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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.

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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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Council of Jumu’at Imams Supports Kano Government on Profiling NGOs

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Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam

 

The National Council of Jumu’at Imams, led by its chairman, Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam, has declared its unwavering support for the Kano State Government’s initiative to profile non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam made this announcement while addressing journalists in Kano on Monday.

Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam is the chief Imam of Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Masjid located in Kofar Mata in the heart of Kano city.

“We are fully behind the Kano State Government on its stand in profiling NGOs,” Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam stated.

Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam emphasized the importance and significance of profiling NGOs, noting that certain NGOs’ activities conflict with the tradition, culture, and religion of the people of Kano. He explained that these activities sometimes negatively impact the social well-being of the Kano populace. “That is why we found it imperative and necessary to back the state government, especially the committee it sets up to profile the NGOs,” he said.

The chairman of the National Council of Jumu’at Imams urged the people of Kano and all well-meaning citizens to support the committee established by the state government to profile NGOs operating in Kano without proper introduction to the government and people of the state. “I am calling on the people of Kano and every well-meaning citizen to back the committee set up by the state government to profile the NGOs that come to Kano to carry out their activities without introducing themselves to the government and people of Kano State,” Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam urged.

Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam underscored that Islam has laid down conditions for how every association is supposed to operate. He quoted a verse from the Quran: “Waltaqun minkum ummatun yad’una ilal-khairi wa ya’muruna bil ma’rufi wa yanhauna ‘anil-munkar” (3:104), which means “You should be a community of people who advocate for the observance of good deeds and forbidding what is wrong.”

The Imam further cited a renowned cleric from Egypt, Sheikh Mutwallusshaarawi, who emphasized how NGOs should operate. He also quoted the late King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, who said, “We are not supposed to live in a country that we cannot protect.”

Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Adam concluded by stating that the Council of Jumu’at Imams is committed to actions that aid and benefit the religion of Islam. “This is the stand of the Council of Jumu’at Imams, and one of its primary responsibilities is seeing what is going to aid and benefit the religion of Islam,” he affirmed.

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Dangote Group Deploys Advanced Technology In Companies   

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From left:  Group General Manager, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Numan, Bello Dan-Musa, Senior Advisor to the Dangote Group President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman (Receiving an Award), President of the KADCCIMA, Ishaya Idi, First Deputy President of KADCCIMA, Farouk Suleiman, at the Dangote Special Day during the just concluded 46th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

Clinging onto its position as Africa’s leading conglomerate, the Dangote Industries Limited has instituted a plethora of cutting-edge technology in creating top-notch efficiency for all its companies.

Speaking weekend at the just concluded 46th Edition of the Kaduna International Trade Fair, Senior Advisor to the President of the Dangote Group, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, said the digitization exercise is a sustained endeavour, adding that it has helped in speeding up manufacturing and sales.

“As some of you may be aware, we have since digitized our manufacturing and sales processes through the deployment of automated and smart systems, particularly in our cement plants,” she said.

Mrs. Wali Abdurrahman spoke at the Dangote Special Day, against the backdrop of the Trade Fair’s theme: Promoting Efficiency in Manufacturing, Trade, and Agriculture through Digital Transformation.

She said what normally takes days, now takes minutes to accomplished.

The company is one of the major sponsors of this year’s Trade Fair.

She said: “The integrated advanced technology adopted in all our operations; cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, Petro-chemicals, and agriculture, has made us become leaders in all sectors where we play.

According to her, customers of the company have voiced their immense satisfaction with this innovative ordering channel, reinforcing our commitment to enhancing their experience and propelling future growth.

“The DMS Application is available on both Android and iOS platforms for our registered customers in the cement, sugar, and salt sectors, ensuring they can easily access our products anytime, anywhere,” she added.

According to her Dangote Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (DPAN) plant has leveraged on advanced technology of in the production of a 120-vehicle daily production capacity and an annual capacity of 44,000 units.

“By assembling globally renowned Peugeot models—such as the Landtrek pickup, 3008, 5008, and 508 GT—DPAN fosters trade by reducing import dependency and providing locally assembled vehicles at competitive prices, “she said.

Speaking earlier, President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) Rsv Ishaya Idi commended the Dangote Group for its job creation strides in the country, saying the company has sustained its partnership with the Chamber.

The President of the Chamber called on Nigerians to support the Dangote Group.

He said the 46th Kaduna Trade Fair has offered the opportunity for both the company and the Chamber to interact.

Dangote Group is the biggest employer of labour in the private sector in Nigeria.

The company took the center stage during the fair, as the Federal Government affirmed its pivotal role in the country’s push towards industrialization.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Dafang I. Sale, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, thanked the company for “doing a good job” in Nigeria.

Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna, Director General of the Chamber, Alhaji Usman Saulawa, defined the Dangote Group as a conglomerate that is helping to drive the Nigerian economy.

According to him, the company has not only made a significant positive impact on the business community in Kaduna State but has also contributed immensely to the growth of both the Nigerian, and global economy.

He added: “Our selling point is the joint collaboration and full involvement of Kaduna State Government, Dangote Group and other companies.”

He also acknowledged its partnership with the Dangote Group, describing it as the Unique Selling Point, and a major competitive advantage of the 46th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

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Sen. Barau Donates 1,037 Motorcycles, 63 Cars to APC Supporters in Kano

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Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and APC National chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje test running the motorcycles

The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin, on Sunday donated 1,037 motorcycles and 63 cars to grassroots supporters of the All Progressive Congress(APC) in Kano State.

Speaking during a grand event at Meena Event Center Kano, Senator Jibrin, said the gesture was aimed at empowering members of the party with a view to achieving the set objectives.

He said the motorcycles will be distributed to all the wards and local government APC chairmen of Kano State.

The Deputy Senate President noted that a special package for women,teachers and other stakeholders would soon commenced geared towards ensuring that the public benefits from the dividend of democracy.

“We are also planning to also empower university graduates who were not able to secure white collar job ,three will be selected from each local government and will be empowered with the sum of five million Naira loan to embarked on small businesses.

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Jibrin commended the style of leadership exhibited by the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, which under his stewardship the Party has achieved greater heights.

In his remarks, the APC National chairman,Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said that the Tinubu led administration was working tirelessly aimed at improving the well being of the general populace.

Ganduje commended Senate Jibrin, for the donation, saying that it would enhance the socioeconomic well-being of the party members and promote its ideals.

Ganduje expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing key members from the state as ministers and to other key positions.

” We appreciate President Tinubu for making it possible to appoint Dr Mariya Bunkure, as Minister for the Federal Capital Territory and Alhaji Abdullahi Ata, as Minister of state for works and Housing.

He said the people of Kano State would continue to support the progressive party due to the love Tinubu has shown to the state.

The APC state Chairman Abdullahi Abbas, praised Senator Barau’s empowerment scheme, urging other politicians to provide palliatives to their constituents ,especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

Abbas urged party supporters to remain vigilant and focus on winning the 2027 general elections

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