By Our Correspondent

THE ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM) which commenced on June 1st , 2026 has entered its third week unabated as many shifts the blame squarely on the inefficiencies and underhand dealings by the Governing Council of the state owned institution .

The ongoing strike unfortunately coincides with Democracy Day, but while the abduction of school children across Nigeria clearly shows government ineptitude to secure lives ,the nonchalant attitude of the Governing Council of MOAUM regarding the welfare of the university, the silence of the university Visitor raises bigger concerns and questions about the will-power to sustain the gains the university has made particularly in the last five years and the lip service by Government officials and education policy drivers.

While Investigations reveal that there might be more unions joining the strike , there are also allegations of abuse of established law books , style of governance ,appropriation roles and responsibilities of the university management and Senate against the institutions Council .

More worrisome is information that some staff are called from home at late hours or odd hours to appear before councils in most dehumanized manner that falls below standards of public institutions and as if it was the private business of the chairman of the council a development that has already triggered calls for his removal in other to save the university .

A Senior lecturer in the University told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that ,”
“the staff have gradually discovered that the leadership of the Council has been playing mind games with them. It is true that he started powerfully by borrowing money to clear their earned allowances. But the staff have come to realize that all was a façade. Before now, some of us carried out a background check on his person and were shocked to discover that he had issues with ICPC and EFCC regarding TETFUND Contracts. That was when some of us began to watch more carefully.”

A Professor spoke extensively on his disappointment with his colleagues who are internal members of Council and the Union itself. “Honestly, I wonder why we allowed this man to trick us for this long. Did we not notice when he was having issues with the former VC Prof. Tor Iorapuu. But most of us in our foolishness and because, ab initio did not want an ‘outsider’ as a VC, we did not pay attention to the fact that the Council was gradually destroying the system. It is clearly an attitudinal and a mentality thing. See where we are? The Council Chairman has taken over the responsibilities of the VC, the Management and the Senate. He is appointing directors, procurement officers, acting directors, swapping staff from one position to another, suspending staff at will. Which Council does that and what instrument of power does the Council have to do that without following the law books? Two topical issues on ground are the unilateral appointment of Prof. Ubwa as the Director of CEFTER; unlawful creation of the position of a Director of Research and grant writing without due process, and the interference in the appointment of a deputy vice chancellor.”

There are deeper issues. It would seem, not only the staff are unsettled. Council members are equally unsettled. It is on the lips of teaching and non-teaching staff that the last physical Council was quite volatile. Some council members may have woken up, expressed dissatisfaction on several issues. One of them was the handling of TETFUND contracts of
over 2 Billion Naira TETFUND annual allocation, 300 million Naira TETFUND Zonal intervention, 4 billion special Tetfund presidential fund for Medicine, dentistry, Nursing and Pharmaceutical Sciences.1 Billion Naira TETFUND counterpart fund for PPP, 1600 bed spaces hostel accommodation.

An administrative staff on account anonymity recounted that some external members of Council may have realized that they have been taken for granted. According to him, “the lies, the scams and the real identities of who is who have popped out. Suddenly, some Council members are courageous to voice out.” Probing further, he said, “some courageous council members are alleging that contracts are awarded without procedures.” Our findings show that, one specific matter mentioned was the attempts to twist or cover up abuse of procurement processes under an acting VC. In fact, Council Members want a probe how Tetfund Library funds were utilized. TETFUND needs to investigate this because its staff was mentioned in connivance with Ubwa. Efforts to get the University Librarian to confirm the information failed.
A visibly angry staff who also spoke on condition of anonymity said, “nothing is hidden under the sun. In this university, we know and hear about every decision taken in Council, who participates and who sleeps. We can tell you comprehensively that very few members of Council speak.

“The Chairman decides on anything he wants and they concur. Look, Council Members have information that the former VC, Prof. Tor Iorapuu had received over 2billion annual allocation for 2025, 300million Zonal intervention, and 4billion Special Presidential fund for the Medical School and I billion Naira as counterpart support for PPP students’ hostels. That the former VC made this information available in Council. However, every contract was awarded with speed withing months that Prof. Iorapuu was on forced leave. Council Members cannot explain how the decisions to award any contract were arrived at. The only thing Council members know is that the VC who succeeded Professor Iorapuu when he was on leave facilitated through one agricultural company account the sum of 1.7million Naira to the account of Council Members in December 2025. What is not clear is if internal Members of Council got the same amount with the External Members. Some other staff of the University like the Procurement officer got 800 thousand Naira. Now, here is a curious question.

“This Acting VC was no longer the acting VC, when Prof. Tor Iorapuu handed over. Is it not worrying that he was still involved with the administration to the extent of facilitating funds to Council Members?
The conversations regarding the strike are equally in the town. Indigenous contractors are warming up. Information filtering out is that there is sufficient displeasure that all the contractors are from Anambra.
For people who are quite familiar with ASUU strikes, will read the handwriting on the wall and act smartly. ASUU may as well be sending a message to the Visitor that the Council Chairman has no polling unit in Benue.
“This is not a threat; it is statement of fact and a warning. Fr. Alia who today is the Visitor should know better because he was a neighbour of the university.
“To end this strike, some of the issues raised here are critical. Fr. Alia as the Visitor needs to revisit his illusions. If your expectations have not been met, please act now. You are between truth and survival. Knowledge of the activities and operations of Campus unions is the beginning of wisdom. The truth is before you to unpack.”

By George Mgbeleke

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has called on Nigerians to embrace unity, vigilance, and active participation in nation-building as the country marks 27 years of uninterrupted democratic governance.

