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Tag: Abdullahi Baffa

  • Breaking: Buhari removes executive secretary of TETFund

    President Muhammadu Buhari has removed Dr. Abdullahi Baffa as Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

    Baffa, who was an aide to Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, was appointed the head of TETFund alongside 14 other heads of parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Education on August 2, 2016.

    President Buhari has subsequently approved the reinstatement of Prof Suleiman Bogoro as executive secretary of the agency. Bogoro was ES between 2014 to 2016.

    Dr. Baffa’s removal is with immediate effect. No official reason was given for his removal.

    But a source who pleaded anonymity attributed his removal to a running battle with Malam Adamu.

    The source explained that Dr. Baffa, a close ally of Malam Adamu, disregarded the minister in the running of the agency.

    The source noted that the ES had been having issues with the minister as regards the 2019 interventions for public institutions.

    The source said: “Since yesterday we have been hearing rumors that the minister has been meeting with the kitchen cabinet in the presidency. Today we entered the office and found out that he has been sacked.

    “He had a misunderstanding between him and the minister that is why he was fired. Sometimes the minister will send people to meet the ES he will not give them attention or even attend to them.

    “Last month the minister sent his brother to see the ES and the ES refused to see him. That is where problem started for the ES. Since that incident last month, the ES has been having a running battle with the minister.”

    Another source stated that the former ES was neck deep in the politics of Kano, his home state, leading to speculations that he may be eyeing the governorship seat.

    There was wild jubilation at the headquarters of the agency this morning in Abuja when Baffa’s sacking was made public.

    The reinstated Prof. Bogoro was the executive secretary of TETFund under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    He was sacked by President Buhari in 2016.

    Prof. Bogoro was alleged to have misappropriated N200 billion released to the agency for special intervention projects to beneficiary institutions to fund the reelection of Dr. Jonathan in 2015.

    A source in the ministry of education explained that Prof. Bogoro was reinstated after been found innocent of the allegations.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Keyamo at 49

    The source stated that the N200 billion allegedly misappropriated under him was never released to the agency in the first place.

    The source said: “The other man has been reinstated to his position. There was an allegation about N200 billion disappearing from TETFund account. There was allegation at that time that it was used for electioneering campaign. It was discovered that the money was never released at all. It never really got to TETFund. So it was like TETFund was the victim, to say that someone misappropriated money that was never released at all.

    “We had that impression until we now saw the records after the auditing. TETFund is now requesting the money to be released to them. The man was confirmed innocent of all the charges against him and when they finally submitted the report, there was a tendency to just let it be but when it got to the attention of Mr. President he demanded for his reinstatement immediately.”

    However, Malam Adamu, in a statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director (Press), Ben. Bem, explained that Prof. Bogoro has been reinstated under the same terms and conditions as it were in his previous appointment and as stipulated in the TETFUND staff conditions of service.

     

     

  • TETFund adds 14 new institutions to its intervention list

     The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has added fourteen new tertiary institutions as beneficiaries of its interventions.
     
    The agency said the figure has increased the number of public institutions benefiting from the agency’s intervention to 216.

    Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, broke the news in a statement on Wednesay in Abuja by the Director, Public Affairs of the agency, Benn Ebikwo.
     
    Dr. Baffa said the approval was granted by the Board of Trustees of the agency after screening the numerous request it received from qualified institutions to be enlisted as beneficiaries of its intervention.
     
    The institutions include; First Technical University, Ibadan; College of Education, Lanlate; Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State College of Education, Billiri; Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo State and Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa.

    Others are Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade; Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna State; College of Education, Kangere; Bilyamunu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia; Federal Polytechnic, Ukana; Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji and Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo.

    Read Also: Group drags TETfund Boss, Baffa to EFCC


    The executive secretary advised the new institutions to adhere to the operational guidelines of TETFund as well as ensure transparency in their implementations of the various intervention lines.
     
    The statement added that letters of enlistment were presented to the heads of the 14 new institutions by Dr. Baffa.
     
