Category: PM News

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) said its has suspended its planned nationwide strike following positive steps taken by the Federal Government to address the union’s demands.

The suspension was announced on Sunday, by ASUP President Shammah Kpanja in a statement in Abuja.

ASUP had earlier threatened to embark on an industrial action following a 21-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on Aug. 15.

The union demands include unresolved issues of unpaid salary arrears, delayed implementation of the 25 and 35 per cent salary adjustment, non-release of promotion arrears, and stalled renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN agreement, among others.

‘The decision to suspend the strike followed the union’s 115th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Oct. 9 to review government’s response to its 21-day ultimatum.

‘The union acknowledges progress on several fronts, including the release of a circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on Peculiar Academic Allowances,’ the president said.

According to him, ASUP also notes measurable progress on the 2025 cycle of the NEEDS Assessment intervention and the resumption of meetings of the Polytechnic Implementation Monitoring Committee.

He added that the union appreciated the reconstitution of the Federal Government Renegotiation Committee to include the Polytechnic sector.

Kpanja further commended the Federal Ministry of Education for addressing issues at the Federal Polytechnics in Nekede and Ekowe.

He said ASUP is also encouraged by efforts to release arrears of the 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustment and promotion arrears owed to polytechnic staff.

‘Consequently, our NEC resolved to put on hold the proposed strike to give government more time to conclude ongoing actions,’ he said.

Kpanja, however, said the union would review the situation within six weeks to assess the level of implementation of the commitments.

He commended the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education and officials of the ministry for their engagement and commitment to resolving the issues.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has described Seyi Tinubu as a shining example of responsible leadership and youthful innovation with deep-seated commitment to national progress

Orelope-Adefulire said this while joining joined family, friends, and well-wishers across the country to celebrate Mr. Oluwaseyi Tinubu on the occasion of his 40th birthday in a statement on Monday.

In a statement released by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Desmond Utomwen, the presidential aide further lauded his passion for social investment and humanitarian causes, noting that his initiatives have demonstrated ‘the rare ability to blend enterprise with empathy, proving that leadership can indeed be both visionary and compassionate.’

In a warm and reflective message, Princess Orelope-Adefulire described Seyi Tinubu as ‘a man of purpose, vision, and quiet influence,’ commending his dedication to youth empowerment, philanthropy, and national development.

‘At forty, Seyi Tinubu stands as a shining example of responsible leadership, youthful innovation, and a deep-seated commitment to national progress,’ she stated. ‘He has shown that the true measure of success lies not in titles or possessions but in impact – in the lives transformed, opportunities created, and hope rekindled through one’s efforts.’

She prayed for continued wisdom, strength, and divine grace for the celebrant, urging him to deepen his contributions to national growth and continue inspiring young Nigerians.

‘I extend warm felicitations and best wishes to you. May your days ahead be filled with greater impact, joy, and divine favour. Happy 40th Birthday, Seyi Tinubu,’ she concluded.

The two-week nationwide warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has paralysed the ongoing second-semester examinations at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State.

The strike, which commenced on Monday, 13 October 2025, was called by ASUU’s national leadership to compel the Federal Government to implement the long-standing 2009 agreement between both parties.

At UNIBEN, several faculties were forced to suspend their examinations as lecturers withdrew from all academic duties.

A member of the Students’ Union, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the disruption varied across departments.

‘Not all students wrote their exams today. Some did, while others didn’t, it depends on the faculty and department,’ the student said.

Confirming total compliance, the Chairman of ASUU, UNIBEN Chapter, Prof. Enaruna Edosa, said union members fully adhered to the directive.

‘We held a congress today and directed all members to comply with the national order. The strike is for two weeks, and compliance has been 100 percent. None of our members participated in the ongoing examinations,’ he stated.

Earlier, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of UNIBEN announced the suspension of all examinations through an official circular signed by its Director of Information, Ahonsi Godwin.

The statement urged students to remain calm and await further directives through official communication channels.

‘This is to officially inform all students that, following recent developments, ASUU-UNIBEN has activated a two-week warning strike. Consequently, all ongoing and scheduled examinations across faculties have been suspended until further notice,’ the statement read in part.

Meanwhile, the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter of ASUU in Ekpoma has also joined the nationwide strike.

Dr. Cyril Onogbosele, Chairman of ASUU-AAU, confirmed full compliance, saying members had resolved to align with the national directive.

‘AAU fully complied with the strike. It is a national action, and all branches are required to participate. We held our congress today and resolved to abide by the resolution of ASUU national,’ Onogbosele said.

The two-week warning strike is expected to disrupt academic activities across public universities nationwide as ASUU seeks to compel government action on lecturers’ welfare, university funding, and improved learning conditions.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called for full implementation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais report on reforms for the nation’s electoral system.

