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(Nigeria) The  Federal Government has asked the National Industrial Court, NIC, to ordered t he Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU , to resume academic activities. FG and ASUU are to appear in court on Monday, as hearing in the case brought by FG resumes. T he suit followed the referral of the protracted dispute   between   the   FG and ASUU to the NIC by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige. The Federal Government is among others, praying the court to the court to order ASUU to resume academic activities. The court in a letter of summon dated September 9, sign the Chief Registrar, said among others, "Take note above mention case will not be listed for mention before the National Industrial Court sitting at N0 11, New -Bussa close , Area 3, Garki Abuja, on September 2022, at 9 am." Those summoned include the Minster of Education, Minster of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation,   Minister, Federal Ministry of Labour and Enypl

*President Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , and five university students have filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari, asking the court to “declare unlawful the refusal by the Federal Government to meet ASUU’s demands, which has occasioned the prolonged strike action and violated the students’ right to quality education.” Defendants in the suit are the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chris Ngige, and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN. The suit followed the apparent lack of commitment by the Federal Government to implement the agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and to end the over seven-month-old industrial action by the union, and the threat by the government to implement its “no work, no pay” policy. In the suit number NICN/ABJ/269/2022 filed last week at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, SERAP and the students are see

*Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Nigeria) Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has no plans to handover federal universities to states, if elected president in the 2023 general election, adding that education would  remain on concurrent list. Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar , Paul Ibe , while reacting to statement credited to his principal that he would hand over federal universities to states, said: “ We have noticed with dismay the mischievous misinterpretation of what the Presidential candidate of the PDP and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, said at the plenary of the 62nd annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association as it relates to education and how to address the crisis in the sector. “ For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku did not say that he will handover Federal Universities to state governments if he is elected president come February next year. “ The report is false, untrue, unfounded and not a true reflection of

(Nigeria) International College of Democracy and Human Rights Scholars, comprising over 100 erudite academics, int’l democracy and rights campaigners, religious leaders, lawyers and activists; has viewed the two-day solidarity protest by the leaders of the Nigerian Labor Congress, NLC, and its affiliates as ‘a welcome development and beginning of final push by democratic forces to rescue Nigeria and Nigerians from shackles of Nigeria’s anti democratic forces’. The body in a statement on Thursday, said: “The Nigerian Government must be compelled by all democratic forces led by NLC and ASUU to end the protracted industrial action of the country’s academic teachers’ union by adhering strictly to outstanding Memorandum of Understandings and Memorandum of Agreements between the Nigerian Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, since 2009 and thereafter. “The insensitivity towards the ASUU’s protracted industrial action since February 14, 2022, a period of five mont

(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has filed a lawsuit against the 36 state governors “over their failure to redirect public funds budgeted to pay ex-governors undeserved life pensions, to pay the counterpart funds that would allow poor children to enjoy access to quality basic education in their states.” Over N40 billion has been reportedly paid to 47 former governors from 21 of the 36 states in pensions and provision of houses, staff and motor vehicles replaceable between three and four years. However, several states have reportedly failed to pay the counterpart funds to access over N51bn matching grants earmarked by the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, for basic education in the country. In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1120/2022 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the 36 state governors to pay the counterpart funds that would allow poor Nigerian children to enjoy access t

(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently recover missing N105.7bn of public funds from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to fund the country’s public tertiary institutions, improve the welfare of staff members, and ensure that the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, return to class without further delay.” SERAP said, “Pending the recovery of the missing public funds, we urge you to redirect some of the presidency’s budget of N3.6 billion on feeding and travels, and the N134 billion allocated to the National Assembly in the 2022 budget to meet the demands by ASUU.” SERAP also urged him to “send to the National Assembly a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the proposed redirected budget, for its approval. In the letter dated July 2, 2022, by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Meeting the demands by ASUU would confront the persiste

*Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, receiving the license from Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed on Thursday. (Nigeria) The National Universities Commission, NUC,  has granted license to Enugu State Government recognising establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, SUMAS, Igbo-Eno, Enugu State. The license issued to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, at NUC headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, was sequel to the enactment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Law, Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, on April 13, 2022. Presenting the license, the Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, congratulated Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the people of the state “on the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences to be located in Igbo-Eno of Enugu State”. The Law establishing SUMAS was presented to NUC by Enugu State government alongside the Academic brief and Master Plan of the new Univers

