Education
University Strike Looms Over Delayed Funds
Academic activities in Nigeria’s public universities may soon be disrupted as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatens industrial action over the delayed release of a ₦300 billion revitalisation fund.
The delay is reportedly linked to a standoff between the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
A reliable source told BBC News that the OAGF is allegedly stalling the release of the funds, insisting on fresh presidential approval before disbursing them to universities nationwide.
In a recent high-level meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Accountant General, and ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, discussed the possibility of rolling over the 2023 revitalisation fund into the 2025 budget.
According to sources, a formal request has been sent to the Accountant General’s office to facilitate this process.
However, ASUU has expressed strong reservations about the government’s sincerity. Prof. Osodeke reportedly criticised the lack of political will to address the chronic underfunding of public universities, highlighting decaying infrastructure, unpaid allowances, and poor staff welfare as pressing issues.
ASUU has made it clear that failure to release the revitalisation fund could lead to a strike. The union has also threatened to withdraw from future negotiations if previous agreements remain unimplemented.
The revitalisation fund is part of a 2009 agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government, which outlined a ₦1.3 trillion intervention package over five years.
However, only a fraction of this amount has been released, leading to repeated industrial actions.
Amidst the growing tension, the Education Advancement Initiative (EAI), a non-governmental organisation, has called for an immediate release of ₦600 billion to revitalise public universities.
Dr Abimbola Tobi, Programme Director of EAI, accused government officials of deliberately undermining public universities to favour private institutions where they have vested interests.
Dr Tobi warned that neglecting public university education could have dire consequences, including increased crime rates due to unemployment and a lack of skills among young people. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure the release of funds.
With ASUU’s patience running thin and government officials struggling to navigate bureaucratic bottlenecks, the fate of Nigeria’s public university system remains uncertain.
While efforts are reportedly being made to avert a strike, the continued delay in funding could lead to yet another disruption in the country’s academic calendar.
The Nigerian government now faces mounting pressure to fulfil its commitments and prevent another wave of industrial action that could cripple the education sector.
The Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, will begin academic activities this year. Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing are emerging as the top programmes.
This follows the official transfer of the institution’s Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) from the Kaduna State Government to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, confirmed the development in Abuja when Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani handed over the Certificate of Occupancy to him.
He assured Governor Sani that all necessary financial provisions had been made to ensure the university’s smooth start.
“This university is going to take off. We already have the National Assembly’s approval for the personnel, the recurrent overhead, and the capital budget in the 2025 budget,” Dr Alausa said.
He further announced that the institution would admit its first batch of students in the 2025 academic year, reinforcing the government’s commitment to expanding higher education opportunities.
The minister also pledged to secure funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to accelerate the university’s development.
“I’ll ensure the university also gets a TETFund allocation this year. So, this is a happy day for the people of Southern Kaduna, the people of Kaduna, and the people of Nigeria at large,” he stated.
With the formal handover of the Certificate of Occupancy, the Federal Government now assumes full ownership of the university, paving the way for its official commencement. “Over 200 hectares of land are being transferred by the Kaduna State Government to the Federal Government via the Federal Ministry of Education. We now have full ownership of this university,” he said.
Alausa said the university would offer Science courses, especially in the medical sciences, which are priority areas for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, even as the ministry focuses on STEM, Vocational and Technical education, and skill acquisition.
“The Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, would be offering courses in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and applied sciences in areas such as applied mathematics, computers, AI and machine learning, and environmental studies, among others,” he said.
Governor of Kaduna State Uba Sani said the University of Applied Sciences Kachia is very special, as it would engender development because of the nature of its courses, as the Honourable Minister of Education spelt out. “We believe that science is something significant and critical and will help Kaduna develop,” he said.
He said the land given to the University by the Kaduna State government is as large as a whole district and far more significant than many universities in the country. “We are here with the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), about 270 hectares of land. It’s a whole district and bigger than many universities nationwide,” he said.
He commended Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the FEC approval, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senator Sunday Marshal, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, for their unwavering support that made the university a reality, especially the seamless transition.
FG Expanding Transport, Power Networks—Presidency
Sunday Dare, special adviser to the president on media and public communications, says the federal government is expanding transportation and power networks nationwide.
In a statement on Sunday, Dare said Nigeria is experiencing an unprecedented expansion of its transportation and power networks, laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.
