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SSANU, NASU Strike Cripple Unical, UniAbuja, UNN, Others

From Ene Asuquo, CalabarThe seven-day warning strike jointly embarked by Non Academic Staff of Nigeria Universities (NASU) and their counterpart, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) yesterday crippled activities of many universities across the country, leaving students stranded.It was observed that the main gate of the University of Calabar was locked up by the striking workers.Members of NASU Unical branch joined the strike to press demand for the payment of four months arrears of their salaries.The non-academic staff early Monday morning locked the main entrance of the university barring academic staff and students from entering the institution for scheduled examinations and other activities.Some students said they were in their scheduled halls to take the first semester examinations when NASU members stormed the place and chased students away.Daily Asset gathered that a task force set up by NASU to monitor the strike went from one office to office as well as examination hall to ensure total compliance with the action.According to a source, the President of Unical Students Union Government, Comrade Godsgift Kichi-Akwo confronted the task force and queried their right to harass students or disrupt examinations but he was allegedly beaten up by the staff.Piqued by the alleged attack on their president, some students carrying placards stormed the office of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Banku Obi to register their displeasure.Briefing Obi, the SUG president demanded an apology from NASU and told the VC that another member of his exco was also attacked and wounded by the striking workers.The Vice Chancellor directed that the wounded students and the SUG officials be taken to the institution’s medical centre for treatment.Obi who appealed to the students to remain calm and peaceful was intimated that some striking workers were also attacked and wounded by students.In a telephone chat, NASU Chairman, Comrade Victoria Orok alleged that the students attacked the NASU Secretariat on campus and destroyed everything.Orok accused the VC of sending the students to attack and destroy the secretariat.She disclosed that five members of the union were attacked by the students and they were receiving treatment in the institution’s medical centre. UniAbujaThe situation was not different at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) as academic activities were temporarily disrupted.The protesting workers blocked the entrance to the university, preventing students and others from going inside.SSANU Branch Chairman Nureden Yusuf, while addressing newsmen said the strike was to protest their four months withheld salaries.According to Yusuf, the unions were on strike to draw the attention of the government to the state of the universities.“You may recall that one of the contentious issues why we went on strike in 2022 was that of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.“That agreement ought to be renegotiated every three years and now we are in 2024, that is fourteen years after the last agreement, it is yet to be renegotiated.“Also, we are talking about withheld salaries which President Bola Tinubu in Oct,. 2023 gracefully agreed should be paid to us.“Our counterparts in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had been paid their four months salaries, but we are yet to receive our salaries.“NASU and SSANU are unions of professionals. We oil the wheel of the university system,” he said.According to Yusuf, apart from teaching, there were other activities carried out by SSANU and NASU members in the university system.Yusuf said that the unions would be shutting down all essential services including security units, healthcare services, water supply, transportation unit, electricity.Also, Chairperson of NASU, University of Abuja, branch, Sadiya Hassan said that it was imperative that the Federal Government paid the four months withheld salaries to the unions.According to her, it was discriminatory and unacceptable for NASU and SSANU to be left out in the payment of the four months withheld salaries.“We are professionals in our different fields that we chose to be in the non-teaching sector,” she said.Hassan urged the Federal Government to do the needful for the workers to return to their duty posts.UNN, EnuguAcademic activities were partially paralysed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the Enugu campus following. The strike affected some ongoing examinations at both campuses of the university.Students who were taking examinations earlier were allowed to finish while those who started their afternoon papers were chased out of the classrooms.The striking members also closed many offices including Students Affairs and others.Some of the students lamented the negative effects of the strike in their studies.A 400 level student of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Ijeoma Edeh said the strike, if allowed to go on, would affect her seriously.