By Joan Nwagwu

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has urged the Federal Government to review lecturers’ salaries in line with Nigeria’s current economic realities.

Prof. Niyi Sunmonu, President of CONUA, made this call on Saturday in Abuja while reacting to the Federal Government’s release of N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances for university staff.

Sunmonu said a salary review was imperative, given the high cost of living driven by rising inflation.

“What is important to us is much more than any academic allowance; it is actually the improvement of our salaries to be commensurate with the inflationary pressures in the country.

“It was for this reason that the government, in October 2024, discriminated against us by not inviting us to the renegotiation table.

“It was on that basis that we protested, because what our sister union presented was, in our view, tantamount to negotiating us into poverty.

“We recall that in 2009, a minimum salary of N1 million, precisely N1.2 million, was proposed for professors. However, our sister union at the time, even though we belonged to that union then, rejected it, claiming it was not the product of negotiation.

“By such an attitude, we believe we were effectively negotiating ourselves into poverty, hence our protest,” he said.

He, however, commended the Federal Government for the release of the N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances for university staff.

On the Re-negotiation Committee of the 2009 agreement, Sunmonu argued that CONUA had not been carried along in the negotiation process.

He stated that the last meeting CONUA physically attended by invitation was on December 20, 2024, and that no subsequent invitation had been extended to the union.

According to him, “Only recently, on April 5, 2025, we read that Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and his committee had submitted their report.

“Of course, we have protested publicly in the newspapers, and we have also written directly to the Minister of Education, stating that any attempt to conclude negotiations without our input would endanger the peace currently enjoyed in the universities.

“No union can represent our interests better than we can ourselves. They cannot shave our heads behind our backs,” he said.

He further advised the government to ensure an equitable sharing formula among all unions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cautioned the public against spreading the falsehood that it assigns candidates to examination centres outside their chosen towns.

This is contained in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Saturday by the Board’s Spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

Benjamin stated that JAMB recognises the importance of convenience for candidates and ensures they sit for their examinations in locations of their choice among available CBT centres.

According to him, every candidate has the prerogative to choose their examination town, and JAMB assigns them to a centre within that town.

“It is our firm belief that some parents are continually being deceived, misled, and defrauded by their wards and some secondary school proprietors who perpetuate this falsehood.

“Let it be unequivocally clear: at the time of registration, candidates have the right to select their preferred examination town. JAMB subsequently assigns them to a centre within the selected town.

“The baseless claim that candidates are posted to towns different from their choices is erroneous, malicious, and aimed solely at tarnishing the Board’s reputation. It does not happen.

“The Board, therefore, challenges this false yet popular narrative by offering a handsome financial reward to anyone who can provide authentic proof of even one candidate who has been posted outside their chosen town,” he said.

Benjamin added that, to ensure transparency and to avoid “being a judge in one’s own case”, such proof should, within the next 96 hours, be sent to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) WhatsApp number: 08056003030.

According to him, this process will ensure that an independent body can confirm the evidence, deliver the reward if appropriate, or exonerate the Board once and for all from the recurring campaign of calumny.

“Anyone who finds no fault in airlines requesting air travellers to arrive at the airport two hours before departure should equally find no fault in encouraging candidates to arrive at CBT centres 90 minutes before the commencement of examinations for preliminary verification.

“Many parents who expect candidates to spend no more than two hours for a two-hour examination are evidently unaware of the necessary preliminary processes,” he added.

Benjamin appealed to the public to grant agencies the benefit of the doubt and to trust that they exist to serve the public interest in the best possible manner.

He maintained that JAMB remains committed to the public good at all times.

“On a lighter note, another example of gullibility was demonstrated by a female UTME candidate who refused to attempt any questions during her examination this morning.

“This was because she was complying with her grandfather’s instruction to do nothing and wait for miraculous intervention,” he explained.

He advised candidates against harbouring superstitious and baseless dreams of reaping where they have not sown. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

By Ibukun Emiola

The Federal Government through the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) has empowered The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI), to train students and individuals in vocational skills, to bridge the skills gap.

The initiative is in collaboration with UNESCO.

The Director, TPI, Skills Development Centre (SDC), Mr Wakeel Bolaji, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Ibadan.

Bolaji, an engineer, said that it has become mandatory for all National Diploma (ND) 2 students to acquire the National Skill Qualification (NSQ).

He explained that ND 2 students would graduate from the institution with dual qualifications.

“Thus, for a student that comes to The Polytechnic Ibadan for ND in a particular subject course area, he also has the opportunity of undergoing this particular skill training, which is competence-based.

“Students would be awarded with dual core subjects and qualifications; the ND and also NSQ certificates.

“The NSQ is a work-related competence-based qualification with skills, assessed at both the training centre and workplace.

“Its certificate is to be awarded and certified by the NBTE through the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), the awarding bodies and UNESCO.

“This can be tendered for skill jobs anywhere in the world,” Bolaji said.

He said that the intention of the present administration was to bridge the existing skills gap, with emphasis on skills and not only acquisition of degree certificates.

Bolaji, a Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA), noted that The Polytechnic, Ibadan, had put plans in place for the training to commence in the 2024/2025 academic session.

“So, we are just starting off this particular semester and we are to collaborate with the MasterCraft professionals that are outside.

“Some of those MasterCraft professionals are also interested in coming for this particular training,” the director said.

He said that The Polytechnic, Ibadan, was given two additional trade areas, with the initial three trades approved for the institution and all the pilot centres, making it five trade areas.

