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Speaking at an award dinner at the Nigeria House in New York to celebrate Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), said she was puzzled by President Bola Tinubu’s disciplined reticence on the socio-economic conditions his administration inherited. She knows how fashionable it is for a new president to expiate his difficulties by blaming his predecessor’s abominable policies and track record. She added: ‘But he (Tinubu) also told us that he wasn’t going to complain about what he (inherited). I have not heard him complain. People around him complain about what he inherited, but he doesn’t.’ The global diplomat seemed fascinated. So, too, do many Nigerians, including those who like or hate the president.

Though he is no religious puritan, President Tinubu, by his attitude, teaches faith leaders the exemplary art of not complaining or murmuring. In 2015, weeks after basking in his contributions to the Muhammadu Buhari electoral success, he was sidelined and treated shabbily by his party and leaders. Shocked, he nevertheless kept silent. Shortly before the 2019 reelection campaign, when the ruling party realised it had been unable to groom former governor Tinubu’s replacement in the Southwest, they went back to him for help. Again he offered that crucial help but studiously refused to mock his traducers or complain. In fact he was even mysteriously silent. And when his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), enacted a welter of policies to ostracise and emasculate him, and even erected huge boulders across his path to derail his 2023 presidential ambition, he refused to abuse the then president or any party leader.

And after he won, he has been nothing but gracious to his undeserving predecessor, a fact now attested to by Mrs Mohammed. Rudyard Kipling put it succinctly: ‘If you can keep your head when all about you// Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;// If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,// But make allowance for their doubting too;// If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,// Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,// Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,//.If you can fill the unforgiving minute// With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run-// Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,// And-which is more-you’ll be a Man, my son!//’ President Tinubu embodies this timeless lesson.

The Presidency yesterday made public a comprehensive list of the beneficiaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential pardon, clemency and commutation of sentences involving 175 convicts and former convicts, which was released after the National Council of State meeting on Thursday.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave an exhaustive breakdown of the categories of the President’s prerogatives, comprising full pardons, posthumous pardons, clemency, sentence reductions and commutations from death to life imprisonment.

The exercise of mercy for the 175 convicts and former convicts, including military officers, public officials, remorseful drug offenders, illegal miners and foreigners, followed the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi.

The committee’s report, as presented by Fagbemi, recommended various forms of reprieve: pardon for 17 persons (including 11 posthumously), clemency for 82 inmates, commutation of sentences for 65, and conversion of death sentences to life imprisonment for seven others.

According to the statement by Mr Onanuga, President Tinubu granted mercy to many of the convicts for reasons including remorse, good conduct, old age, and enrolment in reform programmes such as the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

Those granted full presidential pardon are Nweke Francis Chibueze, Dr. Nwogu Peters, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaoba, Barrister Hussaini Alhaji Umar, Ayinla Saadu Alanamu and Hon. Farouk M. Lawan.

President Tinubu also issued posthumous pardons to nationalist Sir Herbert Macaulay, whose 1913 colonial conviction has now been set aside; Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 over an alleged coup plot; and the Ogoni Nine-Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawa, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine-who were executed in 1995.

The Presidency separately honoured the victims in the Ogoni case-Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobaru, Chief Samuel Orage and Chief Theophilus Orage-while making clear they are not beneficiaries of the clemency or pardon.

Eighty-two inmates received presidential clemency after demonstrating remorse, reform or other qualifying circumstances, among whom was Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in November 2017.

Sanda’s sentence was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 4, 2020.

Others who received presidential clemency included Aluagwu Lawrence; Ben Friday; Oroke Michael Chibueze; Kelvin Christopher Smith; Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka; Akinrinnade Akinwande Adebiyi; Ahmed Adeyemo; Adeniyi Jimoh; Seun Omirinde; Adesanya Olufemi Paul; Ife Yusuf; Daniel Bodunwa; Fidelis Michael; Suru Akande; Safiyanu Umar; Dahiru Abdullahi; Hamza Abubakar; Rabiu Alhassan Dawaki; Mujibu Muhammad; Emmanuel Eze; Bala Azika Yahaya; Lina Kusum Wilson and Buhari Sani.

