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ASUU to resume strike over unpaid salaries without further notice

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to resume its suspended nationwide strike unless the Federal Government and state governments urgently resolve outstanding issues over lecturers’ salaries, deductions and the implementation of the December 2025 agreement.

The union said it could reactivate the strike without further notice, citing the failure of governments to fully implement the agreement, pay the remaining 3.5 months of lecturers’ withheld salaries and remit billions of naira deducted from their earnings.

The warning followed an emergency meeting of ASUU’s National Executive Council at the University of Abuja. In a statement issued by Christopher Piwuna, its president, the union said the December 2025 agreement was reached after more than eight years of negotiations but remained only partially implemented by the Federal Government and several state governments.

‘Unless immediate and concrete steps are taken fully and comprehensively address issues bordering the welfare and well-being of Nigerian academics, ASUU-NEC will not accept any blame for calling out its members on a nationwide strike action within the shortest time possible,’ the union said.

The renewed threat raises the prospect of another disruption to academic activities in Nigeria’s public universities, at a time when the sector is still grappling with prolonged industrial disputes and concerns over the welfare and retention of academic staff.

ASUU acknowledged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had paid four of the 7.5 months of salaries withheld from lecturers during the previous administration but insisted that the outstanding 3.5 months must now be paid.

‘We have consistently acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for paying four (4) out of the withheld salaries. However, leaving out the unpaid balance does not give his government the full credit of a labour-friendly administration,’ the union said.

Beyond the withheld salaries, the union alleged that pension contributions, cooperative deductions and union check-off dues running into billions of naira had remained unremitted for several months.

According to ASUU, the accumulation of unpaid salaries and unremitted deductions, alongside what it described as the poor implementation of the 2025 agreement, is threatening industrial peace across the university system.

‘In no mistaken terms, ASUU posits that the non- or haphazard implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement by federal and state governments is a recipe for industrial crisis in Nigeria’s public universities,’ it stated.

The union, however, acknowledged states that have begun implementing the agreement. It commended Governor Alex Otti of Abia state and the governments of Bauchi, Ekiti, Ogun, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Katsina and Borno for commencing implementation.

ASUU said Kano, Edo, Plateau, Taraba, Gombe and Bayelsa states had also pledged to begin implementation in September or October.

It warned that other states risked pushing their universities into what it described as an ‘industrial crisis of monumental proportions’ if they failed to act.

The union called on the Federal Government and state governments to address the outstanding issues promptly, stressing that it would not accept responsibility if the suspended strike was reactivated.

‘ASUU-NEC resolved to notify all concerned that the Union may activate its suspended strike action without any further notice if the critical issues raised in this release are not speedily addressed,’ the union said.

Armenia’s defence minister pledges greater public access to army activities amid rising deaths

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has pledged to make the activities of the country’s armed forces more publicly accessible wherever possible, as the Armenian army faces renewed scrutiny following a series of non-combat deaths in recent months.

Papikyan made the remarks on Thursday in a video posted on social media while travelling to several Armenian army bases. He did not specify which activities he was referring to, but said the locations for his visit had been selected based on issues raised by members of the public, including soldiers’ families.

‘Taking this into account, we chose the direction today, and since our work has not previously been covered, and also taking into consideration your interest and thanking you for following us, we have decided to make our activities more public from now on,’ Papikyan said.

He stressed, however, that some aspects of the military’s work would remain confidential.

‘Of course, there will be closed parts, which are mainly due to the confidentiality of our work, but wherever it is possible to show our work, we will show it,’ the minister said.

Papikyan subsequently published several more videos documenting his activities during the day, including visits to army units, military training facilities and a construction site where fortifications were being built.

Another video showed the defence minister having lunch with conscript soldiers at a military position.

‘We ate the canned food provided for the [military] positions,’ Papikyan wrote alongside the video.

In the footage, Papikyan, dressed in military fatigues, examined the food provided to soldiers and asked them to show him uncooked food from the cans.

The posts appear to highlight elements of the Armenian army’s ongoing reforms, including changes to food provision, an area that has previously drawn criticism over the perceived quality of military meals.

Papikyan’s decision to increase the visibility of his work comes amid heightened public attention to non-combat deaths in the Armenian armed forces.

