The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter has rejected the recent approval of a 40 per cent allowance package for public servants by the Bayelsa State Government, insisting that the measure does not address agreements already reached with university lecturers.

The union said the state government was misleading the public by making its demands look like part of the newly approved allowances. It added that lecturers were only asking for the implementation of agreements in the 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

The union was demanding the implementation of the Consolidated Academic and Allied Staff Allowance (CATA) agreement signed on December 23, 2025, to take effect from January 2026, a statement on Tuesday signed by the ASUU branch chairman, Comrade Oyinkepreye Lucky Bebeteidoh and the branch secretary, Comrade Victory C. Owede, said.

The ASUU chairman said the total computed CATA for academic staff in the state’s three universities is N336.9 million monthly, contrary to claims that ASUU was demanding over N2.99 billion every month.

Criticising the government for misleading the figures, Bebeteidoh questioned why the government allowed “peculiar allowances” for the other unions but declined to implement an agreement it signed with ASUU voluntarily.

“The N2.144 billion being demanded by ASUU is a misleading and disinformation of the public to create the impression that ASUU is demanding over N2.99 billion monthly as CATA. The CATA was signed in December 2025 for commencement of implementation in January 2026.

“ASUU is demanding for the implementation of the CATA as stipulated in the agreement. Why is the government giving strange concessions to unions without such agreement? “Why put our CATA demand together with the peculiar allowances?” he asked.

The ASUU chairman also lambasted the government for its excuse that it was waiting for other states to implement the allowance before it could do anything.

He said that many states with far less federal allocation than that of Bayelsa had entered into such agreements.

“ASUU wrote to the government in January 2026 informing it of the implementation period. Why did it take seven months before taking an official position of inability to pay? The excuse that many universities have not yet adopted CATA is laughable.

“CATA has been implemented by more than 10 states that get far less than Bayelsa from the Federation Account. They did not wait for Bayelsa to act before they fulfilled their obligations,” he said.

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The union also repeated its call for the payment of 19 months’ outstanding arrears arising from the delayed implementation of the 25 and 35 per cent salary wage award.

ASUU says the state government has paid six months of the arrears, but 19 months are still outstanding, despite the significant improvement in the state’s revenue.

Bebeteidoh said Bayelsa received about N95.15 billion in April and May and had a closing balance of N37.08 billion, making the government’s claim of inadequate funds difficult to justify.

“You should have seen the inflow for April and May, but the state government is claiming paucity of funds to pay the 19 months arrears totaling N2.7 billion. “Benue State with significantly lower FAAC allocation implemented the wage award and paid all arrears.”

He also lamented the failure of the government to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on February 5, 2025, which led to the suspension of an industrial action.

He also said one of the unresolved issues was the absence of on-campus staff accommodation at the university more than two decades after its establishment.

“More than a year after the signing of the MoU, nothing has been done in the matter of on-campus accommodation. ‘The campus is like a ghost town from 4pm every working day until the following morning because staff have nowhere to live.’

The ASUU chairman lamented that no permanent staff housing project had been completed in the university’s 26-year history warning that the absence of residential facilities continues to hinder academic activities and the development of a vibrant university community.

He called on the Bayelsa State Government to honour the agreements it signed with the union, implement the CATA, pay outstanding salary arrears and fulfil other commitments geared towards the welfare of university lecturers and the overall development of higher education in the state.

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The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has reduced the fees charged for textbook assessment and ranking in preparation for the implementation of the Federal Government’s National Textbook Ranking System.

It was reported that the council also ordered that the excess amount be refunded to the publishers who already paid the previous assessment charges.

The decision was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary, NERDC, Professor Salisu Shehu and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

The council said the fee for assessment of the textbook has been reduced from N2,000 to N1, 500 per page.

The ranking charge was also slashed from N1m to N750,000 per each textbook title submitted for evaluation.

“The assessment fee has been reviewed downwards from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page, while the ranking fee has been reviewed downwards from ₦1m to ₦750,000 per textbook title,” the statement said.

Shehu said the new charges would take immediate effect and were meant to ease the financial burden on publishers and authors who are involved in the new evaluation system.

