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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike, granting the Federal Government a one-month grace period to finalise the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and resolve other lingering issues affecting the nation’s public universities. ASUU President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja, stating that the suspension followed constructive engagements with the Federal Government and crucial interventions by the National Assembly. Piwuna explained that the union had declared the warning strike on October 13, 2025, after the government failed to respond to repeated appeals to address long-standing issues relating to the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement and the welfare of university lecturers. Read Also: Kukah Warns Against Labeling Nigeria a Country of Concern, Cites Tinubu’s Inclusive Leadership “When we gathered here about 10 days ago to painfully declare a warning strike, it was a decision that left us with no other choice. The government had ignored our repeated overtures to address issues critical to the survival of Nigeria’s public universities,” he said. According to him, following the commencement of the strike, the Federal Government re-engaged ASUU through a committee led by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, which met with the union’s representatives on October 16 and 18 to review the government’s response to the draft renegotiated agreement. The ASUU president noted that although not all issues were resolved, the meetings recorded significant progress compared to earlier stages. Piwuna also commended the interventions of the Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFund, and Labour, as well as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, whose mediation efforts, he said, rekindled hope for lasting peace in the university system. He disclosed that after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held between October 21 and 22, 2025, ASUU reviewed the developments and resolved that the warning strike had achieved part of its goal, particularly by compelling the government to return to the negotiation table. “While noting that more work remains to be done, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to allow for a conducive atmosphere for further engagement,” Piwuna stated.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched an Integrated ISO Policy designed to deepen quality assurance, operational safety, and environmental sustainability across all Nigerian airports. The policy was unveiled on Monday by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Luqman Emiola. Speaking during the unveiling, the Director of Special Duties, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, highlighted that the new ISO Policy was part of FAAN’s broader commitment to institutionalizing a culture of service excellence. She explained that the audit-driven policy aims to measure FAAN’s performance in maintaining quality operations, customer satisfaction, and environmental responsibility. Read Also: Barau Jibrin Reaffirms Tinubu’s Commitment to Quality Healthcare, Inspects Seven Projects at AKTH According to her, the policy integrates two global standards—ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS)—into a single operational framework. Through this initiative, FAAN seeks to ensure consistent quality service delivery, enhance operational safety, and adopt sustainable practices across all airports under its management. Management disclosed that the Authority has achieved about 70 percent completion of the certification process, with external auditors expected to arrive in November to assess compliance and address identified gaps. FAAN targets full ISO certification by December 2025. In his goodwill message, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr. Henry Agbebire, commended Mrs. Kuku and the FAAN management team for their commitment to improving service delivery and operational standards. He reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to embedding quality and sustainability principles in its operations, pledging continued support until full certification is achieved. Mrs. Kuku, represented at the event, emphasized that the ISO Policy reinforces FAAN’s operational principle that “if it is not documented, it is considered not done.” She explained that the new policy provides a standardized framework for internal audits and guides all directorates to ensure compliance with FAAN’s commitment to excellence, environmental stewardship, and safety. FAAN reiterated its dedication to aligning Nigeria’s airports with international best practices by ensuring safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible operations. The Authority also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the environment, supporting host communities, and providing a conducive workplace for staff. In his closing remarks, the General Manager, Special Duties, appreciated FAAN management for their consistent support, describing the ISO initiative as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s aviation industry that will enhance safety and operational efficiency. The ISO, which stands for the International Organization for Standardization, is a global body that develops and publishes international standards to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency across industries worldwide. FAAN’s adoption of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 demonstrates its commitment to achieving world-class airport operations and sustainability practices.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has revealed that 3,433 persons lost their lives in road crashes across Nigeria between January and September 2025, while 22,162 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in 6,858 reported accidents during the same period. Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the flag-off of the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign, where he also announced the introduction of a contactless biometric driver’s licence system aimed at improving efficiency and eliminating delays. Mohammed noted that while the figures remain concerning, they reflect a decline compared to 2024, an indication that ongoing interventions were yielding positive results. Read Also: Police Halt Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement After Court Order He cautioned motorists against speeding, overloading, night journeys, and the use of mobile phones while driving, urging patience and vigilance as road traffic increases towards the end of the year. “From our 2024 Operation Zero, which ran from December 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, we recorded 432 deaths and 2,070 injuries from 533 crashes. But between January and September 2025, our data shows 3,433 deaths and 22,162 injuries from 6,858 crashes,” he said. “Though the figures are still high, it’s a reduction compared to the same period last year. We will continue to intensify campaigns and enforcement to bring the numbers further down.” On the newly launched contactless driver’s licence system, Mohammed explained that the technology would simplify the process and eliminate the issuance of temporary licences. “It’s seamless now. You don’t need to put your hand on a device for fingerprint capture. The new system automatically captures your details and synchronises them with our database. Applicants will get their driver’s licences instantly — no more waiting for weeks or months,” he said. During a visit to the FRSC Driver’s Licence Print Farm, the Deputy Corps Marshal (Motor Vehicle Administration), Aliyu Datsama, said the Corps had ramped up production to clear the backlog of pending licences. “We now work 24/7 because of the backlog. Out of 800,000 pending licences, we’ve reduced it to 400,000. Our daily production is 40,000, and in the next few weeks, we’ll clear everything by the grace of God,” Datsama said. Meanwhile, the Niger State Command of the FRSC also launched its 2025 Ember Months Campaign in Minna, themed “Take Responsibility for Your Safety, Stop Distracted Driving.” Sector Commander Aishat Saadu said the campaign underscores the human factor as the major cause of road crashes. She revealed that between December 2024 and January 2025, 46 persons were killed, 205 injured, and 432 involved in 47 crashes across the state. She listed excessive speeding, overloading, route violations, driving against traffic, and wrongful overtaking as the leading causes of crashes. Saadu also confirmed that the command had deployed personnel, organised town hall meetings, and set up mobile courts to curb violations. She commended the Niger State Government for its continuous support and urged motorists to obey traffic rules and prioritise safety during the festive period. (Guardian)