OYO STATE – The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, has issued a definitive verdict on the nation’s fiscal future: without a total digital overhaul, Nigeria’s ambitious new tax laws will remain "aspirational" rather than "operational." Delivering the maiden convocation lecture at the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Adedeji characterized the recent legislative reforms as the most significant restructuring of Nigeria’s fiscal landscape in half a century. However, he cautioned that the legal shift from manual collection to "tax intelligence" depends entirely on technological integration. Adedeji argued that the era of human-led tax administration—often marred by inconsistency and mistrust—is ending. "These laws are built for a digital environment," he stated, noting that the framework assumes the existence of integrated data and traceable transactions. "They cannot function properly in a manual, fragmented, paper-based system." By removing excessive human discretion, the NRS aims to: Reduce inconsistencies that drive non-compliance. Use visibility to capture previously "unseen" economic activities, easing the burden on existing taxpayers. Shift toward automated, scalable processes across all institutions. The NRS boss identified four "fundamental challenges" currently hindering the system: infrastructure, technical skills, public trust, and systemic resistance. He maintained that the imminent upgrading of the tax system for a digital environment is the primary solution to these hurdles. The lecture, titled ‘The Role of Technology in Implementing Nigeria’s New Tax Laws,’ was a highlight of the institution`s first-ever convocation. In attendance, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass (represented by Senator AbdulFatai Buhari), lauded Adedeji’s leadership in re-engineering Nigeria’s "tax architecture." Rector Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed urged the graduating class to draw inspiration from Adedeji’s career trajectory, noting that the tax chief’s own journey began within the polytechnic system.

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, has opened up on the deliberations that took place at a meeting between former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in Minna, Niger State. Fayose disclosed that Makinde consented to partner with Atiku as his vice-presidential candidate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC. He also alleged that Peter Obi was effectively sidelined during the conversation because of concerns that he would neither agree to deputise Atiku nor gain acceptance in the North as a potential successor. In a statement he personally signed, Fayose said, “It is no longer news that the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, went to Minna, Niger State, yesterday to hold a meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. “Here is what happened behind the curtains. Venue and personalities involved in the meeting were carefully chosen so as to ensure confidence and acceptability. “Consideration was given to the fact that Peter Obi will not accept to be Atiku’s running mate and he won’t also be acceptable to the North, as Atiku’s successor. “Also, Atiku is 70% certain of getting the ADC ticket, having ensured the non-zoning of the party’s presidential ticket. “Makinde agreed to join ADC on the condition that he will be handed the party’s Vice Presidential ticket, as Atiku’s running mate. This is expected to be presented to Atiku’s inner caucus for further discussions and ratification. “Makinde offered to make available a sum of N10bn (to be released in two tranches), as his initial contribution towards what he called ‘proper take-off of the ADC,’ and make additional funds available when campaign begins. “The Governor also assured that for the ADC primary, he will deliver the Southwest delegates and use the influence of his wife, who is from Rivers State, to secure delegate votes in the South-South. “He posited that for the general election, using him to divide the Southwest votes will give the ADC the needed advantage. Follow up meeting has been fixed for Dubai, UAE within the next two weeks.”

