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Tag: Kaduna state

  • Kaduna crisis: Is sack way out?

    IT has been interesting following the controversy trailing the ‘unsatisfactory’ performance of Kaduna State public primary school teachers in the competency test conducted by the government.

    Though, according to statistics released by the government, 76.9 per cent scored above the 60 per cent benchmark that the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) favours for the test, 66 per cent failed as far as Governor Naisr El-Rufai is concerned since they could not achieve the government’s 75 per cent benchmark.

    I am more with El-Rufai’s 75 per cent benchmark than the NUT’s 60 per cent because a teacher should be an expert in his subject area.  However, I disagree with the Governor’s plan to sack all the 21,780 workers who did not meet his standard.  This is because the statistics shows that the percentage of those who performed relatively well in the test was significant.

    If 33.9 (11,591) per cent scored 75 per cent and above; and 16.9 (5,766) scored between 70-74 per cent and another 26.1 per cent (8,759) achieved 60-69, then the government has fairly good teachers who can be re-trained to do even better.  I disagree with the government for lumping all those who scored between zero and 59 per cent together.  It is tantamount to putting good and rotten apples in the same basket.  The government needs to separate those who scored 0-49 per cent from those who achieved 50-59.  It can let go of those less than 50 per cent.  The others can be retrained and re-assessed to see if they remain fit for the job.

    I do not think driving all 21,780 teachers who did not make 75 per cent would aid the state’s development, especially when the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said some of those who failed the test were among those who have applied to replace those to be sacked.  A way out is to categorise the teachers according to their performance, identify their training needs, and retrain them.  As for the bad ones, and I mean those who did not make up to 50 per cent, the government can decide to let them go.

     

  • El-Rufai inaugurates economic planning board

    El-Rufai inaugurates economic planning board

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Wednesday inaugurated the state Economic Planning Board ( EPB ) as part of efforts to spur development in rural areas.

    El-Rufai said at the inauguration in Kaduna that the board would ensure effective coordination and preparation of local government development plans and budget to improve the people’s livelihood.

    Represented by the Deputy Governor, Barnabas Bantex, the governor said the state had already developed Local Government Planning and Budgeting Manual to guide local government officials in planning and budgeting process.

    He explained that the goal of reforming local government system was to maximise the potential of local councils to deliver qualitative public service at the community level.

    According to him, the step is taken to promote development at the grassroots by creating an autonomous, adequately funded, transparent and responsible local government system capable of delivering services to the people.

    “Kaduna State Local Government Reform Law 2017 has mandated the LGAs to develop a culture of participatory governance by encouraging community members to participate in the preparation, implementation and review of development plans.

    “These structural reforms are intended to give local governments a greater capacity for service delivery, promote development at grassroots and ensure policy alignment with the state and Federal Government policies.”

    Also, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Muhammad Abdullahi, said the EPB would provide the needed platform for collaboration between the state and the local governments to use resources efficiently.

    According to him, the EPB is established by law, based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended, and empowers LGAs to participate in development planning.

    He said that EPB would allow the state and LGAs to plan and strategise in order to move the state forward and improve the lot of the people.

    Abdullahi explained that the board had the Commissioner, and the Director of Planning in the state’s Planning and Budget Commission as the Chairman and secretary respectively.

    According to him, other commissioners and heads of agencies are members.

    He said that the EPB had the mandate to advise the governor on the development of local governments’ economy and measures necessary for efficient economic planning and budgeting.

    “It will formulate studies and produce statistical data to reflect the orderly, progressive and planned economic growth of the state and ensure effective coordination in the preparation of LGAs annual and multi-year budgets.

    “The Planning and Budget Commission is responsible for providing guidance and oversight on local government planning, budgeting and economic development.

    “It will also ensure that local government plans and development issues are fully integrated at the state level to harness the resources of the LGAs for the maximum benefit of the people.’’

    NAN

  • Don’t give condition before passing 2018 budget, Mikati tells Senate

    Don’t give condition before passing 2018 budget, Mikati tells Senate

    Reflecting on the 2018 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly, a former governorship aspirant in 2011 election in Kaduna State, Alhaji Shuaibu Idris Mikati has warned the National Assembly (NASS) members not to give condition before approving and passing the budget into law.

    In a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna, Mikati expressed worry over alleged comments by the lawmakers that without a cordial relationship with the executive arm of the government, the budget will not enjoy speedy passage.

    To this end, the former Gubernatorial Aspirant reminded the legislators that it will be to their own advantage if the budget is speedily passed because another general election is around the corner when they will give an account of their stewardship to the electorate.

