The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) in Niger on Wednesday called on the state government to review the salaries of its workers periodically in order to boost their moral and ensure productivity.
Tag: Minna
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Nigeria@57: Youths advised to learn from nation’s founding fathers
Malam Bashir Yankuzu, of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna has called on youths to learned from the sacrifices of the founding fathers as Nigeria celebrates its 57thIndependence.
Yankuzu, who lectures in the Department of Educational services told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Saturday that the struggled of the past heroes should not be in vain.
“Nigeria is celebrating 57 years of independence but many children born during that period are now adults or even occupying positions of leadership but many of them do not have clear knowledge of what the country passed through before attaining independence,” he said.
He attributed this lack of knowledge to why many were agitating for secession.
“What led to the first Biafra, how the war was fought and how the country finally became one as well the statements of those who finally surrendered to the Nigerian Army need to be well known by these agitators,” he said.
He said that at leadership level, the citizens needed to be more enlightened on why and how to call their leaders to account for resources earmarked for development.
Yankuzu said that agitators for secession for example should
channel their grievances correctly and hold their leaders accountable for the kind of roles they played in past regimes, if they had done that, the country would be a better place to live in.
“The independence celebration is coming at a strategic time of Ashura that Muslims are fasting in appreciation of safety Allah granted for Prophet Musa and his followers.
“It is my prayer that Allah will save our nation under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari from the terrible state it has become,’’ he said.
He called on Nigerians to be patient and support the effort of the present administration in its effort to fight corruption “to a standstill’’.
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A march to save Niger schools
A group of students, under the aegis of the Committee of Students’ Unions in Niger State-owned tertiary institutions (CUNOTI), protested at the Niger State Government House, Minna, last Wednesday, to draw attention to the challenges facing state-owned tertiary institutions. MAHMUD ABDULSALAM reports.
Incessant lecturers’ strike, unannounced increment in tuition fees, poor infrastructure, delay in computing students’ results and hiccups in scholarship disbursements are the bane of Niger State-owned tertiary institutions.
Worried by these, student leaders from tertiary institutions in the state, under the aegis of Committee of Students’ Unions in Niger State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (CUNOTI), staged an early morning protest last Wednesday to draw government’s attention to what they described as “rot in the education sector”.
The protesters were drawn from the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai; Niger State College of Education in Minna; Niger State Polytechnic in Zungeru; and Fati Lami Abubakar Institute of Legal and Administrative Studies (FLAILAS) in Minna. They trooped out in their numbers and marched on major roads in Minna, the state capital.
Tagged: Save our schools from collapse, the protest, the students said, was to call on the government to address issues negatively affecting their academic progress. They added that the perennial closure of their schools and fees increment remained hurdles against tertiary education in the state.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) and Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) joined the protest in a show of solidarity with their colleagues.
The protest, which was led by the president of the National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS), Lawal Abugi, started from the Abdulsalami Youth Centre at 6am, while a combined team of security operatives guided the protesters to make the exercise violence-free.
Clad in black polo shirts with the inscription “#SaveOurFuture”, the demonstrators moved to prominent government offices in Minna, before stopping at the Niger State Government House with their procession causing a mild gridlock on major roads.
They chanted solidarity songs as they marched to the state House of Assembly Complex to register their displeasure.
The also displayed banners and placards with various messages, such as: “Enough is enough, our tuition fees must be reduced”, “Declare Operation Aluta-Dance in state education”, “Change begins with our politicians”, “If una mumu never do, our mumu don do”, “Bad education begets bad leaders”, and “Quality education is our right, we strongly demand for it”, among others.
Addressing the protesters at the state House of Assembly, Faiza Salisu, NANISS Treasurer, said: “Acquiring quality education should not be the exclusive preserve of the children of the rich. We kick against arbitrary increment in fees charged by the College of Education in Minna, and IBBU. We want the state legislators to review the fees and enact a bill that will check the exploitation of the poor.”
When notified of the absence of lawmakers at the assembly complex, the students dropped a protest letter for the Speaker.
Abugi said doom awaited education in the state if stakeholders continued to pay lip service to the challenges facing students. He noted that efforts were required to save state-owned schools from collapse.
He said: “Needless strikes slow down the progress of our schools and aid the conscription of youths into crimes. In the past, we had willfully tolerated the late release and issuance of results to graduating students, but we cannot tolerate it any longer. There are benefits in timely scholarship payments to students. We believe the provision of basic learning facilities in all state-owned schools, creation of an enabling atmosphere for teaching and providing adequate funding are ingredients that will rescue our education from collapse. We cannot continue to watch helplessly while our future is being traded away by the inaction of stakeholders and policymakers.”
Abugi said the association was aware of the government’s effort to revamp tertiary education, but said the action would be meaningless if the stakeholders did not find a permanent solution to perennial lecturers’ strike in all the state-owned institutions.
Senate President of the Student Representatives’ Assembly (SRA) Aliyu Anas noted that a dysfunctional education bred uncultured, unskilled and morally-bankrupt youths, saying: “Patriotism demands that we ask for good and affordable education. We can never attain our career dreams when we continue to learn in dilapidated classrooms and obsolete facilities.”
