The House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions has invited the managements of Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, and Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, over alleged non-submission of 2024 and 2025 capital budget.

In a statement by the Clerk of the committee, Mr Abubakar Sadiq, the committee asked the provosts of both institutions to appear before it on Thursday with relevant documents to account for expenditures within the period.

According to the clerk, the meeting will hold at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room 028 at New Building, House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

He said that the appearance and submission of the relevant documents were critical to determining both institutions’ budgetary provisions for the 2026 appropriation year.

“I am directed to remind you that the committee has not received your submissions on the above subject matter and you did not appear before the committee on the day allotted to your agency.

“You are by this letter reminded that your appearance and submission of these vital documents will go a long way to determine your budgetary provisions for 2026 appropriations.

“You are hereby requested to appear unfailingly before the committee with your Director of Procurement and Director of Finance.

”Failure to honour this invitation could affect the colleges’ 2026 budget consideration; prioritise full compliance with the legislative oversight process and cooperation with the committee,” he said.

The House of Representatives at plenary on Tuesday, approved the establishment of four Federal Universities in Borno, Imo, Kaduna and Kano states to enhance learning in the country.

This followed the adoption of reports on four bills, laid for consideration by the Chairman, House Committee on University Education, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa).

The bills include, a bill for an Act to repeal the Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna Act and to establish Federal University of Technology, Kaduna.

A bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Army University, Biu, (Act 2020) and enact the Federal University, Biu, Borno.

Also, a bill for an Act to establish Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, as well as a bill for an Act to establish Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.

Presenting the report earlier, Fulata said that the Federal University of Technology, Kaduna, when established, will provide training and teaching instruction in all aspects of education.

He explained that other fields of applied learning, relevant to development of education in the country such as matters of administration and discipline of students will be catered for.

He explained that the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, when established, will provide for the promotion and development of teacher education.

He said that it will make comprehensive provision for management and administration of the university and for related matters.

In line with legislative procedures, the bills will be sent to the Senate for concurrence and then to the President for assent to become effective.

The House of Representatives says its interest is to protect strategic economic investments in the country from adversarial unionism with economic sabotage undertone.

The house’s resolution was made following a motion under urgent national importance by Rep. Alhassan Doguwa representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Kano State and seconded by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki for Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State.

There was a rift between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos which resulted to strike action recently.

The strike disrupted the operations at the 20 billion dollars refinery, the largest single-train refinery in the world.

Moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled with dismay the recent nationwide strike embarked upon by the PENGASSAN which impacted negatively on the Dangote Refinery and on the nation’s economy.

He said there is the need for national cognisance of the economic role and importance of Dangote Refinery to Petroleum production and distribution.

The lawmaker warned against industrial actions that are capable of impeding economic development and eroding public trust.

“Note that the industrial action led to a disruption in Nigeria’s crude oil production, with a reported daily loss of approximately 200,000 barrels over a period of three days.

“Further note that the disruption worsened the fuel supply situation across the country, resulting in scarcity and long queues at filling stations in several states, thereby causing severe hardship for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

The lawmaker who described Dangote Refinery as one operating under Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), called for compliance with the NEPZA Act.

“Section 18(5) of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act clearly states: “Employment in the Free Zone shall be governed by rules and regulations made by the Authority and not subject to the provisions of any enactments relating to employment matters.”

The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu who presided over the plenary, referred the motion to relevant committees for further legislative action.

Senate has passed for second reading, a bill to repeal the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the Employees’ Compensation Acts, to enact the Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund Act 2025.

This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill at plenary on Tuesday by the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Fasuyi Cyril (APC-Ekiti).

The bill seeks to consolidate both acts to make provisions for compensations for any death, injury, disease or disability, arising out of or in the course of work in the public and private workplaces.

Fasuyi, while presenting the general principles of said that the bill would consolidate the provisions of both acts into a single comprehensive legislation and establish the Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund.

According to him, the purpose of the consolidation is to harmonise the existing laws on social insurance, employees’ compensation, and ultimately eliminate duplication of functions.

He said that the bill would create a unified legal framework for the management of social security in Nigeria.

“The bill will ensure effective protection of employees in both formal and informal sectors against workplace injuries, disabilities, unemployment, retirement, and other contingencies that may threaten their livelihood.

“The objectives of the bill are to harmonise existing laws by consolidating the provisions of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund Act and the Employees Compensation Act into one unified legal framework.

“To establish the Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund as a central institution
for management, administration, and disbursement of social security funds in Nigeria.”

He said that the bill would expand social protection coverage, ensuring that workers in both formal and informal sectors benefit from schemes while addressing employment injuries, disabilities, unemployment, retirement, and health costs contingencies.

Fasuyi said that the bill guaranteed sustainable financing through the pulling of contributions from employers, employees, government, and other approved sources for the effective management of
social security.

He also said that the bill has the objective to ensure accountability and transparency by streamlining governance, structure, and eliminating duplication of functions in the administration of social security.

Fasuyi said that the bill aligned with international best practices in labour protection and social insurance and consistent with international labour organisation standards and global social security norms.

Supporting the bill, Sen. Adams Oshomole (APC-Edo) said that the bill sought to solve the confusion on management and administration of social security matters.

He said that the bill was consistent with government’s commitment to reduce overhead and avoid internal conflict of jurisdiction by management of social insurance trust funds.

Other lawmakers who supported the second reading of the bill were Sen. Simon Lalong (APC-Plateau, Diket Plang (APC- Plateau) and Victor Umeh (LP -Anambra).

President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, after the second reading of the bill, referred it to Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity for further legislative inputs and to revert back in four weeks.