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We’re impressed with Kwara’s use of UBEC grant — House of Reps
…Says AbdulRazaq a focused Governor
…Recommends Kwara for award of quality delivery
Kwara State again came up for national applause on Tuesday as the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Basic Education and Services commended the state for efficient use of basic education grants and the state government’s determination to improve standard of education.
The commendation came barely one month after UBEC itself said Kwara now stands out for excellent utilisation of the grants — a feat the body observed is a clear departure from its horrible experience with Kwara State in the past when the grants were diverted, resulting in official blacklist of the state for at least seven years (2013-2019).
The committee specifically applauded Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for quality service delivery seen in the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission matching grants, saying the state deserves a pat on the back for the quality of the schools and other facilities funded from the money so far accessed.
“What we have seen so far in Kwara is of high quality and satisfactory. There is evidence of focus and commitment, and a clear interest in promoting basic education and empowering our children to survive in an increasingly complex technology driven global system,” Chairman of the committee Prof. Julius Ihonvbere told reporters on Tuesday in Ilorin.
Flanked by other members of the ad-hoc committee, Ihonvbere was speaking as the committee wrapped its two-day oversight visit to Kwara State to inspect the completed and ongoing UBEC-SUBEB projects.
“I think the best way to appreciate what is going on is to have the proper understanding of how it used to be, and we’ve seen a lot in Kwara,” he added.
“It is not always that we find a leadership (like AbdulRazaq) that understands basic education and its value to national growth and development. If the basics – the foundation – is contaminated and corrupted, what it produces can never promote peace, stability, growth and development anywhere in the world, that is why basic education is very critical.”
Some of the schools the committee visited included Ogele LGEA Primary School, Ogele and Otte LGEA Primary School Otte-Oja (both in Asa Local Government area); Sheikh Alimi Junior Secondary School (Ilorin West); Amoyo Junior Secondary School (Ifelodun); Gaa-Akanbi Junior Secondary School (Ilorin South); Shao LGEA Primary School, Shao (Moro); and Adeta UBEC Model Smart School in Ilorin West local government of the State.
Ihonvbere said his committee members were just as impressed as he was about how the projects have been greatly executed in Kwara State, adding that the committee will officially communicate their judgment of the assessment to the Governor and other appropriate quarters as part of its oversight functions.
“As an academic and the Chairman of this committee, and I am sure my members share the same sentiment, we are very pleased and happy with the programmes of Kwara State. There are states that have collected matching grants from UBEC and have not deployed them to basic education. A few (of the states) have jettisoned the action plans of UBEC; they are doing something else with the money. Some have done wishy-washy works. With time, this Committee will release a list of our observations in various states,” he said.
“Without education you cannot go anywhere. It is not rocket science. And I think Kwara State seems determined to change the narratives. We are pleased about it.”
He said no efforts will be spared to sanction the states found to have diverted the UBEC grants, including taking steps to retrieve some abandoned facilities the Commission allocated to some defaulting state governments.
“There are penalties for states where UBEC allocated critical infrastructure to some state governments but were abandoned. We are amending the UBEC Act so that UBEC can retrieve such facilities and put them to public use,” Ihonvbere added.
“Secondly, we are looking at ways to compel compliance with the law of the land; a situation whereby states that have not accessed the marching grant or have accessed it but used it wrongly will face some penalties.”
He also hinted that state governments that comply with UBEC’s action plans will be rewarded with more support to serve as an encouragement to do more.
“At the level of the committee, the National Assembly and the UBEC, states that utilised UBEC grants perfectly like Kwara will get additional support as a reward, so that it will encourage them to do more,” Ihonvbere added.
“I would like to advise state governments to take basic education seriously in their own interest. Bulletproof cars, dogs and barbed wire cannot save them from the anger of uneducated, abused and marginalised children in the consequences.”
He commended the management of the State Universal Basic Education Board and their Chairman, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja for proper monitoring and their insistence on delivery of quality jobs by contractors.
Other members of the National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee on the oversight visit were: Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin; Hon. Bashir Dawudu; Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo; Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe; Hon. Cook Ganiyu Olododo; Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga; Hon. Usman Abdullahi; Hon. Peter Owolasi; and Hon. Bukola Oyewo.
UBEC was represented during the tour by Dr. Jimmy Equensen and Engr. Yissa Yakubu.
Chairman Kwara SUBEB, Professor Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said the school projects cover renovation, construction, and comprehensive remodelling of various structures across at least 605 public schools in the State, including provision of furniture, public toilets, and water facilities.
He said the turnaround of the education sector under Governor AbdulRazaq has led to increase in students’ enrolment, decrying how hundreds of classrooms were left dilapidated under the previous administrations.
“In terms of renovation, we have renovated 605 schools as contained in our action plan. The project consists of construction and comprehensive remodelling of classrooms, and provision of furniture for teachers and students,” Adaramaja said.
“The situation before was so pathetic that nobody wanted to put their children in public schools. But the story is different now. Enrolment of pupils into government owned schools has now increased.”
Adaramaja, who conducted the team round the places of their choice, described the Governor as the wisest leader for paying the N7.1billion UBEC counterpart fund to access another N7.1bn with which the government is now fixing public schools.
PTA Chairman for Amoyo Junior Secondary School, Prince Adeyemi Garba, appreciated the government for the work done and how the Amoyo community is given a sense of belonging.
“We have to thank the authorities for remembering Amoyo town. I have now discovered that not only does every child counts in the State’s education policy, but every community also counts, and we are grateful,” he added.
