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Court cases slowing UHRC investigations into missing persons, Wangadya says

Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) is investigating several cases of missing persons across the country, including political activists, although some investigations have been affected by court proceedings, its chairperson, Ms Mariam Wangadya, has said.

Ms Wangadya said the commission had received requests to investigate individual cases but was sometimes compelled to suspend its inquiries when the same matters were taken to court.

‘The Constitution says we cannot investigate any matter which is pending in court. Sometimes the moment we begin the investigations, they also file court actions,’ she said.

She was responding to journalists’ questions about the status of investigations into cases of missing political activists during the opening of a three-day review of the commission’s first-quarter performance, monitoring and evaluation in Entebbe on Wednesday.

Ms Wangadya cited the case of political activist Sam Mugumya, whose family she said had filed a habeas corpus application in court, prompting the commission to pause its investigations.

‘Like the case of Mugumya, I think his family has filed a habeas corpus application in court. Once that happens, we withdraw and pause our investigations, but this is a national issue of great importance, and we are following it up very seriously,’ she said.

Article 53(4) of the Constitution bars the commission from investigating any matter pending before a court or judicial tribunal. It also excludes matters involving relations or dealings between the Ugandan government and a foreign government or international organisation, as well as matters relating to the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.

Ms Wangadya said the first-quarter performance review for the 2026/2027 financial year would help the commission assess progress towards its annual targets and strategic objectives.

‘We must interrogate the quality, effectiveness and outcomes of our interventions. For instance, beyond reporting the number of complaints received or investigated, we should establish how many complainants accessed effective remedies, what institutional accountability was strengthened and what systemic improvements resulted from our interventions,’ she said.

She added that detention monitoring and civic education activities should demonstrate their contribution to compliance with human rights standards, public awareness and institutional or behavioural change.

Ms Wangadya, who also opened the commission’s budget conference, said its operations had been constrained by inadequate funding.

She said the budget should reflect the commission’s priorities, respond to emerging human rights challenges and link resource allocations to planned interventions and expected results.

The commission’s secretary, Mr Kamadi Byonabye, said the budget conference would enable members to agree on priorities for inclusion in the budget framework paper, which is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance by November 15.

He cited the planned establishment of three regional offices under the commission’s current five-year strategic plan as one of the priorities.

‘For instance, in our current strategic plan, we undertook to establish three regional offices. Now, those three regional offices are supposed to be established within the five-year period of the strategic plan,’ he said.

The commission’s planner, Mr Charles Mukasa, said the UHRC was seeking an additional Shs13 billion on top of the Shs33 billion allocated for its operations in the previous financial year.

He said the funding would support the commission’s constitutional mandate, including investigations, tribunal hearings and civic education across the country.

‘Almost 95 per cent of the work we carry out in government relies on funds. We are grateful that government in the last financial year allocated us Shs33 billion for our operations, countrywide tribunal courts, investigations, civic education, among others,’ he said.

‘What we are saying is that if we can only receive an additional Shs13 billion, then we can do a lot as far as the mandate of the Uganda Human Rights Commission is concerned,’ he added.

Barau is ‘Most Outstanding Deputy Senate President since 1999’

The Senate Press Corps (SPC), the umbrella body of journalists and media representatives covering the Senate, has named Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, as the Most Outstanding Deputy President of the Senate since 1999.

The award was presented yesterday at the National Assembly, Abuja, in the presence of the leadership and members of the prestigious parliamentary correspondents’ association.

Chairman of the Press Corps, Comrade Taye Odewale, who has covered the Senate for the past 22 years, said the association’s assessment identified Senator Barau as the most outstanding Deputy President of the Senate since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

According to him, the assessment was based on Senator Barau’s contributions to legislative development, quality lawmaking, presiding capabilities, contributions to debates, oversight, responsive representation, accessibility and commitment to humanity.

He particularly highlighted Senator Barau’s legislative record, noting that despite the administrative demands of his office, the Deputy Senate President had sponsored 48 bills within the last 40 months of the 10th National Assembly, five of which had been passed into law.

Senator Barau is also the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Among the landmark legislation highlighted by the SPC Chairman are the North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023; National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024; Agricultural Research Council Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Federal Medical Centre, Gwarzo, Kano State (Establishment) Bill, 2024; and Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo (Establishment) Bill, 2025.

