News

Lecturers Aren’t That Cheap, ASUU Tells FG, Rejects 35% Pay Raise Offer

Published

3 weeks ago

November 19, 2025

Eric

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed dissatisfaction with the recent proposal from the Federal government to increase salaries of academic staff by 35%.

According to ASUU leaders, this increment is insufficient and reflects a broader issue of chronic underfunding in the Nigerian education sector.

During a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), the Lagos Zonal Coordinator for ASUU, Prof. Adesola Nassir, described the government’s offer as “wretched,” indicating that it would leave Nigerian academics among the lowest-paid in Africa.

He explained that despite the proposed raise, the actual salaries for university staff remain inadequate to sustain a standard of living commensurate with their professional responsibilities.

“The recent offer of a 35% increase in salaries is not only unscientific but will still result in Nigeria’s academics being poorly compensated compared to their counterparts in other countries,” Nassir stated.

He emphasised that a salary increase must be substantial enough to counteract the effects of years of neglect and economic challenges faced by educators.

Nassir pointed out that when the 2009 agreement was signed, a professor earned approximately $3,000 monthly.

“Today, that figure has plummeted to roughly $400, making any incremental increase almost negligible. Even with this 35% increase, the salary of a professor will not reach even a million Naira, and after taxes, it drops further to around N700,000,” he noted.

This pitiful remuneration, he argued, inevitably leads to brain drain and a decline in the quality of education.

Compounding the issue, ASUU highlighted the alarming stagnation of Nigeria’s education funding.

Nassir lamented that government’s investment in education has consistently been below 10% over the past decade, with current allocations sinking below 1% of the country’s GDP.

“In stark contrast, countries like Egypt and South Africa allocate significantly more, with percentages reaching 2% and 6% respectively.

“The funding crisis in education is not new, but it has reached a critical level. The government must confront the perilous consequences of its neglect and prioritise the future of our children,” Nassir urged.

He called on all Nigerians who care about the nation’s future to join ASUU in advocating for a substantial increase in educational spending.

As negotiations between ASUU and the federal government continue, the union has signalled that without meaningful commitments to resolve these pressing issues, it may resort to indefinite strike action.

“If the Federal government does not adhere to the agreements made in 2009, a miracle will be needed to avoid a complete shutdown of public universities across the country,” Nassir warned, highlighting the urgency for action to improve the education sector in Nigeria.

News

Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s Request to Be Transfered Out of Sokoto Prison

Published

16 hours ago

December 8, 2025

Eric

The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied an application filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility within the Federal Capital Territory or the neighbouring Nasarawa State.

Kanu, represented by the Legal Aid Council, submitted an ex-parte application requesting an order that would direct the Federal Government or the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to transfer him from the Sokoto facility to either the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa.

He requested a transfer to any custodial facility within the court’s jurisdiction, such as Suleja or Keffi, to allow him to effectively pursue his appeal.

However, Justice James Omotosho denied the request on Monday, stating that such an order could not be granted without first hearing from the Federal Government.

The judge directed Kanu to convert the ex-parte application into a motion on notice and serve all parties to allow fair hearing.

The case was subsequently fixed January 27, 2026, for the hearing of the motion.

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

5 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

5 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.