The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced fumigation of all public schools across the six Area Councils of the nation’s capital ahead of school resumption slated for Monday 11th, October, 2020.

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, while performing a symbolic exercise at the Government Junior Secondary School, Garki said that the exercise was aimed at protecting and save guiding pupils, students and management staff of public schools against the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.  

Aliyu also used the occasion to call on operators of private schools in the territory to carry out the same exercise before school resumption while also tasked parents and guardians to ensure that their wards are properly kitted before going to school.  

According to her; “We are here to symbolically flag off the fumigation exercise as collectively decided and championed by the Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello. Earlier in the day, we had a press conference on the need for the schools to be opened on Monday for academic activities.  

“So, to that effect and in adherence to extant rules of the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to ensure that there are adequate safety and care for our children. So we are embarking on the fumigation of our schools.  

“The Minister is also doing the same thing at JSS Jabi. So, from today, the whole public schools in the Federal Capital Territory will be simultaneously fumigated until Monday when we are ready for resumption”.  

While speaking on the fate of private schools, the minister said, “As for the private schools, of course, there is a criteria for resumption and most of them are complying. And any school found wanting, there are standards for disciplinary action to be taken. But for now, we are good to go”.  

Also, the principal of Government Junior Secondary School, Garki, Mrs. Mohammed Fatima, expressed the preparedness of her school to resume academic activities as announced by the authorities.  

Her words; “We are very prepared as you can see for yourself. We are perfectly prepared. The grasses are trimmed, fumigation is going on, we have our wash hand basins, sanitizers, liquid  soaps and face masks. In short everything is on ground”.  

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has halt the payment of third term school fee across the territory.

While warning private school owners not to demand money from parents or guardians.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on Thursday gave this order at a press conference to herald the reopening of all schools across the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, for 2020/2021 Academic Session.

While explaining that boarding schools are to resume on Sunday, while Day schools would resume on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020.

The minister added that the decision to reopen schools had been probably one of the most painstaking decision that the FCT administration had to take as team.

His words; “In opening of schools we have to be very careful and conscious of the need to ensure that all the efforts of all of us during the last few months are not in vein.

“Based on the reality on ground as well as the inputs and advice of medical personnel and the guidelines of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) and releases from the Federal Ministry of Education.

He continued; “We have come to the conclusion that it is relatively safe for us to open up schools in the FCT base on certain guidelines and conditions which will be release shortly.”

Bello, however, noted that the gathering of young people and children within enclosed environment posed very peculiar challenges that requires handling with utmost care caution particularly by the schools and education administrators.

He, therefore, enjoined parents, guardians and stakeholders to compliment the efforts of the FCT administration by further creating awareness and sensitisation of their people and wards on the needs to adhere strictly to health guidelines.

He also, warned that the virus had not been eliminated and it was still a deadly disease, saying “now is therefore not the time for us to be complaisant.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman FCT Schools Resumption Committee, Dr Fatima Abdulrahman, who read the guidelines for the post COVID-19 school resumption disclosed that there was no going to be third term.

Abdulrahman directed schools to conduct revision and examination to tidy up and end second term within two weeks.

She , however, warned private schools owners against demanding for third term fees, adding that maximum class size should be 25 students per class.

She said that the FCT administrator had suspend all activities that encourages crowding and clustering in schools.

Abdulrahman further stated that every school should have a sick bay where students with high temperature would be kept under the supervision of health personnel until their parents come for them.

She warned that any school that does not comply with the guidelines and an outbreak occurs in the school due to negligence, risk closure.

TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed plans to convert one of its abandoned broadcasting facilities at Abaji Area Council of the territory to a training centre for media practitioners.

Speaking on behalf of the administration, the Managing Director, Abuja Broadcasting Corporation Ltd, Mr. Ibrahim Damisa, said this would be made possible if only the recommendation on the abandoned broadcasting facilities at Abaji is considered.

He made this known in Abuja during a tour of facilities of the Abuja Broadcasting Corporation Ltd, Headquarters by the FCT Ministers Press Corps, on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the management team of the station has recommended to the FCT Minister , the need to convert the station’s abandoned facilities to a training centre where media practitioners’ capacity would be built through regular training.

” We are looking at how we can use our facilities at Abaji to build capacity for journalists, if our recommendations are accepted, we shall proceed to establish a training school there”, he said.

Damisa also frowned at the damaging effects of fake news on the image of the country, as being promoted by citizen journalists on social media , while urging professional media practitioners to remain distinguished and always be committed to the ethics of the profession.

