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ASUU Strike: NLC Ignores FG’s Request, Insists On Protest

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The Federal Government and labor unions on Wednesday clashed over the groups’ refusal to back down on its planned two-day nationwide protests scheduled for July 26 and 27.

No fewer than 40 unions, including the aviation workers, will participate in the rally called in solidarity with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities which has shut down public universities since February 14 over the failure of the government to meet its demands.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, said the protest was illegal since the Nigeria Labour Congress had no pending disputes with the government but the congress retorted that it would go on with the protest, saying the freedom to protest is guaranteed by the constitution.

ASUU embarked on a one-month warning strike on February 14 to press home its demand for the implementation of the October 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions, and National Association of Academic Technologists later joined the industrial action.

In May, the ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, announced the extension of the three-month prolonged strike by an additional three months.

In reaction, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said in March that the government had paid over N92bn, including N40bn for earned academic allowances for ASUU and other unions and N30b for university revitalization as part of the implementation of the agreement reached with the union in December 2020.

The FG also reconstituted a team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement it had with the varsity teachers. The team was headed by Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, and Prof Nimi Briggs.

To fast-track the resolution of the crisis, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Tuesday, directed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to resolve the five-month strike within two weeks and report back to him.

In solidarity with ASUU, the NLC on July 17 announced that it would kick off a nationwide protest to pressure the federal government to resolve the crisis in the tertiary education sector.

But addressing State House correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by the President, the information minister, Mohammed, accused the Congress of being motivated by partisan interests, saying it was supposed to be “completely insulated from politics.”

He said, “The NLC is not a political party. The NLC can go on strike or protest if the rights of the NLC members are involved. What the NLC is planning in the next few days is about interest. There’s no dispute whatsoever between NLC as a body with the Federal Government.

“Well yes, there’s a dispute between some members of the NLC, ASUU, and the federal government, which is being looked into. And NLC itself is a party to the committee that is looking into the solution.

“So, calling out people on street protest; you begin to wonder, what is the motive of the NLC in this matter? But you see here, we do not interrogate what the NLC is doing. The NLC by its own laws cannot even give out pamphlets. And the NLC is supposed to be completely insulated from politics.”

In a separate briefing, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said he had proposed one week to resolve the FG-ASUU faceoff but the education minister volunteered to resolve the issues in two weeks.

He also debunked reports that the President asked him to steer clear of the negotiations saying “the truth of the matter is there is no such thing, it’s just categorically untrue. There is nothing like a hands-off.”

Also, the Federal Ministry of Education described as unreasonable the plans of the NLC to embark on a two-day solidarity protest despite the directive of the President to the education minister to end the lingering strike in two weeks.

Speaking in an interview in Abuja, the spokesperson for the education ministry, Ben Goong, advised ASUU to call off its strike pending the commencement of the negotiations by Adamu.

He stated, “The President has given specific directives and the minister of education has said that he will carry out the president’s directive to the letter. It is a presidential directive and it will happen. Actions have been taken.

“If they still go ahead with the strike then it will be unreasonable. It will be a slap on the face of the president and also on the minister. In fact, we will advise ASUU to suspend its strike pending when the negotiations begin.”

Reacting, the Head, Information and Public Affairs, NLC, Mr. Benson Upah, in an interview said the government could resolve the lingering strike within three days if it was serious about the crisis, stressing that the union was going ahead with its protests.

He stated, “We’re still going ahead (with the protests). The public auction is on July 26th and then the mega one is on (July) 27th. So, I mean, of what effect will two weeks have on that?

“I am saying that had the government asked the minister of education to solve this problem within two or three days, aha. But he is giving him two weeks, and two weeks will come after our protest must have taken place. Don’t you think so? So it’s like take charge of it.’’

While acknowledging the ultimatum handed down to the education minister, the NLC spokesman argued that nothing had happened to change the proposed rally.

He further added, ‘’If the government wants to end this matter today, I assure you that they will be able to fix it in three hours. Remember when the airline operators planned to go on strike and within hours there was an intervention; remember?

“The summary of what I want to tell you is that nothing has happened for us to change our proposed action. All I know is that we’re going on with our action.’’

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President Tinubu Demands Equity For Developing Nations At 17th BRICS Meeting

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President Bola Tinubu says there must be equity and inclusion for low-income and emerging economies in global systems. Tinubu explained that these measures should extend across governance, finance, healthcare, and climate change issues.

The president made these remarks at the 17th BRICS meeting on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Nigeria became a partner country to the bloc in January.

According to a statement on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu highlighted that environmental degradation, the climate crisis, and healthcare inequalities deserve more focus, as they slow development and growth.

“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he added.

Tinubu emphasized the importance of a new path of justice, anchored on fairness, sustainable technology transfer, and accessible financing, to help emerging economies fully benefit from various initiatives.

“The African continent is creating the path through the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall. We believe that COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to adopt a strategic approach to achieving a healthy global environment,” the president said.

“Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare.

“We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution.

“We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion South-South cooperation, align with the global renewal framework and achieve universal health coverage for all.

