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SSANU, NASU issue strike notice over unpaid allowances

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The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions have given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum over unresolved welfare issues, warning of a looming nationwide strike.

In a joint letter signed by SSANU President, Muhammed Ibrahim, the unions decried the “unjust disbursement of the earned allowances to staff of universities, non-payment of outstanding allowances, among others.”

Ibrahim recalled that the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU had, in a letter dated June 18, 2025, drawn the attention of the government to unresolved labour matters. That letter, he noted, led to a meeting with the Minister on July 4, 2025.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the issues raised in the letter centred on: unjust disbursement of N50bn earned allowances; non-payment of outstanding withheld salaries and 25/35 per cent salary increments; and renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/NASU/SSANU agreements,” the unions stated.

They recalled that at the July 4 meeting, a resolution was reached to set up a Tripartite Committee of the Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission and JAC to address the “skewed distribution of the N50 billion earned allowances in which our members in the universities were shortchanged, while those in the Inter-University Centres were completely shut out of the distribution.”

The unions added: “While there was no conclusion at the 4th July, 2025 meeting on the issue of payment of two months’ outstanding withheld salaries owed our members, you pledged to set machinery in motion to expedite action on the issue of arrears of 25/35 per cent salary increments owed our members.”

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They further lamented that despite a reminder letter dated August 18, 2025, nothing had been done.

On the delayed renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, the unions said: “It is on record that Alhaji Yayale Ahmed-led Renegotiation Committee inaugurated on 15th October, 2024 to review the 2009 agreements with the university-based unions only had inaugural meeting with JAC of NASU and SSANU on 10th December, 2024. Since then, the Federal Government team has gone into limbo with the non-teaching staff unions, whereas information at our disposal confirmed that the same Federal Government team has already concluded renegotiation with our counterpart, the Academic Staff Union, and at the verge of signing an agreement, while the Federal Government team has refused to engage the non-teaching staff unions and even sidelined us despite fulfilling all justifications including re-submission of our Memoranda of Demands.”

The unions accused the government of failing to act despite repeated reminders.

“In light of the persistent unresolved issues, and the apparent lack of responsiveness from the government to our legitimate concerns, we are compelled to serve a formal notice of seven days effective from Monday, 15th September, 2025 to address our agitations, failing which members of NASU and SSANU would embark on a series of legitimate industrial actions including strikes to press home our demands,” the letter read.

Last week, SSANU President Ibrahim warned of a crippling action if demands were ignored.

“Ours will not be the ‘mother of all strikes,’ it will be the grandfather of all strikes, because when SSANU or NASU strikes, you know what it means. We must take our destinies in our hands,” he said.

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He lamented the plight of workers, saying: “The conditions of service of university workers are the worst hit financially, economically and psychologically.”

Like the Academic Staff Union of Universities, SSANU and NASU have also been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over welfare and conditions of service.

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Education

New Lagos varsity, FUSTECH gets NUC approval for 34 courses

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The National Universities Commission has approved 34 undergraduate programmes for the newly established Federal University of Science and Technology (FUSTECH), Epe, Lagos State.

The approval, conveyed in a letter dated October 23, 2026 and signed on behalf of the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, followed a resource verification exercise conducted by panels of experts to assess the human and material resources available for the proposed programmes.

According to a statement made available to The PUNCH, on Monday, the approved programmes will be offered on a full-time basis at the university’s take-off campuses, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The statement read, “The NUC approved an admission quota of 50 students for each programme, bringing the total approved quota to 1,700 students across the 34 programmes.

“The NUC stated that the approval covers only full-time programmes, and proposed part-time mode of delivery would require a separate request to the commission for further processing.”

FUSTECH presently operates by sharing some of the facilities and infrastructure at the Epe campus of the Lagos State University.

The LASU management had in August explained that the arrangement with FUSTECH was on an interim basis to support the smooth takeoff of the new university and was in the spirit of collaboration and partnership.

LASU and FUSTECH had noted that the arrangement would continue temporarily pending FUSTECH’s relocation to its permanent site.

The approved programmes for FUSTECH are spread across five faculties: Computing and Informatics; Engineering; Allied Health Sciences; Management Sciences and Technology; and Science.

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Under the Faculty of Computing and Informatics, the approved programmes are Computer Science, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Information Communication Technology, and Software Engineering.

The Faculty of Engineering received approval to offer Geomatics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

For the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, the approved programmes are Prosthetics and Orthotics, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, Health Information Management, Nursing Science, and Public Health.