Several Armenian soldiers died in non-combat circumstances in August, with several of the deaths occurring within a short period of one another.

The deaths prompted further scrutiny of conditions within the armed forces. In response, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ordered personnel changes in the military leadership and established an interagency working group tasked with developing systemic measures to address suicides and what authorities describe as ‘non-statutory relations.’

Caspian is no longer a barrier between Azerbaijan and Central Asia

Azerbaijan’s growing engagement with Central Asia is evolving beyond a series of bilateral partnerships into a broader regional framework linking the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea and Central Asia, according to an analysis published by the Jamestown Foundation.

The analysis, titled ‘Summer Diplomacy Deepens Azerbaijan’s Integration with Central Asia,’ was authored by Roza Bayramli, a leading research fellow at the Center for Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) in Baku, Azerbaijan. It examines Azerbaijan’s expanding political, economic, and transport ties with the five Central Asian states and argues that the emergence of the ‘C6’ format is giving practical shape to a wider regional architecture.

AzerNEWS presents the analysis:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Uzbekistan on August 23-24 was another milestone in the rapidly expanding relationship between Baku and Tashkent. Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired the third meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council and signed a Treaty on Eternal Friendship. The accompanying package included an action plan to implement investment and trade agreements, along with agreements and cooperation programs covering pensions, tourism, culture, justice, customs-related cooperation, and interregional ties. The program was designed to increase bilateral trade turnover to $1 billion by 2030 (President of Azerbaijan; President of Uzbekistan, August 23). The two presidents also launched joint initiatives in sectors including banking, construction materials, education, fuel infrastructure, mineral processing, horticulture, and large-scale residential and tourism developments (President of Uzbekistan, August 23).

Viewed in isolation, the visit reflects the growing institutional density of the Azerbaijani-Uzbek alliance. Viewed within the broader diplomatic sequence of summer 2026, however, it points to a larger regional development. A series of high-level meetings between Azerbaijan and Central Asian states preceded the Uzbekistan visit. These included Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s state visit to Azerbaijan on June 22-23, Aliyev’s state visit to Kyrgyzstan on July 31, and, later that same day, an informal meeting between Aliyev and the five Central Asian presidents in Cholpon-Ata (President of Azerbaijan, June 22, July 31 [1], [2]; see EDM, September 10). At the meeting, Aliyev noted that he had visited Central Asian countries 16 times since the beginning of 2023, while Central Asian leaders had visited Azerbaijan 26 times during the same period (President of Azerbaijan, July 31). Taken together, these exchanges indicate that Azerbaijan’s relationships with Central Asia are transitioning from a series of bilateral partnerships to a more interconnected regional framework.

The seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held in Tashkent on November 16, 2025, marked a key moment in the development of regional cooperation (President of Uzbekistan, November 16, 2025). Launched in 2018, the Consultative Meetings are an informal high-level summit mechanism aimed at rebuilding regional trust, addressing longstanding disputes, and strengthening cooperation among the Central Asian states. At that meeting, the five Central Asian countries approved Azerbaijan’s accession as a full participant in the Consultative Meeting. Mirziyoyev presented the decision as a step that would ‘build a strong bridge between Central Asia and the South Caucasus,’ while ‘paving the way for the formation of a unified space for cooperation’ between the two regions (President of Uzbekistan, November 16, 2025).

Azerbaijan had previously participated in the Consultative Meetings as a guest of honor in Dushanbe in 2023 and Astana in 2024 (President of Azerbaijan, September 14, 2023, August 9, 2024). Its admission as a full participant elevated Azerbaijan’s role in the forum. Before his August visit to Uzbekistan, Aliyev contended that Azerbaijan’s inclusion had expanded the format previously known as ‘C5’ into ‘C6,’ giving regional dialogue and strategic partnership ‘new substance and a broader scope’ (President of Azerbaijan, August 21).

The summer of 2026 illustrates how this expanded framework is beginning to acquire practical content. During Aliyev’s visit to Kyrgyzstan in July, the two countries signed a Treaty on Allied Relations and held the third meeting of their Interstate Council. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov described the treaty as a ‘truly historic event’ that marked ‘a new stage in Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani cooperation’ (President of Azerbaijan, July 31). The two sides also agreed to double the capitalization of the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan Development Fund from $100 million to $200 million. They identified transport, energy, investment, cybersecurity, and financial regulation as areas for expanded cooperation (President of Azerbaijan, July 31).

