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Tag: Malam Adamu Adamu

  • ASUU may end strike within one week – Minister

    ASUU may end strike within one week – Minister

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, on Thursday said ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may be called off within one week.

    The minister stated this at a meeting with the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund in Abuja.

    He said that the ministry and other major stakeholders were already holding meetings with the union to resolve some of the issues that led to the strike.

    He assured that with the level of progress made in the negotiation, there was hope that students and lecturers would return to classes within one week.

    “The issue of renegotiation is already going on. I have already written a letter formalising the meeting I had with the union, because I went alone to face them and I wrote a letter which I gave them yesterday.

    “From the way they received it, I think it is possible that the strike will be called off within a week, maximum,’’ he said.

    Adamu said while explaining reasons for the strike, ASUU accused the Federal Government of failing to keep its side of the agreement.

    He assured that the Ministry of Finance had agreed to do the needful with regard to releasing funds as soon as possible.

    “The union had asked for N23 billion to be paid.

    `We said the condition for that N23 billion to be released was for them to account for the N30 billion they had taken which is a total of N53 billion and they were not able to account for it.

    “The Minister of Finance then undertook to do the audit from the ministry and we agreed that the result will be known within six months.

    “The Federal Government undertook to be paying them N1.5 billion each month during the time they are waiting for the outcome of the audit.

    “Their grouse now is that the forensic audit promised by the minister of finance has not been done and the money promised has not been paid.

    “So, at our meeting two days ago, we agreed that we will pay them and do forensic audit on the entire N53 billion.

    “I wrote to the minister and she has already approved it and this money will be paid; probably on Monday, they will be able to receive the cheque,’’ he said.

    Adamu, however, stated that his ministry did not agree on some issues during the meeting with the union.

    He said, “there are other issues which we did not agree on and that is their request to be taken out of Treasury Single Account(TSA).

    “I told them that it is not possible because this is a new policy and government is not going to change it for anyone.

    “Concerning their salary shortfall, we said a lot of the reasons spring from what they are doing wrong.

    “They do a lot of employment without proper authority.

    “For instance, a university can decide to recruit 50 people and IPPIS is not aware. So, we insisted that institutions must stop doing that and they accepted.

    “There is also the issue of the registration of their pension commission. I think they have one or two issues to iron out with PENCOM and I believe they will also be able to solve the problem within a week.’’

    The Chairman of the senate committee, Sen. Barau Jibrin, said the committee was impressed with the briefing by the minister on the matter.

    He explained that the seriousness of the issue made the committee members to cut short their recess, and said that from the assurance given by the minister, students and lecturers would return to school shortly.

    Jibrin said, “we hope the proposal sent to ASUU by the minister will be accepted.

    “On our part, with regard to getting some of the issues captured in the budget, we will do our best to actualize it.’’