The association also acknowledged Senator Barau’s commitment to responsive representation and impactful public service delivery through constituency projects and empowerment programmes benefiting various categories of people across Kano North, Kano State, the North-West geopolitical zone and Nigeria at large.

Responding, Senator Barau thanked the Senate Press Corps for recognising his modest contributions to the development of the legislature.

He described the honour as both an acknowledgement of his efforts and a motivation to do more.

‘This honour is not only an acknowledgement of the work we have done but also a motivation to do even more. As the popular saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected.

‘I assure you that I will not let you down. I will not let the Senate down; I will not let the National Assembly down, and I will not let the entire legislature or our country down.

‘I remain committed to strengthening our democratic institutions, advancing people-oriented legislation and delivering purposeful representation to my constituents in Kano North Senatorial District,’ he said.

FULL STEPS: How to get FG’s N50,000 relief payments for vulnerable Nigerians

The Federal Government has begun disbursing N50,000 in cash relief to vulnerable Nigerians under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the programme’s launch, describing it as a presidential initiative to provide immediate financial relief to vulnerable Nigerians.

According to information published on the official NERSI website, beneficiaries will be selected from verified national identity records and the National Social Register, then screened to identify poor and vulnerable households.

The government said it would select beneficiaries based on need, with payments made in phases.

Eligible beneficiaries will receive ?50,000 monthly, with the programme to be reviewed regularly.

According to the minister, the ministry is partnering with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure secure, transparent disbursement.

Beneficiaries will receive an SMS seeking consent before payment is made directly to their account or mobile wallet.

Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, said on his verified X handle: ‘Eligible Nigerians can receive N50,000 in financial support under the Federal Government’s National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) programme.’

‘How to check your eligibility: dial the USSD code for your payment provider:

ALAT by Wema Bank – *945*23#

MTN MoMo PSB – *671*0#

NairaGram – *726*00#

OPay – *955*20#

Moniepoint – *5573*27#

‘Important Note: Eligibility is what matters. Not everyone will qualify for the relief fund. Beneficiaries are selected based on verified government records and eligibility criteria.

Firms raise prices to protect profits amid inflation pressure

Businesses last month raised prices of goods and services at second-highest pace in three years to protect their profit margins as rising fuel, transport and purchase costs eat into earnings, threatening to undermine a private-sector recovery driven by improving customer demand

The latest Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) shows that while companies are receiving more orders, mounting cash-flow difficulties and inflationary pressures are limiting their ability to expand production, clear backlogs and hire more workers.

‘Kenyan businesses subsequently raised their selling prices at a quicker pace, aiming to protect margins and pass on higher purchase costs,’ says the PMI report, which is based on responses from about 400 corporate managers across key sectors of the economy.

The findings point to an uneven recovery in which businesses are selling more but struggling to convert stronger demand into higher output and employment, with consumers shouldering part of the rising costs through more expensive goods and services.

The PMI, which tracks activity in the private sector, rose to 52.5 in October from 51.3 in September, its highest reading this year.

A reading above 50 signals an expansion in business activity compared with the previous month. New orders grew at their fastest pace in almost a year, signaling an improvement in demand across agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, services and mining.

However, the expansion in output remained modest as businesses struggled with cash shortages and rising costs.

‘Cash flow issues and inflation concerns continued to hamper firms, and meant that the overall expansion in output was only modest,’ analysts at Stanbic Bank and S and P Global said in the report.

Input-cost inflation accelerated to its fastest pace since November 2023, while selling-price inflation recorded its second-fastest increase in three years, surpassed only by June this year.

Stanbic Bank economist Christopher Legilisho said companies were increasingly passing higher expenses to customers to shield their margins from rising operating costs.

‘Selling price inflation was the second-fastest in three years as firms sought to protect margins,’ he said.

The survey found that 36 percent of businesses experienced an increase in total input costs in October, compared with two percent that reported a decline.

Higher purchase prices, fuel and transport expenses were among the main drivers, with some suppliers also increasing charges in response to shortages and wider inflationary pressures. The price increases threaten to erode household purchasing power at a time when consumers are already grappling with higher living costs, pointing to limited room to absorb additional increases.

