The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has reiterated the commitment of the Administration to the development of the education sector and improvement of the welfare of FCT teachers.
He made this known while congratulating all the teachers in the nation’s capital on the occasion of the celebration of the 2020 edition of the World Teachers Day.
Saying, “Education is the bedrock of society and no nation desirous of progress and development can afford to ignore the education sector”
According to him; “We remain committed to the development of education in all its ramifications in the FCT and we will continue to commit time and resources to ensure that the sector meets up with the expectations of residents of the FCT.
Commenting on the importance of teachers in the society, Bello said that the quality of a nation’s educational system is largely only as good as the quality of its teachers. He therefore charged FCT teachers to renew their commitment to duty especially now that schools are getting set to re-open after the long forced closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“we remain committed to the improvement of the welfare of our teachers and recognize that constant professional training will ensure that they give their best in the discharge of their duties. A teacher cannot impart knowledge that he or she does not have. Training is therefore very essential.”
The FCT Minister also commended the efforts of Ms Omoregbe Doreen Osarobo of JSS Gwagwalada who was declared the 5th best junior public school teacher in the country during the World Teachers’ Day ceremony.
He said that her recognition was a testament to the hard work and dedication of FCT school teachers who have always impressed on the national stage.
The Minister also called on the various school administrators to ensure that they maintain the high educational standards that FCT public schools are known for.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has called on the new FCT Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Mathias Ohiemi, to leverage on the achievements of his predecessor in the fight against crime and criminality in the nation’s capital.
Bello gave this call when he received the new commandant on a courtesy visit to the FCTA.
Commending the outgoing commandant, Mr Patrick Ukpan, for his commitment and dedication to duty, the Minister pledged the continued support of the FCT Administration to the NSCDC.
The minister in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunleye stated that, “One of the achievements of Mr. Ukpan is the fact that he has been a very committed member of the FCT Security Committee and almost all our interventions, be it a Task Force, in-house security meetings or other brainstorming security sessions he was always there.
Directing his speech to Mr Ukpan, Malam Bello added: “On behalf of my colleagues in the FCTA, we wish you the best in your new assignment and we assure you also that we will give maximum support to the person taking over from you because at the end of the day, our objectives are all the same
He welcomed the new Commandant, the Minister assured him of a well-established Command which works in perfect synergy with other security agencies in the FCT.
Also present to receive the new commandant were, the, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin, the Director Human Resource Management Dpartment, Malam Bashir Mohammed, Director Department of Security Services, of the FCTA, Mr. Adamu Gwary and other senior management staff of the FCTA.
The World Bank has approved the extension of its funding support to the implementation of the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) in Nigeria.
Malam Suleiman Odapu, Information and Communication Officer of CSDP, gave this hint in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
While explaining that the world bank conveyed the approval in a letter addressed to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and copied to the National Coordinator of CSDP, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje.
Odapu added that the world bank extended its financing of the project to three months.
The statement reads in bits; “We are pleased to inform you that the Association has accordingly, extended the closing date of the project and associated credits and established to Dec. 31, 2020.
” As the later date for purposes of Section IV.B.2 of Schedule 2 of the Agreements” Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria stated.
” The CSDP was earlier scheduled to close on Sept. 30, 2020. The Federal Government of Nigeria had on Sept. 22, 2020 written to the World Bank requesting for an extension of the closing date of the Project.
” Government cited the need to strengthen the institutional framework for the implementation of the proposed Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) as part of the reasons for the request to extend the Project closing date.
” The Federal Project Support Unit of CSDP has been designated as the Focal Agency for the preparation of the N-CARES Programme,” the statement further stated.
Odapu, however, disclosed that that the CSDP became effective in 2009 and had assisted communities and vulnerable groups, including returnee Internally Displaced Persons to design and implement 17,048 micro projects in key sectors.
He said the key sectors are the rural economy such as education, water, health, transportation, electricity, environment and natural resources conservation and community Housing across the 29 states and FCT participating in the projects.
” The Project, using the highly effective and community friendly tool, the Community Driven Development (CDD) approach has positively impacted on the poor communities as a core strategy for alleviating poverty and promoting inclusive growth in the country since 2009.”
He recalled that the Federal Government had received the proposed CDD Policy for Nigeria which seeks to institutionalise and regulate the mechanism for bringing sustainable peace and development to underserved communities in the country.