OGBOMOSO – A brewing controversy over the origins of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, has intensified as Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, the immediate past Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), publicly challenged claims made by Senator Ayoade Adeseun regarding the institution`s establishment. While acknowledging his personal respect for the former lawmaker, Prof. Ajiboye described Adeseun’s claim of facilitating the polytechnic as "totally wrong" and unsupported by the administrative history of the project. The Core of the Dispute The disagreement follows a recent interview where Senator Ayo Adeseun, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claimed he attracted the institution to Ogbomosoland during his tenure in the National Assembly, even citing N500 million in facilitated funding. In a detailed rebuttal, Ajiboye countered that the polytechnic was the result of executive action, not a legislative motion. "Whenever a lawmaker facilitates the establishment of an institution, there must be a motion. Let him bring out the motion he moved either in the House of Representatives or in the Senate," Ajiboye challenged. Prof. Ajiboye traced the actual approval of the polytechnic to June 2019, following a report he presented as the convener of a committee on Technical Teachers Training. According to Ajiboye: While presenting a report to then-Permanent Secretary of Education, Arc. Sonny Echono, Ajiboye was informed that the government planned to establish six new polytechnics. Ajiboye immediately pointed out that Oyo State lacked a federal polytechnic and lobbied for one to be situated in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government. He credited a "team of Ogbomoso indigenes" within the Ministry—including Mr. Ojo (Director of Tertiary Education) and Mr. Folorunsho (Deputy Director)—for drafting and moving the memo forward. He noted that Sir Olusegun Adekunle monitored the memo at the SGF`s office, while former Minister Sunday Dare supported the proposal at the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Key Differences in Claims Senator Ayo Adeseun claims to have initiated the idea to balance federal institutions in Oyo State, which previously only had the University of Ibadan, noting the lack of technical institutions. Adeseun stated that he secured approval from the late President Muhammadu Buhari and the local traditional authorities (Soun of Ogbomoso) to site it in Ayede. The Counter-Claim often surrounds the direct involvement of bureaucrats or other actors in the specific 2019/2020 final approval phases, though Adeseun maintains he initiated the core concept earlier. Prof. Ajiboye clarified that while Adeseun may have harbored the idea years ago, it was the administrative push in 2019 that brought the school to life. He also lauded Senator Fatai Buhari and Hon. Segun Dokun Odebunmi for their roles in securing key appointments for the institution, and Chief Sunday Dare for renovating the temporary site at Iresaadu. “I respect Senator Adeseun as a community leader... but history must be set straight,” Ajiboye remarked, noting that he felt compelled to speak out after reading "distorted" accounts of the school`s founding. He urged the public to verify his claims with the mentioned Ministry of Education officials.

A former Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Ayoade Adeseun, on Sunday, disclosed that he facilitated about N500 million in federal funding for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, in Ogbomoso. He described the project as a deliberate intervention to expand the federal educational presence and promote technical skills development in the state. Adeseun made the disclosure in an interview with The Punch in Ogbomoso, saying the idea for the institution was conceived during his first term in the National Assembly while serving on the House Committee on Education. He explained that exposure to a federal government study on the distribution of tertiary institutions across the country revealed a glaring gap in the state. THENEWSCREDIT that the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, in Ogbomoso was established in February 2021 by the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari in Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of the state. The institution is a key technical hub aimed at promoting vocational education and skills development. It operates with a focus on practical, entrepreneurial training and offers National Diploma programmes in fields such as Accountancy, Engineering, and Computer Science. Its temporary site is located in Iresa-Pupa. Speaking further, Adeseun said, “Well, during my first time in the House of Representatives, I belonged to the House Committee on Education, and I was privy to a study carried out by the Federal Ministry of Education to ascertain the status and spread of federal educational institutions across the country. “That report showed where institutions were located. In some states, there were two or three federal institutions, but in this state, there was only one — the University of Ibadan.” He described the situation as unacceptable, noting that despite UI’s historic status as Nigeria’s premier university, the state needed more federal presence in tertiary education, particularly in technical training. “I said to myself, as pre-eminent as UI had become, to say we don’t have any other federal educational institution in this state was scandalous. “So, we reasoned that wherever there was a conventional federal university, there should also be a technically-oriented institution,” he stated. The former lawmaker said attracting such an institution to his constituency became part of his legislative responsibility. “You know the work of a legislator is principally threefold: to legislate, to represent your community by bringing development, and to carry out oversight. So improving the lot of my people was my focus in trying to bring that institution.” He disclosed that while the effort did not materialise during his first term, he intensified the push during his second tenure. “I got to work. I didn’t finish it the first time, but in my second time, I took the bull by the horns, secured the institution for my community, decided the location, and when it was to be established.” Adeseun noted that his motivation was also driven by Nigeria’s shortage of technically skilled manpower. “One of the things missing in the Nigerian economic space is people with technical skills. For a long time, we had foreigners handling carpentry, construction, and other technical jobs. When their economies improved, they left, and we were