Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has directed the state Attorney-General to challenge in court the freezing of a state government account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The governor gave the directive following the restriction placed on an Osun State Government account domiciled with First Bank by the anti-graft agency.

Adeleke, while addressing journalists at the Government House, Osogbo, described the action as a breach of the rule of law and demanded an explanation from the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, on the reason behind the decision.

He called on Nigerians and residents of Osun State to pay attention to the development, describing it as a matter of public concern.

“All I ask is for the EFCC chairman to explain to the good people of Osun State and Nigerians in general why he froze the Osun State Government account and provide evidence to support whatever reason he presents.

“This and other actions being taken against Osun State are turning our democracy into a huge joke,” Adeleke said.

The governor added that he had instructed the Attorney-General to file a suit at the Federal High Court in Osogbo to challenge the action.

The EFCC had earlier placed the account, reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, under a “Post No Debit” restriction.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has alleged that senior professors in Lagos State-owned universities now earn less in monthly remuneration than secondary school principals in the state’s public service.

The union described the situation as a reflection of the declining welfare of academics, while accusing the Lagos State Government of failing to implement the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, subjecting lecturers to what it called “starvation wages,” increased tax deductions and alleged victimisation of union leaders.

The allegations were made on Wednesday during an emergency joint press conference by ASUU branches in Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), held at the ASUU Secretariat, LASU, Ojo.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Oluwaseun Babalola, appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently implement the 2025 agreement in the state-owned universities.

He said the government’s failure to implement the agreement, eight months after its agreed commencement date of January 1, 2026, had worsened the condition of academic staff.

“We have invited you today to draw the attention of the Lagos State Government, the people of Lagos State, and indeed all Nigerians to the continued failure of the State Government to implement the provisions of the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU Agreement in its three public universities, despite the mutually agreed commencement date of January 1, 2026,” Babalola said.

To support the union’s claim on salary disparity, Babalola displayed what he described as a payslip of a secondary school principal showing a monthly earning of N799,000, insisting that no professor in LASU currently earns such an amount.

He also criticised increased tax deductions on lecturers despite the non-implementation of the new salary structure.

“Somebody that is already complaining of what he is earning is not enough. You are increasing your deduction,” he said.

Babalola added that associate professors and professors were paying over N120,000 monthly in tax deductions from salaries he described as inadequate.

The union also demanded the unconditional reinstatement of five ASUU-LASU executives dismissed between seven and nine years ago, alleging that they were punished for their union activities.

The affected officials include former Chairman, Dr. Isaac Oyewunmi; Vice Chairman, Dr. Suenu; Secretary, Dr. Tony Dansu; Assistant Secretary, Dr. Oyekan; and Treasurer, Dr. (Mrs.) Sonibare.

Babalola alleged that the affected officials were subjected to disciplinary actions over issues connected to their union activities.

Also speaking, ASUU-LASUED Chairman, Dr. Victor Akinola, said internal mechanisms for addressing grievances within the universities had become ineffective.

He alleged that complaints from unions to governing councils and relevant authorities often received no attention, leaving lecturers without effective channels for redress.

Akinola also alleged that threats from management had created an atmosphere of fear on campuses, discouraging some lecturers from participating in union activities.

Kwara State Government has announced that 176 persons abducted during the February 3, 2026 attack on Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state have regained their freedom.

The State Government announced this on Wednesday in a post on its official Facebook page.

“Alihamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, security forces and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful,” the Facebook post read.

The victims were kidnapped when Boko Haram-linked extremists invaded the rural communities of Woro and Nuku on motorcycles, launching a coordinated assault that reportedly lasted several hours.

The attack, regarded as one of the deadliest in Kwara State’s history, reportedly claimed more than 200 lives, left several others injured, destroyed homes and businesses, and forced many residents to flee.