MORNING NEWS
THE HEADLINES
NASU, SSANU declares total strike iver slow pace negotiations with FG
Obi Can’t Deliver Anambra, What Happened In 2023 Won’t Happen In 2027, Says Okpebholo
NEC Okays 112 As National Emergency Response Lifeline
Credit To Judiciary,’ ADC Welcomes Supreme Court’s Verdict On Party’s Leadership
Elon Musk Grilled On AI Profits At OpenAI Trial
Infantino Confirms Iran Will Play World Cup
THE DETAILS
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have declared an indefinite strike, beginning from May 1, over stalled negotiations with the Federal Government.
According to a letter dated April 30 from NASU general secretary and SSANU president, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions said the industrial action will start at midnight.
“With the agreement not concluded as of April 30, 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12:00 am on May 1, 2026,” they said in the letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
According to the unions, the move followed the Federal Government’s inability to finish renegotiations and present a fresh offer on allowances.
JAC acknowledged the withdrawal of a past circular on a 30 per cent increase in the consolidated non-teaching tools allowance but noted that the core matter in the dispute was not addressed.
NASU and SSANU said their members had earlier asked their leadership to take action if negotiations were not finished by April 30.
“With the agreement not concluded as of April 30, 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12:00 am on May 1, 2026,” they said.
They accused the Federal Government of failure to stop the crisis through meaningful engagement.
“As a result of the failure of the government to avert the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members will commence total and comprehensive strike action from Friday, May 1, 2026,” the unions said in the letter.
The governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has dismissed the political strength of ex-presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections, claiming that the former Anambra governor cannot deliver his home state.
Okpebholo, who spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, said the dynamics that shaped previous elections would not repeat themselves.
“What should I be afraid of them when I’m doing what the people want? Look at him in his state. Can he even deliver his state? What happened in the past [2023] cannot happen now, because you have a working governor in Edo State, and people love him,” he said.
The governor also addressed concerns about his remarks following Obi’s visit to Edo, which reportedly did not go as planned. Okpebholo maintained that he intended to ensure the opposition figure’s safety, citing security concerns.
The governor added that, as a “VIP”, Obi required adequate protection, stressing that informing the state government would enable proper coordination with security agencies.
The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the adoption of 112 as the national emergency number at all levels and across relevant agencies.
is part of measures to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency lifeline and build a unified and coordinated national response to emergencies.
NEC also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee and programme coordination led by the Office of the Vice President and the National Communications Commission (NCC).
The approval was part of decisions taken at the 157th meeting of the NEC held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima said the 112 emergency lifeline had become necessary to prevent delay caused by bureaucratic bottlenecks, noting that what the citizens seek urgently when confronted by a natural disaster or insecurity is an urgent response and not bureaucracy.
the state’s humanity. In moments of fire, accident, robbery, medical emergency, flood, violence, or panic, citizens do not need bureaucracy.
“They need a response. They need to know one number to call, one system to trust, and one coordinated chain of action that moves quickly enough to save lives,” he stated.
IThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has hailed the Supreme Court verdict on the party’s leadership and commended the judiciary for doing “great” over the matter.
A statement on Thursday by the party’s national spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, congratulated the members and leaders of the opposition party over the development.
“Today’s decision is a clear affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership under our National Chairman, Senator Mark, and our National Secretary, Ogbeni Aregbesola, are legitimate,” Abdullahi said.
“We commend the five-man panel of the Supreme Court, whose unanimous judgment has today done great credit to the judiciary in our country and our political system.”
On Thursday, the Supreme Court set aside the order made by the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordering the maintenance of status quo ante bellum in the leadership dispute in the ADC, on which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted in derecognising the David Mark-led executives of the party.
According to the unanimous judgment of a five-member panel, the Supreme Court asked parties to return to the Federal High Court for an expeditious hearing of the case filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Gombe, challenging, among others, the emergence of the Mark-led executives of the ADC.
In the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Garba held that the Court of Appeal had no business making a preservative order in respect of a case that was pending before the trial court, having determined the interlocutory appeal brought before it by Mark against the September 4 interlocutory decision of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.
The apex court held that the appeal that was filed before it by Senator Mark succeeded in part, even as it dismissed the aspect that challenged an ex parte order the Federal High Court made for service of processes in the suit filed by aggrieved members of the party.
The apex court directed them to return to the trial court for the continuation of the hearing of the case.
FORIGN REPORT
Elon Musk sparred with lawyers for a third day Thursday at his California trial against OpenAI, struggling to explain why his own for-profit AI empire differs from the one he is trying to take down.
“Few answers are going to be complete, especially when you cut me off all the time,” the visibly irritated multibillionaire said as he resumed his duel Thursday morning with the defence attorney for OpenAI.
Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who must decide whether OpenAI — the creator of ChatGPT — betrayed its original non-profit mission, had to intervene several times to compel the world’s richest man to answer questions.
He is seeking to have OpenAI — which rivals Anthropic and Google at the top of the global AI race — return to non-profit status, in a trial whose outcome could reshape the question of who controls AI innovation in the United States
There’s nothing wrong with having a for-profit organisation,” Musk answered, repeating his mantra: “You just can’t steal a charity” — meaning OpenAI should simply have started as a normal company from the outset.
SPORTS REPORT
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled, as football’s power brokers met in Vancouver on Thursday.
Iran’s participation at this year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war in the Middle East in February following strikes by the United States and Israel.
Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates as FIFA’s 76th Congress got underway in western Canada.
“Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “And of course, Iran will play (in) the United States of America.”
Infantino’s remarks drew swift support from close ally US President Donald Trump, who told reporters in the Oval Office he was “OK” with Iran’s participation.
Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G.