“Presently the five trade areas as approved for The Polytechnic, Ibadan SDC, are Automobile Repairs, Electrical Installation, Carpentry and Joinery, Masonry, Welding and Fabrication.

“This also includes any trade area of interest enrolled as contained in the NBTE-NSQF booklet.

“The programme is 80 per cent practical training and it takes place at the institution’s workshops and trade centres, or workplaces of Mastercraft persons.

“But it has been structured such that it would not affect the normal academic activities of students, mostly in the evening.

“The skills development centre is for empowering individuals with adequate and global standard skills sets and there are no entry requirements,” Bolaji said.

The Centre Manager, TPI, SDC, Mr Akeem Babatunde, said the present situation in the country called for individuals to learn a trade, regardless of their careers or professions.

Babatunde, who is also a QAA, said being a Quality Assurance Assessor had become a prerequisite for promotion in the Nigerian polytechnics.

“If you are going from senior lecturer to principal lecturer, you must have it.

“It is a condition now for promotion in Oyo. Yes, in every state establishment, especially in engineering, you can check it out.

“Importantly, the Federal Government is focusing on mastercraft professionalism, so that we can boost our economy.

“We were able to access N40 million for training and consumables, to carry out this mandate.

“We have competent faculties and the NSQ framework is the curriculum we are following,” Babatunde said.

He said acquiring the NSQ would eliminate quackery and upskill artisans to take up jobs given to foreigners, who also hold the NSQ certificates, and were paid in foreign currency in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Bayo Sekoni

By Ahmed Abba

The Yobe State Arabic and Islamic Education Board (AISEB) has commenced distribution of mats and mosquito nets to Almajiri pupils across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

Executive Secretary of the Board, Malam Umar Abubakar, disclosed this during the inauguration of the distribution exercise in Damaturu on Wednesday.

He said the gesture was part of the present administration’s efforts to improve the welfare and living conditions of almajiri pupils across the state.

According to Abubakar, the initiative was in line with the mandate given to the board by the state government to ensure adequate care and support for almajiri children.

He explained that the current phase of distribution targets 100 pupils in each of the 17 LGAs, starting with Goni Yahaya and Goni Muhammad Tsangaya schools in Damaturu.

He added that the items would help the pupils live in more sanitary and comfortable conditions, thereby complementing other ongoing interventions such as feeding, clothing, and provision of learning materials.

In his appreciation remarks, the Head of Goni Muhammad Tsangaya School, Malam Goni Muhammad, thanked the board for the donation.

He described the intervention as timely and life-changing, urging other organisations and individuals to emulate the gesture.

“This will go a long way in improving the lives of our pupils, especially in preventing mosquito-borne diseases and providing comfort during sleep,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the distribution is expected to continue in the coming weeks across all local government areas of the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has announced the release of ₦50 billion by the Federal Government to the academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities.

Alausa said that the money was for settlement of earned allowances, as promised by President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, this ‘landmark development’ stands as yet another testament to Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to fundamentally transform Nigeria’s education sector.

“It reflects the administration’s bold resolve to transition the nation from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy through strategic investments in education, infrastructure and human capital.

“This intervention is not just a financial transaction, it is a reaffirmation of our president’s belief in the capacity of Nigerian youths and the invaluable role that academic and non-academic staff play in nurturing them.

“By prioritising their welfare, we are laying the foundation for a future where every Nigerian child receives highly qualitative and globally competitive education,” he said.

The minister expressed the president’s heartfelt appreciation to both academic and non-academic unions for their sustained trust in his administration and for fostering an atmosphere of peace and cooperation across the country’s federal institutions.

“Notably, the country is currently experiencing one of the longest uninterrupted academic sessions in recent history.

“This is a feat attributed to the mutual understanding and shared commitment between the government and the university community,” he said.

Alausa pledged to continue working collaboratively with all stakeholders across the education value chain to ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality education comparable to global standards. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

No fewer than 501 visually impaired candidates are set to sit for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at 11 designated centres across the country.

Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Prof. Emeritus Peter Okebukola, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a news briefing.

Speaking ahead of the examination for visually impaired and other special needs candidates, he said the examination was scheduled to hold from April 28 to 29, with candidates being tested in 20 subjects.

“The candidates take the same test papers as their sighted counterparts. Standards are not lowered in any form,” he said.

Okebukola described the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, as a major advocate for equal access to higher education across Africa.

He further revealed that this year, 84 visually impaired candidates who possessed at least five O’Level credits in their SSCE would have their UTME registration fees refunded at the examination venue.

On the distribution of candidates and centre coordinators — many of whom are former Vice-Chancellors (VC), Okebukola said Lagos had the highest number of registered candidates (107), with Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, former VC of Lagos State University, as coordinator.

Kano follows with 91 candidates, coordinated by Prof. Muhammad Bello, former VC of Bayero University, Kano.

Other centres and their coordinators include: Abuja (41) – Prof. Sunday Ododo; and Ado-Ekiti (32), Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye.

He also highlighted that in 2024, approximately 70 per cent of JEOG candidates — including the visually impaired and albinos — secured admission into tertiary institutions such as universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

These candidates were admitted into courses including law, special education, computer science, medicine and surgery, various education disciplines, mass communication, civil engineering, pharmacy, nursing science, and business administration.

Institutions that offered admission include: Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Abia State University, Uturu; and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

Others were, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo and Nile University, Abuja.

The other institutions included, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, University of Lagos; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin and many others across the country.

It will be recalled that in 2017, Oloyede, established the JEOG with Okebukola as chairman to oversee the fair and inclusive conduct of the UTME for visually impaired and special needs candidates. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa