By Suleiman Yakubu

The Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has inaugurated a Technical Working Group on the reform and revamping of the cooperative sector of the economy.
The Minister performed the inauguration recently after delivering the keynote address at a virtual roundtable of multi-stakeholders in cooperatives drawn from different parts of the country and the Diaspora.
"We want to have the Co-operative Movement breathing more life and taking pride of place in our national economy," the Minister said during the inauguration.
According to him, "It is true that if cooperatives work, the economy will not just be robust, but the economy will be equitable, because cooperatives have the capacity for proper redistribution of wealth through the activities of cooperatives in society."
Senator Aliyu Abdullahi reminded members of the Technical Working Group of the direct linkage between a revamped cooperative sector and the eight-point agenda encapsulated in the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. "When cooperatives are working, they can guarantee a shared value of prosperity because the co-operator is good at sharing, and that is why he co-operates."
The Minister explained that repositioning cooperatives will support livelihoods and contribute to the realisation of President Tinubu's eight-point agenda. "This is because under Co-operatives, it is possible for us to support food security, economic growth, and job creation; contribute to inclusivity, where we are able to bring in women, youth, and even the elderly into the Co-operatives fold; and above all, guarantee access to capital, because the mobilising capacity of Co-operatives is definitely deep and wide," the Minister stated.
The Technical Working Group is tasked with, among other roles, reviewing existing laws and regulations governing cooperatives in Nigeria and making recommendations for repeal or reenactment where appropriate.
The Technical Working Group will equally examine international best practices in cooperative development and governance, scrutinise the structure and management capacity of cooperative institutions in the country, and recommend sustainable access to finance, technology, and markets for cooperatives. Rebuilding trust and promoting youth integration and participation in cooperatives are also part of the group's task.
Under the coordination of the Special Assistant on Cooperatives and Farmers Welfare in the Office of the Honourable Minister of State, Victor Oyegoke, membership in the Technical Working Group is drawn from federal and state establishments as well as interest groups in the Co-operatives Sector. The group has 45 working days to submit its report.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Niger State House of Assembly has enacted a new law re-establishing the Niger State College of Education, Minna, empowering it to offer both National Certificate of Education (NCE) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) programs.
Hon. Muhammad Sani Idris, representing Tafa Constituency and Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Education, Science, and Technology, presented the committee's report during the plenary session. The bill, which repealed the Niger State College of Education Law of 2011, was passed after the third reading, leading to the enactment of the new law in 2024.
During the plenary, Speaker RT. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji praised the committee's efforts and encouraged the continuation of passing bills that benefit the people. He noted that the 10th Assembly has already enacted 17 laws in less than two years.
Hon. Sani Idris explained that the new law aligns with the National Assembly's act, allowing Federal Colleges of Education to offer both NCE and B.Ed. programs. He emphasised that the National University Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) have set criteria for this dual mandate. Degree programs previously offered through affiliations with other universities at the College of Education, Minna, will be phased out, allowing NCE graduates to continue their education at the College to earn a degree.
In another significant development, the House also passed a law to establish the Abdulsalami Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Change in Mokwa. The decision, based on the Committee on Education, Science, and Technology's findings, confirmed the state's capability to fund the institution, which will offer specialised knowledge in agriculture and climate change. Hon. Sani Idris assured that mechanisms for the university's financial self-reliance are in place, ensuring it will not burden the government. He also mentioned plans for establishing more educational institutions in the future.