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Universities Boil Again As FG, ASUU Meet, Workers Protest Tuesday

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has scheduled a meeting with the Federal Government on July 25, 2024, to address its outstanding demands.

Meanwhile, non-academic staff in universities have announced a one-day protest on Tuesday to demand their four-month withheld salaries, ahead of a nationwide protest planned for July 18.

According to ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the July 25 meeting is a follow-up to the timeline agreed upon with the government.

ASUU chapters have been protesting across campuses, joined by students, and have threatened another industrial action if their demands are not met.

The union has also written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, urging the full implementation of the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding.

Osodeke noted that the protests have yielded positive results, leading to the government calling a meeting and setting a timeline to fulfill some of the promises.

He said, “We have met with the Minister of Education and reached a timeline. They made promises to us and we want to watch if it would be done. We are meeting two weeks from today, July 25th, to see if they have done what they promised.

“The protest made them to call us for a meeting, they should fulfill their promise.”

The letter published in a newspaper, dated June 20, 2024, said the Nigerian academics were compelled to embark on nationwide strike action on February 14, 2022, when all entreaties to the government to resolve the issues in contention fell on deaf ears.

Osodeke said the 10 issues and other emerging ones were the conclusion of the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s draft Agreement of 2021.

He said the agreement was on the release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries on account of the 2022 strike action; release of unpaid salaries of staff on sabbatical leave, part-time, and adjunct appointments owing to the application of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System; release of outstanding third-party deductions, such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions; funding for revitalisation of public universities (partly captured in 2023 Federal Government’s Budget).

Other issues in contention include the Earned Academic Allowances (partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government’s Budget); proliferation of universities by the federal and state governments; implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities; Illegal dissolution of Governing Councils; and the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (in place of IPPIS).

Osodeke said, “Your Excellency is requested to set necessary machinery in motion for bringing ASUU and major stakeholders (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies) together to address the outstanding issues in FGN/ASUU engagements since 2009. This will save our university system the agonies of another round of industrial action and its disruptive potential. The President’s promise of smooth academic calendars in universities at the inception of this administration, we believe, is achievable if the government sincerely sits down to address the issues as listed here.”

SSANU, NASU to protest Tuesday

Meanwhile, unions of non-academic staff members of the university declared on Sunday that they will be embarking on a nationwide protest starting from Thursday, July 18, 2024, over their withheld four-month salaries.

But before that, all branches of the non-academic unions under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee would protest at each of their branches on Tuesday.

The workers, under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, said their meeting with the government officials had collapsed.

The two unions operating under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee disclosed this in a circular jointly signed by the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, and President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, which was obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday.

The circular directed all branches of the two unions to hold a mandatory general meeting today (July 8, 2024) to sensitise members to the insensitivity of the government to their plights.

According to unions, the actions were necessitated by the failure of the Federal Government to pay their members’ withheld four-month salaries despite several meetings scheduled with the Minister of Education and its Labour counterpart.

“The national body of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, 4th July 2024 to appraise and take position on the current situation in respect of the withheld four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in the University and Inter-University Centres.

“Similarly, the National JAC, on invitation, met with the Honourable Minister of Education; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission.

“Unfortunately, after the engagement,  the Minister of Education has not shown any convincing commitment to the payment of our withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.

“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and as usual, the Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the Villa.

“The Permanent Secretary, who stood in for her, could not make any commitment on the issues raised. In view of this disappointment and failure of the government to address the grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of industrial actions which, include the following:

“All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th Jul, 2024 to sensitise members to the insensitivity of the government to our plights.

“A one-day protest should hold on Tuesday, 9th July 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest and the press or media is adequately mobilised.

“A national protest, which will hold in Abuja on Thursday, 18th July, 2024 after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence. Further information will be communicated appropriately,” the circular read.

The Nigerian government had withheld the salaries of both academic and non-academic staff in Nigerian universities for taking part in an industrial action that grounded the universities for eight months in 2022.

In October, President Bola Tinubu ordered the payment of four of the eight months withheld salaries for the academic staff, leaving out the non-teaching staff.

This development resulted in a renewed rift between the non-academic staff union and the government.

Since the announcement, both SSANU and NASU have kicked against the ‘selective payments’ and asked to be included.

However, only the academic staff received the four months’ salaries paid in February.

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Super Eagles Legendary Goalkeeper Peter Rufai Dies At 60

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The Super Eagles have honoured former Nigerian goalkeeper and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Peter Rufai, following reports of his passing.

In a statement posted on Thursday via X, the national team referred to Rufai, popularly called “Dodo Mayana,” as an iconic figure in Nigerian football whose impact will always be remembered.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the statement said.

The statement praised Rufai’s outstanding career, highlighting his remarkable performances and influence beyond football.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond. Rest well, Peter Rufai,” it added.

Rufai was a key member of the celebrated Nigerian team that won the 1994 AFCON and qualified for the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup in the same year.