“As we approach COP-30 and look to strengthen the global health system, we believe the BRICS must not only be a bloc for emerging economies but also a beacon for emerging solutions and resolutions rooted in solidarity, self-reliance, sustainability, and shared prosperity of a common future.”

Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strategic collaboration that results in sustainable and inclusive development.

Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, and Wale Edun, minister of finance, accompanied the president to the summit.

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I’m Going To Contest For President In 2027 — Peter Obi

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Opposition leader Peter Obi has declared he will run for president in 2027, rejecting claims that he might serve as running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“I’m going to contest for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I believe I am qualified for it,” Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, said during the Sunday Politics programme.

When asked if he was considering being Atiku’s running mate in 2027, Obi responded, “This is not in play; nobody has ever discussed that. People assume so many things. Nobody has ever discussed with me whether I am going to be A or B or C.”

The former governor of Anambra State emphasized that he remains a strong member of the Labour Party, though he is actively involved in the African Democratic Congress coalition formed by opposition groups to defeat President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, who is seeking a second term in 2027.

“I am part of the coalition which will be able to produce a president with the capacity and compassion to save this country,” he said.

‘Just Four Years’

Obi explained that he would need no more than four years to provide effective leadership for Nigerians.

“I don’t need a day more than four years. I will show the direction of good governance,” Obi insisted, making it clear that he will run for president in 2027 rather than as a deputy to any other politician.

“In two years, there has been maximum damage. Two years can change it in a good direction. People want to get up and see a president that cares, that shows compassion,” he added.

On July 2, 2025, an inter-party coalition including Atiku Abubakar, Obi, ex-Senate President David Mark, former minister Rauf Aregbesola, former minister Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai and others, adopted the ADC as the joint opposition platform to challenge Tinubu, whose government has faced accusations of economic mismanagement, historic inflation, and unprecedented hardship.

The coalition is relying on the voting numbers Obi and Atiku achieved in 2023. Atiku of the PDP and Obi of the Labour Party came second and third respectively, with a combined tally exceeding 12 million votes, over four million more than Tinubu’s total as announced by INEC.

Reacting to criticism that the ADC coalition consists of spent politicians who once held power, Obi argued:

“In fact, even some who have been in that government, their experience is critical.

“I can tell you one of the major companies in the world hired two people who have worked in failed companies because they can tell you why they failed.

“You need the experience of those who have failed and those who have succeeded to move on, and I need everyone. It is a critical experience because they know what can fail a system and they know what was wrong with the system,” he explained.

‘No Anti-Party Activity’

Obi further maintained that he is still a member of the Labour Party despite being active within the ADC coalition, stressing that his participation is not “anti-party”.

“No, there is no anti-party. Remember, we said for 2027. We are not in 2027; we are in 2025. It’s clear. We’ve adopted it for 2027. So, if I say I am going to be part of your dinner in the evening, that doesn’t mean I should abandon my breakfast and lunch.”

“The coalition just adopted a party for 2027. So, we are trying to work together for the sake of Nigeria.

“Today, I am a Labour Party member. I remain in the Labour Party. But we have all agreed to work as a coalition for the 2027 election, and for that, we’ve adopted ADC. Going on, other parties, other individuals will also come in.

“We want better governance for this country. We want to see a more competent government with capacity and character.

“This coalition might have other parties as it happened in the past, and change the name of the party.

“I am a member of this (Labour Party) and I am going to work with this group,” he concluded.

 

Credit: Channels TV

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BIG STORY

Police Arrest 19 Ghanaians In Oyo Trafficking Bust

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The Oyo State Police Command on Sunday revealed it had apprehended 19 individuals, including 14 men and five women, all young Ghanaian nationals, over trafficking activities in the state.

In a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, in Ibadan, the suspects were arrested at Kajorepo community in the Akinyele Local Government Area.

He explained that the arrests followed credible intelligence about suspicious activity at a building where the victims were housed.

Osifeso stated that in line with standard procedures, the victims had been transferred to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further investigation.

“The state command proudly announces the successful completion of a targeted operation on July 2, 2025, based on credible intelligence related to suspicious activities at a building in the Kajorepo area of Akinyele Local Government Area.

“Around 5:30 pm, the state Intelligence Department, with the invaluable support of tactical command teams, executed a search warrant at the site, which had been securely locked from the outside.

“This operation led to the arrest of 19 individuals, comprised of 14 men and five women, all young nationals from Ghana.

“During the investigation, it became clear that these individuals had been lured to Nigeria with false promises of job opportunities, falling prey to a manipulative scheme by unknown perpetrators who exploited them for financial gain.

“The victims provided critical information about their ordeals, significantly aiding the ongoing investigations. The victims have since been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service for further investigations and to possibly reunite them with loved ones back in their country.”

He emphasized that the command remained focused on identifying those responsible for the trafficking network and would continue gathering intelligence to track down the perpetrators.

Osifeso assured the public of the police command’s commitment to maintaining safety and security for all residents and encouraged citizens to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities directly to the authorities.

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