stranded,” he said. He stressed that polytechnic education remains crucial to economic growth in a technology-driven world. “The world is becoming technological. If we don’t train people in technologically-oriented institutions, we will lag behind,” he added. Speaking on the siting of the institution, the senator said his background in Urban and Regional Planning influenced his decision to locate the polytechnic outside Ogbomoso township. “From day one, I made up my mind it would not be located inside the town. I wanted it in a rural setting to decongest the city and drive development outward.” He said Ayede village was eventually selected after consultations with traditional authorities, including the late Soun of Ogbomoso. “I told Kabiyesi I was bringing a federal institution but wanted it sited in Ayede. He supported the idea and blessed it,” Adeseun recalled. He added that the community provided about 100 acres of land for the project, after which he secured federal approval and funding. “I took everything back to Abuja, secured federal approval, and got budgetary allocation running into half a billion naira for the project,” he said. Adeseun noted that stakeholders’ meetings involving traditional rulers and government officials were later held to sustain the project, especially as his tenure ended before construction commenced. He also revealed that attempts were made at a point to relocate the institution but were resisted by stakeholders. “Today, the institution is doing very well. They have graduated two sets of students already, and we are preparing for another convocation,” he said.

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its preparedness for the official commencement of the Computer-Based Test mode of the West African Examinations Council. This aligns with the Federal Government’s directive for a gradual transition from pen-and-paper to full digital testing. According to a release on Friday issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to his office by the Zonal Coordinator and Deputy Registrar of West African Examinations Council, Mr. Waheed Amode, and his management team. “Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has directed that the cost implications for the procurement of over 60,000 laptops for public senior secondary schools across the state be worked out,” Olayiwola said, noting that the move aims to position Oyo State ahead of the full adoption of CBT examinations. He commended WAEC for the proactive measures taken to address the challenges experienced during the 2025 examinations, while pledging the Ministry’s continued support in curbing examination malpractice and preventing vandalisation of school facilities. In his remarks, Amode said the visit was to appreciate the Oyo State Ministry of Education for its support during the 2025 WAEC examinations and for its consistent collaboration with the Council over the years, describing the Ministry as a key stakeholder in the success of WAEC operations. He disclosed that registration for the 2026 May/June WAEC examination closed on February 2, 2026, adding that the forthcoming examinations would be conducted using both CBT and pen-and-paper modes, depending on the readiness of individual schools. He, however, noted that schools interested in full CBT participation are expected to formally indicate their interest through official correspondence. Amode also warned that severe penalties await any candidate caught with mobile phones in the examination hall. He stressed that such misconduct could lead to the cancellation of an entire school’s results, depending on the circumstances, urging principals and teachers to uphold integrity to strengthen educational standards.

The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Education, has announced the return of history to the curriculum. The minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this known during an interview on Arise News, adding that he lacked the explanation to how people with their right minds would ban history from being taught in schools. THENEWSCREDIT reports that history was officially removed from primary and junior secondary schools’ curricula in 2007, with the government citing various reasons for this decision. Alausa said that the government of President Bola Tinubu thought this was wrong and the President instructed that the subject be reintegrated to the curricula. “Nigerian history is back in the curriculum. We did not ban it, but we felt it was wrong, and we moved swiftly to bring Nigerian history back,” he said. “History wasn’t banned by this government. It was banned about 12 to 13 years ago, and you look at it now, our kids are so delinked with the history of the country. I don’t know who in their right mind banned history, and that’s why this President mandated us to do a pure curriculum review. “Nigerian history is back as part of our curriculum. We instituted it. We started it so Nigerian history is back. We did not ban it, but we felt it was wrong, and we moved swiftly to bring Nigerian history back,” he said. The Minister went on to say that the activities of some schools whereby they extort from parents through the sale of textbooks and graduation ceremonies for nursery school have also been banned. “And now let me talk about the nursery school graduation. It might be fun for you, but sheer extortion of parents, it’s not acceptable. “Why would you do graduation for one or two children? It’s just sheer extortion. We want to encourage these kids, but let’s give them proper milestones. “When you finish primary school, do your graduation, when you finish GSS do your graduation, SSS, do your graduation. We give them something that leads to milestones, something that is more cogent, more tangible, not the way everything is being turned into extorting the parent. “And part of all this extortion of the parents that we’ve stopped is that when I was growing up, I used my sister’s textbook. Our parents will tell us, please keep that book very well, your younger brother will use it. So it’s a way to save costs. “Now they manipulated the entire process, you put the workbook as part of the textbook, so the student will now write on those books and they become useless. And next year, you tell the parents to buy another book. “And also what publishers were doing was that they would not even change anything in the book. There won’t be any major content change. It might just be pagination or just a print of the new cover. “They say, ‘Come and buy a new textbook’. We will not allow Nigerian parents to be extorted and that’s why we moved to stop that. And now we said the workbook must be completely separated from the core textbook itself.

