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No resumption without meeting our demands, ASUU tells FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abuja zone says there will be no resumption in public universities until the renegotiated 2009 agreement is signed, implemented and the University Transparency and Accountability Solution deployed.
The ASUU zonal coordinator, Dr Salawu Lawal, made this known during a press conference at the University of Abuja in Gwagwalada on Monday.
According to him, members are ready to return to their duty posts as soon as their demands are met by the Federal Government.
He said, “You would recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities declared a four-week rolling strike at the University of Lagos National Executive Council meeting held on February 14.
“Owing to the failure of the Federal Government to act within that period, the national action was rolled over for another eight weeks following the resolution taken at an emergency NEC meeting at the Festus Iyayi National Secretariat on March 14.
“The action, as you are probably aware is to, among other things, compel the Federal Government to sign and implement the draft renegotiated 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement submitted to it by the Prof. Munzali Committee in May 2021.
“Deploy for use in the Nigerian university system, was the home-grown payment and personnel solution called UTAS developed by ASUU as replacement for the failed IPPIS.
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“As usual, the Federal Government has ignored ASUU’s call for full implementation of that famous agreement and other memoranda signed with the union.
“No meeting has been held between the two parties since the commencement of the ongoing strike. The only exception is our union’s re-submission of UTAS for a retest.
“The summary is that unless and until the renegotiated 2009 agreement is signed and implemented and UTAS deployed, there will be no work in public universities.”
ASUU, Benin Zone, also on Monday pleaded with Nigerians to join the union in rescuing what it described as dying university system. The union’s Zonal Coordinator, Prof Fred Esumeh, in a press briefing at the ASUU Secretariat, University of Benin, Edo State, said the union called on well-meaning Nigerians to rise up and join it in repositioning the nation’s universities to a globally competitive level that would be able to produce the manpower required to jump-start the re-emergence of a country driven by technology.
He said, “We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, students, workers, civil society organisations to wake up and join ASUU to rescue the dying university system.
“It will help reposition the universities to be globally competitive and able to produce the manpower required to jump-start the re-emergence of the country.”
Also on Monday in Ibadan, ASUU flayed the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, over what it described as a reckless comment that the union is “mean and wicked for shutting down universities.”
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ASUU chairman in the University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, in a statement said lecturers in Nigeria had sacrificed their labour, sweat and health “only for parasites in government to come and destroy common heritage and collective patrimony.”
Akinwole said, “The Minister of State for Education represents one of the deceptive and insincere characters of the Buhari administration.
“It is a sign of acceptance of failure for a minister to admit that they have consistently been irresponsible by pleading with a union to bury the welfare of its members and not fight for infrastructure face-lift for the children of the masses and new salary for the welfare of her members.”
The ASUU boss, who challenged the minister to make public his salaries and allowances, also asked him to tell Nigerians how much he is being owed by government since he became minister.
Akinwole said lecturers have been considerate of the plight of the students and the society and this is why it has taken the union members’ show understanding with government owing her members 12 years of earned academic allowances and 13 years on old salary when the likes of ministers and cabinet members in the government enjoy periodic review of allowances and salaries.
PUNCH
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Lakurawa terrorists kill police officers in Kebbi

Lakurawa terrorists kill police officers in Kebbi
Suspected members of the Lakurawa group on Friday evening killed three police officers at Zogirma in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
According to Kebbi State Police Command’sPublic Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar a combined team of Policemen engaged the suspected Lakurawa in a fierce gun duel while attempting to attack commuters plying Zogirma/Tilli road.
“As a result, several suspected Lakurawa bandits were neutralised while others escaped to the nearby forest with fatal injuries. Regrettably, three brave Police Officers lost their lives during the encounter”, he said.
He added that the Zogirma Divisional Police Officer promptly mobilised a team of Policemen and rushed to the scene with reinforcement from No 36 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Birnin Kebbi, but the bandits fled to nearby forest.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M Sani, while commending the resilience, bravery and sacrifice of the dead officers, prayed for their souls to have an eternal rest.
He equally called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest Police station.
CP Sani reiterated the Command’s commitment towards ensuring the safety and security of the people in the state.
Lakurawa terrorists kill police officers in Kebbi
metro
Two ex-Nigerian heads of state critically ill in London

