Education

Fresh crisis brews in varsities as SSANU, NASU threaten strike

Published

7 months ago

September 16, 2025

SSANU and NASU

Fresh crisis brews in varsities as SSANU, NASU threaten strike

The leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has threatened to shut down all public universities across the country.

The unions issued a fresh seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, warning that the institutions would be locked up next week if longstanding agreements and promises made to them are not fulfilled.

The development adds to mounting tension in the education sector, as reports suggest that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are also weighing underground plans to embark on a nationwide strike.

In an official letter sent to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by Daily Trust, SSANU and NASU members, under Joint Action Committee (JAC), premised their action on three major demands.

The non-teaching staff said they had started counting the 7-day ultimatum from today (Monday), and by implications, all its members may be directed to down tools next week Monday if the government fails to heed.

The letter was jointly signed by President of SSANU, Com. Mohammed Ibrahim and General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi.

The unions wondered why it was always difficult for the federal government to fulfill promises.

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Both Ibrahim and Adeyemi listed non-payment of outstanding withheld salaries and 25/35% salary increments, renegotiation of year 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU agreement and “unjust” disbursement of N50 billion Earned Allowances as their major grouse.

The letter partly read, “The Honourable Minister of Education would recall that via a letter dated 18th June, 2025, the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU had drawn your kind attention to the need for an urgent intervention in outstanding labour matters affecting our members.

“Our letter led to the convening of a meeting by the Honourable Minister of Education with JAC of NASU and SSANU on 4th July, 2025 with a view to addressing the issues raised in our letter.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the issues raised in the letter centred on: Unjust Disbursement of N50Billion Earned Allowances; Non-Payment of Outstanding Withheld Salaries and 25/35% Salary Increments; and Renegotiation of Year 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU Agreements.

“The Honourable Minister would recall that at the 4th July, 2025 meeting to address the aforementioned issues, there was a resolution to the effect that a Tripartite Committee comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission and JAC of NASU and SSANU would be constituted to resolve the impasse which had arisen due to the skewed distribution of the N50Billion Earned Allowances in which our members in the Universities were shortchanged, while those in the Inter-University Centres were completely shut out of the distribution.

“While there was no conclusion at the 4th July, 2025 meeting on the issue of payment of two months’ outstanding withheld salaries owed our members, you pledged to set machinery in motion to expedite action on the issue of payment of arrears of 25/35% salary increments owed our members.

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“Sequel to the 4th July, 2025 meeting, there was a reminder letter dated 18th August, 2025, owing to the silence or deliberate decision by your office not to address issues affecting Non-Teaching staff in our Universities and Inter-University Centres.

“It is equally important to note that the renegotiation of Year 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU Agreements is being delayed.

“It is on record that Alhaji Yayale Ahmed led Renegotiation Committee inaugurated on 15th October, 2024 to review the 2009 Agreements with the University Based Unions only had inaugural meeting with JAC of NASU and SSANU on 10th December, 2024 and since then the Federal Government Team has gone into limbo with the Non-Teaching Staff Unions, whereas information at our disposal confirmed that the same Federal Government Team has already concluded renegotiation with our counterpart, the Academic Staff Union in the sector and at the verge of signing an agreement while the Federal Government Team has refused to engage the Non-Teaching Staff Unions and even sidelined us despite fulfilling all justifications including re- submission of our Memoranda of Demands.

“We brought this to your attention during our 4th July, 2025 meeting and you promised to intervene for the Committee to expedite action. Regrettably, we are yet to see progress.

“Despite our repeated efforts to draw your attention to address concerns affecting our members in the Universities and Inter- University Centres, there appears to be nothing positive forthcoming from your office.

“In light of the persistent unresolved issues, and the apparent lack of responsiveness from the Government to our legitimate concerns, we are compelled to serve a formal notice of seven days effective from Monday, 15th September, 2025 to address our agitations, failing which members of NASU and SSANU would embark on a series of legitimate industrial actions including strikes to press home our demands.”

Fresh crisis brews in varsities as SSANU, NASU threaten strike

(DailyTrust)

Related Topics:Featured NASU SSANU strike

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Education

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

Published

3 minutes ago

April 3, 2026

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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.

