President Bola Tinubu has said his administration has commenced moves to review the conditions of service and remuneration of university staff across the country, with a view to aligning their pay and welfare with prevailing economic realities and improving the quality of teaching, research and learning in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Tinubu speaking at the 49th Convocation Ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to dialogue as the key to achieving lasting industrial peace in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

Tinubu, represented by ex-Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Kabir Bala, emphasised the need for mutual respect and collaboration between the government and university staff.

He admonished university staff to dialogue with the government to resolve differences, saying “doing so would ensure universities can remain open, stable, conducive and productive.”

According to the president “Government remains committed to dialogue as the surest path to lasting industrial peace in our tertiary institutions.

“The Federal Government is, therefore, intensifying efforts to review the conditions of service and remuneration of university staff to reflect the realities of the present-day economy. In collaboration with relevant staff unions within the university system and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, we are already developing a sustainable framework that rewards dedication, innovation and productivity while also ensuring fiscal responsibility.

 “Let us, therefore, continue to resolve our differences through dialogue and mutual respect so that our universities can remain open, stable, conducive and productive. We are expanding opportunities for collaboration among the university system, industry, and government.”

Addressing the graduands, Tinubu said, “Your generation represents the hope and promise of a better Nigeria. Our nation looks up to you not just to succeed, but to make a difference in your chosen professions, in your communities, and in the global arena. Wherever life takes you as ambassadors of this university, remember to carry the Great Ife spirit of excellence, courage and progress.”

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, while delivering the convocation lecture, titled, ‘Raising a New Generation of Leaders for the World in Such a Difficult Time Through University Education’, urged universities to start departments that will award degrees in leadership to graduates.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Simeon Bamire, in his address, said a total of 6,5262 students graduated with various degrees during the 49th convocation.

Providing a breakdown of the graduates, Bamire said, “Undergraduate diplomas – 54, classified degree – 5,253, unclassified degree – 295, Postgraduate – 959”.

The Nation

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The student union leaders at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, and the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State have rejected the rice palliatives distributed by President Bola Tinubu to Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents in tertiary institutions across the country.

In separate statements, the union leaders criticised the gesture, stating that the distribution of rice palliatives fails to address the fundamental challenges facing Nigerian students.

The SUG President at OAU, Damilola Isaac, said he had not received any rice palliatives and would not accept them even if they were delivered.

Mr Isaac emphasised that his administration’s focus remains on advocating for better educational standards and student welfare, rather than accepting “handouts that do not address the systemic challenges facing the Nigerian education sector.”

“Whether or not the release was authentic, it has become imperative that I address this issue,” he said.

He suggested that the government should prioritise palliatives that reduce tuition burdens and improve university infrastructure.

“While the government may have intentions of goodwill, it is imperative that efforts be directed towards improving the quality of education, reducing tuition burdens, upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing opportunities for students across the country,” he said.

“I urge the general public and the entire Great Ife community to disregard the claims associated with my name in the release. Rest assured, this administration remains committed to championing the interests of Great Ife students and standing for the ideals of accountability and integrity.”

Meanwhile, the President of the Students’ Representative Council at ABU, Ibrahim Nazeer, also rejected the palliatives, stating that he would not accept his share “until he is assured that there is enough rice for his fellow students.”

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Abdulrazak Shuaibu, Mr Nazeer commended President Tinubu for initiatives such as NELFUND, which has benefited thousands of students.

He, however, stressed that his decision to reject the palliatives was driven by a sense of fairness rather than personal grievances.

“I will not accept my share unless it is accompanied by a substantial allocation for my fellow students. I want to be clear that I will only take my share if it comes with enough for a significant number of ABUSites; otherwise, I will not accept it,” he said.

“Instead of distributing rice periodically, we implore the government to concentrate on creating conditions that will enable people to afford necessities like rice on their own.”

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that two bags of 25kg rice were allocated for distribution to each SUG presidents of all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Mr Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Students Engagement, Asefon Sunday, disclosed that two student leaders from each zone were invited to Abuja to receive the palliatives on behalf of other SUG presidents in their domains.