Others are Mohammed Musa; Muharazu Abubakar; Ibrahim Yusuf; Saad Ahmed Madaki; Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa; Richard Ayuba; Adam Abubakar; Emmanuel Yusuf; Edwin Nnazor; Chinedu Stanley; Joseph Nwanoka; Johnny Ntheru; John Omotiye; Nsikat Edet Harry; Jonathan Asuquo; Prince Samuel Peters; Babangida Saliu; Adamu Sanni; Abdulkarem Salisu; Abdulaziz Lawal; Abdulrahman Babangida; Maharazu Alidu; Zaharadeen Baliue; Babangida Usman; Zayyanu Abdullahi; Bashir Garuba; Imam Suleman; Abbeh Amisu; Lawani Lurwanu; Yusuf Alhassan; Abdulahi Isah; and Zayanu Bello.

There were also Habeeb Suleman; Jubrin Sahabi; Shefiu Umar; Seidu Abubakar; Haruna Abubakar; Rabiu Seidu; Macha Kuru; Zahradeen Aminu; Nazipi Musa; Abdullahi Musa; Habibu Safiu; Husseni Sani; Musa Lawali; Suleiman Lawal; Yusuf Iliyasu; Sebiyu Aliyu; Halliru Sani; Shittu Aliyu; Sanusi Aminu; Isiaka Adamu; Mamman Ibrahim; Shuaibu Abdullahi; Sanusi Adamu; Sadi Musa; Haruna Isah; and Abiodun Elemero who received presidential clemency.

The Presidency disclosed that Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis signed an undertaking to be responsible for the rehabilitation and empowerment of all the convicted illegal miners who were granted clemency.

In addition, 65 inmates had their terms of imprisonment reduced for reasons such as remorse, good conduct, educational attainment, age or ill-health.

Those whose sentences were reduced are Yusuf Owolabi; Ifeanyi Eze; Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman; Shettima Maaji Arfo; Ajasper Benzeger; Ifenna Kennechukwu; Mgbeike Matthew; Patrick Mensah; Obi Edwin Chukwu; Tunde Balogun; Lima Pereira Erick Diego; Uchegbu Emeka Michael; Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen; Napolo Osariemen; Patricia Echoe Igninovia; Odeyemi Omolaram; Vera Daniel Ifork; and Gabriel Juliet Chidimma.

Others are Dias Santos Marcia Christiana; Alhaji Ibrahim Hameed; Alhaji Nasiru Ogara Adinoyi; Chief Emeka Agbodike; Isaac Justina; Aishat Kehinde; Helen Solomon; Okoye Tochukwu; Ugwueze Paul; Mutsapha Ahmed; Abubakar Mamman; Muhammed Bello Musa; Nnamdi Anene; Alhaji Abubakar Tanko; Chisom Francis Wisdom; Innocent Brown Idiong; Iniobong Imaeyen Ntukidem; Ada Audu; Bukar Adamu; Kelvin Oniarah Ezigbe; Frank Azuekor; and Chukwukelu Sunday Calisthus.

Also affected are Professor Magaji Garba; Markus Yusuf; Samson Ajayi; Iyabo Binyoyo; Oladele Felix; Rakiya Beida; Nriagu Augustine Ifeanyi; Chukwudi Destiny; Felix Rotimi Esemokhai; Major S. A. Akubo; John Ibiam; Omoka Aja; Chief Jonathan Alatoru; Umanah Ekaette Umanah; Utom Obong Thomson Udoaka; Jude Saka Ebaragha; Frank Insort Abaka; Shina Alolo; Joshua Iwiki; David Akinseye; Ahmed Toyin; Shobajo Saheed; Adamole Philip; Mathew Masi; and Bright Agbedeyi.

Seven inmates on death row had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment on account of good conduct and remorse. They are Emmanuel Baba; Emmanuel Gladstone; Moses Ayodele Olorunfemi; Abubakar Usman; Khalifa Umar; Benjamin Ekeze; and Mohammed Umar.

The Presidency explained that the exercise covers a wide range of offences and circumstances-from narcotics and economic crimes to unlawful mining and homicide-and is intended to balance justice with compassion while acknowledging genuine efforts at reform.

It added that, beyond correcting individual cases, the exercise also addresses historic grievances such as the colonial conviction of Sir Herbert Macaulay and the 1995 executions in Ogoniland, even as the victims in that episode were formally honoured without being listed among the pardon or clemency beneficiaries.