He attributed the rapid transformation in the station to the resolve of the Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello to revive all revenue generating agencies under his administration, he equally reiterated commitment to the welfare of staff , which he said was utmost to the sustainability of the on going transformation.

He, therefore, called on policy makers to always recognise media practitioners as well as carry them along in policies implementation.

Saying, implementation of many of government’s policies fail, when the media is not properly incorporated into the processes and also empowered to bridge the communication gap between government and the people.

Damisa ,however, opined that the backlash that followed the recent increments in electricity tarrif, petrol pump prices, even the subsidy removal was because the media were not recognised as a stabilising factor.

According to him; ” you are the ones bringing the communication gap between the people and the government. When it comes to communications, journalists play a very good role, they play the role of preparing the minds of the people to be receptive to the policy implementation.

” When electricity tarrif was increased the journalists were not recognise, the journalists would have taken sensitization about the increment to the people.

” We need to know as reporters what the government is doing so that it can be properly communicated to the people, especially on the issue of subsidy removal , the journalists need to prepare the mind of the people “

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the FCT Minister Press Corps, Comrade Attah Ikharo noted that what the media organisation have on ground, the station will compete favourably with sister organisations both within and outside the FCT.

The Chairman who was represented at the occasion by his Vice Chairman, Alhaji Hudu Yakubu said the visit was in recognition of the noticeable achievements in the media organisation.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N10 Billion for the National Population Commission (NPopC), for the continuation of Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) across 546 Local Government Area of the country.

He also approved an additional N4.5 Billon to be included in the 2021 Budget for the completion of the exercise as part of the preparations for the next census.

The Acting Chairman of National Population Commission, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while briefing reporters on the release of the funds and the update on the EAD at the NPopC headquarters.

According to him; “Hitherto, the Commission had been implementing the EAD in phases due to limitations in the availability and allocation of funds. I am however pleased to announce, that His Excellency, Mr. President has reaffirmed his commitment towards the successful completion of the EAD and indeed towards conduct of the next census by approving the release of the total sum of ten billion naira for the continuation of the EAD in the remaining 546 LGA of the country. The President has graciously followed this up by a further approval of an additional N45 billion to be included in the 2021 Budget for the completion of the exercise as part of preparations for the next census.

“No doubt, this milestone development, under-scores the President’s understanding of the role of data, especially demographic data as the bedrock for informed development planning and allocation of resources. facilities and services. The President has by this giant intervention demonstrated his desire to invest in the population, especially our teeming youthful population and to thereby lead the country to harness the demographic dividend. We in the National Population Commission, perceive this highly commendable action of His Excellency, Mr. President as further indication of his dogged resolve to take this country into a post COVID-19 era that will emerge from systematic planning and optimal utilization of available resources especially the human capital with which the country is abundantly blessed.

He continued ; “There is no gain saying that no nation can develop beyond the capacity of its population. For us at the Commission we wish to reiterate our preparedness and unwavering commitment to work towards the successful conclusion of the EAD and the conduct of the next census and to thereby provide accurate, reliable and up-to-date demographic data for national planning and development”.

Asked when the next census will commence, Oyetunji said: “I can tell you that we are very close to the conduct of the election. You will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the complete membership of the NPC including a substantive chairman.

“That in itself is an indication that government is working towards the exercise. And you will also agree that at a time like this there was high demand for scarce resources for government to commit a sum of N10 billion to the EAD is an indication that we are truly closer than when we began.

” like they say in the bible the exert time and date is what we have not yet indicated. With the speed we want to complete the EAD which is the major preparatory activity, for us at the NPC we are ready at any moment and prepared to conduct the census. We just need a nod to do so.”

He said NPC is briefing on the commencement of the next phase of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) exercise of the National Population Commission which is the 10th phase of the exercise so far undertaken.

The NPC boss said a total of 228 LGAs were successfully demarcated across the 36 States and FCT in the previous 9 phases.

He said the 10th Phase of the exercise will commence on 5th and end on October 29th 2020, including training and fieldwork.

Oyetunji also disclosed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has entered into a special arrangement with the National Population Commission (NPC) under which the NPC is assisting INEC to create digitized maps of INEC Registration Areas (Wards) for the first time as part of the EAD.

He noted that, it is expected that the output of the collaborative effort will further enhance the accuracy and transparency of future elections.

He added that in the face of the growing insecurity besetting parts of the nation, information from the EAD is also invaluable for security surveillance as well as crime prevention and detection.

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.