Kenya’s annual inflation accelerated to 7.32 percent in October from 6.76 percent in September, latest official figures show, largely reflecting higher food and transport costs.

The increase came amid rising fuel prices and pressure on food production from the ripple effects of the Middle East conflict and lower-than-expected rainfall. Higher transport costs also threaten to feed into the prices of food, essential goods and services.

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority raised the maximum pump prices of petrol and diesel for the October 15 to November 14 pricing cycle, adding to the burden on transporters and businesses.

The PMI reveals a growing mismatch between demand and the ability of companies to finance and fulfil orders.

Outstanding work increased for the fifth consecutive month in October, reaching its fastest pace in exactly seven years. Businesses attributed the growing backlogs to stronger demand, funding gaps and processing delays.

This suggests that improved sales are stretching operating capacity without necessarily generating the cash required to replenish stocks, pay suppliers and sustain higher production.

‘Backlogs accumulated at the fastest pace in seven years, while employment growth slowed to the weakest rate in the current five-month expansion,’ Mr Legilisho said.

‘This implies that stronger demand is stretching operating capacity.’

The slowdown in recruitment points to continued caution among employers, who are reluctant to commit to additional workers as higher expenses and cash-flow constraints limit their capacity to expand.

The combination of rising prices, mounting backlogs and weaker hiring momentum threatens to weaken the recovery if businesses cannot secure sufficient working capital to meet growing demand.

‘October’s survey therefore points to firmer demand and improved confidence, but the recovery remains constrained by price pressures, cash-flow difficulties and a modest hiring response,’ Mr Legilisho said.

Nevertheless, business confidence about the coming year improved, suggesting that companies were optimistic about the demand outlook despite the immediate cost pressures.

The share of firms expecting activity to increase over the next 12 months rose to 51 percent in October from 31 percent in September, pushing the future-output index to its highest level since March 2020.

Businesses cited expectations of stronger customer demand, marketing campaigns to attract buyers, and plans to expand their products and services.

JUST IN: Court sacks ADC governorship candidate in Nasarawa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has voided the nomination of Major General Nuhu Angbazo (Rtd) as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Nasarawa State.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment, ordered a rerun primary election in Karu Local Government Area.

Justice Umar equally restrained Angbazo from parading himself as the candidate of the ADC for the 2027 governorship election.

The judge also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from further recognising Angbazo as the ADC’s candidate.

The judgment is on a suit filed by former Minister of Environment Mohammed Abdullahi, who participated in the ADC governorship primary alongside Angbazo and Senator representing Nasarawa South, Mohammed Onawo.

Justice Umar held that the primary election that produced Angbazo was inconclusive because it excluded results from Karu Local Government.

The judge said excluding party members in Karu made the primary election inconclusive.

He ordered the ADC to organise another primary election in Karu LGA within 14 days of the judgment.

Reacting after the judgment, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Professor Mubarak Adekilekun, described the court’s decision as a victory for the party.

Adekilekun explained that it effectively requires the ADC to conduct a fresh primary in the affected Local Government Area.

N70,000 transport allowance: Labour leaders intervene in NLC-TUC rift

Former leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria have intervened in the dispute between the two labour centres over the Federal Government’s N70,000 transport allowance, securing an agreement by their presidents to halt public exchanges and resolve the disagreement through dialogue.

The intervention followed a public exchange between NLC President Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, over the transport allowance the Federal Government introduced to cushion the impact of rising transportation costs following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The disagreement, which spilt into personal exchanges on national television, had raised concerns over the unity of organised labour and its ability to present a common front in defending workers’ interests.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, former NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said labour veterans from both centres had consulted the two presidents and secured their commitment to stop further hostilities pending a formal meeting to resolve the dispute.

Wabba, who spoke on the sidelines of the 52nd National Executive Council session of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, described the disagreement as a family misunderstanding that should be resolved through dialogue.

He said the veterans had reminded both labour centres that they shared a common objective and must preserve their unity in the interest of Nigerian workers.

The former President of the International Trade Union Confederation said the intervention aimed to resolve the immediate disagreement and prevent similar incidents in the future.

He said, ‘It’s a family misunderstanding between the two centres, and we have made it clear that workers’ organisations are supposed to be one because the objective is one and the aim is one.