The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
NASU, SSANU declares total strike iver slow pace negotiations with FG
Obi Can’t Deliver Anambra, What Happened In 2023 Won’t Happen In 2027, Says Okpebholo
NEC Okays 112 As National Emergency Response Lifeline
Credit To Judiciary,’ ADC Welcomes Supreme Court’s Verdict On Party’s Leadership
Elon Musk Grilled On AI Profits At OpenAI Trial
Infantino Confirms Iran Will Play World Cup
THE DETAILS
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have declared an indefinite strike, beginning from May 1, over stalled negotiations with the Federal Government.
According to a letter dated April 30 from NASU general secretary and SSANU president, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions said the industrial action will start at midnight.
“With the agreement not concluded as of April 30, 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12:00 am on May 1, 2026,” they said in the letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
According to the unions, the move followed the Federal Government’s inability to finish renegotiations and present a fresh offer on allowances.
JAC acknowledged the withdrawal of a past circular on a 30 per cent increase in the consolidated non-teaching tools allowance but noted that the core matter in the dispute was not addressed.
NASU and SSANU said their members had earlier asked their leadership to take action if negotiations were not finished by April 30.
“With the agreement not concluded as of April 30, 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12:00 am on May 1, 2026,” they said.
They accused the Federal Government of failure to stop the crisis through meaningful engagement.
“As a result of the failure of the government to avert the strike by positively acceding to our demands, all members will commence total and comprehensive strike action from Friday, May 1, 2026,” the unions said in the letter.
The governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has dismissed the political strength of ex-presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general elections, claiming that the former Anambra governor cannot deliver his home state.
Okpebholo, who spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, said the dynamics that shaped previous elections would not repeat themselves.
“What should I be afraid of them when I’m doing what the people want? Look at him in his state. Can he even deliver his state? What happened in the past [2023] cannot happen now, because you have a working governor in Edo State, and people love him,” he said.
The governor also addressed concerns about his remarks following Obi’s visit to Edo, which reportedly did not go as planned. Okpebholo maintained that he intended to ensure the opposition figure’s safety, citing security concerns.
The governor added that, as a “VIP”, Obi required adequate protection, stressing that informing the state government would enable proper coordination with security agencies.
The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the adoption of 112 as the national emergency number at all levels and across relevant agencies.
is part of measures to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency lifeline and build a unified and coordinated national response to emergencies.
NEC also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee and programme coordination led by the Office of the Vice President and the National Communications Commission (NCC).
The approval was part of decisions taken at the 157th meeting of the NEC held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima said the 112 emergency lifeline had become necessary to prevent delay caused by bureaucratic bottlenecks, noting that what the citizens seek urgently when confronted by a natural disaster or insecurity is an urgent response and not bureaucracy.
the state’s humanity. In moments of fire, accident, robbery, medical emergency, flood, violence, or panic, citizens do not need bureaucracy.
“They need a response. They need to know one number to call, one system to trust, and one coordinated chain of action that moves quickly enough to save lives,” he stated.
IThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has hailed the Supreme Court verdict on the party’s leadership and commended the judiciary for doing “great” over the matter.
A statement on Thursday by the party’s national spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, congratulated the members and leaders of the opposition party over the development.
“Today’s decision is a clear affirmation that our party, its structures, and its leadership under our National Chairman, Senator Mark, and our National Secretary, Ogbeni Aregbesola, are legitimate,” Abdullahi said.
“We commend the five-man panel of the Supreme Court, whose unanimous judgment has today done great credit to the judiciary in our country and our political system.”
On Thursday, the Supreme Court set aside the order made by the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordering the maintenance of status quo ante bellum in the leadership dispute in the ADC, on which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted in derecognising the David Mark-led executives of the party.
According to the unanimous judgment of a five-member panel, the Supreme Court asked parties to return to the Federal High Court for an expeditious hearing of the case filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Gombe, challenging, among others, the emergence of the Mark-led executives of the ADC.
In the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Garba held that the Court of Appeal had no business making a preservative order in respect of a case that was pending before the trial court, having determined the interlocutory appeal brought before it by Mark against the September 4 interlocutory decision of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.
The apex court held that the appeal that was filed before it by Senator Mark succeeded in part, even as it dismissed the aspect that challenged an ex parte order the Federal High Court made for service of processes in the suit filed by aggrieved members of the party.
The apex court directed them to return to the trial court for the continuation of the hearing of the case.
FORIGN REPORT
Elon Musk sparred with lawyers for a third day Thursday at his California trial against OpenAI, struggling to explain why his own for-profit AI empire differs from the one he is trying to take down.
“Few answers are going to be complete, especially when you cut me off all the time,” the visibly irritated multibillionaire said as he resumed his duel Thursday morning with the defence attorney for OpenAI.
Federal Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who must decide whether OpenAI — the creator of ChatGPT — betrayed its original non-profit mission, had to intervene several times to compel the world’s richest man to answer questions.
He is seeking to have OpenAI — which rivals Anthropic and Google at the top of the global AI race — return to non-profit status, in a trial whose outcome could reshape the question of who controls AI innovation in the United States
There’s nothing wrong with having a for-profit organisation,” Musk answered, repeating his mantra: “You just can’t steal a charity” — meaning OpenAI should simply have started as a normal company from the outset.
SPORTS REPORT
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled, as football’s power brokers met in Vancouver on Thursday.
Iran’s participation at this year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war in the Middle East in February following strikes by the United States and Israel.
Infantino, who has repeatedly stated that Iran will be at the World Cup, underscored that stance at the start of his address to delegates as FIFA’s 76th Congress got underway in western Canada.
“Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “And of course, Iran will play (in) the United States of America.”
Infantino’s remarks drew swift support from close ally US President Donald Trump, who told reporters in the Oval Office he was “OK” with Iran’s participation.
Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G.
The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.