Business

Lecturers get ‘half-month pay’ as first salary after ASUU strike

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The federal government has been called out by some members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for not paying their full salaries after resuming from an 8-months strike they embarked on.

Some members of the union who spoke to TheCable, said despite the suspension of the strike, the government is yet to pay them full salaries. Moyosore Ajao, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) ASUU chairman told the publication;

“I’m yet to get mine but some of us who have received theirs got half salaries for October. We don’t know why they have to pay us half salary.”

A lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), who did not want to be named, also confirmed that he did not get full salary. He also it wasn’t clear what month the pay was for.

The lecturer said;

“What I got is not exactly half of my salary. But then, it’s not up to my usual salary. Basically, they didn’t pay full salary, that’s the right word for it. The month was also not specified.”

Also speaking to Punch, a lecturer claimed that some Professors received N121,000 as salaries in October.

The lecturer said;

“Some professors got an alert of N121,000. We are still waiting for an official statement from the government as to why they decided to pay us half salaries, though unconfirmed reports state that the decision came from the top.”

Confirming the development, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke said they are shocked over the payment made.

Osodeke also revealed the National Executive Council of the union will be meeting over the half-salaries paid to lecturers.

He said;

“Half salaries were paid, no reasons were given whatsoever. We learnt that Ngige wrote the office of the Accountant General and Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system and told them to only pay us for the period when we called off the strike.

“We heard there was a letter to that effect but we haven’t gotten it yet. We are going to summon a meeting.”

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UI lecturer reacts to reports he gave $100 to students who attended his first class after ASUU strike

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A lecturer at the University of Ibadan has denied giving $100 each to the 10 students that attended his first class.

Students had gone on Twitter to claim that the lecturer had his first class after the end of the ASUU strike and only 10 students showed up so the lecturer rewarded them with foreign currency.

The lecturer has now reacted on Twitter. “This is not in any way true,” Bisi Olawuyi tweeted in reaction to the claim.

Lifestyle

Court order is major reason we suspended strike – ASUU president

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President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has said that lecturers in the country called off their 8-month strike due to court order obtained by the federal government.

Osodeke who said this during an interview on Channels TV’s ‘Sunday Politics’, further averred that they are hoping the government will do the needful now the strike has been suspended.

He said;

“The issues have not been fully resolved and no agreement has been signed. So, we are resuming because we are a law abiding body and we don’t want to break the law.

We are also hoping that the intervention of the speaker, as promised by him, will resolve these problems in a very short time.”

When asked if this means the lecturers are not happy to be resuming, Osodeke said: “Definitely.

“In trade dispute, especially one involving university academics, the best option is negotiation and then you end it within a very short time,” he said.

“But the minister of labour believes that the best way is to force them to class. It’s so sad, but because of the interest of the Nigerian students, their parents, and the speaker, our members will teach.

“Any country that plays with education creates room for insecurity.

“We want the next administration to follow the trend of neighbouring countries and allocate not less than 16 percent of the budget to education. When this is done, these problems will be sorted out. Our children will go to school effortlessly.”

Lifestyle

ASUU to hold emergency meeting over suspension of strike

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The striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will on Thursday, October 13, convene an emergency National Executive Council, NEC meeting, to review recent developments, especially the positive response from the federal government to its demands.

Ahead of the meeting, the leadership of the union has asked its zonal branches to collate the views of members through votes and transmit the outcome at the meeting to be held in Abuja on Thursday.

The outcome of Thursday’s meeting would result in the suspension of the strike late Thursday or Friday morning.

The leadership of the union held a meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives on Monday, September 10 and hinted on calling off the eight-month old strike in the coming days.

Business, Lifestyle

ASUU strike will be called off in days- Femi Falana

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A Senior Advocate of Nigerian (SAN), Femi Falana has expressed optimism that the lingering strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will be called off in days and not weeks.

Falana who is the legal counsel of ASUU stated this during an interview with Channels TV on Monday, October 10.

Recall that last week, the Court of Appeal ordered the striking lecturers to return back to their classrooms before their appeal can be heard.

Falana said he will advise his clients accordingly once the certified true copy of the court order has been made available to him.

“The legal advice that I will give to my clients is confidential. But I can assure you that the strike will soon be called off.

