The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Northern Govs frustrating basic education for Almajiris – Ex UBEC Boss

    By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

    Governors of 19 Northern States are responsible for frustrating the integration of the Almajiri schools with basic education.

    Former Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Prof. Ahmed Modibbo, made the allegation at the weekend.

    He stated this at a lecture with the theme “Before the ban on the Almajiri system of education in Nigeria” organised by
    by the Centre for Historical Documentation and Research of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan had in an attempt to address the problems of the Almajiris in the region, spent billions for construction of more than 100 model schools purposely for the integration of the system with basic education.

    However the schools are said to be rotting away and unused since they were constructed years ago.

    Modibbo alleged the projects were abandoned by state governments because they wanted to be given cash to construct the schools.

    According to him: “The state governors left the schools unoccupied, abandoned and vandalised because most state governments refused to even take them over, not to talk of fulfilling their own obligations contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the federal government.

    “The state governments were not happy with the decision of the federal government to undertake the project through UBEC and the Eduction Tax Fund (ETF), as they wanted the money to be given to them so that they could nominate contractors for the project.

    “That episode was the last in the history of woeful failures to address the challenge of mainstreaming the Islamic system of education thereby catering for the multitude of mainly children of the poor in the Northern region who often migrate far from their homes following their itinerant malams and surviving on charity.”

    Recalling the genesis of the Almajiri phenomenon in the north, Modibbo, a professor of history, said it was an off-shoot of the quest for Islamic education from the 8th century which continued to flourish through numerous Qur’anic schools.

    He said Qur’anic teachers of that time were sustained by “Zakat” and other forms of taxes, managed by the religious authority, such that by 1900, there was an estimated 250,000 pupils in 20,000 schools in the region.

    He said the system witnessed a “final blow” when the colonial administration halted support to Islamic education in 1922 following the establishment of the first teacher training college in Katsina.

    Read Also: Lagos reiterates commitment to quality education

    “Since then, there were several initiatives to address the challenges of the Islamic system of education, beginning with the 1962 special committee set up by the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who visited Egypt, Sudan and Libya to study their models and submitted recommendations in a report, but was short-lived, denied of government funding in the turmoil of 1966-68.

    “Unfortunately, we missed an opportunity to establish a system that would provide not only manpower but scholars of high standing comparable to those in other parts of the world where the system worked well. “Today they stand shoulders high in producing scholars through such systems. Ours was subverted, truncated, left to rot, to decay and bastardised.” Modibbo said.

    He lamented that northern political leaders, with the exception of those eliminated in the tragic military coup of 1966, “are squarely responsible for the failure to have a fully integrated Qur’anic system of education with basic education.”

    He however expressed the hope that with the comprehensive blueprint and draft plan of action, introduced by UBEC in 2017, the implementation of the Almajiri Quranic education project would succeed.

    Modibbo also called for the full and strict implementation of the UBE Act, introduction of School Time Marshals and catering for welfare of the children.

    He further advocated that the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), be allowed to monitor the utilisation of federal funds released to states and other agencies of government for the implementation of basic education.

    The event which was chaired by Mallam Adamu Fika, Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), was attended by representatives of some of the governors.

    ENDS

  • Rotary takes free medical care to Abuja community

    By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

    Rotary Club of Abuja Capital Territory District 9125 has offered free medical services to members of the Sabon Lugbe community in Abuja.

    The intervention was part of Rotary International’s effort to ensure Nigerians get unhindered access to treatment and quality health services for HIV, diabetes, hepatitis, eye infections, malaria, and others, considering that Nigeria is among the heavily burdened countries with some of these diseases.

    President of Rotary Club of Abuja Capital Territory District 9125, Mrs. Ndidi Uchuno, explained: “The exercise will afford members of the community the opportunity to get screened for various diseases and get treatment free of charge.

    “Also, those who cannot be treated on the spot would get referrals to competent health facilities in the country. We will also educate the people about family planning, water sanitation and hygiene, and the WASH programme.

    Read Also: New president for Inner Wheel Club

    “We have begun the first of three stages of hepatitis vaccination. There is also eye screening and we have provided glasses for those who need them. We also have experts in the family department to encourage couples on the need to go for the type of family planning method that best suits them”.

