News

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced its target to raise the annual allocation to the National Research Fund (NRF) from N8.5 billion in 2021 to N10 billion in 2022, during a virtual meeting on the marking of the International Open Access Week October which holds October 25th – 31st, Nairobi, Kenya.

TETFund executive secretary, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, stated this for the theme “Democratisation of Higher Education in Nigeria through Open Access.” A meeting co-hosted by the Fund and the Training Centre in Communication, Nairobi.

According to the TETFund boss, following the agency’s proposal, the Board of Trustees’ had in 2019 graciously approved N5 billion for NRF, which was raised to N7.5 billion in 2020 and N8.5 billion in 2021.

“Over the last two and half years now, we have raised funds available for research. There are two categories; institution-based and National Research Fund.

“The institution based has a ceiling of N3,600 US dollars and it is mainly for basic research while the higher ceiling grant of about 92 – 93,000 US dollars is the National Research Fund aimed at promoting applied research. To this extent, in 2019 I made it a case to the Board of Trustees of TETFund to increase the threshold.”

“It used to be a kind of seed money. Seed money of N4 billion for eight years but from the year 2019 to last year and this year, 2021, we have increased it to N5 billion annually. Last year we increased it from N5 billion to N7.5 billion and this year it is N8.5 billion; and we are hoping in 2022 it will move to N 10 billion.”

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

The embattled Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Abok Ayuba, and some members of his group have been arrested within the vicinity of the State Assembly in Jos, at about 3:15 pm on November 1, after laying siege in the State Assembly from dawn.

The State Police Commissioner, Edward Egbuka and some key officials of the different security outfits in the State, ushered them into Hilux vans while taking them away.

Abok was whisked away through the back gate of the State Assembly shortly after security agents bombarded the peaceful protesters and journalists with tear gas and sporadic gunshots to disperse them.

Although the House members said they were not told where they were being taken to as Abok kept shouting, “I cannot say if I am under arrest at this moment,” but it was gathered that they were taken to Abuja.

At the time of this report, security agents who had besieged the premises had withdrawn, leaving few personnel loitering around the vicinity while the teary-eyed youths reappear in groups discussing the development.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reference to the present situation of unemployment that lingers for a very long time in the state, the Kano State House of Assembly has called on the executive arm to compel private sectors to employ a certain percentage of people to reduce the menace.

A member from Takai Local Government, Alhaji Musa Ali Kachako, raised the motion, adding that: “There is an urgent need for speedy adoption of the House resolutions on the matter to ensure strict compliance by private companies and organizations.”

However, he further stated that the call has become imperative given the attitude of our private organizations in the state, such as banks and telecommunication companies, in meeting up with the federal government’s directives of employing members of host communities as staff.

Kachako also expressed his grievances, thereby pleading for the government’s intervention to tackle the lingering issue of unemployment in the state.

After careful deliberation, the House has decided to constitute an eight-member committee to thoroughly look into the matter and report back for necessary legislative action within three months.

By Uzair Adam Imam

While commiserating with the recent attack which claimed the lives of two members of the Joint Task Force and one police officer by bandits in Zamfara, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has advocated for a new approach to putting an end to banditry in the country.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this, adding that the attack, which happened in Shinkafi, along Kauran Namoda road in Zamfara State, is not only condemnable but callous, despicable and inhuman.

While reacting to the incident, however, Audi appealed to the public members to be vigilant, security conscious, and promptly assist security agencies with credible information that will help them put the lingering issue of insecurity to an end.

He also ascertained that Corps would not rest in their efforts until they eradicate banditry, kidnapping and insurgency, among others, through concerted efforts of well-trained personnel, the introduction of more training programs and innovative strategies.

Moreover, Audi commiserated with the families and friends of those who had lost their loved ones in the bloody attack.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Youth Leader-elect, Prince Muhammed Kadade Suleiman, said that they will work assiduously to return PDP to Aso Rock in the forthcoming election of 2023.

Kadade declared this in a statement issued in Kaduna, adding that “Under the leadership of our newly-elected Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, myself and other elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC), we will work assiduously to return PDP to Aso Rock in 2023.”

He added that they are well aware of the challenges currently bedeviling the youths in the country as a result of bad leadership of the APC government.

Kadade also stated that his emergence as the youth leader is a demonstration of the party’s youth inclusiveness, adding that: “Whether you voted for me or not, whether you supported me or not, I want to assure you that this is a victory not just for me, but for the entire PDP and the youth of Nigeria.”

However, Kaded also said he will be open to all, for advice, contributions and support in discharging his functions.

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

The former Senator of Kaduna State, representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has urged the federal government of Nigeria to declare bandits as federal civil servants on Twitter earlier today.

The former senator said this while lamenting on the incessant killings of Christian and Muslim worshippers in their religious houses by bandits. While the government failed to declare them as terrorists.

He tweeted, “They [bandits] killed Muslim worshipers in their mosques in Niger and Katsina State; they killed Christians in their Churches in Kaduna State; if the Government doesn’t want to declare them terrorists, it should declare them federal civil servants.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Registrar and the Chief Executive of the National Examination Council (NECO), Prof. Dantani Wushishi, has said that some northern states owe the council the sum of N2.8 billion from the unpaid examination fee.

Wushishi lamented that most of the states owing the council a lot of money were yet to remit it, even when the examination body had not withheld the results of the defaulting states in the spirit of mutual respect, togetherness and understanding.

He added that “State governments offer to pay examination fees for candidates from their states, but when it comes to the actual payment, they don’t do it, and that has strapped NECO.

“Zamfara, Adamawa, Kano, Gombe, Borno and Niger state governments are owing the examination body N1.8 billion debt for the students they registered in 2019”, Wushishi told journalists in Minna on Saturday.

Wushishi reminded the defaulting states that it was with this money that NECO paid her staff and also to buy the needed materials.

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

It has been reported that security forces have killed several bandits and destroyed their camps during clearance operations at Igabi and Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Friday, said the clearance operations were planned to conducted in Faka, Katuka, Barebari and Maguzawa general areas, spanning Chikun and Igabi LGAs.

According to him, an unconfirmed number of bandits were however later neutralised by a Nigerian Air Force attack helicopter after they were sighted on the high ground across the Maguzawa River.