Education

FG, ASUU face-off: Minister walks out on NANS, as students protest

Published

4 years ago

March 1, 2022

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, yesterday in Abuja, walked out on students protesting the continued face-off between the government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, who have paralysed academic activities in the nation’s universities.

The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, had taken their protest to the minister’s office, clutching placards demanding a quick resolution of the crisis.

After a few questions by the students, who were led by the NANS President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, the minister angrily left for his office.

Commenting on the development, Asefon said: ”We only asked the minister one or two questions about what the government is doing to resolve the impasse, when he angrily left us and went inside. ”We are surprised at the development because as students, we are the ones bearing the brunt of the strike. We are going to hold a meeting to deliberate on the next step to take and we will get back to you,” he said on phone.

In Oyo State, the B Zone of NANS, yesterday threatened to block all federal roads in the state, if the crisis was not resolved.

The students at a peaceful demonstration held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, carried placards with different inscriptions such as: “FG and ASUU: Stop the madness”; “Incessant ASUU/FG face-off, a demonstration of craze”; “At the end of every strike, only students lose”; among others.

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The Southwest Coordinator of NANS, Comrade Tegbe Steven Fiyinfoluwa, who addressed newsmen after the protest, vowed that the association would block all federal roads, starting from today, if the government and ASUU failed to reach an agreement, yesterday.

He said: “We are holding our peaceful demonstration here today (yesterday) Monday, because of the lingering crisis between ASUU and federal government which has been a recurring event over the years. Unfortunately, we students are at the receiving end.

“We are calling on the federal government to learn how to respect agreements. We have seen on many occasions when the federal government and ASUU reached an agreement but the federal government failed to fulfil its part of the agreement. We are also calling on ASUU to have a decisive way of spending their resources, even when their demands are met.”

Protest in Kano

In Kano, the students, who stormed the Ministry of Higher Education situated in Gidan Murtala, also carried placards and chanted solidarity songs.

The students, led by Yazid Tanko Mohammed, said they were always at the receiving end of the face-off.

Mohammed said: “ASUU has been going on strike since 2009, and students are always the victims of the strike. We are not benefiting from the strike. Instead, we are always at the receiving end. Imagine, a programme that is supposed to last for four years will take up to six years. And the one meant for five years will take up to seven to eight years,” Mohammed lamented.

Responding, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Mariya Bunkure, who was represented by the Director, Academics Planning, Musa Gambo, assured the students that the Ministry would convey their message to Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari.

He appreciated the manner the students conducted themselves peacefully during the protest.

Protest in Osun

Some students in Osun State, under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students and Joint Campus Committee, NANS/JCC, Osun axis, yesterday stormed the streets in the state capital, Osogbo, protesting the FG\ASUU debacle.

Addressing journalists at Oke-Fia, the Chairman, NANS/JCC, Osun Axis, Comrade Oyelayo Afeez, said the protest was to make ASUU and FG realise that their action was at the detriment of students, who paid to access education.

“We are demanding an end to the incessant dispute between ASUU and the FG, it affects students. We are paying to access education in Nigeria, yet, government and the union seem not bothered about our situation,” he said.

Meeting of the two parties

Meanwhile, another round of meeting by the two sides is slated for today in Abuja.

The government’s team is expected to include the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, and his Labour Ministry counterpart, Dr Chris Ngige, while the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, will lead the union’s team.

Their previous meeting did not achieve much, as the union accused the government’s delegation of not preparing for anything and acting as if they were not familiar with the issues in contention.

ASUU had been on strike since February 14 because of the failure of the FG to renegotiate the 2009 agreement, the replacement of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, with the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS, as the payment platform in the university sector, among others.

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Education

No Scrapping of JAMB: FG Dismisses Viral Rumours

Published

1 week ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

JAMB registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede

No Scrapping of JAMB: FG Dismisses Viral Rumours

The Federal Government has firmly dismissed viral social media claims suggesting that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been scrapped as a requirement for tertiary institution admissions in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Federal Ministry of Education described the reports as false, misleading, and entirely unfounded, stressing that Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board remains the statutory authority responsible for coordinating admissions into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions nationwide.

The Ministry clarified that no policy decision has been taken by the Federal Government to abolish JAMB or remove it from the admission process. It urged prospective candidates, parents, and guardians to ignore the rumour and rely solely on official government communications.

