Education

ASUU adamant on renegotiated agreement

Published

4 years ago

July 25, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted on the signing of the draft agreement reached with the Federal Government for university teachers.

Its president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said the union was yet to receive official communication from the government regarding a new proposal on salary review.

Labour said it would go ahead with its planned pro-ASUU protest tomorrow, but electricity workers would not withdraw their services.

Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) backed Labour, saying the right to protest was fundamental.

He urged the police to provide security for those protesting.

The Nation had reported that the government was ready to increase the salaries of professors by 100 per cent, with each earning N1million monthly.

This is against the 180 per cent increase said to have been recommended by the Prof Nimi Briggs Committee that renegotiated the 2009 agreements with university unions.

The government has rejected the figures reached in the draft agreement with ASUU.

Osodeke said: “That (the 100 per cent pay rise proposal) is still a social media report; we are not aware.

“We have a negotiated agreement. If they have issues, they should come back to us, not go to the public.

“There is no offer, nothing from the government. When we see what they bring, we will look at it. That is collective bargaining.

“It has not been offered to me. When they bring their offer, we will look at it at the collective bargaining table. What we have as a draft agreement is their offer. It is not ours.”

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Also yesterday, ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan, Prof Ayo Akinwole, said signing and implementing the renegotiated 2009 agreement would end the over five months strike.

“Until we rise above sentiments to get responsible and responsive people who will be accountable to Nigerians into public offices the cycles of strikes will not end in Nigeria,” he said.

Akinwole called on Nigerians to join the struggle to revitalise public universities to give children of the masses hope.

He said unless that was done, the children of the ruling class trained overseas will return to take over from their “wicked parents” and continue to enslave Nigerians.

Akinwole added: “We got here by collective negligence of electing incompetent people into public offices.

“The fight for quality education for the children of the masses has become a class war among the economic elite, the working class and the ruling class.

“Until we rise and demand accountability from those in office to do what is in the best interest of the majority, the cycle of strikes and underdevelopment will not stop.

“Our renegotiation ought to have ended by 2012 but here we are in 2022 and yet the government is playing games with us.

“We are asking for a renegotiation of existing agreements that will position our members as human beings working in a decent place.

“We are asking for the revitalisation of public universities through appropriate funding; and a better homegrown alternative of University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS).

“We are saying check the proliferation of universities that you cannot fund and we are saying Nigerians deserve to be ranked among the top 100 in the world if our leaders invest in education.

“We should be developing our own solutions not depending on others.

“This strike is not about ASUU. It is about the future of the Nigerian children.”

‘Electricity workers won’t withdraw service’

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it was pressing ahead with the nationwide rally in solidarity with the striking university unions.

Deputy President Joe Ajaero said state councils and affiliates of the NLC would hold their protest rally tomorrow while the national headquarters would hold it on Wednesday in Abuja.

Ajaero, who doubles as the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), however, said workers in the sector would not withdraw their services tomorrow.

He said: “States will hold their rally on Tuesday and that of the national is on Wednesday in Abuja.

“All the affiliates of the NLC have been mobilised and we are going ahead with the protest as planned.

“We won’t withdraw service because it is just a solidarity rally.”

Engineers to join protest

The National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW), has directed members to fully participate in the Tuesday and Wednesday nationwide protest by NLC.

Its President Stephen Okoro and General Secretary Ibrahim Walama, said in a statement: “The protracted ASUU strike has been as a result of Federal Government carefree attitude towards ASUU, NASU, SSANU demand for the welfare of working people in tertiary institutions and particularly federal universities.

“The NUCECFWW joins other unions to unequivocally condemn the unwillingness of the Federal Government to find a solution for our children to go back to school without further delay because 14th July, 2022 was exactly five months of ASUU strike.

“As the strike lingers, students’ academic performance suffers…

“Unfortunately, with the strike characterising the Nigeria public University system, it is doubtful if the students can measure up to the task of keeping pace with the global trajectory…

“We wish to inform the Federal Government of Nigeria and the general public that we are putting all our members on red alert to be in solidarity action in line with NLC.

“We remain solidly behind ASUU’s demands and against Federal Government’s recalcitrant approach reneging on existing negotiated agreements.”

Protest legal, says Falana

Falana said that the planned protest by the NLC was legal.

According to him, Labour’s action is an expression of the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly guaranteed by sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution and articles 39 and 40 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

“Having confirmed that the NLC has notified the Authorities of the Nigeria Police Force of the planned protest marches and rallies in strict compliance with the provision of the Police Establishment Act, 2020, we call on the Federal Government to respect the democratic wishes of Nigerian workers to identify with the striking university lecturers,” Falana said.

Education

Jigawa Arrests Seven Teachers for Cheating During Competency Test

Published

1 day ago

April 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian Teachers in Jigawa writing Exam

File photo

Jigawa Arrests Seven Teachers for Cheating During Competency Test

The Jigawa State Government has arrested seven teachers for allegedly engaging in examination malpractice during a large-scale teacher competency assessment involving over 8,400 educators. The arrests are part of the state’s ongoing efforts to improve accountability, professionalism, and learning outcomes in public schools.