The Supreme Interstate Council has become a key mechanism for coordinating the expanding Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan bilateral agenda. At its third meeting on August 23, Mirziyoyev noted that ‘the total portfolio of joint projects has exceeded $5 billion’ and that the two sides should ‘swiftly utilize $500 million in capital and subsequently expand this fund’ (President of Azerbaijan, August 23). Aliyev positioned the relationship within a broader regional context, contending, ‘Central Asia and Azerbaijan today constitute a single geopolitical and geo-economic region,’ and that close interaction between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan would largely determine the region’s further positive development (President of Azerbaijan, August 23).

Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan relations have become an important part of this emerging regional framework. Berdimuhamedov’s state visit in June produced agreements on energy and industrial cooperation, as well as customs arrangements for the advanced electronic exchange of information on goods and vehicles. The two presidents also agreed to enhance transport and logistics coordination to attract freight from third countries and increase cargo flows (President of Azerbaijan, June 22). This collaboration is significant because of Turkmenistan’s location on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. In 2025, more than 7 million tons of transit cargo traversed Turkmenistan, representing a 28 percent year-on-year increase (State Customs Service of Turkmenistan, February 19). The Baku-Turkmenbashi connection has become part of a broader trans-Eurasian transport network through Ashgabat’s promotion of the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Trkiye route and a proposed Caspian Sea-Black Sea corridor connecting Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania (Turkmenistan: Golden Age, June 24).

This broader political convergence is taking practical form through transport connectivity. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are already connected to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Trkiye via the Middle Corridor, which spans the Caspian Sea. The annual capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway rose to 5 million tons after its reconstruction in 2024 (President of Azerbaijan, accessed September 10). Baku Port’s planned container capacity is set to increase from 150,000 to 260,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), while container throughput rose 20 percent year-on-year in January-July 2026 (Report, May 12, August 10).

As physical infrastructure expands, coordination along the route is also growing. At a meeting in Ashgabat in February, railway chiefs from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan adopted a four-party protocol on digitalization, freight development, and corridor diagnostics along the Middle Corridor (Embassy of Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan, February 10). Mirziyoyev’s July visit to Georgia further underscored Azerbaijan’s role in the emerging transport architecture. During the visit, he proposed exploring the integration of the BTK railway with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway currently under construction (President of Uzbekistan, July 3; see EDM, July 15).

Azerbaijan’s emerging role as a trans-Caspian connectivity hub is extending beyond transportation into energy and digital infrastructure. Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan are currently developing the Central Asia-Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor, which is intended to transmit renewable electricity across the Caspian Sea and potentially to Europe (Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan, February 2, March 4). The Trans-Caspian fiber-optic link is creating a direct digital connection between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan (Report, August 5).

Azerbaijan’s state visits and full participation in the Consultative Meetings extend beyond expanding the institutional framework. Developments in summer 2026 suggest that practical connections across the Caspian are reinforcing this political convergence and integrating Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states into a more interconnected regional system.

Tight security as Tooro prepares for Oyo burial

Security has been tightened across Fort Portal as Tooro Kingdom puts final measures in place for the burial of the late Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV on Saturday.

Police and the UPDF have deployed personnel at Karuziika Palace, St John’s Cathedral and the Karambi Royal Tombs, where strict access and vehicle controls will be enforced to manage the large crowds expected for the king’s final send-off.

At Karuziika Palace, additional security personnel have been deployed and barricades erected at the first entrance gate. Only authorised vehicles will be allowed into the palace grounds.

Mr Job Wabwire, the Rwenzori West Police Commander, said only a limited number of vehicles would be allowed into the cathedral grounds, including the vehicle carrying the king’s body, the lead vehicle, the Queen Mother’s vehicle, that of Omujwera Musuuga and other authorised vehicles.

‘VIPs will park at Kyebambe Girls Secondary School playground. They will walk to the cathedral, where they will be screened before being seated. Once the authorised vehicles have entered, the gate will be closed,’ Mr Wabwire said.

At St John’s Cathedral, more than five tents have been erected to accommodate mourners attending the funeral service.