*Late Deborah Samuel (Nigeria) The police in Sokoto State, said they have arrested two persons in connection with the killing of a level two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, who was murdered and burnt by a mob over an alleged blasphemy. Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, Sanusi Abubakar, in a statement on Thursday, said: “At 0900hrs, a distress call was received from Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, stating that students were rioting over one female student named Deborah Samuel, a level two student, who was accused of making a social media post that blasphemed the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW). “Students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building. “The students banded together with miscreants and barricaded the Sokoto/Jega road. “Upon receiving the information, the DC Operations led a team of policemen and all other operational co

(Nigeria) Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has said that his administration would support a proposal by a British firm, HP Kapital Limited, to partner the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) to build a 500-bed University Hospital, three factories, a waste management plant and other facilities within the vicinity of the Adoration Centre, in Enugu. Ugwuanyi who spoke when the Spiritual Director of AMEN, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, led the Group Chairman of HP Kapital Limited, Nandishwar Kaushal and his team to visit him, at the Government House, Enugu, said the state government will do all that is required, considering its limited resources, to assist and ensure that the laudable project succeeds. The delegation visited Gov. Ugwuanyi to formally inform him of their remodeling plan for the Adoration Centre to serve as a multifunctional facility to include a University Hospital of international standard with specialized medical services such as a helipad and air ambulance, a five

*Adesunbo Onitiri (Nigeria) Activist and critic, Otunba Adesunbo Onitiri has advised the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to settle with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, immediately or resign his post without delay.  Onitiri in a statement in Lagos on Thursday, said: “Adamu must be told the truth that he cannot continue to remain in office while Nigeria's university education is being messed up and lecturers are on indefinite strike for months and government feeling unconcerned.  “Recalled that last year alone, ASUU went on strike for over eight months, while millions of Nigerian students stayed home doing nothing. This year again, ASUU had started another rounds of indefinite strike, thus ruining and jeopardizing the future education of our youths.  “The ASUU has said if the government could release N200 billion to the universities, its members would go back to the classrooms immediately to begin lectures and end the strike.  "How much is N200b

*Nigerian Senate (Nigeria) The Senate has approved the establishment of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, in Katsina State. The approval came with the passage of a bill seeking its establishment. The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. Chairman of the Committee, Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), in his presentation, said the establishment of the university would allow Nigerians access to modern knowledge, emerging techniques and skills in the transport industry. According to him, the institution would provide required knowledge to prospective students to enhance Nigeria’s transportation sector and make them drivers of the industry. He explained that the development of the transport sector by knowledge transfer and capacity building would in turn generate employment  opportunities for Nigerians. “The envisaged University of Transportation has immense benefits, especially in closing

*Nigerian Senate (Nigeria) The Senate, Tuesday, passed a bill seeking to establish a Federal University of Medical Sciences and Biomedical Technology across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. The bill was passed during plenary after the chamber considered a report on it by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary). Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (Kwara Central) , in his presentation, said the establishment of the University in the six zones of the country would address the dearth in admission of students aspiring to study Medicine and Allied Sciences in Nigeria. According to the lawmaker, the presence of the university would also supply the much needed manpower in healthcare service sector as well as boost income generation and ensure economic growth. “When passed into law, the huge gap in doctor-patient ratio as well as in medical research and production of pharmaceutical products will be abridged. “The universities will also advance healthca

*Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN (Nigeria) The future of Nigerian and regional institutions like the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, will depend on how well they embrace technological innovations and their ability to reinvent themselves, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Prof. Osinbajo stated this yesterday in Abuja while formally declaring open the 70th Annual Council Meeting of WAEC. Nigeria is hosting the body's landmark Annual Council Meeting - its Platinum Anniversary. Highlighting key areas, the examination body could prepare better and innovate for the future, Prof. Osinbajo noted that "Critical thinking, creativity, imagination, problem solving skills, and collaboration, are essential skills that young people need to be competitive and prepared for life and work in a global economy." Urging the body to design its curriculum further to test for and support these core skills, Prof. Osinbajo advised that "the Africa that WAEC must prepare our ch

