
The government warned that effective January 1, 2026, only layouts and plans that had been digitally registered, charted, and endorsed would be recognised as valid.
“Any layout or plan not digitally endorsed by this date will be delisted and deemed invalid,” Justus stated.
The move, authorities say, is aimed at strengthening land administration, reducing disputes, and ensuring greater transparency in property documentation across the state.
In 2024, Governor Peter Mbah launched the Enugu State Geographic Information System, a digital platform designed to streamline land title applications and ensure seamless processing within 48 hours.
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Progress Means Food On Tables, Not Statistics, CAN Tells FG
The Christian Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the gains of its economic reforms translate into real improvements in the lives of citizens, stressing that true progress cannot be measured by statistics alone.
President Bola Tinubu, in his Independence Day address, had highlighted Nigeria’s economic growth, noting that the country’s GDP grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 — the fastest pace in four years — surpassing the International Monetary Fund’s 3.4 per cent projection.
He also said inflation had dropped to 20.12 per cent, the lowest level in three years, attributing the achievements to “sound monetary and fiscal policies” that had delivered 12 notable milestones.
But in his Independence Day message marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, congratulated the nation while cautioning that reforms must be judged by their impact on households, not just on paper.
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“True progress must be measured not only by statistics but by the food on every table, the security of every community, and the opportunities available to every child,” Okoh said.
The Christian body acknowledged progress in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and telecommunications since independence, noting that the country had moved from “a handful of schools and institutions” to thousands producing generations of professionals.
However, it warned that millions of Nigerians were yet to feel the benefits of reforms.
“Economic reforms, while necessary, have brought temporary hardship for millions. The rising cost of living, food insecurity, unemployment, and inflation continue to weigh heavily on households,” CAN said.
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Okoh also expressed concern that insecurity threatened to overshadow the country’s achievements.
“Security remains an urgent concern. Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal conflicts have caused deep pain and displacement. While strides have been made in restoring safety, more still needs to be done to guarantee the protection of lives and property,” he said.
The association called for stronger collaboration between security agencies, communities, and faith-based organisations to consolidate peace across the country.
It further urged the government to prioritise youth empowerment to stem the “persistent brain drain” and tap into the creativity and potential of young Nigerians.
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“To stem this tide, there must be greater investment in education, innovation and youth empowerment, ensuring that no young Nigerian is left behind,” CAN stated.
Archbishop Okoh also reminded citizens of their civic responsibilities, calling on Nigerians to pay taxes faithfully, support local production, and uphold justice and equity.
“On this anniversary, let us renew our commitment to justice, equity, and good governance. Let us embrace hard work… and show love to one another as one people under God,” he added.
News
LAUTECH Resident Doctors Suspend Strike
The Association of Resident Doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has suspended its indefinite strike after two months.
The doctors announced the decision on Wednesday in a letter to the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Olakulehin Olawale, citing assurances made by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, during his visit to the hospital on Tuesday, September 30.
They confirmed that clinical services will resume by 8 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, but stressed the need for sustained government commitment to resolving their demands.
The strike, which began on July 29, was triggered by poor working conditions, inadequate medical equipment, and welfare-related issues.
READ ALSO:LAUTECH Nurses, Midwives Begin Indefinite Strike Over Minimum Wage
For weeks, patients in Ogbomoso and neighbouring towns were forced to seek treatment elsewhere, with emergency and specialist services at the teaching hospital largely unavailable.
Their letter was signed by ARD President, Dr. Adedokun Stephen, and General Secretary, Dr. Mustapha Adedapo, the doctors said:
It read: “On behalf of the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, we write to formally notify the hospital management of the suspension of our two-month industrial action following an Emergency General Meeting of the congress on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
“This decision was reached in honour of the visit of His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, Executive Governor of Oyo State, to our institution on September 30, 2025, and in recognition of his sincere commitment to resolving the longstanding demands of our association. His engagement with stakeholders and the assurances given during the visit have been received with optimism and goodwill.
READ ALSO:LAUTECH Student Stabbed To Death In Ogbomoso
“Accordingly, members of ARD LAUTECH Teaching Hospital will resume full clinical duties by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
“We look forward to a renewed spirit of collaboration with the incoming hospital board, as we collectively work towards meeting pending demands and repositioning LAUTECH Teaching Hospital in line with the mandate and vision of His Excellency.”
The suspension of the strike comes as a major relief to residents of Ogbomoso, who rely heavily on the teaching hospital for affordable care.
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