    He further noted that quick passage of the budget will help the country to progress economically, socially and politically for the betterment of the citizenry.

    He, therefore, urged the legislators to put aside any form of settlement and work for the interest of the nation.

    He said: “The 2018 budget proposal presented on Monday by President Buhari appears to be well articulated as its seek to build on the modest successes achieved by the administration from the implementation of its first budget tagged budget of change and the second budget tagged budget of recovery and growth. The tag given to the 2018 budget being a budget of consolidation is quite apt and appropriate.

    “The challenges of implementation, as well as the passage of the appropriation bill, still persists.

    “One wonders the basis and or rationale of the comments made by the leadership of the National Assembly on somewhat putting a condition on quick passage of the bill to the cordial relationship between the legislature and executive.

    “Consideration of bills from the executive is not a privilege. Its a right and a duty of the legislators.

    “It’s above all in the mutual interest of the executive and the legislative arms of the government, being elected officials who would seek reelection sooner rather than later.

    “Without an appropriation, the much talked about and dividends of democracy would not be provided to the electorates and politicians would thus not have any project to show to the electorates. The legislature has had the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) presented to them months before now.

    “The fundamental assumptions behind the budget are also quite reasonable and realistic except for a few. The proposed oil benchmark price of $45 per barrel is conservative enough but I see the hawks in the National Assembly increasing the benchmark to at least $50 per barrel.

    “The daily crude oil production target 0f 2.3 million barrels per day appear to be too ambitious given the current level of investments in oil exploration and development, government’s inability to provide its portion of funding to oil companies and the issue of OPEC production quotas.

    “It’s gratifying to also note the increment in allocation to key sectors of the economy such as agriculture, education, transport and works and housing.

    “However there is need to look at health sector also because of its strategic importance to the nation. Needless to say that there is the need for improvements in the allocation to education and agriculture given the cardinal principles of the administration and governments commitments such as Malabo Declaration of budgeting at least 10% annually to agriculture and the need to achieve food security.

    “The composition of the estimate as regards capital, recurrent and debts servicing leaves much to be desired. It’s encouraging seeing capital expenditures reaching 30% of the budget but it’s worrisome to note the level of recurrent expenditures and debts servicing.

    “Government must find ways to drastically cut down on waste as well as the entire recurrent expenditure so as to significantly achieve improvements in capital spending.

    “Government must also exercise care and caution on the issue of debts servicing particularly with an increase in the level of both local and external borrowings. Dollar interest rates are set to increase which would hurt us more given our level of exposures now in foreign loans”, he said.

  • Kaduna PDP sets up four committees to woo back defectors

    Kaduna PDP sets up four committees to woo back defectors

    The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has set up four committees to woo back members that defected from the fold.

    The committees, according to the party’s state chairman Hassan Hyat, will also mobilise new members into the fold.

    Hyat on Sunday in Jos said that each senatorial district had a committee saddled with bringing back former members, while a central committee was wooing members from other political folds.

    “One of the senatorial district committees has turned in its report, while reports from the three other committees are still being awaited,” he said.

    According to him, many top PDP chieftains, who left the party in the last few years, have returned to rebuild the house they left.

    “Among the returnees are former commissioners, legislators and local government chairmen; we have left the door open and many others are still coming in,” he said.

    Hyat said that he was surprised at the quality and quantity of people rushing into the PDP in Kaduna State.

    “There is general dissatisfaction at the ‘other side’. The returnees said that they were deceived into abandoning a house they built and have promised to join hands with us to build it back to reckoning,” he said.

    He said that the party was ready to forgive “members that created crises and left”, saying that the PDP would give equal opportunities to returning members, new ones and those that had remained faithful over time.

    “We have not promised anyone anything. There is no automatic ticket for anyone, whether new or old.

    “We have promised that there will be no impunity or imposition. What that means is that everyone interested in anything would have to fight for it and get it on merit,” he said.

    Hyat said that the PDP was also wary of moles that were being planted to cause confusion and frustrate its rejuvenation to greatness.

    “Clearly, the PDP is getting more popular by the day and should normally attract those with evil intention, but we are being careful to identify such persons and know how to relate with them,” he said.

    On the party’s National Convention slated for December 8, Hyat said that the intensive competition for party offices was an indication of the rising popularity of PDP in the country.

    “We are moving through a developmental phase; it is a sign of strength. It means that the PDP belongs to everyone and offers equal opportunities to its members. It means that we are waxing stronger,” he said.

