Nation
…Withdraws From ASUU Negotiation
The Federal Government negotiating team on Monday announced its official withdrawal from the re-negotiation with the Academic Staff Union of Univerisities (ASUU).
Disclosing the resolve of the team to withdraw from further talks with ASUU, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode said until the union suspends its current strike, it would not continue because of lack of enabling environment for governing councils to continue the negotiation with their employees.
Onosode said ASUU as well as other inions have written officially to reject the 40 per cent offer from government.
However, Daily Champion gathered that the July salary of the striking university lecturers was withheld in line with the ‘No Work, No Pay’ by government and that the same fate will befall the August salary unless they call off the strike.
While ASUU confirmed that government had wielded the big slick, a government source said it was legal and part of the labour-law, adding that ASUU cannot eat its cake and have it.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, chairman of the government re-negotiating team, Deacon Onosode said “based on the authoritive information, my principal, the Federal Government, had taken a final position on the salaries of staff of Federal Universities.
“You will also recall that an invitation was extended to the unions to enable the committee to convey the Federal Government position to them on July 10, 2009. the unions, including ASUU, have officially reacted in writing, rejecting the offer.
“In the desire of Government to resolve outstanding issues with particular reference to the grey areas in the proposed Draft Agreement, Government held a meeting with ASUU. At that meeting of July 29, 2009, the Re-Negotiation committee was advised to reconvene and resolve all such issues. In line with this position, the FGN/ASUU at the meeting of August 3, 2009 constituted a sub-committee to review and resolve all such grey areas.
“At the point of presentation of the Sub-committee Report on August 10, 2009, ASUU detoured and refused the presentation, insisting on my mandate to sign an agreement after the proposed draft document will have been vetted and not at the level of individual Federal University Councils, the true employers of federal university staff.
“The Government Team endeavoured to facilitate the conclusion of these negotiations at the strictly employer-employee level. Unfortunately, that effort has been stalled by the current strike. We, therefore, cannot get to the point where the councils can receive the documents and speedily conclude the negotiations for implementation. Consequently, the Government Team is not in a position to continue further negotiations with the unions until it suspends its strike to provide an enabling environment for them.
“Finally, I join all well-meaning Nigerians in appealing to the Unions to, at least, suspend the on going strike in order to create an enabling environment for the facilitation of the conclusion of the Re-negoliations.
“”However, the Governing Councils of Federal Universities have been advised to recall their staff who are on strike and provide an enabling environment for teaching, research and community services for those who are willing to work,” Onosode said.
It would be recalled that ASUU had on Sunday, after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Makurdi, Benue State, decided to continue the strike until government signs the agreement to its satisfaction.
ASUU had in its statement read in Makurdi accused government team of playing politics with the future of Nigerian youths by flouting the directives given by the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan for both team to resolve the contentious issues within two weeks,.
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.