NERDC said publishers who had paid the old assessment rate would be entitled to refunds to make up the difference between the old and revised charges.

“The procedure for processing the refunds will be announced in due course” The council added that publishers who have already paid the previous assessment fee of ₦2,000 per page will be refunded the excess payment.

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It said publishers and authors who submit textbooks for assessment should start paying at the new rates immediately.

The council urged stakeholders in the publishing industry to adhere to the new fee structure.

The reduction in the fee is being implemented in advance of the planned launch of the National Textbook Ranking System in September 2026.

The policy was introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as part of efforts to improve the quality of teaching materials used in schools in Nigeria.

The initiative will ensure that only textbooks that are assessed, approved and ranked by NERDC will be recommended for use in classrooms.

When the policy comes into effect, schools will not be allowed to use textbooks that have not been ranked.

Alausa said the initiative was aimed at tackling the growing circulation of substandard textbooks and ensuring that teachers and pupils are provided with materials that are consistent with the national curriculum.

He said that while NERDC would still have its statutory responsibility of approving textbooks, just being approved would no longer make a book suitable for use in the classroom.

Before being recommended to schools, each approved textbook would also undergo a national evaluation and ranking process carried out by expert committees.

The ranking of the textbooks is part of the broader reforms that the Federal Ministry of Education is implementing under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Other measures include nationwide learning assessments, revival of abandoned e-libraries in Federal Unity Colleges and expansion of digital learning infrastructure .

The ministry has also rolled out interventions to tackle learning poverty which the government estimates affects about 42 million Nigerian children.

Education officials said the ranking system would improve quality assurance, encourage publishers to raise their standards and ensure schools were using the most appropriate teaching materials.

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The Federal Government has annulled the proposed hike in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade. The ministry said the proposal has been put on ice to allow for wider consultations before any final decision is taken.

The statement said the letter dated June 18, 2026, which informed stakeholders of the proposed fee adjustment has been officially withdrawn. The ministry said the withdrawal was needed after receiving feedback from parents, education stakeholders, labour groups, school administrators and members of the public who were concerned about the impact of the increase on families already struggling with economic challenges.

The ministry has again said that the existing registration fees will not be changed until the proposal has been fully reviewed and all interested parties consulted.

“The proposed fee adjustment was first considered in light of the rising costs of conducting credible national examinations across the country,” the statement read in part. It said the registration fees for WAEC and NECO had remained relatively constant for many years despite a huge increase in operational costs.

The ministry attributed the higher cost of organizing the examinations to several factors including transportation and logistics, security arrangements, printing of examination materials, deployment of technology, quality assurance processes and other administrative services necessary to maintain the integrity of the examination system.

It also disclosed that the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparent, inclusive and evidence based policy making.

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The government believes that major policy decisions that will affect millions of Nigerian students and their families should only be implemented after extensive consultation with all the stakeholders concerned, the statement said.

The Federal Ministry of Education said it would, as part of the consultation process, hold discussions with examination bodies, state ministries of education, public and private school owners, school administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education experts and other critical stakeholders.

The ministry said the consultations would focus on ensuring that any future decision on examination fees reflects the realities of the education sector while safeguarding students’ access to affordable education.

It reassured 2027 candidates that the proposed fee review would not be implemented until the consultation process has been completed and a final decision has been announced.

The Federal Ministry of Education has reiterated the government’s commitment to equal access to quality education and to ensuring that policy decisions are taken based on fairness, transparency and the best interest of the Nigerian students.

Before the suspension of the proposed increase, the registration fee for both WAEC and NECO examinations for senior secondary school candidates was N27,500. The ministry assured that it would keep Nigerians abreast of developments as consultations continue and that any future decision would be communicated openly after adequate engagement with all stakeholders.

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The Federal Government on Monday inaugurated the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Committee in what education stakeholders described as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious efforts to reposition scholarship, innovation and research as national priorities.

“The Committee will introduce a new annual awards programme to reward outstanding undergraduate, master’s and PhD research with prizes worth about N365 million.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, inaugurated the Committee at the Digital Resource Centre, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

The committee is charged with the oversight of the implementation of the National Laureate Programme, a flagship initiative to bring academic excellence to the highest level of national recognition.

