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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Mace’s seizure: Senate blamed for thugs’ invasion

    Nigerians on Wednesday took a swipe at Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the red chamber for the attack by hoodlums said to loyal to suspended Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege.

    The thugs on Wednesday morning invaded the Senate presided over by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, seizing its symbol of authority, the mace and injuring some Senators.

    Saraki, who condemned the attack in a press statement issued by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, was accused of provoking it by the suspension of Omo-Agege.

    Saraki, in the statement shared on all his social media platforms, had commended his colleagues for defying “those who machinated an attack on the Red Chambers of the National Assembly in which the mace was forcefully taken away.”

    He said: “I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully took away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties. I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.

    “My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism.

    “With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.

    “I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice.”

    Reacting to the incident, a lawyer, Babatunde Ogala said it was an assault not just on the legislature but the constitution, describing it as  sheer anarchy.

    Ogala blamed the Senate for the invasion, insisting that the hallowed chamber set the stage for anarchy when it suspended Omo-Agege in disregard to Senate Rules and Orders of Court.

    “And why do I say so? The rules of the Senate has expressly provided that once a matter is pending before a court of law, the Senate shall not deliberate on same or do any act that may interfere with the proceedings of the court.

    “Senator Omo-Agege had gone to court and obtained an order of court restraining the Senate and it’s Committee on Ethics and Privileges from taking further steps on the investigations of his conduct pending the determination of the suit.

    “Despite receiving the order of court , the Senate at plenary rather than stay action, proceeded to  condemn the order of court and abuse the the judge who granted the order. It even had the temerity to adopt a motion to write and indeed wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria threatening and asking him to call judges to order.

    “As if that was not enough, it still went ahead to invite the senator who when he attended the  committee sitting declined to speak and reminded the committee of the order of court and also reminded it of the provision of the Senate rules that prohibits it from deliberating on a matter that’s lis pendis.

    “Nothwitstanding the order of court and it’s rules, the Senate went on to suspend Omo-Agege. Recall that the Federal High Court had earlier delivered judgement in Senator Ali Ndume v NASS  and ruled that the Senate or any legislative house had no constitutional powers to suspend an elected member and that same is unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.

    “The Senate being aware of its own rules, the judgement in Ali Ndume case and the order in Omo-Agege’s case still went ahead to purpoetedly suspend the senator. In all, I condemn the act of desecrating the hallowed chambers by Omo-Agege thugs, but I hold the Senate fully responsible for laying the foundation for the desecration and anarchy,” said Ogala.

    Similarly, some of Saraki’s followers on social media said it was his tyrannical rule of the Eighth Senate that led to the attack, accusing him of suspending those who had contrary views to his.

    Ajibola Akinyemi said: “Sir, you are the cause of the unrest in the Senate with your indiscriminate suspension of your fellow Senators that mostly are not in tune with your opinions. It shouldn’t not be so. Everyone cannot agree with you.”

    Francis Osita said: “Repression breeds rebellion whether you like it or not. Senate President (SP) you cannot stop a constituency from representation and not expect this sort of thing. Anyways, I am watching till it gets to my constituency.”

    Omasoro Ali said: “The eighth Senate is a centre of tyranny. How can you suspend a Senator who has a different opinion from you and your PDP friends? Ovie Omo-Agege Isa patriot and we Buharists, are behind him.”

    Bishop Monday-Marcus wrote: “Again, in a state of lawlessness, it is unlawful to be law abiding. Your suspension order is provocative and a recipe for lawlessness.”

    One @foebz_the_great said: “And I hear you want to run for presidency. If you win it’s probable that our freedom of speech would be taken away and we would not be able to oppose a government that wants us to remain in cages like animals.”

  • 2019: Multiple headaches for Saraki in Kwara

    As the 2019 elections draw closer, Senate President Bukola Saraki is fighting many political battles both at the centre and in his state, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    For Senate President Bukola Saraki, these are indeed troubled times. From his ongoing trial for corruption by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for corruption, to his name being mentioned in the Panama papers, coupled with recent allegations that he may be working with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by his fellow party man, President Muhammadu Buhari, it has been from one troubling news to the other for Saraki.

