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Author: Alpha Maidawa

Reps. seek solution to out-of-school children
Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has urged members to attend Thursday’s plenary dedicated to seeking solutions to high rate of out of school children in the country.
Gbajabiamila who made the announcement at the plenary on Tuesday promised to publish vote and attendance of members for the assessment of their constituents in national dailies.
He said that the electronic voting system would be used to determine what each member voted for and those who were absent.
“Thursday has been dedicated to out of school children otherwise known as almajiri children.
“Please be present at the plenary as we shall be setting aside everything to addressing this matter.
“Attendance will be taken and I do not mean the sign in register, we shall use the electronic voting and publish what each person voted for and those absent and it will be published in the papers,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said that the 9th Assembly promised accountability to constituents and that voting on major issues would be made public for constituents.
According to a survey conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), it shows that there are more than 13.2 million out of school children in Nigeria.
The survey showed that most of the children are in northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where Boko Haram insecurity has disrupted academic activities.(NAN)
March 10, 2020
Almajiri: Senate tells FG to upgrade existing model schools
The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to upgrade the existing almajiri model schools and build more to increase the number of school enrolment.
This is in order to reduce the number of out-of-school children on the streets.
The call was sequel to a point of order moved by Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi) during plenary.
The motion was entitled: “The need to Integrate Almajiri Education into Modern System of Education in Nigeria as a matter of Urgent National Importance”.
The Senate also mandated its committee on Basic and Secondary Education to come up with ways and means of collaborating with state governments on how to get the 14 million children that were currently out of school enrolled in basic and secondary education programme.
Aliero while raising order 42 and 52 noted that over the years the Federal Government had made commendable efforts to reduce the menace of street begging by introducing Universal Primary Education (UPE) Scheme 1976 and re-introduced Universal Basic Education (UBE) in September 1999.
He noted that the Almajiri was one of the persons covered by the UBE Act 2004 for the purpose of provision of basic education.
“The UBE Act 2004, Part 1 section 2 (1) states that “Every Government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age”, he said.
He said that based on UNICEF findings, there were more than 14 million out of school children most of them being almajiri roaming the streets of major cities in Nigeria begging for alms and food.
“The past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan embarked on laudable project by building boarding almajiri integrated model schools in which these children are enrolled and given both Islamic and western education, inaugurated in Sokoto,” he said.
Aliero, however, expressed worry that some of the structures were either laying fallow or put into uses other than what they were originally intended for.
“Some of the facilities in the almajiri model schools are already decaying as they have never been put to use.
“Two weeks ago, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano announced the ban on street begging in the state and launched the Basic Education Service Delivery for All.
“The new policy prohibits street begging and will penalise the parents or guardians of children caught begging on the streets,” he said.
He further said that in spite of government’s efforts at integrating the almajiri into modern education system, the implementation of the policy had not achieved the desired result.
Supporting the motion, Deputy Chief Whip, Sabi Abdullahi said that the issue of almajiri was situated in the legislative agenda of the 9th Senate.
He noted that most of the out of school children in the north were the almajiri, saying that this was an abuse of the right of these children.
“With the spate of kidnappings, many of them are products of the almajiri system,” he said.
Abdullahi called for collaborative effort between the executive and the legislature to tackle the problem as a national menace.
In his remarks, President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan said that out-of-school children were big social, economic and security problems to an extent.
He called on parents to ensure such children were enrolled in schools to better the society.(NAN)
March 10, 2020
Insecurity: Lawan advocates constitutional role for traditional leaders
President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan on Monday advocated for a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges.
Isa Mohammed, his Special Assistant on Media in a statement, indicated that Lawan made the call when a delegation of traditional and political leaders from Taraba State paid him a visit in his office.
The delegation was at the National Assembly to participate in a public hearing on a bill to establish Federal College of Education, Mutum Biyu, Taraba.
The Senate president said: “there is no way we can succeed in the fight against insurgency or any insecurity without the support and cooperation of traditional rulers.
“One thing is obvious, when traditional rulers had the mandate and official responsibility to administer their places before the local government reforms of 1976.
“I think our security situation was better because our security architecture included them.
“That is not the situation today, and when we face such very profound security situation that we have today, it is time to look at giving traditional rulers more formal responsibilities in the administration of our country.”
The Senate president raiding the present security challenges made it more auspicious for the Senate to look at the possibility of giving constitutional responsibilities to traditional rulers during the forthcoming constitution review exercise.
