News
ECHONO GOES TOUGH ON RESOURCE MISAPPLICATION IN TETFUND
By Tunde Olusunle
Sonny Togo Echono, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFUND), would most probably have earned the sobriquet of “action administrator,” if Nigeria were in a military dispensation. Successive military regimes over several years and decades, profited Nigeria’s governance lexicon with sundry additions and infusions. “Action Governor” was one such sobriquet which gained and sustained prominence in public conversations in times past. It referred to military superintendents who were proactive, maybe also heavy-handed in their approach to public service. For their roles in advancing infrastructural development in their states of jurisdiction, Mobolaji Johnson, David Bamigboye, Robert Adebayo, Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, all Army Colonels who administered Lagos, Kwara, Western and Midwestern states, were garlanded as action Governors. Mohammed Buba Marwa, incumbent Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), a Brigadier-General who led Lagos State between 1996 to 1999, was similarly so decorated.
Marwa was upfront in road rehabilitation, revamp of health institutions and crime control. He initiated a joint military and police task force christened *Operation Sweep* as a crime containment strategy, which success was adopted by many other states. All of these were consummated by his honorific as an “action administrator.” Marwa’s precedence was emulated by several other states, notably Oyo under Colonel Ahmed Usman and his Kogi State counterpart, Bzigu Lassa Afakirya, who launched *Operation Gbale,* (gba’le being the Yoruba expression for sweeping), and *Operation Hot Chase,* respectively. Raji Rasaki, a former military administrator of Lagos State also earned the nickname of *akson* governor, from his Yoruba-accented pronunciation of the word “action.” He is remembered for the massive demolition of illegal structures which significantly cleared Lagos of shanties and slums. This would subsequently impact the real estate market in the state.
Since his appointment to his present brief a little over three years ago, Echono has demonstrated the ability to talk tough and follow up with similar resoluteness. At every opportunity, Echono has striven to harp on the fact that a new *Sheriff* is at work in TETFUND. He began his reformation agenda with sequenced encounters with entrenched cabals in the organisation who appropriated to themselves the rights to determine contract awards. To rejig our memories, Echono was one of the pioneer civil servants to be taken through the mills of a new public procurement and due process regime in the early years of the present democratic era. He has “preached the gospel” across his various “bus stops” in public service, which spanned several ministries before his present schedule. He has never been deterred, irrespective of the reactions of the establishment.
His insistence on reorientation and reforms earned him spontaneous adversaries. “Victims” of Echono’s new preachment responded by waging a ferocious media campaign against him, calculated to spin the narrative. The war was escalated to the national legislature which received several petitions alleging humongous fiscal infractions and malfeasance under Echono’s watch. Anti-corruption agencies, notably the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) took interest, expectedly, in the untoward information filtering in from TETFUND. To the consternation of Echono’s traducers, he received clean bills of health and glowing testimonials each and every time TETFUND’s systems, and his personal profile were put through the grindstone of serial integrity tests. Such has been Echono’s experience as he moved to stop the preexisting bazaar in TETFUND under his watch.
For academics who have benefitted from the generosity of government by way of scholarships and grants to study in foreign countries but have opted to “defraud” the state, Echono has since wielded the big stick. Certain lecturers and instructors across institutions have been privileged beneficiaries of government funding for further studies abroad. They are usually expected to return to Nigeria to give back to the system which availed them such benevolence, by way of continuing service to their primary employers. Conversely, in many instances, some scholars repay government their benefactor, with a bad coin. They abscond or “defect” as it were. In the face of the current economic situation in the country impacted by inflation and currency devaluation, Echono has since declared that government will no longer play the *Santa Claus.*
Rather, government will henceforth support in-country capacity building for its intellectuals and scholars. Military officers from many foreign countries for instance receive primary and advanced training in Nigerian military institutions. Almost every graduating set from the Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA), or the Nigerian Defence College, (NDC), have sprinklings of foreign students. Why wouldn’t indigenous scholars also receive advanced training in retooled and recalibrated home-based institutions? Indeed, Nigerian academics populate the faculties of several universities and training institutions across the world. These include choice destinations like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. Nigeria can look inwards such that experienced Nigerian scholars and technocrats at home, impact their colleagues desiring retraining and advanced exposure, within the bounds of tolerable financial exertion.
Echono has equally conducted forensic interrogations into the size of tertiary institutions, relative to funding accruable to them. In a milieu where the population of some citadels nestle in upper five figures, Echono finds it curious that the numbers of a few colleges are way below a miserable 100 students! An alarmed Echono once highlighted the specific case of a polytechnic which had just 30 enrollees, which had operated for four years and had continued to receive public funding. For him, such an example is anathema to the intentions of government as channelled through TETFUND. Accountability in the deployment of funding he noted is also paramount. Should unutilised funds be discovered in the accounts of benefitting institutions, such funds will be recalled and reallocated to schools with better performance indices. Equally strident is Echono’s regular admonition against abandoned projects in the nation’s public tertiary institutions. Such unsightly stumps in the landscapes of institutions, such monuments to waste will no longer be tolerated under his watch.
