FG Approves 40% Salary Increase For Lecturers, Introduces ₦140,000 Professorial Allowance

FG approves 40% salary increase for lecturers, introduces ₦140,000 professorial allowance. The Federal Government has approved a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers and introduced a new professorial cadre allowance, giving professors a monthly top-up of over ₦140,000.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the measures on Wednesday, following the signing of a new agreement with ASUU that ends a 16-year stalemate over the 2009 FGN–ASUU pact.

Universities

He said the deal includes nine clearly structured Earned Academic Allowances and assured that funding has been secured for full implementation across federal tertiary institutions.

Government Warns Churches Against Noise Pollution During School Hours In Anambra

Government warns churches against noise pollution during school hours in Anambra. The government ordered the church to reschedule its weekday activities to commence from 4:00 p.m., after school hours.

The Anambra government has expressed concern over the alleged noise pollution from church activities during school hours in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre.

The education commissioner, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, stated this while speaking on a petition written to the ministry by a private school in the city.

The school alleged that noise from a nearby church’s activities during school hours was disrupting its academic activities.
Ms Chuma-Udeh described the development as worrisome.

The petition, signed by the school’s proprietress, Ngozi Udeh, was filed against Divine Dominion Prophetic Ministry, located directly opposite the school premises.

According to Ms Udeh, the church, built in 2024, has recently intensified its activities, generating excessive noise, particularly on Tuesdays, when services reportedly run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

She further alleged that the noise was consistently distracting students and teachers, thereby disrupting teaching and learning during school hours, despite several appeals to the church leadership.

Addressing both parties in her office in Awka on Tuesday, the commissioner said the Governor Charles Soludo-led administration would not condone any act that infringes on students’ constitutional right to learn in a peaceful and conducive environment.

She noted that noise pollution was an offence under the Nigerian law and was punishable once established.

She therefore advised religious institutions to ensure that noise generated on their premises was properly contained, especially when schools are located within hearing distance.

Ms Chuma-Udeh also urged the church leadership to explore peaceful ways of coexisting with the school, in alignment with the true values of Christianity, and given that the school had existed in the area before the church was built.

Anambra Governor Soludo

The commissioner ordered the church to reschedule its weekday activities to commence from 4:00 p.m., after school hours. She warned that failure to comply with the directive would compel the ministry to involve the Ministry of Environment, with the attendant legal consequences.

The commissioner said that while churches might hold activities from morning to evening on Saturdays and Sundays, external examinations, such as WAEC, NECO and JAMB, must take precedence, even on Saturdays.

Responding, the assistant pastor of the church, Emmanuel Ukpabi, promised that the church would work harmoniously with the school to ensure mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

Governor Otti Inaugurates Committee To Implement Safe School Policies

Governor Otti inaugurates committee to implement safe school policies. The Abia government has inaugurated a State Safe School Steering Committee to safeguard educational institutions.

The Abia government has inaugurated a State Safe School Steering Committee to safeguard educational institutions.

The information commissioner, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday during a media briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.

Mr Kanu said the development formed part of the Abia government’s strategic efforts to safeguard lives and property in Abia, especially amid recent security concerns across the country regarding school safety.

He said, “This is in response to the growing need to safeguard educational institutions in the state, following emerging security concerns around the country.

During the inauguration, it was highlighted that the committee will serve as a multi-sectoral strategic platform to coordinate state-level implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration.

“The safe schools declaration includes developing and monitoring safety and protection protocols for schools across the state.”

Alex Otti

Mr Kanu also said that the government had announced the resumption of schools statewide for the second term of the 2025/2026 academic session.

He said that education officers covering the basic and secondary levels would monitor compliance to ensure that all public schools reopened as scheduled.

Mr Kanu said that work was in progress on smart school projects being executed by the state government, recording major milestones in infrastructure, equipment, and teacher training for smart schools.

He added that two smart schools may be inaugurated in February, following substantial completion.