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196-day-old strike : Negotiation between the leadership of the ASUU and the ministry, Ngige writes Adamu on status
…Union’s selfish, political —NANS
…They should have considered our children’s plight —Parents
..We’ve solved 80% of ASUU’s demands—FG claims
…State varsities’ ASUU membership voluntary, say pro-chancellors
..Back CONUA on liberalisation of academic unions
AS members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, failed to call off their 196-day-old strike, yesterday, indications have emerged that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has written the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to get the situation report on the negotiation between the leadership of the union and the ministry.
Also, there are insinuations that the Federal Government may drag ASUU to the National Industrial Court for refusing to suspend the strike, after some of its concerns had been addressed.
An impeccable source in the Ministry of Labour and Employment did not confirm whether there was any such move to take ASUU to the Industrial Court, but the source said the Minister of Labour, who is the Conciliator-in-Chief, might meet with the Minister of Education to know the status of the ongoing renegotiation talks.
“We gathered that the Minister (Ngige) has written to the Minister of Education to know the status of the ongoing negotiation with ASUU. The union is also expected to inform the ministry,” the source said.
Reminded that ASUU has extended the strike, the source said: “There must be a reason they decided to extend the strike, despite government’s offer to them. But I don’t know whether they have given their reasons for the action to the Minister of Education; the union is supposed to write to the ministry to state why they are extending the strike. They are also supposed to copy the Minister of Labour.”
Another source said since the Minister of Education was the direct employer of the university teachers and the one handling the negotiation matters, it was normal that he should write his counterpart in the Ministry of Labour on the situation report.
“You know the matter was sent to Mallam Adamu to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with ASUU, that is why the Professor Nimi Briggs Renegotiation Committee was set up. If there is any breakdown, the Minister of Education should write a report on the status of the negotiation to the Minister of Labour. ASUU is also expected to send a report to the Labour Minister,” he said.
Parents of students in public universities and their wards were, yesterday, left disappointed when members of ASUU failed to call off their industrial action, after their National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja.
Instead of the anticipated easing of tension in the ivory towers, the union rather opted to roll over the strike that entered 196 days, yesterday. The industrial action started on February 14, this year.
Though the national leadership of the union is yet to come up with an official statement on the meeting, it was gathered that the meeting resolved to go on indefinite strike.
A member of the NEC told Vanguard that a formal position of the union in respect of the NEC meeting would be communicated through ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who he noted was the person with the responsibility to do so.
“We resolved in our just concluded NEC meeting that we should make the ongoing strike indefinite since the federal government has failed to show any commitment to addressing the grey areas that led us to this action.
”Our president, as usual, would communicate this, among other decisions, to the public through the media,” he said, refusing to speak further.
Commenting on the development, the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Sunday Asefon, described the action of the union as political, warning that the lecturers should no longer claim they were fighting for the welfare of students.
“Yes, strike is a weapon by unions to agitate for their demands to be met. But in this case, ASUU has deviated from their original intention. They are now pursuing their own personal interests.
”The leadership of ASUU is selfish. We won’t support them again, we were supporting them before because the issue of Revitalisation Fund for the universities was involved. Now, they are concerned about their salaries and welfare.
“We can say the Federal Government has not done well, but that is not to say that the union should be inconsiderate too. Most of the things they are now complaining about, the UTAS, salary increment, Earned Academic Allowances, who are they for?
”They are for the lecturers now. We are not saying the government should not pay them, but they should know that students were at home for nine months in 2020 and now for over six months. We may have to call out Nigerian students to protest against this,” he said.
The National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, Haruna Danjuma, expressed disappointment about the turn of events.
“We thought the issues would be amicably resolved and the strike suspended, but that was not the case. It is a big blow. We need divine intervention in this matter. The government has more than one thousand and one ways to resolve this matter.
”We implore the President to thread softly on the issue of “No work, no pay,” as that is the major grey area now.
“We appeal that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the FG and ASUU hold a meeting to resolve this. The union and the government should consider the plight of our children. There is no need to escalate the situation,” he said.
We’ve solved 80% of ASUU’s demands —FG
Reacting to the development, the FG said it had addressed 80 per cent of the union’s demands, noting that the extension of the strike was unreasonable.
The Federal Ministry of Education, speaking through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr Bem Goong, said:”If you bring some demands and almost 80% have been attended to, there is no need to drag the strike anymore. It is unreasonable for the strike to be lingering since the government has worked towards fulfilling most of the demands.”
Mr. Going who said the federal government had deployed all measures to end the strike, added: “As regards the next steps, the government has already inaugurated a committee to harmonize the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS and the University Peculiar Personnel and Payroll System,U3PS. This will ensure that the government will pay with only one payment platform that will harmonize all the technical peculiarities.”
Recall that the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu, had last week, claimed that government had resolved most of the demands of ASUU.
Among the demands addressed, according to Adamu, was the release of N50 billion for the payment of earned allowances for academic and non-academic staff of universities.
