University Workers’ Union Gives FG Ultimatum Over Failed Renegotiation

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government, insisting that ongoing negotiations on university workers’ welfare must be concluded by April 30, 2026, or face a nationwide industrial action.

The warning followed a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Saturday at the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, where leaders reviewed the status of the long-running renegotiation process between university-based unions and the Federal Government.

In a communiqué signed by SSANU National President, Muhammad Ibrahim, the union stressed that contrary to reports circulating in the public space, the renegotiation process has not been concluded and no final agreement has been signed.

The union also dismissed claims suggesting that a 30 percent increase in allowances had already been approved, describing such reports as misleading and not reflective of the ongoing discussions.

SSANU warned that it will not accept any outcome that falls below the agreed expectations reached during negotiations, insisting that principles of fairness, collective bargaining, and due process must be respected by the Federal Government.

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The NEC reaffirmed its earlier ultimatum issued alongside the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, giving the government from April 1 to April 30, 2026, to conclude negotiations and sign a binding agreement.

It warned that failure to meet the deadline would leave both unions with no option but to embark on an indefinite, comprehensive, and total strike action across Nigerian universities, potentially disrupting academic and administrative activities nationwide.

SSANU further urged its members across all branches to remain calm, vigilant, and united, while preparing to fully comply with any directive issued by the union leadership in defence of their welfare and professional dignity.

The union also reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice through dialogue but insisted that it would not hesitate to act if the Federal Government fails to demonstrate urgency in addressing the outstanding issues.

The dispute is largely centered on unresolved demands relating to salary structure adjustments, welfare packages, earned allowances, and poor funding of Nigerian universities, which SSANU says have remained pending for years.

Education stakeholders have warned that another breakdown in negotiations could once again trigger widespread disruptions in the Nigerian university system, which has experienced repeated strikes in recent years.

University Workers’ Union Gives FG Ultimatum Over Failed Renegotiation

UTME 2026: Gov Alia Seeks Exam Reschedule for Alleged Kidnapped Candidates

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to reschedule the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for eight candidates allegedly affected by a kidnapping incident along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.

The governor made the appeal on Sunday at the Government House in Makurdi shortly after confirming that all abducted victims had been rescued by security operatives.

He said the request was necessary to ensure that the affected candidates are not deprived of their opportunity to sit for the UTME 2026 examination, especially given the traumatic circumstances surrounding the incident.

Governor Alia explained that the victims were kidnapped last Wednesday while travelling along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway in Benue State. According to him, a total of 15 persons were abducted, while two of the victims escaped shortly after the attack. The remaining 13 were later rescued during a coordinated operation by the Nigerian Army, with support from local communities.

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The rescue reportedly took place in a forest area at Okere ward in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “Many of the students were travelling to Otukpo. Seven were regular passengers, and 15 were kidnapped that fateful day. One of the victims escaped, and another escaped the following day. Today, all the remaining 13 kidnap victims were rescued by the security agents with the cooperation of the communities.”

Following the rescue, Governor Alia urged JAMB to make special arrangements for the eight individuals he described as young students preparing for the UTME, asking that they be given another opportunity to sit for the examination.

“I call on JAMB to look into the case of the eight young students and reschedule dates for them to write their examination,” he said.

However, the incident has generated conflicting accounts regarding the identity of the victims. The Benue State Police Command, through its spokesperson Udeme Edet, earlier stated that the abducted passengers were not UTME candidates, describing such reports as misinformation.

Similarly, JAMB’s Public Communications Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, clarified that the victims were actually travelling to participate in a police recruitment exercise in Makurdi and were returning to Otukpo at the time of the incident.

The conflicting statements have created uncertainty over whether the affected individuals were indeed UTME candidates, with authorities expected to carry out further verification before any decision is taken on a possible exam rescheduling request.

The incident has also renewed concerns over security along the Makurdi–Otukpo highway, a route that has witnessed repeated cases of kidnapping in recent years. Security agencies say efforts are ongoing to strengthen surveillance and prevent further attacks in the area.

UTME 2026: Gov Alia Seeks Exam Reschedule for Alleged Kidnapped Candidates

JAMB Releases 1.26 Million More 2026 UTME Results, Total Hits 1.89 Million

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released additional results from the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), covering candidates who sat for the exam on its second and third days.

In a statement issued on Sunday, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin confirmed that 1,264,940 results from Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, 2026, are now available for candidates to check.

According to the Board, candidates can access their results by sending “UTMERESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number used during registration.

This latest release comes after JAMB earlier published 632,752 results for candidates who wrote the exam on Thursday, April 16, bringing the total number of released results so far to 1,897,692.

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JAMB explained that the 2026 UTME results are being released in batches as part of its standard post-examination procedures. These include comprehensive screening processes to detect exam malpractice, identity fraud, and technical issues that may affect the integrity of the examination.

The Board noted that some results are still under review and may be temporarily withheld pending further investigation. It assured candidates that such measures are necessary to maintain the credibility of the examination system.

Candidates who are unable to access their results immediately have been advised to remain patient, as more results will be released after verification is completed.

JAMB also warned candidates against falling victim to fraudsters or websites promising to upgrade UTME scores, stressing that the SMS method remains the only official channel for checking results.

With about 2.2 million candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, the Board reiterated its commitment to transparency, fairness, and the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.

More updates are expected as the examination continues nationwide and additional results are processed.

JAMB Releases 1.26 Million More 2026 UTME Results, Total Hits 1.89 Million