    Hyat said that the PDP had a good chance of making inroads in the 2019 elections because Nigerians had tasted another political party in power, and could now compare.

    “We lost power to the APC in 2015, but many Nigerians have compared the two political groups and appear convinced that PDP did a good job. So, there is hope that we could be given another chance,” he said.

    He said that Kaduna State witnessed massive developments in the eight years Sen. Ahmed Makarfi served as governor.

    “Makarfi constructed many roads, bridges and houses. He also created new traditional councils based on demands, and sank boreholes to improve the living standards of villagers,” he said.

    NAN

  • Hyat to KDSG: Sacking 22,000 teachers will create chaos in educational system

    Hyat to KDSG: Sacking 22,000 teachers will create chaos in educational system

    Mr Hassan Hyat, former aviation minister and PDP Chairman in Kaduna State, has cautioned the Kaduna government against sacking 22,000 primary school teachers said to have failed a competence test.

    “Sacking 22,000 teachers in one swoop will create chaos in the entire educational system of the state; government’s insistence on doing that is wrong-headed,” Hyat told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos.

    NAN reports that the state government has begun the recruitment of 25,000 teachers to replace 22,000 others that failed a competence test it carried out recently.

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai has declared that the decision to sack them was based on government’s commitment to entrenching quality, arguing that most of those in the system were not competent and lacked basic teaching requirements.

    But Hyat, who declared government’s position as “brash and too hasty”, said that government had no moral right to sack teachers it had never trained to improve their quality.

    “Teachers require constant training and retraining to meet rising and changing demands, but there is no record to show that Kaduna State primary school teachers were ever trained.

    “A lot of them have not been promoted for decades, while some do not receive salaries regularly. That has affected morale and should worry government. Sacking them will further destroy an already bad system,” he said.

    Hyat also faulted the process through which the competence test was conducted.

    Read Also: NUT warns El-Rufai not to sack teachers

    “The integrity of the process is still being questioned. Some people have suggested that government officials that conducted the test may have been instructed on what to do.

    “I feel that the exercise would have been more credible if it was conducted by the National Teachers Institute (NTI) and supervised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), to ensure fairness to the teachers,” he said.

    The PDP chairman said that government should have taken advantage of the presence of NTI in Kaduna to train teachers found to be incompetent, so as to improve their capacities.

    “Those said to be incompetent should be trained and not sacked because the new ones being recruited are products of those being sacked.

    “Government should have carried out a thorough assessment to determine the kind of training required by each teacher.

    “Efforts should have also been made to help those with deficiencies because there is provision for such in-service courses during holidays. A massive sack of teachers will create a huge imbalance in the system,” he opined.

    The former minister also advised government to investigate the allegations that names of dead and retired teachers were included in the list of those said to have passed the test.

    “The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has said that retired and dead teachers, as well as messengers and security personnel were among those that passed the teachers’ test.

    “Government should dig into that allegation because the NUT mentioned names of specific schools in Zaria and Igabi. Government should investigate further to ascertain the truth so as not to ridicule itself,” he said.

    Read: We will continue to support govt’s efforts at strengthening education – Kaduna Assembly

  • We will continue to support govt’s efforts at strengthening education – Kaduna Assembly

    We will continue to support govt’s efforts at strengthening education – Kaduna Assembly

    The Kaduna State House of Assembly said on Saturday it would continue to support the state government in its efforts at improving the quality of education.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Aminu Shagali, made this known at a news conference in Kaduna.

    Shagali added that the lawmakers would accord the state government the support it would need to ensure that the children of the poor received the quality education they deserved.

    He said that the best thing to do was to get everything right and ensure that the educational structure was in good shape.

    “The sixteen years of PDP administration did not do anything to improve the existing schools.

    “So what this administration is doing is to improve the quality of education and infrastructure of primary and secondary schools in the state,” he said.

    On the issue of state government’s planned disengagement of teachers alleged to be unqualified, he said those with complaints should applied for redress and remarking of their scripts.

    He said that the children of most of those making unnecessary comments on the issue “are not in public schools. Most of them there children are in private schools or studying abroad.

    “They don’t want the children of the poor to have good, basic education.”

    According to the speaker, the assembly has already set up a seven-member committee to investigate the issues raised by labour unions  and proffer solutions.

    He assured the people of the state that the House would continue to do its best possible to ensure that the education system in Kaduna was improved.

    “For the people of Kaduna state, I want to say that we were sworn-in with the two holy books that whereby we said that we would do everything possible to ensure that our state develops and the educational system improves.

    “We will make sure that everything improves in the state not only on education, but all other aspects,” he said.

