Connect with us

Education

ASUU may declare strike soon as plot to frustrate release of N300 billion varsity revitalisation fund thickens

Published

on

Industrial action that may cripple academic activities in the nation’s public universities is imminent following a plot allegedly hatched by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) in cahoots with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education to frustrate the release of about N300 billion University Revitalisation Fund.

A source, who spoke with our correspondent on an anonymous condition revealed that the OAGF is frustrating all attempts geared towards releasing the fund.

According to the source, officials of the Accountant General’s office insist on fresh presidential approval to release funds to the universities across the country.

The highly dependable source revealed that at a recent meeting between the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa the AG, and the President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, as well as other officials of the government it was agreed that the N 300 Billion captured in the 2023 appropriation Act but was not released be rolled – over to this year.

It was gathered that a letter signed by the Minister of Education and addressed to the Accountant General requesting that the money be rolled over to 2025 has already been dispatched.
According to the source, the letter is meant to placate ASUU in believing that the government is serious about the release of the revitalization fund.
The content of the letter indicated that the Minister of Education expressed concern over the issue and the need to avert industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Our sources explained that ASUU had during the meeting with the Accountant General and the Minister of Education, expressed strong reservations over the government’s sincerity in tackling several challenges faced by public universities in Nigeria.

ALSO READ:  Badagry Council Gives Free JAMB Forms To 200 Indigent Candidates

The Union was said to be represented at the meeting by its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, who complained bitterly over the lack of political will by successive governments on the problem of the death of infrastructure and the welfare of members of the University community, including the knotty challenge of Earn allowance for members.

The source further informed our Correspondent that ASUU pointedly told the officials that they have to resolve the matter by ensuring that fund for University revitalisation is released or face industrial action by the Union.

ASUU, it was further gathered, also threatened to boycott the subsequent meetings if previous agreements were not honoured .
Meanwhile, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO),
Education Advancement Initiative (EAI), has called for the immediate release of 600 Billion Naira this year as a revitalisation fund for public universities across Nigeria.

The group said the timely release of the funds would ensure that deteriorating infrastructure at the university campuses is rehabilitated, as well as pay the outstanding liabilities to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), None Academic Staff Union of Universities among others to forestall disruption of the academic calendar by the unions.

Director, Programme, Education Advancement Imitative, Dr. Abimbola Tobi, who spoke to newsmen recently in Abuja, blamed government functionaries, particularly officials of the Accountant General’s Office, of a deliberate plot to sabotage public university education and promote private ones, which they owed or have vested interest in.

Tobi said the lack of funding for public universities by successive governments portends grave danger to nation development.

ALSO READ:  FCTA to promote innovation, entrepreneurship among students

He said that if the same government failed to release the 2023 funds in 2024, it would only be proper that both 300 billion for 2023 be rolled over, and another N300 Billion for 2025 be released simultaneously.

Dr. Tobi advised the federal government to provide a special emergency fund to tackle this problem instead of waiting for an envelop budgetary system.

He stated that the refusal of the government to release the university revitalization fund is gradually killing public universities, adding that infrastructure that could aid teaching and learning has become an eyesore in almost all the universities in Nigeria.

He said that if public university education is allowed to collapse by way of the government’s lukewarm attitude to funding, the country will suffer dire consequences as there would be an increased crime rate precipitated by joblessness and lack of skill to engage in productive ventures by the young population.

Tobi, a trained educational program specialist, insisted on the release of the revitalization fund and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly save the university system by directing the AG’s office to release the N600 billion captured in the 2023 and 2025 budget to universities.

According to him, the Tinubu-led Administration’s lofty idea of a Student Loan Scheme will amount to nothing should the infrastructure decay in the nation’s citadel of learning remain unattended.

Another source told our Correspondent that ASUU is deeply angered by the failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 Needs Assessment agreement aimed at providing N220 billion annually as an intervention fund for the revitalization of public universities in Nigeria.

ALSO READ:  Edo Govt Employs, Onboards New Staff For College of Education

The source, closely connected to the Headquarters of the Academic Staff Union of the University located at the University of Anuja permanent site, Giri, Gwagwalda, advised the president against abandoning the needs assessment scheme designed to provide funds for the reinvigoration of public universities, particularly rehabilitation of decaying infrastructure as well as the provision of state-of-the-art teaching and learning equipment to the schools.