Two ex-Nigerian heads of state critically ill in London
Former Nigerian heads of state, retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar and ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, are currently undergoing medical treatment in London, United Kingdom, and are reportedly in serious condition, SaharaReporters reported Saturday.
A presidency insider confirmed to the online newspaper that both men are battling serious but undisclosed health challenges, compounded by their advancing age.
“The former Head of State, Abdusalami, has been hospitalised in the UK for over five months now,” the source disclosed.
“On the other hand, Buhari has been in and out of the Intensive Care Unit of UK hospitals in recent weeks,” the source added.
The newspaper had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu had sent Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to check on the two ailing statesmen and explore ways to support their treatment.
Though official details regarding their medical conditions remain scarce, the source revealed that Buhari is struggling with a serious intestinal disorder, while Abdulsalami is coping with age-related complications.
Shettima was initially in Ethiopia for the launch of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative and discussions around agricultural collaboration. However, once President Tinubu was informed of Buhari’s deteriorating health, he reportedly redirected the Vice President to make a stop in London.
The intention, according to the insider, was for Shettima to deliver the President’s message of goodwill and assess the condition of the former leaders.
Despite reports suggesting Buhari was in intensive care, one of his former aides, Bashir Ahmad, dismissed the severity of those claims.
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Ahmad posted on X (formerly Twitter):“In light of the recent media reports suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari is critically ill and has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), we find it necessary to set the record straight.“It is true that former President Buhari is unwell and is currently receiving medical attention. However, contrary to the exaggerated claims circulating in the media, he is stable and responding well to treatment and we are optimistic about his full recovery.“We appreciate the outpouring of prayers and goodwill from his supporters and well-wishers around the world. We continue to pray for his complete and speedy recovery.”
The source said Vice President Shettima landed in London early Monday and spent several hours with Buhari at the hospital. He also reportedly connected Buhari with Tinubu over the phone during the visit.
“Shettima flew to London on Sunday night, arriving in the early hours of Monday. He visited the former President in the hospital and spent hours with him after delivering President Tinubu’s message of concern and wishes for a quick recovery.“As a matter of fact, I think the Vice President connected both the President and his predecessor on a call before leaving the ailing former President. I am told he also visited former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, who at the time was also in London recuperating,” the source said.
Despite the Vice President’s visit, official channels have remained silent about the trip. When asked for confirmation, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), said he was aware Shettima had travelled but could not confirm any visits to the former leaders.
“I do not know where you got your story from. I am just hearing about General Buhari and General Abdulsalam Abubakar’s visit from you. Anyway, yes, the VP was in London but on a purely private visit and came back to Nigeria the same Monday,” Nkwocha said.“And since it was a private visit which I was not privy to, his engagements or lack thereof would remain in the realm of speculation, and hence the publicising or not of such a visit cannot come up.”
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Buhari’s health has long been a subject of public scrutiny, especially during his time in office. His frequent medical trips abroad, particularly to the UK, often drew criticism and sparked debates about the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the transparency of its leaders.
His first notable medical trip came in February 2016, under the guise of a vacation. He returned in June that same year for treatment of an ear infection—a move that prompted criticism from the Nigerian Medical Association, which noted the presence of capable local specialists.
In 2017, Buhari left for a prolonged medical stay in the UK, remaining abroad for 50 days beginning in January, and again departing in May for an extended 104-day absence. The government never disclosed the nature of his illness, leading to widespread speculation. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo acted as president during those periods.
The pattern continued in subsequent years. Buhari traveled to London for medical consultations in 2018, 2021, and throughout 2022. His last documented medical trip as president occurred in May 2023, shortly after attending King Charles III’s coronation. He reportedly extended his stay to undergo a dental procedure.
Across his presidency, Buhari is believed to have spent over 230 days abroad for medical purposes. The cumulative cost of these trips, including travel and logistics for the presidential fleet, was estimated by media outlets to fall between ₦1.1 billion and ₦5.4 billion, excluding medical and accommodation expenses.
His reliance on foreign healthcare stood in stark contrast to his campaign promises to end medical tourism and revamp the Nigerian healthcare system. Civil society groups and opposition figures were vocal in their criticism.
Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who served as president of the World Medical Association, once labeled the situation a “national shame.” Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore also lambasted Buhari for failing to establish even a single world-class hospital in Nigeria during his eight years in power.
Despite the backlash, Buhari defended his choices, citing the need for continuity in care and long-standing relationships with UK-based doctors. His administration provided little detail about his medical conditions, perpetuating a long-standing culture of secrecy around the health of Nigerian leaders.
Two ex-Nigerian heads of state critically ill in London
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Bandits abduct Catholic priest in Niger community

Bandits abduct Catholic priest in Niger community
Suspected armed bandits have abducted a Catholic priest, Rev. Father Sunday Musa, following an early morning raid on Samunaka village in Niger State.
The attack took place around 4:00 a.m. on Friday in Samunaka, a village located near Babanna in the Borgu Local Government Area of the state.
Security analyst Zagozola Makama reported that the assailants, numbering about twenty, stormed the community in a hail of gunfire before seizing the cleric and taking him to an undisclosed location.
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The police, according to Makama, received the alert from the Officer-in-Charge of the Babanna Police Outstation, who promptly mobilised tactical teams and local vigilante groups to pursue the kidnappers.
Security operations have since been intensified across the Babanna–Borgu corridor as efforts continue to locate the abductors and ensure the safe return of Rev. Father Musa.
Bandits abduct Catholic priest in Niger community
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