The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for serving as a haven for certificate forgers, alleging that the party continues to protect individuals with questionable academic records.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to merely accept the resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, instead of ordering a thorough investigation, reflected tolerance for misconduct.
Nnaji resigned on Tuesday after a Premium Times investigation alleged that he submitted forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates during his ministerial screening in 2023.
The report indicated that both the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the NYSC disowned the certificates.
“The APC has normalised deceit, turning it into a defining trait while providing refuge for individuals with dubious integrity and forged credentials,” the ADC declared.
“We are equally appalled that the minister was allowed to quietly resign after publicly admitting that the certificates he presented were not issued by the relevant institutions. This sends the wrong message to Nigerians, especially the youth, that dishonesty carries no consequence in public life,” the statement continued.
The party called on law enforcement agencies to carry out an independent probe, emphasizing that resignation does not absolve one of criminal responsibility. “Forgery is a crime,” it said. “If found guilty, Mr. Nnaji should be prosecuted. Anything less will amount to a cover-up.”
The ADC further questioned President Tinubu’s commitment to fighting corruption, warning that his failure to act decisively in such a clear case undermines public trust in his administration’s integrity drive.
However, in a separate statement on Wednesday, Nnaji insisted that his resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
In a press release personally signed on Tuesday and made available to journalists on Wednesday, Nnaji said he resigned due to a “sustained campaign of falsehood” against him and his office.
“After deep reflection and consultations with family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians, I have tendered my resignation as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology to President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
Nnaji described the allegations as “politically motivated and malicious,” explaining that he stepped aside to allow due process to prevail.
“My decision to step aside is not an admission of guilt, but a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and preserve the integrity of judicial proceedings currently before the court,” he stated.
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and reaffirmed his support for the administration’s goals.
“His vision for a renewed, innovative, and technologically driven Nigeria is one I continue to hold dear,” he said. “I remain committed to supporting his administration and its transformative agenda.”
Meanwhile, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) criticised the Presidency, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigerian Senate for what it called “gross dereliction of duty” in approving and confirming Nnaji’s appointment despite glaring warning signs.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA described the development as a “shameful institutional failure” that exposed the decay within Nigeria’s governance and vetting systems.
“It is disheartening that President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the DSS all ignored clear red flags and public outcry over Mr. Nnaji’s forged credentials,” Suraju said. “This incident not only erodes public trust but reinforces the perception that corruption and impunity remain the operating principles within Nigeria’s political leadership.”
The group recalled that it had written to both the President and the Senate as far back as June 2024, calling for an investigation into the forgery allegations and Nnaji’s suspension pending inquiry, but its petitions were ignored.
HEDA also accused the DSS of negligence, alleging that the agency failed to verify Nnaji’s documents or intentionally withheld evidence during the security screening process. “From Kemi Adeosun to Stella Oduah, and now Geoffrey Nnaji, this pattern of negligence has become too consistent to ignore,” it said.
While describing Nnaji’s resignation as “necessary but belated,” the organisation maintained that accountability must extend beyond resignation. “Resignation does not erase the crime of forgery. Those who enabled this fraud within the Presidency, DSS, and Senate must also be held accountable,” Suraju said.
HEDA urged President Tinubu to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a full investigation and commended Premium Times for its investigative work in uncovering the scandal.
ADC Slams APC Over Forgery Scandal,Demand Nnaji’s Trail
Key US And Regional Mediators Join Talks In Push To End Gaza War
Efforts to end the two-year Gaza war gained fresh momentum on Wednesday as top United States envoys and regional mediators gathered in Egypt for a new round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas under President Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Trump’s senior advisers, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh alongside Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin. The talks, now in their third day, are being viewed as a critical step toward achieving a long-term ceasefire.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC that the group had shown “necessary positivity” in the negotiations and had submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released in exchange for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Israeli officials, meanwhile, told local media they were “cautiously optimistic” about the discussions.
President Trump also struck an upbeat tone, saying, “There’s a real chance that we could do something.”
Focus On Ceasefire And Withdrawal
Negotiations so far have centered on mechanisms for ending hostilities, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Mediators hope the presence of high-level negotiators from Washington, Doha, Ankara, and Cairo will push both sides toward an agreement.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi described the US delegation’s arrival as “very encouraging,” noting that they came with “a strong message and mandate from President Trump to end the war in this round of talks.”
Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading the Israeli delegation, while representatives of Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) are participating alongside Hamas. Their involvement is seen as an effort by Hamas to align all Palestinian factions behind any deal.
