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NANS vows critical assets shutdown over ASUU strike threat

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The National Association of Nigerian Students has threatened to shut down critical infrastructure nationwide if the Federal Government fails to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which has again warned of a possible nationwide strike.

NANS Assistant General Secretary, Emmanuel Adejuwon, in an interview expressed deep concern over ASUU’s latest threat, vowing that the union would “mobilise Nigerian students for massive nationwide protests that will shut down roads, airports, government offices, and critical infrastructure.”

“Let it be on record: if this strike is not averted, we will bring the country to a standstill until the future of Nigerian students is secured. The time for games is over. The Federal Government must act now. ASUU must act responsibly. And Nigerian students will not sit idle while our future is wasted,” the NANS leader said.

Adejuwon stressed that only the children of the masses are negatively impacted by ASUU strike, saying, “This strike must not be allowed to happen.”

“It is obvious that strike actions only inflict pain and suffering on the children of ordinary Nigerians, the masses who struggle day and night to keep their children in school. The politicians and government officials whose failures created this crisis are not affected; their children are comfortably schooling abroad or in expensive private universities. If the children of these politicians were in our public institutions, this issue would have been resolved immediately.”

He accused the Federal Government of endless promises and insincerity, saying students had grown weary of “being victims of leadership irresponsibility.”

“We demand that the Federal Government, without delay, meet its obligations to ASUU and resolve all outstanding issues. Enough of the endless promises, excuses, and insincerity. Nigerian students are tired of being victims of leadership irresponsibility,” he declared.

See also  ASUU - Hold FG responsible for varsity shutdown

While demanding government action, Adejuwon also called on ASUU to rethink its tactics.

“At the same time, we call on ASUU leadership to reconsider the weaponisation of strike as the only tool of engagement. Every strike action destroys our academic calendar, elongates our years in school, and diminishes the quality of our education. The lecturers must understand that their struggle, no matter how just, should not become a weapon against the same students they claim to fight for,” he said.

ASUU presses demands

Meanwhile, ASUU branches across the country, on Monday, stressed their demands, threatening that another strike was imminent if the Federal Government failed to act.

In Ibadan, ASUU’s Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Biodun Olaniran, speaking at a news conference on Monday, urged the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Yayale Ahmed report submitted in February to avert another strike.

He said the report captured all contentious issues between the union and government and represented a consensus after years of negotiations, but had been left unimplemented.

“The true test of government’s sincerity lies in how it handles the Yayale Ahmed report,” Olaniran said. “Our members are frustrated with delay tactics and are no longer willing to be dragged along endlessly. Implementing this report is the surest way to restore confidence and industrial peace.”

Olaniran listed concerns including the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement on sustainable funding of universities, victimisation of union members in LASU, KSU and FUTO, outstanding 25–35 per cent salary awards, unpaid third-party deductions, and over four years of unpaid promotion arrears.

He faulted the continued use of the IPPIS platform for payment of members, which the union had long rejected, and lamented the non-payment of earned academic allowances.

“Many of our members cannot provide education for their wards and have turned to borrowing to meet obligations,” he said. “Poor funding, withheld salaries, non-payment of promotion arrears, and failure to mainstream earned academic allowances have worsened our plight and contributed to brain drain.”

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On autonomy, Olaniran decried “the persistent erosion of university autonomy by the government with alarming impunity.”

“ASUU has strongly opposed the unlawful dissolution of Governing Councils in public universities, even where no misconduct has been reported and the councils had not completed their statutory tenure,” he added.

Chairpersons of ASUU branches from UI, UNILORIN, LAUTECH, UNIOSUN, KWASU and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education attended the briefing.

Also in Abuja, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Al-Amin Abdullahi, reiterated the union’s demand for the implementation of the 2009 Agreement and the release of three and a half months of withheld salaries.

“There is a crisis affecting universities in Nigeria, and it is not just a problem for ASUU; it is a problem for the entire country,” Abdullahi said. “The purposeful mortgage of a nation’s future and the endangerment of generations yet to be born is the result of a nation’s disregard of education.”

He listed the union’s demands to include payment of promotion arrears, release of third-party deductions, one year arrears of the 25/35 per cent salary award, and adoption of UTAS as the university payment system.

“It is impossible for a nation to advance beyond the standard of its university system. Yet successive governments have systematically underfunded universities, leaving overcrowded classrooms, inadequately equipped laboratories, and inhabitable hostels. This neglect has created unconducive learning environments and a decline in global ranking of Nigerian universities,” Abdullahi warned.

He said that in line with UNESCO’s convention, both federal and state governments must prioritise education through increased annual budgetary allocations.

In Uyo, the Calabar Zone of ASUU rejected the recently launched Tertiary Institution Staff Loan Scheme, describing it as “an insult to the sensibilities of tertiary workers and the height of mockery of the Nigerian university system.”

