News

ASUU Threatens To Shut Down Universities Over Unimplemented Agreement

Published

4 months ago

May 21, 2026

Editor

The Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to shut down academic activities in public universities over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement the 2025 agreement reached with the union and unveiled in January 2026.

Chairman of the ASUU Benin Zone, Prof. Monday Igbafen, stated this on Thursday in Benin City while briefing journalists on the government’s alleged non-compliance with the agreement and the implications for the university system.

Flanked by executives and members drawn from the nine universities under the Benin Zone, Igbafen said the Federal Government had failed to honour commitments that were expected to bring an end to years of dispute surrounding the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU agreement.

According to him, the government’s implementation of allowances has been “distorted and selective,” accusing authorities of paying Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances (CATA), Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and Professorial Allowances outside the agreed structure.

“This violates the agreement, which clearly states that all allowances should be mainstreamed into the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure as part of monthly salaries for professors,” he said.

ASUU also faulted the Federal Government for failing to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), which the union said was intended to prevent bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure proper execution of the agreement.

The union further criticised the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, for allegedly introducing major education policies without consultation with ASUU.

Among the issues raised were plans to establish a National Research and Innovation Development Fund, the reversal of the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education, and the proposed establishment of a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework.

ASUU also rejected the Nigeria Education Repository Databank (NERD), saying academics were being compelled into the initiative without stakeholder engagement.

The union accused the government of attempting to arbitrarily scrap academic programmes considered “irrelevant,” warning that such actions threaten university autonomy and academic freedom.

It also expressed concerns over alleged irregular appointments, financial mismanagement, and disregard for due process by some government-appointed vice chancellors.

ASUU listed other unresolved issues to include unpaid arrears of the 25–35 per cent salary award, promotion arrears, unremitted third-party deductions, salary shortfalls caused by IPPIS errors, and the withheld three-and-a-half months salaries from the 2022 strike action.

The union also criticised the governments of Edo, Ondo, and Delta states for allegedly failing to implement the agreement five months after the Federal Government’s directive.

“We urge them to comply immediately or face industrial action on their campuses,” the union warned.

ASUU further demanded that the Niger State Government and the Federal Ministry of Education halt all actions concerning the land and property of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.

The union appealed to stakeholders, including patriotic Nigerians and education advocates, to prevail on both federal and state governments to fully implement the agreement and address outstanding issues without delay.

“We warn that public universities face imminent paralysis if government continues its old tactics of disrespecting collective bargaining and binding agreements,” ASUU stated.

News

Group Commends COREN For Training Engineers In Engineering Failure, Forensic Investigation In Nigeria

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Editor

Foundation for the Development of Shira Community (FODESCO) in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi state has commended the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) for conducting a pioneer training on Engineering Failure and Forensic Investigation (EFFI) for 50 licensed engineering practitioners across the country.

Engr. Shehu Wakili, the Chairman of the Foundation made the commendation in an interview with newsmen on Friday.

According to him, the training which was conducted by COREN in collaboration with the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), was to equip engineers and professionals from academia, industry, and government MDAs with practical skills to investigate infrastructure failures and prevent recurring building collapses.

He added that the training was also to build a pool of trained specialists who could investigate building collapses and other engineering failures, determine their root causes, and recommend measures to prevent recurrence, saying that the trainees would form part of a register of trained and certified forensic engineering investigators.

He further lauded COREN for the subsequent induction of its member, Engr. Abdullahi Muhammad MNSE, who among the 50 participants, hails from Bauchi state as a Chartered Engineering Forensic and Failure Investigator (CEFFI), certified by CIFCFIN.

“FODESCO is proud of him and wishes him well in all his endeavours”, he prayed.

Wakili, also the Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Bauchi state chapter, revealed that the training covered failure analysis, forensic investigation methodologies, risk assessment, and professional reporting.

“This initiative supports broader efforts by COREN and the National Assembly to enforce stricter building codes, identify quackery, and ensure accountability across the construction sector,” he said.

News

NBS: Lagos, Rivers, Enugu Top List As States Generated N5.15trn In 2025

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Editor

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that 36 states and the FCT generated a total of ₦5.15 trillion in 2025, indicating a growth rate of 40.93 percent from ₦3.65 trillion recorded in 2024.

NBS stated on Thursday citing the Nigeria Revenue Service ( NRS) as source of its information that Lagos emerged top on the list of states with the highest revenue generation in the sum of ₦1.77 trillion.

“Followed by Rivers state ₦428.42 billion and Enugu with IGR record of ₦406.77 billion in the period referenced.”

The. Bureau said Yobe, Ebonyi and Sokoto states reported the least revenues with ₦16.01 billion, ₦17.18 billion and ₦20.48 billion, respectively.

According to NBS, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) was the most tax revenue recorded during the period, valued at ₦2.64 trillion, representing 69.51 percent of the total tax revenue collected, while capital gains tax was the least with ₦12.40 billion while the share of total tax revenue to total IGR was 73.64 percent nationally.

“Other states and their share of IGR are FCT – N356.34 billion, Ogun – N252.36 billion, Delta – N202.49 billion, Edo – N132.21 billion, Oyo – N103.25 billion and Kano – N102.26 billion.

“Ten other states in lowest category of IGR include Yobe – N16.01 billion, Ebonyi – N17.18 billion, Sokoto – N20.48 billion, Taraba – N28.16 billion ; Benue – N29.57 billion, Zamfara – N30.07 billion, Kebbi – N31.23 billion, Nasarawa – N32.57 billion, Adamawa – N33.76 billion andcBorno – N36.36 billion “.

NBS noted that the states generated their most and least revenue from taxes and other government sources. “PAYE was the dominant revenue source nationally, generating N2.64 trillion and accounting for 69.51% of total tax revenue for the year.

“Other sources included direct assessment, road taxes, stamp duties, withholding taxes and capital gains tax, which was the smallest contributor at N12.40 billion,” the Bureau stated.

News

Osun Police Arrest Suspect In Emir Ajagungbade’s Murder Probe

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2026

Editor

The Osun State Police Command has reportedly arrested Waliyi Adejare, popularly known as Jay Jay, at Oke Baale area of Osogbo, Osun State, as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder of Lekan Oyeyemi, popularly known as Emir Ajagungbade.

Adejare was reportedly taken into police custody on Thursday. Sources familiar with the development described him as one of the suspects being investigated in connection with the killing, which occurred amid the crisis that has continued to trail activities around motor parks in Osun State.

However, the police have cautioned against conclusively linking the suspect to the murder at this stage, stressing that investigations into both his arrest and the killing are still ongoing.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Abiodun Ojelabi, who confirmed the arrest, said it was too early to establish whether Adejare was arrested specifically in connection with the murder of Emir.

Ojelabi said the command was still conducting a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s arrest and determine whether or not he had any connection with the killing.

According to him, the police would make their findings public after the completion of the investigation, urging members of the public to await the outcome of the ongoing process rather than relying on unverified claims concerning the suspect.

Reliable information obtained on the development indicated that Adejare, also known as Jay Jay, was apprehended in the Oke Baale area of Osogbo during an operation by the police on Thursday.

Sources also alleged that Adejare had previously served in the Nigerian Navy before reportedly leaving the service and subsequently becoming associated with individuals suspected of criminal activities in Osogbo and its environs.

The latest arrest comes against the backdrop of heightened security attention following the killing of Emir, which triggered renewed concerns over violence and rival interests surrounding motor park operations in the state.

Following the incident, the state government announced measures affecting the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, while the police commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killing and other developments arising from the crisis.