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Rep Fulata Denies Allegations of Financial Inducement for 2025 Education Budget Approval

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The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on University Education, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata has dismissed an allegation by an online medium that the lawmakers demanded for certain amount of money as condition for passage of 2025 budget of education sector.

Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata who is also the Lead Chairman, House Committees on Education said the allegation was designed to undermine the efforts of the lawmakers, particularly his committee to improve the standard of education in the country.

In an interview with journalists, Fulata said ordinarily he wouldn’t have said anything about an online medium, not Nigerian Tracker ‘ allegation but he decided to respond in order to avoid misleading the general public about the activities of the committee and the 10th House of Representatives.

Fulata said due to the advocacy of the legislators against inclusion of tertiary institutions of learning in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), President Bola Tinubu graciously removed universities and all tertiary institutions from IPPIS. According to him, IPPIS is “anti-intellectual, anti-academics and retrogressive.”

He said following the absence of councils for universities and other tertiary institutions nearly a year after the inauguration of the present government, the House of Representatives considered the effect of it and adopted his motion urging Mr President to constitute the councils. He said shortly after the House’s resolution, Mr President constituted the councils.

Fulata noted that the House Committee on University Education had in 2024 carried out oversight visit to all federal universities under his committee’s supervision except Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State whose vice chancellor did not only block the legislators from accessing the school but also failed to provide documents regarding budget performance of previous years (2022 to 2024) and 2025 budget proposal. He said the oversight visit was aimed at getting clearer pictures of the progress and challenges of the universities.

According, to him, the management of almost all the universities visited complained seriously against the hike in electricity tariff.

“Some of the universities were paying about N100 million as electricity tariff every month and we thought this cannot help our tertiary institutions. I moved a motion on this issue and the House came up with the resolution urging for downward review of electricity tariff or removal of these institutions from Band A group of electricity tariff. Mr President again listened to our appeal and approved 50 percent subsidy on electricity tariff for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and all tertiary institutions and hospitals,” Fulata said.

He appealed to media practitioners to always cross-check the pieces of information at their disposal before disseminating them.

On allegation by an online medium, Premium Times that the meeting “Initially scheduled for 10 a.m. that day, the meeting was delayed until 3 p.m. due to behind-the-scenes discussions between lawmakers and some vice-chancellors,” Fulata said the committee had budget defence meeting for National University Commission and vice chancellors of universities on January 15th, 2025, the Armed Forces Remembrance Day and not the date and time mischievously stated by the medium

He said the budget defence which took place at the House temporary chamber was open to the general public and media as there was no executive session or closed door meeting during the meeting which was brought to a close before another committee, House Committee on Water Resources commenced its budget defence meeting in the same venue by 2pm.

Fulata who was the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business in the 9th National Assembly said it is ridiculous for anyone or group to say he is demanding for a kobo as condition to approve budget proposal.

He said if Mr. President despite his tight schedule, will appear before joint session of National Assembly to present Appropriation bill, he sees no reason why heads of MDAs will find it difficult to defend their budget proposal.

“Similarly, if the Ministers of Education, the Executive Secretary of NUC and other Parastatals under the Ministry as well as over 50 Universities could come and defend their Budget proposal before the Committee, there is no reason why the Vice-Chancellors of University of Lagos, Federal University Gusau and Army University Bi’u will refuse to come and defend their budget proposal. Instead, they have resorted to blackmail and smear campaign and sponsorship of public outcry against the Committee.

“Interestingly, University of Lagos and University of Ibadan are part of the Universities indicted by the Auditor-General of the Federation for financial malfeasance and refused to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts to answer to the audit queries . The Committee has placed the matter before the Leadership of House insisting that the House should not approve the Budgets of all institutions whose Chief Executives refused to come and defend their Budgets,” Fulata said.

He said the House Committee on University Education, the various House Committees on Education and entire House of Representatives under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen Ph.D are determined and committed in ensuring uninterrupted academic activities in tertiary institutions as well as improve on the standard of education in Nigeria.