Mr Sunday told PREMIUM TIMES that it is impossible for the government to distribute rice to all Nigerian students and, therefore, selected student leaders to benefit from the palliatives.

In a telephone interview, Mr Sunday explained that the beneficiaries of the palliatives include the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the National Association of University Students (NAUS) and SUG presidents of all Nigerian tertiary institutions.

One of the beneficiaries, Fahad Abdullahi, the SUG President of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that some student leaders including himself received the palliative when it was distributed last Tuesday in Abuja.

However, the SUG president at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) and the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) told PREMIUM TIMES last week that they were not aware of the distribution and had not received them.

Rice As Palliative

The Nigerian government has always been criticised for using the distribution of rice as a response to various crises, from cost of living crisis to natural disasters.

Mr Tinubu’s flagship economic policies, the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira have led to hardship and a cost-of-living crisis for Nigerians.

In less than two years of his administration, Mr Tinubu’s government has announced the distribution of rice nine times to ease hardship for Nigerians. However, the situation has only worsened, with the country’s annual inflation rate now at 34.80 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Food inflation is worse at 38.94 per cent, the NBS said.

Some students who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES questioned why the government selected only student leaders to receive the palliatives.

Oyelakin Mutiullah, a student of the University of Abuja, said the approach reflects poorly on leadership by both the government and the students’ leaders.

“Feeling that my interests are not sufficiently represented would cause me to mistrust the integrity of those who are supposed to advocate for us,” he said.

Anas Abdulrahman, a student of UDUS, wondered why some students were singled out simply because of their positions in the school.

While he commended the government for the gesture, he noted that all students are Nigerians and should be beneficiaries of such palliatives.

“We all voted for this government, and we have to be considered. Not only the leaders,” he said. “That means students will be putting mind on only election part just to get there and benefit from that kind of thing.”

Premium Times Sourced

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By Joseph Joy

In a bid to curb riding cases if sexual assaults withing its pricinct, the management of Benue State University (BSU), has announced a ban on dreadlock hairs, make-up, skirts above knees, leg chains, sagging, dyeing of hair and other certain dress codes it deemed inappropriate and immodest.

The task force committee set up by the university disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday warned that the institution would sanction any student found violating the approved dress code.

The statement specifically pointed out various types of dressing that would henceforth be prohibited in the university by both genders

“BOYS: No sagging, No Make up, No dreading of hair (dada), No dyeing of hair (coloring of hair), No wearing of shorts/three quarter trousers to Lectures, No leaving of hair uncombed, No wearing of armless shirts, No wearing of earring, No plaiting of hair, No keeping of heavy beards, No wearing crazy trousers, and other indecencies.

“GIRLS: No body hug, No wearing of armless clothes, No dyeing of hair (coloring of hair), No wearing short, No exposure of sensible parts of the body, No Leg chain, No Nose ring, No putting of multiple earrings (only one earring is allowed).

“No folding of shirts on a trouser or skirt, only black and brown color attachment is allowed, No wearing of crazy trousers, No wearing of skirts above the knees, No wearing of leggings without long top (shirt) and other related indecencies.

“Students should adhere to these rules, failure to comply shall attract sanctions from the university Management,” the statement reads.

A number of Nigerian universities have in the recent past announced dress codes and uniform wearing among the students. The Enugu State University of Science and Technology ESUT, championed this in late 2000s, the University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN adopted it.

Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU Ile Ife, and the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko introduced dress code for their undergraduates recently.

In August 2023 the OAU announced the imposition of a dress code on its students by banning any skimpy dress or one that covers faces.

The school management had said sexually provocative dresses would no longer be allowed in the school.

The university had also banned sagging of trousers or knickers for males and females, hair braiding for males, nose, mouth, eye or extra rings, crop/jump tops, unconventional wearing of caps, tattoo/indelible markings for males, multi-coloured braid for females, haircuts with inscriptions, T-shirts with obscene inscriptions depicting immorality, hooliganism, etc., heavy make-ups, rumpled and dirty clothes, and hair plaiting or weaving by male students.

The introduction of dress code or uniform wearing among students is considered on e of the approaches towards averting cases of sexual assault rampant in the tertiary institutions.

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