State varsities’ ASUU membership voluntary—Pro-chancellors
Meanwhile, the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of state universities yesterday said state universities could not be coerced to implementing the agreement reached between the Federal Government and lecturers in federal universities under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The committee also called for liberalisation of industrial unions in the university system by registering more unions.
The pro-chancellors also stated that there was a need for the democratisation of membership of unions in the universities, noting that state varsities’ membership was voluntary.
State universities have come under fire over their failure to pull out of the ongoing strike declared by the national body of ASUU.
In a statement yesterday by the chairman, Yusuf Ali, SAN, the pro-chancellors said: “ The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-owned Universities read with alarm and disbelief a statement made by the President of the ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodike on a television programme where he said that state universities are ‘irrelevant and quacks’.
“Our first reaction was to ignore this tendentious, ill-conceived and flagrant unconscionable statement by the President of ASUU, but on reflection, it was thought necessary to do a rejoinder to this rather unfortunate statement, having regard to the position of the President of ASUU in the scheme of things in our university system in Nigeria.
“Though COPSUN will not want to go into any diatribe with the president of ASUU, the committee wishes to state as follows to put records straight:
“That the Pro-Chancellors of our state universities and, indeed, members of the councils are distinguished and accomplished eminent persons who served and still serve this nation in many capacities.”
A 29-year-old female lawyer, Ms. Peace Chidinmma Igbo, has been brought before an Ebutta-Metta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State for failing to produce a suspect she stood bail for.
According to a charge sheet,” That you Peace Chidinma Igbo ‘F’ on the 25th day of November 2024 at the Nigeria Police Force CID Annex Alagbon, Lagos did conspire together to obstruct, prevent, pervert or defeat the course of justice by failing to provide one Sodiq Kazem which you stood bail for in a case of conspiracy, burglary, unlawful entry, stealing and given false information in a bail sum of (N1,000,000.00) One Million Naira at the Nigeria Police Force CID Annex Alagbon Lagos and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
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In his remarks, the complainant’s lawyer, Mr. Olu Akanbi, stressed that Miss Igbo should have known better than to put herself in such a situation.
Akanbi stated that Miss Igbo was protecting other individuals involved in the matter, essentially taking the fall for them.
“These individuals, who are being investigated by the police at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon Annexe, are reportedly using retired and serving senior police officers to shield themselves and frustrate the investigation.
The lawyer extolled FCID police officers for their due diligence.
Mr Akanbi said as a legal practitioner, Ms Igbo’s actions over the matter have raised questions about her professional conduct. He further stated that Ms Peace Chidinma Igbo and Mr Sodiq Kazeem are both staff of Green Birch Tech Limited and are also conspirators with the other staff now at large.
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to May 20, 2025, leaving Miss Igbo’s fate hanging in the balance.
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I committed to diversifying the economy and expanding revenue sources, not to punish Nigerians, Says Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday that recent government policies are not meant to punish Nigerians but are necessary interventions to prevent the economy from collapsing.
Tinubu made this known at the 55th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) in Abuja.
The president was represented by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa.
Dangiwa was, in turn, represented by Dr Edna Tobi, Special Assistant for International Cooperation and Partnership in the Ministry.
The conference’s theme was, “Transform, Invest, Drive: Optimising Real Estate Finance and Taxation.”
It brought together stakeholders to deliberate on the intersection of real estate and fiscal policy.
The president said that the administration was committed to diversifying the economy and expanding revenue sources.
This, he said, informed the government’s drive to implement policies that enhanced income from taxation while upholding fairness and transparency.
“Our decision to reform Nigeria’s tax system and fiscal policy was deliberate and strategic,” he said.
“It was a courageous and bold move aimed at addressing the suffocating economic challenges facing the nation.”
Tinubu stated that reforms were tailored to create a more investment-friendly environment, particularly in the real estate sector, and to boost job creation and economic growth.
He acknowledged the critical role of estate surveyors and valuers in achieving these objectives and expressed the government’s willingness to partner with NIESV to deliver effective tax administration and revenue utilisation.
Delivering the keynote address, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, described the real estate sector as a vital but under-assessed part of Nigeria’s economy.
Adedeji, represented by Chief Economic Adviser Prof. Mohammed Salisu,identified challenges such as informality, data fragmentation, and inconsistent valuation standards as obstacles to effective taxation.
“The Tax Administration Bill will provide clearer procedures and responsibilities for taxpayers, enhance compliance, and reduce inefficiencies and multiple taxation,” he said.
Adedeji called for the cooperation of NIESV in standardising property valuation methods and supporting the implementation of reforms.
NIESV President, Victor Alonge, described the conference as a milestone event, stating that the outcomes would help reposition land, housing, and infrastructure policy in Nigeria.
He assured that the institute would present a comprehensive communiqué to the government, containing resolutions and actionable policy suggestions to drive national development
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Things You Need to Know About Dr. Charles Akinola, the Newly Nominated Managing Director of SWDC
….A Seasoned Public Policy Advisor and Development Strategist
Dr. Akinola has over 30 years of experience in public service, international development, and strategic governance, specializing in agricultural development, sustainable economic growth, and policy implementation across Nigeria and West Africa.
