Days after non-academic workers in federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education issued an ultimatum, the Federal Government has announced the release of their eight months’ arrears of the Consolidated Non-Academic Staff Tertiary Institutions Allowance.

The allowance covers January to August 2026.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the release on Wednesday.

The payment, according to the minister, signals the Federal Government’s efforts to address staff welfare concerns across the tertiary education sector and ease tensions that could threaten the stability of the academic calendar.

“The release of CONTA demonstrates the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and recognition of the critical role played by non-academic personnel in keeping tertiary institutions functional,” Alausa said.

He said the payment was part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to address legitimate welfare concerns, promote industrial harmony and minimise disruptions to academic activities nationwide.

“The administration will continue to strengthen institutions responsible for developing Nigeria’s human capital. A stable tertiary education system is essential to the country’s socio-economic development,” he said.

Alausa further gave the assurance that the Federal Ministry of Education would sustain consultations with relevant unions, heads of institutions and other stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues.

He appealed for continued cooperation from academic and non-academic staff, institutional authorities and unions.

The minister said that the education ministry would continue to prioritise staff welfare, institutional stability, human capital development and improved learning outcomes.

“The Federal Government remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to personnel in the tertiary education sector and addressing outstanding welfare issues in line with the human capital development objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Alausa added.

Source: punchng.com

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A senior lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Dr Matthew Uwuigbe, has died after reportedly collapsing in a hotel room following a sexual encounter with a 21-year-old commercial sex worker, identified as Angela Defa Jacob.

The incident occurred on Sunday at a hotel in the Mosco area of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Uwuigbe had checked into the hotel with the woman and reportedly collapsed moments after the sexual encounter.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, said three persons had been arrested in connection with the lecturer’s death.

She said, “On October 5, 2026, at about 8pm, the command received a report that Matthew Uwuigbe, a lecturer at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, had lodged at a hotel in Ekpoma and engaged the services of a 21-year-old sex worker, Angela Defa Jacob.

“He subsequently sent the woman to purchase water for him, and upon her return, she found him lying dead in the room.”

Ikoedem said the hotel owner, manager and the sex worker were in custody, while investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death continued.

She added that the deceased’s corpse had been deposited at the Oriaifo Memorial Hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, confirmed to PUNCH Metro that Uwuigbe was a staff member of the institution, but said the incident occurred outside the university campus.

He said, “We are not denying that he was our staff member, but whatever he did and what happened, it is his private life. The girl in question is not our student, and everything happened outside our institution.”

Source: punchng.com

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Twenty-six-year-old Maryam Umar, who was born without both arms has graduated from the Department of Economics, Gombe State University, after the Academic Staff Union of Universities awarded her a N1.68m scholarship following a PUNCH report on her plight.

Maryam, who writes and performs household chores with her toes, had in 2023 appealed to public-spirited Nigerians, government agencies and non-governmental organisations to assist her to complete her registration for admission into Gombe State University.

She had secured admission to study Economics after completing her secondary education in 2022 and scoring 182 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

However, she said financial constraints threatened to prevent her from taking up the opportunity, as her parents could not afford the N81,322.50 required for her registration and school fees at the time.

The PUNCH had published her story after verifying her admission letter and learning of her struggle to raise the funds needed to commence her university education.

Speaking at the time, Maryam said, “My parents reside at BCGA, Gombe. I completed my secondary school in 2022. I scored 182 in the UTME and I already have four credits, including English and Mathematics, in NECO.

“But I don’t have money for registration to study Economics at the Gombe State University. My parents don’t have money and I’m appealing to public-spirited individuals to support me so that I don’t waste this opportunity,” Maryam had stated.

Following the publication, the then Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone of ASUU, Professor Lawal Abubakar, who was accompanied by chairpersons of the union in the zone while representing the ASUU President, said the national leadership directed the Gombe State University branch to verify Umar’s situation.

According to him, the intervention followed the publication of her story in The PUNCH.

“ASUU National got the information and directed the Chairperson ASUU GSU to investigate and confirm the information,” Abubakar said.

“This was after the news was sighted in The PUNCH; information was instantly verified to be true and the ASUU National promised to make Maryam Umar its daughter and shoulder all the responsibilities of her studies,” Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone of ASUU said.

He explained that the scholarship was designed to cover her academic and welfare needs throughout her university education.

The professor further explained, “ASUU National Scholarship covers her feeding, transport and academic allowance, including her yearly registration fees for the period of her studies. We granted a scholarship to her to the tune of N1,680,000, covering the four years period of her studies.”

Also speaking on the intervention, the former Chairperson of the ASUU GSU branch, Dr Suleiman Jauro, urged persons living with disabilities not to give up on their dreams, describing Maryam as an example of determination and resilience.

“I want to encourage people with disabilities to believe in themselves. Believe in what you can do. Maryam, with her disability, believes that what she wants is education and she is doing everything to pursue her dream, and ASUU is doing everything possible to ensure she achieves everything,” Jauro said.

He also commended The PUNCH for bringing Umar’s situation to public attention, noting that the intervention would not have happened without the publication.

He said the scholarship went beyond payment of school fees to providing some of the assistive items Umar required to pursue her studies.

“It was The PUNCH Newspapers publication that caught the attention of the President of ASUU and ours to begin the processes; without seeing that publication, we wouldn’t have known that there exists such a lady that needs assistance. We appreciate your efforts for good journalism,” Jauro recalled.

According to him, the support package included “some of the items she needs for her studies based on her own disability, things like a voice recorder, specialised table and chair, laptop and for every semester until her graduation, the union will be giving her a stipend of N130,000 per semester to cover her feeding and academic expenses.”

Years after the intervention, Maryam has now successfully completed her Economics degree at Gombe State University.

In a post obtained by Arewa PUNCH on Sunday, marking the successful completion of her degree programme, the elated graduate expressed appreciation to her family, friends, ASUU and others who supported her throughout her university journey.

She said, “I’m grateful to those who made this dream a reality. I thank you all from ASUU, to others numerous to mention for standing by me this past years. May your Allah reward you all with paradise.”

Our correspondent reports that Maryam’s journey from a young woman who was worried that poverty could end her university dream to a university graduate has highlighted the impact of journalism, institutional intervention and determination in opening opportunities for persons living with disabilities.

Source: punchng.com

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