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ASUU Reveals 84 Lecturers Died Due To Unpaid Salaries

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that 84 of its members tragically passed away between May and August 2024 due to economic hardships, worsened by unpaid salaries and the increasing cost of living.

This alarming statistic was shared by the union’s president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, during an interview on Channels Television’s program Inside Sources with Laolu Akande.

Professor Osodeke expressed deep concern over the deaths, attributing them to the severe challenges faced by university lecturers across the country.

“In just three months, from May to August, Nigerian universities lost 84 academics.

These deaths are directly linked to the suffering our members are enduring,” he said.

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He further criticized the government’s failure to pay lecturers their due salaries under the controversial ‘no-work, no-pay’ policy, which was implemented following the 2022 strike action.

Despite the hardships, many lecturers are still struggling with unpaid salaries, making survival difficult as the cost of living continues to rise.

The ASUU president highlighted the additional burden caused by recent economic policies, such as the fuel price hike and increased electricity tariffs, which have made life even more difficult for academic staff.

“You’re withholding over three months of salaries, and in the same breath, you’ve increased fuel and electricity costs. How are people supposed to cope?” he lamented.

Professor Osodeke emphasized that for Nigerian universities to perform at their best, the government must provide better funding and improve the working conditions of lecturers.

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He disclosed that despite his 15 years of service as a professor, his monthly salary is just N420,000, an amount he believes is grossly inadequate for academic staff who are expected to compete with their counterparts globally.

“How can we expect Nigerian lecturers to compete on a global stage when they are not well-paid?” he questioned.

ASUU has been locked in a long-standing dispute with the Federal Government over issues such as improved funding for universities and the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement.

On September 25, 2024, the union issued a 14-day ultimatum, urging the government to resolve these matters, including the release of withheld salaries from the 2022 industrial action.

In 2022, Nigerian universities were shut down for eight months as both academic and non-academic unions went on strike, demanding better welfare packages and improved working conditions.

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In response, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari implemented a ‘no-work, no-pay’ policy, freezing lecturers’ salaries during the strike period.

However, in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the release of four out of the eight months’ withheld salaries, a gesture that has done little to quell ASUU’s demands for full compensation.

The union continues to push for more substantial reforms to prevent further loss of lives and to ensure that Nigerian academics can thrive in a more supportive and fair working environment.


 

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Tinubu Welcomes Ademola Adeleke and Davido to His Home in Lagos

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hosted Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for a private meeting at his Lagos residence on Monday. The governor was joined by his older brother, prominent businessman Chief Adedeji Adeleke, and his son, the internationally popular Afrobeats star David Adeleke, better known as Davido.

The visit was confirmed by President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who shared the news on X the following day. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, accompanied by Chief Adedeji Adeleke and Afrobeats superstar Davido, at his Lagos home,” Olusegun posted.

So far, no details have been shared about the purpose of the meeting, and neither the Presidency nor the Adeleke family has made an official statement. Photos from the gathering have appeared online, offering a rare glimpse into the private talks between the President and the Adeleke family.


 

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Omokri Urges Tinubu to Focus on Nigeria’s Progress not Peter Obi’s Negativity

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Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has shared his advice on how President Bola Tinubu should handle Peter Obi and the Obidient Movement. Omokri suggests that instead of engaging with their negativity, Tinubu’s government should focus on highlighting its achievements and ongoing projects to outshine the critics.

Writing on X, Omokri emphasized the visible progress happening across Nigeria, especially in Abuja and Lagos. He pointed to major infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is being built simultaneously from both ends, as well as the reconstruction of the Ile-Ife to Sokoto-Badagry Expressway and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

“There’s development happening everywhere,” Omokri said. “The government should use every platform—TV, radio, print, social media—to showcase these efforts.” He also took a swipe at Obi’s supporters, saying, “While they praise leaders like Traoré, who hasn’t even reached the level of a local council chairman in Lagos, they criticize Nigeria harshly. Just the Third Mainland Bridge alone is worth half of Burkina Faso’s GDP.”

Omokri concluded by suggesting that if Obidients have nothing positive to say about Nigeria, perhaps they should consider moving to Burkina Faso.


 

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Atiku says 2027 Election Will Show if Nigerians Approve Tinubu’s Leadership

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 elections will be a clear judgment on President Bola Tinubu’s time in office, calling it a referendum on his leadership. Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, made this known on Monday while reacting to claims from the ruling APC, which accused Atiku of trying to rebuild the opposition for selfish reasons and to access public funds.

Ibe dismissed the accusations, saying Atiku’s mission is rooted in the hopes of everyday Nigerians who want a better future. “These people clearly weren’t ready to govern. All they do is play politics,” Ibe said. “They’ve worked hard, not to move Nigeria forward, but to stall any real progress. Their actions go against everything democracy stands for.”

He also criticized the Tinubu administration’s performance, pointing to a major road project where only 30 kilometres have been completed out of a planned 700 in two years. “They threw a party to celebrate just 4% of the project. Can you imagine? The money wasted on that celebration could’ve done more for the road itself,” he said.

Ibe went on to highlight the worsening conditions in Nigeria, noting the country now ranks as the poverty capital of the world and leads Africa in child malnutrition. He defended Atiku’s record, saying the former VP’s work is inspired by the people, not personal ambition.

“Atiku built his name and businesses long before 1999. He has created jobs, invested his own money in his political journey, and never relied on state funds,” he added. He urged the APC to focus on fixing the country rather than constantly watching Atiku, adding that in 2027, it will be Tinubu against the rest of the nation.

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