2. Holds Prestigious Academic Credentials from Global Institutions. He earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension from the University of Ibadan and a master’s in public policy & administration from Harvard Kennedy School, where he was an Edward S. Mason Fellow.
He also studied at Cambridge, Cranfield, and MIT, gaining advanced expertise in cross-sector partnerships, enterprise development, and conflict resolution.
3. Instrumental in the Formation of the SWDC and the DAWN Commission
Long before his nomination, Dr. Akinola played a key role in founding the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission for regional integration. He was deeply involved in shaping the vision of the SWDC.
As Chairman of the Technical Committee under the Southwest Governors’ Forum, he led the review of the SWDC Bill and coordinated regional consensus on development priorities.
4. Former Chief of Staff in Both Federal and State Governments, He served as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State (2018–2022) and later as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola (CON), while also acting as Senior Special Assistant on Marine and Blue Economy to President Tinubu.
These roles gave him frontline experience in both subnational and national policy execution.
5. A Leader in Community Engagement and Sustainable Development, Dr. Akinola has worked with major oil & gas companies, including WAPco, designing sustainable livelihood programs across Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. His contributions helped establish the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoUs) as an industry benchmark for community development in the Niger Delta.
6. Active Global Policy Thought Leader.
He is a member of the Dean’s Council at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and was a Fellow at Harvard’s Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs. His thought leadership focuses on governance, economic innovation, and institutional reform.
7. Arts Collector
Dr. Akinola is a lover of the arts and culture, collects works of indigenous artists, such as Jimoh Buraimoh, Demas Nwoko, Tola Wewe, Nike Okundaye, among others.
*Career Highlights*
• Dr. Charles Akindiji Akinola is a Public Policy Advisor and Administrator whose work has traversed the agricultural and agribusiness, sustainable community economic development, international affairs, and development sectors, developing strategies that shape policy implementation.
• Dr. Akinola holds a Ph. D. in Agricultural Extension from the University of Ibadan, and a master’s degree in public policy & administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
• He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Cross-Sector Partnerships from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, and attended certificate courses in Enterprise Development and Management from Cranfield University, Cranfield UK, and in Negotiation, Mediation, and Dispute Resolution from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA.
• Until recently, Dr. Akinola was Senior Special Assistant to the President on Marine & Blue Economy and concurrently, Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister.
• He served as the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Osun State between 2018 and 2022. During his tenure, he supported the Governor in developing and implementing policy objectives and strategic and operational plans of the administration.
• As Chief of Staff, the Southwest Governors Forum appointed Dr. Akinola as the Chairman of the Technical Committee to review the South-West Development Commission (SWDC) Bill and aggregated the position of the six Southwest States towards a joint memorandum to the Governors and subsequently to the National Assembly.
• He has worked with major oil & gas companies within and outside Nigeria including the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) / West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAPco) covering Nigeria, Republic du Benin, Togo, and Ghana by designing and implementing programs that addressed issues of Sustainable Development and Livelihoods in the Niger Delta and West Africa region.
• He advised and collaborated with International Oil companies in the development of the New Community Engagement Strategy, premised on the Participatory Regional Development Model (2005), guided by the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoUs). The model was adopted as the industry standard in Community engagement and development by the joint ventures of the National Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Oil companies in the Niger Delta.
• In previous roles, Dr. Akinola was the Director General of the Office of Economic Development and Partnerships (OEDP) between 2011 and 2018. The OEDP was the strategic Think Tank, Policy Advisory, and Implementation agency domiciled in the Office of the Governor. Dr. Akinola played a central role in the activities leading to the establishment of the Development Agenda of Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
• He was Chairman of the Osun State Planning Commission between 2011-2014 and in this capacity collaborated with leading development partners to deliver sustainable development in the State.
• Dr. Akinola was the Founder and Executive Director of Enterprise for Development International (EfDI) between 1999 and 2009. In this role, he coordinated EfDI’s varied consultancy assignments in community economic development in Nigeria, including the expansion of EfDI’s portfolio of development activities in the Niger Delta and the strengthening of local institutions.
• Between 2001 and 2005, Dr. Akinola was the National Coordinator of the Sustainable Tree Crop Program (STCP), a multi-agency, public-private sector effort to facilitate the improvement of smallholder agricultural systems based on tree crops in West Africa with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Chocolate Industry Worldwide.
• Between 1993 and 1998, Dr. Akinola was the Nigeria Country Director of TechnoServe, a US-based international development organisation that worked in 17 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
• He taught at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria from 1984 until 1989 and was on the training and research faculty of the Pan African Institute for Development (PAID) in Buea, Cameroon 1990.
• Dr. Akinola was an Edward S. Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and, subsequently, a Fellow at the Harvard Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs (WCFIA). His work focused on Innovation for Economic Development and Governance between 2009 and 2011.
• He is currently a member of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Dean’s Council.
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