Education
PDP postpones NEC meeting again, reschedules for May 15
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.
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.
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.
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University chapter, has suspended the strike it commenced on 18th February.
The Chairman of ASUU, KASU chapter, Dr Peter Adamu, explained in a statement on Monday that the decision to suspend the action was made on Saturday.
He further noted that the government demonstrated goodwill in resolving the impasse by promptly releasing funds to pay 60 per cent of the September 2017 withheld salaries and the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) supervision allowance for five sessions.
According to him, “The government also agreed to a timeline for the payment of the five months’ salaries withheld from May to September 2022, as well as promotion arrears, Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), pension remittances (2009 to 2019), death benefits, and group life assurance.”
Adamu added that the government showed commitment to implementing wage awards and granting autonomy to the university. He expressed the union’s appreciation to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State for his swift intervention and leadership in resolving the issues that led to the strike action.
The statement also extended gratitude to the university management, the Commissioners for Education and Sports, and other stakeholders for their roles in ensuring a quick resolution of the impasse. It called on all academic staff to resume their duties and continue providing invaluable services to the university community.
The Senator for Kaduna South, Sunday Katung, has stated that he set aside religion, ethnicity, and party affiliation to swiftly secure the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, within eighteen months during the 10th Assembly.
Katung made this disclosure on Thursday during a meeting with the Southern Kaduna Journalists’ Forum in Zonkwa, the headquarters of Zango Kataf Local Government Area in Kaduna State.
He explained that he approached the situation as a human being, removing considerations of religion, ethnicity, and party politics to advocate for his people.
“I asked, what have we done wrong in this commonwealth called Nigeria? Are we not citizens? Why are we treated differently? I was able to network using my social capital.
“I maintained an open mind, unclouded by the divisions of ethnicity, religion, and party affiliation,” Katung stated.
He lamented that these divisions have weighed down the people of Southern Kaduna.
“If we set aside these divisions, we will realise that we are one people. You can go anywhere to seek what you want and achieve it.
“Another key factor was my ability to leverage social capital. If you do not utilise it, it becomes useless. Social capital should not be used merely for personal gain; it should empower the people.
“I used the social capital that God has given me to connect with individuals who could assist me, regardless of their background. That, above all, is what led to the establishment of the university—God made it happen,” Katung remarked.
He also took the opportunity to thank all stakeholders who contributed to the realisation of one of his bills, which led to the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, with a campus in Manchok.
He pledged to continue pursuing more developmental projects for his constituents.
The lawmaker further urged the Kaduna State Government to prioritise the recruitment of science-related teachers in secondary schools to ensure students receive proper guidance and education.
He emphasised the importance of youth mentorship, revealing that he is currently training young people from Southern Kaduna in ICT to reduce idleness and equip them with skills to compete globally.
On the issue of insecurity, Katung expressed concern over the involvement of locals in banditry and the abduction of innocent citizens.
He stated that security measures are being intensified to address rising insecurity, particularly in Kauru, Kachia, and other areas of the state. He warned that those involved should desist or face the full force of the law.
According to him, the military has already approved the establishment of two Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Kauru, assuring that the escalating insecurity in the region will soon be addressed.
“What has been happening in Southern Kaduna is purely criminality, not a herder-farmer conflict, as some have claimed,” he added.
Acknowledging the vital role of journalists in shaping public opinion, Senator Katung urged them to continue reporting factual and accurate information.
Regarding the conversion of the Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, into a Federal Medical Centre, Senator Katung clarified that his bill for its establishment is awaiting a public hearing in the Senate. He noted that a similar bill in the House of Representatives has already passed the third reading.
He explained that after its passage in the Senate, a committee will be set up to harmonise both bills for the President’s assent.
He also appealed to his constituents to continue praying for a smooth legislative process, as the Presidency has already given its consent in principle to realise the project.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Journalists’ Forum, Mr Ango Bally, stated that the meeting was convened to update the public on the senator’s activities as part of the forum’s mandate.