The Federal Government has reassured the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and other university unions that all agreements made with them will be fulfilled shortly. The government, however, appealed to the unions to exercise patience and allow more time for the complete resolution of the issues raised.

During the 3rd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of SSANU in Abuja, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, urged unions to prioritize dialogue over strikes, emphasizing that the future of students should be the unions’ main focus.

He acknowledged the frustration over past unfulfilled agreements but assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to upholding its promises.

SSANU National President, Mohammed Ibrahim, also spoke at the event, calling for a change in the narrative about unions, noting that they are often unfairly seen as “strike-happy.”

He stressed that strikes should not be the first option in addressing grievances, urging both parties to work towards better industrial relations for the benefit of students and the education sector.

The Federal Government announced on Thursday, November 14, that it has secured a $134 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Chief Information Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Anthonia Eremah, stated that the loan will be directed toward supporting farmers in enhancing seed and grain production nationwide.

In a statement on Thursday, Eremah mentioned that the Minister made the announcement during the launch of the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming program in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

The Minister highlighted that the loan will play a crucial role in ensuring food security across Nigeria, particularly through the re-introduction of the national dry season farming initiative.

The project falls under the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Additionally, the program will provide assistance to 150,000 rice farmers in its second phase, covering all 37 states, including the FCT, with an anticipated yield of approximately 450,000 metric tonnes,” the Minister stated.

The State of Palestine on Thursday raised the alarm over Israel’s use of “starvation” as a weapon of war in Gaza, particularly in North Gaza, where only 30 trucks are allowed to enter daily, meeting just 6% of the region’s needs.

The Palestinian government said the severe food deprivation was making survival extremely difficult for Gazans.

The authorities said this in a heartfelt letter to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, which was signed by Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh of the Embassy of the State of Palestine.

Revealing alarming casualty numbers, Shawesh said that 43,603 Palestinians have been killed and 102,929 injured in Gaza, mostly children and women, over 405 days of conflict.

Additionally, 188 journalists have lost their lives, in what he described as genocide and ethnic cleansing at the hands of the United States of America and Israeli.

Shawesh emphasised that empty condemnations are insufficient and urged collective action to end the prolonged Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Human Rights Watch has also reported on Israel’s deliberate blockade of food, water, and fuel, labeling it a war crime.

The organization noted that Israeli officials have publicly stated their intent to deprive Gazans of essential resources. The international community must take decisive action to address this humanitarian crisis.

Giving a statistics breakdown of the casualties, Shawesh stated, “In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as of November 9, 811 Palestinians were killed, 5,755 injured, and 13,585 permanent and temporary military checkpoints were set up.

“As of November 10, the total number of Palestinian detainees in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has reached 11,600, including 430 women, 760 children, and 132 journalists, 85 of whom are still in detention, and administrative orders have exceeded 10,000 detainees.

“The arrest campaign was accompanied by human humiliation, severe beatings, in addition to the vandalism destruction of Palestinian homes and property, and theft of their money and gold. These figures do not include detainees from Gaza, where some estimates indicate that their number exceeds 5,000 without any information about them. 41 Palestinian detainees were killed as a result of ill-treatment and severe beatings

“In the Negev and Ofer prisons, prisoners face difficult conditions, especially those from Gaza. What makes matters worse is the spread of scabies among prisoners, who are all subjected to brutal torture, insults and medical neglect.

“Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, particularly in North Gaza where only 30 trucks are allowed to enter per day, which is nearly 6% of the daily needs. This deprivation of food is making it difficult for the people in Gaza to even survive.

“Using the starvation as method and measure of war on Gaza specially on the north will lead to catastrophic health consequence on the short and long run.

“The people who are still in North Gaza are living under an immobilizing siege, are being deliberately and continuously bombed, and are without food, water, and medical supplies. Anyone who tries to flee in search of these necessities is targeted by Israeli drones and killed.”

Citing Joyce Msuya Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs “Now is the time for Member States to use their leverage to prevent and stop violations of international humanitarian law through diplomatic and economic pressure, responsible arms transfers and combating impunity, Now is the time for the Security Council to use its powers under the UN Charter to ensure compliance with international law and full implementation of its resolutions.”

“In the upcoming months, the occupied West Bank will be in the eye of the storm. Israel intends to extend its sovereignty over it, believing that the upcoming US administration will support this move. This will be the final nail in the coffin of the peace process and the two-state solution.”