Afternoon recap: FG bans honorary-degree ‘Dr’ prefix, Akpabio, Oshiomhole clash in senate, other top stories
The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary degrees from prefixing “Dr” to their names in official, academic, or professional contexts.
The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary degrees from prefixing “Dr” to their names in official, academic, or professional contexts.
In the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole clashed after lawmakers tightened rules for leadership positions.
In education, non-academic staff in public universities under SSANU and NASU have moved to suspend their nationwide strike from Monday, May 11, 2026, after talks with the Federal Government.
Also on politics, Dele Momodu said President Bola Tinubu forced opposition figures like Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to work together ahead of the 2027 elections.
PUNCH Online curates these and other headlines dominating Wednesday afternoon in Nigeria.
The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary degrees from using the “Dr” prefix in official, academic, or professional contexts, describing it as a misrepresentation that will now be treated as academic fraud.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa announced the policy after FEC approval of a uniform framework for honorary degrees.
Recipients must now use full designations like “D.Lit. (Honoris Causa)” after their names.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole clashed during plenary on Wednesday, shortly after the Senate amended its standing rules to restrict eligibility for principal offices. File photo: Senate President Godswill Akpabio
The new rules require at least two consecutive terms for presiding and principal positions, effectively sidelining first-term senators like Oshiomhole. File: Federal Lawmaker Representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole
The disagreement disrupted proceedings for about 10 minutes before Akpabio warned against unruliness and invoked Senate rules.
Non-academic staff unions in public universities, SSANU and NASU, have directed branches to suspend their ongoing strike effective Monday, May 11, 2026.
The decision follows commitments from the Federal Government to conclude renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, including salary reviews, within two weeks of suspension.
The unions commenced the strike on May 1 over welfare and agreement issues.
ADC chieftain Dele Momodu claimed President Bola Tinubu’s actions forced opposition figures Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso into alignment ahead of 2027.
Momodu made the remark while reacting to the duo’s move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, noting the political landscape has shifted significantly since 2023.
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and repatriated a Chinese national, Xu Qing, to China over his alleged involvement in a $245 million Ponzi scheme.
Xu was tracked to Ogun State and handed over through INTERPOL cooperation.
Media pioneer Ted Turner, founder of CNN, has died at the age of 87. Turner launched the world’s first 24-hour news network in 1980, revolutionising global journalism, and built a vast media and philanthropic empire.
Other stories making waves today include ongoing political realignments and economic discussions. Stay tuned for updates.
