The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • NUC, NYSC to block ‘fake’ foreign-trained graduates from service

    The National Universities Commission (NUC), in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Tuesday said it had put measures in place to block fake foreign-trained graduates from partaking in the compulsory one-year national service.

    The NUC said it would continue to ensure the credibility of certificates issued by Nigerian universities and block fake foreign-trained graduates coming into the country.

    Its Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, spoke when the NYSC Director General, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, visited him at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    A statement in Abuja by the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi, regretted the challenges in vetting the certificates obtained from universities established by Nigerians outside the country.

    Read Also: NYSC remains only stable workforce in Nigeria – DG

    The NUC chief said many universities produce quality graduates while some produce graduates who cannot defend their certificates.

    He said the commission had not approved the degrees of some online universities operating in the country.

    Rasheed added that the commission had approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to shut down some illegal universities operating in Nigeria.

    “NUC and NYSC must work together to help the country in producing quality graduates. The NUC will continue to certify the credibility of certificates obtained from Nigerian universities,” he said.

    The NYSC DG said the scheme will not issue Certificate of National Service to unqualified graduates.

  • Fed Govt to build labs in six varsities

    The Federal Government has said it will build standard laboratories in six universities in each of the geo-political zones in the country.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu, broke the news yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The permanent secretary said the Muhammadu Buhari administration is planning to put Nigeria among the top 20 economies in the world in no distant time.

    Nabasu spoke when he received an award of Icon for Societal Change from the national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

    Read Also: Fed. Govt. praises Lafarge’s industrial power generation

    A statement by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Abdul-Ganiyu Aminu, said: “The Federal Government is to build one standard laboratory in a university in each geo-political zone of the country.

    “…Mr. Nabasu disclosed this when he received an award of Icon for Societal Change from the national leadership of NANS in Abuja.

    “Nabasu told the delegation that the Federal Government was determined to implement the Recently signed Executive Order 5, which would make Nigeria become a knowledge-based economy by 2030.

    “Nigeria, he added, would be among the top 20 economies in the world in no distant time through the policies of the Federal Government.

    “He urged students to use their ideas and innovations to help the Technological sector of the country.

    “Mr. Nabasu highlighted some of the innovative programmes by the ministry to boost the performance of well-deserving young people in society. Some of those programmes include the 774 Young Scientists Presidential Award aimed at identifying potential young scientists with exceptional abilities, the Junior Secondary School (JSS) science kits aimed at helping rural communities with science equipment.

    “The permanent secretary spoke of a department in the ministry saddled with aiding scientists on their difficulties during research and design.”

  • Nasarawa seeks more indigenes in federal service

    Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule has appealed to the Federal Civil Service Commission to employ more citizens of the state because it is underrepresented at the federal level.

    Sule made the appeal on Tuesday when the Federal Commissioner representing Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr. Jonah Madugu, visited him at the Government House.

    The governor explained that he has made similar appeal at every opportunity for the people of the state to be well-represented at the Federal level, especially because of the state’s proximity to the Federal capital.

    Sule noted that even though the state would have preferred to have four or five permanent secretaries at the Federal level, still “there are so many other levels that I strongly believe that you will have the ability to represent us and make sure we are there”.

    Read Also: Nasarawa Govt partners ALGON on rural development

    He appealed particularly to the Federal Commissioner to intervene in his personal capacity to see that Nasarawa State is well-represented at the Federal level.

    Sule stated that he made similar appeal in the Office of the Secretary of Government of the Federation as well as at the Office of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We urge you to assist us to ensure that the people of Nasarawa State are well-represented at that various level. I’m hoping that by the end of the year, I will hear some good news from you,” the governor stated.

    Dr. Madugu said he was at the Lafia Government House to congratulate the governor on his victory at the 2019 general election and to bring him abreast on the activities of the commission.

    He was accompanied on the visit by the Chairman and Commissioners of the Nasarawa State Civil Service Commission.

  • Four students die, seven injured as campus bridge collapses in Bauchi

    Four students of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi (ATBU) were drowned on Tuesday when a bridge within the main campus of the university located in Gubi, an outskirt of Bauchi metropolis, collapsed.

    The Nation learnt that the incident, which occurred in the midnight, also left seven injured.

    President, in a statement on Tuesday, mourned the deaths of the students.

    The President described the incident as “tragic, sad and unfortunate”.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President also condoled with the management, staff and students of the university.

    It was gathered that the tragedy occured when some of the students were leaving the campus after reading overnight in preparation for exams.

    Read Also: Student who committed suicide didn’t have poor results, says OAU

    It was after a downpour, which lasted for several hours.

    The incident triggered a protest among the students, who blamed the tragedy on the school management for turning deaf ears to several pleas made by them on the deteriorating bridge.

    A witness, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, said distress calls put across to the management asking them to call for help were not responded when the incident occurred.

