Education

SSANU Demands Reinstatement Of Sacked IAUE Staff, Teachers

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2024

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), South – South zone, has called for the immediate reinstatement of the sacked teachers teaching in both staff school and Demonstration Secondary School owned by Ignatius Ajuru University of Education ,Rumuolumini in Port Harcourt.
The National Vice president of SSANU, South-South , Comrade Cheta U. Azumah made this demand when he led other executive members of the union to pay a courtesy visit on the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUOE, Prof Okechuku Onuchuku in his office in Port Harcourt , recently as part of the proceedings leading to the zonal executive council meeting of the union being hosted by the university in Port Harcourt.
Azumah told the Vice Chancellor that the demand for the reinstatement of the teachers became necessary following the unbearable conditions of the affected categories of the staffs , stressing that most of the workers have lost their parental rights in their various families as result of their inability to provide for their families.
He disclosed that many of the workers are sick and can not pay for both medical and education bills of their children and dependants , adding that they are now leaving on the mercy of their colleagues who contribute two thousand naira as welfare to them every month.
He told his host that the affected staffs won the state government in the courts up to Appeal court and urged him to represent the matter to the state government and the institutions’ Governing Council.
“Vice Chancellor sir,now that we have a new administration in the state and also new governing council for the university, please represent this matter so that these people who have contributed to the development of the institution can not be wirsked off like that.some of them have put in from 30,25,20 years in service .They are now living on the mercy of others and can not provide for their families is not good”,he stated.
The South South SSANU helmsman who doubles as the director Administration at the Rivers State University used the opportunity to expressed the unions appreciations to the management of the institution for regular promotions and efficient welfare policy in the school.

Azumah while commending the vice Chancellor and his management team for the various achievements in the institution urged him to use his office and look in to the issues of upsurbing positions of non teaching staffs in the university by the the teaching staffs cadre , noting that such act doesn’t breed growth and professionalism.

“Let a lecturer sticks to the lecturing work for which he was employed and allow non teaching staffs to also do their work , upsurbing the work of non teaching staffs by lecturers is not good”

He averred that the essence of their zonal executive council meeting been hosted by the university branch was to enable the union look critically at issues confronting the union and see how to advance the course of the union and better the welfare of its teeming members .

In his response,the acting vice Chancellor of IAUOE, prof Okechukwu Onuchukwu welcomed his guest to the school and assured them of their support for the successful meeting in the university.

Onuchukwu told them that he had represented the matter of reinstatement of the sacked teachers to the current governing council of the institution and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soonest.

“When I assumed office the first thing we did was to look into the matter but we were told that the matter was in the court now that the matter has been out of the court , we had already intimated the new council and it will be looked at and also we will see how we can make those schools not only pay their salary but a source of revenue to the university”he stated.

He assured that staff welfare and providing good working environment at the works place will continue to be the hallmarks of his administration and wished them well in their deliberations.

Earlier at the opening session of the ZEC meeting held at the university auditorium,the branch chairman of SSANU , IAUOE,Comrade Chisa Egu while giving the account of his steward, said his administration currently is building a 1000 capacity sitting conference hall and urged the meeting to deliberate on those issues that will uplift the standard of the members in line with the present economic impacts and realities in the country.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

FG, ASUU Set Date to Sign Agreement

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government is set to formally sign an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities following weeks of negotiations.

The development may be linked to the 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff proposed by the FG last month and accepted by the union.

A circular issued by the Ministry of Education invited Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities to witness the signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall, Abuja.

The circular, dated January 5, 2026, and referenced FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

It was titled ‘Invitation to the Ceremony for the Signing of Agreement Between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.’

The circular was sighted by our correspondent on Saturday and confirmed by the Ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

“This signing represents a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning in our universities.

“It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education in line with the Renewed

Attendance at the ceremony was declared mandatory for all invited university administrators, highlighting the importance attached to the agreement and its implementation.

Last month, the industrial crisis that had burdened Nigeria’s university system for 16 years following the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement saw the union accept the Federal Government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff.

It was reported that the deal, effective from January 1, 2026, would be reviewed after three years

Why FG Shouldn’t Be Blamed for Non-Implementation of Council Autonomy

Under the new terms, professors will earn a pension equivalent to their final annual salary upon retirement at age 70. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Other provisions include improved funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development, greater university autonomy, and the election of academic leaders, with only professors eligible to serve as deans and provosts. The pact also guarantees that no staff member involved in past industrial actions will be victimised.

Education

DSS, Rector Warn Kogi Poly Students Against Vices,Rumours

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Kogi State Directorate of the Department of State Services (DSS) has warned fresh students of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, that security on campus is a shared responsibility, stressing that carelessness, poor judgment and rumour-mongering pose and ostentatious living pose greater dangers than most real threats.

