Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has launched a conditional cash transfer programme benefiting 8,225 secondary school girls across the state’s 14 local government areas.

The official rollout ceremony held on Wednesday in Gusau, the state capital was held under the state’s partnership with the ACReSAL and AGILE projects.

This was disclosed in a Wednesday statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, who said the beneficiaries were drawn from the most vulnerable and economically disadvantaged households.

According to him, each girl is to receive ₦40,000 to support her education, with additional tranches of ₦10,000 each for the second and third terms, bringing the total to ₦60,000 per academic session.

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“A total sum of ₦322 million has been approved for the first batch,” the statement noted, adding that arrangements were in progress for the disbursement to the second batch of beneficiaries.

Speaking at the event, Lawal said the initiative aligns with his administration’s broader agenda focused on education, social protection, and inclusive development.

“We are committed to tackling and overcoming all barriers, whether economic, infrastructural or social, that prevent our daughters from accessing and completing their education.

“When you educate a girl, you educate a village because these educated girls grow into empowered women who uplift their families, strengthen communities and drive progress in our state,” the governor said.

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Beyond the education-focused grants, the governor also flagged off the disbursement of the Community Revolving Fund under the ACReSAL project to 500 beneficiaries in Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Namoda.

He said, “Under the ACReSAL project, we disburse the Community Revolving Fund to 500 beneficiaries in Gusau, Bungudu, and Kaura Namoda.

“The fund aims to support grassroots environmental and economic initiatives, reflecting our commitment to combating land degradation, promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing livelihoods in the face of climate challenge.

“Our communities face hardships like women building small businesses, youths seeking opportunities and rural households accessing basic services.

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“The Community Revolving Fund offers sustainable funding to support development, marking a shift towards resilience and accountability.

“I urge beneficiaries to use resources wisely and transparently, ensuring trust results in visible, measurable outcomes.

“The disbursement will keep circulating within communities, benefiting more people over time.

“Through proper use and repayment, this initiative will exemplify financial inclusion, local resilience, and sustainability accountability.”

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Lawal also commended the Ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, and Education, Science and Technology, as well as technical partners, for their role in implementing the initiatives.

“Let me reassure the good people of Zamfara State that this administration will continue to pursue policies and programmes that deliver meaningful impact, especially at the grassroots.

“We remain committed to accountability, transparency, and service to our people.

“To the beneficiaries of these initiatives, remember that what you receive today is a seed.

“I urge you to nurture it, grow it and let it blossom into a tree of change for your families and your communities,” the governor added.

Michael Numa (SAN), legal counsel to the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has called on the National Assembly to comply fully with a recent Federal High Court judgment ordering her reinstatement to the Senate.

The PUNCH reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja, on July 4, 2025, ordered the Senate to recall Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended on March 6, 2025, by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

In the judgment, Justice Binta Nyako described the six-month suspension handed to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan—reportedly for addressing the Senate while not seated in her assigned seat—as excessive.

The judge observed that the suspension was unduly harsh, depriving her constituents of representation and the benefits of her legislative service. She, therefore, urged the Senate to recall her to duty.

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However, the Senate President has appealed the trial court’s decision, and the Senate has denied Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to resume.

In a rejoinder dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the Director of Litigation and Counselling, Legal Services Directorate of the National Assembly, Mr Charles Yoila, Numa clarified the court’s ruling in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan v. Clerk of the National Assembly & 3 Ors.

The senior lawyer referenced the court’s enrolled order, which begins with “IT IS HEREBY ORDERED” and sets out twelve directives.

He specifically noted that Order 12, which states that “the Senate should recall the Plaintiff” — although phrased with the word “should”, must be read within the context of a binding judgment when considered as a whole.

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Numa explained that the court’s ruling addressed both the substantive issue and a request for a mandatory injunction, ultimately nullifying the recommendations and findings of the Senate Committee that led to the suspension. The judgment, he argued, found the suspension inconsistent with both constitutional provisions and the Senate’s Standing Orders.

He cited Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that all persons and authorities must give effect to the decisions of competent courts. He also referenced Section 318 of the Constitution, which defines a court decision to include a “judgment, decree, order, conviction, sentence or recommendation”.

In further support, the legal team cited the Supreme Court’s decision in Ecobank (Nig.) Ltd v. Tempo Energy (Nig.) Ltd (2025), which held that certain judicial recommendations may carry binding force.

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Numa urged the Legal Directorate of the National Assembly to carefully review the judgment and guide the Senate appropriately, emphasising that compliance with court orders was a constitutional duty.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has announced her intention to resume her legislative duties on July 22, 2025.

The rejoinder disclosed that the senator may pursue further legal action if necessary to enforce the judgment.
(PUNCH)

No fewer than 9,469 admissions across 20 tertiary institutions nationwide have been flagged as fake by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for the 2024 academic session.

According to the board, the admissions were conducted outside the popular Central Admission Processing System, popularly known as CAPS.

According to the list obtained from JAMB, Kano State University of Science and Technology led the pack with 2,215 fake admissions, with Ladoke Akintola University of Technology following with 1,215.

Others are Gombe state University, 1,164; Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, 761; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 534; Ambrose Alli University, 514; Igbinedion University, 365; Akwa-Ibom Polytechnic, 340 and College of Nursing, National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, 281.

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Also on the list are Achievers University, 267; Nigeria Police Academy, 263; Abia State Polytechnic, 256; Osun State University, 224; Federal University, Lafia, 189; Niger State Polytechnic, 182; Federal Polytechnic, Ida, 171 and Edo State Polytechnic,166.

Others are Anchor University, 133; Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, 116 and the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, 113.

CAPS was introduced to enhance transparency and efficiency, and serves as an online platform where prospective university students can monitor and manage their admission status.

By centralising the admission process, JAMB CAPS ensures that all candidates are given fair consideration based on merit and institutional requirements.

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The primary purpose of JAMB CAPS is to streamline the admission process into tertiary institutions across Nigeria. It achieves this by ensuring transparency as candidates can easily track their admission status, and guarantees that all applicants are evaluated based on consistent criteria.

The system also enhanced efficiency as institutions can process admissions swiftly, and candidates receive timely updates on their application status.

The board has, over time, warned institutions against backdoor admissions offered to candidates outside CAPS, as candidates offered admission outside CAPS were barred from the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Recall that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, reiterated a directive in Abuja at the 2025 policy meeting of JAMB last week, declaring all admissions conducted outside JAMB as illegal.

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He said institutions and individuals involved in such practices would be prosecuted and severely sanctioned.

“Any admission conducted outside CAPS, regardless of its intentions, is illegal.

“Both institutions and the candidates involved in such practices will be held accountable.

“Sanctions may include withdrawal of institutional assets and prosecution of culpable officers or governing council members,” he said.