    And on top of all these pressures, the Kwara state born politician is battling with mounting efforts to unseat him as the political leader of his home state amidst growing opposition to his leadership within and outside the ruling APC in the state. Reliable sources within the party in the state told The Nation that Saraki’s political family may not find winning the next general election in the state as easy as it was for them in 2015, due to a number of issues now generating tension within the ruling party.

    “I think the happenings in Abuja are gradually taking their tolls on the politics of Kwara State. Many of our people who before now lived in awe of the Saraki political dynasty are breaking loose. The opposition to Saraki’s hold on the politics of Kwara State is growing by the day. Even within his own party, the ruling APC, he is facing more antagonism from people who feel he is not providing the right leadership required to move the state forward.

    “In fairness to the Senate President, he has tried very hard to carry everybody along since the formation of the APC in the state, but due to some age-long differences between his political family and some people, as well as what some people described as his discriminatory patronages, it has been difficult for him to please some sectors within the party and the state. And this is affecting the politics of our state very seriously,” a party source told The Nation.

    Checks by The Nation revealed that the Senate President is currently working round the clock alongside the leadership of his political family to resolve some pressing issues raised by certain political development back home. One of these is the threat of fictionalisation of the ruling APC following the decision of some prominent party leaders to severe relationship with the state executive committee of the party. “The leader (Saraki) is very worried that some people want to break the APC in Kwara into two,” a close aide said on Friday.

    Also of current concern to the Senate President is the battle for the APC senatorial ticket in the southern senatorial district of the state. If feelers emanating from the party are anything to go by, three leading chieftains of the party are currently locked in what appears a showdown in their quest to pick the ticket. That Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is one of the three makes the matter worse. Similarly, fresh indication that Senator Gbemi Saraki may have renewed her interest in the governorship seat of the state is reportedly giving her elder brother sleepless nights.

    Cracks in his wall

    The Nation gathered that the aggrieved APC group, now operating under the name Caucus for Progressive Change (CPC), made up of most of the leading chieftains of the legacy parties that metamorphosed into the APC in 2014, has been at loggerheads with the Ishola Balogun Fulani-led state leadership long before now. The frosty relationship between the two groups, sources said, had on several occasions led to verbal and physical confrontations among party members in various parts of the state.

    “Party leaders, including the Senate President himself, had on several occasions tried to make peace between the two groups all to no avail. The situation today has deteriorated so much that it is being reported that APC has two factions in Kwara State,” a party chieftain lamented. But leaders of the aggrieved group say Saraki is part of the problem because the Senate President and his associates have breached all agreements reached when the legacy parties were joined by the then nPDP to form the APC.

    According to the state chairman of the CPC, Alhaji Samari Abdullahi, they will never leave the APC for Saraki and his group as they are determined to ensure that internal democracy is allowed to thrive in the state chapter of the ruling party. He said unless the national leadership of the party promptly intervenes the situation may further deteriorate ahead of the 2019 elections.

    “We are here so that internal democracy can be engendered in Kwara State chapter of APC. As you are aware, the merger of tendencies within the APC was consummated by what was called the New PDP (nPDP) and legacy parties namely the defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC. It is regrettable that the nPDP family in our marriage has not only behaved as a superior partner but have done so with impunity,” Abdullahi said.

    But sources close to the Senate President say it is unfair to say he is part of the crisis as he has been doing so much to end the split. “Just this week, he made frantic efforts to reach out to the leaders of the aggrieved group. He made calls and visited some of them over this same issue. I can tell you he spoke with a member of the House of Assembly who is with them and he visited one of their senatorial leaders,” an aide of Saraki’s told The Nation.

    Kwara South

    Ongoing political maneuverings in the Kwara South Senatorial District, which many pundits say are not unconnected with the alleged plan by Governor Ahmed to seek election into the senate after the completion of his two terms of eight years as governor in 2019, is another source of worry for Senator Saraki as we speak. Reliable sources say the Senate President appears not to be favorably disposed to the governor’s senatorial quest.