The Director of the Department in the state, gave the warning in his speech, titled,”MANAGING SECURITY AND RUMORS ON CAMPUS at the 33rd Matriculation Ceremony for the students of 2025/2026 academic session of the Polytechnic on Thursday in Lokoja.

The director, represented by A. S. MUSA, emphasised that while Lokoja remains largely peaceful, no campus is immune from security challenges.

He identified theft of phones, laptops and wallets, infiltration of hostels by unauthorised persons, risky late-night movements and online scams targeting fresh students as recurring threats, most of which, he noted, are preventable through vigilance and discipline.

The security agency cautioned students against behaviours that weaken personal safety, including lack of security consciousness, predictable routines, drug abuse, drunkenness, sexual recklessness, ostentatious living and the lure of secret cults.

According to the DSS director,cultism, often disguised as “protection,” ultimately places students under violent control systems with devastating consequences, while flamboyant lifestyles and careless displays of wealth attract criminal attention.

Our correspondent reports that a major focus of the lecture was the danger of rumours, which the DSS described as “more destructive than real threats.”

According to him,false alerts about kidnappers, armed attacks, school closures or emergency evacuations,often spread through WhatsApp messages and voice notes,have previously triggered panic, stampedes and academic disruption on campuses, sometimes putting lives at risk without any verified danger.School supplies

He, therefore, advised to verify information strictly through official Polytechnic channels such as management announcements, Student Affairs notices and campus security units. The DSS boss warned that forwarding unconfirmed messages makes students unwitting accomplices in spreading fear and destabilising the academic environment.

On personal safety, he also urged students to always carry their identity cards, avoid lonely and poorly lit areas at night, secure their hostel rooms, challenge suspicious strangers and promptly report unusual activities.

He cautioned students to remain calm, obedient to lawful instructions and refuse to act on hearsay, adding that these virtues are critical responses during emergencies.

The DSS director reminded the matriculating students that security goes beyond physical safety to include protection of reputation, mental stability and future prospects.

By rejecting rumours, cultism and reckless living, and by embracing responsibility and alertness, students can be rest assured that Kogi State Polytechnic can remain a safe, peaceful and conducive centre of learning for all.

Declaring event open, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof.Salisu Ogba Usman, matriculated 4,591 students into seven schools and 57 academic programmes of the Polytechnic.

“Of this number,2460 students (54 percent) are admitted into National Diploma Progrmes, while 2,131 students (46 percent)are admitted into Higher National Diploma 1 programmes”,Usman said.

He further reviewed that 19 out of the 57 Programmes currently run by the polytechnic were introduced under the present administration in the state.

Prof.Usmam expressed the continued commitment of the Polytechnic to uphold discipline, transparency,and zero tolerance for all forms of social Vices ,while promoting peaceful coexistence,responsible leadership and mutual respect.

“Our emphasis on security, moral discipline and academic integrity is non-, negotiable and central to our institutional philosophy,” the Rector stressed.

He urged the new students to take full advantage of the opportunities available in the Polytechnic and to conduct themselves in ways that will bring honour to their families ,the Polytechnic and the nation at large.

Usman said the polytechnic has pursued inclusive leadership by institutionalizing transparency, strengthening staff welfare engagement,and integrating student leadership into governance processes.

According to him the gender distribution is equally encouraging, with 52 percent, male and 48 percent female, representing steady progress in the gender balance of the Polytechnic.

He promised that the “shall continue to uphold discipline, transparency and zero tolerance for all forms of social vices,while promoting peaceful coexistence,responsible leadership and mutual respect.

The Rector stressed that the emphasis of the Polytechnic on security, moral discipline and academic integrity is non-negotiable and central to its institutional philosophy.

He urged the new students to take full advantage of the opportunities available in the polytechnic and conduct themselves in ways that will bring honour to their families,the polytechnic and the nation at large.

“Together we shall continue to reposition Kogi State Polytechnic as a reference point for excellence in polytechnic education in Nigeria,” he promised.

Education

FG Bans Disposable workbooks, introduces reusable textbooks in schools

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has rolled out a new education policy banning disposable workbooks and mandating the use of reusable, high-quality textbooks in schools, in a move aimed at reducing the rising cost of education for parents, improving learning outcomes and promoting environmental sustainability.School supplies

The policy was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaba Sai’d, as part of sweeping reforms targeted at repositioning Nigeria’s education sector and easing the financial burden on families.

Under the new framework, schools are required to adopt standardised and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years.

The policy expressly prohibits the practice of bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice the government says has inflated school expenses and contributed to unnecessary waste.

According to the ministers, the reusable textbook initiative will enable siblings to share learning materials across academic sessions, significantly reduce recurring education costs for parents and limit waste generation within the school system, thereby advancing national sustainability goals.

As part of the broader reforms, the Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching, learning and school planning across the country.