By Oso Abidemi

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, has dismissed the Federal Government’s claim that insufficient funds prevented it from meeting the full salary demands of university lecturers.

Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Timothy Namu, told journalists in Jos that the real issue is not a lack of money but a lack of political will and misplaced priorities.

He cited figures from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), showing significant revenue growth for both states and the Federal Government between 2022 and 2024.

According to him, FAAC allocations to states rose from ₦3.92 trillion in 2022 to ₦5.81 trillion in 2024, an increase of over 62 per cent, while federal allocations grew from ₦3.42 trillion to ₦4.65 trillion, representing more than 70 per cent growth.

“These statistics confirm that education suffers not because funds are unavailable but because government priorities lie elsewhere,” Namu said.

He noted that the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC), at its meeting in Jalingo from November 8-9, rejected the Federal Government’s proposed salary increase, describing it as “a drop in the ocean” and far below what is needed to curb brain drain in universities.

Namu added that although ASUU suspended its warning strike after partially achieving its objectives, nearly a week to the expiration of the four-week deadline given to the government, nothing meaningful has been done.

ASUU appealed to traditional rulers, students, civil society organisations, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the National Assembly to press the government to address the union’s demands to prevent another round of crises in the university system.

By Sarah Sam Adda

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, says the Fund cannot pay institutional fees for newly admitted students until they complete registration and matriculation, warning that early payments could result in massive financial losses.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Sawyerr said paying fees for students who have not fully enrolled could lead to wasted funds if they later change schools, defer admission, travel abroad, or drop out. He described it as “disbursing against intention.”

He noted that a key challenge is the requirement for students to obtain a matriculation number before accessing the loan.

Since matriculation depends on fee payment, NELFUND is working with institutions to temporarily allow the use of JAMB registration numbers for loan processing.

Sawyerr said NELFUND has resolved several structural issues inherited from its initial 2023 legislation, which included guarantor requirements, a ₦500,000 household income cap, and no provision for student upkeep.

These were corrected under the revised Education Loan Act signed in May 2024.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for his support, noting that the Fund has since achieved seamless application processing and disbursements, providing a lifeline for thousands of students.

By Onilede Titi Faith

The Abuja City Journal is set to host the 3rd edition of its National Essay Competition, featuring 26 participants from across the country.

The contestants will compete for top cash prizes of ₦5 million, ₦3 million, and ₦2 million, respectively.

Ahead of the event, the CEO and Publisher of Abuja City Journal, Mr. Foluso Sylvanus Ojo, popularly known as Fosh, held a virtual meeting with participants and staff to outline key guidelines and expectations.

During the briefing, the publisher revealed that all flight tickets of participants have being booked, paid for and sent to them, even as he detailed the programme schedule, from participants’ arrival to the grand finale, ensuring everyone is fully informed about the event’s structure and procedures.

He emphasised the importance of punctuality, discipline, and decency, urging participants to present themselves professionally throughout the event.

He also listed essential items they are expected to bring along as they travel from their various states to Abuja.

He noted that the competition aims not only to reward excellence but also to provide a platform for young writers to showcase their skills and gain national recognition.

Visibly, knowing that preparations are on top gear, the joy of the participants came alive as many of their questions and fears were addressed by the CEO.