The Nigeria Labour Congress has commenced a meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics among others over the ongoing strike in universities and other concerns raised by workers in tertiary institutions nationwide.

The meeting is currently holding at the NLC national headquarters in Abuja.

Recall that the NLC in a letter invited all union leaders across various tertiary institutions of learning nationwide to a meeting to find lasting solutions to issues stemmed from failed negotiations with the Federal Government.

Nigerian higher education system has been faced with chronic instability, the latest leading to closure of universities nationwide due to the ongoing strike by ASUU.

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Recall that ASUU National President Professor Chris Piwuna announced the strike at a press briefing at the University of Abuja on Sunday, following the expiry of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28. The union cited unresolved issues relating to staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Negotiations in recent weeks failed to avert industrial action. Education Minister Tunji Alausa said two weeks ago that talks had reached a final phase, noting the government had released N50bn for earned academic allowances and allocated N150bn in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment to be disbursed in three instalments. However, ASUU rejected these measures as insufficient.

The union is demanding full implementation of the 2009 agreement, release of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, sustainable funding for universities, protection against victimisation, payment of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, and release of withheld deductions for cooperatives and union contributions.

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The NLC emphasised its full solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for robust participation from all union leaders. It also highlighted the principle of a converse stance, “No Pay, No Work”, urging the government to honour collective agreements and respect the rights of workers.

The emergency meeting is expected to chart the next steps for industrial action and explore strategies to safeguard the welfare of university staff, as well as the quality and continuity of public tertiary education in Nigeria.

The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bauchi State Chapter, has engaged members of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Council in a one-day sensitization programme on alleged witchcraft accusations.

The event was conducted in collaboration with the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW), a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of FIDA Bauchi, Barr. Hauwa Ahmed Abubakar, said the initiative aimed to curb harmful beliefs and practices that often result in trauma, violence, and disunity among families.

She said the practice continues to endanger the lives of innocent people.

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“Today’s engagement focuses on enlightening community members about the dangers of stigmatization and harmful traditional beliefs.

“We brought together traditional leaders, women, youth, and other stakeholders to discuss how to end these practices and promote peace and mutual respect,” she said.

Abubakar explained that the campaign seeks to protect vulnerable individuals, especially women, and prevent abuses linked to witchcraft accusations across communities in Bauchi State.

“There is nothing like witchcraft in our laws, neither in the constitution nor in the state’s statutes.

“But because people are unaware of their rights, they resort to jungle justice. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse; anyone who harms or kills another person over witchcraft claims will be prosecuted,” she explained.

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The Programme Manager of AFAW, Mr. Dooyum Dominic Ingye, condemned the persistent persecution of women and children over witchcraft allegations, describing it as a “deep-rooted human rights violation” in Nigeria.

He said the sensitization campaign was organized to raise awareness about the dangers of witchcraft-related stigma and to promote respect for human rights within communities.

One of the victims, Mrs. Hannatu Yakubu, shared her painful experience, recalling how her mother was taken away by some youths in 2020 after being accused of witchcraft.

“In 2020, we heard a loud noise around our area, and my mother was taken away by some youths. Since then, life has not been the same, but I am grateful that help eventually came,” she said.

Another community member, Mr. Haruna Musa Gital, a community leader, narrated how a young man suffered emotional distress after his wife was falsely accused of witchcraft by his own brother.

The Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee has dismissed allegations of signature forgery raised by its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

The party insisted that he personally signed the letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission announcing the party’s forthcoming November national convention in the presence of state governors, NWC members and others.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, while addressing a press conference on behalf of the NWC in Abuja, on Monday, revealed that Anyanwu personally signed several official letters, including the one notifying INEC of the party’s convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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According to Ologunagba, the letters were signed just hours before the 102nd National Executive Committee meeting held on August 25.

He added that the signing took place in the presence of key party figures such as Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, among others.

Ologunagba further noted that during the NEC meeting, Governor Bala Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, confirmed that all relevant letters, including the one to INEC, had been duly signed.

Details shortly…