The protesters marched from the state House of Assembly Complex to the Governor’s Office, in company of riot policemen, where they demanded an audience with the governor.
They were received by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, who reiterated the government’s commitment to providing quality education to its citizens. Ketso assured the students that an ad-hoc committee would be constituted to interface with them to address their plight.
The trio of the Chief of Staff, Mikail Mitosahi, Commissioner for Education Hajiya Fatima Madugu, and Senior Special Assistant on Youth to the Governor Salisu Ball held a close-door meeting with the protesting students’ leaders at the Government House.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered at the end of the meeting, which lasted over four hours, that Mitosahi promised that recommendations from the meeting would be implemented by the government.
Praising the students for being peaceful in their conduct, Mitosahi said: “The salvation of our education sector is imminent. We are committed to ending the menace of industrial disputes. Our students, henceforth, shall be beneficiaries of mouth-watering scholarship packages. We hope our intervention would end the era of late collection of results. These are sacred obligations we are committed to fulfil. We commend the protesters for displaying a high sense of patriotism, decorum and maturity in driving home their points.”
Hajiya Madugu said the ministry had initiated policies aimed at uplifting the standard of technical, entrepreneurial and vocational education in schools.
She said: “Your agitations could not have taken place at a better time. You have offered us your constructive and objective criticisms. Hence, the government would be proactive in doing the needful for tertiary education sub-sector. Our commitment to addressing students’ socio-academic plight remains absolute.”
Abugi, thanked the government’s negotiation team for conceding to their requests, stressing that implementation of the agreements would help in building human resources capacity for the state in the nearest future.
‘’NANISS is willing to partner the state government in eradicating the rot in our education,” he said.
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IG urges new recruits to eschew corruption
The Inspector-General ( IG ) of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, on Friday, urged the 465 new police recruits to eschew any act of corruption and be dedicated to their duties.
The police boss made the call at the Passing Out Parade of the police constables at the Police Training School, Minna.
Represented by Deputy Inspector-General ( IG ) of Police, Finance and Administration, Shauibu Gamb.
He said “I will not hesitate to deal decisively with any police officer found in acts which violate the law of the land, including the prosecution of such persons to act as deterrent to others.”Idris added that the 465 constables would be posted to their states of origin to ensure effective
community policing.He stressed that “you are, therefore, advised not to engage in any corrupt practices and any other nefarious activities.
“Nigeria is in a democratic system of government where the rights of citizens must be respected.”
The police chief assured the public that the Nigeria Police would continue to operate within its constitutional mandate.
He explained that “this made the police high command to launch `Our Creed,’ aimed at guiding officers’ actions while on their professional duties in line with international best practices.
“We shall ensure the rule of law prevails in our action and activities and operate within the principles of democratic governance.”
He lauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the recruitment of 31,000 police officers yearly.
Earlier, Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ibrahim Ketsu, lauded police efforts in the state.
Bello expressed the state government’s determination to continue to support the police for effective policing.
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FUT Minna sets to conduct 2017/2018 Post-UMTE screening – Official
The Federal University of Technology, Minna, says it will go ahead with the 2017/2018 Post-UTME screening despite the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff of the University.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Oluwole Morenikeji disclosed this a statement signed by Mrs Lydia Legbo, the Institution’s Public Relations Officer and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.
Morenikeji, also Chairman University Pre-Admission Screening Exercise (UPASE), said that the institution has concluded all logistical arrangements needed to conduct another hitch-free screening.
He expressed optimism that the ongoing strike action would not affect the exercise since the Post UTME candidates are not yet bonifide students of the University.
He said that the University would employ the services of corps members who are serving in the institution to conduct the exercise and other people who have agreed to assist the University during the exercise.
He explained that since the examination is computer based, there would be no need for many invigilators.
” Those who are willing to assist us to conduct the exercise will be contracted and they will be paid for the job. So, I do not see any problem why the screening will not hold as scheduled” he said.
He said that the corps members have been trained on the procedures for the screening.
” We expecting 10, 000 candidates for the exercise and that over 7, 000 candidates have concluded their registrations as at Wednesday, September 13, 2017″
He further maintained that the deadline for registration for the screening remains 12 midnight of September 15, 2017 as advertised by the University.
According to him, failure to register for the exercise online before the schedule time would amount to disqualification.
On the facilities on ground for the exercise, the University has increased the number of computers at the Electronic Test Centre from 400 computers to 800 computers so that the exercise would only take four batches per day instead of eight batches that was used last year.
He stated that the University would only accept Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results and O’ Level results downloaded directly from the websites of the various examination bodies.
He reiterated that the University minimum entry requirements still remain five O’ Level credits including Mathematics and English Language obtained at not more than two sittings in subjects relevant to their proposed courses.
On the controversy surrounding the 120 cut-off marks set by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Morenikeji said it was not JAMB that set the cut- off score rather the decision was taken by all vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts who were at the meeting.