    He said the institutions will begin to benefit from TETFund’s interventions with effect from 2019. 

    Vice-Chancellor, First Technical University, Ibadan, Prof. Ayobami Salami, who spoke on behalf of the institutions, hailed the Board of Trustees and management of TETFund for finding them worthy of enlistment and promised to be worthy partners in their relationships with the agency.
    “Enlistment as a beneficiary of TETFund is the approval given for any public tertiary university, polytechnic and college of education to receive annual funding from TETFund for the development of critical infrastructure for teaching and learning, provision of instructional materials, training of academic staff among other interventions of the Fund,” the statement added.

  • Group drags TETfund Boss, Baffa to EFCC

    A Civil Society Organization, Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), has dragged the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, over allegations of abuse of office and cases of contract deemed improperly awarded by the TETfund Chief Executive.

    The group led by its Executive Director, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, in a petition submitted today at the Lagos Office of the EFCC, said “It is with a deep sense of responsibility, that the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), find it compelling to lodge a formal complaint, for investigative activities, of the Abuse of Office and arbitrary award of Contract, against laid down principles and law, by the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, since assumption of Office, till date.”

    The group accused Dr. Baffa of violating several provisions of the laws, guiding the operation of TETFund, among which stipulated, that TETFund shall ensure that funds generated from education tax are utilized to improve the quality of education in Nigeria WITHOUT DIRECT CONTRACT AWARDING.

    CPA also accused the TETfund Boss, of issuing instruction to public owned universities to reserve 20% of all contracts on the intervention fund provided to them by TETFund for “stakeholders”.

    “We strongly believe that these “Stakeholders” are none other than Dr. Abdullahi Baffa himself, his cronies and immediate family, many of who he has used as fronts, in executing the numerous illegal contract being awarded to several Higher institutions in clear violation of laid down procedures.” the petition further stated.

    “We are worried, that rather than focusing on the primary objective of the establishment of the fund, Dr. Baffa has converted the agency to a market of political patronage and contract bazzar, to the extent that many intervention projects are no longer advertised as stipulated by law. Indeed, what Dr. Abdullahi Baffa has been engaging in, contrary to the spirit and letter of the anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. It is disheartening that Dr. Baffa is working in opposite direction to the cardinal policy thrust of Mr. President by promoting abuse of Office and corruption, in such a sensitive organization.”

    The group called for the thorough and credible investigation of the allegation by the anti-graft body without minding whose ox was gored.
    The petition, which was received in the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, was also forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari, Honorable Minister of Education, Honorable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, His House of Representatives counterpart, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Bankers Committee of Nigeria and the Federal Inland Revenue Services FIRS.

  • FG approves N2bn as take-off of Nigerian Army University

    The Federal Government has approved N2 billion for the establishment of Nigerian Army University, BIU, Borno state.

    Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Abdullahi Baffa, disclosed this when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, visited the headquarters of the agency, on Monday, in Abuja.

    Dr. Baffa said approval for the take-off funds was given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The executive secretary said the establishment of a university for the military in the country was overdue.

    He said: “The Nigerian Army University is the newest of the TETFund family. Approval  of a take-off grant of N2 billion has been conveyed to TETFund and we are going to issue the allocation letter immediately the 2018 intervention guidelines are approved and released to the Fund.

    “We have already made provisions for the take-off grant of the Nigerian army university, Biu in the 2018 intervention budget. So you are going to get that allocation as quickly as the approval is released.”

    He commended the military in its fight against terrorism in the country.

    Read Also: Shake-up in Nigerian Army

    Baffa said: “I also want to congratulate the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the entire Nigerian army in the tremendous successes that are being recorded in the fight against insurgency, militancy, rustling, brigandage and in the fight to keep Nigeria one.

    “Congratulations for such huge successes that are being recorded and we will continue to see them record more success in their quest to keep us safe, to keep our country one.

    “It is only a purposeful and committed leadership that will produce this type of result.”