More recently, Echono warned institutions covered by TETFUND against abuse and misuse of intervention funds. At a two-day strategic workshop for Directors of Physical Planning, Academic Planning and ICT which commenced on Monday July 7, 2025 in Abuja, Echono warned that improper utilisation of resources allocated to errant institutions will culminate in the delistment of defaulting institutions. He restated government’s commitment to enabling the nation’s tertiary education system via addressing procedural gaps and ensuring that institutions fully understand the agency’s intervention guidelines. Underperformance and mismanagement, the TETFUND head noted will not be condoned. Echono reiterated that “institutions that fail to access, utilise or retire funds in accordance with TETFUND guidelines, or those that underperform in key academic or operational benchmarks, may be delisted.”
In a public service otherwise construed as dour, uninspiring and tepid, Echono has raised the bar with his well thought interventions. His approach to administration has been characterised by regular engagements and interfaces with key operators of the tertiary education mills. While Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts at the helm in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were hitherto sole regular guests at meetings with the leadership of TETFUND, the Echono milieu has expanded the scope of engagements. Other key stakeholders in the leadership crust of tertiary institutions, notably heads of administrative, financial and developmental departments, have equally earned the buy-in of TETFUND under Echono’s leadership. The conference hall within the Abuja headquarters complex of the organisation is ever busy with activity. All of these are geared towards a better performing tertiary education system to accord the country with the quality manpower necessary to drive growth and development.
For a dye-in-the-wool public servant who cut his teeth at the very core of the bureaucracy during which he grossed a glowing three and half decades before his current portfolio, Echono’s transformation will constitute the subject of future investigations. He joined the federal civil service in 1987 and retired early 2022. During his years in service, he traversed a string of ministries serving in various capacities and offices. The rule book of the civil service we are told is that “civil servants can be seen but their voices are not to be heard.” Echono evolved from that very same system. His present job description, however, has brought out the more vocal, more forthcoming persona in him, in continuing service to the nation.
*Tunde Olusunle, PhD, FANA, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Abuja*
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 47 people allegedly posing as operatives of a state-owned security outfit during the by-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested at various polling units on Saturday while allegedly armed with guns, cutlasses and sticks, contrary to the Electoral Act and security directives issued ahead of the election.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Habib said, “Following our deployment for election duty in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, 47 operatives claiming to be members of a state-owned security outfit were arrested within polling units.
“They were found in possession of guns, cutlasses and sticks, in contravention of the Electoral Act and the security directives earlier issued.”
The PPRO added that the suspects were immediately taken into custody, while firearms and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them.
He said, “The suspects were immediately taken into custody. Exhibits, including firearms and other dangerous weapons, were recovered from them.”
According to Habib, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the development and directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
He quoted the CP as condemning “this blatant disregard for lawful directives and attempt to undermine the electoral process.”
Habib said the suspects had been transferred to the SCID, Bauchi, “for discreet investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.”
The command reiterated its commitment to ensuring a peaceful, credible and hitch-free by-election.
It warned that “any person or group, regardless of status, who attempts to disrupt the electoral process or cause a breach of peace will be decisively dealt with.”
The police also called on members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to the authorities.
PUNCH reports that the Bauchi State Police Command, in a statement issued on Friday, September 18, 2026, outlined security arrangements for the bye-elections in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, and Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki LGA.
In the statement, the command declared that “state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards and vigilante groups are not allowed to participate in election security coverage.”
The command stated that only “statutorily recognised security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security are mandated to provide security for the elections.”
The federal government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners detained last Thursday by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, the Niger State capital.
This development followed Friday’s directive by President Bola Tinubu for a “full and transparent” investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners.
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Campaign for Democracy (CD) have also called for a thorough, independent and transparent probe into the incident.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also released the names of the 21 officers suspended so far in connection with the incident.
This is just as the former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), has denied ownership of the mining site in Minna where some of the suspected illegal miners were arrested before they died in the custody of the NSCDC.
Babangida alongside former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), also called for thorough and extensive investigations into the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also commenced a preliminary investigation into the incident.
On Thursday, the NSCDC said it arrested the suspects during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
The NSCDC commandant in Niger State, Suberu Aniviye, had claimed in a statement that “scores of the detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following a suspected outbreak of disease”.
Following the development, the federal government suspended him and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Tunji-Ojo directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation.
“The minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence,” the statement reads.
The minister also warned that “any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence.”