    NAN

  • 2017 NIFES celebrates Nigeria’s unity

    Kaduna State hosted the 30th edition of  the Nigerian Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) with the theme, Nigeria’s Peace and Unity…Our Pride.

    Although the festival had been seen 29 past editions, this year’s edition, many of the participants said, was much better in terms of organization, harmony and rancour-free activities. The festival venue was the Kaduna Trade Fair Complex, along the Kaduna – Zaria Expressway.  21 states participated in the week-long event.

    According to the organizers, the major focus in this year’s event was to re-write the narrative about the Nigerian culture and to make people understand the important role it plays in the unity of the country and as a tool for economic empowerment.

    NAFEST initiated the skill acquisition workshop opened to everybody. More than 350 participants took part in the  workshop in different areas of economic empowerment. Participants were issued with certificates at the end of the programme.

    One of the participants at the skill acquisition workshop was the Director of Culture, Lagos Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Saidat Olaitan Suleiman, who was the leader of the Lagos State contingent to the festival.

    She talked about her experience: “The skill acquisition is quite informative; the learning instructor has been very engaging. He has broken down all the different processes for learning to us the students in such a way that we will be able to get it when we are on our own. It is participatory. He had to involve us in the process of making the different crafts that we have. I am so happy, as you can see; I am an adult with these children as well. It shows that there is no limit to what we can put our hands to. There is no end to the possibilities to which we can put our creative ability to. I’m glad I’m here. Not only will I go back to impart this same knowledge to my people, I intend to use it for productive endeavours for myself. So, I am learning to become an entrepreneur ultimately.”

    The Director General of NCAC, Otunba Segun Runsewe, also spoke on this year’s NIFEST: “Basically we have been able to introduce the skin acquisition programme, which is a major advantage to the NAFEST. Also in the history of NAFEST, this is the first time we have the next hosting state announced a year before. That is Rivers State.

    “Also before, there used to be controversy on results, people fighting and so on. Maybe not to perfection, but at least some major sanity has been restored. There is a leadership check. For the first time, no quarrel, nothing , we finished, nobody is complaining, no protest, nothing.

    “We have been able to use the festival to unit our people. If not for events like this, somebody can even tell you, I can’t go  to Kaduna, it is not safe. But look, we are all here, everything went well, everything is fine.

    “To me, there is room for improvement. We have added value to what we would come out with next year. This year, there wasn’t really enough time, but we still managed to give the best and made a statement.”

    Runsewe  also talked about the need to make Nigerians look inward and appreciate what is in Nigeria’s culture: “You see, the Nigerian people are open to tap any advantage that is available. Long before now, so many things did not get across to them. So, the Nigerian people would want the best and culturally if we get it right, the Nigerian people would benefit. Your question dovetails into two things: yesterday I went to the golf course in Kaduna.

    “You know we launched the cultural golf last week. People were now asking questions. That means they just wanted somebody to start. The local school uniform stuff, unfortunately we don’t have enough resources, but I want to start something…that any school that is ready to use adire we can even pay part of the sowing. The Nigerian people definitely want the best from their culture, but nobody is championing it. That is the honest truth.

    “You can see that NAFEST is taking a new shape now. Let me quickly tell you, next year, there I will be nothing like colloquium. No,  we will have village square interaction, I mean that sounds more cultural. You know we have introduced this calabash thing for opening and closing. People are now asking the question: What is this tape thing all about? We put kola, garden egg and so on inside the calabash.    So, there is a cultural content to this. “

    An elated Kaduna State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Culture,  Mr. Daniel Dan-auta, spoke on some of the gains from the festival.

    “The take to us from this gathering of Nigerian family, to us as a state is that we have got more assurance that as a nation, we have come to stay. Two, we have come to understand that what is causing most of the acrimonies that we are experiencing in the country today is the lack of knowledge and good understanding of one another. Because in the last seven days that Nigerians from all the states have come to converge on Kaduna, we have seen the unity, oneness and harmony that manifested from the coming together.”

     

     

     

     

  • Measles: Kaduna begins immunisation of 1.5m children

    Measles: Kaduna begins immunisation of 1.5m children

    Kaduna State Government on Thursday began a state-wide measles vaccination campaign targeting about 1.5 million children.

    The campaign would run in two phases, with the first phase covering 13 local government areas to run from Nov. 9-14, and 10 local governments under the second phase from Nov.17-22.

    Jonathan Makama, spokesman of the state Ministry of Health and Human Services, said the turnout so far, was impressive in areas where the vaccination started.