It will also foster research commercialisation and innovation in Nigerian accredited post-secondary and tertiary institutions.

Speaking on the inauguration exercise, Dr Alausa said the programme was a conscious effort by the Federal Government to re-jig the country’s reward system.

It will put scholarly achievement, scientific discovery and innovation alongside other nationally celebrated accomplishments, he says.

The Minister add that the initiative is expected to inspire a new generation of young Nigerians to pursue researches that can solve real world problems, create new industries and enhance the nation’s global competitiveness.
He said: “The ability to turn knowledge into economic value will be increasingly important in determining the future prosperity of nations.

He said Nigeria must consciously celebrate intellectual achievement if it wants to build a globally competitive knowledge economy.

The Federal Government found it necessary to establish a national platform in an era dominated by the social media-driven “attention economy,” Alausa said. The platform will reward creativity, scholarship, invention and commercially valuable research, especially among young people.

The newly inaugurated Committee is headed by the President, Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Abubakar Sambo.

Other names are Professor Solomon Nwhator, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Professor (Mrs) Tolulope Ariyomo, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; Professor Francis F. Uba, Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo; Dr Babangida Abubakar Albaba, representing National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Dr Salihu Bakari Girei representing Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Others are Professor (Mrs) Carol Arinze-Umobi of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Dr (Mrs) Obianuju Anigbogu, Federal Ministry of Education; Mr Francis Egbokare, Nigerian Academy of Letters; Dr Ezinne Orisakwe, National Universities Commission (NUC) and Dr Pius O. Ekireghwo, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

Also, the Secretary of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), Mr Richard Falaye, is to act as Secretary to the Committee.

The first National Laureate Awards will be held in November 2026. The awards will honour the country’s top Undergraduate Dissertations, Master’s Theses and Doctoral (PhD) Theses, in addition to six thematic Excellence Awards.

The thematic categories are Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Agriculture, Law, Arts and Social Sciences and Teaching Innovation.
The approved prize structure sees the winner of the Undergraduate Dissertation category taking home N35 million, while the best Master’s Thesis will attract N50 million. The overall winner in the Doctoral (PhD) category goes home with N100 million.

Also, six National Laureate Excellence Awards to the tune of N30 million each shall be given annually.

That will bring the programme’s total prize pool to an estimated N365 million annually.

The Minister also announced the setting up of the Dr Stella Adadevoh Excellence Award in Medicine and Medical Innovation. The late physician, whose leadership during the 2014 Ebola outbreak averted a national public health catastrophe, is the recipient of one of the programme’s special awards.

He also asked the Committee to complete its work on eligibility criteria, evaluation procedures and institutional engagement in good time to ensure successful hosting of the inaugural awards in November.

Dr Alausa also seized the opportunity to commend Engr Olatunji Ariyomo, Chairman of NERD, for his innovative contributions to transformative interventions in Nigeria’s education sector.

The Chairman of the Committee, Emeritus Professor Abubakar Sambo, speaking for the Committee, said the initiative was a historic turning point in the country’s education policy. He commended the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for putting academic excellence and research at the heart of national development.

“The Committee will ensure the highest standards of transparency, fairness and merit in the selection process,” Professor Sambo assured.

He commended Dr Alausa for spearheading a national revolution to reward and promote innovation and its commercialisation, assuring that every eligible student irrespective of institution and geographical location would have equal opportunity to attain National Laureate status.

He said the process would be protected from institutional preference and other outside influences.
He also said he believed the National Laureate Programme could be one of the most consequential reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape if it is successfully implemented.

The committee argues the initiative signals a shift away from national priorities of social media celebrity culture towards a deliberate recognition of ideas, discoveries and innovations capable of driving economic transformation, over and above its substantial prize fund.

The programme is expected to foster deeper collaboration between universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, industry and government as well as create stronger incentives for commercially viable research and position Nigeria to compete more effectively within the global knowledge economy.

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……Hon Kareem Pledges More Support for Public Schools as Stakeholders Call for Adoption of Schools.

Emmanuel Ikpeama.

The Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has joined the nationwide rollout of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme with the official launch of the “Adopt A School – Snacks for Thought (PBAT Feeds)” initiative and its digital monitoring dashboard, reaffirming government’s commitment to improving child nutrition, learning outcomes and educational development.

The programme, held at L.A. Nursery and Primary School 2, Ilobo-Elegba, Oto-Awori LCDA, was organised through a partnership between the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the Lagos State Government, and Conference 57, with simultaneous launches taking place across the three senatorial districts and the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in Lagos State.

The event attracted government officials, education stakeholders, council executives, legislators, school administrators, and representatives of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of Oto-Awori LCDA, Hon. Kareem Azeez Abiodun, described the initiative as a landmark intervention aimed at ensuring that no child is forced to learn on an empty stomach.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing children’s welfare at the centre of national development through the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the programme goes beyond providing meals to investing in the future of Nigerian children.

According to him, the initiative represents a significant investment in education, human capital development and national growth.

“A well-fed child learns better, concentrates longer and dreams bigger. When we remove hunger from the classroom, we unlock the enormous potential in every child.

This is why we see this programme as a movement to ensure that no child in Oto-Awori learns on an empty stomach,” he said

The chairman also applauded the Lagos State Government and Conference 57 for aligning with the Federal Government to implement the initiative across the state.

He further praised the introduction of the PBAT Feeds Digital Dashboard, describing it as an innovative accountability tool that will ensure transparency, real-time monitoring and efficient delivery of meals to schools.
Hon. Kareem appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropists, faith-based organisations and well-meaning individuals to embrace the “Adopt A School” initiative by supporting public primary schools with nutritious snacks for pupils.

He stressed that government alone cannot meet all the needs of the education sector and called on stakeholders to contribute towards securing the future of Nigerian children.
Representing the National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Mrs. Esther Adedeji described the launch as the beginning of a national movement aimed at combating classroom hunger.
She said the programme was founded on the principle that food security is national security, explaining that children who attend school hungry are unable to realise their full learning potential.

According to her, the “Adopt A School – Snacks for Thought” initiative provides an opportunity for individuals, businesses, foundations, development partners and Nigerians in the diaspora to directly support public primary schools while ensuring accountability through the digital dashboard.

She noted that even modest contributions could significantly improve children’s nutrition, school attendance and academic performance.

The representative added that collaboration among governments, private organisations and communities remains critical to building stronger human capital and securing Nigeria’s future.

Among the dignitaries at the event, include the Vice Chairman, Hon. Moses Olabisi Aina; the Council Chairperson, Alhaja Basirat Kareem; the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. Audu Sulaimon Awoyemi; the Council Secretary, Hon. Ajose Tokunbo; the Council Manager, Mrs. Welu Olamide; councillors, supervisors, the Chief of Staff, school administrators and officials of the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme.

Delivering the vote of thanks,the HOD Education ,Mr Wale Koka appreciated President Tinubu for initiating what he described as a life-changing programme for schoolchildren across Nigeria.

He urged pupils to reciprocate government’s support by remaining focused on their education and avoiding social vices while also commending the Oto-Awori LCDA administration for prioritising educational development.

Following the official launch, volunteers distributed nutritious snacks to pupils as part of the pilot phase of the programme.

Speaking with journalists after the event, Hon. Kareem disclosed that the school feeding exercise was taking place simultaneously across all 57 local governments and LCDAs in Lagos State.

He pledged that Oto-Awori LCDA would complement the Federal Government’s efforts by addressing infrastructure challenges in public schools, including the provision of classrooms, desks and other learning facilities.

The council chairman maintained that the school feeding programme was designed purely to improve children’s welfare and educational outcomes, dismissing suggestions that it was politically motivated.

“We are doing this for humanity. The important thing is that every child, irrespective of background or political affiliation, has the opportunity to study with a full stomach. That is what truly matters,” he said.

Also speaking, the Supervisor for Education and Library Services, Comrade Adeniyi Jelili, said the initiative would be implemented across schools within the LCDA, expressing optimism that it would become a continuous programme.

Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education in
Oto-Awori LCDA, Hon. Salami Bashir Akeyele, described the initiative as a welcome development that would positively impact children’s education and national development.