“We need to do that so that we do not need to run to them only when we have issues, they should always be there to support any administration that is in power to administer the country,” he said.
Lawan said the Senate was working hard to come up with far reaching resolutions on how to address the security challenges facing the country.
He said the Senate had set up an ad-hoc committee under the Chairmanship of the Senate Leader, noting that the report of the committee would be debated hopefully this week and come up with solutions and views on how to end the insecurity.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Taraba Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr Edward Bararaya, thanked the Senate President for his support for the bill.
Bararaya said Taraba lacks higher institutions particularly, those of training teachers, saying that the College of Education if established, would improve access to education for the people of the state.(NAN)
March 10, 2020
Army begins training engagement with Californian National Guards
The Nigerian Army on Monday commenced training engagements with Californian National Guards of the United States.
The engagement which is ongoing at the Warrant Officers Academy in Jaji, Kaduna, was part of the measures toward curtailing security challenges in Nigeria.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, noted that the engagement with the Californian National Guards on Training Nigeria soldiers was due to the growing insecurity witnessed in the last two decades around the world.
Buratai, represented by the Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Stephen Olabanji, said that the transnational nature of the security threats necessitated multilateral and bilateral efforts in the forms of alliance and coalition between states and inter-governmental organisations.
According to him, the United States is spearheading the war on terror both within her territory and in faraway regions making her one of the most experienced countries in the handling of irregular warfare.
“This training engagement is timely and a great opportunity for the United States and Nigeria to share their vast operational experiences,” Buratai said.
He charged the participants of the training to derive maximum benefits and the Americans to give their best for the benefit of Nigeria’s peace and security.
In his speech, the Commandant, Warrant Officers Academy, Brig.-Gen Sale Kawugana, said that the reason for the engagement with the Americans was due to the vast nature of security threats faced in Nigeria.
“We need alliance and coalition with other countries in order to curtail the security challenges we are facing.
”The engagement with the Americans would help the soldiers to adjust and improve on approaches to our perception of issues and method of tackling the threats,” he said.
The team leader of the Californian National Guards, Sgt. First-Class Kelvin Brandy, said that soldiers were the backbone of the fight against terrorism and therefore had to be engaged in all sorts of military tactics and training.
“By teaching them, we are also learning from them, it will all translate into a better understanding of what is needed for a proper security.
“A lot of times, it’s just not understanding what we are fighting, once we learn, understand and share knowledge with one another we can adjust properly to each of those concerns throughout the country, not just in one area or region,” Brandy said. (NAN)
March 10, 2020
FRSC to ban roadside parking in FCT
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it is prepared to move against motorists parking by roadsides in the FCT, to control traffic congestion and accidents.
The FRSC Sector Commander, FCT, Gora Wobin told News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that roadside vehicular parking contributes to traffic and incessant accidents resulting to loss of lives and properties.
He said that such misconduct would no longer be condoned from motorists in the territory.
Wobin said that the Corps has cautioned drivers and other road users to desist from such act, adding that they are now on the lookout for violators of such order.
“We are now towing such vehicles,” he said, adding that the exercise began in Wuse, Zone 7.
“They said charity begins at home, so I had gone to sky memorial and went through that axis to pull out cars that were parked anyhow.
“Nobody is allowed to park on the road, although that has always been the case and I think towing vehicles is the only way a typical Nigerian will do what is right.
“I do not just believe in arrest or towing like that, but people need coercive means to comply, and that is the only way you see them do what is right and it is not supposed to be so.”
According to Wobin, other measures are also going to be taken by the FRSC to further ensure safety of roads in the FCT.
“Even the issue of commercial drivers carrying two passengers in front of their vehicle and four at the back has to stop.
“We are already working on addressing that too, although our officers might face assaults and attacks from them but we will not relent.”
Wobin, who urged road users to obey traffic rules and regulations for their own safety and that of others, admonished motorists to desist from parking by the roadside. (NAN)
March 10, 2020
Coronavirus: ACF suspends 20th anniversary celebration
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF ) on Tuesday announced the suspension of its 20th Anniversary celebration earlier slated to hold in March, till further notice.
The Secretary General of the Forum, Mr Anthony Sani, made the disclosure while presenting a brief report to the ACF General Assembly in Kaduna.
“The planning and organization of the ceremony commenced six months ago, but the recent resurgence of kidnappings and killings in some parts of the North and Kaduna state in particular as well as the global outbreak of Coronavirus made the leadership to keep the event on hold till further notice.
“To mark it’s 20th Anniversary, the forum thought of celebrating the occasion in March 2020 with a view to assessing progress made since it’s inception in the year 2000.”
Sani also informed the Assembly that the ACF’s application for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) “was declined because of some misinformation arising from mistaken identity.”
According to him, the ACF leadership had, however, responded to clarify the position of the Forum and was awaiting the response of the CAC.
“We are still awaiting the decision of the relevant authorities,” he said. (NAN)
March 10, 2020
