A member of the security team at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Oriyomi Fatai, was found dead in his apartment on Anigilaje Street, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, PUNCH Metro learnt on Sunday.

It was learnt that Fatai might have died from a fall, as his body was discovered in the apartment around 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Residents in the area where the body was found, noticed a foul odour coming from the apartment, prompting them to report it to a nearby police division.

While the police investigative team quickly responded and forced open the apartment’s door, PUNCH Metro learnt that Fatai’s lifeless body was found swollen, lying on the floor of the apartment.

The state command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, told our correspondent on Sunday that the crime scene assessment suggested the deceased might have fallen from a couch due to intoxication, as remnants of the alcohol he had consumed were found on the table.

Odutola said, “Residents noticed an unpleasant odour coming from the apartment of a co-tenant named Oriyomi Fatai. Our officers were dispatched to the scene, and upon arrival, they discovered the lifeless, swollen body of the deceased in the room.

“The position in which he was found suggested that he might have fallen from the couch and hit his head on the ground due to suspected intoxication. Remnants of dry gin were found on the table. We also learnt that the deceased was a Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, staff member.

“The deceased’s family was notified, and they requested the return of Fatai’s body for burial, as no signs of foul play were found.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities at Bauchi State-owned Sa’adu Zungur University has declared an indefinite strike.

Announcing the decision on Friday during a press conference held after a congress at the university’s Yuli campus, ASUU SAZU Chairperson, Auwal Nuhu, cited several reasons for the action.

These include the absence of pension and retirement schemes, poor working conditions, and unpaid earned academic allowances.

Auwal, who stated that the strike commenced on Friday, November 29, 2024, explained further that “The branch, at its congress meeting held on Friday, November 29, 2024 at the presence of the NEC visitation team reviewed the progress on its demonstration before the university.

“The congress noted the lack of readiness and commitment of the university administration and the government to attend to its demands

“The congress stressed that it has exhausted all mechanisms, and all attempts to get the authorities to attend to its demands which were fruitless.”

He added, “The congress passed a resolution for the branch to embark on comprehensive and indefinite strike action until further notice total.”

Auwal described the situation as “unbearable” and accused the university management and Bauchi State Government of failing to address longstanding grievances despite repeated calls for intervention.

“We cannot continue to work under these conditions. Our members are demoralised and left without any form of financial security after decades of service. This strike is a last resort after exhaustive dialogue and appeals,” ASUU SAZU chairperson stated.

He insisted that the strike will not end until tangible measures are taken to resolve their concerns.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it has suspended the foreign scholarship component of its intervention for lecturers in public tertiary institutions.

TETFund is an intervention agency that provides supplementary support to all levels of public tertiary institutions.

In a statement on Thursday, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, TETFund’s spokesperson, cited the excessive cost of training in foreign institutions as one of the reasons for the suspension of the scheme.

Oniyangi added that the growing cases desertion by scholars during the scholarship is another reason for the suspension.

He added that the suspension of the foreign scholarship will take effect on January 1, 2025.

The TETFund’s spokesperson said scholars who have been enrolled in foreign institutions would continue till the end of their programmes.

“The Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved the suspension of the foreign component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) Intervention,” the statement reads.

“The suspension, which is in response to the excessive cost of training in foreign institutions as well as the high rate of abscondment of foreign scholars, is with effect from 1st January 2025.

“However, TETFund scholars who have already enrolled in foreign institutions would continue to draw down on their scholarships till the end of their programmes.

“It is expected that the suspension will conserve and reduce the pressure on the foreign exchange rate, boost investment and local capacity in Nigerian tertiary educational institutions and significantly increase the number of beneficiaries of the intervention.”