    “Yes, the governor is interested in picking the APC ticket to represent Kwara South, but the leader (Saraki) and most people in Kwara APC feel Senator Rafiu Ibrahim should be allowed to seek a second term. This is not going down well with Ahmed and his people and it is a source of worry today. But you can be rest assured that it will be resolved the same way we have resolved several of such developments,” our source explained.

    But leaders of APC in the district recently pre-empted such settlement as they announced their support for the re-election bid of Senator Ibrahim. Speaking at a press conference in Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government Council, the senatorial chairman of APC, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun, said their support for Ibrahim was based on his performance since he was elected into the upper house.

    The Nation gathered that the move has further aggravated the situation as supporters of the governor are accusing the leadership of the APC in the state of tactically backing the senator against the governor.

    Also on the platform of the ruling APC, another possible candidate is Hon. Saheed Popoola, a member of Kwara State House of Assembly. A grassroots politician of note, he was the only local government chairman elected on the platform of the then opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2007. His political camp are of the opinion that with his popularity across the district, he stand a good chance of wrestling the APC ticket from both Governor Ahmed and the incumbent Senator.

    Gbemi Saraki

    Although she is yet to announce her intention to vie for the office in 2019, there are fresh indications that the former gubernatorial candidate under the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) in Kwara State, Senator Gbemisola Saraki may contest the 2019 gubernatorial race in the state. Gbemi is the younger sister to Senate President Saraki and feelers have it that he is not supportive of her rumored ambition and has been doing everything to dissuade her from rocking political boats in the state by seeking the APC guber ticket in 2019.

    But sources within the party confirmed to The Nation that the female politician is consulting party leaders just as her political associates impress it upon her to seek the ticket contrary to her brother’s admonitions. It is still unclear if she will go all the way and dare Saraki once again by contesting the governorship. “She wants to run but her brother and many party leaders are urging her not to. If she does, the crisis in the party will be made more complex,” a state official of the APC told The Nation.

    Already, some billboards with Gbemi Saraki’s name and picture boldly emblazoned on them now dot some parts of the state. “Meetings are now regularly held at her house in Adewole area of Ilorin and other places,” a source claimed.

    And to compound her brother’s lingering headaches, there are talks that should she fail to get the endorsement of the Senate President this time again, Senator Gbemi Saraki may be lured back to the PDP by her numerous supporters still hibernating in the opposition party.

    Feelers suggest that Saraki is currently considering some party chieftains from the northern and central senatorial district for the plum job of the governor in 2019. This perhaps explains why he is not disposed to Gbemi’s rumored aspiration. “For now, the Hon. Baago Patigi, a member of the House of Representatives, Bolaji Abdulai, the spokesman of the APC and Rt. Hon. Ahmad Ali, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly are being considered by the leader,” a source claimed.

  • Saraki, Ahmed urge Nigerians to pray for peace

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed have urged churches and their leadership to keep for Nigeria’s peace and sustainable development at all times.

    They said that Nigeria is currently going through socio-economic, political and security challenges.

    Speaking at the second session of the 15th synod of Anglican Diocese of Kwara state at St. Barnabas Cathedral, Ilorin, Senator Saraki said that all Nigerians have a role to play in nation building and good governance.

    “As a spiritual body, I will further urge you not to relent in your prayers and intercession for our nation as we all do not have any other place to call our own. The National Assembly, the Senate in particular, we seek your support and the need to work together as our doors are opened for your advice and consultation. It is high time we embraced our unity in diversity, respect for one another, eschew that tenets that will divide us”, he said.

    Represented by his deputy chief of staff, Gbenga Makanjuola, the Senate president also said that there is a light at the end of the tunnel if all Nigerians could work together.

    “Let our message from this synod be a message of hope, love and unity. Let us celebrate that which binds us together as people and as a nation and Nigeria will be better place for all of us and generations yet to come.