“Please, the government should pay them, otherwise a prolonged strike will spell doom for some of us,” Edeh said.Another 400 student of Architecture, Favour Obichili appealed to the Federal Government to resolve their grievances and meet demands.SSANU and NASU said the warning strike called by their national Joint Action Committee (JAC) was to protest the Federal Government’s failure to pay their members four months withheld salaries during their strike in 2022.Addressing members during an emergency congress in the UNN, Dr. Linus Akata, Chairman of SSANU-UNN flanked by Comrade Ekene Amu, Chairman of NASU-UNN said the emergency congress was to tell their members about the warning strike declared by JAC.Akata said that the strike would be total and comprehensive in UNN, in total adherence and compliance to the directive of the national leadership.He said that all the administrative offices and essentials service sections of the university were already under lock and key,The union leader warned that the unions would deal decisively with any member found defaulting or sabotaging the seven day warning strike.“Members are directed to go home immediately after this congress and stay away from work until the seven-day warning strike ends, as any defaulting member will be decisively dealt with.“This warning strike is total and comprehensive as the administrative block of the UNN, offices, works department, University Medical Centre, University Primary School and among others have been shut down till the end of the strike.“There will be no water and electricity supply from the university hostels, also internet facilities from the university have been shut down for the period as we have directed our members working in these places to go home,” he said.Akata said that the unions had no apology over the seven-day warning strike as their national leadership had done everything necessary to avert the strike by appealing to the government to do the needful.“SSANU and NASU have written so many letters to the government, held several press conferences, led delegations to government officials in a bid to resolve the issue but all to no avail.“So, at the end of this warning strike, if the government did not meet our demand we will also take a directive from our national body on the next line of action,” he said.Akata urged members to go home and relax till the end of the strike but should report any threat or query for not coming to work from management, head of department or faculty to the union. Zaria, Yola VarsitiesThe industrial grounded academic activities at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.Theatres, lecture halls, libraries and laboratories were under lock and key at Samaru and Kongo campuses of the university.Power supply and internet services had been off as many slated computer based tests were cancelled at the university.Chairman of SSANU, ABU Chapter, Mohammed Yunusa said the union complied with industrial action in the university.He said that workers at the Works, Registry and Student Affairs and Bursary Departments had downed tools, adding that it achieved 90 percent compliance.The chairman said that members of the union would hold a peaceful protest and a press conference on Tuesday.“We are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities; we are the custodians of the university’s rules, we are law abiding citizens and we know what it takes to have a peaceful warning strike.“We have gotten to a point where we cannot sit and watch things as these events are unfolding now. The university system is being run with contributions from all major stakeholders.“Therefore, it is very unfair for the federal government to say one stakeholder is more important than the other,” he said.Similarly, the strike paralysed academic activities at the Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola.Michael Omokoro said the shutdown would affect water supply, electricity, internet and all other services rendered by members of the association.“Basically it is about our four months withheld salaries, the 35 per cent wage increment, the N35,000 palliative that stopped in January, the reconstitution of Governing Councils, etc.“During the seven days, there will be no light, water supply, clinic, ICT and all other services because we have withdrawn our members,” Omokoro said. NLC calls for Immediate PaymentIn its reaction, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of NASU and SSANU members.NLC President Joe Ajaero urged the Federal Government to pay the four months outstanding salaries to avoid drift in the academic sector.In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the NLC President said at a time confidence was being restored to the public universities, the worst thing the government could do is to engineer another strike.While ASUU was paid the withheld salaries in full, NASU and SSANU were allegedly denied the full payment.Ajaero said, “There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.“We recall this singular act plunged the members into indescribable hardship.“Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment.“By doing so, the government is clearly courting avoidable industrial disputes,” he said.The NLC President stressed that the effects of the strike on the parties would be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents.He, therefore, urged the government to expeditiously pay up the outstandings salaries“We advise the government not to take for granted the maturity of these unions,” he said.
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Turkish Embassy Pledges Partnership with Asset Media Group

By Donald Andoor, Abuja
The Turkish Embassy in Nigeria has pledged a working relationship with the Asset Media Group and Nigeria’s media in general to further boost long lasting diplomatic and trade relations existing between the two countries.Head of Political Office, Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye, Muzaiffer Hakan Tok who was exchanging views with the management team of Asset Media Group in Abuja, yesterday recalled the robust diplomatic, trade and cultural relationship between Nigeria and Turkiye.