How Maryam Sanda was convicted, sentenced to death for killing husband

After a judicial expedition that lasted almost three years, Ms Maryam Sanda was convicted in January 2020 for allegedly stabbing her husband to death after an argument between them degenerated into fisticuffs in November, 2017.

The deceased husband, Bilyaminu Bello, was the son of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello.

Although she claimed that her husband died from a wound he sustained on the chest from falling on a broken Shisha pot, a single or multi-stemmed device used to either smoke or vapourise flavoured tobacco, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court found her guilty of killing Bilyaminu and sentenced her to death by hanging.

The judge had said although the prosecution did not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt as there was no other witness of the incident aside the accused and no autopsy or murder weapon tendered, the surrounding circumstances were compelling.

He said he also relied on the ‘Doctrine of the Last Scene’ which stipulates that the last person at a crime scene bears full responsibility.

‘Ms Sanda stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife with clear intent to kill,’ said the judge in a two-count homicide charge brought by the Nigeria Police against her.

‘It serves to buttress the finding that the defendant was the last to be seen with the deceased and therefore has full responsibility of what caused his death,’ Halilu added.

Ms Sanda had burst into tears after the judgment, forcing her way out of the dock and screaming ‘Who will take care of my daughter?’

The family of St. Moses Orimolade-Tunolase in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, has reaffirmed that the renowned prophet singlehandedly founded the Cherubim and Seraphim (C and S) Church worldwide, dismissing claims that he co-founded it with anyone.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Akure, Elder George Tunolase, who spoke on behalf of the family, said the late Orimolade-Tunolase established and registered the C and S Church in 1925 as its sole founder.

‘There is misinformation that the Cherubim and Seraphim organisation worldwide was jointly founded by St. Moses Orimolade-Tunolase and another person. That information is incorrect. The founder and sole founder remains St. Moses Orimolade-Tunolase,’ Elder Tunolase stated.

He recalled that ownership disputes over the church had once been subjected to legal proceedings, which were resolved in favour of the late prophet.

‘There is a Supreme Court judgment on the matter of who owns the church. The apex court held that the founder of the Cherubim and Seraphim organisation worldwide is St. Moses Orimolade-Tunolase. We still have a copy of the judgment with us,’ he added.

Tunolase also explained that the late prophet hailed from a royal lineage, being a descendant of the Owa-Ale royal family of Ikare-Akoko through his father.

He clarified that contrary to public belief, it was Orimolade’s father-not his mother – who was from the Owa-Ale royal family.

‘It’s not correct that the mother of late St. Moses Orimolade-Tunolase was from the Owa-Ale royal family of Ikare. His father was a prince of Owa-Ale of Ikare, which means the Tunolase family is part of the Owa-Ale royal lineage.

‘The mother of St. Moses was from the Eleho family in Shakume Quarters, Ikare-Akoko,’ he said.

He, however, noted that the unity of the C and S Church worldwide remains unshaken, adding that members and branches across the globe recently marked the church’s centenary in one accord.

Singer Peter Okoye has stirred online debate after revealing an encounter with a waitress in the United States who called him out for tipping $60 after spending $1,000 on a meal.

The waitress, who served him during his visit, reportedly sent a direct message describing his tip as ‘ridiculous.’

Okoye, surprised by the message, shared a screenshot of it on his Instagram story, expressing disbelief at what he described as an act of entitlement.

‘Sometimes, eh, dis oyinbos na them no get sense. Una dey craze for this Yankee aswear. For my own money again?’ he wrote.

The post quickly went viral, sparking mixed reactions. While many defended Okoye, noting that a $60 tip was still reasonable, others pointed out that tipping culture in the U.S. typically expects gratuities between 15 and 20 percent of the bill.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun a partnership with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) to promote the scientific validation of herbal medicines through clinical trials, paving the way for their full registration and global acceptance, it emerged on Sunday.

NAFDAC’s Director General (DG), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in a statement by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, where she said the collaboration aims to develop safe, effective, and scientifically proven herbal medicines while supporting traditional medicine practitioners to meet international standards.