He commended Nigerians for their resilience and support for democracy despite some low moments.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, In a Democracy Day message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,Hon Eseme Eyiboh mnipr, Senator Akpabio noted that Nigeria’s democratic experiment is a testimony of endurance despite years of agitations.

“On behalf of the 10th National Assembly, I congratulate every Nigerian for the sustenance of democracy for close to three decades. Mistakes have been made in the course of this journey but we will surely get to the desired destination with your support”

He urge Nigerians to continue to believe in democratic governance and not give into attempts by elements of backwardness, whose sole aim is to derail the process.

According to him, “Democracy should extend beyond the conduct of elections and be anchored on accountability, justice, compassion and service to the common good”.

The Senate President called on the youth to participate actively in the nations political process stressing that the younger generation forms the fulcrum of leadership succession.

He said “As we commemorate June 12, I wish to encourage the youth not to sit on the fence but be active participants in the nation’s political activities. The youths constitute the fulcrum of those who will succeed us tomorrow.

“Let us therefore rededicate ourselves to the ideals of freedom, transparency and accountable government, social justice, and active citizen participation, especially the youths”.

On insecurity, Akpabio appeal to Nigerians to unite with one another and cooperate with the government to tame the monster that has befallen the nation.

He assured citizens that the President Tinubu administration remains committed to ending insecurity and securing the release of all persons in captivity.

“I urge every Nigerian to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in her efforts in fighting terrorism. We understand the pains you are going through but the government is not resting on its oars and hopefully we shall overcome this current challenge and all will be well with Nigeria.

Hon Eseme Eyiboh mnipr
Special Adviser, Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson to the President of the Senate

By Our Correspondent
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‎As Nigeria celebrates democracy day today, Delta State-based human rights lawyer and activist, Barrister Oghenejabor Ikimi, has expressed disappointment with the state of Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that the sacrifices made by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and other pro-democracy campaigners have not been justified by the country’s current political realities.
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‎Fieding questions from journalists on June 12 Democracy Day celebration, Ikimi said many of those who fought for democratic governance had become part of a political class that now oppresses the people.
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‎According to him, the situation in the country mirrors what happened after Nigeria gained independence from colonial rule.
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‎”I do not think that the sacrifices made by M.K.O. Abiola and other eminent Nigerians in the struggle for democracy are justified with the current political realities in the country,” he said.
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‎”This is because immediately the military handed over power to these eminent Nigerians who fought for democracy, they became our new oppressors just like the military back then.
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‎”Similarly, the nationalists who fought our colonial masters for independence became our new national masters once power was handed over to them.”
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‎He added: “That is the exact scenario currently playing out in our present-day politics. Those that fought for our democracy are now our current masters.”
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‎Ikimi, who’s the National Chairman of the Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP), also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as one of the weakest institutions in the country and expressing doubts about its ability to conduct a credible 2027 general election.
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He argued that the electoral body could not be truly independent as long as its leadership remained subject to presidential appointment.
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‎”INEC is one of the weakest institutions in our nation and cannot learn any lessons apart from hand notes handed over to them by the Executive as they are surrounded by strong men,” he said.
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‎”First and foremost, the Chairman of INEC is appointed by Mr President. Until INEC is insulated from the Presidency and politics, INEC cannot be totally independent.”
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‎Oghenejabor contrasted the current situation with the 2015 general elections, which saw a peaceful transfer of power from former President Goodluck Jonathan to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
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‎”Former President Goodluck Jonathan gave the Jega-led INEC free hands to conduct the 2015 general elections because he was a man of peace who wanted to exit power then,” he stated.
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‎Expressing concern over preparations for the 2027 elections, the lawyer questioned the electoral commission’s commitment to transparency.
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‎”I am afraid that I am not confident with the present INEC as we prepare for the 2027 general elections. Can an INEC that has observed rigged party primaries without raising any eyebrow conduct a free and fair election come 2027? I doubt.”
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‎On the issue of real-time transmission of election results, Oghenejabor argued that the success of elections depends more on the collective resolve of citizens than on technology alone.
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‎Drawing lessons from Japan’s post-war development, he said national progress is driven by commitment and patriotism rather than constitutional or institutional arrangements.
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‎”I think the problem is with us as a people. If Nigerians want free, fair and credible elections, we can achieve same collectively without real-time transmission of results,” he said.
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‎Using Japan as an example, he noted that the country had focused on national development rather than blaming its constitutional framework for its challenges.
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‎”If we want to grow our democracy and get INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections nationwide, then it should be our duty as Nigerians collectively to ensure same and not leave it for INEC to achieve.”
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‎Addressing the persistent challenge of vote-buying and vote-selling, the rights activist linked the problem directly to widespread poverty and hunger across the country.
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‎According to him, meaningful electoral reforms would be difficult to achieve unless the economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians is addressed.
‎”We must as a nation address the issue of pandemic poverty and hunger in our nation,” he said.
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‎”A nation where over 190 million citizens are living below the poverty line, both buying and selling of votes would thrive.”
‎He maintained that voter education campaigns alone would not solve the problem, insisting that economic empowerment must come first.
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‎”Electoral enlightenment can follow when the issues of poverty and hunger are addressed because no amount of electoral enlightenment and voters’ education can sink into the head of a hungry man since a hungry man is an unreasonable being,” he added.
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‎Oghenejabor’s remarks come as Nigeria commemorates the June 12 struggle, widely regarded as a watershed moment in the country’s democratic journey and a symbol of the fight for electoral justice and civilian rule.