Chairman, School Based Management Committee (SBMC) for Shao LGEA school, Elder Adigun Abel, said the choice of Shao primary school for the UBEC’s renovation project was appropriate, given that the whole Shao has no other community school for basic classes.
Adigun lauded the vision of the government in turning around the education sector in Kwara and renovating school structures in their community.
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Climate Change: NOSDRA urges staff, Nigerians to imbibe safety measures
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has called on staff of the agency and Nigerians to imbibe safety and health measures as part of their lifestyle.
Mr Cyrus Nkangwung, Director, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), NOSDRA, made the call on Thursday in Abuja, while speaking with newsmen ahead of the 2024 Safety Week for staffers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2024 World Day for Safety and Health at workplace would be commemorated on Sunday, April 28.
The theme of the event is “Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Occupational Safety and Health.”
Nkangwung expressed concern that unsafe climate conditions had adversely affected the productivity of working people around the world.
He explained that one of the responsibilities of his department was to identify an unsafe climate condition, deemed to likely cause health hazards in the agency and provide necessary precautionary measure for staff.
“We are enlightening our staff to tell them that the consequence of climate change is as a result of some of our attitudes in homes and offices.
“To avoid such attitudes, we are creating awareness so we can have a better environment conducive for work,” he said.
Nkangwung, who decried the nonchalant attitude of some staff towards safety, implored them to desist from negative actions that could impede occupational safety and health in the agency.
He, therefore, urged the staff to make paramount the safety and health measures as articulated by the OSH Department.
“No staff of NOSDRA is worth losing his or her life in the course of discharging official duties and obligations due to the effective measures put in place to ensure occupational safety and health in the agency.”
He applauded the Director- General of NOSDRA, Mr Idris Musa for his unwavering support towards institutionalising the loft policy of occupational safety and health in the agency.
NAN also reports that as part of activities to mark the safety week, NOSDRA is organising lectures on safe driving culture and defensive driving, as well as a talk on basic first aid slated for Friday.
Other activities include, a health and fitness walk on Saturday in Abuja as well as seminar on fatigue /stress management on April 29 in Abuja.
News
Court sets aside arrest warrant against Fubara’s chief of staff
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, vacated the warrant of arrest issued on Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, agreed with the CoS’ counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, and Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, who appeared for Ehie’s co-defendants, that the court lacked jurusidction to have granted the order.
Justice Nwite held that at the time the arrest warrant order was made, there was no pending charge before the court.
He, consequently, vacated the warrant issued for the police to effect Ehie and five others’ arrest.
The judge had, on Jan. 31, issued a warrant for the arrest of Ehie over his alleged involvement in the burning of part of the state’s House of Assembly on Oct. 29, 2023.
Those ordered to be arrested along with Ehie are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benneth, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.
Justice Nwite gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought by the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police’s lawyer, Simon Lough, SAN.
He granted the ex-parte application as canvassed by Lough on the grounds that the six defendants had been at large to stand their trial in a seven-count preferred against five other suspected arsonists currently being prosecuted before a sister court presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon.
But Falana and Aladedoye filed separate motions on behalf of their clients
While Falana filed a motion seeking an order to set aside the Jan. 31 order made by Justice Nwite, Aladedoye filed an application for a stay of execution of the arrest order.
in a motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/112/2024 dated Feb. 2 and filed Feb. 7 by Falana, Ehie sought two orders, including “an order setting aside the order made on Jan. 31 for want of jurisdiction.
“An order of this honourable court staying the execution of the order made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of this application.”
Giving six grounds of argument, Falana argued that the I-G (complainant) had not filed any criminal charge or motion before the court.
The senior lawyer argued that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the ex-parte application as the alleged offences of conspiracy, attempted murder, murder and arson took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers.
“He submitted that the court lacked the vires to grant an application to arrest and declare his clients wanted in respect of the alleged offences.
“The complainant/respondent (I-G) did not adduce evidence of terrorism in the affidavit in support of the application.
“The complainant/respondent did not cite any section of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013 (as amended) alleged to have been contravened by the applicants,” he argued.
Also, Aladedoye in a motion on notice dated and filed Feb. 9 on behalf of the five defendants, sought two orders, including “an order staying execution or further execution of the order(s) of this honourable court made on the 31st of January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicants.
“An order of injunction restraining the complainant from carrying out or further carrying out the orders of this honourable court made on the 31st January, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the applicant in this case.”
Giving three-ground argument, Aladedoye said that a notice of appeal had already been filed against Justice Nwite’s orders.
According to the senior lawyer, the notice of appeal contains grounds which challenge the jurisdiction of this honourable court.
He argued that their appeal would be rendered nugatory if their application was not granted.
The I-G had, in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2024, arraigned Chime Eguma Ezebalike, 37; Prince Lukman Oladele, 47; Kenneth Goodluck Kpasa, 40; Osiga Donald, 42; and Ochueja Thankgod , 35, before a sister court presided over by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon on Jan. 25 in Abuja.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts and were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The I-G, who arraigned them on a seven-count criminal charge bordering on terrorism and murder, declared Ehie and five others, said to be at large, wanted.
Ehie, who was later appointed as CoS after he resigned as member and factional speaker of the Rivers Assembly, was alleged to be among the suspects being charged by the I-G.
His resignation was said to be part of the agreements reached in the bid to reconcile Fubara and former Governor, Nyesom Wike, now the FCT Minister.
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