The Federal Government has instructed all polytechnics in Nigeria to award a bachelor’s degrees to Higher National Diploma (HND) holders. The announcement was made on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during a retreat for council chairmen, rectors and key education stakeholders. The minister stated that the policy marks a major reform aimed at repositioning polytechnics as equal partners with universities in national development. According to Dr. Alausa, the move is designed to eliminate professional bias against technical graduates and transform polytechnics into centres of excellence capable of driving Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth. According to him, the reform goes beyond certificate changes and focuses on strengthening technical education to produce problem-solvers and innovators. He explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to improve funding, deepen industry collaboration and restore public confidence in technical and vocational education. The minister assured that strict quality assurance measures would be enforced to ensure that degrees awarded by polytechnics meet global standards. He also warned administrators that transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption would be strictly upheld. To support the transition, Alausa announced a special TETFund intervention to upgrade engineering programmes in polytechnics with modern equipment, while urging institutional leaders to embrace innovation in areas such as renewable energy and digital manufacturing.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa has reaffirmed commitment to strengthening Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE) as the foundation of quality basic education and national development. Alausa stated this in his welcome address at the Annual Integrated ECCDE Consultative Committee Meeting, held in Abuja with stakeholders from across the education sector. Represented by Dr Folake Olatunji David, Director Basic Education in the ministry, the minister described ECCDE as critical to children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, noting that the Ministry remains guided by the National Policy on Education and the National ECCDE Policy. He said the meeting was timely, as it provides an opportunity to review the 2025 ECCDE implementation report, assess progress across states, and identify persistent challenges, including funding, workforce capacity, coordination, learning environment standards, and monitoring mechanisms. According to him, the consultative forum aligns with the Ministry’s priorities of improving learning outcomes, strengthening accountability, promoting data driven planning, and ensuring safe and inclusive learning environments. He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, SUBEBs, State Ministries of Education, and relevant MDAs. The minister urged stakeholders to translate lessons from 2025 into clear actions, realistic targets, and measurable indicators that will improve ECCDE delivery nationwide. Commending UBEC, state ECCDE desk officers, development partners, and other stakeholders for their continued support, he expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would significantly enhance ECCDE implementation in Nigeria. Earlier in her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Hajia Aisha Garba, underscored the importance of strengthening Early Childhood Care Development Education (ECCDE) in Nigeria through effective policies, partnerships, and implementation frameworks. Represented by her Special Assistant, Ibrahim Gold, the UBEC boss noted that the consultative meeting, which she described as long overdue, is designed to review the 2025 ECCDE implementation report, identify gaps and challenges, and propose practical solutions to ensure quality implementation in 2026. She noted that the proposed ECCDE Implementation Guidelines will enhance coherence in the application of the ECCDE Policy and Minimum Standards, improve resource utilization, and provide costed operational plans for ECCDE delivery. She added that the guidelines would also strengthen collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), UNICEF, and other key stakeholders, while aligning Nigeria’s ECCDE framework with global best practices. “The relevance of this engagement cannot be overstated,” she said, explaining that the document, once developed, is expected to improve the use of the Pre-Primary Education Curriculum, promote parental and community participation, and deepen partnership engagement in early childhood education.

