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Strike: ASUU tackles NITDA over UTAS
…Why we oppose IPPIS
…NITDA did a hatchet job
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, berated the National Information Technology and Development Agency, NITDA, over what it described as ‘deliberate misinformation and disinformation of the public on the integrity test conducted on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS, by the agency.
The Lagos Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Mr Adelaja Odukoya, who spoke at a press conference held at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, said the utterances of the NITDA spokespersons are capable of elongating the ongoing strike.
Odukoya said its members would not return to the class until the University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS, is adopted and all their allowances paid.
His words: “We, however, wish to draw the attention of all concerned to the deliberate misinformation and disinformation of the public by the National Information Technology and Development Agency, NITDA, on the state of the Integrity Test and the adoption of UTAS by Federal Government.
“NITDA was directed to conduct Integrity Test on the UTAS platform before deployment by government. However, in a report of the first test sent to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami on December 3, 2021, NITDA indicated that the UTAS platform failed some fundamental test cases, despite a summary score of 97.4% and therefore, declined issuance of Certificate of Compliance. ASUU however, disagreed with the NITDA report and wondered how 97.4% could have amounted to failure.
“Consequent upon this disagreement, it was agreed at a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment that joint re-assessment tests between the technical teams of ASUU and NITDA be conducted and these were done on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Expectedly, the assessment of all the 698 tests conducted was successful with an overall score of 99.3%. The few exceptions are five cases requiring modifications.
“However, while the re-assessment tests were ongoing, the DG, NITDA released misleading information to the public from the discredited report of the first test that UTAS failed again, leaving out the result of the jointly conducted second test of 99.3%. Our Union then wonders how and where a 99.3% test score would be adjudged as a fail.
“We are aware that the position of the NITDA DG, Inuwa Abdullahi, is not consistent with the enthusiasm of the Technical Team from the agency he superintends over and the DG is unduly politicizing the entire process to the country, possibly in the interest of the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy.
“Their dispositions amount to passing a vote of no confidence on the Nigerian intelligentsia and our union would not allow this to fly. Good enough, we are convinced that the Technical Team from NITDA, are quite abreast of the process and the responsibilities around their certified qualifications”.
“If the government allows itself to be misinformed and misdirected through the managerial incompetence of the NITDA officers, our union considers it the peak of insensitivity to the plight of the Universities, including staff, students and indeed the country.”
ASUU argued that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, was imposed on universities, despite its demonstrated shortcomings.
He said: “The Federal Government’s forceful migration of our members unto the platform, even when our union has demonstrated that the system does not accommodate the peculiarities of the university system should not just worry Nigerians but should equally raise the curiosity of lovers of Nigerians on the main reasons for imposing IPPIS.
“ASUU has consistently pointed out the apparent deficiencies inherent in IPPIS and the glaring superiority of our indigenously developed and home-grown UTAS as confirmed by all Government Agencies and stakeholders in the University System.”
“Our union has continually drawn the attention of Nigerians to the widely reported fraud being perpetrated by the operators of IPPIS within and outside the Accountant-General of the Federation’s Office. This monumental fraud in IPPIS was confirmed by the report of the Auditor-General of the Federation and was equally acknowledged by the National Assembly when the AGF appeared before its Public Accounts Committee.
“IPPIS is a bastion of fraud that permits the enrolment of ghost workers and constitutes a financial drain on the scarce resource of the Nigerian State.
“This development was also recently reinforced by the confession of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Folashade Yemi-Esan, who alarmed that over 500 names of fake workers have infiltrated the IPPIS platform.
“IPPIS, as a payment platform is yet to be subjected to any Integrity Test by the government. Our union challenged the government to similarly subject IPPIS to Integrity Test as done to UTAS by independent technical teams”.
“ASUU, therefore, wants the Nigerian public to call the DG, NITDA to order on the point of integrity not to play politics and vendetta with the future of Nigeria and that of our public Universities as National treasures and collective patrimony of all Nigerian citizens.
“We are convinced that the DG of NITDA is only out to carry out the hatchet job of a Minister whose Professorial fraud was challenged by our Union.
“After the second re-assessment tests that ended on March 18, 2022, ASUU and NITDA technical teams agreed to reconvene on Monday, March 28, 2022, to conclude on the outstanding five test cases, demonstrate the payment gateway and implementation of other recommendations on the UTAS Platform. Surprisingly, NITDA on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022 unilaterally cancelled the scheduled meeting of Monday, March 28th 2022 which was intended to conclude the report for onward submission to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.
“It has become very clear to our Union that the unilateral cancellation of the meeting of Monday, March 28th was a proof that NITDA has come to the final stop and admitted failure in all the orchestrated unpatriotic attempts to sabotage and discredit UTAS which an otherwise forward-looking government would be finding ways of deploying beyond the Nigerian public universities for which it was designed. It can, therefore, not be over-emphasized that government has run out of reasons and lies not to accept, approve and adopt UTAS.”
The Union noted that the strike would not be suspended until the government addresses the adoption of UTAS, implement the renegotiated agreement, pay all outstanding allowances and fulfil all other issues contained in the Memorandum of Action signed with our union.
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Update : 2027 Race: APC Pegs Presidential Form at ₦100m, Unveils Primaries Date
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The All Progressives Congress has released its timetable for the 2027 general elections, fixing its presidential primary for May 15 to 16, 2026.
According to the schedule signed by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, on Monday, the party will begin the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms at its National Secretariat from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms will close on May 4.
The APC pegged its presidential form at ₦100m, comprising ₦30m for expression of interest and ₦70m for nomination.
Governorship aspirants are to pay ₦50m, while Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly forms cost ₦20m, ₦10m and ₦6m respectively.
The timetable indicates that screening of aspirants will hold between May 6 and May 8, while screening results will be released on May 11, followed by appeals from May 12 to May 13.
Photo: X/@OfficialAPCNg
Presidential primaries are scheduled for May 15 and 16, while those for the House of Representatives, Senate, State House of Assembly and governorship will hold on May 18, May 20, May 21 and May 23, respectively.
The party also fixed May 25 for the conclusion of election appeals across all categories.
The schedule shows that all primary elections will be conducted within eight days.
The party, however, granted concessions to female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities, who are to pay for only the expression of interest forms and 50 per cent of the nomination fees.
The timetable stated that the schedule was in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines
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Breaking : Tinubu Endorses ₦68.32 Trillion 2026 Budget, Prolongs 2025 Spending Timeline
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President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion for the current fiscal year.
He also signed a separate bill extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026.
The budget allocates ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.
It further sets aside ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion for capital expenditure through the Development Fund.
The presidency made the disclosure in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday.
The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion. He has also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
“The N68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt service. It allocates N15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.
“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
“The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” it added.
The 2026 Appropriation Act took effect on April 1, with the Federal Government commencing full implementation in line with what the presidency describes as the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu also assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act by three months to June 30.
The presidency said the extension would ensure the full utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure projects at advanced stages of implementation.
“The extension will ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.
“It will enable Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure,” the statement read.
Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.
He commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what the presidency described as their “diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.”
“The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives,” the statement noted.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms and boost revenue generation.
“He further assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms,” the statement read.
The budget, titled “The Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” was originally presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, at a proposed sum of ₦58.47 trillion.
It passed second reading in the House of Representatives on January 29, 2026, before going through further legislative scrutiny and emerging at ₦68.32 trillion at the point of assent.
During the second reading debate in January, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere had urged lawmakers to support the proposal, pointing to a projected 3.98 per cent economic growth rate for 2026, a projected drop in inflation to 14.45 per cent, improved revenues, and foreign direct investment growth.
He also cited a stabilisation of the naira at around ₦1,400 to the dollar and a rise in Nigeria’s external reserves to a seven-year high of approximately $47 billion.
When Tinubu presented the bill to lawmakers in December, he described it as a defining moment in Nigeria’s reform journey, acknowledging the pressures the process had placed on households and businesses while insisting the sacrifices were necessary.
“The path of reform is seldom smooth, but it is the surest route to lasting stability and shared prosperity,” he told the joint session.
He vowed that 2026 would mark a decisive shift to stronger budget execution discipline, announcing an end to the long-standing practice of running overlapping budgets and perpetual rollovers.
The budget’s four stated objectives are consolidating macroeconomic stability, improving the business and investment environment, promoting job-rich growth, and strengthening human capital development while protecting the vulnerable.
Key sectoral allocations include ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, ₦3.56 trillion for infrastructure, ₦3.52 trillion for education, and ₦2.48 trillion for health.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, writing in a January op-ed, described the budget as a commitment to consolidate what was working in the administration’s reform programme and ensure that shared prosperity became “a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.”
He pointed to expanding business activity, improving investor confidence, easing inflation, and stronger external reserves as early indicators of progress, and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects including the Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Expressway, and Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline as evidence of the administration’s delivery record.
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Northern Muslim and Christian Youths Warn U.S. Lawmaker Against Fueling Division in Nigeria
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The Coalition of Northern Muslims and Christians Youth For Religious Tolerance in Nigeria has called for the Florida State representative and Chairwoman of the UN-WCD, Kimberly Daniels to not pretend under Christianity faith to create division between Christians and Muslims in Northern region of Nigeria for her Call on the Nigeria authority to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Dr.Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
During the Coalition joint emergency press conference which was held in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria, the Coalition Statement which was jointly signed by Secretary General Mr. Bitrus Bahago along with his counterpart the Public relation officer Ustaz Abdullahi Abubakar,
Read: “The statements credited to Florida State representative Kimberly Daniels calling for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle is not necessary and terrible motive aimed at targeting Norther Muslim public office holder”
“Mrs Kimberly Daniels Should note that Nigeria is not owned by only one faith, therefore we are collectively demanding her unreserved apology for her bigotry which could affect the peaceful Coexistence and religious tolerance between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria”
The Coalition Statement further remind Mrs. Kimberly Daniels that, “even though Matawalle is only overseeing the Nigeria Navy enjoyed a Cordial working relationship with his friend a devoted Northern Christian leader General Christopher Gwabin Musa who in charge of Nigeria army and Nigeria Air force combined.
The Coalition concludes by advising Mrs. Kimberly Daniels to desist from making unnecessary bigotry demand targeting or pointing finger at a particular faith.
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