    The source said some of her friends in school were still missing after the bridge collapsed.

    The source added that they have alerted the school authorities over the weak bridge and the poor road network leading to the university, but no action was taken.

    The students’ union president, Naziru Mohammed, reportedly escaped being lynched by the students, who protested the death of their colleagues.

    But, the ATBU management yesterday confirmed that four of its students died following the collapse of the bridge due to a downpour that lasted several hours across the state.

    The vice chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Abdullazeez, addressed a briefing yesterday.

    Prof Abdullazeez was accompanied by some top management staff of the institution.

    He said four of the students were confirmed dead immediately with seven others seriously injured.

    Abdullazeez told The Nation that the deceased comprised three males and one female, with the injured receiving treatment at the university’s medical centre.

    The VC said the management immediately closed down the school in honour of the deceased, and has equally begun investigation of the incident.

    “I regret to announce the death of four of our students. The unfortunate incident that led to the demise of the students occurred on Monday night at the Gubi campus of the university,” said Prof. Abdullazeez.

  • Tribunal dismisses Kano PDP’s moves to alter witnesses’ list

    Kano State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has recorded another setback as the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed the party’s application requesting for a leave of the court to amend the list of its witnesses.

    The counsel to the petitioners, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), filed a motion requesting for a leave of the court to align the initials on the list to tally with the names of witnesses.

    Read Also: More witnesses testify in Rivers Gov election tribunal

    The counsel, representing Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Offiong Offiong (SAN), objected to the motion.

    He said the request was an attempt to sneak in new witnesses before the tribunal.

    Justice Halima Shamaki, in his ruling, dismissed the application, noting that the petitioners, by their action, were trying to enlist new witnesses.

  • AbdulRazaq to partner EFCC in recovery of looted funds

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said on Tuesday that his administration will partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat graft, including recovering funds looted from the state’s treasury.

    AbdulRazaq said corruption had almost crippled Kwara State when he took over on May 29, lamenting how the N2 billion the state accessed to boost small-scale businesses was diverted and shared by some persons.

    According to the governor, this meant that the state government would now have N35 million deducted from its account every month.

    “I got a letter (last week) from the Federal Ministry of Finance, saying they will now deduct N35 million every month from our account because the state government, a few years ago, took N2 billion for small and medium scale businesses,” AbdulRazaq said at a stakeholders’ forum on value reorientation and the fight against corruption in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The event was organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

    Read Also: Kwara to partner AfDB on infrastructure development, others

    The governor said he contemplated asking the ministry to compile the names of individuals, who siphoned the money so they could be made to refund it. He, however, added that he was glad that the EFCC has taken proactive steps to recover the money.

    AbdulRazaq said he would not tolerate diversion of public funds under his watch, recalling how corruption had led to the collapse of basic amenities in the hospitals, schools and other sectors of the economy.

    The governor lamented that the state has missed out on several development initiatives because of corruption, citing the example of the diversion of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds, the resultant blacklisting of the state on account of that, and the effect on the state of basic education in Kwara.

    He added that the state under him has normalised relations with UBEC and would soon, on paying its own counterpart funds, access money that would help reposition the sector.

    The EFCC Zonal Head in Kwara State, Isyaku Sharu, called for a reorientation of the populace on the menace of corruption.

    “Can we over-emphasise the role of our parents/guardians in these regards? I state no. In fact, a critical aspect of the need for value reorientation rests heavily on parental/guardian roles. The home, being the first point of contact of a child, is the factory house for building positive values in a child,” he said.

    “Sadly, however, most parents/guardians are now being found wanting in this all-important responsibility wherein they usually concentrate more efforts on their jobs or businesses or the struggle to make ends meet.”

  • Zulum approves leave grants for 10,319 workers, pensioners

    Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has given approval for payment of 2018 outstanding leave grants to 9,898 workers.

    He also approved payment of gratuities to families of 185 deceased pensioners and compassionate intervention to families of 236 pensioners, who have also passed on.

    Zulum had last month approved payment of gratuities to 1,684 pensioners, who retired from 2013 to date.

    Special Adviser on Public Relations and Strategy Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement issued yesterday, explained that in the latest approval, the governor directed the head of service to work with the state’s Ministry of Finance to ensure payments get to bank accounts of all beneficiaries within days.

    Read Also: Borno: Police ban street begging

    Also in the governor’s approval, Gusau noted, was the payment of furniture allowance to two permanent secretaries, who were in office when the governor paid an unscheduled visit to the state secretariat in Maiduguri on May 31 – about 48 hours after his inauguration.

    Zulum had, during his visit, trapped absentee permanent secretaries, directors and other categories of workers. He also caught many late comers. The governor promised sanctions for absentees and those who arrived late.

