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Tag: Wike

  • Wike’s group tackles labour leaders over visit to Amaechi

    Wike’s group tackles labour leaders over visit to Amaechi

    The Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI), a group backed by the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has condemned the labour leaders in Rivers State, for visiting Governor Rotimi Amaechi and allegedly taking sides in the deepening crisis.

    GDI alleged that the labour leaders: Chief Chris Oruge, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers chapter; his counterpart of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Chika Onuegbu and the Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Rivers chapter, Chukwu Emecheta, were acting Amaechi’s script.

    The President-General of the GDI, Bright Amaehule; its Secretary-General, Samuel Nwanosike; and the Chairman of the GDI in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers state, Collins Onunwon; yesterday at a news conference in Port Harcourt, accused the trio of playing to the gallery.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers chapter, through its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, also yesterday distanced the main opposition party from last week’s solidarity visit and pledge of support by opposition parties in Rivers state to Amaechi.

    GDI said: “Oruge, Onuegbu and Emecheta, who claim to be the mouthpiece of the NLC, TUC and JPSNC members in Rivers state, are all relatives of Andrew Uchendu (a member of the House of Representatives from Rivers state), who is a known supporter of Amaechi.

    “It is not surprising that the relatives of Uchendu are acting the script of their master, Rt. Hon. Amaechi and some members of the Rivers House of Assembly.

    “It is indeed shameful and an apparent show of hypocrisy and incompetence on the part of the trio, that in October, November and December 2012, when the monthly allocations of Obio/Akpor LG council were seized by Governor Amaechi, without due process and in clear breach of the law, the self-styled labour leaders did not make any comment.

    “The sole and flimsy reason for the seizure of the allocations was that the Obio/Akpor LG council did not participate in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise of September 2012. The labour leaders kept quiet, when the affected workers were NLC members and worst hit financially.

    “It is clear from the acts and actions of the self-styled leaders of the NLC, TUC and JPSNC in Rivers state that they are engaging in partisan politics, which the civil service rules abhor.

    “The members of GDI are calling on the members of the Rivers House of Assembly to immediately rescind the suspension of the Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG, Prince Timothy Nsirim; his deputy, Solomon Eke; and the 17 councillors, to make for law, peace, tranquility and development of the area.

    The Wike-backed group called on the police in Rivers state, not to be deterred or distracted by the cheap blackmail of the Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, but to continue to do their constitutional duties, especially of protection of lives and property.

    The ACN said: The members of the CNPP have jettisoned their role and appear to have given in for a pot of porridge. Participants in the visit are members of parties already deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “ACN believes that rather than act in a manner that showcases them as a frustrated lot by these already-deregistered political parties, leaders of the group would have demonstrated a better posture by calling on the Rivers state government to put its house in order, to forestall the rascality of the officials.

    “It is important that we state in clear terms that the ACN, as a responsible and focused party, was not part of the delegation to the Rivers State Government House, to declare support for Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in PDP’s internal crisis in the state.

    “We state clearly that we (the ACN) will not and never associate ourselves with any of such moves that negate the essence of our corporate existence in the democratic dispensation in the state.”

     

  • ‘Why Presidency, Wike are persecuting Amaechi’

    ‘Why Presidency, Wike are persecuting Amaechi’

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Prince Chima Nnokam, in this interview with Bisi Olaniyi in Port Harcourt, speaks on the current political crisis in the state

     

     

    What is the cause of the deepening PDP crisis in Rivers State?

    I have worked with the two main dramatis personae in the crisis- Barrister Nyesom Wike and Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and I can say categorically that the root cause of the problem is greed on the part of the persons fighting the governor. These people are those who have benefitted tremendously from the governor. They are his products.

    To which of the camps do you belong?

    Obviously, there are two camps. But I belong to the camp being victimised for standing up in defence of injustice from power mongers, which is that of Governor Amaechi.

    What do you make of the joining of forces by a former governorship candidate in Rivers, Chief Sergeant Awuse, and an-ex Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara, with Chief Nyesom Wike in fighting Governor Amaechi?