  • Education:  Nigeria in dire need of N4.4 trillion to reverse slide…Minister

    Education:  Nigeria in dire need of N4.4 trillion to reverse slide…Minister

    The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has said that Nigeria is in dire need of over N4.4trillion to fix the education sector. 
    The Minister who addressed  Progressive Governors Forum Parley on policy synergy held at the Presidential Hall Birnin Kebbi also revealed that there are 12.4million children out of the school, with North East contributing the largest chunk as a result of the activities of Boko Haram. 
    Ministers took turn to brief the All Progressive Congress (APC) governors on the activities of their ministries. The ministers were: Chief Audu Ogbe Minister of Agricultul, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun Minister of Fnance and Alhaji Adamu Adamu Minister of Education.
    The huge sum,  Adamu said was needed to reverse the decaying education sector. He expressed regret  that 12.4 million children were out of school in the country adding that the country was leading the world  in terms  of the number of  out of school children. Before now we have 11.4 million out of school children but now due to the book haram insurgency in the north east part of the country the number  has increased to 12.4 million’’ he said.
    Adamu also pointed out that about N42 Billion education fund is still available for the governors to access.’’ We will lower down the counterpart funding requirement to a level that is acceptable to you  to access the fund. We will also do our best to ensure the promotion of quality education and enrolment of children in our various  school’’. He added.
    He therefore urged the Governor’s to support the Ministry Strategy Plan initiated by the Federal Government.
    Speaking on the recent region subjects issue, the Minister said the whole blame should placed at the door step of the last administration.  
    Adamu told Nigerians  to hold the River State Governor,  Nysome Wike responsible as the subjects issue started under his watch as minister of Education.
     He explained that the CRK and IRK policy was formulated during Goodluck administration when the River State Governor was the Minister.
    The Minister therefore, said that he become baffled and troubled when Nigerian started rumouring that he Adamu Adamu has Minister of education want to Islamized Nigeria.
    He said: ” Nigerian should rather blame  River State Governor Welson Wike for formulating the policy during his tenure as a Minister of Education”.
    Minister of Agriculture,  Chief Audu Ogbe on his part assured the gathering that by the end of this year 2017, Nigeria would stop importing rice. 
     The Minister said further that about 200 rice mill  will soon spring up between now December.
    He also stressed that the country’s diversification policy was on and hopefully,  by year 2030 agriculture would have taken over from oil and gas.
  • FG set to stop uncertified teachers next year – Ajiboye

    FG set to stop uncertified teachers next year – Ajiboye

    The Federal Government has said it will not allow any teacher without Professional ‎ Certificate of the Teachers’ Registration Council (TRCN) to teach beyond 2017.

    This is part of the 3-years Ministerial Strategic Plan by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu which is designed to end unqualified teachers in Nigerian classrooms.

    The Registrar/Chief Executive Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Professor Olusegun Ajiboye made the disclosure in Ibadan on Tuesday.

    According to Professor Ajiboye, the Registration Council will put a stop to normal registration at the end of May 2017.

    He hinted that the first professional qualifying Examination of TRCN will take place at the end of September, 2017 designed to fully professionalise teaching in Nigeria and ensure that only those qualified are employed by government for quality assurance.

    The Registrar who noted that those who wants to use the normal registration has till the end of May 2017 added that the Buhari-led administration does not joke with teacher-professionalism.

    Ajiboye who noted that teachers who register on or before May 31, 2017 ‎ will be exempted from the qualifying examinations added that the Council has registered about 1.6million teachers since he assumed office.

    The professional qualifying examination, according to Ajiboye is designed in modules comprising category A (PhD holders), B (Master degree holders), C (Bachelor degree holders), and D (NCE holders).

    Ajiboye however said the induction in higher institutions will continue while the examination will be infused as part of the requirements of induction.

    “By the end of 2017, Nigerian children will be taught by only qualified professional teachers who can deliver the quality education desirous for the elevation of our children and our country. Professionalism ‎is the key for entering into the profession. Those who do not have what it takes cannot be trusted with the lives of our children. We are out to ensure a guaranteed future for our future leaders by ensuring that those who teach them are the best around. This will translate to higher performances and better value for professional teachers. The professional examination takes place by September ending and it is the first of its kind and we have structured it into modules of different categories. This is in line with the 3-year Ministerial strategic Plan education policy of the Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu.”

     

     

  • Reps summon Ministers over Queens College epidemic 

    Reps summon Ministers over Queens College epidemic 

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole  and his Education counterpart,  Malam Adamu Adamu  over the outbreak of an epidemic in Queens College, Lagos that led to the death of three students.

    The two Ministers were expected to explain steps taken by the Federal Government to remedy the situation.

    However, House Committees on Health and Education services have been mandated to investigate the death of the three students.

    The school was shut down after two students, Vivian Osuinyi and Bithia Itulua allegedly died of diarrhoea, between Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24, 2017.

    While 14 year old orphan, Praise Sodipo also died days later, many of students were hospitalized.

    The cause of the epidemic was linked to a contamination of the source of water supply in the school.

    The lawmakers also condemned threat of expulsion of any student whose parents make remarks on the issue on social media by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu.

    Adamu had, through a circular directed parents and students of the school to stop making comments on the incident, especially on social media or face expulsion from the school.

    Sponsor of the motion, Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who raised a motion of urgent public importance expressed disappointment over the handling of the issue by the Education Minister.