Advising clients to call off a strike is the most difficult aspect of my practice. On one occasion, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and I spent six hours persuading Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress) to call off a strike in compliance with a court order.

Our advice to ASUU will be based on the court order and other relevant reports.

I am reasonably confident that the consultations between the House and the Presidency will yield positive results in the interest of the striking lecturers and the students” he said

University lecturers in public universities have been on strike since February 14, 2022, over poor welfare and unpaid earned academic allowances.

After several failed attempts to resolve the issues, the Federal government took ASUU to the National Industrial Court where they secured an injunction ordering the striking lecturers back to work.

ASUU approached the court of appeal Abuja but their appeal was thrown out last week Friday, October 7.

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ASUU to sue FG over registration of factional academic unions

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities will be approaching the National Industrial Court (NIC) over the Federal Government’s registration of the two factional academic unions.

ASUU’s lawyer, Femi Falana, informed Channels Television about the lawsuit on Thursday October 6.

He said;

“ASUU is going to court. It is going to be the NIC.” President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke also confirmed this.

“He (Falana) is our lawyer. So, that is correct,” Osodeke said when asked to confirm the development.

Falana had earlier said the registration of CONUA and NAMDA is illegal as only one union is allowed to operate in every sector under Trade Unions Act.

Lifestyle, Politics

Ngige has turned ASUU strike to personal quarrel – Jega

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Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has accused Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, of taking the industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) personal and turning it into a private dispute.

Jega in an interview on Arise TV, alleged that Ngige is having a personal quarrel with the minister of education and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

He also faulted the Minister for registering two breakout factions of ASUU and also trying to proscribe ASUU.

Jega said;

“Unfortunately, right now, the minister of labour is not helping matters. He has turned this into a personal quarrel between him and the minister of education on one hand and between himself and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the other.

“While many other people are trying to find a way of addressing this situation so that students can go back to school and ASUU can go back to work, he is busy creating challenges.

“He now took the matter to the industrial court, now today, he now registered two unions and he is trying to proscribe ASUU.

“If this is allowed by this government, I think this is a recipe for disaster and it may really create more problems than it can solve on this matter of strike in the universities.”

Lifestyle, Politics

FG presents certificate of registration to ASUU faction

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The federal government has presented a certificate of registration to the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment who presented the certificate to CONUA on Tuesday October 4, also announced the registration of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) as a trade union.

Ngige said the two unions would operate along with ASUU.

FG presents certificate of registration to ASUU faction

Lifestyle, Politics

FG warns ASUU against disobeying court’s order

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The Federal government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against disobeying the court’s order on its eight-month strike.

Justice Polycarp Hamman of the National Industrial Court in September ordered the varsity lecturers to suspend their strike and return to classrooms but ASUU appealed the ruling.

The Federal Government then directed the Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of universities to reopen the institutions in a bid to force the varsity lecturers to return to work.Days later, the FG withdrew the directive.

In a statement issued on Sunday, October 2 by the Labour ministry’s Deputy Director Press and Public Relations, Olajide Oshundun, Ngige accused the leadership of ASUU of misinforming and misleading its members and warned on the consequences of disobeying court’s order.

He, therefore, called on the union to respect the court’s order and return to classrooms while negotiations are concluded .

Ngige said:

“The union is dishonest and misleading its members and the general public, that it has filed an appeal as well as a stay of execution of the order of National Industrial Court on September 21, 2022, though it has none of this.

“Rather, ASUU only filed an application for permission to appeal the order. It also attached to the application, a proposed notice of appeal which it intends to file if the leave to appeal is granted. The application for a stay of execution as of this moment has not even been listed for hearing. Where is ASUU coming from?

“It is therefore contemptuous, dishonest and misleading for the union to tell its members that it has not only appealed the interlocutory injunction by the National Industrial Court, directing it to call off the strike and return to work but that it also has a stay of execution.

Lifestyle, Politics

UAD claims ASUU strike may work against Tinubu

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The United Action for Democracy has said the ongoing strike will make a large number of Nigerian youths not to vote for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the South-South Coordinator of the group, Enefa Georgewill, stated that the Buhari-led government had reduced the chances of the APC at the 2023 polls.

