Category Nigeria News

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, has raised the alarm over what it described as the Federal Government’s lack of commitment to resolving lingering issues in the nation’s university system.

It warned that another nationwide strike may be imminent if urgent actions were not taken.

READ ALSO: ASUU Suspends Warning Strike, Gives FG One Month To Address Demands

Speaking during a press conference held at Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, on Saturday, November 15, 2025, the zonal coordinator, Timothy Namo, claimed that the government had shown little interest in addressing key matters despite the suspension of the union’s two-week warning strike declared on October 13, 2025.

Namo recalled that ASUU suspended the warning strike on October 21 after a National Executive Council (NEC) emergency meeting, where the union observed an overwhelming show of support from students, the media, labour unions, the National Assembly, and concerned Nigerians.

The suspension, he said, was intended to create room for meaningful engagement and resolution.

‘Nothing Substantial Achieved’

However, he lamented that “barely one week to the expiration of the four-week window given to the government, nothing substantial has been achieved”.

According to him, the NEC meeting held from November 8 to 9 at Taraba State University rejected the salary increment proposal presented by the government, describing it as “a drop in the ocean, far below expectations to reverse the brain drain syndrome that has crippled the university system across Nigeria”.

He stressed that while some non-monetary aspects of the renegotiation process had recorded progress, the most critical components—salaries and working conditions—remain unresolved.

He also frowned at what he termed a deliberate attempt by some government officials to undermine negotiations.

“There is no sufficient evidence from the government’s response so far to suggest that education is a priority in Nigeria and that the government truly desires to avert a crisis in the universities,” Namo said.

He criticised the partial payment of promotion arrears dating back to 2017 and the release of third-party deductions as inadequate gestures, saying they do little to rebuild trust.

‘Lack Of Political Will’

Contrary to the government’s claims of insufficient funds, ASUU cited financial allocations showing significant increases to both federal and state governments.

Namo further noted that states received ₦3.92 trillion in 2022 and ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, while the Federal Government received ₦3.42 trillion in 2022 and ₦4.65 trillion in 2024, representing increases of more than 62 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively.

“These statistics confirm that it is not lack of funds but lack of political will and misplacement of priorities that make education suffer in Nigeria,” he insisted.

The union called on traditional rulers, civil society organisations, student bodies, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the National Assembly to intervene to prevent another disruption of academic activities.

Namo also urged the government to use the remaining days of the negotiation window wisely, saying the surest way to safeguard the nation’s future is through massive investment in education.

The Edo State Government has said it will launch a full-scale probe into the Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA/MOWAA) project, with officials alleged to be involved in financial mismanagement expected to face questioning

Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, disclosed this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

Afegbua said the state now has documents indicating possible financial infractions and is prepared to ensure full accountability.

“Yes, there is a plan for a probe,” he said. “Proper investigation will be done based on the documents we now have at hand. People are going to be asked questions and will have to answer on financial profligacy and malfeasance.”

He explained that the project is fully owned by the Edo State Government and largely funded with taxpayers’ money.

He added that international donor partners who contributed financially would also demand clarity on how their funds were managed.

The Commissioner raised concerns over what he described as the “secretive” overnight change of the project’s name from Edo Museum of West African Arts to Museum of West African Arts.

He said the state would not relinquish ownership, insisting that official documents still reflect full government control.

Afegbua confirmed that the government would work with Interpol, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other agencies to ensure a transparent investigation.

He noted that the immediate past governor, Godwin Obaseki, had previously set up a committee chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole to conduct preliminary checks before the matter was escalated.

Describing the financial concerns as straightforward, he revealed that estimates from the quantity surveyor showed the pavilion construction cost was ₦4.1 billion, out of which ₦3.8 billion had already been paid, with clear progress milestones documented.

“We are only saying, hand over to the Edo State Government what belongs to the Edo people instead of converting it overnight to yourselves,” he said.

READ ALSO: Chelle Blames ‘Voodoo’ After Crushed World Cup Hopes

Afegbua also queried staff and trustee appointments, alleging that key decisions were made “singlehandedly” without the government’s knowledge, despite the state contributing 95% of the funding.

He added that donor countries “should be asking Obaseki, Ihenacho and others: where is our money?”

The Commissioner noted that the project began under the Legacy Restoration Trust before transitioning to EMOWAA and later MOWAA, emphasising that state funds were committed at each stage with Executive Council approval.

The police say they have deployed operatives to the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, following the abduction of students from the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga by bandits.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the school on Sunday night and abducted the girls.

READ ALSO: Bandits Abduct 25 Schoolgirls, Kill Vice Principal In Deadly Attack On Kebbi School

According to sources, the attackers killed the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, before abducting several schoolgirls.

In a statement by the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, on Monday the police said 25 students were abducted by the bandits.

Vigilantes, Others Deployed

Abubakar disclosed that a combined team of additional police tactical units, military personnel, and vigilantes had been deployed in the area.

He said those deployed were currently combing the bandits’ routes and the nearby forest, with a view to rescuing the abducted students and possibly arresting the perpetrators.