    According to the Director of the Rotarians for Family Health and Aids Prevention Programme West Africa, Mr. Olugbemiga Oluwo, “the yearly programme which began in 2012 has reached about 1.8 million people in Africa, with the largest population reached in Nigeria. People have confessed to us that their health have become better through this programme”.

    He further said that the organisation will continue to work hard to scale up the number until every community has free access to qualitative healthcare services.

    Beneficiaries of the free medical programme by Rotary Club lauded the initiative and encouraged the organisers to keep the programme running because of the resultant health benefits it has on their wellbeing both individually and as a communities.

  • Malpractice, irregularities trail Niger teachers recruitment

    By Justina Asishana – Minna

    Controversies are trailing the recent recruitment of primary school teachers by the Niger state Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), forcing most of the candidates to fight over the list of successful candidates.

    It was also gathered others are selling their appointment letters for as high as N100,000.

    The Nation learnt that the list showed the names have no corresponding identification number to enable candidates identify their names despite the fact that the candidates were given registration and examination numbers.

    This created a situation where three to four people lay claim to one name with NSUBEB officials confused on who to give appointment letters.

    Sources who spoke to The Nation revealed that because a lot of people share identical names in the state, many applicants have been claiming that some names belong to them, including those who didn’t partake in the examination process.

    It was also gathered that due to some irregularities in the appointment and the threat of re-screening by the House of Assembly, a lot of candidates have begun selling their appointment letters for N50,000 to N100,000.

    Those involved in selling their appointment letters, The Nation gathered, have been given appointment letters from local government areas apart from the local government area they originally came from.

    This development was confirmed by the Chairman, Committee on Labour and Productivity in the Niger House of Assembly, Honorable Malik Madaki Bosso, who further disclosed there had been a general outcry across the state over the recruitment and appointment of the primary school teachers.

    He said that it has been discovered that majority of the people who participated in the examination did not see their names while the majority of those whose names appeared were those who did not undergo the examination.

    Bosso stated that the names also do not have any security attached to it, meaning anybody can lay claim to a name as long as he or she bears such name.

    “The names that appeared as being successful in the recruitment exercise have no security attached to it. You know in Niger state, you can see about ten people bearing the same name, it is common in the state.

    “In this situation, anyone can lay claim on the name especially as everybody is claiming the name belongs to him/her. The name should give had an identification number which should either be their examination number or registration number, a certain number that was used for registration but this was not done.

    “I have had complaints from people from Suleja, Chachanga, Bosso, Bida and other constituencies. Like in Chachanga, there is a name Suleiman Abubakar and currently, three people are claiming the name and there is no way one is certain that the name belongs to any of them because there is no security attached to it,” he stated.

    Read Also: State governments in race to put 10.5 million kids in schools

    The Chairman, Niger House of Assembly Committee on Education, Suleiman Gambo Rabiu, said that the Legislators had an interface with the officials of NSUBEB during which the education body was directed to stop the release of appointment letters but the directive was not adhered to.

    He added that flaunting of directives has led to chaos in the state due to the way and manner the names of successful candidates were released.

    “We are the ones who approve and appropriate the funds that will be used to pay these teachers so we do not see any reason why we see any we see irregularities in the recruitment process and give a directive and the directive would be disrespected,” he stressed.

    Rabiu disclosed that a lot of the employees have started seeking a transfer for their employment even before they started the documentation process.

    The legislators further stated that the two committees have resolved that the documentation exercise is suspended until a documentation committee is set up to conduct screening and verification of the candidates.

    Efforts to get the Secretary of the Niger state Universal Basic Education Board proved abortive.

    He didn’t pick his calls or replied to text messages sent to him.