TUC President, Mr Festus Osifo made the call on Monday at a one day Public Hearing on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act No 13, 2022 and enact the Electoral Act 2025.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the public hearing was organised by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on INEC.

Osifo, represented by Mr Tolulope Akinyoye, an official of TUC , said the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy is repeatedly undermined by flawed elections, underscoring the need to implement the Uwais report.

‘We support full implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Uwais electoral reform, which includes transfer of power, shifting the authority to appoint INEC commissioners and chairman from the President to the National Judicial Council (NJC), Criminalisation of vote buying, pre-election violence with enforcing sanctions, restructuring and unbundling INEC to improve its effectiveness, establishing a specific timeline for resolving election disputes and implementing modern technology, such as biometric data capture, electronic voting, and electronic transmission of results, among others.’

He said the recommendations were aimed to enhance the integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.

According to him, a credible election is not only about votes but about giving a voice to the working class and ensuring that governments reflect the will of the people.

Osifo recommended the protection of workers’ political rights, saying that the act should explicitly safeguard rights of Nigerian workers, including those in public sector and private sectors.

He said workers should freely participate in political activities without fear of intimidation, harassment or loss of employment.

‘We believe that no worker should be penalised for exercising their constitutional right to vote, campaign or belong to a political party.

‘Democracy loses its meaning, when workers are afraid to express their political preferences, we believe that the productive backbone of the nation as workers must be protected from victimisation by employers and political authorities for participating in civic activities.

‘Political neutrality in workplaces should not translate to political violence. We also recommend that election days and voter periods should be recognised as public holidays to enable all categories of workers, including shifts and factory workers, to participate fully in the electoral process.’

He also recommended organised labour participation at electoral stakeholder forums and voter education programmes to protect interest of the working class.

‘We also believe that campaign financing provisions should be reviewed to reduce financial barriers to political participation.

‘Reasonable limits should be placed on campaign expenditure and corporate donations to prevent marginalisation of qualified workers who are candidates and to promote a level playing field for Nigerians.’

The TUC president also recommended that the act strengthened speedy resolution of election-related grievances and explicitly prohibit any form of workplace victimisation based on political preference or participation.

‘The law should establish strict timelines for adjudicating on electoral petitions to restore public confidence and ensure accountability.

‘We also recommend that INEC collaborate with trade unions to conduct mobile voter registration exercises within major workplaces, industrial areas and informal sector clusters to ensure wider participation of the working population.’

Osifo also called for promotion of affirmative action in the act to encourage women and persons with disabilities within the workforce to seek elective and appointive positions for gender equality and inclusion.

‘We further advocate for enforcement of quota for women and persons with disabilities,especially within trade unions and political structures.’

He said a democracy that excludes half of its population from the political process cannot be said to achieve full legitimacy, saying that the working citizens remained key to future development of the electoral process.

NAN reports that several Civil Society Organisations, Political Groups, Pressure Groups among other interest groups made presentations on the bill to repeal the electoral act No 13 2022 and enact the electoral act 2025.

The family of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai has released an official statement confirming the passing of the renowned Nigerian evangelist.

In the statement, the family announced that Rev. Ukpai ‘passed on to glory on the 6th of October 2025, at the age of 80.’ They described him as ‘a faithful soldier of the Cross’ who dedicated over six decades of his life to evangelism, dynamic teaching of the Word, and prophetic demonstrations of God’s power, impacting millions of lives in Nigeria and across the globe.

The statement added that Rev. Ukpai was ‘a spiritual general, a founding father of faith, a loving husband, a devoted father, and a mentor to many,’ noting that his life was a testament to God’s power and love.

While mourning his physical absence, the family said they rejoice that he ‘has finished his race and is now resting in eternal praise.’

Details of the obsequies will be announced in due course.

The family expressed gratitude to God for his extraordinary life and enduring legacy, quoting Philippians 1:21: ‘To live is Christ, and to die is gain.’

The statement was shared on the official Instagram page of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association.

Canadian singer Justin Bieber has marked his seventh year wedding anniversary with his wife and model, Hailey Bieber.

The happy couple, who took a trip to the mountains, shared pictures of beautiful moments together during their anniversary trip.

Justin Bieber, on his Instagram page on Sunday, shared pictures of himself and his wife sharing a kiss and touring their vacation destination.

The happy couple also went on a canoe ride in a lake and gushed over the sight of a mountain lion during an hike.

The Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC of Ibadan have said some members of their team were injured in the invasion of the pitch by Kano Pillars FC fans during the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 8 fixture at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano on Sunday.

The management of 3SC said this in a statement it published on the team’s social media platforms early Monday morning, while calling for justice over the violent behavior of the Kano Pillars fans.

The fans had invaded the pitch and attacked players of 3SC and match officials after a 94-minute equaliser by the Ibadan team.