The statement partly read, “On November 17, 2025, at about 0400hrs, information received revealed that a gang of armed bandits with sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically, stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Danko district, Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State.

“The police tactical units deployed in the school engaged them in a gun duel.

“Unfortunately, the suspected bandits had already scaled through the fence of the school and abducted 25 students from their hostel to unknown destination.”

Vice Principal Killed

The police also confirmed the killing of the school’s vice principal during the attack.

“Similarly, one Hassan Makuku ‘m’ was shot dead while Ali Shehu ‘m’ sustained injury in his right hand.

“Upon receiving the unfortunate incident, a combined team of additional Police tactical units, military personnel and Vigilantes has been deployed in the area and they are currently combing the bandits’ routes and nearby forest, with a view to rescuing the abducted students and possibly arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act,” Abubakar stated.

“In the light of the above regrettable incident, the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M Sani, had reiterated the Command’s unwavering determination in safeguarding the lives and property of the residents of Kebbi State.

A former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi State.

Malami made this known on Monday morning.

READ ALSO: Malami Honours DSS Invitation Over Kebbi Convoy Attack

Speaking on his ambition, the former AGF stated that he had the backing of the people of the state.

“INEC guidelines do not allow us to begin any form of mobilisation yet, but I assure you that when the time comes, you will see that we have the support of the people of Kebbi State,” Malami said during an interview with DCL Hausa.

“I have agreed to contest, and there is no retreat. God willing, we are going to win because we have people who believe in us, and we will not let them down,” he added.

Malami criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it had caused hardship, particularly in northern Nigeria.

According to him, many farmers had been forced away from their farms due to insecurity.

He stated that the challenges persisted because of negligence at both the state and federal levels.

“Today, rice mills that operated actively for 20 years have shut down due to bad policies that favour foreign companies,” he said.

Malami also explained that he would contest to “salvage Kebbi State from insecurity, restore and revive farming, and protect the interests of the people”.

A three-year campaign to bring vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) to low-income countries has prevented 1.4 million cervical cancer deaths, the vaccine alliance Gavi said Monday.

“An estimated 86 million girls are now protected against the leading cause of cervical cancer, thanks to a concerted three-year effort by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and lower-income countries,” the organisation said.

It added in a statement to mark World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day that “an estimated 1.4 million future deaths” had been prevented.

Cancer caused by HPV disproportionately affects low-income countries, which often lack screening services and access to treatment.

These countries accounted for 90 percent of the 350,000 cervical cancer deaths recorded in 2022, according to Gavi.

The organisation’s chief executive, Sania Nishtar, credited the “incredible commitment” of countries and organisations for helping to reach the target of protecting 86 million girls.

Gavi said that across Africa, the coverage rate for the vaccine had risen from four percent of girls in 2014 to 44 percent at the end of 2024, higher than for Europe on 38 per cent.

READ ALSO: NDLEA Arrests Wanted Suspect, Recovers Large Drug Shipment, Forex In Lagos

The alliance stated that it utilised economies of scale to reduce prices and make vaccines accessible to approximately 50 lower-income countries.

“Gavi secured commitments from manufacturers to invest in HPV vaccines–– and the price of HPV vaccines in Gavi-supported countries is now between $2.90 and $5.18 per dose, compared with US$100 or more elsewhere,” said the statement.

“This collaborative effort is driving major global progress towards eliminating one of the deadliest diseases affecting women,” she said, while stressing that the cancer still kills a woman every two minutes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially backed a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule instead of the previous two doses in 2022, allowing twice as many girls to be vaccinated with existing stocks.

Police authorities in Ebonyi State have rescued a kidnap victim and arrested three suspects operating in the Ezzangbo axis of Ohaukwu Local Government Area.

This is contained in a statement released on Sunday by the Ebonyi Police Command spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu.

Ukandu stated that on November 13, 2025, a kidnapping syndicate terrorising the Ezzangbo axis in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, abducted one Obasi ThankGod, tied him up, and abandoned him inside a hotel toilet while demanding a ransom of Five Million Naira (₦5,000,000).

READ ALSO: Two Reported Dead As Suspected Gunmen Attack Ebonyi Community

Through diligent intelligence gathering, operatives of the Command traced the hideout of the kidnappers, successfully rescued the victim, and arrested three suspects, namely: Uchenna Ogbozuru, Ebuka Ejiogu, and Chizoba Idenyi Ogwa.

The police spokesperson stated that the suspects are currently in custody and will be charged in court following an investigation.

In a similar operation, operatives of the Command, while on routine patrol along the Ehamufu-Nkalagu Road, immediately reacted to a critical situation upon hearing the sporadic gunshots and distress screams

The officers swiftly moved to the location in response to gunshots and screams. They found one Ali Solomon, struggling with three gunmen who were attempting to dispossess him of his motorcycle. The hoodlums opened fire and fled upon seeing the police, leading to a gun battle.

Ukandu noted that the police successfully killed one of the three armed robbers and recovered one AK-47 rifle loaded with ten rounds of ammunition.

Following the development, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, Adaku Uche-Anya, reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of all residents and ensuring that criminal elements have no hiding place within the State.