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According to the statement, JAMB continues to play a central role in ensuring transparency, fairness, and standardisation through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

“The attention of the Ministry has been drawn to misleading information suggesting that JAMB has been scrapped. This is not true. There is no such directive from the Federal Government,” the statement said.

The Ministry warned individuals and platforms spreading fake news to desist, noting that such misinformation creates unnecessary anxiety among candidates preparing for admission and undermines confidence in the education system.

Candidates were encouraged to continue registration and admission processes strictly in line with JAMB guidelines and instructions from accredited institutions.

Education stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified reports, emphasizing that any major reform to Nigeria’s admission framework would be formally announced through official channels.

The clarification comes as registration activities for the 2026 academic admission cycle continue, with authorities reiterating their commitment to improving access, credibility, and efficiency in higher education admissions across the country.

No Scrapping of JAMB: FG Dismisses Viral Rumours

Education

Reasons Behind UniAbuja’s Expulsion of 28 Students, Withdrawal of 15 Certificates

Published

1 week ago

February 22, 2026

Trends Admin

University of Abuja (UniAbuja)

Reasons Behind UniAbuja’s Expulsion of 28 Students, Withdrawal of 15 Certificates

The University of Abuja (UniAbuja), now renamed Yakubu Gowon University, has expelled 28 students and revoked certificates of 15 graduates following findings of serious academic and disciplinary violations.

The decision was made at the 191st Regular Meeting of the University Senate held on Thursday, January 28, 2026, after reviewing reports and recommendations from the Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC).

Reasons for Expulsion and Certificate Withdrawal

According to a statement signed by Dr. Habib Yakoob, Acting Director of Information and University Relations, the students were found guilty of offences including threats to life, physical assault, examination malpractice, conspiracy, burglary, theft, cult-related activities, possession and use of hard drugs, and falsification of O’Level results submitted during admission. Some students also failed to appear before the committee despite repeated invitations.

The 15 graduates had their certificates withdrawn for similar non-compliance, rendering their credentials null and void. Meanwhile, nine students were cleared after investigations, and 33 others received formal warnings for infractions including conspiracy, hostel racketeering, and fighting.

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University’s Commitment to Discipline

The Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Senate, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, reaffirmed the university’s dedication to maintaining a safe, disciplined, and conducive learning environment. He emphasised that academic integrity is a core principle and that violations would be sanctioned without compromise.

Professor Fawehinmi praised the SDC for its thorough and diligent handling of cases and urged students to conduct themselves responsibly to safeguard their academic futures. He also highlighted ongoing university initiatives, including student engagement, counselling, and orientation programmes, aimed at preventing misconduct and promoting responsible citizenship and academic excellence.

The university described the actions as part of a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct, reinforcing its commitment to upholding high moral and academic standards on campus.

Reasons Behind UniAbuja’s Expulsion of 28 Students, Withdrawal of 15 Certificates

Education

UTME: JAMB Clarifies Position on Hijab During Biometric Capture

Published

1 week ago

February 21, 2026

Trends Admin

UTME: JAMB Clarifies Position on Hijab During Biometric Capture

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates are not required to remove their hijab during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration process.

The examination body issued the clarification following the circulation of a viral video alleging that a Muslim candidate was compelled to remove her hijab before capturing her biometric photograph at a registration centre.

In a statement addressing the controversy, JAMB dismissed claims of a policy prohibiting the use of hijab, describing such reports as misleading. The board reiterated that it respects candidates’ religious rights and does not mandate the removal of religious head coverings during registration.

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However, JAMB explained that during biometric data capture, candidates may be asked to adjust their head coverings slightly to ensure that key facial features are visible for proper identification. According to the board, this requirement is strictly for technical purposes and aligns with standard identification procedures used in official documentation processes.

The board emphasized that the adjustment does not equate to a ban on hijabs, noting that clear visibility of facial features is necessary to meet biometric verification standards and prevent identity-related issues.

JAMB urged the public to disregard misinformation and advised candidates and parents to seek clarification through official communication channels to avoid unnecessary panic.

The clarification comes amid growing public interest in ensuring that examination procedures remain inclusive while maintaining the integrity of the registration and identification process.