    These are highly respected elder statesmen, who have brought themselves low by their actions. Should we now refer to them (Awuse and Opara) as Wike’s boys? To say that I am very disappointed in this show of shame is to put it mildly, but I am certain that they will soon realise and distance themselves from this charade.Governor Amaechi is not new to betrayal of this sort from his brothers and sisters.

    You said you have worked with Wike, what kind of man is he?

    I worked closely with him at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when he was the Chief of Staff. He is regarded as a desperate, covetous and smart political gladiator, who will go to any length to achieve his selfish desire. Wike is somebody who has denied the Ikwerre people a lot of things despite the fact that the governor gave him a free hand as the Chief of Staff.The irony of the issue is that most of the people now rallying round Wike were the same persons Wike decimated and disconnected from Governor Amaechi’s government in his first tenure. When Wike was the Chief of Staff, no Obio/Akpor person could get close to the gate of the Government House, Port Harcourt, without his consent. Those who did, did so secretly.

    How will you react to the problem between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi?

    Governor Amaechi has denied having any quarrel with President Jonathan. What offence did Governor Amaechi commit as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) when he presented the governors’ views and decisions to the President, especially on the issues the governors had unanimously agreed on?

    On the issue between Governor Amaechi and Dame Patience Jonathan in Okrika, did the governor commit any crime, when he merely pointed out actions that affected his good plan for the people? On the oil well issue, do we expect Governor Amaechi to just keep quiet, while injustice is being meted out to Rivers people? Governor Amaechi was right in concluding that President Jonathan backed the payment. I also do not see any wrong doing in calling the attention of the Federal Government to the problems occasioned by the delay in the completion of the East-West Road.

    Where will these problems lead us?

    I see the present problem as a way God wants to expose those who do not mean well for the state. God will put them rightly where they belong. As a lawyer, I expect Wike to ponder on the implication of his action on his people. It is also rumoured that he is using the platform to advance his governorship ambition, believing that it is the turn of Ikwerre South since Governor Amaechi is from Ikwerre North.

    It is being insinuated that Governor Amaechi has not done much for his people, the Ikwerre. What is your reaction?

    Why will anybody say such a thing? It is good to use this medium to set the record straight. Governor Amaechi in this state lobbied for an Ikwerre man to become the Commissioner for Education during the Chief Rufus Ada-George’s era. Governor Amaechi also lobbied and produced the first Ikwerre man to be appointed an ambassador. He also nominated and secured a space for an Ikwerre man to be appointed as a Resident Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Amaechi nominated and supported the first Ikwerre man to be appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It is also on record that the incumbent governor of Rivers State lobbied and positioned the first Ikwerre man as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.It is undisputable that Governor Amaechi is being vilified by persons who had greatly benefited from him. He appointed an Ikwerre man as the Chief of Staff, Government House (Wike), with enormous power, unprecedented in the history of Nigeria. It is common knowledge that he nominated an Ikwerre man, who was made a minister of the Federal Republic, who eventually became the Minister of State for Education (Wike). It is also not in doubt that Governor Amaechi was instrumental to the appointment of an Ikwerre man as the President of the Customary Court of Appeal. All the persons you see around Wike now are all contractors carrying out various projects in the Federal Ministry of Education. That is their only reason for supporting this act of treachery and shameful betrayal of trust. Rivers people are aware that this whole thing is not about the good of the average Rivers man, because none of them has accused Governor Amaechi of poor performance or financial recklessness.

    How will you describe police’s sealing off of the secretariat of Obio/Akpor LG?

    The Speaker and members of the Rivers House of Assembly would have saved the state the present problem and crisis if they had not acted in a hurry to suspend Obio/Akpor Chairman, Prince Timothy Nsirim; his deputy, Solomon Eke and all the 17 councillors. All the lawmakers failed to do was to exercise patience for another 24 hours, within which the said petition would have been presented to the House in plenary and the Speaker, given his powers, would have referred the petition to a joint committee comprising the Public Complaints and Petition Committee and the Local Government Administration Committee. Given that the pro-Amaechi lawmakers in the Assembly are in the majority, delaying the process would have yielded the same result and there would not have been the need for all the happenings. I also condemn the invasion of Obio/Akpor LG secretariat by policemen. It as an affront on the Nigerian Constitution.