‘So, that seeming misunderstanding has escalated, and we have said all hostilities should stop. We will actually try to meet with them to see what happened and how future occurrences can also be prevented.’

Wabba identified the veterans involved in the intervention as former TUC President Peter Esele and former NLC presidents Bobboi Kaigama, Hassan Sunmonu, Abdulwaheed Omar, and himself.

According to him, the veterans had communicated among themselves and reached out to the two labour leaders, who reportedly accepted the need to resolve the matter.

He said the TUC General Secretary, Ajaero and other stakeholders were present during the interaction, which ended on a conciliatory note.

‘The TUC General Secretary was here; I was here; the NLC President was here. All of us embraced ourselves and said, ‘Well, it’s a family issue.’

‘Therefore, we have also said members of the press should not actually try to advance issues that are not there because, even in your immediate family, you can have some internal issues.

‘But that internal issue is certainly meant to be resolved, and we are working towards that very effectively because that is the hallmark of trade unionism: to resolve issues, even with our employers, through dialogue and social dialogue,’ he said.

Wabba disclosed that some of the key actors in the disagreement were currently away, expressing optimism that a formal meeting would be held upon their return.

He added, ‘But for the meantime, we said we don’t see the necessity of further talking to the press because that, in itself, does not bring any solution.’

Earlier, Ajaero maintained that the ?70,000 transport allowance secured for workers would remain part of the benefits to be considered when negotiations for a new minimum wage commenced.

Gov Sule inaugurates APC campaign council in Nasarawa

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, on Tuesday inaugurated the Nasarawa State All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential/Gubernatorial Campaign Council urging party members to work for the success of only APC candidates in 2027.

The Governor serves chairman of the council, while former governors Abdullahi Adamu and Tanko Al-Makura were appointed as Deputy Chairmen 1 and 2 respectively. Former spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, Joseph Oboshi Attah, is to lead the campaign as Director General.

In his inaugural speech, Governor Sule said the inauguration was in line with the template of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) earlier inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja.

The Governor apologized for the omission of some names from the released list, noting that those who compiled it are human and bound to make mistakes.

He however assured that more members will be accommodated at the zonal and local government levels, adding that members were selected because of their influence at their various localities.

‘Politics is local. The most important list is the list that you are going to come out with from every local government, from every senatorial zone,’ he said.

Governor Sule disclosed a shift in campaign strategy, saying the 2027 campaign will focus more on local government and ward-level campaigns rather than moving all council members to one location.

‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done everything that he is supposed to do for us as a state. He has done everything he’s supposed to do also as a zone. The only thank you we can say to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to re-elect him,’ he said.

He stressed that re-electing the President without electing APC senators, House of Representatives members, governor and House of Assembly members would be half work done.

‘Therefore, if you truly love President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then you should vote for him and vote for the people in the same party who will also support him. And that is the reason why when you vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you vote also for the senators and the House of Reps, and more importantly, a governor representing your state should also be APC,’ he said.

In his remarks, The APC gubernatorial candidate in the State, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, says his ambition to govern the state is beyond personal interest and about the prosperity of the people of Nasarawa State.

He assured party faithful that he is not coming to downplay the legacies of previous administrations but to sustain and expand them.

‘You may not at all times like or enjoy my utterances, but deep inside me, I am humble, I am respectful, and I am loyal. So nobody should be scared. We are not coming to downplay anything or anybody. We are coming to sustain, retain, deepen, and broaden the scope of legacies that have been put before us. And we shall be fair and just to all,’ he assured.

Wadada also appealed to those who may have doubts about his candidacy on grounds of dialect, zone, local government or faith to have a rethink, saying he has no boundaries.

‘My late father, whom of course I am always proud to be his son, had no boundaries. He was everywhere, and everywhere was for him. And that was what he taught me. And so, I am for you, you are for me.

’Africa needs action, not development plans’

The Founder/Director-General, Institute for National Transformation International (INT), Prof. Vincent Anigbogu, has called for a revolution in Africa, urging leaders to move beyond development plans and policy declarations to deliver measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.

He said Africa’s major development challenge was not necessarily the absence of resources or ideas but the inability of governments and institutions to translate them into productive industries, effective institutions and tangible improvements in living standards.