He said that it is the prerogative of University Senate to set cut-off marks.
He noted that admission into FUT, Minna is straight- forward and transparent, saying that candidates does not need to know anybody before they can get admission into the University rather their performance at the screening would get them admission.
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Customs intercepts N1.4bn contraband in eight months
The Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kaduna, has intercepted smuggled items valued at over N1.4 billion from January to August, its Controller, Aminu Dahiru, has said.
Dahiru said in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Minna, that a total of 1,357 items were seized during the period.
He listed some of the seized items to include second hand vehicles and clothes, trucks load of rice, vegetable oil, tin tomatoes, illicit drugs, mosquito coil, tyres, furniture and drones among others.
The controller stressed that the command would continue to mount surveillance and adopt measures to make smuggling impossible in the area.
“We have declared war against smuggling and have deployed competent officers to man all identified illegal routes used by smugglers to bring in unwholesome goods into the country.
“We have taken concrete measures to stop illegal importation of banned goods in order to contribute our quota in the promotion of Made-in-Nigerian goods,” he said.
Dahiru said that the zone has streamlined its mode of operations and equip its men to operate optimally.
He therefore called for support of stakeholders and traditional rulers in mobilising border communities to support the service in protecting the economy of the country.
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Court arraigns three men over theft
Three men charged with theft and receiving stolen property were on Friday arraigned at a Magistrates’ Court, Minna.
The accused, Kamal Aliyu, Naziru Salisu and Sadiq Sani are of no fixed address.
They were docked on a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, house breaking, theft and receiving stolen property.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Danladi, told the court that one Emmanuel Omoniyi of Railway Quarters, Minna, reported the matter at the Police Station on March 16, 2017.
Danladi said that the complainant alleged that some persons broke into his bedroom while he travelled on March 15 and carted away his Star Times decoder, a Nokia telephone and sum of N150, 000.
He said that during police investigation, it was discovered that a man called Koko, now at large, conspired with the first accused to break into the complainant’s room and stole his property.
According to him, the first accused was said to have sold the decoder to the second accused, who in turn sold it to the third accused.
Danladi said that the offences contravened sections 97, 347, 287 and 317 of the penal code.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable police complete investigation on it.
The Magistrate, Mrs Mariam Kings, ordered that the first accused should be remanded in prison, and granted bail to the second and third accused in the sum of N50, 000 each, with a surety in like sum.
Kings adjourned the matter until Sept. 20.
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Raping minor, man pleads guilty
A Minna Grade 1 Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday reserved judgment after a 32-year-old man, Ayuba Salihu, pleaded guilty for raping an eight-year-old girl.
The accused, whose address is unknown, was arraigned on a charge of rape.
Read also: Teachers arraigned for raping seven schoolgirls
Mr Abdullahi Mayaki, the prosecutor for the State Child Rights Protection Agency, told the court that the incident occurred on Aug. 31 near Gwari Market in Chanchaga Local Government Area.
Mayaki said the accused lured the unsuspecting primary school pupil with N100 into the market before assaulting her sexually.
Read also: Two teachers get N1m bail for ‘raping’ seven schoolgirls
The offence contravened Section 18, sub-section 2 of Niger State Child Rights Law.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the offence attracts life imprisonment.
Chief Magistrate Hassan Mohammed, who convicted the accused as charged, adjourned the case until Sept. 12 for sentence.
He said the adjournment would also enable the prosecution to get the medical expenses incurred by the girl’s parents.
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Two men bag 10 days imprisonment each for causing public disturbance
A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced two men to 10 days imprisonment each for public disturbance.
The Police arraigned the accused, Bala Haruna and Mohammed Usman, for incitement and causing public disturbance, contrary to section 114 of the penal code.
The police prosecutor, Insp. Ahmed Ali, told the court that a vigilante group arrested the two men and brought them to the police station on Aug. 12.
Ali said the two accused were terrorising residents of Paida Community in Niger with long sharp knives on a regular basis.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.
In her ruling, Magistrate Sa’adatu Gambo, ordered them to pay a fine of N5,000 each or serve 10 days each in prison.
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FUT Minna honours past registrars
The Federal University of Technology, Minna, has honoured four past registrars of the institution for their dedication and commitment towards laying a sound foundation for the institution.
They were honoured during the second Annual Registry Lecture of the institution.
The Registrar, Mrs Veronica Kolo, thanked her predecessors for offering their invaluable services towards repositioning the institution’s registry.
“We are honouring our past Registrars today based on our firm conviction that where we are today is as a result of their successive contributions. We are really indebted to them,” she said.
Two of the awards were given posthumously, while the other two past Registrars were physically present to receive theirs.
The awardees include Late Dr. Bitrus Sawa, the first registrar of the institution; Mrs Larai Ahmed, the second registrar; the Late Alhaji Umaru Abubakar Sadiq, the third registrar; and Mallam Muhammadu Datijo Usman, the fourth registrar.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Musbau Akanji, said that honouring past registrars of the university was apt and timely, adding that the reward was a testament that the foundation they laid was strong and had stood the test of time.