     

  • Wike dares Amaechi to expose his opponents

    Wike dares Amaechi to expose his opponents

    The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, has dared Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to expose his opponents – as he threatened to.

    The minister, who Amaechi’s Chief of Staff and the Director-General of the Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011, spoke yesterday at the Rivers State secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, during the inauguration of the four committees instituted by the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive of the ruling party.

    Obuah said it was time to rebuild the PDP, promising to ensure unity and a level-playing field.

    Wike said: “I hear they say they will expose those who are fighting them. It is too late. You have power to have exposed anybody, yet you did not expose. Since you did not expose, there is nothing that you will do now that will make meaning to anybody.

    “The reason you want to expose now is because people have stood up to challenge the wrong things you are doing.

    “As for me, you do not need to go anywhere. I worked there as Chief of Staff; the documents are there. The files are there; carry them and do whatever you want to do. You do not need to go and ask from anybody.

    “It is not just only one man or people that will want to speak; when you finish speaking, other people will speak.

    “One thing I will advise the chairman of the party, please in the name of God, do not go to church and sing praises of God and you leave the church and begin to do something God does not like. If you know you will do bad things, do not go to church and call the name of God in vain.

    “Let me say clearly that despite all these things, people are saying I led the court victory that has brought about the change. It was not just me, but all of us that led the victory. This is because without your support, the chairman would have succumbed, when his house was acquired forcefully, because he wanted his mandate.

    “If not for your moral support, I would not have had the courage to continue. We would have abandoned the case and the victory would not have come.

    “When people talk about injustice, autocracy and dictatorship, now that somebody cannot say what he wants to do. If you say it, the next thing they will do is to acquire your house forcefully. That period of intimidation in the state is over.

    “There is no position that is permanent in life. Every position is tenured. I always tell people, you do not need to bother, I’m happy, people can today be empowered. If they buy car for you, if they give you anything, it is your entitlement. It is not any favour. It is the resources of the state. It is our commonwealth, the resources of our fatherland.

    Wike told Obuah: “Now you have inaugurated the committees, allow them to do their work with their minds. Then you look at what they have done; even if what they do is not what you want, but because you have given them that responsibility, please allow them to do it. Do not interfere with their jobs.

    “Let them go and fish out every one that is aggrieved, those who were the founding fathers of this party, who we can no longer see today, but as long as they are still alive, go and bring everybody back on track. The more, the merrier. PDP is a big umbrella that can accommodate everybody.

    “You (chairman) cannot run the party alone. Always consult the elders and members. No one man can run a party. By the constitution of the PDP, the governor of the state is the leader of this party, I must tell you that.

    “Whatever you are doing, you must consult the governor, because he is the leader of the party. If you do not, then you are not being fair and not following the constitution of the party. As you are consulting the governor, consult other members of the party, the elders and leaders at different levels.

    “The constitution says the governor of a state is the leader of the party. So, I am not the leader of this party, as far as the state is concerned. I am just a minister. The constitution does not allow me to be the leader of the party, but the governor.

    “You know that the governor ought to be here, but because of his tight schedule, he is not here; but he rest assured that as I leave here, I will communicate to him what you have said.

    “When you are in a position and suddenly power changes, it does not affect people at the same time to fall along. The reality is that you do not expect people to be immediately happy with the present situation. There is time for the father to pamper the angry children, feed them well and make them to be loyal to the father.

    “Note that there are no two PDP, as far as Rivers State is concerned. There is only one PDP and for the secretariat, there is only one party secretariat, as far as I am concerned. Let me tell you, for those who are dreaming, that another person will come and take over from Go Round (PDP chairman), power has changed hand and no man can change it, as far as God is involved.”

    Obuah said: “Well-weaning Rivers people earnestly desired a change in the level of impunity that was hitherto the order of the day in the state.

