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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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Ohanaeze Ndigbo Slams Amaechi’s Call for Power Snatch: “A Threat to Democracy

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The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has condemned the call for the use of force to snatch power from President Bola Tinubu by the former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

A statement by the president General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro said the Igbo socio-political group is solidly behind the administration of Tinubu and its policies.

Isiguzoro describe Amaechi’s comment asking Nigerians fo snatch power from the president as a threat to democracy.

He said Amarchi’s remark is capable of disrupting the peace and civility enjoyed across Nigeria.

“Amaechi’s equally disconcerting assertion that politicians must be willing to ‘steal, maim, and kill’ to retain power not only diminishes the dignity of our political discourse but also poses a dire threat to the very fabric of our society.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the reckless and incendiary comments made by Chibuike Amaechi against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

“It is essential to declare firmly that the Ndigbo will never endorse any political conspiracy aimed at undermining the legitimacy of an elected President,” Isiguzoro said.

Further stating the President Tinubu has the total backing of Ndigbo, Isiguzoro called on Amaechi to immediately retract his “divisive comments” against Nigeria’s number one man.

“Our resolve is steadfast, as we remain committed to fostering peace, stability, and fruitful governance in Nigeria.

“Let it be said that the aspirations of the Igbo people align with a future predicated upon legitimate leadership, respect for democratic processes, and a shared vision for a prosperous Nigeria,” Isiguzoro concluded.

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Ex-Rep Kawu distributes N100m worth cars, plots, N10m cash grants, 33 motorbikes

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In an effort to cushion the effect of the plaguing economic hardship facing the nation, former member of the House of Representatives, from Tarauni, Kano, Hafizu Kawu, has distributed varieties of cars to party leaders and followers.

He also gave out cash grants to twenty people as the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) was given to each. While 33 people went home with brand new motorbikes.

Kawu said he decided to do this at this critical period of global economic transition, when every country in the world is being faced with peculiar economic challenges. Since the exit of COVID-19 pandemic era.

“In our own situation we need to compliment the effort of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is evolving ways and manners to cushion the effect of post COVID-19 era,” he said.

Leaders and elders of All Progressives Congress (APC), from Tarauni local government benefited from the gesture delivered by Kawu, as many of them were seen exchanging pleasantries assuring that they would do their best to see that Kawu get elected come 2027.

While describing the gestures as dividends of democracy, Kawu assured that he would continue doing that, to assist improve entrepreneurship development in his constituency.

Party leaders were sighted lamenting that, it was just fate that worked against Kawu in 2023 election. When he lost to the then opposition party. As well as in court rulings.

Strong APC members in Tarauni federal constituency, assured that they would support the candidature of Kawu come 2027 general election.

Believing that when he was a member in the last Assembly he delivered goodies to his constituency. That alone, according to them, is a clear testimony that he could perform again when he gets the chance.

 

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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.

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“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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