    He listed local government areas conducting the exercise as Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, Ikara, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kudan, Kubau, Makarfi Sabon Gari, Soba and Zaria.

    Makama advised parents to present children aged nine months to five years for the immunisation taking place in health centres, primary schools, palaces and homes of traditional rulers, Mosques and Churches nearest to them.

    “The second phase will hold from 17th to 22nd November 2017, and will include the following LGAs: Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kaura, Kauru, Lere, Sanga and Zango Kataf.

    “Caregivers are expected to take their children to the nearest vaccination post for immunization,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Kaduna IPMAN to hold election on Saturday

  • Deceased teachers, messengers among those that “passed” teachers’ test – NUT

    Deceased teachers, messengers among those that “passed” teachers’ test – NUT

    Deceased and retired teachers, messengers and security personnel were listed among “teachers” that passed the test conducted for primary school teachers in Kaduna State, according to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

    Malam Yahaya Abbas, NUT Chairman in Zaria Local Government, disclosed this on Tuesday in Zaria, while reacting to a mass protest by primary school pupils in Sabon-Gari.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the pupils were protesting against the sack of 21,000 teachers said to have scored less than 75 per cent in a test set set for them.

    “The result of the examination showed that only three or four teachers passed in many schools.

    “In some schools, retired teachers and teachers that died a long time ago were among those that passed.

    “The list of successful teachers sent to some schools also included names of their messengers and security personnel,” he alleged.

    The NUT chairman alleged that names of senior staff, especially those on level 14 and above, were absent from among those that passed, raising the suspicion that government was only out to sack them so as to reduce cost.

    Also reacting to the protest, NUT Chairman, Sabon Gari Local Government, Malam Rabi’u Usman, described the action of the pupils as their “personal opinion not influenced by anybody”.

    He said, however, that the children’s action was “a right step in the right direction”, and called on government to “do something urgently to save the situation”.

    Usman said that the union was not opposed to the examination, but was against the pass mark of 75 per cent, declaring that there was no examination with such a high pass mark.

    The chairman appealed to government to rescind its decision to sack the teachers before the expiration of the union’s ultimatum, or face the consequences.

    NAN reports that the primary school pupils had taken to Zaria streets to protest the sack of their teachers, and vowed to resist the action by the Kaduna Government.

    The pupils, who massed into all routes in the city, carried leaves and posters of Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i with “ba ma so” (we do not want this), written under it.

    Some of the pupils, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said that they were out of the classes and on the streets to register their objection to the sack of the teachers.

    The pupils appealed to the Kaduna State Government to reverse the decision in the interest of quality education in the state.

    Reacting to the protest, the Kaduna State government accused teachers of “endangering” the lives of the poor children by throwing them into the streets.

    The government, in a statement signed by Samaila Aruwan, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, warned that it would not accept such child abuse by teachers that had failed a simple test and were not qualified to teach.

    It said that government’s action was in the best interest of the education sector, adding that quality teachers were being recruited to shore up the fortunes of the sector. (NAN)

  • Ex- Police spokesman emerges 1st Nigerian to receive Irish Aid Fellowship Award

    Ex- Police spokesman emerges 1st Nigerian to receive Irish Aid Fellowship Award

    A former spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, Kaduna State Command, ASP Aliyu Usman, has become the first Nigerian to receive the Irish Aid Fellowship Award.

    Usman is now undergoing a Masters programme in Human Rights in Criminal Justice, at the University of Limerick, School of Law, a statement by the university said.

    “Earlier this year, Aliyu was the first Nigerian Police Officer selected to participate in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders and comes to the University of Limerick, School of Law, as the first Nigerian to receive Irish Aid Fellowship Award.

    “He emerged as the inaugural fellow of Irish Aid Roger Casement Fellowship in Human Rights after an extremely competitive process that attracted a large number of highly qualified candidates in Nigeria.

    “He was, moreover, chosen from over 22,000 Nigerian candidates that competed for 100 slots in the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

    “He studied Public Management at Syracuse University, New York and participated in Summit organized for the 1000 Mandela Washington Fellows at Washington D.C,’’ it added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Fellowship is to provide experienced, talented and motivated candidates the opportunity to avail themselves of world-class faculty and facilities in Ireland in order to contribute to the future development of Nigeria.

    It quoted Usman as saying that his selection came to him as an “ecstatic surprise’’.

    “The fellowship has strengthened my aspiration of becoming an efficient, well-trained and highly productive public servant that will work on improving Human Rights and Criminal Justice in Nigeria,’’ Usman added.

    NAN