    “Over the years, the Christian community in Kwara state has played a vital role in sustaining the peace, unity and coexistence of our great state, hence this has helped us as inhabitants to live and relate harmoniously even in the face if socioeconomic and political challenges. Several times, our peace and unity has been tested but to the Glory of God, we are still standing tall”, he said.

    Also speaking, Governor Ahmed said that current challenges facing the country were huge.

    He added that, “but with divine prayers, our collective will and determination, we shall definitely overcome them and make our country great”.

    The governor charged religious leaders to continue to uphold virtues of love, unity, peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness, saying that they should encourage their followers to do same.

    He said: “We should always advise them to shun acts capable of causing disunity and religious intolerance. Without doubt, our diversity remains of one of the things that make us unique as a nation, and we must do everything within our power to promote religious and ethnic harmony, tolerance and understanding.”

    In his charge at the synod, themed, Finishing Strong”, Bishop of the diocese of Kwara, Most Rev Olusegun Adeyemi admission the federal government to find amicable and long lasting solutions to, “unnecessary bloodletting confrontation in Benue state among the state government, farmers and herdsmen.

    “This country belongs to all of us. The law of the land should be obeyed by all. If peace is to be long lasting, every sector of the community should be disarmed.”

     

  • Suspension: Omo-Agege appeals for calm

    Senator representing Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege, yesterday appealed for calm over his suspension by the upper chamber.

    Hours after the Senate handed 90 legislative day suspension, Omo-Agege released a four paragraph statement on his suspension.

    The statement signed on his behalf by his Senior legislative Aide, Prince Afe Duku read in part:

    “We owe our people a responsibility to address concerns arising from today’s proceedings in the Senate as they relate to the Most Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. Our first duty is to appeal for calm and we hereby do so trusting that there is no insurmountable challenge before us. There is adequate capacity to address the now widely reported “suspension” matter.

    “As already well-known by many, the issues acted upon today by the Senate are pending before a court of competent jurisdiction and therefore subjudice. It is the Senate’s view that the issues be withdrawn from court for an amicable resolution to hold. Until a resolution is reached, it is better to respect the court processes by not commenting on them.

    “Also, we note that as part of the resolution of the issues, the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki ruled that the Parliamentary Support Group, PSG, (Senate) for President Muhammadu Buhari should be disbanded. This should be a matter for the over 50 members of PSG to decide, possibly with President Buhari on whose behalf they openly work as Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic.

    “In the circumstance, we appeal for calm and assure that as a fervent believer in the rule of law, our Senator is in positive spirit. He deeply respects the institution of the senate and his good friends in the senate. He will never undermine them. He remains an ardent supporter of Mr. President’s agenda for a better nation for all and will continue to work assiduously for his re-election.”

    Meanwhile a source close to the leadership of the Senate said that Omo-Agege’s suspension had nothing to do with order of elections.

    He told our reporter that the suspension was primarily about Omo-Agege’s “filing a case a case in court after he had apologized to the Senate.”

    He added that the unsolicited apology was an admission of guilt.

    He noted that ‘Omo-Agege through his conduct and utterances was becoming a divisive element in the Senate which is not good for the institution of the Senate.”

                                                                                                                                                     

  • Assets declaration: Supreme Court rules on Saraki’s case July 6

    The Supreme Court on Thursday fixed July 6 for judgment on the appeal filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is standing trial for false asset declaration.

    The apex court will also deliver judgment on the cross appeal filed by the Federal Government on the charges.

    Justice Musa Dattijo, who presided over the matter, picked the date after taking arguments from both parties.

    When the matter was called, Saraki asked the court to dismiss the 18-count criminal charge of false assets declaration brought against him by the government.

    He told the court that the charges against him were frivolous, adding that a prima facie case was not established against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Counsel to Saraki, Chief Kanu Agabi, (SAN), while adopting his final address, insisted that the charges were brought against his client in bad faith by the government.

    Agabi said the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) empowered to investigate Saraki on asset declaration did not do so as required by law.

    He said rather than CCB investigating Saraki, a purported report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was used to prepare the charges against him.

    However, counsel to the government, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to hold that Saraki has a case to answer.

