The Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan (UI)chapter, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, on Tuesday, said there is no going back on the two-week nationwide warning strike embarked upon by the union.

“We have been duly and constantly carried along in meetings called at the national level, and members have also criticised the slow speed at which the government has been treating the matter.”

 “It is good to state that the federal government received the report of the committee that was set up to review the report of the previous committee that was set up in 2016.”

“ The current committee was set up in September 2024 to review the previous committee report, and it was submitted in February 2025.”

This means that for eight months, nothing has happened.

“The union has made several efforts to contact people who we believe the government will listen to, apart from the efforts we’ve been making to get the implementation done on time,” he said.

According to Afolabi, the last meeting at the national level was on Sept. 28, and it was at the meeting, a decision was made to give the government a 2-week Ultimatum to sign the draft agreement of the committee.

“ If nothing is done within the stipulated time, the warning strike will begin. All these were stated clearly to the government, hence the warning strike,” he said.

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He added that the no-work-no-pay warning from the government was not new.

“We will get by and by. The response we expected was that the government would resolve the matter, and they have the leverage of power to sign the agreement and also poses the finances to pay salaries of universities, which is the core issue here.”

“So why is the government waiting for this warning strike before issuing a no-work no no-pay warning?”

It’s unfortunate that that’s the type of response we get from the government.

“We, as ASUU or any union, will not want our students to be outside of the university. Our joy is for them to finish their education on time and graduate,” he said.

He, however, urged the government to do the needful in order to end the recurrence of strikes.

Ayobami Lawal, a 300-level student, while speaking on the warning strike, blamed the government, saying that the incessant strike in the country was unfair to both students and lecturers.

Lawal said that lecturers deserve better treatment from the government because of the great impact they are making in the society.

“ When the lecturers are well paid they will perform optimally and produce quality graduates who in turn will make a positive impact in the society, ” he said.

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Yetunde Adebayo, a 200-level student, said that incessant strikes can affect students in their studies.

“Do you know it took some of us, I mean the students longer period to gain admission to study in the institutions, and when you add up this incessant strike, it’s not suitable at all.”

“Learning would be more fun and fast when there are no strikes; we need a stop to strikes in the educational sector.”

“ The government should prioritise our lecturers like they do to politicians,” she said.

The directive is contained in a circular dated Oct. 13, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.

The circular was copied to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Permanent Secretary of Education, Pro-Chancellors of all federal universities, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.

According to the circular, the Federal Ministry of Education expressed dissatisfaction over reports of the continued industrial action by ASUU despite repeated calls for dialogue, stressing that the government would no longer tolerate non-compliance with extant labour laws.

Apart from engagement with the press, in August 2025, members of the ASUU in both federal and state universities held rallies, carrying placards, on their campuses to press the government to address the lingering issues in the university system.

“Nothing came out of all these rallies and pleas. What is clear for now is that both the federal and state governments have a strong habit of paying little or no attention to the education sector in general and the welfare of university academics in particular,” ASUU stated.

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…As Ondo pays N1.6bn gratuity to retired teachers, LG workers

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State says his administration is committed to repositioning the education sector as the most critical pillar of human development and progress.

Aiyedatiwa said this on Monday in Akure while inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Ondo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).

According to the governor, education is the light that guides the path to progress, the tool that shapes people and the bridge between dreams and their realisation.

Aiyedatiwa said the event marked another milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the foundation of education.

“From the very beginning of this administration, we made a solemn commitment to reposition our education sector, not merely as a policy statement, but as a living promise to the children and youth of Ondo State.”

“That is why our administration continues to invest deliberately in education and empower the institutions that regulate and support our teachers.”

“A motivated teacher produces a confident student, and confident students build a confident society. I was once a teacher too, and I have seen the dividends of that calling,” he stated.

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The governor also noted the importance of continuous training and capacity development, saying, “The world is changing rapidly, and so must our teachers.”

Aiyedatiwa said that the appointments were based on integrity, competence and a proven record of service, stressing that the state government was confident in their capacity to make a difference.