Anigbogu said this in his keynote address at the INT STEP Delegate Leadership Summit in Abuja on Monday.

The summit has the theme, ‘Love Africa Now: Building STI-Driven Economies for the Africa We Want.’

Anigbogu said Africa must shift from importing finished products to competitive production, from consuming knowledge to creating and commercialising it, and from exporting raw materials to manufacturing value-added products.

‘The question is no longer whether Africa possesses the potential to prosper. The question is whether we are prepared to develop the character, competence and discipline required to fulfil that potential,’ he said.

The don identified weak implementation, accountability and impact measurement as recurring problems undermining development initiatives across the continent.

Anigbogu said the summit was designed to help participating institutions translate Africa’s development aspirations into practical programmes, viable financing arrangements and measurable outcomes.

According to him, the programme would focus on aligning institutional mandates with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, assessing financing and industrialisation opportunities, identifying development challenges, designing solutions and establishing implementation commitments.

He challenged each delegate to leave Abuja with a credible plan to address at least one significant problem within its area of responsibility.

He said each institution should identify a priority problem, establish a baseline, define a solution, assign responsible officers, determine the resources required and develop a measurable 90-day implementation plan.

The proposed 10-month mentorship programme, he added, would provide opportunities for progress reviews, corrective action, institutional learning and impact measurement.

The wife of the Osun State Governor, Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, urged African leaders to translate their development commitments into practical investments in science, technology and innovation to accelerate economic growth and create jobs.

She said science, technology and innovation were critical to building prosperous economies, empowering women and young people, improving healthcare and addressing the continent’s developmental challenges.

‘The Africa we desire cannot be built on good intentions alone. It requires visionary leadership capable of transforming ideas into practical solutions, scientific discoveries into economic opportunities, and innovation into sustainable development,’ she said.

She called for strategic partnerships to translate innovation into prosperity and ensure that communities across the continent benefited from development initiatives.

Adeleke stressed the need to include more women and young people in leadership and economic development, saying their participation was indispensable to Africa’s transformation.

The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, said Africa’s transformation depended largely on Nigeria’s ability to overcome its leadership challenges and harness its development potential.

He attributed part of the continent’s slow progress to Nigeria’s inability to achieve the desired level of development, stressing that the country had a critical role to play in Africa’s advancement.

Neliaku highlighted leadership, responsibility, productivity and communication as major issues that African countries must address to achieve meaningful transformation.

He said: ‘Africa is where it is because Nigeria has refused to take off. And the world is where it is because Africa has not taken off.’

The NIPR president identified responsibility, leadership programming, productivity, the role of the elite and the need to reinvent Africa as major challenges confronting the continent.

He urged African leaders to take responsibility for the continent’s future rather than allow its development to depend on external actors.

According to him, many people willing to take responsibility lack the opportunity to do so, while those with the opportunity often fail to demonstrate the commitment required to drive meaningful change.

‘The time has come for us to take responsibility,’ he said.

Govt rallies industry players as DStv targets wider sports audience

Dar es Salaam. The Government has challenged broadcasters, sports stakeholders and consumers to strengthen the fight against content piracy, warning that illegal distribution of sporting events threatens investment in sports broadcasting and the sustainability of the entertainment industry.

The call comes as DStv moves to expand its sports audience in Tanzania through significantly reduced subscription prices, making premium football competitions more accessible while introducing Kiswahili commentary to connect with a wider audience.

Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Hamisi Mwinjuma said protecting broadcasting rights was essential to ensuring that content owners, creators and investors received returns that would encourage continued investment in quality sports and entertainment programming.

Mwinjuma said piracy undermines the entire content value chain by denying legitimate operators and creators their earnings.

“Piracy undermines the value chain that supports content creation, distribution and innovation. It deprives creators of their rightful earnings and discourages future investment in the industry.

We must work together to protect intellectual property and create an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive,” he said.

His remarks carry particular significance for sports broadcasting, where the acquisition of competition rights, production and distribution require substantial investment.

Illegal streaming and distribution of television content can undermine legitimate broadcasters and weaken the commercial foundations supporting the industry.

He called for coordinated action involving government institutions, regulators, content owners, broadcasters and consumers, emphasising that protecting intellectual property should be a shared responsibility.