According to the presidential special adviser, “36 major roads — including the Lagos coastal road and Sokoto-Badagry highway — are currently under construction, backed by a N5.9 trillion allocation in the 2025 budget”.
“This administration understands that without world-class infrastructure, economic growth remains stunted. Roads, power, and water projects are being prioritised to unlock Nigeria’s full economic potential,” Dare said.
The presidential aide highlighted the Lekki Free Trade Zone as a prime example of how infrastructure investment attracts billion-dollar industries, citing the Dangote refinery as a direct beneficiary of strategic road and port development.
“People doubted President Tinubu when he first pushed for these projects as governor of Lagos. Today, they have transformed entire economic corridors, proving the power of long-term planning,” Dare added.
Beyond roads, he said the government is investing heavily in power sector reforms, ensuring that businesses and households benefit from a more stable electricity supply, which is crucial for industrialisation and economic expansion.
“The impact of these projects is also evident in Eko Atlantic, where world-class infrastructure has attracted major financial institutions such as First Bank, reinforcing Lagos’ position as a global business and investment hub,” he said.
In February, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N242.6 billion for the rehabilitation, re-scoping, and construction of 14 major road projects across the country.
On March 6, the FEC approved the rehabilitation and construction of 14 road projects across Nigeria, valued at N660.2 billion.
The Peoples Democratic Party has again postponed its National Executive Committee meeting, rescheduling it for May 15, 2025.
In a statement obtained by ELANZANEWS Online on Sunday, the PDP’s National Secretary, Sunday Ude-Okoye, said the meeting, originally slated for March 13, was delayed due to pending zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses, as well as the need for further consultations.
This marks the fifth time the PDP has rescheduled its 99th NEC meeting, further deepening internal divisions within the party.
The crisis within the PDP has intensified since Umar Damagum assumed office as acting National Chairman following the court’s removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, with growing calls for his resignation.
During the 98th NEC meeting on April 18, 2024, party leaders failed to resolve several critical issues. As a result, the crisis has deepened, affecting state and zonal chapters and causing significant divisions within the National Working Committee.
The 98th NEC meeting had initially set August 15 for the 99th NEC meeting to address unresolved matters. However, the meeting was first postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled for November 28, 2024, before being indefinitely delayed.
In response, the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, directed the NWC in December 2024 to ensure the NEC meeting was held by February 2025 at the latest.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, raised concerns that continued delays were eroding the trust and confidence of PDP members.
To ensure the meeting was held promptly, the PDP Governors’ Forum, during their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on January 31, proposed March 13 for the NEC meeting.
However, in a new development, the party leadership announced that after consulting with all party organs, the 99th NEC meeting has, for the fifth time, been postponed to May 15.
The statement read, “Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee may recall that after due deliberation by party leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, the NEC meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2025.
“However, following emerging issues, including the need to conclude our pending zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses, as well as to allow for further consultations to ensure the smooth conduct of the meeting — especially concerning other proposed activities of our party — the NWC, after due consultation with leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP Governors’ Forum, and the PDP National Assembly Caucus, hereby notifies distinguished NEC members that the 99th NEC meeting, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2025, has been unavoidably shifted to Thursday, May 15, 2025.
“All NEC members should please note the change of date and be guided accordingly.
“The NWC sincerely regrets any inconvenience this change of date may cause distinguished NEC members,” the statement said.
A bill seeking to empower polytechnics to award bachelor’s degrees has passed second reading at the house of representatives.
Sponsored by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, and Faud Laguda, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Lagos state, the proposed legislation aims to amend the Federal Polytechnics Act 2004.
The bill proposes an amendment to section 3 of the Principal Act to include representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in the council of every polytechnic in Nigeria.
Clause 3 of the proposed legislation intends to amend section 8 of the extant law to raise the qualification of those seeking to occupy the position of the rector of federal polytechnics to PhD.
Clause 4 seeks to alter section 15 of the act to enlarge the powers of the academic board to award bachelor of technology (B.Tech) to graduating students.
Leading the debate, Laguda said the amendment will enable polytechnics to “meet up with the demand of the ever-changing world while adhering to the International best practices”.
He appealed to his colleagues to support and pass the bill for the “overall objective is to improve the provision of technical education to Nigerian students through a better organised polytechnic system in Nigeria”.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill when the speaker called for a voice vote.