According to her, NAFDAC and NNMDA are working to select some listed herbal medicines for clinical trials to provide scientific proof of their effectiveness and include them in a national herbal medicine formulary.

She further revealed that NAFDAC continues to engage herbal practitioners through stakeholder meetings and has published a simplified guide on its website to help them establish orderly, contamination-free production spaces.

The NAFDAC Director-General, however, identified high costs as a major obstacle preventing herbal medicine producers from conducting clinical trials, stressing, ‘If you have a herbal medicine that you cannot scientifically prove to be effective and safe for users by providing data on its efficacy, then it cannot be fully registered by NAFDAC.’

Noting that although thousands of herbal medicines have been listed by the agency, only a few have undergone clinical trials, she added, ‘But we cannot give 5-year approval without passing the efficacy test through a clinical trial.

‘We know that herbal medicine works, but it’s important to determine scientifically the level at which it is safe for use. The fact that it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s all safe. That’s where NAFDAC regulation and control come in.’

Prof. Adeyeye recalled that NAFDAC had established a Herbal Medicine Products Committee before the COVID-19 pandemic to bring together practitioners, researchers, and policymakers for collaboration.

She said the agency is currently seeking funding to support clinical trials, which she described as highly capital-intensive.

Prof. Adeyeye, who was a professor in the United States before her appointment, shared that she previously led a project that developed an anti-sickling polyherbal medicine that was successfully tested on children with sickle cell disease.

‘We are determined to assist our practitioners in the area of clinical trials, and together with NNMDA, we shall mobilize resources to get some herbal medicines fully registered after going through due process,’ she affirmed.

Reality TV star and entrepreneur, Tacha has successfully completed her Guinness World Record attempt for the most makeovers in 24 hours, achieving 145 makeovers.

The record-breaking event took place at the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Lagos, with celebrities like Alex Unusual, Toke Makinwa, Ice Prince and Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Idris Aregbe in attendance.

Despite facing technical issues, including a power outage, Tacha demonstrated remarkable resilience and speed, transforming 145 models with diverse skin tones and body types.

Each model’s transformation was documented with professional headshots and runway showcases as part of the Tacha Beauty Festival.

Tacha, who became a household name after participating in Big Brother Naija Season 4, is now awaiting official confirmation from Guinness World Records, which will verify the attempt before declaring her an official record holder.

Her record-breaking ambition, she said earlier, was inspired by her desire to celebrate creativity, consistency, and the strength of Nigerian women in the global beauty industry.

Six outstanding Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) students have received N4 million scholarship from the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

The NCE students are drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The scholarship is part of COEASU’s 2025 World Teachers’ Day, which took place in Abuja.

An ex-president of COEASU, Dr Smart Odunayo Olugbeko, gave the details at the celebration, which also featured the inauguration of the new National Officers’ Council of the union and an award ceremony.

The event was organised under the theme ‘Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future.’

Dr Olugbeko, in his final address as COEASU president titled ‘Legacy of a Collective Progress,’ said the scholarship formed part of COEASU’s National Scholarship Award for Outstanding NCE Students, introduced in 2024 to promote merit and academic excellence in teacher education.

He said, ‘Following a rigorous national examination conducted by the Union, we are pleased to honour the best NCE students from each of the six geopolitical zones with a scholarship of N500,000 each. And to the overall best student in Nigeria, we present a scholarship of B1 million, a symbol of national pride and academic distinction.’

He also announced the renaming of the national best student prize in honour of late Khalid Yunusa, a student of Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel, who tragically lost his life en route to the zonal stage of the scholarship examination in September.

‘In honour of his memory and the ideals he represented, the Union has resolved to rename the National Best NCE Student Award as the Khalid Yunusa Best NCE Student Award in Nigeria,’ Olugbeko stated.

He added that COEASU’s development partner, AFFIT, had also pledged to immortalise the deceased student through a scholarship for learners in his community.

Dr Olugbeko, who served as COEASU President from 2021 to 2025, used the occasion to recount key milestones of his administration.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, commended COEASU for maintaining constructive engagement with the government and contributing to reforms in the teacher education sub-sector.

‘Teachers are the custodians of stability and the architects of change. At the Ministry, we are driving a clear agenda to reposition the teaching profession, professionalising, empowering and rewarding teachers,’ Alausa said.