Hostage-Prisoner Exchange Proposal
According to a senior Hamas official, the group’s proposed list of prisoners includes prominent figures such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat. Barghouti, often regarded as a potential successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, is serving multiple life sentences for orchestrating attacks during the Second Intifada. Saadat, the PFLP leader, is serving 30 years for leading an outlawed group and involvement in the 2001 assassination of an Israeli minister.
While Hamas insists it has approached the talks responsibly, sources close to the negotiations say significant differences persist. Chief among them are disagreements over the scope and timing of Israeli troop withdrawals, and how hostage releases should align with the ceasefire phases.
Trump’s 20-Point Peace Framework
A Palestinian official familiar with the talksp said disputes had emerged over several of the 20 points in Trump’s plan. Hamas reportedly wants Israel to withdraw from major Gazan cities first, while Israel prefers to follow a map provided by the White House that leaves about 55% of Gaza under Israeli control in the initial phase.
The Trump proposal calls for all hostages to be freed within 72 hours and for further Israeli withdrawals to be tied to the disarmament of Hamas.
Regional Involvement And Reactions
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan revealed that Trump had asked him to help persuade Hamas to accept the peace plan. Speaking to members of his ruling AK Party, Erdoğan stressed that pressure must also be applied to Israel, calling its military actions in Gaza “the greatest obstacle to peace.”
On the ground, reports suggest Israel has scaled back its bombardment of Gaza City in recent days following Trump’s appeal last week to “stop the bombing.”
Humanitarian Toll
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli strikes have killed more than 67,000 people since the war began on 7 October 2023, including over 20,000 children. The United Nations considers the ministry’s figures generally reliable, though Israel disputes them. The ministry also reports that at least 460 people have died from malnutrition, with conditions worsening since the UN declared a famine in Gaza City in August.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a statement marking the anniversary of the Hamas-led attack that triggered the conflict, reaffirmed Israel’s war objectives: “We will continue to act to achieve all our goals, the return of all hostages, the destruction of Hamas’s regime, and ensuring Gaza can no longer threaten Israel.”
Despite deep divisions, mediators expressed hope that this week’s talks could yield the first real breakthrough toward ending one of the region’s most devastating conflicts in decades.
U.S. Flight Delays Surge Amid Ongoing Air Traffic Controller Shortage
Flight travel disruptions continued for a second consecutive day across the United States as air traffic control staffing shortages worsened during the ongoing government shutdown, now in its seventh day, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Tuesday.
More than 3,000 flights have been delayed nationwide, according to flight-tracking data, with major hubs including Houston, Nashville, Dallas, Chicago O’Hare, and Newark among the hardest hit.
At Chicago O’Hare, the FAA has reduced the number of arriving flights per hour due to staffing constraints, resulting in average delays of about 41 minutes. Newark airport also reported delays of up to 30 minutes for arriving flights, while Atlanta’s Air Route Traffic Control Center and Nashville’s control tower are struggling with critical manpower shortages. The FAA added that Nashville operations would be scaled down later in the day, with approach control duties temporarily transferred to Memphis Center.
Officials warned that Washington Reagan National Airport could experience new slowdowns as staffing levels remain low.
As frustrations mount, political leaders have exchanged blame over the disruption. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of being responsible for the situation, while California Governor Gavin Newsom argued that President Donald Trump’s administration should be held accountable.
The aviation sector is also contending with severe weather conditions that have compounded the delays.
Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are still required to report to work during the shutdown but have not been paid. They are expected to receive partial compensation on October 14 for work completed before the shutdown began.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disclosed that absenteeism among controllers has slightly increased, with staffing levels cut by as much as 50% in some areas since the shutdown’s onset.
“If we don’t have controllers, we’re going to make sure the airspace is safe. So what we do is we’ll slow traffic,” Duffy said on Fox News’ Fox and Friends.
Data from FlightAware showed that over 3,000 U.S. flights had been delayed as of Tuesday, including 225 in Nashville—representing 20% of its scheduled departures—and more than 570 at Chicago O’Hare, exceeding 20% of its operations. Southwest Airlines reportedly delayed over 500 flights, while American Airlines experienced around 400 delays.
The U.S. has grappled with chronic air traffic control shortages for more than a decade, and even before the current shutdown, many controllers were working six-day weeks and mandatory overtime. The FAA remains short by roughly 3,500 controllers compared to its staffing targets.
During the last major shutdown in 2019, unpaid controllers and TSA staff began calling in sick as missed paychecks piled up, forcing flight slowdowns and long security lines at major airports. The growing disruption then helped push Congress to end the standoff, an outcome aviation observers warn could repeat if the current shutdown drags on.