He said that the policy was developed by stakeholders and coordinated by the Federal Project Support Unit of the CSDP.
The UN-Habitat Youth Programme-Nigeria said there is the need for governments at all levels and stakeholders in housing sector to invest more in housing development in the country.
Country Director of the Habitat, Mr Uzoh Ifeanyi gave the call on Monday in Abuja at the UN World Habitat Day 2020 celebration with the theme: “Housing for all: A better urban future”.
While explaining that the UN system observes the month of October every year as ‘Urban October’, adding that every first Monday in October had been designated to commemorate the world habitat day.
According to him, the day focuses attention on the state of the world’s town and cities with a view to remind people that they are responsible for the habitat of the present and future generations.
Ifeanyi said that increased investment in housing development was a faster way of creating more jobs for the teeming youth in the post COVID-19 era and ensure infrastructural development in the country.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) occupying various schools across the country.
“Most of such IDPs are likely to be displaced once again as schools resume after the Covid-19 lockdown,” he said.
Earlier, the Former Regional Representative, West and Central Africa UN-MGCY, Ms Queen Ehirim said that decent housing plays an important role in removing barriers to opportunity, success and health of families.
Similarly, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Dr Dickson Akoh also advised government to provide social and sustainable housing in the country.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to leverage more on private developers and provide them with necessary resources to make housing available and accessible in the country.
The reports that Country Director of the habitat youth programme presented an award to Mr Kingsley Azonobi, Chief Executive Officer of Domak Shelter ltd, for his outstanding contribution to the provision of affordable housing in the country.
A happy Azonobi thanked the habitat youth programme for recognising his efforts in addressing housing deficit in the country.
He donated 20 hectares of land for the construction of the Nigerian youth village in Domak Garden City in Karshi Development Area, Nasarawa State.
He assured the group that Domak Shelter ltd would design a secretariat for the NYCN to enable it have a conducive working environment.
The UN-Habitat Youth Programme-Nigeria said there is the need for governments at all levels and stakeholders in housing sector to invest more in housing development in the country.
Country Director of the Habitat, Mr Uzoh Ifeanyi gave the call on Monday in Abuja at the UN World Habitat Day 2020 celebration with the theme: “Housing for all: A better urban future”.
While explaining that the UN system observes the month of October every year as ‘Urban October’, adding that every first Monday in October had been designated to commemorate the world habitat day.
According to him, the day focuses attention on the state of the world’s town and cities with a view to remind people that they are responsible for the habitat of the present and future generations.
Ifeanyi said that increased investment in housing development was a faster way of creating more jobs for the teeming youth in the post COVID-19 era and ensure infrastructural development in the country.
He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to the plight of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) occupying various schools across the country.
“Most of such IDPs are likely to be displaced once again as schools resume after the Covid-19 lockdown,” he said.
Earlier, the Former Regional Representative, West and Central Africa UN-MGCY, Ms Queen Ehirim said that decent housing plays an important role in removing barriers to opportunity, success and health of families.
Similarly, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Dr Dickson Akoh also advised government to provide social and sustainable housing in the country.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to leverage more on private developers and provide them with necessary resources to make housing available and accessible in the country.
The reports that Country Director of the habitat youth programme presented an award to Mr Kingsley Azonobi, Chief Executive Officer of Domak Shelter ltd, for his outstanding contribution to the provision of affordable housing in the country.
A happy Azonobi thanked the habitat youth programme for recognising his efforts in addressing housing deficit in the country.
He donated 20 hectares of land for the construction of the Nigerian youth village in Domak Garden City in Karshi Development Area, Nasarawa State.
He assured the group that Domak Shelter ltd would design a secretariat for the NYCN to enable it have a conducive working environment.
President Muhammadu Buhari on approved a special salary scale and new retirement age for them for teachers.
This gesture was announced by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to commemorate the 2020 World Teachers Day.
The President also extended his magnanimity to their retirement age, increasing it from 35 to 40.
Our correspondent gathered that the real reason why Buhari reviewed their welfare packages was to serve as encouragement for teachers, especially with regard to a gradual dearth in interest of Nigerians willing to take up teaching as a profession.
Over the years, Nigerian teachers have been seen to exemplify abject poverty, a development that may have dampened their morale to deliver quality education.
They have been persistent in agitating for increment in their emoluments, including their retirement age and provision of basic infrastructures to aid learning, but stakeholders paid lip service to their agitations.
