Connect with us

News

Provost Replies COEASU, Says FCET Bichi boasts of 200 PhDs lecturers, others

Published

5 years ago

on

FCE Bichi

 

 

The Federal College of Education (FCE), Technical, Bichi in Kano State, on Thursday says it has over 200 PhDs lecturers and other cadre of academics in its service, to enhance teaching and learning environment at the institution.

The Provost, Prof. Bashir Muhammed-Fagge, stated this while reacting to alleged impropriety levelled against the school management by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

The union on April 13, embarked on a one-week warning strike to press home their demands and compel the school management address issues affecting welfare of its members.

Some of the contentious issues included poor learning environment, decay infrastructure, and  pervading insecurity.

Others are non remittance of N25 million outstanding staff multipurpose cooperative society deductions and non payment of 10 months peculiar allowances.

COEASU FCE Bichi Down Tools, To Protest Poor Working Conditions, Lack Of Issuance of TRCN Certiifcate to College Graduands
In swift reaction, Muhammad-Fagge dismissed the allegations, saying the school had increased the number of teaching and non teaching staff in the past few years.

Muhammad-Fagge said: “I want to vehemently disagree with them on that. When I joined as the Provost of the institution, there were only six lecturers with PhD, but today we have over 200.

“The same thing with the infrastructures. If you go round the school, no single building has not been renovated. And we have built a new permanent site with five new schools, which will be commissioned soon.

“We have e-library, laboratories, our lectures are prompt, we have increased the number of academic staff from 250 to about 750. And students who graduated were trained with skills acquisition to the level that when they graduate they can employ themselves and need not to go and seek a job.”

Advert

According to him, the management of the institution has adopted proactive measures to address issues raised by the striking union, adding that they have already put all mechanisms in place to that effect.

Muhammed-Fagge said the management was already in negotiations with the union to resolve the issues amicably.

“There is bound to be disagreement or skirmishes between the employer and employee because the relationship between the duo is usually characterised by these, but it is always an issue of resolution through dialogue.

“Among other issues raised is cooperative society, that the Management is owing them N25 million. Between 2015 and 2016, there was the introduction of a Tertiary Single Treasury Account (TSA).

“And the personnel cost of all Federal colleges were slashed down and all were paying incomplete salaries. But in this college, we paid a complete salary up till the end of the period.”

Muhammad-Fagge said the school have not experienced salary shortfall, adding that the management of the school engaged the union to deliberate on the issues bordering salary deduction and deductions.

According to him, the Federal Government paid 50 per cent of salary shortfall accrued sequel to the introduction of Treasury Single Account  (TSA).

The management, he said, would settle the outstanding 50 per cent balance of as soon as funds were available.

On the issue of security and cleaners, the Provost,  said the school was utilising the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to pay wages of the affected casual workers.

He lamented tnat the institution had recorded significant drop in revenues due to the COVID-19 lockdown and closure of the school.

The provost noted that paucity funds had adversely affected payment of registeation for Teachers’ Registration Council (TRCN).

“The students are supposed to pay for the TRCN, what the students pay for the registration is not enough.

“Therefore, the college decided to use overhead to settle the TRCN, unfortunately with no revenues to pay the security and cleaners and other issues such as fuel, how can we pay for the TRCN,” he said.

According  to him, the managenent of the college has evolved effectuve mechanisms to fully fund the TRCN and allow the students to obtain the TRCN certificates.

The management, he  said,  was working to ensure payment of peculiar academic allowance owed the lecturers, noting negotiations were on between the Federal Government and the union to facilitate payment.

“We set up a task force committee because we realised that over 1,300 students have not paid their school fees.

“Aboout N70 million is expected to be generated from payment of school fees, and the union requested for N38 million.

“So, if we get the students to pay their school fees, we could be able to address all the demands by the union.”

Muhammad-Fagge said that college accorded premium to address nagging issues raised by the union to enhance its operations and achieve academic excellence.

“The issue of no work, no pay will be the last option, if all others had been exhausted. We are negotiating and since they didn’t embark on a full blown strike.”

