Education
Strike: We’re still considering govt offer, says ASUU
- NANS threatens to shut down all private universities
National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, says the appropriate organ of the union is still reflecting on the Federal Government’s offer and will make its position known soon.
He denied claims that the union agreed to end its strike on Wednesday, December 9.
He spoke just as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to shut down all private universities across the country should the nine-month strike embarked upon by ASUU continue.
“To put the records straight, the principal officers and trustees, who constitute the core of representatives of ASUU at negotiation meetings with the government, are not constitutionally empowered to suspend any strike action,” Ogunyemi said in a statement.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in a statement, had said ASUU promised to call of the strike by December 9, 2020.
Ngige also said promises made to ASUU could only be achieved if the union returned to work.
But Ogunyemi said, “ASUU leadership did not reach any understanding with government to suspend the strike on December 9, 2020, and there is nothing in the government offer of November 27, 2020 to suggest that conclusion as allegedly claimed by the Minister of Labour and Employment.
“At our last meeting in the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment on November 27, 2020, the ASUU leadership promised to faithfully present the latest government offer to its members through the established tradition.
“The latest offer by government makes proposals on nearly all items of demand by the union with timelines. Among others, the document which was signed by the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, contains proposals on inauguration of the reconstituted FGN-ASUU Renegotiation Committee (1st December, 2020); release of details about visitation panels (1st December, 2020); working on the actualisation of the release of the withheld salaries of ASUU members (Wednesday, December 9, 2020).
“Clause 9 on the document reads, ‘Based on these conclusions reached on items 1-8, ASUU’s leadership will consult its organs with a view to suspending the ongoing strike.’”
He explained that the outcome of any engagement with agents of the government remained an offer which must be taken back to the branches through the various organs of the union.
He stated, “Views and perspectives on offers by governments are aggregated and presented to government agents as counter-offers.
“This trade union strategy of offer and counter-offer is continually deployed until the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU – consisting of all recognised chairpersons – finally approves what it considers an acceptable offer from the government. It is only then that any strike action by ASUU can be suspended.”
Ogunyemi also said the strike would have been avoided had the government implemented agreements it signed with ASUU.
The ASUU leader said, “It was a needless crisis in the first place. It happened because government has consistently failed to faithfully implement the agreements it freely signed with the union.
“ASUU members, as stakeholders in the Nigerian university system, are equally worried and embarrassed that those in position of authority, over the years, displayed seeming indifference to the rot and decay in Nigeria’s public universities.”
Meanwhile, President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, while speaking on a Punch Online interview programme, The Roundtable, said the association would shut down all private universities if FG and ASUU failed to resolve the crisis.
Asefon, who lamented that the ongoing strike, which is the longest industrial action embarked upon by the university lecturers, said that NANS would get into a discussion with the Federal Government representatives and ASUU leaders to find a lasting solution to resolve the stalemate in negotiations between the two sides.
However, the NANS President pointed out that if the strike action was not called off as soon as possible after consultations with both parties, the association would be left with no option but to move in and shut down all tertiary institutions in the country.
Education
Jigawa Arrests Seven Teachers for Cheating During Competency Test
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
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
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
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