Represented by Dr Iyabo Ali, a Director from the Ministry, the Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the Dual Mandate Policy, which enables Colleges of Education to run degree programmes alongside NCE programmes.

The Minister lauded Dr Olugbeko’s leadership for fostering industrial harmony within the system and urged the incoming executive to build on the achievements recorded between 2021 and 2025.

The new President of COEASU, Dr Ahmed Bazza, said the mandate given to him was clear to protect the welfare of members, advance the cause of teacher education, and build a stronger, more united COEASU.

He said, ‘We shall, therefore, continue to engage the government and relevant agencies to ensure the full implementation of the basic instrument with which these aspirations of ours can be achieved, the FGN-COEASU 2010 Agreement.

‘We shall also ensure that the rights and privileges of our members are honoured as appropriate. We shall strengthen our advocacy for the repositioning of Colleges of Education, ensuring adequate funding, infrastructural development, and improved conditions for teaching practice and demonstration schools.’

Big Brother Naija season 10 winner, Imisioluwa Ayanwale, popularly known as Imisi, has expressed heartfelt gratitude to God and her supporters, saying she is still coming to terms with the magnitude of her win, a week after the life-changing victory.

The 23-year-old reality TV star described the experience as surreal and credited her triumph to the unwavering support of her fans and the Big Brother platform.

Imisi also thanked MultiChoice, DStv Nigeria, and GOtv Nigeria for providing the platform that propelled her into the public eye.

‘Exactly one week ago today, y’all changed my life for good forever. I am grateful to God and to all of you. I am struggling to understand what has truly hit me, most of you can see that in some of the clips that made it to the internet from the Winner’s party last night.

‘It is my prayer that we will all win together in life, because this journey is forever. To @MultiChoice @DStvNg and @GOtvNg, thank you for the opportunity. I will forever be grateful. Sincerely Yours, Imisioluwa, S10 Winner’, she wrote on X.

The victory came with a grand prize package worth N150 million, including N80 million in cash, a brand-new Innoson SUV and endorsement opportunities.

Imisi’s journey in the Big Brother house was marked by her humor, authenticity, and emotional depth, capturing viewers’ hearts with her relatability and resilience.

As one of the youngest winners in the show’s history, Imisi has received massive public support, with fans celebrating her humility and originality.

Her victory has been described as a story of perseverance and grace.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have intensified joint monitoring of the ongoing Integrated Measles-Rubella (MR), Polio, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, which aims to vaccinate over 106 million Nigerian children against preventable diseases.

The nationwide exercise, which began in October 2025 and will run until February 2026, was designed to strengthen immunization coverage, raise public awareness, and ensure that no child is left unprotected.

The Measles-Rubella campaign, flagged off by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on October 6, is currently ongoing across 19 northern States and Oyo State and will conclude on October 15.

Over the weekend, NPHCDA Executive Director, Dr. Muyi Aina, and FCTA Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, led a joint monitoring team to assess the progress of the vaccination campaign across the FCT and neighbouring States.

In a statement by Bola Ajao, Special Adviser on Media to the Mandate Secretary, the joint monitoring exercise emphasized the importance of collaboration between national and state health authorities in achieving better child health outcomes.

Dr. Aina said the joint effort reflects the government’s determination to strengthen healthcare delivery and ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines.

‘This exercise underscores the importance of teamwork between national and state health authorities to protect children, strengthen healthcare delivery, and build a healthier nation,’ he stated.

He commended the dedication of frontline health workers, urging them to maintain transparency in data collection and reporting, saying, ‘Verified data, whether targets are achieved or not, is crucial for effective planning and sustainable health sector improvement’.

The monitoring team visited several Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), including Chikora North PHC in Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State and New Township PHC in Abaji Area Council, Abuja.

They also engaged with mothers and caregivers in surrounding communities, emphasizing the importance of timely vaccination and proper finger-marking of children.

At the Abaji PHC, Dr. Fasawe personally administered vaccines to infants and sensitized mothers on the dangers of preventable diseases.

She urged parents to ensure their children are fully immunized, warning that unvaccinated children face a high risk of contracting measles and rubella, which can cause blindness, hearing loss, congenital defects, and death.