The assessment, conducted by the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), is described as a Teacher Training Needs Assessment, aimed at identifying gaps in teachers’ knowledge and skills to inform targeted training programs.

Chairman of SUBEB, Haruna Musa, confirmed that the affected teachers have been handed over to the police for investigation, emphasizing that the exercise is more than a routine test. “This assessment is not just about testing knowledge; it is about restoring integrity and professionalism in our schools,” he said.

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Musa noted that examination malpractice, whether by teachers or students, undermines the credibility of the education sector and would not be tolerated. He also warned against absenteeism and involvement in partisan politics during school hours.

According to officials, the arrests are intended to serve as a deterrent to others and reinforce the government’s commitment to enforcing discipline and ethical conduct in schools. The arrested teachers are currently in police custody, and investigations are ongoing to determine whether additional personnel were involved.

Education experts have described the crackdown as a critical step toward safeguarding learning standards, emphasizing that teacher integrity directly impacts student achievement and the overall quality of education.

The Jigawa competency test reflects the state government’s determination to ensure that only qualified and competent personnel remain in the public education system, highlighting broader efforts to improve educational outcomes and accountability across Nigeria.

Jigawa Arrests Seven Teachers for Cheating During Competency Test

Education

JAMB Debunks 2026 UTME Postponement Rumour, Issues Fraud Warning

Published

3 days ago

April 4, 2026

Trends Admin

JAMB Debunks 2026 UTME Postponement Rumour, Issues Fraud Warning

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed reports claiming that the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has been postponed, describing the circulating notice as fake, malicious, and misleading.

In a statement released on Saturday, the board urged candidates to disregard the false information, stressing that it did not originate from JAMB and should not be taken seriously.

“Our attention has been drawn to the malicious press release stating that the 2026 UTME has been postponed. The general public, particularly candidates, are hereby informed that the press release is fake and did not emanate from us. Kindly disregard it. All activities on the 2026 UTME continue as scheduled,” the board stated.

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JAMB reaffirmed that the 2026 UTME exam dates remain unchanged, with the nationwide examination set to hold from April 16 to April 25, 2026 at accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.

The clarification comes after the 2026 UTME mock examination held on March 28 experienced technical issues in several CBT centres, which led to confusion and speculation about a possible postponement. According to JAMB, 224,597 candidates registered for the mock exam, while 152,586 successfully sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide. The board disclosed that over 20 CBT centres have been delisted due to technical failures, as part of efforts to ensure a smooth and credible main examination. JAMB assured candidates that lessons from the mock exercise would be used to improve system performance and prevent disruptions during the main UTME.

The board also raised concerns over fraudulent messages circulating online, especially on WhatsApp, where individuals falsely claim they can boost or manipulate UTME scores. JAMB warned that such claims are criminal and deceptive, stressing that any candidate found engaging in such activities risks disqualification, cancellation of registration, or withholding of results.

JAMB advised candidates to rely only on official updates from the board and avoid spreading or believing unverified information that could cause panic. The examination body reiterated its commitment to delivering a credible, transparent, and technology-driven UTME, urging candidates to remain focused as the examination approaches.

JAMB Debunks 2026 UTME Postponement Rumour, Issues Fraud Warning

Education

Ghana Sweeps Top Three Positions in 2025 WASSCE, Outshining Nigeria, Others

Published

4 days ago

April 3, 2026

Trends Admin

West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

Ghana Sweeps Top Three Positions in 2025 WASSCE, Outshining Nigeria, Others

Ghanaian students have once again demonstrated outstanding academic excellence in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, claiming the top three ranks across the five participating countries. The achievement was highlighted during the 74th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), held from March 24 to 28, 2026, in Accra, Ghana.

Out of 2,612,830 candidates from Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, three students from Ghana recorded the highest cumulative scores, confirming the country’s leading position in regional education.

Miss Huda Suglo Suleman emerged as the overall best candidate in West Africa, also receiving the prestigious Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for her top performance. She was closely followed by Miss Paula Adzo Elinam Sowu in second place and Miss Matthea Aba Andoh in third.

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Ghana’s Vice President, Jane Opoku-Agyemang, representing President John Dramani Mahama, praised WAEC for its 74 years of promoting educational standards and regional cooperation. However, she and other officials raised concerns about the rise in examination malpractice, which they warned could undermine the credibility of the council’s work.

During the meeting, Professor Ernest K. Davis, Ghana’s Chief Government Nominee, was elected Vice Chairman of WAEC for a one-year term, succeeding Liberia’s Amos Armah Fully. The council also honored Professor William Asomaning as a Distinguished Friend of the Council for his contributions to education in the region.

The Ghana Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, represented by Deputy Minister Dr. Clement Apaak, emphasized the role of WASSCE in building intellectual and practical skills for national development. He also confirmed Ghana’s return to the international WASSCE starting from the 2026 examination cycle.

The 2025 WASSCE results underscore Ghana’s dominance in regional academic performance, setting a benchmark for other countries, including Nigeria, which aims to improve its own outcomes in future exams. The 75th WAEC Annual Council Meeting is scheduled to be hosted by Nigeria in March 2027, continuing the rotational tradition among member states.