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How Gbajabiamila Deceived Us To Call Off Strike ― ASUU

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How Gbajabiamila Deceived Us To Call Off Strike ― ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, of deception by asking the union to call off its eight-month-old strike in October with a written promise that the government would, without delay, offset in full the arrears of salaries members were owed.

President of the union, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, gave this position on Tuesday in an exclusive interview with Tribune Online when he was asked to reflect on the speaker’s intervention and then vice versa on the current situation of their issues with the Federal Government.

He said ASUU had a soft spot for the speaker and that was why the union engaged him in a discussion as a welcome intervention to resolve the stalemate between it and the Federal Government.

He said Gbajabiamila even presented a paper signed by him to ASUU leadership indicating the seriousness of the government to pay in full the eight-month salaries its members were owed and also urgently attend to some other matters and specified how to address them.

He said part of these concerns were the peculiarities in the controversial Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) and the involvement of the house committee on budget allocation, among others.

He said that based on the Speaker’s intervention then, ASUU suspended the strike with the hope that the Speaker’s words would be matched with action.

He said ASUU members praised him just as the whole world did at the period for his intervention without knowing it was all a deceit.

Osodeke emphasized that ASUU members’ collective impression of Gbajabiamila as of today is that he tricked them to go back to work and then sort out things immediately thereafter.

“But here we are till today, nothing has been done over the promise and that is why the Speaker did not say anything tangible since then at least on the issues let alone ensure that his promises are carried out,” Osodeke stressed.

He said the Speaker would need to come out as he still has the opportunity to prove ASUU wrong on its impression by simply working out the implementation of his promises to the union.

Osodeke, who said ASUU members are only remaining in the classrooms in spite of the unfavourable treatment from the government as a sacrifice for the sake of students and parents as well as the country at large, equally berated the judiciary for hurriedly passing judgment on their matter with the Federal Government by asking ASUU members to go back to work and then adjourned the case till January 26.

He said a sensitive case such as the one between ASUU and Federal Government and particularly with interlocutory injunction should have been addressed in whole and given a speedy hearing and concluded without necessarily being delayed as he said it is currently.

He said the outgoing year is a very bad one for the education sector in Nigeria, noting that great damage had really been done to the sector especially in the last year and across levels by the current administration.

He described the situation as catastrophic and prayed that the next government would be courageous enough to declare a state of emergency in the sector and fix the mess that he said would take up to four or five years to clear.

Education

Warri School Gets Support from NCDMB, Techico

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Techico Resource Solutions Limited, has provided educational materials and teaching tools to Ugbuwangue Secondary School in Warri, Delta State.

The intervention was formally handed over to the school on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at a ceremony attended by representatives of NCDMB, Techico Resource Solutions Limited, the school leadership, teachers, students, and members of the Ugbuwangue community.

READ ALSO: NCDMB Woos Chinese Manufacturers

A statement from the partners on Thursday has it that the support was provided under the “Back to the Creeks” initiative, which was designed to address practical challenges facing students and teachers by providing resources to improve the learning environment and support more effective teaching and learning.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Techico Resource Solutions Limited, Omolola Bolushire, expressed appreciation to NCDMB for supporting the vision behind Back to the Creeks and investing in the future of young people.

She said the initiative demonstrated the importance of moving beyond conversations about development to taking practical steps that respond to the needs of communities.

“It is easy to talk about development. It is something else entirely to come into a community, listen, identify real needs and commit resources to making a difference,” Bolushire said.

Bolushire urged the school and Ugbuwangue community to take ownership of the intervention and protect the resources provided so that future generations could continue to benefit from them.

“These are not simply gifts to a community. They are an investment in a community. Please protect the facilities, protect the school and protect what has been provided,” she said.

Representing NCDMB, Mrs Khadija Jekine, who represented the Executive Secretary, said the Board was pleased to support an initiative focused on improving the learning experience of young people.

“Education is an investment in the future. By supporting schools and young people, we are helping to create opportunities that can have a lasting impact on communities,” Jekine said.

The Principal of Ugbuwangue Secondary School, Mrs Morrison Jemiyotan, also expressed appreciation for the intervention, noting that the resources would support both teachers and students.

“We are grateful for this support. These materials will make a meaningful difference to our school, and we are committed to ensuring that they are properly used and maintained for the benefit of our students,” the Principal said.

The Back to the Creeks initiative reflects the shared commitment of NCDMB and Techico Resource Solutions Limited to supporting communities and creating opportunities for young people through education.

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Education

Students, Lecturers In Limbo As TSU Strike Drags On

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As the indefinite strike at Taraba State University (TSU) continues, both students and lecturers have  been caught in a standoff over unresolved issues between the state government, the University’s management, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The strike, which has led to the suspension of exams and left the campus in disarray, stems from long-standing disputes regarding the welfare of lecturers and critical institutional concerns.

Students at TSU, Jalingo, are facing growing uncertainty as the academic calendar remains halted amid the ongoing crisis.

READ MORE: Journalist Adedayo Oderinu Advises Women Against Having Many Children

The Chairperson of ASUU-TSU, Dr. Garba Joshua, disclosed that the strike commenced after a 30-day grace period lapsed without meaningful action from the state government and university authorities to address key demands.

“The unresolved grievances include the lack of a pension scheme, non-payment of salary arrears, failure to constitute a Governing Council, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances, exclusion from minimum wage implementation, and inadequate funding as stipulated by the University’s founding law,” Dr. Joshua explained.

He added, “ASUU-TSU has consistently engaged with the government to resolve these pressing issues. However, the lack of commitment and action has left us with no choice but to take this step in defense of our members’ welfare, the integrity of the institution, and the future of higher education in Taraba State.”

The strike has left students in limbo, with many expressing frustration over their interrupted academic progress. Some were seen leaving campus with no indication of when classes or exams would resume.

One student, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “We are the ones paying the price for a crisis we didn’t create. It’s disheartening to see our education put on hold because of these unresolved issues.”

The impasse has sparked concern among parents and education stakeholders, who are calling for urgent intervention to resolve the crisis.

However, as of the latest update, no resolution has been reached, leaving the future of academic activities at TSU uncertain.

Students and lecturers alike are now waiting for the state government and university management to take decisive action to end the strike and restore normalcy to the institution.

 

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Education

JUST IN: FG Dissolves Nnamdi Azikiwe University Governing Council, Removes VC

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The Federal Government has dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and removed its newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh, over alleged breaches of university laws and irregularities in his appointment.

This was announced on Wednesday by Folashade Boriowo, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.

In a statement, the Ministry accused the Governing Council of failing to follow due process in the appointment of Prof. Odoh, resulting in widespread tension and unrest within the university community.

READ ALSO: Vinicius Jr. Honors Cameroonian Roots Ahead Of Brazil’s Clash With Uruguay

“The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, following grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education,” the statement read.

The Federal Ministry of Education also revealed that the Council’s chairman had “unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position,” leading to the breakdown of law and order on campus.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had earlier accused the Governing Council of misconduct and called for its dissolution.

The union alleged that the council’s actions undermined the institution’s integrity and violated established procedures.

Commenting on the government’s decision, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said urgent measures were necessary to restore stability to the university.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that urgent measures were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilizing the institution,” the statement added.

The Ministry also announced plans to appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor and constitute a new Governing Council for the university.

“In accordance with the university’s founding act, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed, and a new Governing Council for the university will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law,” the statement concluded.

 

 

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