    He promised a reward for the permanent secretaries and 96 workers he met on ground.

    In fulfillment of his promise, Zulum rewarded the permanent secretaries with speedy approval of their furniture allowances and gave order for early release of the 2019 leave grant to the 96 workers he found in office.

    The same workers were also included for payment of the 2018 outstanding leave grants.

  • Banditry: Zamfara to grant amnesty to 100 bandits, inmates

    Zamfara State Governor Bello Muhammad will grant amnesty to 100 Fulani in Gusau prison as part of the state’s ongoing peace process, it was learnt on Tuesday.

    The affected Fulani, who have been jailed and some awaiting trial in the prison for banditry bedevilling the state, will be released before the week runs out to celebrate Sallah with their families.

    Muhammad broke the news when he received representatives of the Fulani community, who were at the centre of the peace process between the government and the bandits as well as those abducted.

    The governor lamented the plight of the Fulani in Zamfara State and the country, where they are now known as terrorists, who are worse than Boko Haram insurgents.

    He promised to work in line with his administration’s determination to save the Fulani from themselves and from the wrath of the larger society.

    Read Also: Zamfara First Lady donates motorcycle to 8-year- old girl who trekked 2 klm to school

    “I am one of you and I know you are not terrorists. What is happening today has a cause and we are determined to address it with your cooperation,” the governor said.

    Matawalle said the Northwest governors’ meeting held in Katsina last week outlawed vigilante groups against banditry, otherwise known as “Yan Sa Kai”.

    He called on Fulani to disregard anyone who goes around telling them that the government was not sincere about the peace process.

    “You can see now you are here in Zamfara State Government House. Nobody will arrest or harm said.

    The representatives of the Fulani, who spoke through Baba Alhaji Bello, lauded the governor’s forthrightness, his honesty and commitment to the peace process.

    Bello promised that all the known bandits would listen to the new sermon and surrender their weapons.

  • ‘Every generation has its educational challenges’

    Former Imo State governorship candidate Meckson Okoro has said every generation has its educational challenges that are peculiar to them.

    He spoke during the graduation of his daughter, Miss Chidinma Okoro, from Covenant University, where she bagged a Second Class Upper Division in Economics.

    He said: “Comparing education of our time and today is not a straightforward thing, but all I can say is that every generation has its own challenges. You will agree with me that the challenge of our time is not the exact challenge of this generation.

    Read Also: Education is continuous, says Babalakin    

    “During our time, education was not that too easy because we based everything on what we read from the book, research was not also too easy but job opportunity was easy because few people went to school, but these days many parents send their children to schools, research is easier now due to the availability of Information Technology and other facilities which has made the world a global village.

    “Many people go to school but job availability is not there because our government is not performing well. In my opinion, I think the university authorities should begin to design subjects that would make our graduates job creators rather than waiting for government to create jobs as we do not have any reasonable government in the present generation.”

    On what it feels like being a graduate of Economics, Chidinma said: “The journey as a student of economics up until graduation was a wholesome experience. What first attracted me to this course was the enormous variety encompassed within one course. The exposure to business, game theory, statistics, behavioural science, to mention a few, increased my passion to learn and know more about how people, businesses, nations operate and optimise for growth.”

  • Police exonerates INEC worker in card reader theft

    The police have exonerated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its worker, Ejike Nwankwo, of allegations of possessing Card Readers.

    Nwankwo was detained for four days for alleged possession of four Smart Card Readers in the 2019 elections.

    A statement by INEC’s Public Affairs Officer Don Etukudo said the police report vindicated Nwankwo and exonerated the commission.

    The statement reads: “Some months ago, an INEC worker in Akwa Ibom State, Ejike Nwankwo, was arrested by the police because he was allegedly found with four Smart Card Readers.

    Read Also: PDM, candidate: why we withdrew petition against Buhari, APC, INEC

    “The police detained him for about four days before they contacted the commission to enquire whether he was in lawful possession of the card readers. Before they contacted the commission, Nwankwo’s picture was taken with the card readers on display and sent to the All Progressives Congress (APC). As usual, the APC latched onto the incident and went to town with a story that Nwankwo was leading a team of technicians employed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini “to help him valid (sic) doctored 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom State.

    “To lend the story some credibility, they claimed the SCRs were “recalibrated” and that Nwankwo, who was actually arrested about 3pm, was arrested by 2am on a Sunday! This story was given the widest possible publicity in the social and mainstream media.

    “The commission promptly issued a statement to the effect that Nwankwo, an ICT worker with INEC, was in lawful possession of the SCRs. The four SCRs had no data in them and were used in the training of ad hoc workers during the elections…”

    In any case, the commission explained that it was unreasonable to suggest that four SCRs, of the over 3,000 used during the elections, could have been manipulated in any way to affect the process or outcome of the elections or the matters at the tribunals.”