Two weeks after the brutal killing of NSCDC volunteer, Abdurrauf Ali Ahmad Sharifai, on New Year’s Day, a wave of public outrage continues to sweep across Kano as the investigation unfolds.

The shocking and ruthless murder, which took place along the long Zoo Road/Court Road while Sharifai was on official duty, has sparked widespread calls for justice, with many residents demanding swift action from the authorities.

Sharifai, who was performing his constitutional duties to protect the public, was viciously stabbed by a group of thugs, an act that has left the community reeling.

His tragic death has not only shaken the NSCDC but also stirred deep anger among the people of Kano, who are now rallying for justice for the slain volunteer.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) moved quickly to arrest four suspects in connection with the murder. These individuals were found in possession of dangerous weapons, and they were promptly handed over to the police.

In a further development, the police made two additional arrests, bringing the total number of suspects to six.

However, five more individuals linked to the crime have been identified by the NSCDC, but they remain at large.

Despite the severity of the crime, the public’s anger has been compounded by the reported attempts of the arrested suspects’ families to seek bail.

Many residents view these efforts as an attempt to undermine the gravity of the crime, and this has sparked an outcry for justice.

“The fact that they are trying to get bail for these suspects, who brutally murdered a law enforcement volunteer, is an insult to the family of the deceased and to the people of Kano,” said one local resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “We cannot allow this to happen. We demand justice for Abdurrauf.”

The silence from the police regarding these recent developments has only fueled the growing frustration.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government has finalized and unveiled a comprehensive renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented the agreement in Abuja on Wednesday, framing it as the culmination of President Bola Tinubu’s direct intervention to secure lasting stability, rebuild trust, and restore quality to the nation’s tertiary education.

“For decades, unresolved remuneration concerns, welfare gaps, and recurring industrial disputes disrupted academic calendars, undermined staff morale, and threatened the future of our young people,” Alausa stated. “Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we deliberately chose dialogue over discord, reform over delay, and resolution over rhetoric.”

Key Provisions of the Agreement

The cornerstone of the pact is a significant review of remuneration for academic staff in federal institutions, approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and backdated to take effect from January 1, 2026.

A major highlight is a 40% upward review of total emoluments, implemented through a newly established Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance. This allowance, now integrated into the salary structure, is designed to cover essential academic expenses including journal publications, conference participation, internet access, learned society memberships, and book allowances.

To promote transparency and productivity, nine previously contentious Earned Academic Allowances have been clearly structured and tied directly to specific duties performed.

In a groundbreaking development, the government has introduced a first-of-its-kind Professorial Credit Allowance, recognizing the elevated scholarly and administrative burdens on senior academics. Under this new structure: Professors will receive an additional N1.8 million per annum (approximately N140,000 monthly), while Academic Readers will receive N840,000 per annum (approximately N70,000 monthly).

This allowance is intended to support research coordination, academic documentation, and administrative tasks, freeing senior academics to focus on teaching, mentorship, and innovation.

The government has signaled its commitment by immediately commencing implementation. A circular from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, dated December 30, 2025, has been issued to enact the new wage components.

ASUU President, Prof. Chris Pinuwa, provided the historical context, noting that the agreement concludes a renegotiation process that began in 2017 for a pact originally due for review in 2012. He recounted that successive renegotiation committees under previous administrations—chaired by Wale Babalakin, Munzali Jibrin, and Nimi Briggs—had failed to produce a collective bargaining agreement.

The current administration inaugurated a new committee chaired by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed in October 2024, which reached this consensus approximately 14 months later. The final agreement comprehensively addresses conditions of service, university funding, autonomy, and academic freedom.

Yakubu Mohammed, a co-founder of Newswatch magazine and its former deputy chief executive officer, has died at the age of 75.

He was reported to have been battling an undisclosed ailment before his death. As of press time, an official statement from his family was still awaited.

His death comes barely two months after the passing of his long-time colleague and fellow Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died after a prolonged illness on November 17, 2025.

Vanguard