Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Ph.D., OON, Member of the House of Representatives, has addressed recent propaganda questioning the legitimacy of the Federal University of Education, Pankshin (FUEP). In a statement, Gagdi clarified that the institution was legally established through an Act of the National Assembly, which he personally sponsored.
“My attention has been drawn to a series of false and politically motivated propaganda being circulated about the authenticity of the Federal University of Education, Pankshin (FUEP). Let me state without ambiguity that FUE Pankshin is a fully legitimate federal university, established through an Act of the National Assembly, which I personally sponsored,” Gagdi stated.
He further explained that the bill establishing FUEP was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and was duly signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Gagdi described claims labeling the university as “fake” or illegitimate as “ignorant and mischievous,” emphasizing that FUEP “stands today as a symbol of due legislative process and executive approval—the only constitutional path to establishing federal institutions in Nigeria.”
In his statement, Gagdi also provided clarification on the legal status of the Federal University of Education, Zaria (FUE Zaria). While the institution had been announced through a presidential pronouncement, he noted that it currently lacks an enabling Act. To rectify this, Gagdi revealed that the Honourable Minister of Education and the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, had approached him to sponsor a bill that would grant legal status to FUE Zaria, similar to FUE Pankshin.
“The same Rt. Hon. Yusuf Gagdi who they attack today for making FUE Pankshin a reality is the very one who is now working to give FUE Zaria its legal backing. If Pankshin were fake, would I be trusted to midwife the legal foundation of FUE Zaria?” Gagdi questioned.
He urged the public to stop politicizing progress, stressing that those opposing the initiative are not fighting him personally but are instead opposing “the future of our children, the education of our youth, and the development of our communities.”
Gagdi expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to educational development. He revealed that the President had approved N4 billion from the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund for the construction of a Senate building at FUE Pankshin and facilitated access to N10 billion in TETFund support for the university’s take-off.
“I equally commend the Acting Management of FUE Pankshin for their proactive efforts in setting up key university status committees, including the inaugural Academic Senate, to ensure academic activities can begin in earnest,” Gagdi added.
Concluding his statement, Gagdi reiterated the legitimacy of FUEP: “Let me repeat: FUE Pankshin is real, legal, and thriving. It is not fake. It is the standard. And I will not be discouraged by hate or propaganda.”
Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi continues to play a pivotal role in advancing educational and developmental initiatives for his constituency and Nigeria at large.