    NAN

     

  • Toyin Saraki launches campaign to combat maternal, child mortality

    Wife of Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki has launched a campaign to combat maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. 

    Mrs. Saraki, who is also the President, Wellbeing Foundation Africa launched the “What Women Want” campaign in collaboration with White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria WRAN).

    The campaign, which was inaugurated at Dutse Alhaji, Primary HealthCare Centre, Abuja on Wednesday, is a global advocacy to improve quality maternal and reproductive healthcare for women and girls and to sustain health systems.

    Mrs. Toyin Saraki, the President, Wellbeing Foundation, while inaugurating the campaign, said it was high time serious attention was paid to maternal and child mortality in Nigeria.

    Represented by Vice President of the organization, Mrs Amy Oyekunle, she regretted that Nigeria had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

    She said: “This programme is very important to us because Wellbeing Foundation, as an organisation, is focusing on maternal and child mortality.

    “We are focused on changing the narratives; improving the indicators around maternal mortality.

    “To do this, we have many programmes-one of it is the MAMACARE Antenatal and Postnatal Education Programme.

    “This is one the centres where we carry out this programme; what we do is to train and educate pregnant and nursing mothers on what to do with regards to their pregnancies.

    “We have discovered that maternal mortality is on the increase. But where women have the facility and trained and skilled healthcare workers, there is a change to the indicators-women are better treated, there is lower mortality rate.”

    On his part, National Coordinator of WRAN, Mr Tonte Ibraye, said the campaign was geared toward promoting quality healthcare for women and girls.

    Ibraye said the campaign was aimed at ensuring that women and adolescent girls had access to quality maternal and childcare services.

    He said that the campaign would last for two years, within which the group would share feedback forms from women and girls and the kind of services and healthcare they wanted.

    “We need to know what having access to equitable and dignified care means to them; this campaign is for everybody to join; we want to get feedback on what they want to see in a primary healthcare centre so that when they come again, they will have quality healthcare.

    “We are hoping to launch it everywhere depending on what our resources can carry; we want organisations to sign up to the campaign in whatever state or region they are. At the global level, a lot of partners have indicated interest in joining the campaign,’’ he said.

  • Saraki mourns late Sen. Mustapha Bukar

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Senator representing Katsina North, Mustapha Bukar, after a brief illness in Abuja.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the death of Bukar as one too many coming a few weeks after the Red Chamber lost Sen. Ali Wakili.

    “I am saddened to learn about the passing of another friend and colleague, Sen. Mustapha Bukar.

    “When I and some of my colleagues visited Sen. Bukar in the hospital after Jummat prayers last Friday, we prayed with him and we were filled with hope that he would soon recuperate and resume his normal life and legislative activities.

    “As a first-time lawmaker, Sen. Bukar stood out for the quality of his contributions on the floor, his pragmatism and his work to strengthen the institution of the legislature.

    Read Also: Saraki eulogises colleagues as 8th Senate passes 201 bills

      “We shall surely miss his vibrancy and progressive mindset.

    “But now that he is no more, we cannot query Almighty Allah over the incident because He gives and takes as it pleases Him.

    “The late Bukar was forthright and gentle in all his dealings.

    “This is indeed another painful moment for the Senate, a sad moment for his immediate family, his constituents in Katsina North Senatorial District and the people and government of Katsina State.

    “As we mourn his passing, my thoughts and prayers are with his family, President Muhammadu Buhari and the government and people of Katsina State.

    “I pray that the Almighty Allah, in his infinite grace, grant the dear and departed senator a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah firdaus,” Saraki said.

    NAN

  • Buhari returns to Abuja, attends in-law’s wedding

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday returned to Abuja after a 2-day working visit to Lagos state where he inaugurated some projects and also attended the 10th Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Colloquium.

    On his return, Buhari went straight to the National Mosque Abuja where he performed the 2-Raka’at Juma’at prayer.

    The President also witnessed the wedding fatiha of Hamza Ahmed and Hadiza Jika which was performed immediately after the prayer session at the mosque.