    “Rather than take action that would bring succour to students and their worried parents, the Minister chose a high handed approach to the matter,” he noted.

    He also condemned the insistence of the former Principal of the school that there was no disease outbreak as well as the remark of the Vice-Principal of the school, that the management of the college ought to be commended for taking care of over 2000 girls with only a few affected during the epidemic outbreak.

    The House Leader said the school should be investigated on how N663m allocated to it in the 2016 budget and N776m in 2017 were utilized.

    The joint committee was expected to obtain the action plan by the two Ministries to forestall a re-occurrence of a disease outbreak in the school.

  • FG, ASUU begins 2009 renegotiation agreement

    FG, ASUU begins 2009 renegotiation agreement

    The Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to re-negotiate the 2009 FGN/ University Based Staff Unions Agreement.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who performed the inauguration on Monday in Abuja, said the inauguration of the 14-man committee was done in demonstration of the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises.

    Adamu said that the team for the re-negotiation with unions from the polytechnics and colleges of education would soon be constituted as their respective Governing Councils are being put in place.

    The minister said: “The inauguration of the re-negotiation team is significant as it confirms to the unions that government is committed to keeping its own side of the promise.

    “It wants to ensure that an environment that is conducive for teaching, learning, research and community service is engendered through lasting industrial harmony in all our tertiary institutions.

    “Today’s inauguration kick-starts our drive for re-negotiation across the three segments of the tertiary education sub-sector –universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, starting with universities.

    “The administration in the ministry and the administration in the country does not consider the unions enemies or even opponents. As I have always said, ASUU, NASU, NATE and all other are patriotic people who are very concerned about education because what they are struggling for is not for their personal glory or gain. Therefore, you should be facing friends who are interested in education as you are.”

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Wale Babalakin, said a conducive environment in the tertiary institutions was the bedrock for development of a nation’s intelligentsia.

    Babalakin, who assured the minister that the committee would rise beyond expectations for the furtherance of tertiary education in Nigeria, appealed to the members to ensure that the task is not underestimated but carried out with the commitment of all to enhance education in Nigeria.

    “A conducive environment in the tertiary institutions is the bedrock for development of a nation’s intelligentsia. A nation’s development can be seriously enhanced by the active participation of the intelligence in the pursuit of the country’s developmental goals.

    “We want to also assure you that we intend to rise even beyond your expectations for the furtherance of tertiary education in Nigeria. This task should not be underestimated but with the commitment of all, we will provide a very serious enhancement for education in Nigeria,” he said.

  • Osinbajo identifies problems in education sector

    Osinbajo identifies problems in education sector

    • urges use of technology to address gaps

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday identified training methods for reading and writing as well as the quality of teacher education as the bane of education.

    Osinbajo said this in his address to the Annual  Education Conference with the theme“Learning Opportunities for All – The Critical Role of Teachers’’, in Abuja.

    He recommended investment in technology and new methods of teaching that could accelerate teaching, reading and writing as the best way to address the challenges.

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    “There are available methods today that can accelerate teaching, reading and writing.

    “But the reason that they are not available in the public schools is because we are not investing enough; not just in technology but in new methods and ensuring that those children in public schools have access to some of the better methods of reading and writing.

    “It is my respectful view that it is the responsibility of those of us who are educationists to think through the solutions for delivering relevant education with the very little resources available.’’

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    The vice president, however, said there was hope because the use of appropriate technology could close the education gap between the children of the rich and the poor.

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    “I strongly believe that the fastest way to bridge the gap between those who can afford the quality of education and those who cannot is technology.

    “Technology also provides the means to leapfrog the huge knowledge gap created daily between the hemispheric North and South.

    “Fortunately, technology is becoming cheaper and more intuitive.

    “It is, therefore, quite clear that teacher education itself must radically change; teacher training must be technology-driven.

    “I also think that a teacher must be trained in a much wider curriculum.

    “A teacher must be trained in employability skills, project management, financial management and entrepreneurial skills and technology skills even programming for those who are interested.

    “Training this new generation of young people is a new challenge.