Rwenzori Diocese Bishop Reuben Kisembo said the church was ready for the service, with the choir and clergy prepared.

‘As a church, we are working with the government. All preparations are over and we are now waiting for the day. The Archbishop of the Church of Uganda is the main celebrant,’ Bishop Kisembo said.

Dr Richard Rwabuhinga, the co-chairperson of the burial organising committee, said preparations had been designed to give the late king a dignified and culturally appropriate send-off.

King Oyo died on August 27 and his body was returned to Tooro on September 4.

Public viewing of the king’s remains at Karuziika Palace will end at 5pm tomorrow, when the casket will be closed.

Friday will also feature an official vigil at which visiting monarchs and delegations from other kingdoms, government officials, partners and friends of the kingdom will pay their final respects.

Dr Rwabuhinga said the committee would read messages of condolence received by the kingdom and announce contributions made towards the funeral arrangements.

The king’s final journey will begin at 8:15am on Saturday when his body leaves Karuziika Palace for St John’s Cathedral.

The body will lie in state at the cathedral from 8:15am to 9am before being taken in procession to the main funeral service grounds outside the cathedral. The main service will run from 9am to 1pm.

After the service, the body will be taken to the Karambi Royal Tombs, about six kilometres from Fort Portal along the Fort Portal-Kasese Road, where King Oyo will be laid to rest alongside his ancestors, including his father, the late Omukama Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.

The plan

Body leaves palace at 8:15am to St John’s Cathedral.

The service at the cathedral will end at 1pm.

The body will be taken to Karambi Royal Tombs.

Only about 20-30 authorised vehicles will proceed to the royal tombs.

Romualdez needs 4-6 weeks before hospital transfer, doctor says

Four to six weeks are needed before former House Speaker Martin Romualdez could be safely transferred to another facility, his cardiologist told the Sandiganbayan on Friday.

Dr. Rody Sy, a cardiologist at Cardinal Santos Medical Center, gave the assessment during clarificatory questions from Associate Justice Ronald Moreno at the hearing on Romualdez’s plea to remain confined at the private hospital.

Moreno asked if he would allow Romualdez to be transferred to another facility, and Sy said it is possible.

Asked by Moreno how long it would take before Romualdez’s symptoms would improve enough for a transfer, Sy said, ‘Around four to six weeks.’

During cross-examination by Deputy Special Prosecutor Omar Sagadal, Sy reiterated that transferring Romualdez at this time is not ‘appropriate’.

‘It will not be ideal because there should be continuity of care,’ Sy also said.

Romualdez was admitted to the private hospital on Monday due to chest pain, the same day when a warrant for his arrest came out.

Moreno asked if the arrest warrant could have caused the chest pain, and Sy said: ‘I think so. That is a big factor.’

In his motion filed on Monday, Romualdez said he is suffering from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism and other illnesses.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the arrest warrant against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two others on Monday, hours after the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against them involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.44 billion.

Customs impounds containers with narcotics, expired goods valued at N43.6b

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has intercepted consignments containing cannabis sativa, codeine syrup, security-sensitive drones, expired consumer products and other prohibited goods with a combined duty paid value (DPV) of N43.6 billion.

The seizures were displayed at the Apapa Port yesterday by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adeniyi, who said they were the outcome of sustained intelligence-led operations involving cargo profiling, documentary scrutiny and targeted examination.

Adeniyi said three containers were found to contain a total of 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624 kilogrammes.

According to him, one of the containers, numbered HAMU 3086682, contained 4,777 parcels of cannabis weighing 2,388.5kg, alongside assorted automobile spare parts, food items and three vehicles.

He said another container, FANU 1933352, contained 8,287 parcels of cannabis weighing 4,145kg and three vehicles, while the third container, MSKU 3941778, contained 2,181 parcels weighing 1,090.5kg, in addition to foreign parboiled rice, automobile spare parts, lithium batteries and other goods.

The Customs chief also disclosed that officers intercepted five containers loaded with expired products, including tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.

He warned that the importation of expired products posed significant risks to consumers, particularly children and women.

Adeniyi said three other containers contained 1,282 bales of used clothing, while the expired products formed part of other prohibited consignments intercepted by the command.

