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Panel chairman regrets signing UNILAG VC reinstatement report


The chairperson of Special Visitation Panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the crisis at the University of Lagos, Prof. Tukur Saad, has said he was deceived into signing the report that informed government’s decision to reinstate Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the vice chancellor of the university.
A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Education, Ben-Bem Goong, on Tuesday, said the FG had reinstated the VC and dissolved the university council.
Saad, in different correspondences to the Chief of Staff to the president, Ibrahim Gambari, and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, cast doubts on the integrity of the report.
According to him, “The recommendation was that the VC should be cautioned against contract splitting. To me this was enough for Government to reject this recommendation and subject the culprit to the consequences.”
Expressing his reservation, Saad said, “The recommendation that the VC should be reinstated was limited to the procedure of his termination. It did not mean he should be absolved of all wrong doing.”
He said the report of the panel was one-sided because majority of the members were biased towards Ogundipe, adding that the Terms of Reference (ToR) were also skewed against the estranged chairperson of the governing council, Wale Babalakin, who had since resigned his appointment.
According to him, although Ogundipe was wrongly removed, he was not given a clean bill of health as he was indicted for contract splitting.
He also accused Babalakin of “committing hara-kiri” by removing the VC and appointing another one, and by deciding to step down from his position when the crisis got messy.
Saad said he was cajoled into signing the report with the understanding that the content would be subjected to review by the Chancellor of the University, the Shehu of Borno.
He said he agreed to sign the report to abort another stalemate and save the government from embarrassment but regretted that he had now been “stabbed on the back” by people he trusted.
“As Chairman, I didn’t want to sign the Final Report but I felt that would be a slap on the face of the government and it would generate so much bad publicity in the public domain, that I would rather sign on the understanding that the matter would be referred to the Shehu of Borno as the Chancellor,” he wrote to Gambari.
The professor of architecture said he felt betrayed by the conclusion reached by government after he was made to believe in a different course of action.
“The final recommendation of the panel was that the matter should be referred back to the Chancellor, irrespective of what the panel recommended.
“As it stands now I feel I was made a fool of and stabbed on the back by people I trusted,” he said.
Saad had in a letter to the education minister, dated October 7, 2020 and titled ‘Re: Submission of Report of The Visitation Panel on University of Lagos Crisis to Honourable Minister’, drawn attention to a number of instances where he said the report was skewed to favour Ogundipe.
“When you read the report, you will notice that it was very one-sided, so to speak, the option was for the chairman to refuse to sign the report and that would have been a slap on the government’s face.
“In any case, the issue is not that the report was false but it contained half truth in order to protect one party and magnified the facts from the other party by pushing the blame to one side, omitting what could have balanced the report.”
On allegation of contract splitting against the VC, Saad said the report did not represent the findings and position of the panel on the matter.
“Take the issue of splitting contracts so that the figures would be within his approval limits; in the renovation of his house and that of some principal officers, the evidence was clear, one contractor would be given four contracts on the same project on the same day each packaged to be within VCs approval limit.
“A number of such cases were evident, but the only way the Chairman could get that in the report was to compromise by rendering such as “Contracts were packaged in a way that bordered on contract splitting, in order to keep them within approval limits.”
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BREAKING : JAMB fixes dates for 2024 UTME registration, examination


BREAKING : JAMB fixes dates for 2024 UTME registration, examination
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced dates for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination’s (UTME) sale of application documents, registration and the actual examination.
This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Fabian Benjamin – JAMB Public Communication Advisor (PAC), which was obtained by PlatinumPost on Wednesday in Abuja.
It reads in full: “Based on the series of recommendations emanating from a two-day Information Technology (IT) and Management Retreat held between 26th and 28th, November, 2023, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB), has fixed 15th January to 26th February, 2024, for the sale of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application document.
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Meanwhile, 7th March, 2024, has been slated for the 2024 MOCK-UTME, while the main UTME will hold from 19th to 29th April, 2024.
Candidates are expected to print their examination slips as from 10th April, 2024.
Candidates are enjoined to take note of these dates and other advisories issued by the Board in relation to the administration of the examination. They are also to visit the Board’s website @www.jamb gov. ng for any other information. ”
BREAKING : JAMB fixes dates for 2024 UTME registration, examination
News
BREAKING: Tinubu gives NASS 31 days to pass 2024 ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’


BREAKING: Tinubu gives NASS 31 days to pass 2024 ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’
President Bola Tinubu has presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to expedite its passage by January 1, 2024, to ensure the smooth functioning of his administration.
Themed “Budget of Renewed Hope,” the 2024 budget prioritizes human capital development, poverty reduction, and internal security reforms.
In his address to a joint session of the National Assembly, Tinubu emphasized the importance of timely budget passage, stating, “I urge the National Assembly to ensure the passage of this budget by January 1, 2024, to enable our government to function properly and deliver on its promises to the Nigerian people.”
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The president noted that the 2024 budget proposal allocates significant resources to education, healthcare, and social protection programmes with the aim of addressing the challenges of poverty and inequality that hinder Nigeria’s progress.
President Tinubu also highlighted the need to strengthen the country’s internal security architecture to confront the security threats that have plagued the nation over the years.
Present during the budget presentation were Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganjude; amongst others.
BREAKING: Tinubu gives NASS 31 days to pass 2024 ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’
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BREAKING: Tinubu storms National Assembly for 2024 budget presentation


BREAKING: Tinubu storms National Assembly for 2024 budget presentation
The National Assembly Complex is currently under increased security measures in anticipation of President Bola Tinubu’s presentation of the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives at 11 am today.
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Additional armed policemen have been deployed to the various entrances of the complex, including the Main (MOPOL) Gate, the Villa Gate, and the Annex Gates, with strict enforcement of accreditation requirements. Unauthorized individuals are being denied access to the premises.
The typically bustling atmosphere of the National Assembly is notably subdued, marked by restricted human and vehicular traffic, creating a more solemn ambiance than usual.
BREAKING: Tinubu storms National Assembly for 2024 budget presentation
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