  • One killed, scores injured as robbers invade Ibadan community

     Oseheye Okwuofu , Ibadan
    A middle aged night-guard was allegedly killed at Oju-irin, Akobo area of Ibadan on Saturday when robbers numbering about 15 invaded the area about 2 am.
    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Gbenga Fadeyi , a Superintendent of Police ( SP), confirmed that some night guards were attacked.
    He however denied that a security officer was killed in the attack.
    Fadeyi said: “They ran away before the arrival of the Police in the area. Efforts have been intensified to clamp down on these hoodlums that carried out the evil act.
    “Information available to me has it that the night guards that were attacked sustained injury but rescued  by the Police to UCH and now responding to treatment. No guard was killed,” he said.
    But landlords at Idi-isin and the leader of security guards in the area simply identified as Mr. Fagbenro insisted that a security guard was shot dead at Oju Irin on the arrival of the robbers at about 1 am before moving to other areas while some of his boys are on danger list at various hospitals.
    It was gathered that among the people who were injured are a couple, 12 night guards working at Yawiri, Idi-isin, Tella, Anifalaje, Apata, Iyana Akanni and Oju-Irin where the robbers operated for several hours.
    There were blood stains of the victim around the transformer in the area when our reporter visited the spot where the guards were maimed and macheted.
    One of the executives of the landlord association in Idi-isin area, who doesn’t want his name in print for security reasons, said the robbers arrived the area in a Micra Nissan car at about 1am and raided houses at Yawiri area before proceeding to other areas of the community.
    He confirmed that one night guard was killed around Oju-Irin while two security guards who were instructed to man a transformer at idi-isin were brutally matcheted for preventing the robbers from carting away electrical wires from  the transformer.
    According to him, the residents alerted police officers on duty at Akobo police station when they noticed the arrival of the robbers but there was no response from the police until around 6am.
    “It is true that the robbers killed one night guard at Oju Irin but here, they matcheted our night guard. I am also aware that a couple was matcheted at Yawiri up there and about 12 other night guards were also matcheted.

    Read Also: Police arrest three soldiers for kidnapping, armed robbery

    “Upon investigations, we heard they arrived this area around 2am in a Micra Nisan car and three motorcycles. Our night guards were just returning from patrol when they attacked them at the point of transformer. The guards  are in hospital recuperating now,” he said.
    In a statement by the landlords association of the Idi- isin on Sunday tagged”security situation worrisome in Akobo Oju Irin and environ ” the concerned landlords said the spate of the attacks on the residents of the area is worrisome.
    The statement reads: “For sometimes now, the residents of Akobo Ojuirin, Yawiri, Idi-isin and its environs have not been sleeping with their two eyes closed. Armed robbers have been attacking the residents on the daily basis, beating the people,  collecting money, phones, laptops, maiming and even killing the innocent people.
    “In the early hour of Saturday, a young watch night man was sent to his early grave at Oju Irin by the heartless men of under world.
    ”Our people are now living in fear as we don’t know the next target of these evil minded people. It is very sad that police at the Akobo Police station who are suppose to respond to distress calls  at the hour of need in the night will arrive the scene hours after the robbers must have left.

    “There is a need for government to have a second look at their approach on security for the people in these mentioned areas.”

  • Over 1.4m jostle for 5,000 vacancies in Civil Defence Corps

    Blessing Olaifa, Abuja

    Over 1.4 million Nigerians have so far applied for vacancy positions in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), The Nation learnt on Sunday.

    But the authorities of the NSCDC confirmed that there are vacancies for only 5,000 personnel whose fate would be determined by the Board of the Corps in the next few weeks.

    The NSCDC opened its online portals for filing of applications posted the vacancy positions on August 9, 2019.

    But when the deadline elapsed on September 7, over 1.4 million have applied for the various positions announced by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Service Board.

    The spokesman of the NSCDC Emmanuel Okeh, who confirmed the large turn-out of potential recruits into the Corps, told The Nation that screening of candidates who applied would begin online as those whose age has passed the required age level would be eliminated.

    He also added that those who engaged in multiple registration as well as candidates with inconsistent academic qualifications would be deleted from prospective candidates for recruitment.

    Read Also: Navy hands over ‘crime vehicles’ to NSCDC in A’Ibom

    Asked to comment on the sudden up surge in the number of applicants for the NSCDC, Okeh said the development was not unexpected considering the large number of unemployed persons in the country.

    He also attributed the large turn out to the fact that many youths are interested in joining the Corps given its remarkable and excellent outings in the country over the years.