He further disclosed that officers intercepted container TCKU 7653306 containing 1,700 cartons of codeine syrup, equivalent to 169,998 bottles.

The codeine syrup, he said, was concealed beneath household items in an attempt to evade detection.

Also intercepted were 108 high-definition dual-camera drones found in container MSKU 9282528.

According to Adeniyi, the drones could be used for surveillance, reconnaissance and the delivery of materials in the wrong hands, making their unauthorised importation a national security concern.

He warned that the nation’s ports would not be allowed to become channels for transferring capabilities to groups working against national security.

The Customs boss urged importers of security-sensitive equipment to obtain the appropriate approvals and end-user certificates before attempting to bring such items into the country.

He said the interception of the cannabis consignments was carried out in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with intelligence support from international security partners.

Adeniyi said the NCS had strengthened cargo profiling and risk assessment to identify illicit goods concealed in otherwise legitimate consignments.

He added that the Service had deployed the B’Odogwu platform to enhance the use of trade data in risk assessment, while an INTERPOL Data Centre was established at its headquarters in Abuja in July.

The seized narcotics were handed over to the NDLEA, while the other intercepted products were handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further action.

Adeniyi said the NCS would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while intensifying scrutiny of consignments, transactions and operators presenting identifiable risks.

He urged importers to comply with customs regulations and advised those uncertain about the classification, valuation or origin of their products to use the Service’s Advance Ruling mechanism before shipment.

The Comptroller-General commended officers of the Apapa Area Command, as well as personnel of the NDLEA, NAFDAC and international security partners, for their collaboration in the interceptions.

He warned importers and operators involved in false declaration, concealment, undervaluation or the importation of prohibited goods that no port, border station or logistics channel would be allowed to serve as a safe haven.

Sarkodie, Stonebwoy Clash After Fan Advice

Musicians, Sarkodie and Stonebwoy, have clashed on social media after Sarkodie criticised fans for creating rivalry among artistes.

The issue began after Sarkodie advised musicians not to let fans push them into unnecessary fights with other artistes.

In a post on X, Sarkodie said some fans attack other artistes to make their favourite artistes look better.

‘To the artistes: just because a fan sh**s on another brand to elevate you doesn’t mean they love you more. Be careful about entertaining that energy,’ he wrote.

Stonebwoy appeared to take offence at the post and responded with several concerns about his relationship with Sarkodie.

He accused Sarkodie of failing to congratulate him after his OVO Arena Wembley concert in London, despite personally calling Sarkodie after his Royal Albert Hall show to congratulate him.

Stonebwoy also claimed that some of Sarkodie’s social media posts were directed at him.

Sarkodie, however, denied the allegation and asked Stonebwoy why he had connected the posts to himself.

‘The first thing I asked you when we got on that call, and I still want to ask, is ‘What is your problem?” Sarkodie said.

He insisted that he had never made a social media post to attack or mock Stonebwoy.

Sarkodie also said he would not have personally invited Stonebwoy to perform at his Royal Albert Hall show if he had a problem with him.

‘If I had any issues with you, I wouldn’t have been the one to pick up the phone, call you, and invite you to my RAH show,’ he said.

The disagreement later became bigger, with Stonebwoy making more allegations against Sarkodie during a social media live session. He accused the rapper of disrespect, hypocrisy and betrayal.

Sarkodie’s manager, Angel Town, also joined the discussion after Stonebwoy mentioned him in relation to the 2025 BHIMFest.

Angel Town shared screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation with Stonebwoy’s manager, Chief Stylzz, and said he wanted to correct the record.

‘Just state facts… don’t lie on my name,’ Angel Town said.

The exchange has generated strong reactions from fans, with many calling on the two musicians to resolve their differences.

Sarkodie and Stonebwoy are among Ghana’s biggest music stars and have worked together on several occasions.

Kano Assembly begins review of primary healthcare law

The Kano State House of Assembly has commenced a three-day workshop to review and harmonise proposed amendments to the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board (KSPHCMB) Bill 2026.

The workshop, which began on Thursday and will end on Saturday at Bafra International Hotel, Kaduna State, is themed: ‘Strengthening the Legal and Institutional Framework for Effective Healthcare Delivery in Kano State: Legislative Engagement, Harmonisation and Reform.’