He assured residents that the legislative arm would continue to support the Executive Chairman to ensure the sustainability of the programme across the council area.

The launch marks another step in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen school feeding, improve enrolment and retention in public schools, and mobilise community participation in the education sector through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The post Oto-Awori LCDA Launches ‘PBAT Feeds’ School Feeding Initiative, Backs Nationwide Drive Against Classroom Hunger. appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Federal Ministry of Education has described as false and misleading reports that the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS) was hacked in a cyber attack.

The clarification was contained in a press statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, on June 16, 2026.

The statement said the ministry was responding to a publication that suggested that the NEMIS education data platform had been hacked.

The platform was never hacked, breached or subject to any form of cyberattack at any time, the ministry said, adding that the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data on the system remain fully intact.

“The Ministry would like to state categorically that the report is incorrect and misleading. The NEMIS platform was never hacked, breached or subjected to any cyberattack at any time. The integrity, confidentiality and availability of data on the platform remain fully intact,” the statement read.

“The temporary warning message some users saw was caused by a Secure Sockets Layer, SSL, certificate configuration issue at the hosting level that affected secure access to the platform,” the ministry said.

The issue was technical in nature and did not involve unauthorised access to the system, data loss, data alteration or exposure of sensitive information, the statement said.

The ministry said its technical team, in cooperation with the hosting service provider, quickly fixed the problem and restored normal operations.

It said that browser security warnings and SSL certificate alerts shouldn’t be taken at face value as a sign of a cyberattack or data breach.

The ministry said the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure was the Federal Government’s framework to strengthen education data governance, integration and accessibility across the sector.

“NEMIS remains a critical digital platform for the collection, management and utilization of education data, while the Federal Ministry of Education is still implementing security measures, system monitoring and periodic assessments to protect the platform,” the statement further said.

“The Ministry thus calls on media organizations and members of the public not to transmit unverified information that could cause unnecessary alarm and erode public confidence in the digital platforms of the government,” the statement continued.

The ministry advised members of the public and stakeholders to disregard reports that the NEMIS platform had been compromised, claiming such reports were unfounded.

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The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up exercise results have been made public by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

According to reports, the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Benjamin, applicants who participated in the mop-up exam can now view their results using the channels authorized by the Board for result-checking.

He claims that when the mop-up exercise was successfully completed, the results were made public.

“Candidates who took the test can check their results through the Board’s established result-checking channels,” he stated.

Benjamin continued by saying that the Board will now go on to the next phase of the admissions process, which would start with the ranking of applicants.

“The Board will start ranking the candidates after the mop-up process is successfully completed and the findings are made public.

“After that, it is anticipated that results printing for admission purposes will start before the weekend,” he stated.

Additionally, the Board thanked candidates and stakeholders for their cooperation and patience during the process.

According to Benjamin, the mop-up exam’s flawless execution demonstrated the Board’s dedication to making sure impacted candidates had an equal chance to finish the test.

The mop-up exercise took place on June 13, 2026, a Saturday.

For candidates who were biometrically validated for the main UTME but were unable to take the test because of issues noted at some centers, it was their last chance.

During the main exam session, the impacted applicants reportedly experienced technical difficulties, biometric problems, or other disruptions.

The primary 2026 UTME took place from April 16 to April 25.

Affected candidates are anticipated to examine their scores when the mop-up results are released and wait for the Board to take additional admission-related actions.

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Candidates are writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) late into the night as a result of delays in some centres disrupting the ongoing examination.

It was gathered that the examination is being conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The development has raised concern among parents, school administrators and education stakeholders especially as similar incidents were recorded last year when some candidates reportedly wrote examinations close to midnight.

Checks by Vanguard across some centres in Lagos especially on Lagos Island and the Lekki axis revealed that the delays became more visible this week, according to Vanguard.

Physics Papers 2 and 1 on Monday between 2 pm and 5 pm are said not to have started on time.

Some candidates were reported to have written the second paper at about 8 p.m. On General Mathematics students also faced major delays on Wednesday.

The essay paper, which was set from 9:30 am to noon, and the objective paper, which was set from 3 pm to 4:30 pm, were said to have been completed around 10 pm.