He appealed to the president to cause the immediate release of funds for the continuation of critical projects in the institutions being executed under the nerds assessment project.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government in 2009 reached an agreement with ASUU for the provision of 1.3 trillion on annual tranches of N220 billion over a period of 5 years as intervention funds for the revitalization of universities.

A review of the agreement was done in 2014. However, it is yet to be implemented, resulting in several industrial actions by ASUU, which distorts the academic calendar in the ivory tower.

Our investigation revealed that officials of the Federal Ministry of Education are making frantic efforts to prevent any form of strike action under the Tinubu-led government but the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation keeps creating conditions that make the implementation of the agreements difficult, thereby, hampering the release of the University revitalisation fund.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Education

Federal Varsity Kachia Set To Begin Academic Year

Published

on

The Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, will begin academic activities this year. Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing are emerging as the top programmes.

This follows the official transfer of the institution’s Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) from the Kaduna State Government to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, confirmed the development in Abuja when Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani handed over the Certificate of Occupancy to him.

He assured Governor Sani that all necessary financial provisions had been made to ensure the university’s smooth start.

“This university is going to take off. We already have the National Assembly’s approval for the personnel, the recurrent overhead, and the capital budget in the 2025 budget,” Dr Alausa said.

He further announced that the institution would admit its first batch of students in the 2025 academic year, reinforcing the government’s commitment to expanding higher education opportunities.

The minister also pledged to secure funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to accelerate the university’s development.

“I’ll ensure the university also gets a TETFund allocation this year. So, this is a happy day for the people of Southern Kaduna, the people of Kaduna, and the people of Nigeria at large,” he stated.

With the formal handover of the Certificate of Occupancy, the Federal Government now assumes full ownership of the university, paving the way for its official commencement. “Over 200 hectares of land are being transferred by the Kaduna State Government to the Federal Government via the Federal Ministry of Education. We now have full ownership of this university,” he said.

ALSO READ:  Badagry Council Gives Free JAMB Forms To 200 Indigent Candidates

Alausa said the university would offer Science courses, especially in the medical sciences, which are priority areas for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, even as the ministry focuses on STEM, Vocational and Technical education, and skill acquisition.

“The Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, would be offering courses in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and applied sciences in areas such as applied mathematics, computers, AI and machine learning, and environmental studies, among others,” he said.

Governor of Kaduna State Uba Sani said the University of Applied Sciences Kachia is very special, as it would engender development because of the nature of its courses, as the Honourable Minister of Education spelt out. “We believe that science is something significant and critical and will help Kaduna develop,” he said.

He said the land given to the University by the Kaduna State government is as large as a whole district and far more significant than many universities in the country. “We are here with the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), about 270 hectares of land. It’s a whole district and bigger than many universities nationwide,” he said.

He commended Nigerian President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for the FEC approval, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senator Sunday Marshal, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, for their unwavering support that made the university a reality, especially the seamless transition.

FG Expanding Transport, Power Networks—Presidency

Sunday Dare, special adviser to the president on media and public communications, says the federal government is expanding transportation and power networks nationwide.

In a statement on Sunday, Dare said Nigeria is experiencing an unprecedented expansion of its transportation and power networks, laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.

ALSO READ:  Vice President, Shettima to Honour Students From Edo, Nasarawa, Others

According to the presidential special adviser, “36 major roads — including the Lagos coastal road and Sokoto-Badagry highway — are currently under construction, backed by a N5.9 trillion allocation in the 2025 budget”.

“This administration understands that without world-class infrastructure, economic growth remains stunted. Roads, power, and water projects are being prioritised to unlock Nigeria’s full economic potential,” Dare said.

The presidential aide highlighted the Lekki Free Trade Zone as a prime example of how infrastructure investment attracts billion-dollar industries, citing the Dangote refinery as a direct beneficiary of strategic road and port development.

“People doubted President Tinubu when he first pushed for these projects as governor of Lagos. Today, they have transformed entire economic corridors, proving the power of long-term planning,” Dare added.