The engagement brings together lawmakers, health-sector leaders, technical experts and other stakeholders to deliberate on three key health-sector bills: the KSPHCMB Bill, the Drug and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) Bill and the Health Training Institute Bill.

The proposed KSPHCMB Bill seeks to amend the existing law enacted in 2014, with a view to strengthening the Board’s legal and institutional framework and aligning its mandate with the current realities and needs of primary healthcare delivery.

The review is being undertaken under the leadership of the Director-General of the KSPHCMB, Professor Salisu Ahmad Ibrahim.

Speaking at the workshop, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, stressed the importance of strong legislation in enhancing coordination, accountability and sustainable healthcare delivery.

The workshop was declared open on behalf of the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ismaila Jibril Falgore, by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Muhammadu Bello Butu-Butu, who represents the Rimin Gado/Tofa Constituency.

The Deputy Speaker called for continued collaboration among lawmakers, technical experts and other stakeholders to ensure the development of effective and responsive health-sector legislation.

In his welcome address, Professor Ibrahim said a strong legal and institutional framework was essential to sustaining existing gains and further improving healthcare delivery in the state.

He urged participants to actively engage throughout the workshop, expressing confidence that the review would strengthen institutional effectiveness, accountability and service delivery.

The Kano State House of Assembly and KSPHCMB acknowledged the support of FCDO Lafiya, SANHDEF and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) towards the successful implementation of the workshop.

FG assures parents of safety as unity schools resume Monday

The Federal Government has assured parents and guardians of adequate security arrangements as students in Federal Unity Colleges across the country resume for the new academic session on Monday, September 14, 2026.

The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement issued on Friday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said necessary measures had been put in place to ensure a safe and smooth resumption.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the safety and wellbeing of students and staff remained a priority of the Federal Government.

Alausa disclosed that relevant security agencies had been informed of the resumption arrangements and were maintaining heightened vigilance around the Federal Unity Colleges and their immediate environments.

He said the coordinated security measures were aimed at protecting students, staff and other members of the school communities as academic activities resume nationwide.

The minister urged parents and guardians to remain calm, rely on official information and proceed with preparations to ensure that their children and wards return to their respective schools on Monday as scheduled.

He also directed authorities of the colleges to maintain close coordination with security agencies and other relevant authorities to ensure an orderly and secure resumption.

Alausa called on students, parents, teachers, school administrators and other stakeholders to work together to maintain a peaceful and secure learning environment.

He stressed that the safety and wellbeing of students remained a shared responsibility.

The ministry said it would continue to monitor developments and take necessary measures, in collaboration with relevant authorities, to ensure the safe and seamless resumption of academic activities in all Federal Unity Colleges.

It added that the commitment was part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen the education system and provide Nigerian children with access to quality education in a safe and conducive environment.

The ministry reaffirmed that all Federal Unity Colleges nationwide would resume academic activities on Monday as scheduled.

Electricity subsidy: FG’s planned phase-out in 2027

THE Federal Government’s announcement that it plans to phase out electricity subsidies from 2027 deserves serious scrutiny, not least because electricity remains one of Nigeria’s most unreliable essential services. Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, says the ministry has President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to clear legacy debts and establish sustainable structures to prevent further accumulation. According to the government, its electricity subsidy obligation in 2025 alone was ?1.928 trillion. Tegbe has also said there is no immediate plan to increase tariffs, while promising improved electricity supply, universal metering and the elimination of estimated billing. These are reassuring promises. But Nigerians have heard similar promises about electricity before. The first question is basic: what exactly is the Federal Government subsidising?

Electricity subsidy broadly represents the difference between the cost-reflective tariff determined by the regulator and what government permits certain categories of consumers to pay. Government assumes responsibility for the shortfall. There is a legitimate argument that such an arrangement cannot continue indefinitely because debts accumulate and the electricity industry becomes financially unsustainable. But government must explain how the ?1.928 trillion figure was calculated and, more importantly, what inefficiencies are embedded in the costs upon which the subsidy is based. Nigeria’s electricity problems are not merely financial. Generation remains inefficient, gas constraints persist; transmission capacity is inadequate; and distribution is plagued by technical and commercial losses. If these inefficiencies are embedded in the so-called cost-reflective tariff, subsidy removal could simply transfer the financial consequences of an inefficient electricity system from government to households and businesses.

