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

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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.”

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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.”

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Court Restrains Anti-Corruption Commission, Others from interfering in MAAUN’s Affairs

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A Kano High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and four other parties from interfering in the internal and external affairs of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (AAUN), Kano.

Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the High court of Kano Judicial Division issued the order, while ruling on a motion of ex parte filed by the management of the university.

The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, PCACC, Kano State House of Assembly and the state’s Attorney-General and concerned parents of the institution.

Justice Ma’aji in the court order dated December 11, 2025, restrained the respondents or any other person acting on their behalf from inviting officials of the institution or interfering in the administrative and academic activities of the intuition, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

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The court also directed all the parties to maintain status quo in relation to the matter between the applicant and the first respondent, pending the determination of the originating summons.

Speaking after the ruling, MAAUN’s counsel Zahraddeen M. Bello, said that the court’s decision reaffirmed the rule of law and the need for due process, saying the university will continue to operate within the confines of law, while the case is pending.

However, the court granted leave to the applicant to serve court processes on the fifth respondent at its office located at No. 224 Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano.

The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025 and the order was given under the hand and seal of the presiding judge and was duly endorsed by the Principal Registrar of the court.

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Jigawa Trains Local Government Chairmen on 2025 Tax Reform Act

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The Jigawa Joint Task Committee has commenced a two-day capacity-building training for local government chairmen and policymakers. The two-day capacity program focused on the new Nigeria Tax Reform Act (NTA) 2025, which is scheduled to take effect nationwide on January 1, 2026.

The training gathered a contingent of state and local revenue stakeholders, including all 27 local government chairmen of Jigawa State, led by the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), revenue officers, and key policy and tax experts.

The core objective of the session was multifaceted: to enhance understanding of the NTA 2025 and its specific implications for local government administration, strengthen collaboration between state and local tiers for revenue harmonization and joint administration, and improve the technical capacity of local government leaders in deploying modern revenue processes and digital systems.

During the event, the Executive Chairman of the Jigawa Internal Revenue Service (JIRS), Dr. Nasir Sabo Idris, commended the state government’s leadership for its commitment to fiscal autonomy.

“I wish to acknowledge the immense support of His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA,” Dr. Idris said.

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According to Dr. Idris, Jigawa Governor’s commitment to revenue generation has been unwavering, ensuring a consistent improvement in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Dr. Idris pointed out that the upcoming launch of JigiTax, a wholly digital platform designed to streamline and modernize revenue collection across Jigawa State, is underway.

He said the move is seen as a direct response to strengthening transparency and blocking revenue leakages.

On his part, the Jigawa State Commissioner for Local Government, Ibrahim Graba Hannun-Giwa, whose address was delivered by the Director of Research, Malam Samaila Yusuf, said:

“The Ministry of Local Government is doing all it takes to continue supporting the visionary policies of Governor Namadi and driving policies that will shore up the revenue base of our local governments,” Malam Yusuf stated, emphasizing a unified approach to fiscal strength.

The dividends of the collaborative efforts were highlighted by the ALGON Chairman, who also serves as the Chairman of Dutse Local Government.

Speaking to newsmen, he asserted that the state’s disciplined approach had fundamentally altered the financial landscape at the grassroots level.

“With the commitment shown by Governor Namadi and the diligent efforts of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee, no local government in Jigawa now seeks intervention,” the ALGON Chairman declared.

He said, “Revenue loopholes are being systematically blocked, and improved compliance by different stakeholders, including markets and motor parks remitting their taxes, has significantly boosted our revenue drive.”

He further confirmed that the local governments had already undertaken a series of awareness trainings for all relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition to the NTA 2025.

Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said the in a paper presentation titled “State and Local Government in the Law,” by a legal practitioner. The paper specifically called for the legislative institutionalization of the Jigawa Joint Revenue Committee by the State House of Assembly. This institutional backing, the practitioner argued, would solidify the collaborative framework for revenue harmonization and ensure its longevity beyond the current administration.

 

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Former President Obasanjo Endorses Turaki’s Faction of PDP

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo hosted the national working committee (NWC) of a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun state.

The PDP faction visited the former president on Saturday, and Kabiru Turaki led the delegation.

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Those among the delegation are: Muazu Aliyu, former Niger governor; Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau; Adolphus Wabara, former senate president, and many more.

Interacting with the delegation, Obasanjo commended the faction’s effort, adding that its members should “soldier on”.

The former president also urged the faction to remain steadfast in instilling discipline in the party, adding that:

“anybody who wants to belong to a political party must adhere strictly to its rules and regulations”.

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