The Federal Government, on Friday, announced a new policy framework aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents, improving learning outcomes, and promoting sustainability in schools through the adoption of reusable, high-quality textbooks. The policy was jointly unveiled by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sai’d, as part of ongoing reforms to reposition Nigeria’s education sector. According to the ministers, the initiative prioritises the use of standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years, while expressly prohibiting the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks in schools. “This approach is intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions,” they said, adding that the measure would allow siblings to share textbooks, significantly lower recurring education costs for parents, and reduce waste within the school system. As part of broader reforms, the Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide. The ministers further disclosed that graduation ceremonies have been streamlined to ease financial pressure on families. Under the new guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) will be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies. They emphasised that the policy strengthens the assessment, quality assurance, selection, and use of textbooks and instructional materials across the country. The reforms, they noted, respond to longstanding concerns over frequent but cosmetic textbook revisions and practices that compel parents to purchase new textbooks annually without corresponding improvements in content. A key provision of the policy is the introduction of structured and meaningful revision cycles. “Under the new framework, textbook revisions must reflect substantive improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination, thereby extending the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensuring better value for money,” the ministers explained. The policy also introduced limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. “This measure is expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection processes for schools and education authorities.” “The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in assessing and assuring the quality of instructional materials, working with relevant agencies to ensure that only curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for use in schools.” Reaffirming the government’s commitment to education renewal, the ministry commended the Universal Basic Education Commission, NERDC, and other technical partners for their contributions to the new framework. “The Federal Government remains resolved to safeguard educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents, and ensure that learners across Nigeria have access to high-quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning outcomes,” the ministers said.

The Oxford English Dictionary has added several Nigerian-origin words in its latest update, reflecting the growing global influence of the nation’s language, culture and cuisine. The December 2025 update, released on the OED website on Wednesday, features more than 500 new words, phrases and senses, including internet slang such as “DM”, “brainfart” and “chug”. Over 1,000 existing entries were also revised, while editors explored the histories of words such as “troll”, “coffee” and “snooker”. The update includes additions from varieties of English used around the world, including West African English, Maltese English, Japanese English and South Korean English, with OED editors noting the growing global influence of these Englishes. Among the Nigerian entries are everyday expressions and food items, including “nyash,” “mammy market,” “amala,” “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” and “Ghana Must Go.” The update included “Afrobeats”, defined as “a style of popular music incorporating elements of West African music and of jazz, soul, and funk.” The dictionary describes “abeg” as an interjection used to express contextually a range of emotions, such as surprise, exasperation, disbelief. “Biko”, originally from the Igbo language, is defined as an adverb and interjection used in polite request or agreement, or to add polite emphasis or urgency: ‘please’.” “Nyash” is defined as “a person’s (esp. a woman’s) buttocks; the bottom, the backside.” Also added is “Ghana Must Go”, the popular name for the large, chequered plastic bags widely used in West Africa, whose expression traces back to the 1983 mass expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian migrants from Nigeria. It is defined as “A large, zippered bag made of durable plastic with a colourful check pattern, often used for carrying one’s…” The term “mammy market” was recognised as “a market typically run by women, originally found in military barracks but later also in youth service camps and educational institutions.” In the category of cuisine, the dictionary included “amala”, a staple food made from yam or cassava flour, defined as “a kind of dough made of yam, cassava, or unripe plantain flour, typically formed into a ball and served as an accompaniment to other dishes” and “moi moi”, a dish originating among the Yoruba people, “consisting of beans ground into a smooth paste, mixed with peppers, onions, dried…” The Oxford English Dictionary expanded its lexicon with 20 Nigerian words and expressions in a January 2025 update, highlighting the influence of Nigerian English, Pidgin and street slang on global vocabulary. The additions included everyday terms such as japa, agbero, eba, a staple food made from cassava flour. Other entries such as 419, referring to internet fraud, and abi, a common conversational tag, also made the list.