He also commended MultiChoice Tanzania for its continued investment in local content and contribution to the country’s media and creative industries.

Against that background, DStv’s latest changes place football at the centre of its efforts to attract more subscribers by lowering the financial barrier to accessing major competitions.

Under the new proposition, DStv has introduced a sports package featuring UEFA Champions League coverage at Sh50,000, down from Sh118,000, representing a reduction of more than 50 percent.

English Premier League followers will also benefit from a lower entry price, with access through DStv Select now costing Sh25,000 compared with the previous Sh68,000.

The revised prices could widen access to two of the world’s most followed football competitions, particularly among Tanzanian supporters who have faced affordability challenges when subscribing to premium sports content.

Another major development is the introduction of SuperSport Swahili, a dedicated sports channel offering football and other sporting content with Kiswahili commentary and analysis.

MultiChoice Tanzania Chief Executive Officer Sophie Tchatchoua said the *Expect More* proposition reflects the company’s commitment to delivering greater value while responding to the preferences of its customers.

“Expect More is about giving our customers more value and more reasons to stay connected to DStv. We have redesigned our offering to provide customers with richer entertainment experiences through more accessible packages, stronger local content and content presented in the language they connect with most,” she said.

Beyond sports, the company is expanding its selection of Tanzanian and African productions, while Ubongo Kids will strengthen its educational entertainment offering for children.

Sophie said investment in local storytelling, sports and educational programming must be supported by efforts to protect content from illegal distribution.

She said sustainable investment depended on ensuring that creators and broadcasters received fair returns for their work.

I Drove Taxi, Did Menial Jobs To Fund My Education – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has recounted how he worked as a taxi driver and took up several jobs in the United States to finance his university education.

He said the financial struggles shaped his understanding of the difficulties faced by students seeking access to education.

The President said he had to postpone starting school for several months after arriving in the US because he needed to save enough money to pay for his education.

Tinubu disclosed this in a personally signed statement on Wednesday while outlining his administration’s education reforms.

He also explained how his personal experiences influenced his commitment to expanding educational opportunities in Nigeria.

He said his financial difficulties did not end after he eventually moved to Chicago, where he combined different jobs with his university studies to meet his educational and living expenses.

‘When I first arrived in the United States as a young man, I drove a taxi to earn money for my education. I even had to postpone starting school for several months to save enough.

‘When I eventually got to Chicago, I worked different jobs to support myself and pay my way through university. I know what it means to worry about tuition, accommodation and how to make ends meet while pursuing an education’, he said.

The President said the experience had remained with him and has reinforced his conviction that a child’s financial background should not determine the educational opportunities available to them.

‘I know what education made possible in my own life, and I believe every Nigerian child deserves that same opportunity, regardless of where they are born or what their parents can afford,’ he said.

Tinubu, who studied accounting at Chicago State University, said his administration had made education a major priority.

He cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as one of its interventions to ease the financial burden on students.

He disclosed that the fund had provided more than N372 billion in loans to cover institutional fees and students’ upkeep.

The President also said the government’s technical and vocational education programme had attracted over 2.8 million applications, while 38 technical colleges had been rehabilitated.

According to him, students in federal and selected state technical colleges now enjoy free tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.

On university education, Tinubu said his administration signed an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in January.

He said action provided for a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration and measures to promote stability in the university system.

He stressed the need to address prolonged academic programmes caused by disruptions in the university calendar.

‘A four-year course must take four years. Our young people deserve to complete their education on time and get on with their lives,’ he said.

In the health sector, Tinubu disclosed that about N110 billion had been invested in rehabilitating 24 medical schools, while annual nursing enrolment had increased from 28,000 to 115,000.

He added that admission into medical and dental programmes had also risen from 5,000 to 12,000.

‘Nigeria needs more doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, and we must build the capacity to train them here at home,’ he said.

Tinubu signed the amended law on April 3, 2024, establishing NELFUND as the body responsible for administering interest-free loans to eligible Nigerian students for tuition, institutional charges and upkeep.

The legislation replaced the initial 2023 student loan law following amendments to its provisions on eligibility, administration and repayment.

The President’s account of his university struggles came a day after Alausa described him as a genius, saying he graduated with a first-class degree in accounting from Chicago State University.