He urged the board members to discharge their duties with humility, fairness and commitment, pointing out that the success of the commission depended largely on the integrity of its processes.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti, commended the governor for his deep understanding of the place of Ondo State in Nigeria’s education system.

He added that the state had maintained a national reputation for excellence.

In her acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated TESCOM Chairman, Dr Oluwadaisi Oke, expressed gratitude to God and to the governor for the opportunity to serve.

Oke described the event as a testament to years of hard work and dedication to public service.

She appreciated the trust and confidence reposed in her by the governor to steer the affairs of the commission at a crucial time, assuring that her team would justify the confidence.

“Mr Governor, this appointment, I know, is based on experience, discipline and education.”

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“I want to plead before others that this trust which rests upon us, we will work to justify it,” she said.

In another development, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday flagged off the payment of N1.6 billion outstanding gratuities to retired local government employees and primary school teachers.

Aiyedatiwa said that the payment was a deliberate action initiated by the current administration.

“I started this even when I was deputy governor. I presented a case to the then-governor, which he approved for us, and we started that initiative of saving money.”

“Periodically, any time we have a situation that is good to put some money aside, we save to pay our pensioners, and this we continue even now that we are fully in charge as governor,” he said.

He said that the step was to restore hope to pensioners, who had lost hope of ever being paid their gratuities once in full, after meritorious service to the state in particular, and humanity in general.

“The bulk payment for the 2014 set of pensioners we are flagging off further demonstrates our commitment to the welfare of the elderly and the vulnerable sections of our population, in line with the EASE policy trust.”

“Let me also add that the bulk payment effected to pensioners of year 2011, 2012, and 2013 in succession under our watch has been unprecedented in the history of our dear state, and today, we are exiting 2014.”

“Very soon, we will exit 2015; until everybody is exited, and that will happen,” he stated.

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According to him, Ondo State is one of the few states in Nigeria to grant an upward review to pensioners’ benefits.

The governor said that he was greatly impressed with the resultant symbiotic relationship between the National Union of Pensioners ( NUP) and the local government pension transitional department in all government programmes and activities.

Aiyedatiwa, who handed cheques to relatives of three officials of local government who lost their lives on an official assignment, said that the administration would always prioritise the welfare of senior citizens.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, highlighted the government’s efforts in addressing the plight of pensioners in the state.

Takuro said that a minimum of 300 aged people in each local government were being given N20,000 every month in all 18 local government areas of the state.

He stated that the governor had directed the ministry to save a percentage of money in every quarter to address the payment of pensioners’ gratuities.

Speaking, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, the state Chairman of NUP, appreciated the governor for the effort.

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The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has suspended its planned nationwide strike following positive steps taken by the Federal Government to address the union’s demands.

The suspension was announced on Sunday by ASUP President Shammah Kpanja in a statement in Abuja.

ASUP had earlier threatened to embark on an industrial action following a 21-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on Aug. 15.

The union demands include unresolved issues of unpaid salary arrears, delayed implementation of the 25 and 35 per cent salary adjustment, non-release of promotion arrears, and stalled renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN agreement, among others.

“The decision to suspend the strike  followed the union’s 115th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Oct. 9 to review the government’s response to its 21-day ultimatum.”

“The union acknowledges progress on several fronts, including the release of a circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on Peculiar Academic Allowances,” the president said.

According to him, ASUP also notes measurable progress on the 2025 cycle of the NEEDS Assessment intervention and the resumption of meetings of the Polytechnic Implementation Monitoring Committee.

He added that the union appreciated the reconstitution of the Federal Government Renegotiation Committee to include the Polytechnic sector.

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Kpanja further commended the Federal Ministry of Education for addressing issues at the Federal Polytechnics in Nekede and Ekowe.

He said ASUP is also encouraged by efforts to release arrears of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustment and promotion arrears owed to polytechnic staff.

“Consequently, our NEC resolved to put on hold the proposed strike to give the government more time to conclude ongoing actions,” he said.

Kpanja, however, said the union would review the situation within six weeks to assess the level of implementation of the commitments.

He commended the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education and officials of the ministry for their engagement and commitment to resolving the issues.