The Faculty of Management Sciences and Technology will offer Business Information Technology, Entrepreneurship, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Transportation Management.

The approved programmes under the Faculty of Science are Biotechnology, Forensic Science, Environmental Management and Toxicology, Marine Science, Medicinal Chemistry, Medical Physics, and Nuclear Science.

Established in November 2025, the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe, is among Nigeria’s newly established federal universities.

Following the approval, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kazeem Oshikoya, expressed the university’s readiness to begin its inaugural admission process.

Source: punchng.com

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PHOTOS: 26-year-old Nigerian Masters student awaiting graduation dies after suffering asthma attack in UK

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A 26-year-old Nigerian student who was preparing to celebrate his birthday suddenly passed away in London, United Kingdom after suffering an asthma attack while his friends helplessly watched on.

Obanyeli Jesse Chima had recently finished his studies and was set to celebrate his birthday with his friends, MyLondon reported on October 2026.

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, Chima was meeting up with his friend Eva and her partner to celebrate their birthdays together.

As he was waiting in the lounge, Chima told his friend he needed to go outside for some air because he was having an asthma attack.

His friend called an ambulance, yet while his friend was on the phone with the operator, he collapsed.

As he was waiting in the lounge, Chima told his friend he needed to go outside for some air because he was having an asthma attack.

Eva told MyLondon: “Our friend started CPR after being guided by the ambulance operators. Multiple ambulances came, and they spent around two hours working on him to stabilise his heart. They finally got him to the hospital and told us he’s on life support. They said he might only have memory loss, but he will be fine.”

“Two days later, they said he’s not getting better. There was no improvement. They eventually did a brain test on him and confirmed that he was brain-dead. On September 25, we lost him. It’s horrible because we were just laughing, and four days later, we had to see his lifeless body.

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“The weekend he suffered was the only weekend we all had free – all our birthdays are in September. He, my partner, and I all have our birthdays one day after another. That weekend was our chance to hang out, but instead we ended up at the hospital.”

Chima had only recently completed his master’s degree in Public Health and was awaiting graduation.

“His family had saved money for his graduation, and now that money needs to be used to bury their child. It’s horrible”, Eva continued.

Chima and Eva became friends because they had both left Nigeria to study in London.

Chima had worked at Chelsea Football Club, the team he supported, and Eva described him as a ‘beloved and cherished friend who was the life of the party.”

Friends are now trying to raise enough money to transport his body to Nigeria do his family can finally lay him to rest.

A GoFundMe account was set up by Eva, to raise £9,000 for repatriating his body to Nigeria.

“Our £9,000 target will help cover the necessary arrangements and transportation to return Jesses body to Nigeria for burial. The money raise will be given to Jesse’s father to help pay for these arrangements,” the statement partly read.

“Your contribution will bring us closer to bring Jesse home and ease the financial burden on his family.”

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So-Safe Corps busts students’ hideout, intercepts seven during school hours

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The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, So-Safe Corps, has intercepted seven students during a routine patrol in Obantoko, Abeokuta.

The students, five females of Nawairudeen Secondary School, Obantoko, and two males said to be school dropouts, were found in a room within Agogo Ide Community Development Association, CDA, area.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Corps’ Director of Information and Public Relations, ACC Adegunwa Adegbuyi, on behalf of the State Commander, Commander (Dr) Soji Ganzallo on Saturday.

Adegbuyi said the incident occurred on Thursday, at about 10:00 a.m., when a team of operatives from the Area Command led by ACC Babatunde Ogunseye encountered the seven individuals during patrol.

According to him, the five female students (name withheld) are in SS2 while the two male students had reportedly dropped out of school.

Following the encounter, all seven were taken to the school principal for appropriate attention and further action.

The principal, who appreciated the Corps for its vigilance, assembled the students before their schoolmates and asked the Area Commander to address them on discipline and responsible conduct.

Addressing the students, Ogunseye counselled them to remain focused on their studies, uphold good moral values and shun activities that could jeopardise their future.

He particularly warned them against loitering around Agogo Ide CDA and other locations that could expose them to security risks or inappropriate conduct during school hours.

He emphasized the importance of parental guidance, school discipline and community cooperation in protecting young people.

The State Commander reaffirmed the commitment of the Corps to community safety, youth protection and crime prevention, and urged parents, guardians, school authorities and community leaders to work together to guide young people towards responsible behaviour.

 

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