News
ASUU Threatens Strike with 14-Day Deadline for Government Action
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has delivered a stern 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, signaling a potential strike action rooted in unresolved grievances that span more than a decade.
In a statement released by Namo Timothy Aku, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, ASUU warned that failure to meet their demands could plunge public universities into another shutdown.
This ultimatum follows a history of strained relations between ASUU and the Federal Government, dating back to the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.
The agreement, meant to address the revitalization of public universities, better funding, and the welfare of academic staff, has remained largely unimplemented, leading to recurrent industrial actions.
Research shows that since 2009, ASUU has embarked on multiple strikes, protesting unmet promises on the same issues: unpaid salaries, university autonomy, and infrastructural development.
The current 14-day ultimatum comes after a 21-day deadline that expired on September 14, 2024, with no meaningful response from the government.
Among the unresolved matters are the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, the release of unpaid salaries for academic staff, funding for university revitalization, and the replacement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
ASUU’s statement draws attention to a 2023 Presidential directive and a court order mandating the exit of universities from IPPIS, which have yet to be enforced.
Furthermore, the union pointed out that despite increased revenue from the removal of oil subsidies and the naira’s devaluation, the government has failed to prioritize education.
Citing past experiences, ASUU argues that the Federal Government’s “time-buying tactics” and reluctance to allocate adequate funds continue to undermine the quality of education in Nigeria.
The union maintains that it has made repeated efforts to engage the government constructively, but the lack of political will and commitment has fueled growing frustration within the academic community.
As ASUU sets another deadline—this time for October 7, 2024—the public awaits the government’s response.
The union made it clear that it should not be blamed for any disruption to academic activities after the ultimatum expires.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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