(Nigeria) The Senate, Tuesday, passed a bill to provide the needed legislative framework for the establishment of the Federal College of Education, Ekiadolor, Edo State. The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. The bill which scaled second reading on 28th September, 2021, was sponsored by Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South).  Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ahmad Babba-Kaita, in his presentation during plenary, said the objective of the bill was to provide a legislative framework to support the establishment of the college. According to the lawmaker, the institution would augment the shortfall of teachers, as well as meet learning, research and instructional needs of the prospective students of host communities in particular and Nigeria as a whole. “The legislative framework designed for the college, is to offer Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and other certification in the areas of its c

*Director-General, NYSC,  Major General  Shuaibu Ibrahim  (Nigeria) Director  General of the National  Youth service Corps, NYSC,  Major General  Shuaibu Ibrahim has advised members  of the scheme to be innovative by  creating wealth and  opportunities. Speaking during a working visit to the orientation  camp in  Kussala Dam Karaye, of the  batch A stream 1 deployed to Kano, the DG said: "Please, open your minds so that you will benefit immensely from the skill acquisition training. Avoid cutting corners: drive your vision with passion; remain focused and the sky will be your limit." The DG advised the Corps Members to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the Scheme, aimed at  empowering them for self-employment and wealth creation. He urged them to avoid night travelling, lone movements and acceptance of ride from strangers, adding that they should report suspicious activities around them to the law enforcement agencies. Gen Ibrah

*Nigerian Senate (Nigeria) The Senate on Wednesday passed two bills to establish a Federal University in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State. They are the FCT University of Science and Technology Abaji (Establishment) Bill, 2022; and Federal University of Environmental Technology, Koroma/Saakperwa Tai Ogoni, Rivers State (Establishment) Bill, 2022. The bills were passed after the consideration of two separate reports presented by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sandy Onuh, in a presentation on behalf of the Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita, said the bill to establish the Federal Capital Territory University of Science and Technology, Abaji, would provide the legal framework needed by the institution to close the knowledge gap in science and technology. According to the lawmaker, the bill to establish the Federal University of Environmental Technology, would allow for academic and professional programmes leading t

(Nigeria) The House Representatives said on Monday that it would give every needed support to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin the evacuation of Nigerians back from Ukraine. The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, again re-enforced the position of the legislature when he invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Godfrey Onyeama, to his office in Abuja on Monday for a meeting on the plight of Nigerians caught in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The first batch of the air-lifting is now scheduled to take place on Wednesday this week, according to the minister. The evacuation, earlier planned for Monday, was rescheduled for Wednesday to give enough room for the ministry, the House and the Nigerian foreign missions in Ukraine, Poland and Russia to complete the formalities of moving Nigerians from inside Ukraine to safe borders with neighbouring countries. Gbajabiamila, while commending the ministry for the steps taken so far to ensure the safety of Nigerians, th

*Nigeria Senate  (Nigeria) The Senate has passed a bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Maritime Security Trust Fund. The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the  Conference Committee on the Nigerian Maritime Security Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2022. Chairman of the Conference Committee, Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central), in his presentation, recalled that the bill was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2021. According to the lawmaker, the Senate concurred to the passage of the bill after it was transmitted to the upper chamber on December 1, 2021, with some slight modifications. He explained that the area of difference noticed in the two versions of the bill by both chambers, necessitated the constitution of a Conference Committee by the Senate on January 18, 2022, for the purpose of harmonisation. “The mandate of the Conference Committee, therefore, was to harmonise the area of difference in the two versions of

(Nigeria) Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Thursday, inaugurated multiple legacy infrastructural projects in the state-owned Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu executed by his administration in furtherance of its concerted efforts to reposition the institution by addressing the challenges of decayed infrastructure and inadequate human resources. Some of the landmark projects inaugurated by Gov. Ugwuanyi were block of 15 ultra-modern classrooms on two suspended floors with seating capacity of 1,224 students; block of ultra-modern offices for Registry Division (Exams and Records) with accommodation for a minimum of 75 staff; block of fully furnished ultra-modern Academic Staff Office complex comprising 60 offices with intercom facility; and a world-class Medical Centre with all necessary appurtenances for provision of quality medical services to staff and students of IMT Enugu. Inaugurating the projects, Gov. Ugwuanyi disclosed that the intervention became