    When asked to give insights if the recruitment would be done based on allocations per state, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) said the ball is in the Court of the Board but added that the Federal Character principle would be reflected on the exercise.

    Okeh said the Management of the NSCDC would be glad if the number of intakes into the Corps increased based on budgetary allocations by the Federal Government and the Board as there is need for manpower in the organisation.

  • 14 companies bid for OML 119 redevelopment financing

    John Ofikhenua, Abuja

    The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has publicly opened bids from 14 companies for the financing and redevelopment of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 119.

    OML 119 is operated by the Upstream subsidiary of the corporation, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited (NPDC).

    The corporation made this known in a statement on Friday.

    Speaking at the public opening of bids for the Funding and Technical Services Entity (FTSE) in Abuja, the GMD said OML 119 was one of the corporation’s critical projects which aligns wholly with the Federal Government’s aspirations of boosting crude oil and gas production, growing reserves, and monetizing the nation’s enormous gas resources.

    Read Also: NNPC deepens downstream oil sector reforms

    The GMD, who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, Engr. Faruk Sa’id, stated that the selection process for the potential FTSE was transparent and in strict compliance with extant laws and overriding national interest, adding that it was also in tandem with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the TAPE agenda of the NNPC.

    The Group General Manager, Supply Chain Management, Mr. Abdulhamid Aliyu, assured the companies that the selection process would remain transparent and fair.

    OML 119 is a twin offshore block made up of Okono and Okpoho Fields located approximately 50 kilometers offshore south-eastern Niger Delta.

  • Kogi 2019: I’ll review workers’ screening exercise – Wada

    James Azania, Lokoja

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship election in Kogi State, Musa Wada has said that he will review the workers screening exercise conducted by the incumbent governor, if elected.

    He said that he will also review the screening of pensioners and local government workers with a view to ensuring justice.

    He asserted that pensioners were not supposed to be afflicted with suffering at old age.

    A statement issued in Lokoja, on Friday, by the Musa Wada Campaign Organisation, said that the candidate said these while addressing campaign rallies at Ankpa, Okpo and Abejukolo, all in the Kogi East Senatorial district.

    He described the screening exercise as lacking human face, saying that it had led to the untimely death of many civil servants, pensioners and their relations.

    “The endless screening exercise will be reviewed, as many workers and pensioners were deliberately screeend out at all levels,” the statement signed by Mr Austin Okhai, a member of the media committee of the organisation said.

    He decried non payment of workers salary at the state and local government levels, describing the development as dangerous for the state economy.

    He particularly sympathised with the local government workers across the state over non payment of their salaries for years running, describing the development as pathetic.

    He condemned the deplorable state of roads in Abejukolo and Ankpa, promising to rebuild them if elected as governor.

    Wada chided Governor Yahaya Bello for embarking on “window dressing development, rather than genuine ones that will transform the lives of the people,” few days before election.

    Read Also: Kogi 2019: PDP accused of importing thugs from neighbouring states

    He warned the people of Olamaboro local government
    not be carried away by the recent political abberation which made the area to produce the new deputy governor.

    He explained that indigenes of the state irrespective of tribe or religion, had rights to ascend to any political office without any conditions attached.

    “Remain supportive of the PDP, and jettison the new political sherrifs known for coercion and violence to achieve high political pedestal,” he told the people.

    He charged the electorate in the state not to succumb to threats and intimidation from any quarters, saying that they should come out enmass to vote for him on election day.

    At Ankpa, Wada expressed shock that the ancient town known for its boisterous economic activities had become a ghost town due to rots in public infrastructure.

    He promised to restore the lost glory of Ankpa, by creating more access roads and channelisation projects to control the lingering erosion problem that had made some areas to become swampy.

    He urged the people to remain focused in their support for the PDP, and be ready to protect their votes on November 16.

  • Banks closed in Ondo over alleged Boko Haram threat

    From Damisi Ojo,Akure

    Following the purported letter allegedly sent by Boko Haram insurgents to the Ondo state Police Command, banks in Akoko area for the second day running were under lock and key due to alleged threat.

