Education

Act now to avert strike, ASUU warns education minister, presidency

Published

11 months ago

August 9, 2025

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Saturday warned the Federal Government to act immediately to prevent a looming strike across government-owned universities.

ASUU said the government had pushed it to the wall in a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna.

In the statement, ASUU noted that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, recently declared that “not again ever in this country will ASUU or tertiary institutions, trade unions, teachers, lecturers go on strike.”

According to the union, Alausa predicated his declaration on the government’s strategy of “dialogue, maintaining a good relationship with union heads (leaders), and meeting the demands of the unions.”

While ASUU said it shared the minister’s optimism about dialogue and maintaining relationships, the union, however, said the government needed to go beyond words and act on outstanding issues.

“Feelers across campuses indicate that lecturers in Nigerian public universities are, to put it mildly, not happy. They teach students on empty stomachs.

“They conduct research in libraries and laboratories bereft of essential electronic and physical journals, books, chemicals, and reagents.

“They engage with communities and agencies in rickety cars while encumbered by utility bills, children’s fees, house rents, family upkeep, and a legion of other unmet responsibilities.

“Yet, elite Nigerians are quick to blame the universities for ‘producing unemployable graduates’ and failure to initiate innovative research for addressing the country’s problems.

“Our members feel forgotten, shamed, and demoralised by past and present governments,” it said.

ASUU said it had ceaselessly warned owners (government and visitors) of public universities — the Federal and State Governments — of the consequences of breeding a disempowered, dissatisfied, and disoriented intellectual workforce.

“At the centre of the union’s advocacy is respect for collective bargaining principles as enshrined in the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 98 of 1949 and Convention No. 154 of 1981.

“The flip-flop disposition of successive governments towards collective bargaining has created an atmosphere of distrust which will take extra effort and energy on the part of the current Federal Government to dispel.

“Nothing illustrates this antipathy better than the frustrated attempts to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, despite the submission of a draft agreement by the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed committee to the government since December 2024, eight clear months ago!

“Every major dispute ASUU has had with governments since 2012, when the 2009 Agreement was due for renegotiation, emanated from failure to respect the provisions of the signed document on (i) conditions of service; (ii) funding; (iii) university autonomy and academic freedom; and (iv) other matters, including the review of the laws governing the National Universities Commission and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

“Agents of government at the state and federal levels have characteristically thrown the underlying principles of the agreement overboard and resorted to platitudes and tokenism. They pick and choose what aspect(s) of the package to ‘renegotiate’ and implement. They discountenance the morale of intellectual workers and basic requirements for delivering on their mandate of teaching, research, and (community) service.

“And now, we hear of attracting academics who were forced into seeking better work environments elsewhere as ‘volunteers’ with the ‘Diaspora Bridge’! On what foundation will the bridge stand? Does this not amount to hypocrisy? Nigerian governments have distracted and deceived university lecturers for too long. They push academics to the point of a strike and turn around to withhold their salaries.

“Our union is also gravely concerned by decisions of some governing councils at the federal and state universities. Universities that are built on merit and scholarship are being turned into commodities for politicians and contractors in the appointment of Vice Chancellors,” it said.

ASUU condemned the attempt to bring back the Acting Vice Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, “despite clear evidence that her promotion to the rank of Reader and Professor was fraught with a lot of contradictions.”

It said similar things are unfolding in federal universities.

“For the umpteenth time, ASUU invites all genuine patriots to prevail on Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments to address all lingering labour issues in the Nigerian University System to avert another looming industrial crisis. Nigerian academics are tired of governments’ excuses,” the union said.

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Education

16-year-old girl emerges Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant

Published

36 minutes ago

June 29, 2026

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The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has congratulated Osasere Okundaye on emerging as Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant at the age of 16.

In a statement on Monday, Olawande described the feat as a remarkable demonstration of hard work, discipline, resilience and commitment to excellence.

“I heartily congratulate Miss Osasere Okundaye on her outstanding achievement of becoming Nigeria’s youngest Chartered Accountant at just 16 years of age.

“This remarkable milestone is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” the minister said.

He noted that Okundaye had become a shining example of the limitless potential of Nigerian youths, saying her achievement should inspire others to pursue excellence.

“Osasere has distinguished herself as a shining example of the limitless potential of Nigerian youth. Her accomplishment reminds us that with determination, dedication, and the right support, young Nigerians can break barriers, set new records, and inspire a generation to dream bigger and strive for excellence,” he added.

The minister also congratulated her parents, family, teachers and mentors for supporting her journey.

“I also congratulate her parents, family, teachers, mentors, and everyone who has supported and guided her journey. Their encouragement, sacrifices, and belief in her abilities have undoubtedly contributed to this exceptional success,” he said.