A retired deputy director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, chairs the committee. In contrast, former director-general of the Nigeria Law School Isa Hayatu Chiroma will serve as secretary.
Other members include retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Hosea Karma; former chief medical director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Olayinka Buhari; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; and a representative of the Niger State government.
Also on the list are National Secretary of Miners Association of Nigeria, Liman Sulaiman; human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju; Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and a public affairs analyst, George Agbakahi.
The full list of the officers so far suspended, in addition to the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, are: Officer-in-Charge (O/C) Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; O/C Legal, ACC Stephen Tsado; and HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi.
Others are: Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale; Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada; Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar; Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman; Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya; Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman; Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi; Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu; Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed; Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah; and Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi.
Meanwhile, NHRC has also commenced a preliminary investigation into the incident.
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the incident and expressed concern over the loss of lives in state custody, particularly as the precise cause of death remains subject to investigation.
According to the commission, the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination, while security authorities have initiated separate investigations.
Ojukwu, in a statement issued by the organisation’s Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Mohammed, directed the Commission’s preliminary investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the deaths.
He also called for an independent forensic autopsy and the preservation of all relevant evidence.
He further stressed that the investigations already ordered by the Minister of Interior and the NSCDC must be conducted transparently, thoroughly and in accordance with international standards governing investigations into potentially unlawful deaths in custody.
“Citizens who are arrested on suspicion by law enforcement agents are by law expected to enjoy the full complement of their fundamental human rights in accordance with national and international human rights instruments,” Ojukwu said.
Northern Senators, NBA, CD Demand Independent Probe
Meanwhile, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has demanded an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the incident.
The senators also called for independent autopsies on all the victims. They demanded that anyone found culpable of criminal negligence, unlawful detention, reckless conduct or any deliberate act that contributed to the deaths should be prosecuted, irrespective of rank or position.
The Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, in a statement issued yesterday, said the circumstances surrounding the deaths were “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”
He stressed that no Nigerian should lose his life in the custody of an agency established to protect lives and property.
The senators also demanded answers to questions surrounding the alleged distress calls, including when they were made, who heard them and what action was taken before the deaths occurred.
The President of the NBA, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), has also called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of the 37 suspected miners.
The association said it had deliberately refrained from reaching conclusions on the cause of the deaths pending the outcome of investigations, stressing that the incident required evidence-based findings.
The NBA said the prompt response by the authorities was commendable but stressed that the credibility of the process would depend on the independence and thoroughness of the investigations.
“The true measure of the response will ultimately not be the speed with which investigations are announced, but rather the independence and thoroughness with which they are conducted, the transparency with which their findings are made known, and the accountability that follows from those findings,” it said.
The association also called for an investigation into wider illegal mining operations, including those who may have owned, financed, controlled, or profited from the activities.
Similarly, the CD has called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other senior security officials to institute an independent investigation into the incident.
The group also called for the immediate suspension of the NSCDC Controller-General, pending the outcome of the investigation, arguing that such a step would help ensure the credibility and independence of the probe.
In a statement issued yesterday by its National President, Reverend Ifeanyi Odili, the CD said the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths required urgent clarification, transparency and accountability.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians of its commitment to electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, gave the assurance on Saturday while presiding over operations at the Commission’s National Situation Room at its headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan said operational bottlenecks identified before the by-elections held in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states were swiftly addressed.
“Our primary mandate in the Situation Room is monitoring and proactive crisis resolution.
“Whatever administrative or field challenges arose in before the day of the elections, the Commission was able to nip them in the bud effectively. We remain committed to refining our processes so that every subsequent exercise reflects higher standards of efficiency and public confidence.”
The Commission conducted four legislative by-elections in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State and Udu State Constituency in Delta State on Saturday.
Amupitan described the by-elections as crucial operational tests that would provide lessons for the 2027 general election.
He said every off-cycle election was an important dress rehearsal for the general election, stressing that no electoral contest should be regarded as trivial or routine.
“These four bye-elections provide indispensable operational lessons for the Commission as we systematically chart our roadmap toward the 2027 general election.
“We must resist the temptation to view any exercise as merely an ordinary bye-election. Every election is a critical component of our broader preparations for the 2027 general election, allowing us to continuously audit our logistics framework, stress-test our technological deployment, and evaluate administrative field readiness,”
The INEC chairman, accompanied by National Commissioners and senior management officials, monitored the elections as operational reports were received from the various states.
Amupitan thanked officials in the Situation Room, particularly the technical team, for enabling the Commission to monitor the multi-state exercise seamlessly and assess field performance without any hitch.
Bauchi by-election: Police arrest 47 for impersonating state security
FG Probes Deaths of 37 Suspected Illegal Miners in Minna, Names 20 Suspended NSCDC Officers
2027: INEC assures Nigerians of electoral integrity
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