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Nigeria’s Democracy Survives Threats – General Abubakar

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Former military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, says Nigeria’s democracy has survived threats from forces seeking to destroy it.

Abubakar stated this at the public presentation of a book, ‘Celebrating 100 Years of Political Party Evolution in Nigeria — The Imperatives of Nigeria’s Political Stability: Issues and Solutions’, by the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, on Thursday in Abuja.

The ex-Head of State, who was represented by Abdulrasheed Aliyu, a retired general, said democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.

There is no substitute for the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, which democracy represents, as sovereignty resides with the people.

“I am happy that my government, as the then military head of state, ushered in this era of democracy when I handed over power to the elected president on 29th May 1999.

“My government laid this solid foundation for democratic governance. It also shows that when leaders are patriotic, passionate, resolute, and unwavering in building strong democratic structures and institutions, democracy can flourish and yield its dividends to citizens.

We should, therefore, keep watering and nurturing the tree of democracy, as there is no alternative to civil rule. Our democracy has been tested and shaken by reactionary forces and survived. It is a testament to citizens’ belief and resilience in representative governance,” he said.

It can be recalled that Abubakar was sworn in as Head of State after the death of Sani Abacha in June 1998.

He was Nigeria’s last military leader, who handed over power to democratically elected Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, keeping his promise of returning the country to civilian rule.

He applauded IPAC for the foresight in articulating and writing this historic book on 100 years of political party evolution in Nigeria, saying it is a milestone in the nation’s democratic process.

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Prof. Gwarzo celebrates Abuja Varsity VC Prof. Aisha Maikudi on 42nd Birthday

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The Founder and President of MAAUN Group of Universities, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has congratulated the Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi, on her 42nd birthday.

The congratulatory message is contained in a statement personally signed by Prof. Gwarzo and made available to newsmen in Kano on Friday.

Prof. Gwarzo, who described the celebrant as an epitome of scholarship, elegance and courage, hailed her for her patience and humility.

“On behalf of MAAUN Group of Universities, I wish to congratulate Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi who is a Professor of International Law on the milestone in grace and good health,” he said.

Prof. Gwarzo prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to shower His blessings on the celebrant and her family.

He also prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the celebrant long life in good health to enable her to take the university to greater heights for the development of higher education in the country.

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Project Monitoring Tour: Ma’aji Sumaila Expresses Dismay Over School Project In Doguwa Local Government, Summons Contractor

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The Honorable Commissioner Ministry for Public Procurement Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Kano Comrade Nura Ma’aji Sumaila Expressed dismay over the lack of tangible development about ongoing construction of the Kwankwasiyya Gida-Gida Blocks of 4 Classroom in Rufa’i town of Doguwa Local Government

Yesterday, the Honorable Commissioner expressed disappointment during the ongoing monitoring tour over inability of the contractor to show up to the site despite percentage payment.

The Honorable Commissioner said that so far since the ongoing monitoring tour he has satisfied with most of the projects visited but he has not been happy with what he witnessed in Rufa’i town of Doguwa Local Government

“This is the only project that gives us a headache with the contractor nowhere to be found and with no progress report.”

“I have given an instruction to summon the contractor, to come to the office tomorrow so that we can hear directly from him.”

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The Honorable Commissioner Comrade Nura Ma’aji Sumaila vowed to protect government interest in project implementation and emphasized on the quality of projects to ensure transparency, accountability and value for money in public procurement and projects implementation across the state.

The Honorable Commissioner yesterday took a tour, inspected six projects in Kiru, Tudun Wada and Doguwa local governments.

He inspected Upgrading/General Renovation of Kafin Mai Yaki Primary Health Care to General Hospital, construction of 5 kilometer road, Tudun Wada and general renovation of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Tudun Wada.

Other Places visited by the honorable Commissioner included construction of 5 kilometer road at Doguwa local government and construction of Kwankwasiyya Gida-Gida Blocks of 4 Classrooms in Tudun Wada model and Rufa’i town, Doguwa local government

Sagiru Ado Abubakar, Information Officer, MPPPM&E, Kano

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