Olawande reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians through programmes and policies aimed at helping them realise their potential.

“Osasere’s achievement reinforces our confidence that the future of Nigeria is bright in the hands of focused, determined, and talented young citizens,” he said.

He wished the teenager greater success in the years ahead, expressing hope that her story would inspire millions of young Nigerians.

Okundaye earned the feat after qualifying as a chartered accountant through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, becoming the youngest person to achieve the professional qualification in the country.

Her achievement surpasses the previous record set in 2022 by Jonathan Adewale, who became Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant at the age of 17 after completing the rigorous ICAN professional examinations.

The qualification, which is typically obtained by graduates and professionals after years of study and examinations, has been widely regarded as one of the country’s most demanding professional certifications.

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Education

Suspended FUOYE SUG president reinstated — NANS

Published

4 days ago

June 25, 2026

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The National Association of Nigerian Students has announced the reinstatement of the suspended Students’ Union Government President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) , James Adio.

NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, disclosed this in a post on X on Wednesday, after it disclosed that university’s Senate would consider Adio’s suspension following what it described as high-level engagement with the institution’s management.

“Finally, Comrade Adio, the FUOYE SUG President, has been officially reinstated,” Babatunde wrote.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that NANS said it secured the reinstatement of some previously suspended students after discussions with the university authorities.

According to the student body, the intervention followed sustained talks with the management over disciplinary actions taken against some students.

Babatunde had said, “The University Senate will convene on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, to give Comrade James Adio fair consideration and the necessary support that will serve both the interest of justice and his academic pursuits going forward.”

He also stated that the affected students had been reinstated and allowed to sit for their examinations.

Adio was earlier suspended alongside two other students over alleged financial irregularities linked to practical fees, a decision that sparked criticism from NANS.

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Education

JAMB axes affiliated degree courses in colleges of education; read details

Published

1 week ago

June 22, 2026

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has formally ended admissions into affiliated degree programmes run by colleges of education, marking a major shift in Nigeria’s teacher education system and effectively making the Nigeria Certificate in Education the sole entry route into the institutions from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The decision is contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Office of the Registrar in June 2026.

Under the new policy, the board declared that “no admission into any affiliated programme in any college of education from the 2026/2027 session.”

JAMB also ruled out direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in colleges of education, insisting that all fresh entrants must now come through the NCE programme.

“With effect from 2026/7 session, no admission into 100 or 200 Level is allowed into any college of education. All entrants are through NCE,” the board stated.

The development signals the end of an era for affiliated degree programmes, which for decades enabled colleges of education to award university degrees through partnerships with conventional universities.

The reform is expected to affect thousands of candidates who applied for degree programmes through affiliated colleges of education for the 2026 admission cycle.

To cushion the impact, JAMB outlined options for candidates who had already selected affiliated colleges of education for degree programmes through Direct Entry.

According to the board, affected candidates may apply for a change of institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated, or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice for admission processing.

“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated,” the board said.

JAMB added that candidates wishing to switch institutions had been given up to June 22 to complete the process.

Similarly, candidates seeking 100-level admission into affiliated colleges of education through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination have been presented with three options: change institution, elevate their second-choice institution to first choice, or migrate to the NCE programme.

The board said candidates who opted for the NCE route would be required to obtain an O-Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay only N700 as registration fee on the JAMB portal.

“The candidate may be moved to the NCE programme of the institution, on the understanding that the choice of the college of education indicates an interest in pursuing the NCE qualification,” JAMB explained.

The guidelines further stipulate that every application for NCE admission is a deliberate choice and that candidates recommended for NCE admission would have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

“Anyone who chooses NCE and s/he is proposed/recommended would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,” the board stated.

For candidates who have already applied through the 2026 UTME mode, JAMB said their details would be automatically migrated to their chosen first-choice college of education or agric-related non-technology ND programmes.

The board also introduced mandatory O-Level verification for all NCE applicants, pegging the verification fee at N1,500 for one sitting and N2,000 for two sittings.

JAMB urged colleges of education, institutional professional registration centres, accredited CBT centres and its officials across the country to study the new guidelines and ensure strict compliance.

“All PRCs, IPRCs and officers of the board are to study the guidelines and ensure strict compliance with the information contained therein,” the Registrar stated.

Affiliated degree programmes have long served as a pathway for colleges of education to offer Bachelor’s degrees in partnership with universities, allowing students to earn university degrees while studying in the colleges.

However, the new JAMB policy effectively ends that arrangement for new admissions from the 2026/2027 academic session, reinforcing the NCE as the foundational qualification for teacher education in Nigeria.

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