Who Is May Agbamuche-Mbu, Nigeria’s First Female Acting INEC Chairman
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has entered a new chapter as May Agbamuche-Mbu becomes the first female Acting Chairman in the history of the electoral body. Her appointment follows the temporary handover of duties by Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The transition took place during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, where Professor Yakubu urged the commission’s leadership and staff to extend their full cooperation to Agbamuche-Mbu as she assumes responsibility pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.
INEC, which has been at the forefront of Nigeria’s democratic process since its establishment in 1998, has now recorded a milestone moment with this appointment, one that reflects both continuity and progress in gender representation within public institutions.
Who Is May Agbamuche-Mbu?
May Agbamuche-Mbu is a distinguished legal practitioner and public administrator with over three decades of professional experience spanning law, dispute resolution, and governance. Prior to her new role, she served as the longest-serving National Commissioner in INEC, where she contributed significantly to the commission’s legal, administrative, and policy frameworks.
Born in Kano State to parents from Delta State, Agbamuche-Mbu’s upbringing reflects Nigeria’s cultural diversity, a trait often noted in her balanced approach to leadership and decision-making.
Academically, she holds an LLB degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), obtained in 1984, and later qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales. Her academic pursuits include an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law, alongside postgraduate qualifications in International Dispute Resolution and International Business Law.
Beyond her academic and professional background, Agbamuche-Mbu has been widely recognized for her integrity, dedication, and commitment to institutional reforms within INEC. Her work has focused on improving electoral transparency, legal compliance, and voter confidence, areas that remain central to Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.
As she takes on the leadership mantle, Agbamuche-Mbu’s appointment is seen as both a historic and symbolic step for women in public service, highlighting the growing representation of women in key governance positions across the country.
Her leadership period, though in an acting capacity, is expected to sustain INEC’s operational stability and uphold the commission’s credibility as preparations for future electoral exercises continue.
2027 Elections: Who Will Control the Future of Nigeria?
As Nigeria edges toward the 2027 general elections, the contest for the presidency has become more than a political showdown; it is a struggle over policies, lived realities, and the direction of the nation’s future.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is determined to defend its record, while an energized opposition coalition is rallying around promises of relief and reform.
For millions of Nigerians, this election is less about personalities and more about who can best address the economic hardship and security challenges defining daily life.
Tinubu’s Reform
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has pinned its legacy on sweeping economic reforms. The removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates were hailed as bold steps toward stability, increasing revenue flows to states and local governments.
Yet, the immediate fallout has been harsh: inflation has soared, food prices have climbed, and ordinary citizens are grappling with a shrinking purchasing power.
Measures like cash transfers and tax relief have been dismissed by critics as poorly executed, offering little protection to struggling households.
The APC insists the pain is temporary and that the foundation for long-term growth is being laid, but voters will ultimately judge whether the sacrifices are worth it.
The Opposition’s Unified Alliance
Sensing opportunity, opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have forged an alliance designed to avoid the vote-splitting that weakened them in 2023.
Their message is clear: Tinubu’s policies may have boosted government coffers, but they have failed the people. The coalition is promising a shift toward citizen-focused policies — job creation, stronger social welfare systems, and immediate interventions to ease the cost of living.
Their challenge is convincing Nigerians that their unity is rooted in genuine reform, not just political convenience.
Next steps
While economic policies dominate the discourse, the issue of security remains a critical concern for voters across the nation.
Nigeria continues to face a multifaceted security crisis, from the enduring Boko Haram insurgency and ISWAP activities in the North-East to persistent banditry, kidnappings for ransom in the North-West, and separatist agitations in the South-East.
The effectiveness of the current administration’s approach, which has included military operations and the acquisition of new defense hardware, is a central point of contention.
The opposition argues that a purely kinetic response is not enough. They propose a multi-pronged strategy that includes strengthening community policing, addressing the root causes of unrest like poverty and unemployment, and engaging in more comprehensive dialogue with stakeholders.
The public’s perception of who can best restore peace and stability will be a defining factor in determining the outcome of the election.
NNPCL Raises Petrol Price To ₦905 Amid Fuel Shortages
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has adjusted the pump price of petrol in Abuja from ₦890 to ₦905 per litre, following recent disruptions in supply caused by a short-lived strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
The price change, which took effect on October 7, coincided with fuel shortages at several filling stations, prompting the return of long queues across the Federal Capital Territory.
NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, described the increase as a temporary situation triggered by a two-to-three-day delay in product loading during the labour action.
“The disruption created a brief imbalance in supply, but normal operations have resumed. We expect prices to stabilize and revert soon as distribution normalizes,” Ojulari said during a briefing on October 8.
