Vice-President Kashim Shettima has commended Bayero University,Kano(BUK) for providing quality education to Nigerians over the years.

Shettima made the commendation while declaring open the BUK Class of 2004 Reunion at the university’s Main Campus on Saturday.

He also lauded the university for its track record of unbiased admission policy across the country devoid of religion and ethnicity.

He was represented by Nurudeen Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President on Development Finance and Financial Inclusion.

The vice-president said:”Contributions of BUK in providing quality education for all Nigerians and its track record of unbiased admission policy devoid of religion and ethnicity are really commendable.

“We however have some challenges which underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the systemic inequalities faced by women and other marginalised groups,” Shettima said.

According to him, with every challenge comes an opportunity, adding, “with you as Ambassadors, we can leverage strengths, resources, networks, and technical expertise.

”This is to develop innovative solutions, and this is precisely why we participate in today’s reunion.

”I therefore implore all of us to contribute towards making our country great again.”

Tinubu said the President Bola Tinubu’s administration recognised that government efforts alone could not achieve the myriad of economic potential of Nigeria.

He added,”Consequently, this gathering emphasises the critical role of future leaders and partners, particularly from the private sector.

”This is in ensuring the successful implementation and sustainability of our programs, projects, and initiatives.

“We seek your collaboration and contributions, guided by an evidence-based approach to identify new programmes and policies that will drive impactful change.

”All these are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Let us seize this opportunity to exchange best practices, design innovative strategies, and explore groundbreaking/emerging opportunities such as technologies that can drive meaningful change.”

Shettima called for collective efforts to define and strengthen roles, establish impactful partnerships, and create unique, community-driven initiatives and interventions.

“We also call for firm commitment and support for our shared vision of this administration as we remain steadfast in our commitment to translating the outcomes of this reunion into tangible actions,” he added.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has appealed to the Federal Government not to systemically phase out the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) which has “transformed” tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria in the last three decades.

ASUU warned that suffocating the funding source of TETFund to run the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) would destroy public education in the country.

“The only source of funding is from TETFund, so when you destroy it, you have destroyed public universities,” ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast programme on Thursday.

He alleged that some members of the ruling class “want to destroy public universities and ensure that the children of the poor remain slaves”.

The ASUU president faulted the Tax Bills introduced by the President Bola Tinubu administration saying that stakeholders were not consulted within the educational sector before the bills were sent to the National Assembly.

“TETFund is a product of ASUU. You can’t make the tax laws without meeting with ASUU for inputs before proposing it before the National Assembly.

“The Vice Chancellors were not consulted, Pro Chancellors were not consulted. The people sat down somewhere and said over the next five years let’s scrap it without consulting those who initiated this bill that has transformed Nigerian public universities. That’s not how to work in a system. That’s not how to run a country that is democratic,” he said.

Osodeke said rather than systematically phase out TETFund which derives its funding from consolidated revenue from company income tax, the government should bankroll the newly formed NELFUND from Value Added Tax (VAT).

“Let that Act that was initiated in 1993 that has transformed all Nigerian universities, allow it to stay. If you want to drive NELFUND, go and look for ways to fund it. Don’t take from the one that is in existence to fund it.

“Take 1% or 2% of VAT to fund NELFUND. Don’t take from Peter to pay Peter. Go and look for ways to fund NELFUND,” he said.

“When you go around all Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education today, 90% of the physical structures you have there are products of this struggle for TETFUND.

“But this tax bill is saying that by the year 2030, it should be scrapped and merged with NASENI and NITDA and then reduced to 2%,” Osodeke fumed.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has approved the immediate reinstatement of the staff members of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who were disengaged from service in March 2023.

The approval was announced on Monday via a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor.

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Recall that the staffers, who were majorly members of the institution’s branch of Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU), were relieved of their appointment, following the agitation for payment of their outstanding salaries, amongst other entitlements.

Ikhilor described the recall as Okpebholo’s significant step toward correcting the injustices of the past and upholding the principles of natural justice, equity and good conscience.

“The government of Sen. Monday Okpebholo believes in the principle of natural justice, equity and good conscience, and will, therefore, not fail to correct any seeming injustice meted to on citizens of Edo State.

“This reinstatement, therefore, is to demonstrate His Excellency’s avowed commitment and adherence to the rule of law in governance at all times,” Ikhilor said.