Education
Osinbajo: I’m Not Leading Negotiations with ASUU
Forty-eight hours after an announcement that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had taken over the negotiations with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the former university don yesterday declared the information as untrue.
The union had on August 14 embarked on indefinite strike, citing the federal government’s failure to implement its agreement with it in 2009.
On August 29, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, had announced that the strike action embarked upon by the lecturers would be discussed at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of the following day.
Indeed, at the end of the meeting on Wednesday, Ngige while briefing State House correspondents said the government was committed to ending the strike embarked upon by ASUU.
Consequently, he said FEC had assigned Osinbajo to take charge of some aspects of the negotiations with the university lecturers, disclosing that relevant government officials would later proceed to the vice-president’s office that day for a meeting after which he said government decision would be communicated to the lecturers.
This information looked cheery to the generality of Nigerians who had confidence in the ability of the vice-president to quickly strike a deal with the aggrieved lecturers within a brief period.
Those who held this view predicated their optimism on the vice-president’s handling of the state of the nation at two different times when President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on medical treatment of an undisclosed ailment in the United Kindgom.
For instance, the vice-president’s intervention in the unrest in Niger Delta which led to the destruction of various oil installations and drastically brought down the volume of oil production in the country put paid to the activities of the restive youths.
Besides, it was also believed that the vice-president being a former lecturer who might have also had his own fair share of the current agitations of members of ASUU would handle the matter with a sense of sincerity in a way that the lecturers could be easily placated.
But yesterday, the vice-president pored cold water in that optimism when denied being named as head of the federal government’s negotiating team, saying the submission of Ngige might have been misrepresented.
A statement by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, said the vice-president only had a discussion with Ngige and his counterpart in the Ministry of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu after last Wednesday’s FEC meeting, explaining that both ministers remain the leaders of government’s negotiations with the union.
“News reports that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is now leading Federal Government negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU is inaccurate.
“Media reports seemed to have misrepresented what Labour and Employment Minister, Chris Ngige meant when he spoke with reporters about the negotiations after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
“The Vice President had a discussion after FEC with both the Labour Minister and Education Minister Malam Adamu Adamu around the issues, but has not taken over the negotiations as widely reported. Both Ministers will continue to lead the FG- ASUU talks.
“The Federal Government continues to diligently pursue a prompt resolution of this dispute and is confident the matter would be resolved,” the statement said.
However, this fresh development has been viewed as a setback for the move to quickly end the strike in view of the perception that the vice-president’s antecedents as well as his academic background might facilitate moves to end the strike.
While announcing ASUU strike on August 13, its National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the strike had become imminent in view of the frustrations his colleagues were going through which he said had exhausted their patience.
He therefore viewed the strike as the last option to press home their demands.
“Our members across the country were getting increasingly frustrated, distracted and disenchanted. It became evident that their patience had been tasked beyond reasonable limits and government’s insensitivity imposed severe burden on the leadership of the union
“Consequently, based on a nationwide consultation with our members, an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU rose on Saturday, 12th August, 2017 with a resolution to embark on an indefinite strike action starting from Sunday, 13th
The management of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, has scheduled the 2024/2025 matriculation ceremony for Thursday, March 27, 2025.
According to a statement by the University Registrar, Mrs. Olubunmi Siju’ Asunmo, the event will commence at 10:00 a.m. at the University Board of Trustees (BOT) Large Lecture Theatre and will be presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan.
The matriculation lecture will be delivered by Prof. Olatunde O. Fawole, a former Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and former Chairman of the Committee of Provosts and Deans at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.
The university has urged all stakeholders, including Senate members, management staff, deans, directors, heads of departments, service divisions, faculty officers, and students’ representatives, to be seated by 9:30 a.m. prompt for a smooth event.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the sale of the 2025 Direct Entry (DE) forms will commence on Wednesday, March 12.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Monday. He emphasized that the registration process is essential for individuals with degrees, diplomas, or A-level certificates seeking admission into their preferred universities.
“The initiation of the DE sales follows the successful conclusion of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application sales, which ended on Saturday, March 8, 2025,” the statement read.
According to JAMB, a total of 2,030,627 candidates registered for the 2025 UTME, with 200,115 participating in the Mock-UTME and 630 in the trial mock examination.
The board warned prospective Direct Entry applicants to ensure they meet all entry requirements, as any false declaration of qualifications would attract serious penalties.
“A special committee will verify all submitted advanced-level qualifications, and any fraudulent results will lead to prosecution. Additionally, institutions are encouraged to directly verify certificates before considering admissions,” the board stated.
JAMB also clarified that registration for the Direct Entry process can only be done at designated JAMB Professional Registration Centres (PRCs).
As the registration date approaches, candidates are advised to adhere to all guidelines and ensure that their credentials are properly verified to avoid disqualification.
The Federal Government has officially adopted the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, as a Federal University of Education. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the transition on Friday, expressing gratitude to the Ogun State Government for inviting the Federal Government to take over one of the state’s most valued educational institutions.
The announcement was contained in a statement released by the Presidency on Sunday, highlighting the significance of TASUED’s transition and its alignment with national educational priorities.
“It is an opportunity for the Federal Government to honour Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who pioneered the revolutionary free education programme in Western Nigeria, and Dr Tai Solarin, who dedicated his life to educating our children and instilling patriotic and leadership values at Mayflower School in Ikenne,” President Tinubu was quoted as saying.
The President further acknowledged the Awujale of Ijebuland’s instrumental role in preventing TASUED’s closure in 2012, just seven years after its establishment. He described the transition as a strategic move aimed at strengthening teacher education and improving instructional quality nationwide.
“With a well-developed infrastructure and academic programme, the transition requires minimal federal investment,” the statement noted.
TASUED, established in 2005 by the Ogun State Government, holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first specialised university of education. It was named in honour of Dr Tai Solarin, a renowned educationist and social reformer. The institution’s conversion into a federal university marks a historic milestone as the first federal tertiary institution in Ogun East Senatorial District, which includes Ijebu and Remo areas.
With this development, TASUED joins Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, and Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, as Nigeria’s three federally owned universities dedicated to teacher education. The takeover underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and strengthening the foundation of Nigeria’s teaching workforce.
-
News1 week agoIdo LG APC Hails Oseni on FNSE Conferment
-
Education1 week ago
Emmanuel Alayande University Holds 2024/2025 Matriculation March 27
-
Crime & Court1 week ago
NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Concealed in Prayer Beads, Locally Made Shoes
-
News6 days ago
Tinubu Swears in Ibas as Rivers Sole Administrator