A survey of major NNPCL outlets in areas including Wuse, Lugbe, and Gwagwalada confirmed the new price, with attendants dispensing petrol at ₦905 per litre under tight supervision to manage anxious motorists. Meanwhile, some independent marketers raised their prices to as high as ₦945 per litre, citing limited supply.
This development marks yet another adjustment in 2025, continuing a pattern of incremental price shifts since Nigeria’s downstream deregulation began in 2023.
The recent PENGASSAN strike, which demanded better welfare and safety standards, temporarily halted operations at key depots and refineries, including the Dangote Refinery.
The shutdown worsened existing supply constraints, particularly in the north-central region. Though the strike has ended, NNPCL acknowledged residual shortages but assured that emergency import volumes are being mobilized to restore adequate stock levels.
The situation unfolds amid fluctuating international oil prices, with Brent crude trading around $79 per barrel on October 8. Earlier in the year, NNPCL and the Dangote Refinery had engaged in brief price competition before market forces aligned their rates.
The current episode underscores the ongoing struggle to achieve supply independence despite increased domestic refining capacity.
Public transport operators in Abuja have already begun adjusting fares upward by 10–15 percent to cushion the impact of higher fuel costs. NNPCL has appealed to motorists to avoid panic buying, emphasizing that fuel availability will improve within days.
Officials from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are monitoring compliance across stations to ensure fair distribution and pricing.
As of midday on October 8, queues persisted at select fuel outlets, though NNPCL projected full normalization by the weekend. The episode once again highlights the fragility of Nigeria’s fuel supply system, burdened by labour unrest, import reliance, and delayed domestic integration reinforces the need to strengthen local refining capacity to prevent future disruptions.
Trump Urges Jail For Chicago Democratic Leaders As Troops Prepare Deployment
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded the imprisonment of Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, both Democrats, as his administration finalized plans to send military troops into Chicago, America’s third-largest city.
Neither official has been accused of any crime, but both have been outspoken critics of Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement and his decision to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities.
The president’s call comes just as another of his long-standing political rivals, former FBI Director James Comey, was set to appear in court on criminal charges that many legal analysts have described as weak. While Trump has repeatedly called for the jailing of opponents since 2015, Comey is the first to face prosecution.
On his social media platform, Trump wrote, “Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” accusing both leaders of obstructing federal immigration efforts.
Earlier in the week, Mayor Johnson signed an executive order establishing an “ICE Free Zone,” which restricts federal immigration officers from operating on city property. Requests for comment from Johnson and Pritzker were not immediately answered.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Texas National Guard members have gathered at a military base near Chicago in preparation for deployment, despite objections from state and local officials. Trump has hinted at plans to send troops to additional cities, saying last week that the deployments could serve as “training grounds” for the armed forces.
The president has already ordered troop deployments to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, following earlier operations in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In each instance, he has defied strong pushback from Democratic governors and mayors, who argue that claims of widespread crime and chaos are overstated.
“My goal is very simple. STOP CRIME IN AMERICA!” Trump posted on his platform.
Data from law enforcement agencies show that violent crime has been declining in most U.S. cities since its spike during the COVID-19 pandemic. National Guard troops have so far been primarily used to secure federal facilities rather than engage in street-level law enforcement.
Officials in Chicago and Portland reported that protests against Trump’s immigration policies have remained mostly peaceful and small in scale, contrary to depictions from federal officials.
“What we have going on right now is literally domestic terrorism in Chicago,” said Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General, during an appearance on Fox News.
Governor Pritzker has accused Trump of intentionally provoking unrest to justify greater militarization. The Illinois state government has filed a lawsuit to block the deployment, though a federal judge on Monday allowed it to move forward for now. A separate court has halted the planned deployment to Portland.
Trump has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a rarely used law that allows a president to bypass state and court restrictions on military deployment, a measure last used during the Los Angeles riots in 1992.
Kenya Converts $3.5 Billion In Chinese Loans To Lower Interest Burden
Kenya has successfully converted three major railway construction loans from U.S. dollars to Chinese yuan in a bid to reduce its interest expenses, according to the country’s Finance Minister, John Mbadi.
Mbadi announced on Tuesday that the currency conversion, covering loans from China Exim Bank will result in an estimated annual saving of about $215 million. The swap allows the previously dollar-based floating interest rates to be adjusted to yuan-based rates, which are lower.
“It kicks off immediately and it is a saving in our fiscal space,” Mbadi told journalists during a media briefing, though he did not disclose the total amount of debt converted.
The loans, initially valued at $5 billion, were obtained between 2014 and 2015 to finance the construction of Kenya’s standard gauge railway linking the coastal city of Mombasa to Naivasha in the Rift Valley. As of June last year, the outstanding balance on these loans stood at around $3.5 billion, according to data from the finance ministry.