While stressing the cordial relationship existing between the two nations over time, he said there was need for media practitioners to be further enlightened about those things that were common and binding between the two nations.He applauded the people of Nigeria and the government for the hospitality accorded Turkish nationals in the country.Earlier, Dr. Cletus Akwaya, Proprietor of Asset Media Group, owners of the Daily Asset Newspaper and Asset Television, said the visit was to explore ways of media partnership with the embassy.He appealed to the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria to initiate avenues for exchange of visits between journalists of the two countries to enable them to enlighten and educate the public about opportunities that abound in the country.The diplomatic relations between the two nations started when Turkey opened an embassy in Lagos in 1962. The embassy was moved to Abuja in 2001 after Nigeria’s proclamation of Abuja as the new capital.On the other hand, Nigeria has an embassy in Ankara, the capital of Turkey and the two countries are members of a group of eight developing nations, code named D-8.The delegation of the Daily Asset Group included Donald Andoor, Chairman Editorial Board and General Manager of Asset Television, Ayami Sunny Ayami.COVER
Ango Abdullahi Tasks FG over Out-of-school Children in Northern States

By Divine Ndukwe, Abuja
Chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has raised the alarm over the growing marginalisation of Northern Nigeria, warning that the continued sidelining of the region in federal budgeting and infrastructure development poses grave dangers to national unity and progress.
The elder statesman, who spoke at the ongoing Government-Citizens Engagement Forum organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna on Tuesday, described the region’s situation as nothing short of a national emergency, particularly in the areas of education, infrastructure and economic inclusion. Abdullahi, a former vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, lamented the failure of successive administrations to address the North’s growing population of out-of-school children.He blamed the crisis on inadequate funding and misplaced national priorities“We have 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria—80 percent of them are from Northern Nigeria.“If just half of the N15 trillion national budget were allocated to education, we would have no child out of school.“That money would provide schools, teachers, and equipment,” he said.He said, despite the magnitude of the crisis, the North continues to receive a disproportionately low share of education funding.“This is not just a Northern problem. It is a national disaster. An uneducated population is a threat to all,” he warned.The NEF chairman, who recently toured parts of the Northeast, also described the region’s road infrastructure as “the worst in the country.”“Some of the roads are not just bad—they don’t even exist. You can’t talk about national development when a whole region remains disconnected.“There must be an intentional drive to fix our roads if we are serious about equity,” he said.He proposed a simple yet bold solution, stating, “Let’s be serious. If we use N7.5 trillion for education and N7.5 trillion for roads in the North, we’d solve two of our biggest problems.”Abdullahi also expressed strong reservations about the recent relocation of key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria from Abuja to Lagos, describing the move as suspicious and divisive.“Why the sudden relocation of CBN departments? Why the mass retirements? And why were 15 new directors recently employed—with only four from Northern Nigeria?” he asked.He said the decision sends a troubling message to Northern Nigerians, many of whom already feel marginalised under the current administration.“These are not coincidences. They are decisions with consequences, and the North is watching,” he said.According to him, the Northern Elders’ Forum will be formally writing to President Bola Tinubu to demand clarification on the recent appointments and policy decisions, which, he said, appear designed to weaken Northern participation in the federal structure.Abdullahi did not stop at criticism. He also laid out a roadmap for equitable development, starting with the decentralisation of industrial growth.“If we truly want to develop Nigeria, then Northern Nigeria must be industrialised in line with its natural strengths—agriculture being one,” he said.He urged the Federal Government to set up agro-allied processing zones across Northern states, arguing that industrialisation anchored on agriculture would lift millions out of poverty and stabilise the region’s economy.“It is time to spread development. Northern Nigeria cannot continue to serve only as a food basket without also being a value-adding zone,” he declared.The NEF chairman ended on a strong note of civic engagement, urging Northerners to move from silence to active demand for their rights.