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Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Ikechukwu Igwenyi of Ebonyi State University, said the government was using the scheme as a distraction from its failure to implement a new salary structure and honour agreements.

“It insults our sensibilities that a government that pays its workforce with an outdated salary structure adopted 17 years ago will refuse to renegotiate the same salary since 2012, refuse to pay third-party deductions for almost a year, and refuse to pay arrears of promotion—yet it comes up with an impossible and slavish loan in a depressed economy,” Igwenyi said.

He accused government of “puerile duplicity and infantile cunning,” dragging the union and public into believing in dialogues whose outcomes were never implemented.

“How can government owe its workforce and turn around to offer impoverished workers an impossible loan scheme? How can it impose loan recovery on staff unions as guarantors, as if we are employers of tertiary workers?” he asked.

“We therefore make bold to reject the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Loan and everything it represents because it has been described as a poison chalice.”

Igwenyi warned that the union’s planned meeting with the Federal Government on August 28, 2025, would be its last. “We cannot continue to spend our meagre resources attending meetings whose outcomes are not predictable,” he said.

With frustration building among both lecturers and students, ASUU and NANS have set the August 28 meeting as a decisive moment for government to act.

For NANS’ Adejuwon, the message is clear: “The time for games is over. The Federal Government must act now. ASUU must act responsibly. And Nigerian students will not sit idle while our future is wasted.”

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Education

Kwara gov boosts Islamic education, research with ₦180m grant

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October 12, 2026

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Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has donated N180m to support Islamic education, research and academic development as Az-Zumratul Adabiyyah School of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin, marked its centenary.

The donation, announced at the institution’s 100th anniversary celebration on Sunday, comprised contributions to Ansarul Islam Society, the founding body of Muhammed Kamaldeen University, Ilorin, support for the university and scholarship grants for 30 students.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, AbdulRazaq Jiddah, said the donations were intended to support the institution and advance educational development.

Providing a breakdown of the donation in a Facebook post, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Communications, Ibraheem Abdullateef, said AbdulRazaq donated N50m to Ansarul Islam Society in his capacity as the Sardauna of Ilorin.

According to Abdullateef, the governor made another N50m donation on behalf of the AbdulRazaq family.

The governor also announced a N50m contribution by the Kwara State Government to Muhammed Kamaldeen University, Ilorin, to support research and educational advancement.

Abdullateef said, “In a similar vein, he noted that the Kwara State Government would also donate the sum of N50m to Muhammed Kamaldeen University (MKU), Ilorin, as a form of support to strengthen research and educational advancement in the institution.

“On top of it, AbdulRazaq directed the university to compile names of 30 deserving students for scholarship, with each getting N1m grant each to inspire and support their academic journey.”

The scholarship grants amount to N30m, bringing the total announced donations to N180m.

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In his congratulatory message to the Adabiyyah family worldwide, AbdulRazaq described the centenary as a significant milestone in the institution’s history.

The governor congratulated the founders, successive administrators, teachers, students, alumni, supporters and other members of the community associated with the institution.

“One hundred years is a remarkable milestone in the life of any institution. For Az-Zumratul Adabiyyah, it has been a century of commitment, sacrifice, scholarship, discipline, and service to humanity. On behalf of the government and people of Kwara State, I congratulate the founders, successive administrators, teachers, students, alumni, supporters, and the entire community associated with this historic institution. I commend all those whose dedication has sustained its mission through changing times and generations,” AbdulRazaq said.

The governor urged the institution’s management and alumni network to use the centenary celebration to develop a clear plan for its next phase of growth. “I encourage the management of Az-Zumratul Adabiyyah and its alumni network to use this important occasion to develop a clear plan for the institution’s next phase of growth,” he said.

AbdulRazaq also identified areas he considered important to the institution’s future development, including curriculum improvement, teacher training and digital learning. “While they continue to prioritise curriculum development, teacher training, digital learning, improved libraries, research, and partnerships with other reputable educational institutions,” he said.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to education, the governor said the state government would continue to work with relevant stakeholders within the limits of its policies and available resources. “Our administration remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders and institutions within the framework of our educational policies and available resources to advance learning, research, and scholarship in the state,” he said.

See also  ASUU - Hold FG responsible for varsity shutdown

Abdullateef stated that the announcement of the donations was greeted with applause and cheers from traditional rulers, clerics, dignitaries and students who attended the centenary celebration

Source: punchng.com

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SEE FULL LIST: OAU, Ghana varsity top 2026 West African University Games medal table

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October 12, 2026

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Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has emerged overall champion of the 15th West African University Games, winning 122 medals, according to the official medal table shared on the Games’ social media handles on Sunday.

The host institution won 33 gold, 50 silver and 39 bronze medals to finish ahead of the University of Ghana, which secured second position with 59 medals, comprising 26 gold, 21 silver and 12 bronze.

