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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.

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“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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The Kano Online Media Chapel congratulates the NUJ awardees

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The Kano Online Media Chapel, under the leadership of Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo, has congratulated the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the Director-General, Media and Communications to the Kano State Governor, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and a former Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dan Tiye, on their conferment with Awards of Honour by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council.

The awards were presented by the NUJ Kano State Council under the chairmanship of Comrade Sulaiman Abdullahi Dederi, in recognition of the recipients’ outstanding contributions to information management, media development, public communication, and sustained support for journalism practice in Kano State.

In a statement issued on behalf of members of the Chapel, Chairman Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo described the honour as well-deserved, noting that the awardees have, at different times, demonstrated commitment to transparency, media freedom, and effective government–media relations.

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Dangambo particularly commended Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya for his open-door policy and constructive engagement with journalists, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa for strengthening strategic communication and media coordination within the present administration, and Baba Halilu Dan Tiye for his enduring legacy in advancing information dissemination and professionalism in the state.

He added that the recognition by NUJ serves as encouragement to public office holders to continue supporting ethical journalism and creating an enabling environment for media practitioners to discharge their responsibilities to society.

The Kano Online Media Chapel wished the award recipients continued success in their respective roles and reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, responsible reporting, and partnership with relevant stakeholders in promoting good governance and public enlightenment in Kano State.

It also Congratulated the leadership of NUJ Kano council for hosting a successful 2025 Press week.

Dangambo also thanked the NUJ national president, comrade Alhassan Yahaya for being present at the opening of Kano online media Chapel office and the NUJ press Week dinner and awards night.

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Arewa Rents Charts a Digital Future for Northern Nigeria’s Property Market”

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Arewarents.com, a property marketplace startup focused on Northern Nigeria, is positioning itself to transform how people rent, buy, and access short-let properties across the region through technology and innovation.

The startup pitched its idea today at the first Kano Startup Weekend, an event organized by the Kano State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (KASITDA). The event brought together startups, investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders to showcase emerging solutions addressing real market challenges.

At the pitch, Arewa Rents presented its vision of building a centralized digital platform for property rentals, sales, and short-lets, designed specifically for the Northern Nigerian market. According to the Founder of Arewa Rents, Anas Y. Yusuf, the goal is to “create a single trusted platform where people can easily find verified properties without relying on scattered and unreliable sources.”

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Northern Nigeria’s real estate market remains largely informal, with property listings scattered across social media, local agents, and offline networks. This fragmentation creates inefficiencies, limits visibility for property owners and agents, and makes it difficult for renters and buyers to access verified properties in one trusted place.

Addressing this gap, Anas Y. Yusuf noted that Arewa Rents is “leveraging technology to bring structure, transparency, and trust into the property market, while making it easier for agents and landlords to reach serious clients.”

Arewa Rents is developing a technology-driven property marketplace that aggregates verified listings for homes, apartments, shops, and short-stay properties. The platform is designed to connect renters, buyers, agents, developers, and landlords more efficiently, while improving transparency in property transactions.

As the startup continues to build and scale its platform, Anas Y. Yusuf emphasized that the long-term mission is “to make property renting, buying, and short-let access in Northern Nigeria more efficient and accessible through a trusted digital marketplace.”

With its regional focus and marketplace-driven approach, Arewa Rents is emerging as a startup positioned to play a key role in the digital transformation of Northern Nigeria’s real estate sector.

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News Analysis: Wike in the Wilderness as Fubara Dines with the APC

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

On Friday, December 12, 2025, the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was issued the membership card of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

The party’s membership card issuance took place at the Rivers State government house, and it marks the official transitioning of governor Fubara to the fold of the ruling party, APC.

Speaking during the officiating, governor Fubara expressed joy, stating that President Tinubu’s vision will now be shared with the state.

“To everything under the sun, there is a time and season and I am happy today that I formally obtained the membership card of the APC.

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This primarily, is to align our dear state with the ruling party at the centre, with a firm belief in Mr President and the Renewed Hope Agenda to rapidly contribute to the growth, stability and development of Rivers State,” Fubara said.

The sudden and shocking defection of governor Fubara from the PDP to APC has been one of the top trending national discourse recently.

Netizens have proclaimed the “use and dump” tactics on Wike, saying that the presidency no longer see value in him.

Unverified reports have it that the FCT Minister might not make it to the next administration of President Tinubu if he gets re-elected since they’re now with governor Fubara, who commands the leadership of APC in the State now.

Also, rumors have it that Wike tried all he could to sabotage the defection of governor Fubara into the All Progressives Congress, but all to no avail.

Consequently, people have been inquisitive:

1. Will Wike now Join APC in order to wield state supremacy?
2. Will he work for or against the very APC he worked for during 2023 presidential election?
3. If he doesn’t join the APC, will 2027 be the end of his political relevance?

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