“We must be proactive. We will be asking questions. And this time, we expect answers,” he said.He called on political leaders, community organisations, and civil society groups to join in demanding accountability from federal policymakers.“We can no longer afford to be passive. If we do not speak up and insist on fairness, the marginalisation will continue, and our children will inherit a more broken and divided nation,” he added.Katsina Approves Promotion of 3147 Teachers, OthersThe Katsina State Government has approved the promotion of no fewer than 3,147 teachers and other staff members of the state’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.This was made known by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Hajiya Ummukhair Ahmed-Bawa, during a senior management meeting on Tuesday in Katsina.She was represented by the Director, Administration and Supply in the ministry, Salisbury Yakubu, who also said that the development was announced by Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education.She noted that the landmark approval underscored the state government’s commitment to enhancing the welfare and motivation of education personnel.According to her, “The commissioner directed the convening of the meeting to kick-start the promotion process in line with the approval of Governor Dikko Radda.”The permanent secretary further assured that the exercise would be completed within the stipulated time frame.“The promotion exercise reflected the ministry’s commitment to rewarding hard work, fostering career growth, and improving service delivery in the education sector.“About 78 staff would be promoted from level 07-08, 560 from 08-09, 484 from 09-10, 587 from grade level 10-12, 627 from 12-13, 436 from 13-14, 276 from 14-15, while 98 would move from 15-16”, Ahmed-Bawa concluded.COVER
Oluremi Tinubu in Makurdi, Seeks End to Benue Killings

From Attah Ede, Makurdi
First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu yesterday visited Benue State, with a call to put an end to the insecurity and incessant killings of innocent citizens especially women and children in the State.Mrs Tinubu, who spoke during her visit to the State, where she met with state officials, traditional rulers, and internally displaced persons as part of her humanitarian and peace-building engagements, called for unity and solidarity among the people of the State to combat the senseless killings that have continued despite spirited and concerted efforts.
She said it was most worrisome to find displaced persons living in dehumanising conditions, describing it as hellish.According to her, when faith is lost, family bonds are broken, life no longer carries the hope it once did, everything changes, stressing that every society must decide what it would serve, adding however, “No nation can serve two masters”.”There must be a choice between what builds and what destroys, between people and the structures that either uplift or oppress them.”We speak of teaching lessons about peace, love, and how to live with one another. These are not abstract ideals. They are necessities. Dialogue and patience remain the best solutions wherever conflict exists. But often, we hesitate, we ask ourselves: Why do I need to act? Why do I need to speak?, And so the doors remain closed. Teachers go unheard. People are left without guidance on how to move forward and how to heal.”Today, I decided to come because I feel that much of the light has dimmed. The weight of silence is heavy, but conversations like this bring hope. Nigeria is a nation of deep complexity. Ethnicity, religion, and culture all have their place, but they must not become walls between us. They should instead be bridges of understanding.”And now, we are in a time in a world where we must decide what we are preparing for. Will it be a future shaped by division, or one built on compassion, dialogue, and shared humanity?”, Tinubu stated.The Nigeria first lady, who also donated one billion Naira to the victims of the displaced communities in the state and provided relief materials to help alleviate their suffering, promised to continue supporting those in need, particularly children, girls, and individuals with disabilities.On his part, the Paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, called on the Federal Government to take decisive action against networks of terrorists operating in Benue and Nasarawa States and stressed the need for reconstruction of destroyed communities and compensation for victims of the attacks.He intimated that the violent attackers responsible for the frequent killings and displacements in Tiv land usually came from neighboring Nasarawa State and returned there after carrying out their assaults.“Your Excellency Ma, our attackers come from Nasarawa State. After attacking us, they withdraw and go back to Nasarawa State.””I appeal to you to convey the people’s anguish and plead for justice to President Bola Tinubu. Peace in Benue cannot be achieved until the sources of these attacks are addressed through decisive federal intervention.”Thank you for your patience and resilience. Families have been torn apart, ancestral homes abandoned but there is hope. With a guarantee of restored peace, our people will be able to return to their ancestral communities, resume their lives, and rebuild what was lost.”It looks like we will achieve our goals and with that, we will see the gains we have long hoped for.”The barriers we once faced are giving way. We are determined not to let terrorists define our destiny. We have confronted major enemies and made progress, though the scars and memories of destruction remain with us.