Deposed Emir Sanusi harps on loyalty to successor
The deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi ll has called on people of the state to remain peaceful and law abiding.
Sanusi made the call in his farewell message shortly before he was whisked away from the palace on Monday in Kano.
The dethroned emir, who spoke in Hausa Language called on his family members and relations to declare allegiance to whoever succeed him as the next emir.
“We wish to call on the public to remain peaceful, whosoever is made the Emir, we hereby instruct our family members, children and all those we have authority on to declare their allegiance to him.
“They should respect him; protect his dignity and integrity, and that of the Emirate. This is because his dignity and integrity is the dignity and integrity of this Emirate as well,” he said.
He used the occasion to thank the people of Kano for their cooperation; love, loyalty, obedience and prayers they have shown throughout the period of his reign as the Emir of Kano.
“We wish to thank the people of Kano for their cooperation in all these years, for the love, loyalty, obedience and prayer they have shown us.
“We wish to thank all those that have assisted us during our reign especially the members of our council and the chiefs that were loyal to us.
“We are also thankful to our relations who stood firmly in preserving our dignity and the dignity of this Emirate,” he said.
The deposed emir, who accepted his dethronement as a will of God, thanked the Almighty Allah for giving him the opportunity to lead the revered Kano monarchy.
He further called on Muslims to continue with the prayers they have been offering through the years, adding: “May Allah bless our dear land Kano with peace and tranquility.
“One of the blessings I have received from Almighty Allah is that He made me the Emir of Kano on June 8, 2014, kept me alive and healthy for almost six years on the throne of our blessed heritage.
“Today, Almighty Allah that made me the emir has destined and taken it away.
“We have always said that being an Emir is limited by time. The days Allah has willed for one to remain as emir is limited. Once those days are completed one must vacate the throne whether he wants to or not.
“As a result of that we accept whatever Allah wills. We accept; we are thankful, we are happy and we believe it is the best for us.
“May Allah bless you all, keep you alive and enrich our dear land. May He bless us with good leaders. May Allah bless this Emirate and our country at large.
“May He return back our land to us. We thank you, thank you and thank you so much as we depart happily, peacefully and thankfully’’.
Kano State Government on Monday dethroned Sanusi and enthroned Aminu Ado Bayero, as the 15th Emir of Kano. (NAN)
March 10, 2020
New ECOWAS Speaker pledges to enshrine accountability
The new Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Mohammed Tunis, has promised to enshrine accountability in the activities of institutions of the community.
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Niameh, Niger Republic on the sidelines of the on-going inaugural session of the 5th Legislature, Tunis said that citizens of the community deserve to know how their resources are spent.
The Speaker who already mooted plans to establish a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the parliament, said that he intends to check corruption within the community by ensuring better accountability.
He recalled with displeasure certain cases of corruption recorded in some ECOWAS Institutions, saying that the proposed committee would be able to address the challenges.
“In the first place, we are all aware of the fact that on several occasions, at different times, we have had situations of corruption in the commission and other ECOWAS Institutions.
“I believe that while the commission may be doing everything possible to ensure transparency and accountability, I do not see any neutral player in all of these to look into issues after the Auditor General’s report.
“In all parliaments, parliamentarians serve like the buffer: in our national parliament when the auditor general finishes his report, he will bring it to parliament where they will look at it independently.” he said.
He insisted that the right thing is for the report to be debated by the parliamentarians and all grey areas be addressed.
Tunis decried the situation where if there are issues with the report of the Auditor General, it is still the auditors that will address the issue.
“This to me does not add up at all.
“So my plan is to have this committee, prevail on the Authority of Heads of State through the Commission to approve it so it becomes a Standing Committee in the Parliament.
“So whenever there are audit reports, it comes to that committee and they have public hearings so that the public know exactly what is happening to their resources.
“I am very determined, in this particular parliament we will start with ourselves, we are going to ensure that there is transparency, we must be able to account for the monies that have been entrusted to us,” he said.
The Parliamentarian expressed commitment to enhance women and gender issues in the parliament and among member states.
According to him, he said that women must be encouraged to participate, urging all member states to fully implement the affirmative action for women.
He expressed disappointment at the abysmally low representation of women in the 35-member delegation from Nigeria.
He called on Nigeria to extend its big brother role to exemplifying gender parity in their election and appointment of delegates.
“One of the key areas that I am really looking at is to ensure that I empower women groups and networks across the ECOWAS region so that they will be able to participate in politics.
“Everybody is talking about affirmative action at our National Parliaments where we give women 30 per cent quota in governance be it in executive, legislature and the MDAs.
“But there has to be a starting point.
“So this is one area I am looking at to ensure that we have female participation in politics, not just politics but all mediation levels, women play very important roles in these things,” he said. (NAN)
March 10, 2020
FG implementing policies, programmes on Science, Technology to develop Nigeria— Minister
The Federal Government says it is implementing policies and programmes that will assist to enhance the development of Science and Technology for the development of the country.