‘Delays Have Psychological Effects on Candidates’
A school principal, who spoke to Vanguard anonymously, said he was disappointed over the recurring disruptions.

“Why are we doing this again after last year? Besides the security issues in the country, these delays psychologically affect candidates. Imagine you are preparing for an examination slated for noon and you eventually write it at 7 p.m. or later,” the principal said.

He said many stakeholders had expected WAEC to have fixed the problem after last year’s experience.

A parent in Lekki said the delays were affecting the welfare of the students and raising concerns about examination management.

“My child got home about 10 p.m. on Wednesday. We thought lessons would have been learned from last year’s experience but the same issues are happening again,” said the parent.

WAEC Official Confirms Problems
A WAEC official who was not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed the council was aware of the challenges.

“Yeah, we’re aware of a few hiccups that have come up unexpectedly. ‘We are doing everything we can to solve the problems, and hopefully things will be back to normal soon,’ the official said.

As at the time of filing this report, WAEC was yet to issue an official public statement on the delays.

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If professors’ pay are not fully implemented in accordance with the 2025 agreement by the end of March, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to take legal action.

In an interview with TheCable, ASUU President Prof. Christopher Piwuna issued the warning, stating that the union demands full payment of wages, including all agreed-upon allowances, by the end of the month.

Piwuna confirmed that, contrary to popular belief, the union did not issue a four-day ultimatum.

He claimed that ASUU just cited the remaining days of March as a fair time frame for the government to abide by the terms of the agreement.

He pointed out that before taking any industrial action, the union adheres to established protocols.

The president of ASUU clarified that while certain salary changes had been reported by academics since January, the agreement’s implementation was yet unfinished.

He claimed that payments to federal institutions had not yet properly reflected a number of the agreement’s provisions.

He claims that the gaps especially impact visiting and sabbatical lecturers, many of whom are not fully compensated because of financial limitations at host universities.

Piwuna further revealed that important components that were supposed to be included in salaries, including the Earned Academic Allowances, had not been paid in full.

The union is demanding complete adherence to the December 2025 deal with the Federal Government.

The deal includes increased welfare benefits for academic workers, an improved compensation structure, and a 40% increase in allowances.

Piwuna also attributed the financial difficulties facing universities on the national budget’s passage delays.

In advance of the federal elections in 2027, he charged that the administration was turning its focus to political activity.

He declared, “We are sick of waiting. The full implementation of the 2025 agreement is in our own best interests.”

The head of ASUU stated that in addition to salaries, the agreement calls for the creation of a National Research Council, better benchmarks for education spending, and a N30 billion stabilization fund that will be distributed over three years to help universities with their financial deficiencies.

He bemoaned the poor progress made on these promises, though.

He claims that there is little proof that the government is taking decisive action to achieve predetermined goals, such as gradually raising education spending to 25% of the national budget.

Piwuna cautioned that if the government does not carry out the deal completely, ASUU will not think twice about taking action.

“The union will respond in accordance with its established procedures if the government fails to ensure full payment of salaries and implementation of the agreement by the end of March,” he declared.

The post ASUU Threatens Industrial Action Over Incomplete Salary Implementation appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Federal Government has been cautioned by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to start paying professors under the recently agreed compensation structure right away or face a statewide strike.

On Thursday, the union established a deadline of four days. According to ASUU President Christopher Piwuna, the union will take drastic action that could result in the closure of public colleges nationwide if nothing is done within that time frame.

Piwuna said that the government must start paying the new salary right away while speaking at Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State.

“We have given the federal government four days from today to start paying the newly approved salary structure. The union will take harsh action if you don’t cooperate,” he stated.

He emphasized that the union demands swift action and cautioned that failure to comply will result in a forceful reaction.

A few months after ASUU and the federal government came to a new deal in January, this warning was sent.

The agreement was meant to address long-standing problems and put an end to the frequent strikes that have plagued Nigeria’s higher education sector for many years.

A new pay structure intended to enhance the welfare of professors and solve issues related to the 2009 agreement between ASUU and the government, which was never completely implemented, is a crucial component of the accord.

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