    Buratai said the university would be tailored to meet the needs of the military.

    He said: “The Nigerian army has gone ahead to see to the need for us to have such a university that will tailor our needs in some specific innovative as well as some solution centre in science and technology.

    “This will go a long way in developing our country and developing the technological and indeed developing the scientific base of our country by which we will progress in the right direction.”

     

     

  • Buhari advises TETFund on interventions to institutions

    Buhari advises TETFund on interventions to institutions

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFund ) to continue to offer meaningful and purposeful interventions to all public owned tertiary institutions in the country.

    The president said this would help his administration to create a knowledge based economy in the country.

    Buhari, according to a statement from TETFund, spoke at the 2nd and 3rd Combined Convocation of Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State. The institution graduated a total of 837 students while 42 bagged first class degree.

    The president, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Abubakar Rasheed, described the interventions of the agency as the catalyst for achieving the desired knowledge-based economy for Nigeria.

    He said: “I am also happy with the special role of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the physical and academic development of this young university. It is clear, that since the establishment of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma. TETFund has remained the single, largest development agent in the institution.

    “I urge the TETFund to continue to offer meaningful and purposeful interventions in Nigeria’s higher education institutions to help in realizing our government’s desire to create a knowledge based economy in Nigeria.”

    He expressed delight over the completion and commissioning of multi-billion naira physical infrastructure projects sponsored by TETFund at the University.

    He explained that the physical projects ranging from Senate Building, Buildings for Faculties of Agriculture and Science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Complex, Library building, Faculty of Agriculture Laboratories, Students’ Hall of Residence (Hostels) for Male and Female which were commissioned by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa as part of the convocation ceremony was clear indication of the resolve of his administration to tackle the problem of access to tertiary education in the country.

    Buhari promised that he would continue to fight the challenge of unemployment, particularly graduate unemployment through the creation of a thriving and dynamic labour market that would enable young people achieve their full potentials as self-employed entrepreneurs and employers of labour rather than merely job seekers.

    “I want to challenge all Nigerian Universities to come out of their shell to build constructive linkages and collaborations with the industrial sector of the society. This remains the vibrant way we can enhance the socio-economic and technological transformation of our society.

    “Government on its part will continue to give maximum support to University Education despite dwindling resources available to it. However, all Universities should seriously consider more efficient ways of resource mobilization and also find ways of attracting funding for research from across the world,” he said.

    Dr. Baffa, in his remarks, said the agency would continue to pursue interventions that would meet the desires of the Federal Government under the direction of the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

    He explained that provision of infrastructure for conducive teaching and learning activities were aimed at ensuring that the dream of increased access to quality higher education for all Nigerians by the minister became a reality.

    The university since inception have benefitted about N5billion as Special Intervention for Take-Off Grant, Proto-type Hostels, Academic Buildings etc.

    NAN

  • TETFund boss inaugurates 14 projects worth N1.4bn at Dutse varsity

    TETFund boss inaugurates 14 projects worth N1.4bn at Dutse varsity

    The Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFund ) on Monday inaugurated 14 projects worth over N1.4 billion at the Federal University Dutse ( FUD ), Jigawa.

    The projects inaugurated are: Faculty of Agriculture phase I, II and III, Faculty of General Studies, Centre for Entrepreneurship, Centre for E-Learning, Academic Staff Office Block for Faculty of Arts, Biotechnology Laboratory.

    Others are: Computer Science Department, Classrooms and Offices Block, Faculty of of Management Science Phase I, University Clinic and Postgraduate Hostel Phase I.

    TETFUND Executive Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Baffa, who inaugurated the projects, commended the university for executing the projects prudently.

    “I want to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor for achieving this feat.

    “Since the establishment of the TETFUND, this is the first time we are inaugurating the highest number of projects in a single day.

    “We commend you for supervising these projects to completion, while many universities are battling corruption charges against contractors the FUD had the mindset to organise themselves to achieve such feat.

    “I salute your mindset to deliver these projects, in fact, you delivered them qualitatively.