    “PDP members wanted a change that would reflect their collective interest and not the selfish interests of a few foisted on party faithful. When collective interests are jettisoned in favour of selfish interests, often than not, disagreements always set in.”

  • Amaechi, Wike and battle for Rivers’ political soul

    Amaechi, Wike and battle for Rivers’ political soul

    The ongoing crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the attendant battle for political supremacy among its major stakeholders is redefining the power dynamics of the oil-rich state, reportsAssistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

     

     

    No one saw it coming. For the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and his supporters, the unexpected judgment of the Abuja High Court, presided over by Justice Ishak Bello, that sacked the Godspower Ake-led Rivers State PDP executive council, caught everyone unprepared.

    In the words of an aide to the governor, “The judgment caught us unawares. We were banking on the fact that since a Port Harcourt High Court had affirmed the election of Ake, another court of concurrent jurisdiction will not decide otherwise. Now, we know better.”

    Like a well scripted plot, the flurry of activities that ensued 24hours after the judgment was as dramatic as it was spell binding. First, the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, inaugurated a new executive council, led by Mr. Felix Abuah, which won the suit against the Ake-led council. The inauguration was witnessed by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesome Wike, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Austin Opara, among others.

    Swearing-in over, Abuah with his supporters stormed Port Harcourt to formally take-over the reins of the party. Their arrival at the Port Harcourt airport was a carnival of sorts, with hundreds of PDP members in the state on hand to welcome them.

    From that moment till date, the Rivers’ political space has been on edge with a camp loyal to Amaechi fighting for its political relevance and survival against forces loyal to Wike and by extension, President Goodluck Jonathan, whose relationship with the governor has been frosty in recent times.

     

    Dissolution of LG executives and Amaechi’s counter-move

    To stamp his authority on the running of the party, Abuah dissolved 10 local government executive councils of the party, which are believed to be loyal to Amaechi, replacing them with caretaker committees. This move, according to sources, was to obliterate the governor’s structures in the party at the grassroots.

    Not done yet, Abuah issued a stern warning to Amaechi and his supporters to stop denigrating Jonathan and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, or face expulsion from the party. Abuah was obviously referring to a statement by the Chairman, Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives, Dakuku Peterside, who was alleged to have said that the Abuja High Court ruling that sacked Ake was influenced by ‘the oga and madam at the top.’

    Within days, the governor’s camp responded in kind. The Rivers State House of Assembly, whose 27, out of its 32 members, are believed to be loyal to the governor, sacked the Obior/Akpor Local Government Council whose administration is said to be loyal to Wile.

     

    2015 governorship race now dicey

    If the present power dynamics in the oil-rich state remains sustained till next year when preparations for the next general elections kicks off in earnest, can the governor determine who succeeds him in 2015?

    At the last count, five people are reported to be interested in taking over from Amaechi. They are Wike; Senator representing Rivers East, Magnus Abe; another serving senator, George Sekibo, a former governorship aspirant, Tonye Princewill and Dakuku Peterside, the 42 years-old Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream).

    Wike, the arrowhead of the battle against Amaechi, has expressed his interest in the race. A die-hard supporter of the president, however, the fact that he hails from Ikwerre like Amaechi, sources say, may count against him.

    Some months ago when members of the president’s kitchen cabinet realised that Amaechi’s belligerent posture to Jonathan was getting out of hand, a plot was hatched to cut the governor to size. Wike, it was gathered, was allegedly handed a clear brief to decimate Amaechi’s hold on the state’s politics.

    Backed with heavy logistics to make actualisation of the agenda smooth sailing, some of the measures agreed on include first, take control of the state PDP; infiltrate the House of Assembly to turn against Amaechi and also enlist the support of other stakeholders who have one score or the other to settle with the governor.

    The Nation gathered that the Presidency has been quite satisfied with the minister’s efforts so far. This factor may work in Wike’s favour when the battle for the 2015 governorship race gets under way.

    For Magnus Abe, his candidacy may not fly though many party members in the state believe he has the experience and comportment to be governor. A close associate of the governor, Abe has refrained from making any controversial statement since the crisis in the Rivers PDP started.