    “Today, we are training individuals who must learn to multi-task and compete in the global society.

    “The best jobs will require complex skill; the good news is that this type of training is available and can be made much cheaper and more available.’’

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    The vice president expressed the hope that the conference would provide the platform for participants to engage in vigorous debate on some of the important issues affecting the future of education in the country.

    According to him, the future of the country depends on education, adding that a lot of issues needed to be resolved, including the ideological underpinning of Education for All.

    “Education is a tool of empowerment; the lack or inadequacy of it can also disempower; so, education can create or deepen inequality in the society.

    He said such could create a well-educated few with access to best opportunities and others who are simply not qualified enough to take advantage of the best opportunities.

    He also noted the huge disparity between the quality of public education at primary and secondary levels and what obtained in private schools in the country, adding that it should be stopped.

    According to him, there is segregation in Nigerian schools based on the income and the standard of education of parents.

    He said it was important to engage in technology in public schools to bring the quality to the standard in private schools.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in his speech, said that the ministry was interested in ensuring that the teaching profession was not a dumping ground for unqualified people.

    Adamu said that the low quality of entrance into the profession would be addressed while training institutions would be made to match the demand and supply.

    He also said efforts were being made to improve the welfare and incentives for teachers as well as ensure adequate professional development for them.

    He said quality education was a right of the citizens, adding that children in disadvantaged and conflict zones must be captured in the provision of quality and inclusive education for all.

    In his lead paper on the conference theme, Prof. Kwame Akyeampong of University of Sussex, United Kingdom, said that Nigeria had a wide gap to fill in the global education map.

    Akyeampong, however, added that the country had increasing learning opportunities while teachers should close the wide gaps for the development of the country.

    He noted that 38 percent of Nigerian school children were not learning the basics in education, which in turn, affected the quality of professionals and teachers in the society.

    He underscored the need to produce teachers who could bridge the cultural and religious gaps in the country and advised the administration to improve the learning opportunities for the less privileged.

    The don further recommended the adoption of a three-part strategy of improving the quality of teaching as well as developing coherent, systematic approach to managing teachers effectively.

    He also suggested the training of teachers who could help to rebuild education services in emergencies.

  • ASUU threatens to embark on strike

    ASUU threatens to embark on strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike to press home its demands for the implementation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

    The ASUU Lagos Zone Coordinator, Prof. Olusoji Sowande, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Sowande said that the union was planning to toe this part after several efforts to ensure that the government address the pending demands, proved abortive.

    He said that the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on funding of state universities, breaches of the conditions of service and re-negotiation of the agreement, were still pending.

    The coordinator also mentioned other demands like the exclusion of Nigerian universities from Pension Management Company and non-release of NEEDS Assessment Intervention Fund.

    He said that funding of state universities, earned academic allowance and renegotiation of the agreement were parts of the outstanding issues.

    Sowande recalled that the union had embarked on strike in 2012 and 2013 as part of the efforts to make the government implement the agreement, adding that the issues remained unresolved.

    He said that the 2009 agreement provided for a periodic review after every three years which had not been done.

    “The review of the agreement should have been undertaken in 2012 and 2015 but that did not happen.‎

    “The implication is that our union has shown enough patriotism and understanding on these matters in the last four years.

    “We are perplexed and disappointed that both the Federal and State Governments are not responding to our consistent appeals to bring about genuine transformation in the education sector, ‘’ he said.

    According to him, embarking on strike has never been a favourable choice as the Students and ASUU members have always suffered the pains more.

    “It is unfortunate that the only language government appears to respect and listens to is that of industrial action like strike,”he said.

    The don said that the National officers of the union had met with the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on May 10 and tabled ten-point demand.

    He said that the minister had promised that the issues would be resolved within two weeks but nothing had been done till now.

    Sowande said that based on MOU signed in November 2013, “Nigerian universities requires N1.3 trillion to revitalise the system’’, adding that the government was already in arrears of N605 billion as at the third quarter of 2016.