Benson Idahosa University finished third with 21 gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals, while the University of Ibadan placed fourth with 17 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals.

The rankings are based on the number of gold medals won, followed by silver and bronze medals where necessary.

Below is the full medal table for the 15th West African University Games, hosted by OAU in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Full WAUG 2026 medal table

2026 WAUG Medal Table

– 1. Obafemi Awolowo University: 33 gold, 50 silver, 39 bronze — 122 medals

– 2. University of Ghana: 26 gold, 21 silver, 12 bronze — 59 medals

– 3. Benson Idahosa University: 21 gold, 10 silver, seven bronze — 38 medals

– 4. University of Ibadan: 17 gold, 12 silver, 13 bronze — 42 medals

– 5. Lagos State University: 10 gold, four silver, three bronze — 17 medals

– 6. Afe Babalola University: nine gold, 14 silver, 19 bronze — 42 medals

– 7. Delta State University, Abraka: seven gold, two silver, two bronze — 11 medals

– 8. University of Ilorin: six gold, four silver, six bronze — 16 medals

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– 9. University of Cape Coast: six gold, one silver, nine bronze — 16 medals

– 10. Nile University of Nigeria: six gold, one silver, two bronze — nine medals

– 11. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology: five gold, four silver, three bronze — 12 medals

– 12. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology: three gold, five silver, six bronze — 14 medals

– 13. Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi: two gold, three silver, five bronze — 10 medals

– 14. University for Development Studies: two gold, two silver, two bronze — six medals

– 15. University of Abuja: one gold, six silver, six bronze — 13 medals

– 16. University of Energy and Natural Resources: one gold, two silver, seven bronze — 10 medals

– 17. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti: one gold, one silver, four bronze — six medals

– 18. Osun State University: no gold, six silver, 10 bronze — 16 medals

– 19. Lead City University: no gold, two silver, one bronze — three medals

– 19. University of Ilesa: no gold, one silver, six bronze — seven medals

– 20. Plateau State University: no gold, one silver, one bronze — two medals

– 21. Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho: no gold, no silver, four bronze — four medals

– 22. Federal University of Technology, Akure: no gold, no silver, three bronze — three medals

OAU describes Games as investment in youth

In a report published on October 5, 2026, on its website, OAU said the opening ceremony brought together 50 universities, with more than 1,500 athletes and officials expected to participate across 18 sports.

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Speaking at the ceremony, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, said, “For OAU, the Games are an investment in the future of our youth.”

WAUG 2026 mascot, Ori-Olokun

He said the university wanted the infrastructure and systems developed for the competition to continue benefiting its community after the Games.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, WAUG President Ibrahim Tanko Shaibu urged athletes to give their best while respecting their opponents and officials.

“Give your best, respect your opponents and officials,” he told the athletes, according to OAU’s October 5 report.

In a separate notice published on October 11, OAU said the closing ceremony would celebrate the achievements of participating athletes and institutions, as well as the spirit of fair play, resilience and friendship during the Games.

The 15th West African University Games were scheduled to run from October 2 to 12 at OAU, Ile-Ife.

Source: punchng.com

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Lagos targets 2,500 medical varsity intake, expands capacity

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3 days ago

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October 9, 2026

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The Lagos State Government is planning to increase the annual student intake of the Lagos State University College of Medicine from about 500 to 2,500 by 2028.

To accommodate the expansion, the government would be repurposing the former CACOVID Centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, as additional teaching space for LASUCOM.

The state added that the move was also in line with its plan to transform LASUCOM into a full-fledged University of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency said the former CACOVID facility was identified as an existing public asset that could be repurposed to provide an interim solution to the space requirements.

The Head of the agency’s Project Management Unit, who represented its General Manager, Yemisi Aderibigbe, said the facility had become under-utilised after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, making it available for conversion to a new public purpose.

She said the state approved the renovation and expansion in December 2024, with PCP Construction Nigeria Limited appointed as the contractor.

Aderibigbe said, “Work began in March 2025 and covered demolition and site works, structural construction, roofing, walling, fittings and finishes, as well as mechanical and electrical installations for the main and ancillary buildings.

“Today, we are therefore formally handing over this facility to the end users, the Ministry of Health and the Lagos State University College of Medicine for optimal use.”

The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, described the project as part of the state’s effort to expand capacity to train health professionals as Nigeria continues to contend with the loss of medical personnel to migration.

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He said the government’s approach was to expand the domestic pipeline of healthcare professionals while also creating conditions that could encourage skilled Nigerians abroad to return.

The Provost of LASUCOM, Olufemi Idowu, and other officials attended the handover.

The repurposed facility is expected to provide additional capacity for teaching and practical training as the college expands its intake.

Source: punchng.com

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