Buhari, said he was optimistic that teachers morale will be boosted in delivering better services
The special salary scale,the president said,is for basic and secondary school teachers.
The new retirement age was reviewed from 60 to 65, and the number of service years from 35 to 40.
He said : these were parts of ongoing moves by the government to revitalize and reposition the teaching profession in the country, by introducing what he described as “fundamental and far reaching changes.”
The President further stated that a review of teachers’ development policies had revealed huge gaps in quantity and quality of teachers at all levels of the nation’s education system. Also, the status and statute of teachers were currently at their lowest ebb.
He said the new policies would attract best brains into the teaching profession and encourage teachers in delivering better services that would produce quality students who would in turn contribute to national development.
According to him : “Government notes the the emergency situation in our educational system with particular reference to the dearth of qualified and dedicated teachers to enhance the quality of teaching and learning at all levels of our educational system.
“To address these challenge yes and set our country on the path of industrialization where our educational system will produce the needed skills and manpower, I have approved to the following;
“The reintroduction of bursary award to education students in Universities and College of Education with assurance of automatic employment upon graduation, payment of stipends to Bachelor of Education students as well as granting them automatic employment after graduation is now a government policy.
He continued : “The Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) will now fund teaching practice in Universities and Colleges of Education, special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance.
“Special teacher pension scheme to enable the teaching profession retain its experienced talent as well as extend teachers retirement age to 65 years and teachers service years to 40, create a career path policy for teaching profession in Nigeria and, teachers conversion programme and ICT training to mitigate the current dearth of qualified teachers in the school system.”
President Buhari also approved the following incentives to motivate and restore the lost glory of Teachers; building of low cost houses for teachers in rural areas, sponsorship of teachers to at least one refresher training per annum, expansion of annual Presidential teachers and schools awards to cover more categories with outstanding winners to be considered for National Awards and National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) awards.
Others were; “prompt payment of salaries and other entitlements including consideration for first line charge in annual budgets, timely promotion of teachers to eliminate stagnation, provision of loan facilities, free tuition and automatic admission for biological children of teachers in their respective schools to encourage and retain them in the system.”
“The Minister of Education is hereby directed to ensure an accelerated implementation of these policies and measures in collaboration/liaison with States/Local Governments, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation,the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and other relevant agencies in the system to enthrone a culture of competence, discipline, dedication , increased learning outcomes and better service delivery in the education sector in Nigeria.”
Earlier, the President Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nasir Idris urged government to ensure strict compliance of schools to the COVID-19 protocols on safe reopening of schools, said 39 million youngsters were affected by the closure of schools in the country.
Idris who said the use of technology and distance/online learning could not replace school community, stressed that “face to face interaction between the teachers and the learner is crucial to the learning and development process.
He added, “This means that teachers need to be provided with opportunities for regular training and continuing professional development, be provided with a conducive and safe school environments, be adequately equipped and be empowered and supported to be able to meet the new challenges and demands of the 21st century, and to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life long learning opportunities for all.”
A group under the aegis of Team Ramatu has promised to develop the Tourism sector in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of activities to commemorate the 60th Independence Day anniversary of Nigeria.
This, according to them is aimed at lifting Nigerians out of poverty and enable job creation.
The group made this known during a picnic organised to celebrate Nigeria Independence Day anniversary at Mpape Crushed site in Abuja, while noting that the event was a demonstration of their unalloyed support for FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, in the development of the tourism sector.
One of the organisers and Senior Legislative Aide to Senate President, Hajiya Hadiza Mohamed Kabir, said the choice of the venue was to assess the tourism potential of Mpape Crushed site, and to support the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to develop the site to a global tourism destination in the country.
According to her, “we are here not just to catch fun to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Nigeria, but also to demonstrate our loyalty and support the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu in the development of the tourism sector. We have heard so much about the Mpape Crushed site, and we have decided to come on assessment visit to see things for ourselves.
“It might interest you to know that we did not come here alone, we came with a reputable tourism and estate developer, Tayan Group, who have indicated interest to partner with the FCT Administration in the areas of affordable housing and tourism development in the territory.
“The group has assured us that if given the opportunity, they are ready to develop this site to a global standard. Therefore, for us in Team Ramatu, our support goes beyond politics. We are in for serious business in the development of not just the territory, but the country at large”,she added.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Tayan Group, an Estate Developer, Mr. Tola Ayanlola, assured the group of the company’s readiness to develop the Mpape Crushed site to a global tourism site if given the opportunity.
