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ASUU, Minister’s Two Weeks Ultimatum and Buhari’s Silence
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By Eric Elezuo
Two schools of opinion were formed on July 19, 2022, when President Muhammadu Buhari, like one who woke from debilitating slumber, gave the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, a two weeks ultimatum to resolve the lingering strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The strike, called since January, 2022, is in its seventh month.
On one hand, the first school of opinion rejoiced that at long last, the president many has seen as completely lackadaisical and nonchalant about the events in the country, has finally taken a decisive step to arrest the excesses of both his administration and the lecturers in scuttling the educational advancement of hapless Nigerian students while their own children study unhindered in various high profile schools abroad.
The second of opinion had shrugged their shoulders in resignation, knowing that the threat was just what it was – a threat without an adjourning or commensurate firepower. They have concluded that the verbal pronouncement was another exercise in futility as the president has either lost the capacity to enforce discipline, or has never mustered the courage to lead from the front.
However, close to four weeks after the ultimatum, and two weeks after the ultimatum expired, nothing in the air shows that an ultimatum was ever given. The Minister of Education has continued to resume in his office in his capacity as Minister, the ASUU teachers are still sleeping through lecture periods, while students continue to hover around television and radio channels and newspaper stands to get a feel of the next line of action. In short, nothing has happened, and Buhari has remained mute.
A lot of observers has wondered if the executive president has suddenly become a toothless bulldog, or why was it that the honorable minister failed to act on the pronouncement of Mr President.
It would be recalled that Adamu has not been in the forefront of finding a solution to the ravaging imbroglio in the university education sector. His deputy, Emeka Nwajiuba, who has resigned from the job to pursue his botched presidential ambition, was the link to the resolution, with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige. Many still do not know who the Minister of Education is. One of his appearances, if not the only appearance, was hosting a detachment of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) executives, where the meeting ended with him walking out on the delegates.
One continues to wonder if the government of Nigeria is not that of lawlessness at the moment or subjected to rudderless status as no one listens to or obeys superior authority or why would the Minister fail to adhere to the president’s ultimatum. There has been no recorded meetings called ever since Buhari’s two weeks ultimatum. That’s an affront, and not acceptable.
Buhari, on his part, has carried on like the minister, as if nothing happened. He has allowed the minister unhindered access to his office, and remained deaf to the yearnings of Nigerian youths and their parents who are the direct victims of the crisis.
At the maiden Special Convocation Ceremony and conferment of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Maiduguri on Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, held on August 12, 2022, Buhari, through his representative, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, made a clawless plea to ASUU to call off the strike with no mention of the ultimatum given to minister a few weeks ago. That’s how weak and insensitive the administration has become.
If the education minister has lost the willpower or idea to find a resolution, he should toe the path of honour and throw in his towel, especially as he has shunned the president’s ultimatum.
If Mr president on the other hand has lost the influence over his subordinates, he should as well ‘step aside’ for a fresh lease of administrative prowess into the body polity.
The Nigerian education system is in squalor, and the ASUU has become a nail driven deep into a maggot infested wood.
Buhari should do the needful, and urgently too, and sack those that need to be sacked, or in the alternative, bow out himself. Nigerians are tired of mediocrity at all levels
The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.
According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.
The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.
The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.
It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.
In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in In Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.
The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.
The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.
The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.
Following the abduction of yet-to-be-determined number of students writing the National Examinations Council examinations at Government Day Secondary School, in Lassa Town, Askira/Uba LGA of Borno state, the state police command has reportedly deployed security operatives to comb the forest in the area.
The aredevil terrorists stormed the school on Monday morning, killed one teacher and abducted many students.
The state command spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said security operatives confronted the attackers, preventing a larger-scale abduction.
“Around 9 a.m. in the morning, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted.
“Security forces confronted them. For now, we have an unspecified number of students who were abducted. The CP deployed the Area Commander in Askira/Uba. They are currently combing the bush,” Daso said.
Also, President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, said the attackers wore military and forest guard uniforms.
“Yes. There was an attack on students writing NECO exams. The terrorists came around past nine. They passed the military checkpoint. They wore military and forest guard attire. They shot sporadically,” he said.
Kaigama said one teacher was killed while another sustained gunshot injuries.
“They killed one teacher from Chibok. They shot another, but not dead yet. They also kidnapped some students and women selling on the school premises. The numbers are not yet out,” he said
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Saturday, alleged that the Federal High Court ruling nullifying the recognition of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) as a political party is part of a growing assault on Nigeria’s democracy.
The opposition party warned that the Lokoja court’s decision reflects a broader pattern of legal and administrative actions aimed at weakening opposition parties and shrinking the democratic space ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement, its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the cumulative effect of such actions would be to undermine political competition and entrench those already in power.
“The cumulative effect of these attacks is unmistakable: they weaken the opposition, narrow the democratic space and strengthen the hands of those already in power. This is not how a healthy democracy functions,” the statement said.
The party argued that the ruling’s implications extend beyond the NDC, warning that prolonged legal battles involving opposition parties could deny Nigerians meaningful political choices.
It also accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of failing to provide a level playing field for all political parties, insisting that democracy can only flourish where institutions remain impartial and political actors are treated fairly.
“This has not been the case under the Bola Tinubu administration,” the ADC alleged.
The party urged the judiciary to safeguard its independence as the country approaches another election cycle, stressing that public confidence in the courts is critical to the credibility of the democratic process.
“The judiciary remains one of the last lines of defence for our democracy and must never be perceived as an arena where political battles are settled on behalf of those who wield executive power. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC further warned that any perception of judicial bias in politically sensitive cases could erode public trust in constitutional democracy and the electoral process.
It called on opposition parties, civil society organisations, organised labour, the media, legal practitioners and Nigerians to unite in defending democratic institutions and protecting the country’s multi-party system.
According to the party, attempts to intimidate or weaken opposition voices threaten constitutional rights, including freedom of association and political participation.
“Yesterday’s target was the NDC. Tomorrow, it could be anyone who dares to offer Nigerians an alternative. We must not wait until the democratic space has been completely suffocated before we act,” the statement added.
The ADC reaffirmed its commitment to defending Nigeria’s democratic values and preserving a competitive multi-party political system.
