…Parents raises alarm
Idibia Gabriel, kaduna
Parents of October 2017 Kaduna Water Board tragedy in which five students of Victory Schools kaduna, were drown in River Kaduna during excursions, have raised alarm over nonpayment of compensation to affected student’s parents.
The parents also said that while they appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari’s pronouncement to investigate and compensate families of the affected students, they lamented that the order and instruction of the President has not been carry out “or group of people might as well sat on the compensation.
Parents, in a press briefing on Thursday at Kaduna secretariat of Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, thanked Governor Nasir El-Rufai for adopting and approving the compensation, but expressed regret that Commissioner of finance sat on the compensation.
The parents, according to Commissioner of education, Alhaji Jaafaru Sani, said that the investigation has been concluded and recommendations made, report adopted and approved by Governor El-Rufai led executives council since 11th October 2018, including recommendations.
It as well directed that ministry to carry out the disbursement, and compensation be given to the beneficiaries of the victims of the drown students within two weeks.
The five of students of the victory schools incident occurred in October 11th 2017, when they went on excursions out of water board negligence and carelessness, parents said.
“How can being take to a walkaway in the center of river Kaduna constructed in 1892 by the British (colonial master) without divers, life jackets and even common or local fishermen?,” they queried.
According to them, series of letters have been written to Governor El-Rufai through the Commissioner of education and chief of staff to Kaduna state government house, but wondered why the letters did not get to him.
They therefore request for audience with president Buhari, finance Commissioner Kaduna State to release the compensation with two weeks from Thursday, and appealed that the investigation report be made available to the affected parents.