Ayanlola, further assured that the firm has the competence and financial capability to transform the site to an avenue of revenue generation and job creation in line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
While thanking the Team Ramatu for looking into the tourism sector, he said with the technical no-how of their international partners in United Arabs Emirate, the Mpape Crushed site would be a reference point in the tourism sub-sector in Nigeria
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Sunday donated 2 ferry boats, mattresses and other assorted relief materials to flood victims of Dafa, Tungan Sarki, Tungan Guli and Damakusa communities in Kwali Area Council of Abuja.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, while presenting the items to the leadership of Kwali Area Council and some Traditional leaders said the donation of the relief materials was a demonstration of a responsible and responsive government, adding that no amount of relief items would replace the lives lost during the mishap.
She used the occasion to reiterates her earlier call to residents of the territory to stay-off waterways, adding that no responsible leader wants to see or hear that a community under its purview was inflicted by hardship, either by natural disaster or man made.
Her words ; “In extending a hand of fellowship and relief materials to the communities affected by flood in Kwali Area Council, is a demonstration of the fact that we feel your pains, because no leader want to see or hear that a community under his purview is inflicted by hardship either by natural disaster or man made.
“We sympathize with you because all we are giving you is not enough to makeup for your losses. To the Dafa community, we are giving two boats to be used in ferrying goods and services also to ferry hunan beings across.
“No amount of relief materials will bring back lives and property lost; all we want you to know is to assure you that the government is with you and we feel your pains, and the government will never hesitate to take responsibility. We are telling you once more to please be strong in heart. But please once again avoid waterways. Avoid constructions on waterways,” the minister warned.
The minister, while speaking further on the number of items donated, the minister hinted that : “we are extending hands of fellowship by bringing, as I have promised ab-nitio in Dafa community, 100 mattresses, 100 cartons of honeywell spaghetti, 100 bags of 10kg rice, 100 bags of millet, 100 bags of sorghum, and 100 pieces of wrappers. This is to be distributed to serve as a relief to the affected families in the affected communities”.
Receiving the relief materials on behalf of the council, the council secretary who represented the chairman, Bako pai, thanked the minister for a promise kept, adding that she has demonstrated not just purposeful leadership, but also the spirit of a caring mother.
He, however, assured that the items would be distributed to the affected communities, he also called on the affected families to remain calm during the distributions of the items.
The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has educated some critics over the recently awarded Kano-Maradi rail line project, he said the project has lots of economic potentials to the nation’s economy.
Amaechi gave the explanation during some live interview sessions conducted at some TV stations to commemorate Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary.
He said the Kano-Maradi rail line will afford the country the opportunity to compete in the area of transporting cargoes, goods and services to and from landlocked neighbouring countries like Niger via the seaports in Lagos, adding that it’s all about economics, not politics.
“Last week, we awarded the contract for Kano to Maradi and people were screaming why are we taking it to Niger Republic. It’s important to take it to Niger because of economic reasons. Most coastal territories in Africa are competing better than us in terms of cargoes coming from not the hinterland, the landlocked countries. We decided to join the market and compete so that we can make our seaports very viable. We decided to introduce the Kano-Maradi rail, so that we can convey their goods from Maradi (a boundary village) to our ports with ease. I don’t know why people are screaming about it. It’s about economics, not politics”
“We believe that before the end of the year, two railway projects should commence. Kano-Maradi and Ibadan to Kano. For Ibadan to Kano, we are waiting for approval of the loan in China. Once the loan is approved in China, we’ll commence. For Kano-Maradi, the loan is almost ready. They are coming in next week for negotiation. Once we conclude the negotiation and agree, we’ll sign and pursue the construction. The contractor is a Portugese company (Mota-Engil). They have come with a European bank and a German bank to fund the Kano-Maradi rail.
He further explained that the Kano-Maradi railway project will not only generates employment but will serve as a means of curbing insecurity in that region as the criminality and banditry may have been as a result of poverty for some people who go into it.