He stated that the ceaseless strike by various academic bodies in the country would lead to a mutiny against the party.

He said the APC-led government had not delivered on its promises to alleviate poverty and give the average Nigerian a better life, adding that Nigerians were becoming poorer.

“In terms of livelihood, people’s access to livelihood has further reduced in terms of naira to dollar.

As we speak, it is around N700 to a dollar and of course, this government met it less than N200 and it further goes to say that Nigerians are becoming poorer, and in terms of food, basic items such as rice, the price has skyrocketed.

He also expressed concern over the declining rate of electricity supply across the country.

“In terms of electricity that should help the informal sector and even the main sector to generate power to do some of the basic things, it’s nothing to write home about.

“Nigerians use other power sources like generators, and fuel that is supposed to serve the generator has moved from N55 to between N175 and N180 per litre.He stressed that no sensible Nigerian would vote for a political party that had “brought pain, backwardness and hunger to Nigerians”.

Reacting, the Director General, Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Adebayo Shittu, said the APC flag bearer would build on the development on the ground to make life better for Nigerians.

He stressed that Buhari was not to be blamed for the high cost of food items, adding that the President supported farmers and market women with needed funds.

He said,

“What is the failure of Buhari in prices of commodities that has skyrocketed? Is Buhari supposed to impose price control on commodities as well as many other items?

“Buhari can’t play God by rectifying the behaviour of Nigerians. So, this is the Nigeria factor for most of the things that have happened because Nigerians are always taking advantage of things by unduly increasing prices on local commodities.

Lifestyle, Politics

Independence Day: Return to classrooms, President Buhari urges striking lecturers

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President Muhammadu Buhari delivered a Nationwide broadcast this morning to commemorate the 62nd Independence day celebration of the country.

During his speech, President Buhari urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU to call off its over seven-month industrial strike and return to the classrooms.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14, 2022 over contending issues including unpaid allowances and poor welfare.

“I am using this Independence Day celebration to reiterate my call for the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities to return to the classroom while assuring them to deal with their contending issues within the limit of the scarce resources,” the President said in his broadcast.

The President also said he shared the pains Nigerians are going through and assured them that his administration is doing all possible to alleviate the situation.

Lifestyle, Politics

Reps to dialogue with Buhari next week over ASUU strike – Gbajabiamila

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The leadership of the House of Representatives will be meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on the resolution of the ongoing face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila who made the announcement after a meeting with stakeholders, said they’ll be sharing a report of its interactions with key stakeholders in the dispute and come up with recommendations that will enable the President to view the issues at stake from an informed second option.

Those who attended the meeting include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen Chris Ngige; Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan; the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Sylva Okolieaboh; the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze; the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, represented; as well as the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta among others.

Also present was the delegation from ASUU led by its president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke.

Reiterating that the interest of the children that had been at the receiving end of the trade dispute should be paramount, Gbajabiamila appealed to both sides to give in and make concessions from their initial demands.

He said;

“We will put together our recommendations and our thoughts and take it to Mr. President, that’s why we are here to interface and look for solutions.

“Again let me repeat, we are running a government, nobody, no individual, no group, whether you are legislative, judiciary or whatever can be above the government, can be above the law.

“We can’t be against and I’m speaking specifically to ASUU, we did not say because the court has given judgment, that’s the end of our conversation. In spite of the court judgment, we are still looking for solutions, we didn’t even address it here, I don’t want to address it.

“Otherwise, we could’ve said, if government has given judgment, I don’t know if there’s a stay of execution, I don’t know.

“We are appealing to you, the Judiciary has spoken, the Executive has spoken, the Legislature is about to speak together with the Executive; everybody cannot be wrong and only one person is right.

For me I’m happy with the solution on UTAS, no victor, no vanquished, everybody is being carried along.“for the sake of emphasis, the House is pleading with you, let’s put all interest aside and look at the interest of our children.

“The white paper we told you we’ll get, the letter is here, it’s now waiting for the President’s final approval.

“On revitalization, I asked the DG budget here if provision has been made in the budget. We made a promise to you, and we are staying by that promise.

“Regarding the issue of UTAS, you said you haven’t seen the report; we have it here, so we’ve been working for you”.

