News
Reps Intervene In FG, ASUU Crisis Over IPPIS
The House of Representatives has resolved to intervene in the crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The House resolved to probe into the crisis following the unanimous adoption of a motion by Tajudeen Abass, who called for the intervention of the parliament in the crisis.
Following the decision, the House mandated the Committees on Finance; Education; and Labour, Employment and Productivity “to intervene in the conflict with a view to identifying the cause of the conflict, reconciling the warring parties, and report in two weeks’ time.”
While the Federal Government is insisting on capturing university lecturers on the IPPIS, ASUU has insisted on being exempted from the system.
The Federal Government had said it had received the nominal roll of about 41 universities as part of moves to capture university workers, despite ASUU’s opposition.
Moving the motion, Abass said the House was convinced that the IPPIS policy had been used as an effective and efficient tool to fight the malaise of ghost workers, which he said appeared to have defied all policies and mechanisms put in place in the public service before now to sanitize the system.
The lawmaker said, consequently, since the inception of the IPPIS policy in 2007 to date, the Federal Government had saved about N12bn by eliminating thousands of ghost workers.
Abass said, “The House is concerned that in spite of the several benefits of the IPPIS policy, the implementation of the policy has generated some controversies in some MDAs and has manifested some drawbacks which should be addressed.
“The House is worried that ASUU, in reaction to the new Federal Government directives on the implementation of IPPIS, is not only objecting to the application of the policy to the federal universities but has issued three counter directive to all its members not to comply with the directive “The House is also worried that ASUU has threatened to go on strike if the Federal Government attempts to enforce the implementation of the policy in the federal universities on the grounds that the policy lacks legal backing and its derogates from the autonomy of the universities.
“The House is alarmed that if the Federal Government refused to back down on the implementation of the IPPIS policy in the universities as demanded by ASUU, ASUU may go on another strike which may jeopardize the current peace and stability being enjoyed in our university campuses.”
Meanwhile, even after the Federal Government said any of its workers not captured in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, will no longer receive salary and the enrolment of federal university workers entered day two yesterday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has remained adamant, as its members shunned the exercise.
Also, the refusal of ASUU members to enroll in the exercise is contrary to claims by the Coordinator of IPPIS, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Olusegun Olufehinti, that lecturers were enrolling in the exercise in appreciable numbers.
Checks by our correspondent at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, the University of Jos, UNIJOS, the University of Ibadan, UI, the University of Ilorin, UNILORIN among others, showed that only non-academic staff showed up for the exercise at the designated centres.
At the Jelili Omotola Multi-Purpose Hall, UNILAG, the leader of the team of consultants on IPPIS from Abuja, David Mega, said about 74 workers were enrolled on Wednesday and that they attended to people till around 8 pm.
Also speaking with newsmen, the leader of the IPPIS team from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, who simply gave her name as Rachel, said about 65 workers had been enrolled as at 4 pm on Thursday. ASUU’s stance has not changed
The Chairman of the UNILAG chapter of ASUU, Dr Dele Ashiru, said the union would not cave in to undue pressure to do the wrong thing.
“We are not in competition with any union. We care about the focus of our view. IPPIS is eroding the autonomy of the universities. We are in a democratic setting and we won’t allow dictatorial tendencies here. A union of intellectuals won’t allow an obnoxious rule to hold sway. We are also engaging the Minister of Education on the issue, apart from the rescheduled meeting with the leadership of the Senate. Even the World Bank has confirmed that the IPPIS is a monumental fraud,” he said.
Ashiru accused the government of engaging in needless propaganda with the intent of breaking the ranks of the lecturers.
Also, the UNILORIN chapter of ASUU has refuted some online reports by some national dailies that its members were already enrolling, describing such as ridiculous and attempts to embarrass the leadership of the union.
A statement signed by Prof. Saliu Ajao, said “The union thanked all the members for remaining resolute to the Congress’ decision not to have anything to do with the IPPIS until further directives are given by our national body. We appeal to our members to consciously and continually be on guard as some sponsored elements from within and outside the union are trying to distract us from our noble objectives. They will not succeed because our collective will and sincerity will see us through.
“I want to assure all our members that the Exco is on top of the matter and we are already demanding a retract of the fake and biased report from the concerned reporters.
“Congress members should be aware that our branch, being strategic, is very key to those who want to break our ranks using various methods, including sensational headlines in various media.