“You should know that railway generates employment and that as you move from Kano to Maradi you’re going to go to Kano, Dutse, Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibia before you get to Maradi, imagine the number of persons that you’ll create jobs for just at the beginning of the construction. At the end of construction, imagine the number of businesses that you can site along that area just because there is transportation. So when you talk about timing, poverty doesn’t have timing, unemployment is causing insecurity and banditry is a product of poverty, not just lack of education. So you have to find an alternative to those who participate in banditry. So what we are trying to create is a source of growing the economy of Nigeria and creating opportunities for those who want to do real business, so they’ll be able to move their manufactured goods and reduce the cost of production around that area. That’s what we are trying to do. So timing won’t be an issue”
On the part Niger Republic is expected to play in the construction of the rail line,
Amaechi said, “We are the ones building the rail to their village at the border to attract their cargoes. They are comfortable going to Togo, Benin Republic and Ghana or all those countries around there. So what we want to do is to attract them to a cheap and secure form of transportation, so you can’t therefore ask them to make a contribution. We are going to do the $1.98b at our own cost and at Maradi we stop, so that we can attract their cargoes and then get our seaports to be more competitive as compared to Lome, Benin and Ghana”
He further stated that the country is working towards four new seaports. They are: Lekki, Bonny, Warri and the Ibom deep seaport by the Akwa Ibom State government.
He said, “the first deep seaport in the country will be the Lekki deep seaport and it was under this government that we commenced construction. The next will be Bonny and the third one will be the one in Warri which the President has also approved. The Akwa Ibom state government is trying to do Ibom deep seaport. They are partnering with a foreign company. So if you come to the maritime sector, we’ll be having four new seaports”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has nabbed a personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr Etim Israel, for engaging a proxy candidate to sit for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Israel, a Police Constable in the Akwa Ibom State Command, registered for the exam with his real names, while the mercenary/impersonator used his picture and other biometric details to sit for the examination.
The Policeman, who said he applied to study Fishery at the Akwa Ibom State University in the 2020 UTME, told journalists on Friday in Abuja, that he paid N30,000 to engage the services of the mercenary (a teacher), one Emmanuel who is now on the run, to sit for the exam as he was away on special duties.
Israel met his waterloo after scoring over 240 in the exam and decided to commence the admission’s process, he was told that he won’t sail through because of the disparity in the picture, which prompted him to visit JAMB’s office for correction, a move that landed him in trouble.
According to him, “I went to their (JAMB) office to change my picture when they told me (in Akwa Ibom) that I won’t be able to use the result because of the picture.”
The Police Constable in an emotion-laden voice appealed to JAMB to temper justice with mercy, promising to help the Board in investigating issues of impersonation in UTME.
Meanwhile, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede said Israel will be prosecuted in accordance with the law, expressed concern on the antics of some candidates that try to circumvent watertight measures put in place to prevent impersonation.
Oloyede said the policeman was one of the 657 candidates that requested for change of picture in their registration profiles, adding that he was arrested where he could not give convincing reasons , before he later confessed to engaging a mercenary in the exam.
“657 want to change pictures and we are now asking them to come forward and give reasons for the change, we are expecting them,” he said.
He cited an instance where a woman’s name appeared on the registration list and a man would attempt to sit on her behalf.
According to him; “When some candidates complain that they have registered for our examination but could not be verified on the day of examination, many do not grasp the full import of their claims as such candidates, who are more often than not impersonators, expected to be allowed to enter the examination hall without undergoing necessary searches.
“However, in the last UTME, the Board introduced the taking of a snapshot of the candidate who claims they could not be verified and comparing the new picture with the one in our database.
“As a result of this innovation, only very few cases of impersonation were recorded compared with the number in the past,” he said.
While saying the number of candidates that had challenges with verification dropped from over 70,000 in 2019 to 4,900 this year, Prof. Oloyede, said that the figure was still high.
The JAMB boss, however, assured candidates that had genuine verification challenges during the 2020 UTME, that the Board would fix a new date for them to write the exam.
He said the directive by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, that all institutions should use the already captured biometrics and pictures by the Board in processing admission has made it impossible for candidates whose examinations were taken on their behalf by professional examination takers to gain admissions.
“A good example of the above closely is an arrested member of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Etim Israel, who had hired a teacher, one Mr. Emmanuel, still at large, to sit the UTME for him and now wants to change his picture to enable him secure admission.
“This is because the new measures in place would not let him dare show his face in his chosen institution as it is the picture of his impersonator that would be displayed at the screening venue,” he said.
He, however, said the Board may not have the capacity to ensure the robust prosecution of all those involved in impersonation during the UTME, but will select some from across the country to face the wrath of the law.