Lifestyle

10 lecturers have died since ASUU strike began — UNICAL

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University of Calabar Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has said that ten of its academic staff members have died since the union began its strike on February 14, 2022.

This was revealed that ASUU UNICAL Branch Chairman, Dr John Edor, on Thursday September 29.

Though he did not reveal what led to their death, Edor however disclosed their names and the courses they taught.

The names listed are; Prof. E. O. Udosen, Biochemistry; Dr. Mrs. Iquo Takon, Microbiology; Prof. G. U. Ntamu, Religious and Cultural Studies; Prof. Mrs. Judith Otu, Sociology; Prof. Victor Ibianwu, Physics, Prof. Offiong Abia, History and International Studies; Prof. Catherine Agbor, Arts Education; Dr. Augustine Bassey, Sociology; Dr. Ita Esuabana, Mathematics and Dr. Chinyere Okam, Theatre and Media Studies.

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Staff of Benue State University directed to begin work today as ASUU strike continues

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The Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University (BSU), Prof. Joe Iorapuu, on Tuesday, September 27, directed the reopening of the institution with effect from today, September 28.

A statement signed by the Registrar, Mrs Mfaga Modom, revealed that the resumption date for all categories of students would be announced later.

The statement reads in part: “On the directive of the Vice Chancellor, I write to inform all staff members of the university community and the general public that the university will reopen with effect from Wednesday, September 28, 2022.”

Lifestyle

ASUU strike: Court strikes out suit against varsity lecturers

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Justice Polycarp Hamman of the National Industrial Court Abuja has struck out a suit instituted by one Umar Lawal, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, asking the Academic Staff Union of Universities, to call off its seven-month-old strike and return to school.

Lawal had instituted the case on behalf of himself and the association.

The presiding judge struck out the suit on Tuesday after the counsel to Lawal, Debo Ikuesan, withdrew the suit on the grounds that the student body is challenging his position as president, denying that he is the leader of NANS as he had deposed to.

Counsel to ASUU, Marshal Abubakar also informed the court that he is not opposing the application to withdraw the suit. In the suit, Faruk, who claimed to be the president of NANS sought the court’s order mandating ASUU to call off the industrial action it commenced in February 2022.

He said the strike action affects students’ right to education under section 18, Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

He added that the prolonged strike has caused damage to Nigerian students as they have lost valuable time and opportunity in their educational and career pursuits.

They are seeking an order of the court to among others, order ASUU to call off its strike.

They are also seeking an order of court restraining ASUU and its members from further engaging or partaking in the industrial action they commenced.

The outgoing President of the student body, Sunday Asefon, had approached the court claiming that Umar Lawal does not have the mandate of NANS to commence the action.

He said Umar Lawal had contested and lost the position of National President of NANS.

On account of the objection by the Student’s body, counsel to Umar Farouk, sought an order to discontinue the case, a stand which the counsel to ASUU, Mister Abubakar Marshall, did not oppose to.

Lifestyle, Politics

Strike hindered disbursement of bursary to education undergraduates – FG

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Strike hindered disbursement of bursary to education undergraduates ? FG The Federal Ministry of Education has said that the disbursement of bursary to students of education in universities in the country, was hindered by the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

This was disclosed by the Permanent secretary of the ministry, Andrew Adejo, during the 2022 World Teachers Day press briefing held in Abuja. Adejo said;

“The implementation of the payment of stipends has commenced.”However, due to the strike, we have not been able to get the data of all the students in universities. We only have 7 per cent of the required data to be processed for payment.

“I must state here that the national implementation of the New National Teaching Policy has commenced.

It is a holistic package that will ultimately address the career path, remuneration, professional teaching standards, qualification, deployment and management of teachers.

“The theme for the year 2022 WTD which is ‘the transformation of education begins with teachers’ strongly stresses the importance of empowering teachers for the effective transformation of education to ensure quality teaching and learning as well as galvanize technological advancements to meet the ever-changing needs for national growth and development.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu announced that undergraduates of B.Ed/B.A. Ed/BSc.

Ed in Public institutions are to receive stipends of N75,000.00 per semester while NCE students will get N50,000.00 as stipends per semester.