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

Education

Tinubu Govt Unveils National Laureate Prize to Reward Best Theses

Published

2 days ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigeria University students in lecture room

Tinubu Govt Unveils National Laureate Prize to Reward Best Theses

The Federal Government of Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has launched the Nigeria National Laureate Annual Prize Programme, a landmark initiative designed to reward outstanding student research across tertiary institutions nationwide. The programme aims to elevate academic excellence, research innovation, and intellectual achievement to the forefront of national recognition.

According to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education, students whose dissertations and theses demonstrate exceptional scholarly quality and commercial viability will receive significant cash prizes and national recognition. Winners will be celebrated as National Laureates, reflecting the country’s commitment to fostering research-driven development.

The awards are structured as follows:

Undergraduate dissertation winners: ₦5 million
Master’s thesis winners: ₦10 million
Doctoral (PhD) thesis winners: ₦20 million

Announcing the programme, Education Minister Tunji Alausa described it as a strategic national intervention aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s educational incentives. He stressed that the initiative underscores the importance of research as a driver of industrialisation and national development, ensuring that students’ academic efforts are matched with prestige and financial reward.

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“By elevating our students to the status of celebrated National Laureates, we are ensuring that the rigour of research and academic excellence is matched with the highest level of national prestige and financial reward,” Alausa said, adding that theses should be viewed as potential blueprints for national progress, not merely graduation requirements.

The programme will be fully financed by the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and its strategic partners, ensuring sustainability without additional pressure on public funds. Oversight is provided by a 10-member National Laureate Prize Committee, chaired by Prof. Abubakar Sambo, with representatives from the Nigerian Academy of Sciences, Nigerian Academy of Letters, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), TETFund, and other academic bodies.

The call for entries will commence in May 2026, with evaluations taking place between June and September, and winners to be honoured at the National Laureate Gala in Abuja in November 2026. The initiative also highlights sustainability and innovation, ensuring that research contributes meaningfully to Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

Officials say the programme encourages students to pursue groundbreaking research that can directly impact policy, technology, and industry, while boosting Nigeria’s global academic reputation.

Tinubu Govt Unveils National Laureate Prize to Reward Best Theses

Education

JAMB Releases 2026 UTME Mock Results, Delists Over 20 CBT Centres

Published

3 days ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

JAMB Releases 2026 UTME Mock Results, Delists Over 20 CBT Centres

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 UTME Mock results, following the nationwide mock examination conducted on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The announcement was made on Tuesday by JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin, providing candidates with guidance on how to check their results. According to the board, a total of 224,597 candidates registered for the mock UTME, with 152,586 candidates successfully sitting for the test across 989 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide. Candidates can check their scores by sending the keyword “MOCKRESULT” via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM number used during UTME registration.

In a significant move to maintain exam integrity, JAMB also announced the delisting of over 20 CBT centres that faced operational challenges during the mock exam. The affected centres experienced server failures, power outages, and delayed test sessions, which disrupted the examination for many candidates. The board clarified that these centres will remain ineligible for future UTME exercises until they meet the required technical and infrastructure standards.

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JAMB further issued a stern warning against fraudsters claiming to manipulate mock or main UTME scores, particularly on messaging platforms like WhatsApp. The board emphasised that such claims are criminal, cautioning candidates that any involvement could result in cancellation of registration, withholding of results, or withdrawal of scores even after the main exam. Candidates were urged to rely solely on official communication channels for information regarding the UTME.

The main 2026 UTME is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 16, 2026. JAMB encouraged candidates to use the mock results as an opportunity to assess their readiness, identify areas for improvement, and familiarise themselves with the Computer-Based Test (CBT) system. While mock scores do not contribute to final UTME results, they offer valuable insights for performance improvement and preparation ahead of the main examination.

JAMB continues to emphasise the importance of exam integrity, accurate registration details, and adherence to official guidelines to ensure a smooth, credible, and fair UTME process for all candidates.

JAMB Releases 2026 UTME Mock Results, Delists Over 20 CBT Centres