    Many customers particularly those who have weekend engagements were disappointed for not having access to cash.

    They flooded the banks but met empty premises.

    It was a lamentation galore as some of them,who had no option rushed to Akure spending about N3,000 as transport fare to Akure and returned to Akoko.

    Speaking on the development, a woman leader and the Iyalaje of Ikare,Alhaja Risikat Mohammed noted that banks closure had negative impact on socio economic activities of the people of Akokoland.

    Another person who was affected by the banks closure was Alhaji Jamiu Arowosegbe who said he had weekend engagement,but was surprising that banks refused to open for customers.

    Both Iyalaje of Ikare,Alhaja Risikat Mohamed and Alhaja Jamiu Arowosegbe urged people to bear with the banks.

    Police vehicle patrol vehicles and other security agents were seen at strategic places in Ikare-Akoko mounting surveillance on movement of the people.

    Efforts to speak with Ikare Police Area Commander,Assistant Commissioner of Police,Rauf Razak and the Divisional Police Officer in Ikare, CSP Chika Udeh to comment on the development was not possible as at the press time.

    In Akure,the state capital,there was no tension, banks opened at the usual 8.00 am,the only problem was that there was no network to operate.

    Customers in some banks waited till around 1pm before they could receive cash or deposited.

    But the police spokesman in the state,Femi Joseph maintained that such letter was not in their kitty.

    Read Also: Boko Haram scare in Ondo

    He said” The command is not aware of such letter to the effect of planned attack by Boko Haram or any other group.

    Joseph said men of the command are however at alert anytime,day or night to curtail any unwholesome occurrences especially during this ember months.

    There was a letter purportedly sent to the Commissioner of Police,Undie Adie by a security agency.The letter was widely circulated on the social media.

    It dated October 29, with the heading” Planned robbery attacks on some commercial banks in the state by suspected Boko Haram.

    The state government through the Senior Special Assistant(SSA) to the governor,Ojo Oyewamide said the state would not be conducive for criminals to carry out their activities. Therefore,they should not entertain any form of fear or anxiety.The security agents in the state are up to the task.

    “The operation” Amotekun” will soon commence operation in all southwest states,and it will be foolhardy of any group of criminals to imagine Boko Haram can successfully launch an attack I’m any part of the region”.

  • Court remands student for raping minor

    Agency Reporter

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kano on Friday remanded a 19-year-old student, Mujahid Adamu, who allegedly raped a six-year-old girl.

    Adamu, who lives at Kwanar Dumawa, Dawakin Tofa LGA, Kano State, is facing a charge of rape, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Muhammad Jibril, ordered that the defendant should be remanded in a correctional facility, and adjourned the case until Nov.6, for mention.

    Read Also: ‘I rape minors to ease tension’

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Pogu Lale, told the court that Mr Abdulrahman Haladu of the same address, reported the case atn the Dawakin Tofa Police Station, on Oct. 17.

    He alleged that, on the same date, at 11.45 a.m., the defendant met the complainant’s six-year-old niece with her siblings at a farm situated at Dawakin Tofa LGA of Kano State.

    Lale said that the defendant deceitfully sent away the victim’s siblings and forcefully had sexual intercourse with her.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 283 of the Penal Code.

    (NAN)

  • Stop collecting school fees – Gov Sule tells headmasters, principals

     Donatus Nadi, Lafia

     

    Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule has directed headmasters and principals of public schools in the state to henceforth stop charging school fees.

    The Governor gave the directive while speaking during the closing ceremony of a two-day retreat for top government functionaries which held at the Kini Country Guest Inn in Akwanga.

    Engineer Sule stated categorically that principals and headteachers of public schools should henceforth stop from charging school fees.

    “I understand that some principals, the headmasters, are charging school fees and they are saying it’s the new Governor that directed them.

    Read Also: How Sule is using ICT to drive change in Nasarawa

    “And I keep saying that I’m not even aware of it. So I want to state categorically clear, that if anybody is charging school fees, they should stop it now,” the Governor directed.

    He further warned the principals to stop all new initiatives they introduced until government sits down with stakeholders and collectively take a decision as to the way forward.