Lifestyle, Politics

Court order won’t stop negotiations with ASUU – Ngige

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Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment has said that the court order directing the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its strike will not prevent negotiations with the lecturers on their demands.

The Minister said this while receiving members of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) in his office in Abuja.

Ngige also said “the government will order the vice-chancellors and pro-chancellors to reopen the universities in line with the court order.”

He said;

“The ruling is in the best interest of the nation. It is a win-win situation for all of us- government, students, lecturers- all Nigerians indeed.

I have just gotten the court order asking ASUU to go back to work. It is a sound judgment. It is no victor, no vanquished.

“You doctors in academics are for now members of ASUU, but, you are here, even though you have dissociated yourself and are working. We want to thank you for working and teaching your students.

“The court ruling does not preclude us from going on with further negotiation and consultations. The pro-chancellors met Mr. President and made some demands, such as topping up government offers and seeing whether there could be some bailout.

“Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari) said in considering it, he will consult stakeholders. So, he is going to consult everybody.”

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Nigerian students reject court judgement mandating ASUU to call off its 7 month strike

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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has kicked against a court judgment that mandated the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its 7-month strike.

National Industrial Court of Nigeria today, September 21, ordered ASUU to call off its ongoing nationwide strike.

Reacting in a statement, NANS National Public Relations Officer, Giwa Temitope, referred to the ruling as a “black market judgment.”

Temitope said the ruling betrayed equity because the Federal Government ought not to drag the academic union before the court in the first place. The statement reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to news of a court judgment mandating the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its 7 month strike.

As an association, we feel disturbed to read the news of the judgment because we believe that it betrays equity.

“Ordinarily, the Federal Government is not meant to have dragged ASUU to court. But, the fact that they had to drag ASUU to court is a signal that this government cannot handle crisis.

And, we want to state categorically that the court cannot force members of ASUU back to lecture theatres. “And, as it stands today, with that court judgment, we maintain that the court has not resolved the problem and we reject the judgment in strong terms.

The court could have said that the Federal Government should go and pay rather than say that lecturers who are on strike should go back to classrooms.

We were expecting the court to have understood that lecturers are on contract of personal service hence, they cannot be compelled to render a service they don’t want to render.

“The only remedy to this strike action is for the Federal Government to accede to the demands of ASUU which the government willingly entered into with them and properly fund education.”

Lifestyle

Police dare Nigerian students as armed officers take over Third Mainland Bridge to prevent another protest

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The Lagos State Police Command has deployed officers to the Third Mainland Bridge to prevent another protest over the lingering ASUU strike.

The operatives, led by DPO of Adeniji Adele, CSP Lanre Edegbai, are keeping watch at both ends of the bridge days after the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) blocked Airport Road in Ikeja to protest the strike.

“We will not allow any person or group of persons deprive Lagosians of their Right to Freedom of Movement.

“Everyone’s rights must be respected!” Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin said as he shared photos of officers on Third Mainland Bridge today, September 21.

BBC reporter Osasu Obayiuwana responded to Hundeyin’s tweet, writing: “The #Nigerian state, particularly @PoliceNG, is very good at suppressing protests involving people that have no weapons. But when it comes to confronting armed groups, they don’t seem to be as forceful and ‘courageous’.”

Hundeyin replied: “I hope you one day get caught up in traffic caused by protest & miss your flight/appointment/interview. Ambulances too get stuck. I would love to hear you castigate the police for allowing some people hold an entire road or area to ransom. Fortunately for you, we won’t allow it.”

Hundeyin added in another tweet: “Protest by all means. It’s very fine. Just don’t step on other people’s right to freedom of movement. Don’t block the roads. Move in an orderly procession. Students protested PEACEFULLY at UNILAG recently. We were on ground and never interfered.”

Lifestyle, Politics

Avoid Kaduna Airport, Shehu Sani Advises Protesting Students

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Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, advised the National Association of Nigerian Students that they should stay away from Kaduna airport as they protest against the prolonged strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

He disclosed this on his Twitter handle.

Sani further stated that the forest near Kaduna Airport is unsafe, saying, “NANS should avoid Kaduna International Airport; you know that forest nearby, e get as e bi.”

This comes after students blocked access to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Monday to protest the prolonged strike.

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