    He said that the government had refused to release N128 billion and N250 billion respectively for the earned academic allowance of three years after the MoU was signed.‎

    “In order to forestall this avoidable crisis, we appeal to all genuinely progressive individuals and groups to prevail on both the Federal and State Governments to commence release of funds for the listed purposes.

    “This is to arrest the brewing and potentially combustible situation in the Nigerian university system before it degenerated into a serious conflagration,” he said.

  • Entrepreneurship key to ending unemployment – Minister

    Entrepreneurship key to ending unemployment – Minister

    Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu Thursday said that entrepreneurship holds the key to solving the mounting unemployment challenges of the country.

    He spoke on the occasion of National Conference on Entrepreneurship Education at Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Uwanna  Afikpo, Ebonyi state.

    The programme was held by the institution in conjunction with the National Board for Technical Education.

    Adamu who said that entrepreneurship is key to survival in the present knowledge based economy urged students, graduates and unemployed youths to embrace entrepreneurship as  a way out of  unemployment.

    According to the Minister who was represented by a Director in the Ministry Dr. Chimezie Aguiyi, in an effort to combat Youth Unemployment and Eradication of Poverty, the National Council on Education (NCE) approved the mainstreaming of entrepreneurial education into the Senior Secondary Schools Curriculum in 2012.

    He said: “The NCE also made it compulsory for students to offer at least one trade and entrepreneurial subject at the senior secondary education level”.

    ‘’Some states have challenges with the implementation of the Trade and Entrepreneurship component of Senior Secondary Education Curriculum’’.

    “The concept of education stems from the realisation that education is not only a tool of impacting knowledge, ability to read and write nor investment in human capital or an index towards economic development of the nation, but also an avenue for the acquisition of values, attitude, skill and knowledge needed in impacting positive change in the immediate and larger environment; as well as the development of an individual to appreciate the dignity of labour.

    Earlier, the Rector of Akanu Ibiam Federal Poly Unwanna Ven. Ogbonnia  Ibe-enwo urged graduates not to be job seekers but job creators by engaging in entrepreneurship, adding that white collar jobs which they have been relying on is no longer available.

  • FG will harmonise university tuition fees – Minister

    FG will harmonise university tuition fees – Minister

    The Federal Government will harmonise tuition fees in all federal universities to stop arbitrary charge of fees by some university authorities.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, made this known while fielding questions on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “Since the protests started, we have summoned the authorities of the universities and sat down with them and we are going to harmonise everything.

    “Because, I think it is N45,000 that is the maximum that should be charged. I know in some places, there has been other arrangement.

    “But the ministry would harmonise everything and I believe there will be no more protests over fees, ” she said.

    NAN recalls that the Universities of Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt were recently shut down following students’ protests over increase in fees, lack of water and power supply on the campuses.

    Adamu said that the Federal Government was discussing with management of the affected universities, adding that efforts were also ongoing to introduce harmonised fees for all federal universities.

    Adamu, who decried the excessive fees charged by private tertiary institutions in the country, explained that the government does not have the power to regulate fees in that sector.

    “First, I will agree with you that they charge exorbitant fees. But I wish I had the power to do something about it. If I had the power I would stop them.

    “But I think the thing is being treated like a market where you buy what you can afford. But I do believe the government should intervene, “he said.

    On the industrial peace that has prevailed in the education sector since the inception of the Buhari administration, Adamu attributed it to partnership with the unions.

    He stressed that the government would strengthen partnership with all the unions in the sector to sustain the existing industrial harmony.

    “ASUU and the other unions are very patriotic people who are concerned about the state of education in Nigeria. And most of what they do is motivated by this belief.

    “So, as far as I am concerned, they have got fellow travellers in this administration.

    “I believe the president and his ministers are really passionate about education. And they would want to do everything to make education succeed.

    “ASUU and the administration are going in the same line. So, we would not have a ground to disagree.

    “We are not waiting for unions to strike before we go to them. So, we are already making the approach to all the unions. So, I think there would be no strikes.

    The minister pledged government’s commitment to release N200 billion annually for the implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Report, to enhance the quality and standard of tertiary education.

    He added that fate of tertiary education depended on the full implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Report, which according to him, “this government is committed to deliver’’.