Ahmed Musa, the General Manager of Kano Pillars FC had accepted responsibility for the behavior of the fans while tendering apologies to 3SC and the affected officials.

Musa, a former captain of Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, described the behavior of the Kano Pillars’ fans during the match as shameful.

Also, the Shooting Stars Sports Club in its statement strongly condemned the violent attack on its players and officials at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

The Ibadan club noted that the match, which saw the home side take an early lead in the 9th minute, descended into chaos following their late equalizer in the 94th minute.

‘In the aftermath of the goal, fans breached security protocols, invaded the pitch, and launched objects, including stones, at our players and officials. Our players were beaten and stoned in the process, and we have clear evidence to support this. This unacceptable conduct resulted in physical attacks and injuries to members of our team,’ the Club said.

‘The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club unequivocally condemns this appalling act of violence. Football must remain a force for unity, passion, and community. There is absolutely no place for violence or intimidation within the game,’ it added while calling on authorities of NPFL and security agencies to take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the league and safety of players.

The Ibadan based club affirmed its committed to upholding the values of fair play, professionalism, and respect across all competitions in the statement.

‘We call on the Nigeria Premier Football League authorities and relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, bring the perpetrators to justice, and impose decisive disciplinary measures to ensure accountability.

‘Protecting the integrity of the sport and the safety of all participants must remain a top priority,’ 3SC said.

See the statement by Shooting Stars Sports Club below

Nigerian artist, Okafor Uchenna Victor, also known as Mr Real, has claimed that the afrobeats genre of music lacks original songs.

While speaking with Hip TV, Mr Real stated that once an artists does not take immediate action on an idea, someone else could make use of it.

He weighed in on the allegations of intellectual property theft levied against Rema, stating that cases like that are very rampant in the music industry.

‘Blackface dey always complain say dem steal him song. Afrobeats no get original songs, even Rema fit steal Omah Lay song. You see idea wey bad if you no sharp, omo boys go run am. No time. Stealing of songs happens more between upcoming artists and top artistes but the upcoming no get fans to speak for them. There’s no original song in Afrobeats. Even the one shouting ‘they stole my song’ don still copy person own,’ he said in Pidgin.

Coach Kennedy Boboye has been appointed the the Technical Manager of the club of Bendel Insurance Football Club by the management of the football club.

Kehinde Osagiede, Director, Media and Communications, Bendel Insurance FC announced the appointment in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, the appointment followed a mutual agreement between the management of the football club and Coach Boboye for him to assume full responsibility for the club’s technical department with immediate effect.

‘After a thorough evaluation, the management found Coach Boboye suitable for the role and has offered him a substantive two-year contract. The decision is based on his proven track record, impressive credentials, and extensive experience in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL),’ Osagiede said in the statement.

He added that arrangements have been concluded for the official unveiling of the Delta-born tactician in Benin City on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

‘The management of Bendel Insurance FC is optimistic that Coach Boboye’s appointment will usher in a new phase of improved performance and renewed confidence in the ongoing season.’

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has expressed appreciation to Coach Baldwin Bazuaye (MON), an Executive Director in the Commission, who stepped in as Interim Technical Manager following the suspension of Head Coach Greg Ikhenoba on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has appointed a former member of House of Representatives, Francis Agbo and 22 others as point men across the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state to mainstream democracy and deepen inclusive participation of all people.

Alia, who announced the appointments in Makurdi during the All Progressives Congress, APC, expanded caucus meeting.

According to the Governor, the 23 appointees are to coordinate APC activities in LGAs and strengthen the party at the grassroots.

The governor charged the appointees to be good ambassadors of the party and his progressive government and embark on an aggressive APC membership drive across the state.

He also urged them to promote the party and make it a better choice for all Benue residents.

Alia urged them to connect with the people at the grassroots and ensure that government interventions trickle down to the local communities.

The governor warned that they would be held accountable if what was meant for the people was diverted.

He advised them to liaise with other stakeholders to ensure that the people fully participate in the ongoing continuous voter registration.

Alia also promised to mobilise them where necessary, adding that it was a critical exercise, especially now that the general elections were by the corner.

The governor strongly condemned the culture of taking all political disagreements to him in Makurdi at the slightest opportunity, saying the central point men would now resolve some of the issues.

He also said only issues that were beyond them should be brought to his table.

Alia directed the point men to search and provide 200 artisans across the state for job opportunities and 800 young people who were willing to go anywhere outside the country to acquire skills.

The governor, however, said those selected must provide a certificate of fitness from the Father Adasu University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

Alia finally expressed gratitude to the members of the party for their support, saying they must continue to work as a unified body.

He promised that his administration would continue to be fair, transparent, responsible and accountable to the people because APC was a party that could not settle for less.