“There is no amount of intimidation, blackmail and propaganda that would make us surrender our collective decision to salvage the university system. Therefore, the days ahead will witness more of these obnoxious headlines and other tactics aimed at breaking our ranks. Let me assure you that a monitoring team is being constituted to ensure total compliance with the resolution of our union.
We all need to remember that, together we bargain and as individuals, we beg. For our union makes us strong.” At the University of Ibadan, the IPPIS team from Abuja only arrived at the campus on Thursday afternoon and the exercise commenced late.
However, the ASUU members in the institution maintained their stance not to partake in it. Similarly, the leader of ASUU at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Adeola Egbedokun, reiterated that what the union would not subscribe to anything intended to bring the university system down.
He said the union’s alternative to IPPIS, the Nigerian Universities Transparency and Accountability System, NUTAS, was better and cheaper than the one the government is touting. Our correspodent in Jos reported that the ASUU members also stuck to their guns of not enrolling in the IPPIS.
The Federal Government has honoured 12 teachers from across the country with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives, and professional development for teachers.
The awards were presented yesterday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, held in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.
From the pool of nominees, 12 teachers; six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national award recipients.
Each of the 12 awardees received a cheque of N25m.
The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total prize to N50m.
In addition to the cash prize, Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to give each of the award winners an additional N5 million.
The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ the minister said the recognition of the teachers reflected the FG’s broader education reform agenda under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.
He pledged that the government would continue to invest in teachers through structured training, improved career pathways and fair rewards, noting that education remained central to national development.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”
As part of this commitment, the minister announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes.
While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, Alausa said performance-based incentives would be reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.
“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be tied to measurable performance.
He also highlighted complementary initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teacher workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the provision of 60,000 tablets for teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.
The minister further announced reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers.
To provide long-term stability, he said the government had introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.
Addressing the award recipients and other educators at the summit, Alausa described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to focus on tangible outcomes in classrooms across the country.
In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, underscored the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
Ahmad said the gathering was both timely and strategic, noting that the quality of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.
She explained that the theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities.
According to her, investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reform and national development.
“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.
“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.
Describing the summit as a strategic national platform, Ahmad said it was designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and advance practical reforms.
She noted that the forum brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector actors to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition of teachers’ roles in national development.
Nigeria’s education sector has continued to grapple with longstanding challenges, particularly around teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure.
These issues have raised concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools. At the same time, industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further highlighted the pressures facing educators nationwide.
The Rivers State Government has declared that it draws its confidence from the assurance that God is more than sufficient to guide its leaders, strengthen its institutions, and sustain its communities in peace and progress.
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?Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this declaration during the 2026 Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
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?Speaking through his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, the governor stated that “with the Almighty God on our side, our challenges are surmountable and our future remains hopeful,” noting that the theme of this year’s rally, “The All-Sufficient God,” is both timely and reassuring.
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This was contained in a statement from the office of the Deputy Governor, signed by the Head of Press, ?Owupele Benebo.
?According to Fubara, the theme serves as a powerful reminder that in a world filled with uncertainty, God remains our unfailing source, sufficient in wisdom, strength, provision, and grace.
He stressed that when human ability reaches its limit, God’s sufficiency prevails.
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?The governor commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its consistent spiritual impact and unwavering prayers for Rivers State and the nation, expressing appreciation for the Church’s contributions to promoting moral values, unity, and faith in God.
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?In his sermon, drawn from Genesis 17:1, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, described the Almighty God, whose name is above every other name, as all-sufficient and capable of meeting every human need.
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?He noted that the God who created all things also has the power to repair and restore them.
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?Adeboye explained that while human effort, including medical intervention, may reach its limits, there comes a point where only God steps in to turn situations around, bringing hope where none seemed possible.
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?In his address, the Pastor in charge of the Rivers Family of the RCCG, Pastor Adesoji Oni, stated that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally, which began in 2015 and has now become an annual event, has been a tremendous blessing to the people of the State.
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Adesoji noted that the rally has drawn thousands of souls to God while impacting lives spiritually and physically.
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?He further disclosed that the Church has gone beyond preaching the gospel to actively engage in impactful initiatives through its Christian Social Responsibility programmes.
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?These include skills acquisition centres, maternity centres across the State, a rehabilitation centre for persons battling substance abuse, and an Innovative Mind Hub.
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