Related Topics:

News

Obi Thunders at NDC Convention: ‘Rethink Now, Tyrants! Nigerians Will Reclaim Power in 2027!

Published

35 minutes ago

on

May 10, 2026

By

 

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

 

The presidential hopeful of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, vowed today at the party’s national convention in Abuja to reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the support of Nigerians.

Advert

 

In his words: “To the beneficiaries of democracy who have now turned themselves into agents of destruction, depriving Nigerians of the democracy they enjoy—who think we will not have a free and fair election in 2027—let them rethink now, because we are going to have a free, fair, and credible election.”

 

The party’s convention today officially unveiled the NDC as the country’s second most vibrant opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

With both Mr. Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the NDC, and Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen in the ADC, the political atmosphere is set for a power play in 2027.

Continue Reading

News

INEC Monitors NDC Convention, Confirms Due Process as NWC Members Sworn In

Published

55 minutes ago

on

May 10, 2026

By

 

 

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

At the national convention of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) today, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present to monitor the electioneering process of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Advert

 

The presence of the Commission’s officials has put an end to the debate over whether the NDC followed due process in its registration as a political party.

 

Furthermore, the officials’ presence has boosted the morale of Nigerians seeking a credible platform to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

 

At the end of the convention, the elected NWC members of the party were sworn in right there, in the presence of the officials.

Continue Reading

News

Plot to Stop ATM Gwarzo Intensifies as Fresh Allegations Rock APC Kano North Senate Race

Published

2 hours ago

on

May 10, 2026

By

 

 

By Our Correspondent

 

Fresh controversy has erupted within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations that powerful forces within the party are allegedly working behind the scenes to prevent His Excellency Engr. Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, popularly known as (Ruwa Baba), from contesting the Kano North Senatorial primary against the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin.

 

A highly placed source at the APC National Headquarters, who spoke to our correspondent under strict condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, disclosed that there are strong indications that His Excellency Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo may be disqualified during the party’s screening process ahead of the APC senatorial primaries scheduled for May 18, 2026.

 

According to the source, the alleged move is aimed at clearing the path for Senator Barau to secure the APC ticket without facing any serious opposition in Kano North Senatorial District.

 

“The pressure on the screening committee is enormous,” the source claimed. “There are influential figures pushing for ATM Gwarzo’s disqualification to guarantee Senator Barau an easy ride to the ticket.”

Advert

 

The source further alleged that even if Gwarzo survives the screening committee stage, there are fears within some party circles that his name could still be omitted from the final list of cleared aspirants before the primary election.

 

The development, according to insiders, has heightened political tension among APC stakeholders in Kano, with many closely monitoring the unfolding events ahead of the crucial primaries.

 

Meanwhile, reliable sources revealed that Kano State Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, recently hosted a closed-door meeting involving key APC stakeholders in Kano, including former Governors Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje respectively.

 

During the meeting, His Excellency ATM Gwarzo point-blank accused Senator Barau Jibrin of orchestrating his disqualification from the screening process during the previous election held under the administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s tenure.

 

According to our reporter, if ATM Gwarzo’s candidacy is rejected this time around, it would mark the second time this is happening, with Senator Barau Jibrin being accused of playing a role in his disqualification during the APC primary election for the Kano North Senatorial seat.

 

Despite the mounting pressure, Gwarzo was said to have vowed not to withdraw from the contest, insisting that the APC should allow a free, fair, and transparent primary election in line with democratic principles and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

 

Efforts by our correspondent to obtain Senator Barau’s official reaction to the allegations proved unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not responded to at the time of filing this report.

 

Similarly, repeated attempts to reach Isma’il Mudassir, Special Adviser on Media to Senator Barau I. Jibrin, also failed, as he did not respond to calls placed to his line.

 

The APC is expected to conduct its senatorial primary elections nationwide on May 18, 2026, a contest already generating intense political interest across several states, particularly in Kano North, where the looming face-off between Gwarzo and Senator Barau is attracting widespread attention.

Continue Reading

Trending