Both officials expressed satisfaction with the turnout and coverage achieved so far and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining safety and quality standards throughout the campaign.

Academic activities in public universities may be heading for disruption following the strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday.

The union directed lecturers in public universities to commence a two – week warning strike, commencing from tomorrow (Monday) to protest alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands.

National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, who addressed reporters at the national secretariat of the union at the University of Abuja main campus on Sunday, warned that the strike may be extended by the union if the government failed to address its demands.

Piwuna, who was joined at the briefing by ASUU leaders, added that the warning strike ‘will be total and comprehensive.’

He stated that nothing significant had happened since it issued the two-week ultimatum.

‘Government has been asking for time with nothing concrete on ground to resolve it’, he said.

But the government reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to constructive engage with ASUU towards the sustainable resolution of all outstanding issues affecting the university system.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, nd Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, stated that the federal government has ‘demonstrated demonstrable sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its dialogue with the Union, noting that virtually all the concerns raised by ASUU have been addressed.’

They added, ‘These include the introduction of a big percentageof teaching allowance and significant improvements in the conditions of service of academic staff. The few remaining matters are those that rightfully fall within the jurisdiction of the governing councils of the respective universities, which have been recently reconstituted to handle such internal issues.

‘The few remaining matters are those that rightfully fall within the jurisdiction of the governing councils of the respective universities, which have been recently reconstituted to handle such internal issues.’

Piwuna further explained that the union has consistently shown restraint in order not to disrupt the academic calendar, but the government’s insensitivity has left them with no alternative.

‘Consequently, all branches of ASUU are hereby directed to withdraw their services with effect from midnight (12.01a.m.) on Monday, 13th October, 2025. The warning strike shall be total and comprehensive as agreed at the last NEC meeting,’ he said.

The ASUU president added: ‘This two-week warning strike should be taken as a window by the government to address our demands. It is a window for the government to stop the deceit and go back to the negotiating table and resolve this issue with us.

‘If they don’t, we are going to meet again after two – weeks and when we do we will take action that will certainly be different from this one (two-week) warning strike.

‘If we embark on that journey it will be total and there will be no going back.’

Piwuna said despite engagements with the Federal Government, there was nothing substantial to stop the strike directive reached at its national executive council (NEC) meeting on September 28.

He accused the government of raising the hopes of ASUU members through a ‘document hurriedly put together by the government.’

The National Executive Council (NEC) issued a 14-day notice to the government on September 28, threatening to embark on a strike if nothing was done with regards to its demands.

The ultimatum ended on Oct 12 (Sunday).

The ASUU leader urged well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the media to prevail on the federal government to address the lingering issues once and for all.

‘This struggle is not just for university lecturers; it is for the soul of public education in Nigeria,’ Piwuna added.

In a statement by the Director Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, the two ministers noted that, though the government is making all efforts to resolve all the issues and ensure that students remain in school, ASUU is not operating with the same zeal.

‘The government had met the deadline for presenting its position to the union as agreed, yet instead of reverting to the ministry in continuation of dialogue, ASUU has chosen to proceed with strike action,’ the statement said.

They noted that the action does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public, especially given the government’s demonstrable commitment and concrete steps already taken.

The ministers further stressed that the government has continued to prioritise the welfare of university staff and the stability of the academic calendar under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to them, dialogue remains the most effective and sustainable path to resolving disagreements, and government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.

They, however, emphasized that the ‘no work, no pay’ policy remains an extant labour law of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities.

‘While government continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources,’ the ministers said.

They reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the federal government is firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony in the tertiary education system.

The ministers appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education system.

They reiterated that the government’s education reform agenda is designed to enhance teaching and research conditions, promote institutional autonomy through strengthened university governance, and ensure that the academic community thrives in an environment of mutual respect, productivity, and innovation.

The ministers reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to work with all stakeholders to safeguard the academic calendar and prevent further disruption in the learning process.

They urged ASUU to reconsider its position and return to dialogue in the best interest of students and the future of Nigeria’s education system.

Piwuna listed ASUU’s seven demands as the re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, sustainable funding of public universities, revitalisation of universities, an end to the alleged victimisation of ASUU members in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO, payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, settlement of promotion arrears spanning over four years, and remittance of outstanding third-party deductions.