    Sekibo, The Nation gathered, has been making quiet moves in the last few months in order to become the PDP governorship candidate for Rivers State in 2015. Sources revealed that the fact that he has not openly identified with Amaechi and activities of the state government in the last two years has not gone unnoticed in the Presidency, which may settle for him as a consensus candidate when the dust finally settles.

     

    Is Peterside the choice of Amaechi?

    Unconfirmed reports have it that Peterside is the preferred choice of Amaechi to succeed him in 2015. That probably explains why the young lawmaker has been very strident in his criticisms of the Presidency’s perceived onslaught against Amaechi.

     

    Amaechi’s few options

    If the governor is eventually forced out or sidetracked in the affairs of Rivers PDP, which the persistent battle against him could lead to, an aide of the governor disclosed that several options are already being looked at to guarantee the latter’s political future.

    The first option, according to the source, is to keep exploring the legal angle and hope that the judiciary comes to the governor’s rescue by restoring the Ake-led executive council.

    Another option being canvassed by a minority in the governor’s camp is to defect to the emerging All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) or the Labour Party (LP). But in the opinion of the majority, this move may not come that easy. The argument of this school of thought is that with the total control of the structures of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state which is arguably the biggest partner in APC in the state by Dr. Abiye Sekibo, an alleged political foe of the governor, then moving to APC should be foreclosed for now.

    Moving to APGA is also fraught with obstacles. The party in the state is controlled by men loyal to ex-governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, and led by its 2011 governorship candidate, Sir Celestine Omehia, whose six months tenure as governor in 2007 was cut short by a ruling of the Supreme Court, which sacked him and installed Amaechi. In spite of the public rapprochement of the trio, sources disclosed that their relationship remains frosty.

    The LP is also not an option for Amaechi and his supporters, revealed a source within the camp. The reason may not be unconnected to the decision of the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, who is the major financier of the party not to do anything that would put him at daggers-drawn with the president.

     

    Amaechi’s no-love-lost with ex-militants

    Another factor that may come into play in the 2015 battle is the perceived influence of some ex-militants in the politics of the state.

    These ex-militants, it was gathered, enjoy a no-love-lost relationship with Amaechi, who waged a relentless war against them on his assumption of office in 2007. One of them, Ateke Tom, not only had his camp in the outskirts of Port Harcourt destroyed by security agents on the orders of Amaechi, he was also literally declared a persona-non-grata by the state government.

    The big question is: will Amaechi overcome his political travails or get consumed by them? Time will tell.

     

  • 40 Almajiri schools ready, says Wike

    40 Almajiri schools ready, says Wike

    Forty Almajiri schools are ready for commissioning in various states, Minister of State for Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has said.

    Speaking at the March edition of his meeting with contractors and consultants handling the projects, Wike said that the schools would be handed over to the benefitting states in April.

    He said of the completed projects, 22 have been inspected and furnished, while final inspection and furnishing are yet to be carried out on 18.

    The minister praised the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC), for the transparent nature payments to contractors has been handled.

    The schools that are ready for commissioning are mainly in the phase one.

    Wike urged the contractors handling phase two and phase three of the project to speed up work, so the hand-over can take place by May.

    The meeting was attended by the permanent secretary of Federal Ministry of Education, Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala, and the Acting Executive Secretary of UBEC, Prof. Charles Onocha.

  • We’ll sanction erring contractors, says Wike

    We’ll sanction erring contractors, says Wike

    Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike has said the Federal Government will sanction any contractor who fails to deliver the girl-child model schools.

    He urged consultants handling the projects across the country to submit status reports.

    Wike spoke at Oginibo, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State while inspecting the Special Girl-Child Model College on Monday.

    He said the reports of the consultants would form part of the process for the handing over of the schools.

    Wike said the consultants should specify fully completed projects and also spell out projects that require direct intervention from the Federal Government to facilitate hand-over to states.

    He said: “These reports would assist us in meting out sanctions to contractors who have failed to meet scheduled time-lines for project execution.