Beyond roads, he said the government is investing heavily in power sector reforms, ensuring that businesses and households benefit from a more stable electricity supply, which is crucial for industrialisation and economic expansion.

“The impact of these projects is also evident in Eko Atlantic, where world-class infrastructure has attracted major financial institutions such as First Bank, reinforcing Lagos’ position as a global business and investment hub,” he said.

In February, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N242.6 billion for the rehabilitation, re-scoping, and construction of 14 major road projects across the country.

On March 6, the FEC approved the rehabilitation and construction of 14 road projects across Nigeria, valued at N660.2 billion.

Continue Reading

Education

PDP postpones NEC meeting again, reschedules for May 15

Published

on

The Peoples Democratic Party has again postponed its National Executive Committee meeting, rescheduling it for May 15, 2025.

In a statement obtained by ELANZANEWS Online on Sunday, the PDP’s National Secretary, Sunday Ude-Okoye, said the meeting, originally slated for March 13, was delayed due to pending zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses, as well as the need for further consultations.

This marks the fifth time the PDP has rescheduled its 99th NEC meeting, further deepening internal divisions within the party.

The crisis within the PDP has intensified since Umar Damagum assumed office as acting National Chairman following the court’s removal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, with growing calls for his resignation.

During the 98th NEC meeting on April 18, 2024, party leaders failed to resolve several critical issues. As a result, the crisis has deepened, affecting state and zonal chapters and causing significant divisions within the National Working Committee.

The 98th NEC meeting had initially set August 15 for the 99th NEC meeting to address unresolved matters. However, the meeting was first postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled for November 28, 2024, before being indefinitely delayed.

In response, the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, directed the NWC in December 2024 to ensure the NEC meeting was held by February 2025 at the latest.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, raised concerns that continued delays were eroding the trust and confidence of PDP members.

To ensure the meeting was held promptly, the PDP Governors’ Forum, during their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on January 31, proposed March 13 for the NEC meeting.

ALSO READ:  Badagry Council Gives Free JAMB Forms To 200 Indigent Candidates

However, in a new development, the party leadership announced that after consulting with all party organs, the 99th NEC meeting has, for the fifth time, been postponed to May 15.

The statement read, “Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee may recall that after due deliberation by party leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, the NEC meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2025.

“However, following emerging issues, including the need to conclude our pending zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses, as well as to allow for further consultations to ensure the smooth conduct of the meeting — especially concerning other proposed activities of our party — the NWC, after due consultation with leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP Governors’ Forum, and the PDP National Assembly Caucus, hereby notifies distinguished NEC members that the 99th NEC meeting, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2025, has been unavoidably shifted to Thursday, May 15, 2025.

“All NEC members should please note the change of date and be guided accordingly.

“The NWC sincerely regrets any inconvenience this change of date may cause distinguished NEC members,” the statement said.

Continue Reading

Education

Bill To Allow Polytechnics Award Degrees Scales Second Reading

Published

on

A bill seeking to empower polytechnics to award bachelor’s degrees has passed second reading at the house of representatives.

Sponsored by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, and Faud Laguda, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Lagos state, the proposed legislation aims to amend the Federal Polytechnics Act 2004.

The bill proposes an amendment to section 3 of the Principal Act to include representatives of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in the council of every polytechnic in Nigeria.

Clause 3 of the proposed legislation intends to amend section 8 of the extant law to raise the qualification of those seeking to occupy the position of the rector of federal polytechnics to PhD.

Clause 4 seeks to alter section 15 of the act to enlarge the powers of the academic board to award bachelor of technology (B.Tech) to graduating students.

Leading the debate, Laguda said the amendment will enable polytechnics to “meet up with the demand of the ever-changing world while adhering to the International best practices”.

He appealed to his colleagues to support and pass the bill for the “overall objective is to improve the provision of technical education to Nigerian students through a better organised polytechnic system in Nigeria”.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill when the speaker called for a voice vote.

ALSO READ:  Protect TETFUND from abrogation under proposed tax bill–ASUU urges National Assembly
Continue Reading