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BIG STORY

When Lagos Drew The Line On Plastic Waste, It Chose The Harder, Better Path — By Babajide Fadoju

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On July 1, 2025, the Lagos State Government began full enforcement of its long-announced ban on single-use plastics less than 40 microns in thickness. These included styrofoam food packs, polystyrene cups, plastic straws, and thin carrier bags. This was not just another policy roll-out. It marked a significant environmental turning point for one of Africa’s most densely populated cities.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, had spent months leading the charge. At every forum and press briefing, he maintained that the state would not shift the enforcement date. And when that date arrived, the government kept its word. What many had assumed would be delayed or softened became a reality across markets, food vendors, eateries, and shopping outlets. Lagos had drawn the line.

The decision did not happen overnight. In January 2024, the government had announced the ban on styrofoam products, warning that other forms of non-biodegradable single-use plastics would follow. Manufacturers, food service businesses, and packaging companies were given an 18-month window to adapt. By January 2025, after multiple consultations with key industry players including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Restaurants and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (RFSPAN), and the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), the government granted a six-month extension. That grace period ended on June 30, 2025. The very next day, enforcement began.

Commissioner Wahab consistently emphasised that the decision was not driven by convenience or popularity, but by necessity. Lagos, with its coastal geography, had become especially vulnerable to the effects of plastic pollution. Thin plastics and styrofoam containers were not just littering the streets; they were choking the city’s drainage systems, causing repeated flooding, and disrupting the natural flow of water across low-lying areas. The government had been forced to spend billions clearing clogged drains, dredging canals, and evacuating waste. These were resources that could have supported education, housing, or healthcare. Continuing with the status quo would have been reckless.

Across the world, over 70 countries had adopted similar bans or restrictions. Some had introduced taxes on plastic bags. Others had outright prohibited the use of certain materials. Lagos joined that global conversation not to make a statement, but to solve a real problem. For years, markets like Mile 12 and Oyingbo had been overwhelmed by plastic waste. Waterways like the Ogun River and Lagos Lagoon had carried tonnes of microplastics downstream. With each rain, the damage multiplied.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) played a central role in translating policy into action. In the weeks leading up to enforcement, LAWMA organised community outreach campaigns, market sensitisation, and stakeholder meetings. Waste collectors were briefed on how to spot banned items and how to separate recyclable materials. LAWMA officials worked directly with traders, waste vendors, and informal sector recyclers to ease the transition. Educational materials were printed in English, Yoruba, and Pidgin to reach as many residents as possible.

Despite all these efforts, resistance remained. Some business owners argued that alternatives were more expensive. Others claimed they had not received enough notice. But Wahab was unflinching. He stated clearly that any manufacturer or distributor who had failed to find a safer, eco-friendly alternative after 24 months was simply not ready to comply. The policy had been public knowledge since 2024. The time for excuses had passed.

There was also concern about job losses, especially in the plastic production and distribution chain. The government responded by highlighting the opportunity for innovation. Biodegradable packaging, paper alternatives, reusable food containers, and local compostable materials were now in demand. New jobs could be created in eco-friendly product design, waste sorting, and recycling infrastructure. Wahab noted that Lagos would support businesses willing to shift in this direction, but would no longer subsidise pollution in the name of economic convenience.

The path Lagos chose was not the easiest, but it was the most responsible. It took political will to push through a decision that affected thousands of daily transactions, from street food sales to major retail chains. It took environmental clarity to say no when delay would have been more comfortable. And it took administrative strength to follow through on enforcement, when doing nothing would have been easier.

Now, the hard part continues. Enforcement must be consistent. Public awareness must be sustained. And alternatives must remain within reach of ordinary citizens. But with this bold step, Lagos signalled that it would no longer be held hostage by harmful habits and unchecked commercial practices.

The story of July 1, 2025, was not just about plastic. It was about leadership. It was about vision. And it was about protecting a city that refuses to collapse under the weight of its own waste.

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BIG STORY

AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn

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The Asset Management Company of Nigeria has confirmed the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

Gbenga Alake, managing director and chief executive officer of AMCON, revealed the details of the transaction during a media briefing with journalists on Thursday.

In April 2024, the federal government announced plans to sell five electricity distribution companies managed by banks and AMCON.

Ibadan DisCo, which was under AMCON’s management, is among the five companies listed for sale. Others include the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

During the briefing, Alake stated that the company was sold for N100 billion.

He mentioned that AMCON would soon transfer the company to the preferred bidder.

“Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it has already been sold. It was sold for how much?” Alake said.

“We got in and said no, it cannot be. We said they should go and submit a new offer that we were not going to sell for that.

“At the end of the day, we got almost double of what Ibadan DisCos was going to be sold for.”

He explained that the sale has sparked legal disputes, with “so many interests now fighting and writing”.

Alake maintained that despite the matter being in court, AMCON remains confident that the process was properly handled.

“We have sold it… and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it,” he said.

On May 15, reports emerged that the African Initiative Against Abuse of Public Trust, a civil society group, had filed a suit at the federal high court in Abuja against AMCON, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and Ibadan DisCo over an alleged planned sale of a 60 percent stake in the company for $62 million.

The civil society group, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/866/2025, described the sale as “secretive and illegal,” claiming the price was “corruptly undervalued”.

The group also argued that the transaction would result in a $107 million loss compared to the $169 million paid for the same stake during the 2013 privatisation of Ibadan DisCo.

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