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Strike: ASUU dismisses FG threat, insists no agreement reached
The Academic Staff Union of Universities says no agreement has been reached with the Federal Government on any of the contentious issues holding back the resumption of students.
It also denounced a Twitter handle credited to the union as saying students should prepare for resumption nect week
Contrary to the position of the government that all the contentious issues except one have been resolved, President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, says none of their demands has been met by the government.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, said in Abuja that only one issue was outstandaing.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, is also optimistic that the dispute would be resolved this week at the meeting of the two parties and the strike called off.
But Ogunyemi said they had not reached any agreement that could be described as concrete enough to make its lecturers resume from the seven-month strike.
The union also rejected claims that eight out of the nine demands raised by ASUU had been met.
He said, “As far as we are concerned, nothing has been delivered to our members and our members don’t want empty promises. Let us take the issues one after the other.
“The withheld salaries of our members which is between four to eight months have not been paid; if paid, accounts of our members would have been credited. Same for earned academic allowances, they are yet to be paid.”
The ASUU president also said visitation panels were yet to be constituted for the universities, adding that the issue relating to the proliferation of tertiary institutions by state governors had not been resolved.
He asked, “So, on which of these issues has the target beneficiaries seen any concrete action being taken? We are getting to understand the way people in government work.
“When they are still discussing with you, they will go to town and tell people what has not been done. Their intention is to paint ASUU as the aggressor.”
The ASUU president said the union would not feel threatened by a warning by the government that it could invoke labour laws if a resolution was not reached between the two parties.
The union went on strike to pressure the government to address its concerns about remuneration, working conditions, earned allowances and obsolete infrastructure, among others.
The union also kicked against a salary payment platform introduced by the government, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and has come up with its own system.
Meanwhile, ASUU has denounced the Twitter account, registered in its name, which asked students of public universities to prepare for resumption as a positive outcome was expected from the union’s meeting with the FG on Wednesday.
Ogunyemi described the information as fake news, saying that the union had not operated any Twitter account.
He said, “Those people are impersonators; they are impostors. They are using that Twitter handle and other Twitter handles to create confusion. We don’t know anything about the Twitter handle and we never said what they are attributing to us.
“That is not the way we share our information; we have a way of sharing our information and that is why we are advising our friendly media to always double-check with us anything they are in doubt of. ASUU will never say any such thing on Twitter.”
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Akpabio sues Natasha for ₦200bn over sexual harassment allegations
Akpabio sues Natasha for ₦200bn over sexual harassment allegations
Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has instituted a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of spreading malicious sexual harassment allegations that he says have severely damaged his public image.
According to documents filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Akpabio is seeking substantial damages, public retractions, and nationwide broadcast apologies. He argues that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s televised, radio, and online interviews portrayed him as a sexual predator who abused his office for personal gratification—claims he insists subjected him to widespread ridicule and reputational harm.
The lawsuit includes a comprehensive statement of claims and a list of witnesses. Akpabio is also asking the court to compel the removal of all online materials containing the disputed allegations and to order repeated public apologies across major media outlets.
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A court order issued on 6 November 2025 granted permission for substituted service through the Clerk of the National Assembly after initial attempts to reach Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan directly were unsuccessful. The case is now moving forward and is expected to become one of the most closely watched political legal battles in Nigeria.
Responding on 5 December 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed receipt of the suit and expressed readiness to defend her allegations before a competent court. She stated that she had previously been prevented from presenting a petition before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges due to claims that a related case was already in court—an action she believes protected the Senate President from legislative scrutiny.
In a strongly worded response, the Kogi Central senator maintained that the court proceedings will finally provide the platform to substantiate her claims. She reiterated her stance that she experienced sexual harassment and that her refusal to comply with the alleged advances prompted sustained political retaliation.
“See you in court, Godswill Akpabio,” she declared.
Akpabio sues Natasha for ₦200bn over sexual harassment allegations
News
NLC threatens nationwide protests as insecurity worsens, withdraws support for Labour Party
NLC threatens nationwide protests as insecurity worsens, withdraws support for Labour Party
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it will no longer remain passive as criminal gangs intensify violent attacks across the country, declaring its readiness to hold a national day of mourning and mobilise nationwide protests over the escalating insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening of the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the country was “under siege,” condemning the latest school kidnapping and the reported withdrawal of security personnel before the attack. He demanded a full investigation to expose any possible compromise within the nation’s security architecture.
“The NLC cannot stand idly by and allow criminals to take over our country—never again. We want to know who ordered the withdrawal of security operatives from that school. We will not allow kidnappers and bandits to overrun our nation,” Ajaero said.
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He stressed that the labour movement would soon announce details of the planned protests and national mourning, insisting the lives of teachers, students and workers were in grave danger. “It is getting out of hand. We can no longer bear this,” he added.
Ajaero also revealed that the NLC had withdrawn its representatives from the Labour Party, accusing them of pursuing personal interests rather than representing workers.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, who addressed the meeting, warned that the country was in “serious trouble” over rising kidnappings and attacks. He rejected calls for foreign military intervention, cautioning that such a move would undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Falana criticised recent statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump, describing them as unacceptable. He urged President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action to protect citizens, saying: “We want to let the world know that we are not a conquered people.”
He called on labour unions, civil society organisations and Nigerians to prepare to resist any further decline in national security.
NLC threatens nationwide protests as insecurity worsens, withdraws support for Labour Party
News
Boris Johnson Hails Kemi Badenoch as “Future UK Prime Minister” During Visit to Nigeria
Boris Johnson Hails Kemi Badenoch as “Future UK Prime Minister” During Visit to Nigeria
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has praised UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, describing her as a “future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom” during his visit to Nigeria for the Imo State Economic Summit 2025.
Speaking in Owerri, Imo State, on Thursday, Johnson commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for his efforts to boost economic development and improve security, noting that he felt “perfectly safe” despite earlier warnings about Nigeria’s security situation.
Johnson highlighted the state government’s push to deliver 24-hour electricity, stressing that reliable power and clean, sustainable energy are essential for economic growth as the world moves into an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven future.
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He also emphasized the strong historical and economic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, praising the exchange of goods, services, and highly skilled professionals between both countries.
In a humorous remark that sparked applause, Johnson said: “We send you former UK prime ministers, and you send us future UK prime ministers in the form of Kemi Badenoch.”
The summit, attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, business mogul Aliko Dangote, and other top government and private-sector leaders, focused on strategies to accelerate Imo State’s economic transformation.
Boris Johnson Hails Kemi Badenoch as “Future UK Prime Minister” During Visit to Nigeria
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