    “We shall also sanction contractors proven to have failed to execute their contracts in line with approved specifications”.

    On the quality of work at the Oginibo Special Girl-Child school, Wike regretted that though the projects was nearing completion, it had structural defects that must be addressed.

    Speaking at the sites of library projects at the Federal Government Girls College, Ibusa and Federal Government College, Warri, the minister urged the contractors to expedite action on their work to ensure they hand over the projects to government by the end of March.

    Delta State Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Pat Ejetoh, assured the minister that the board would participate in monitoring contractors handling the projects.

    The minister also visited the library project at the Federal Government Girls College, Benin, Edo State.

     

  • Wike blasts states

    Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike has accused some states of shirking their financial responsibilities under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Act.

    Wike traced the dilapidated school buildings in the country to the culture of awarding contracts without monitoring performance and delivery.

    The minister spoke at the seventh Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with the Executive Chairmen of SUBEBs in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

    He said though the Federal Government is ready with its matching grants, most states default by refusing to provide their counterpart funds.

    The minister said besides providing grants, the Federal Government provides free textbooks and library resource materials as well as the retraining of basic education teachers.

  • Wike: we’re not happy with headteachers

    Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike has said the Federal Ministry of Education is not happy with the quality of leadership provided by headteachers of unity schools.

    Wike spoke in Enugu yesterday at the opening of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of headteachers of unity schools.

    He said due to the low performance of headteachers, appointments would be based on measurable criteria.

    “The minister and I are not satisfied with the quality of leadership that you offer.

    “We are determined to raise the performance and achievement levels of our pupils.

    “From now on, appointment of headteachers to the unity schools will be based on measurable criteria to be established and adopted soon by the Federal Ministry of Education”.

    The minister said the continued stay or retention of headteachers in office will be determined by the outcome of a summative performance evaluation to be administered annually on all principals of unity schools.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Uche Chukwumerije, praised the ministry for taking measures to revive the colleges.

    Enugu State Acting Governor Sunday Onyebuchi represented by the Commissioner for Education, Uche Otoanya, thanked the Federal Government for investing in the unity schools.

    Permanent Secretary in the ministry MacJohn Nwaobiala urged the head teachers to work hard to achieve development goals of the government for the schools.

     

  • ‘7.5m female students drop out of schools’

    ‘7.5m female students drop out of schools’

    The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday said that of the 10 million primary and secondary schools drop out nationwide 7.5 million were females.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu in Abuja.

    It stated that Wike made this known while declaring open a capacity building workshop to scale up Mothers’ Association at senatorial level in Sokoto.

    According to the statement, the figure is not good for the future of the girl-child in the country.

    The statement said the workshop was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) office for the seven states of the North West geo-political zone.

    Wike tasked mothers in the North West zone to shape the future of their female children and to ensure that they enrolled them into schools.

    The minister was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Education in the ministry, Mrs. Elizabeth Omotowa.

    Wike also said the capacity building workshop was aimed at empowering mothers to shore up the enrolment capacity of children in their communities.

    “We believe that the children are closer to their mothers and that the mothers can make impact in the lives of the children, especially the girls in their community to encourage them to attend school,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying in the statement.

    Wike expressed optimism that the capacity building would meet the ministry’s set objectives through improved enrolment among girls.

     

     

  • Wike to banks: pay contractors

    Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike has called on banks working with the Federal Government on the execution of projects in the basic education sector to pay contractors promptly.

    The minister hailed the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC) on the improvement in the execution of almajiri schools, Special Girl-Child Schools and library projects in the country.

    Wike spoke in Abuja at a meeting with banks, contractors and UBEC management.

    He regretted that the execution of several basic education projects have been stalled due to delayed payments by banks.

    Wike urged the banks to stop delaying payment to contractors to enable the contractors meet up with the expectations of the Federal Government.

    He said: “For one week, work cannot be done by several contractors due to the non-payment by the banks.

    “ I have decided to follow this issue closely because we must deliver on schedule.

    “These are government funds. They are not funds borrowed from the banks and must be released accordingly without impediment.”