Metro
Personnel Audit: NASS to Enact Legislation on Compulsory Compliance by Private Schools
The National Assembly says it is proposing a law to make it compulsory for all private schools to supply their personnel data to the Universal Basic Education (UBEC).
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere made the disclosure, while briefing newsmen after monitoring the ongoing 2022 National Personnel Audit in FCT Schools, on Thursday in Abuja.
Ihonvbere expressed concern over alleged non-compliance with the exercise by some private schools which resulted to the arrest of a UBEC official.
“I am really shocked to hear that some private schools close their doors and refuse to grant access to UBEC staff who are conducting the ongoing 2022 National Personnel Audit.
“They are taking a major risk and you will see what will happen next year. Even the school where the UBEC staff was arrested, I am surprised that the commission has not closed down the school to serve as a lesson to others.
” I can assure that along with my colleagues, we will be proposing a law to make it compulsory for every private schools to supply 100 per cent of their personnel data even without being asked.
“And to also grant 100 per cent access at all times to UBEC, SUBEB and UBEB members of staff.
The private schools think they are island because they are private. They should know that they are private within the laws of Nigeria,” he said.
Ihonvbere expressed the hope that the outcome of the audit would go a long way towards ensuring that at least all the levels of personnel set out the right standard.
He said that the exercise would enable the committee identify the shortfalls and generate the relevant courage to make amendments where there were gaps.
“So that we can better serve the work of the commission and other relevant agencies that are involved in the audit.
” The challenges of basic education in 1960 when Nigeria attained political independence are still there in spite of trillions of naira spent, committees upon committees, workshops, conferences and the different governments.
“The challenges are still there from infrastructure to staff in the administrative sector, lack of quality teachers to the invasion of schools by untrained and unqualified teachers.
” I have been to schools where children are siting on the floor in 2022 in the capital city of a state that has collected billions from Universal Basic Education Commission.
“Children were siting on the floor and the government did nothing. Some governors have also collected about N11 billion and they could not renovate a single school.”
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of FCT Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Alhassan Sule said the audit would enable the board to have at its finger tips data that concern enrollment, teachers and other infrastructures for better plans.
“And I think it is better you plan when you have data at your finger tips instead of making estimate, so that you will have accurate information on what you are going to do.
” I have been suggesting that the best thing the Federal Government will do for Nigerian citizens is to ensure that free and compulsory basic education for our children are effective.
“Government should ensure that our children get quality basic and compulsory education; that is the only way we can reduce the issue of terrorism,” Sule said.
Newsmen report that some of the schools visited by the committee include the Pilot Science Nursery and Primary school, Wuse Zone 5, Junior Secondary School Zone 3, Wuse Abuja among others. (NAN)
Metro
FG Reaffirms Commitment to Providing Enabling Environment for Migrants
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing enabling environments and adequate protection for migrants in the country.
Mr Tijjani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI), said this at the International Migrants Day in Abuja on Wednesday.
Report says that the theme of the celebration was “Beyond Borders: Celebrating Migrants’ Legacy, Protecting their Rights.
”The Commission organised a walk in commemoration of the day to sensitise Nigerians of the danger of not following the right path when leaving the country.
Ahmed highlighted the invaluable contribution of migrants to Nigeria’s development, including remittances exceeding 23 billion dollars annually, and advancements in technology and agriculture.
He said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to creating a secure and supportive environment for migrants while enhancing migration governance.
“We are here today to celebrate the migrants for their technological transfer.
“We celebrate migrants because of their contributions towards the development of this country.
“We also celebrate them today in order to inform them that the Nigerian government and the people of Nigeria are there for them.
“We do not forget the contribution of our migrants in the diaspora towards the development of Nigeria,” he said.
Ahmed emphasised Nigeria’s readiness to lead migration governance globally through the “Rabat Process” in 2025, showcasing its dedication to migration management and human rights.
“Nigeria is preparing to take over the leadership of the rubber process by 2025.
“We are asking everyone within and outside this country to support Nigeria to succeed in the governance of migration internationally.
“We have at least 10,000 migrants in Nigeria and over 20,000 outside the country that are contributing towards the development of the country, ” he said. (NAN)
Metro
FCT Civil Service Commission Begins Regularisation of FCTA Staff Appointments
The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The Head of the Civilo Service, Dr Udo Atang, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, that the move was to ensure accurate data of all staff.
Atang described the regularisation as a “critical” exercise, which forms the bedrock of the new FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He pointed out that all the staff were holding letters of appointments from various agencies, departments, area councils, and the defunct Ministry of FCT and FCDA among others.
The holders of these letters, he said, have been raising issues of discrimination based on letters of appointment.
According to him, the exercise and the gazette by the commission that will come thereafter, will give all staff a sense of identity.
“The essence of this regularisation is to ensure that staff are properly documented.
“You will now have letters that will now qualify you as a bonafide staff of the FCT Civil Service Commission.”
The head of service, who appealed for full cooperation of the workers, directed that a list of all staff on course, study leave, leave of absence and other related permissions be compiled and submitted.
He added that the list should be compiled with grade level, designation and record of service, including approvals.
Atang commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and commitment in implementing the provisions of the FCT CSC Act, 2018.
Noting Wike’s support and love for the FCT workers, the head of service urged the workers to reciprocate the minister’s uncommon gesture, by being dedicated and committed to their respective duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT CSC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, stressed that part of the responsibilities of the commission was in the appointment, promotion and discipline of all FCTA and FCDA workers.
Ezeh also stressed the need for the workers to be more committed in the discharge of their responsibilities. (NAN)
Metro
Jos School Collapse: CWON Holds Trauma Healing Session for Parents, Survivors
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.