    Read also: Buhari, Abdulsalami, govs, others grace Dangote’s daughter’s wedding

    The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Governors of Nasarawa and Bauchi States, Alhaji Tanko Almakura and Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar respectively were among the dignitaries that witnessed the event.

    Other personalities at the wedding were the National Security Adviser to the President, retired Maj-Gen. Babagana Mongonu, cabinet ministers and former National Chairman of PDP, Ahmodu Ali.

    The groom, Hamza Ahmed, is a junior brother to Aisha Buhari, the president wife.

    NAN

  • Saraki eulogises colleagues as 8th Senate passes 201 bills

    As the 8th Senate passed its 201st bill on Thursday, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has commended his colleagues in the 8th Senate for their support and hard work.

    According to him, the chamber achieved this milestone because of the members’ dedication and commitment to their responsibilities.

    The Senate president made the commendation in a tweet on his personal handle (@Bukolasaraki), saying:

    Read Also: Saraki hails Senate for passing 201 Bills

    “As of today, the Senate has passed 201 Bills. We still have 15 months to go, yet, we have reached this milestone. I would like to thank my Distinguished Colleagues for their hard work and cooperation over the last 33 months.’’

    “Recall that the 5th Senate (2003 to 2007) passed 129 Bills in all; the 6th Senate (2007 to 2011) passed 72 Bills and the 7th Senate (2011 to 2015) had a total of 129 Bills, respectively,” he said.

    NAN

     

  • WAEC: Senate inaugurates committee to investigate recurring mass failure

    The Senate has directed its Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) to interact with the Minister of Education to identify the causes of the recurring failure in the WAEC results with a view to finding remedies.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Sen. Umaru Kurfi (Katsina Central), who described the recurring mass failure of West African Examination Council ( WAEC ) results in the country since 2009 as embarrassing.

    The Senator expressed worry that the rate of failure continues to increase, saying it was prejudicial to the interest of Nigerians secondary school students and their parents.

    According to him, in both 2009 and 2010 WAEC, only 25.99 and 24.94 per cent respectively passed with 5 credits including Mathematics and English, while the remaining others constituting 70 per cent failed.

    “In 2011 May/June WAEC, only 86,612 out of the 1,540,250 candidates that participated in the examinations got credit in mathematics and English language.

    “Also in 2011 May/June WAEC, only 86,612 out of 1,540,250 candidates that participated in the examinations got credits in Mathematics and English Language.

    “In 2012 May/June WAEC, only 649,159 out of 1,672,224 candidates that wrote the examinations which represents just 38.81 per cent got 5 credits and above including in the core subjects of Mathematics and English language.

    “In 2013 WAEC, only 29.17 per cent candidates actually passed the Nov/Dec WAEC examinations while 70 per cent failed.

    “In both 2017 and 2018 recent January/February private examinations, only 26.01 per cent and 17.13 per cent candidates have passed with 5 credits including Mathematics and English language respectively, while the remaining over 70 per cent candidates failed,’’ he said.

    Kurfi regretted that the future of the country would continue to be bleak if urgent action were not taken to address the situation.

    Contributing, Sen. Barau Jibrin said that urgent steps must be taken to find reasons for the failure and remedies.

    Sen. Emmanuel Paulker said that the situation called for a grave concern, attributing the development to the problem from poor quality of education received at the primary school level.

    “And it is this same crop of students that will move to the secondary school. Some of them can hardly write or read; without a foundation, there is no way a house can stand.

    “Those formulating our school curriculum must sit up, if not, we have our future doomed,’’ Paulker said.

    On her part, Sen. Biodun Olujimi emphasised the need to evaluate the entire value chain in the education sector, saying, “There is need for revaluation to understand where the missing link is.

    “There is also the need to look at teacher education because we have some teachers who are not properly trained, who don’t do research and cannot read or write.

    “So, how can they teach our children well,” Olujimi said.

    In his remark, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki stressed the need to increase the value of human resources to promote quality education in the country.

    “I am sure the committee will work assiduously to get to the bottom of this matter and see that it is addressed.

    “Indeed the education sector need some reforms,’’ Saraki said.

    NAN