China has yet to issue a public statement regarding the shift to yuan-denominated repayment.
Kenyan authorities explained that the decision was partly driven by the heavy concentration of the nation’s foreign debt in U.S. dollars, which makes the economy vulnerable to exchange rate volatility and higher interest costs. Current estimates show that roughly 68% of Kenya’s external debt is dollar-based.
President William Ruto’s administration has intensified efforts to bring the national debt currently near 70% of the country’s GDP under control. The government is pursuing a revised debt management plan aimed at easing repayment pressures and restructuring loan maturities.
Additionally, Kenya is exploring new financing strategies, including revenue securitisation, to fund critical infrastructure projects such as extending the railway line to the Ugandan border and upgrading Nairobi’s main international airport.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is presently in Nairobi to discuss a fresh financial support programme, following the conclusion of the previous one in April.
Mbadi said the negotiations were progressing positively.
“We need the IMF,” he stated. “Yes, our economic conditions have improved but we must not lose sight that we need more concessional loans and they come from multilaterals like the IMF and the World Bank.”
Yoruba Student Groups Rally In Support Of Dangote Refinery
A coalition of Yoruba student groups, including members of the National Association of Oduduwa Students (NAOS), the Coalition of Yoruba Students, and the Yoruba Movement, on Tuesday held a peaceful demonstration in support of the Dangote Refinery amid its ongoing dispute with oil unions; PENGASSAN, NUPENG, and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN).
The demonstrators gathered at the Iwo Road Roundabout, along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway in Oyo State, chanting solidarity songs to express their stance.
They marched through major streets carrying placards bearing messages such as “Don’t Kill Dangote Refinery,” “#StopsabotagingfuelinNigeria,” “#EndPENGASSAN,” “#EndDAPPMAN,” “#DangoteRefineryIsANationalAsset,” and “#StopSabotage,” among others.
Dressed in uniform shirts with the inscription “Don’t Kill Dangote Refinery,” the protesters said their demonstration was meant to alert authorities to what they described as a “coordinated attempt by vested interests” to undermine the refinery’s operations, Nigeria’s largest industrial venture and the biggest single-train refinery in Africa.
NAOS President, Olalere Adetunji, urged President Bola Tinubu and key federal agencies to intervene promptly.
“We want to use this period to appeal to the Federal Government to protect the refinery and ensure that labour and marketers’ actions do not derail Nigeria’s move toward fuel self-sufficiency.”
Security personnel, including police officers and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, were deployed to ensure peace and maintain order throughout the march.
FG Sets Up Expanded Negotiation Team For Tertiary Institutions
The Federal Government has formally inaugurated the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed–headed Expanded Negotiation Committee for Tertiary Institutions, designed to fast-track talks with both academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday morning by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, “Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the new committee was established to harmonize all negotiation processes under a unified and coordinated framework that ensures institutional continuity and sector-wide inclusiveness.”
He further noted that, unlike previous methods where individual unions were addressed separately, the current arrangement would bring all parties to the table for a consolidated and long-term resolution.
“The membership has been carefully selected to reflect the full spectrum of the education sector, ensuring that no group is left behind,” Dr. Alausa stated.
The Minister revealed that the committee has been equipped with a dedicated secretariat to support its operations and mentioned that the first meeting would hold at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7. He encouraged all unions to show commitment and respond swiftly to the committee’s invitations.
He added that President Bola Tinubu has given his full endorsement to the process, mandating that all discussions be concluded efficiently, equitably, and in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
“President Tinubu’s message is clear, all our children must remain in school. This is the Renewed Hope Agenda in action,” Dr. Alausa said, appreciating the unions for their patience and commitment.
Also speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, applauded the Education Ministry for adopting a collective and consultative approach. He pointed out that genuine and enduring peace within the education sector can only be attained when every relevant stakeholder is part of the conversation.
He urged members of the committee to act as neutral facilitators, emphasizing justice and balance in all deliberations, while stressing that their early participation would aid in seamless execution of final resolutions.
Dingyadi reiterated that President Tinubu remains committed to achieving sustainable industrial harmony through constructive dialogue, engagement, and consistent communication to prevent future disruptions in the academic calendar.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chairman Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed thanked the government for the trust placed in them and pledged that the committee would carry out its assignment with accountability, openness, and inclusiveness.
He assured that their focus would go beyond striking deals with unions, extending to practical recommendations that promote enduring stability and progress within the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its resolve to rebuild confidence and restore calm across tertiary institutions through genuine consultation and effective leadership, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu—an agenda where students stay in school, educators are respected, and educational institutions flourish in unity and peace.