The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Muhammad Abdullahi, made the remarks when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, at Government House, Katsina, on Monday.

Abdullahi told Gov. Masari that he was in Katsina to launch a new teaching aid “Technology Story Board” for science and technical schools.

The Minister acknowledged the contributions of Katsina State government towards producing manpower for technology and bio-research centres.

He commended the state government for putting in place structures that would enhance the learning of science and technical education in schools.

The minister expressed optimism that Katsina would compete favorably with other states in technical education.

The Minister used the visit to invite the governor to be the Special Guest of Honour during the forthcoming Science and Technology Expo scheduled to hold from March 15, to March 20, 2020 in Abuja.

Responding, Masari expressed the resolve of the present APC administration to develop Science and Technical Education in the state.

He said that was because Science and Technology were catalysts for societal growth and development.

Masari revealed that the state government would continue to support the newly-upgraded Ministry of Science and Technology’s Science and Technical Education Board and the Youth Craft Centre to enhance science and technical education in the state.

He observed that the new teaching aid would assist in imparting knowledge of science and technology to students.

The governor appreciated the minister for selecting Katsina to host the launching of the new teaching aid in the Northwest zone of the country.

Also in a remark, the state commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Rabe Nasir, said that the state had synergy with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology for the development of science and technology in the state.

The commissioner explained that nine schools in each state in the Northwest were selected to benefit from new teaching aid free.(NAN)
March 9, 2020
Gov. Oyetola seeks US support in education, mining, agriculture
Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun has solicited support of the United States of America in the area of vocational education and mining.
Oyetola made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the US Consul General, Claire Pierangelo and her team to his office on Monday in Osogbo.
The governor said the state needed the US support in the area of technical and vocational education to enable the youths to be self employed.
Oyetola said the state placed more emphasis on vocational and technical education as conventional education did not give room for skills acquisition.
“The conventional education does not give room for skills acquisition and the job is no longer there.
“But if youths can learn skills, then they will be self employed and that is why we need your support,” the governor said.
Oyetola also said that the state needed the support of the US in the area of mining, adding that the state was blessed with abundant mineral resources which are yet to be utilised.
The governor said the state needed collaboration with investors that would help government harness her resources for the development of the state.
Oyetola also said that the state had set aside land bank for agriculture, where interested investors could invest to boost food production.
He said the collaboration of the US in the area of health, tourism and youth development was also needed by the state government.
Earlier in her remark, the US Consulate General, Pierangelo, said her team were in state to find out what the priority of government is and where US could give its support.
She commended the state government on its health insurance scheme, adding that the US is willing to cooperate with Osun government in areas where it deemed necessary.(NAN)
March 9, 2020