    “And for you to prudently execute these 14 gigantic projects, I am happy to inform you that over N3 billion was allocated to this university in 2017,” Baffa said.

    He also urged the university to start the process of accessing the N100 million fund approved to it as zonal intervention for its services and students’ shuttle buses.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Fatima Batul-Mukhtar said that N1.4 billion was expended by the University on the construction of all the projects inaugurated from the 2013 and 2014 special and normal interventions funds.

    She added that the college of medicine and health sciences complex and the university sports complex also sponsored by TETFund would be inaugurated in February to serve as part of its third pre-convocation programmes.

    “I will like to extend our profound gratitude to TETFUND and the Federal Government for these lofty interventions.

    “I also want to appreciate the efforts of the the various contractors that successfully executed these projects,” she added.

    NAN

  • VC urges completion of TETFund projects at stipulated time

    Prof. Ibrahim Umar, Vice-Chancellor, Gombe State Univeristy, has called on all heads of public tertiary institutions to ensure completion of all Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) sponsored projects within the stipulated time frame.

    Mr. Ben Ebikwo, Director, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations, TETFund, made this call in a statement issued and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

    Umar, who made the call during the inauguration of the main library of the university, promised that his management would continue to utilise the provided infrastructure for the benefit of the students.

    “I advise all my colleagues to work very hard to see that they implement their projects on time to see that they get better value for money.

    “Once you delay it, you will have problems with the value of money for TETFund project,” he said.

    He noted that the problem with some tertiary institutions completing their projects within the stipulated time was because they had the wrong people executing the projects.

    “My advice to my colleagues is to get the right people, right management and professionals to work with and when they work they must put in their best efforts.

    “They can turn around these projects and get them done quickly so as to get the full benefits of these funds available through the intervention of TETFund,” he said.

    Umar noted that the interventions from TETFund remained what every public tertiary institution would continue to support and sustain.

    He commended other areas of the intervention by the fund such as research activities, academic staff training and development.

    In his response, Dr Abdullahi Baffa, Executive Secretary, TETFund, while inaugurating the Library said he was impressed with the completed projects in the university.

    Baffa said that the good leadership and management of the university resulted in them being able to deliver quality projects.

    “I must say that I am super impressed by what I have seen. For me this is the product of the quality, the sincerity and the vision of leadership in the university.

    “Once you have a purposeful leadership with clear vision you will see result.

    “We have been preaching on the need for institutions to construct iconic edifices, beautiful structures in our tertiary education institutions and coming here, we have just seen what we have been preaching in practical terms.

    He urged the management of the university to continue to be an example by maintaining the quality of planning and implementation of projects in the school.

    Earlier, the Executive Secretary had inaugurated another TETfund sponsored projects, the Information and Communication Technology Centre at the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe, as part of its second convocation.

     

  • Gunmen kill five at Nigeria-Cameroon border

    The National Boundary Commission has withdrawn its staff and stopped work at the Nigeria-Cameroon border in Adamawa due to the recent killing of five of its officials by unknown gunmen.

    The Director -General of the Commission, Dr. Muhammed Ahmad, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Ahmad, who condemned the attack, said the officials were on duty placing demarcation pillars at the border between Nigeria and Cameroon when they were ambushed by unknown gunmen.

    “This kind of a thing has never happened before, this is the first time we are experiencing such,” Ahmad told NAN.

    “Our staff was out placing pillars at the border when suddenly they were attacked by armed robbers, who killed them and took away their belongings.

    “For now we have called off the exercise and withdrawn all our people from the area to Yola till further notice.

    “We are going to have a meeting with the United Nations Officials in Dakar on the issue to resolve the problem, though the Cameroon security agents are presently investigating the case.”

    The DG, who is currently in Adamawa State to assess the situation on ground, said among the five killed were three Nigerians, one was the staff of the commission named Abdullahi Baffa.

    Ahmad described the deceased as hardworking, dedicated and a goal getter.