“Still, everything we are doing now is to bring lasting peace and we believe peace will come soon.”To the communities that have suffered attacks: you do not need to remind us of what has happened. We know. We have seen the devastation. We share the pain.”Nigeria has been plagued by discontent for many years. I have lived here all my life, and I know this much: if we keep playing with this weakness, it will grow and if it grows unchecked, it will destroy us.”If our leaders do not decisively confront terrorism and malice, and instead keep playing politics with it trying to be “politically correct” for the sake of convenience, Nigeria will be in grave danger. The time to act is now”, Ayatse alluded.He maintained that the government is already beginning to respond, securing vulnerable areas and strengthening borders, noting that the visit today has given Benue citizens encouragement and has further reassured them that they are not forgotten.The Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia reiterated his call for the establishment of a state police and a national policy on ranching to address the insecurity caused by herders.He applauded Mrs Tinubu for her visit and commitment to national solidarity in the face of the ongoing crisis bedeviling over 1.5million displaced individuals in the State.”This visit comes after the massacre of over 200 of our people on the night of Saturday, the 13th, and the morning of Sunday, the 14th of June, 2025. Your visit follows closely after your husband, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, altered his itinerary to send us a message of comfort shortly after June 18, 2025.”We have over 3,500 new IDPs in Gwer-West local government. It is my prayer that this land becomes one of reunions and grace. I would like to express our deep gratitude to you for making time to visit us.”Following the President’s directive, the Chief of Defence Staff ordered the deployment of security personnel to our communities. While the attacks by militias and bandits have not completely stopped, we can report that there has been some noticeable improvement in security.”Your presence here today reflects not only your strategic support as a former Senator of the Federal Republic but also your motherly and compassionate response to moments of distress in our nation. Your initiatives in health, social investment, agriculture, care for orphans, IDPs, persons living with disabilities, and the elderly have not gone unnoticed.”We are aware of the over 70,000 posts you facilitated through the Ministry of Education for distribution to primary schools. We are equally aware of over 270 support programs for economic empowerment. You have already done so much for us in this state, and we believe your presence today will not only inspire you to do more but also create a deeper connection to our plight as you hear the stories of consistent and protracted attacks on our people by terrorists and armed groups.”We are grateful for the goodness you have shared with us at this very difficult time and for the honor and support you have continually extended to our grassroots”, Alia stated.The governor lamented that the persistent attacks by militias on Benue farms have been sustained for years, leading to the loss of lives and property. Farmers have been driven away from their lands because so many have been killed, leaving us in pain and despair.”Some of our people are displaced and living in camps, while many more are staying with friends and relatives across different parts of the state under harsh conditions. Hunger is widespread, and food is scarce in a state once celebrated as the “Food basket of the nation.””In all of this, we have not received adequate compensation or meaningful support. Instead, what has been offered to our grieving people feels like salt added to their wounds, token gestures that do not meet the needs of mothers, who have lost children or families who have been destroyed”, he said.Gunmen Invade Benue Community, kill One Farmer Suspected armed herdsmen, on Tuesday launched fresh attack on Tse-Kalema in Mbazun, Atogbenda, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, killing one farmer identified as Lucky Tsetim. A source from the area told DAILY ASSET that the victim was attacked while working on his farm on Tuesday.The killing has sparked fresh fears among residents, who say Fulani attacks in Tse-Kalema are becoming frequent.They called on security agencies to urgently intervene and restore peace in the area.As of press time, no official response has been issued by the authorities.Efforts to speak with the Benue State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet failed as she did not respond to calls or texts.