Author: The Nation

Nasarawa Government has ordered the immediate closure of public and private schools to safeguard students across the State.

This follows security threats across the nation particularly at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the government already in possession of reports suggesting likely security threats in communities within the State, bordering the FCT such as Gitata and Umaisha.

The decision to order the closure of schools across the State was part of the resolution arrived at during an expanded state executive council meeting, which took place at the Government House in Lafia.

Briefing journalists shortly after the council meeting, Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Fatu Jimaita Sabo, said having considered and reviewed the current situation in the country, especially regarding the security threats in the FCT, the State Government decided to close public and private schools with immediate effect.

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Sabo said this has become necessary considering the proximity of the State to the FCT as well as the resolve of the government to ensure that schools in Nasarawa State, operate within a safe environment.

She however explained the directive excludes the exit classes already writing their final examinations, especially in secondary schools.

While announcing that her ministry will, in due course, issue a circular to that effect, the education commissioner however appealed to parents not to panic, adding that Nasarawa State is safe but that the decision was taken as a proactive step to safeguard the lives of both pupils and students across the State.

Sabo appealed to principals and heads to ensure the schools are closed in an orderly manner, especially that there is no threat to any life or property presently in Nasarawa State.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to immediately resolve all lingering issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) without further delay.

The TUC urged the government to engage ASUU without further delay in constructive negotiations to find a lasting solution to their demands.

President of TUC, (Engr.) Festus Osifo said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

The statement reads: “We strongly condemn the continuous disruption of academic calendar in public tertiary institutions and the condescending attitude of political office holders towards government-owned educational institutions.

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“The clear ineptitude in this administration is becoming more worrisome, unfortunately, there appears to be no end in sight, making the country a laughing stock in the comity of nations. Government must engage ASUU without further delay in constructive negotiations to find a lasting solution to their complaints.

“Education is one of the factors that influence the progress of any society but in our clime, it appears there is a deliberate effort to stifle the sector to keep the country perpetually in dark and under-developed.

“Nigerian politicians, unfortunately, do not care because their children and wards school abroad. They arrogantly walk out of meetings called to resolve industrial issues and travel abroad to celebrate with their children on the day of graduation; this level of impunity will not be condoned anymore by the working people.

“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria is in total support of the national protest, it is a just and patriotic cause. We will be strategizing with the leadership of NLC and ASUU on how best to get the government to meet the demand of the university teachers.

“We wish to stress unequivocally that we are together with the University lecturers and their students in this struggle.

“We are convinced that an injury to one is an injury to all, such, everything must be done to dispense with the impasse to avoid a situation where Congress might be compelled to take further drastic actions.”

Four policemen and an official of an oil surveillance firm have been feared killed in a boat accident in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

It was learnt an unidentified gunboat allegedly crushed the four cops on patrol duty and an official of Darlon Security Surveillance Services to death.

Among the deceased is said to be Odi Lyon, a younger brother of the former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief David Lyon, in the November 2019 guber election.

Odi Lyon was said to be the Operations Manager of the oil surveillance firm in Southern Ijaw community of Olugbobiri.

It was learnt the unfortunate incident took place between Okumugbene and Odewari river close to Korokorosei junction.
A source said that the boat was heading towards Korokorosei when the accident occurred.

It was also learnt that another aide to Lyon, identified simply as as Ogbojimo, was lucky to have survived the unfortunate incident.

One of the corpses of the killed policemen was said to have recovered while the three riot policemen were still declared missing.

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It was learnt that the recovered policeman reportedly swam to the shore but died sadly before he could get to the clinic at Olugbobiri.

Sources said the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.

They claimed that the boat conveying the four mobile policemen, the younger brother of David Lyon, a Governor’s aide with a 200- horsepower engine was said to have stopped for a yet-to-be ascertained reason when the gunboat allegedly rammed into them.

It could not be ascertained if the gunboat mistook the occupants of the boat for pirates had been disturbing the area in recent times.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr Asinim Butswat, confirmed the boat accident but said one policeman died while three others were still missing.

Butswat said: “On 25 July, 2022, at about 2000 hours, a boat conveying policemen on surveillance capsized at Korokorosei waterways, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“One policeman’s body was recovered while three are missing. The command is yet to establish the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident. Divers have been deployed to the area for possible rescue of the missing persons.”