Nigeria has about 13,625 megawatts of installed grid-connected generating capacity, but only a fraction is routinely available. The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported average available capacity of just 4,286 MW in April 2026. Whatever is generated must still pass through transmission and distribution networks before reaching consumers. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) itself recently said its claimed transmission capability exceeding 8,700 MW was simulated and had not been physically tested; its highest actual wheeling record remains 5,801.84 MW. What, therefore, are Nigerians being asked to pay the full cost of? Increasing tariffs does not repair turbines, supply gas, strengthen transmission lines, replace overloaded transformers, or eliminate distribution losses. A cost-reflective tariff should reflect efficient costs, not become a mechanism for passing institutional and operational inefficiencies to consumers.

There is also the reality of what Nigerians already pay for electricity. Millions of households pay DisCos and still buy petrol or diesel for generators. Others spend heavily on inverters, batteries and solar panels. Businesses maintain parallel electricity systems simply to remain operational. If subsidy removal means that Nigerians pay higher tariffs while continuing to bear these enormous self-generation costs, it would be a particularly harsh reform. Higher tariffs ought to purchase better electricity. The Band A arrangement already illustrates the problem. Band A customers are supposed to receive at least 20 hours of electricity daily and pay substantially higher tariffs. Yet, the lived experience of many Band A customers shows that such categorisation does not itself guarantee efficient supply. Consumers paying premium tariffs should consistently receive premium service. Government must therefore tell Nigerians plainly what comes after subsidy removal. Will households receive substantially more reliable electricity?

There is also the question of metering. Millions of registered electricity customers remain unmetered. How can government demand full cost recovery from consumers whose consumption cannot even be accurately measured? Universal metering and the elimination of estimated billing should not merely accompany subsidy reform; they should precede full cost recovery. Metre first, measure accurately, then bill. Nigeria also supplies electricity to neighbouring Benin Republic, Togo and Niger Republic, whose utilities owe Nigeria substantial sums for electricity supplied. Regional electricity trading is not inherently objectionable, but government cannot insist on uncompromising commercial discipline from Nigerian households while failing to collect promptly from international customers. Tegbe’s assurance that subsidy will disappear without an immediate tariff increase equally requires clarification. If government currently pays the difference between the cost-reflective tariff and what consumers pay, who assumes that difference when government withdraws? Unless electricity-sector costs decline or another financing mechanism replaces the subsidy, somebody eventually has to pay. There are wider dangers. Several DisCos are already financially distressed, some having experienced creditor or receivership interventions. GenCos are owed substantial sums. Abrupt subsidy withdrawal without resolving debts, losses and poor collections could deepen the industry’s financial difficulties. Conversely, sharply higher tariffs without improved service could encourage electricity theft, metre bypass and non-payment, further destabilising the system.

Then there is the social question. Nigerians have already absorbed the consequences of petrol subsidy removal. Electricity is another fundamental input into virtually every aspect of economic life. If government withdraws support from both fuel and electricity, ordinary Nigerians are entitled to ask where it is cushioning the cost of essential energy for vulnerable citizens. Governments routinely provide tax incentives, concessions and waivers to businesses and other economic actors. What corresponding protection is available to the poor? There is no absolute free market anywhere, particularly in electricity. Governments regulate power systems, finance infrastructure and protect vulnerable consumers precisely because electricity is essential to modern life. Nigeria can pursue financially sustainable tariffs without abandoning low-income households. Properly targeted support or lifeline tariffs should remain available to those genuinely unable to bear full costs.

Before 2027, the Federal Government should therefore publish a transparent subsidy-removal roadmap. It should explain how the ?1.928 trillion subsidy was calculated, what inefficiencies are embedded in sector costs, how debts will be resolved, when universal metering will be achieved, what improvements consumers should expect, and how vulnerable households will be protected. A state that cannot provide reliable electricity has a fundamental capacity problem. Making unreliable electricity more expensive does not solve that problem. The bargain must be clear: if Nigerians are required to pay more, they must receive more electricity. Otherwise, subsidy removal will amount to little more than transferring the cost of the power sector’s failures to the Nigerian consumer.