Category: Education

Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, pleaded with striking lecturers on Tuesday night to consider the plight of Nigerian students and return to the classroom despite the Buhari administration’s failure to meet their demands.

Kachikwu made the request during an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the party in Abuja.

The politician, who addressed the various challenges being imposed on Nigerians by the current administration, stated that there was hope for a new Nigeria under the ADC government next year.

Kachikwu described the current administration as a disaster, citing the frequency of jailbreaks and mass killings of innocent Nigerians in churches and other places with no response from the government.

“Under the Buhari administration, Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented calamity, second only to the Nigeria civil war,” Kachikwu said.

Tales of woe from Taraba, Kogi, Niger, Abuja, Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Kaduna, Ondo, Imo, and Anambra. Many mothers are sobbing. Many a bereaved wife Many families were left to mourn quietly and helplessly. Nobody has lost their job as a result of all of this. No minister, national security adviser, or President has resigned. A nation’s shame. Who did this to us? We categorise the dead as scores, dozens, or hundreds. Didn’t we know they had names?

“The terrorists we feed today will kill us tomorrow.” The religion we introduce into politics today will divide us tomorrow. Politics and politicians that we avoid today will govern us tomorrow. Today’s hatred will destroy us tomorrow. We can’t avoid these facts. Let us act now to save Nigeria.

“Let us speak with one voice. Don’t let them divide us. Don’t let them switch parties and deceive you. Don’t let them deceive you by changing their logos. They’ve done it if they’ve been there. Get rid of them.

When I announced my intention to run for the highest office in the land a few months ago, I knew it was a suicide mission. I knew what was at stake. I had no doubts about the capabilities of those in the more well-known parties. I expected the hound dogs to come after me.

Nigerians are hungry, suffering, and fearful. This is the hill in front of us. We must recognise that before we can talk about elections, we must first have a country. Who will save Nigeria? Who will save Nigeria from her government? Who will save Nigerians from Nigerians? You.

Today we must restart. Today, we must chart a new course. Today, we must choose to fight for Nigeria. Today, we must fight for ourselves. Let us look within to find the courage to begin again. We must reclaim our country from these tyrants. We must repel all invaders.

We must defend our lands, cities, and country block by block. This is our patriotic duty. Religion, tribe, and tongue will no longer divide us. Those who have destroyed our country come from all tribes, tongues, and religions, so we must not be duped. They are in the minority. We are the majority. We have suffered and endured for far too long, and we must endure just a little longer.

They will seduce you. They will make promises. They will claim to have evolved. They will threaten you. They will defeat you. You will be imprisoned. Whatever they do to you, just bear it because, in a short time, our small voices, actions, protests, plans, and groups will combine to form a powerful rescue mission to save our nation.

You must endure. We must endure. Architects and town planners form groups in your communities. Make a master plan for the community you want to see in your city. Engineers from your various cities collaborate to design the infrastructure we require. Create the power grids we require. Start with the design. Begin with the strategy.

Lawyers, civil society organisations, and good-willed men and women, please contribute your quota to a new and better constitution that divides us rather than the corrupt one that currently divides us.

“Lecturers return to classes.” You’ve made sacrifices before. Make another sacrifice for the sake of our children. This government cannot afford to meet your demands. They’re bankrupt. They can’t give what they don’t have.

“Please return to classes and save our children’s future.” Nobody cares that our medical personnel are fleeing the country in large numbers. Who will staff our hospitals? Who will care for the sick?

“Are we going to entrust our healthcare to quacks?” No.

Today is the day to take a stand for Nigeria. “It is the right thing to do,” Kachikwu stated.

He promised to rebuild Nigeria and make it work for everyone, regardless of tribe, tongue, religion, or political affiliation, if his party wins the election next year.

Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu, National Chairman of the ADC, boasted that the party was on a mission to rescue Nigeria from its current state of somnolence, make it work better for all, and give Nigerians a sense of pride and hope.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Daura, Katsina State, urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities to reconsider their position on the ongoing strike, expressing concern that the stalemate will have generational ramifications for families, the educational system, and the country’s future development.

According to a statement signed by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Buhari, who received some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators, and political leaders at his residence, said the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students, and other stakeholders, bringing up many moral issues that demanded attention.

President Buhari stated that the future of the country is dependent on the quality of educational institutions and education, while assuring students that the government understands their position and that negotiations should continue in lecture halls.

“We hope that ASUU will sympathize with the people during the prolonged strike.” Enough of keeping students at home. “For goodness sake, don’t harm the next generation,” he said.

The President urged all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly those close to the association’s leaders and members, to intervene in persuading the lecturers to reconsider their position and the impact on an entire generation and the nation.

President Buhari stated that students from Nigerian universities will face the challenge of competing with others in a highly connected and technology-driven work environment, and that keeping them at home only deprives them of time, skill, and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.

“Colonial education was designed to produce government workers. Those positions are no longer available. Our youth should be educated to prepare them for self-employment. Education is now for the sake of education.

“We are much more efficient because of technology.” “We should encourage our children to get an education rather than just look for government jobs,” he added.

President Buhari stated that resources should be directed more toward infrastructure development and health and education operations, rather than expanding the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.

“By this time next year, I will have made the most of the two terms, and I will do my best in the remaining months,” the President stated.

President Buhari urged those in positions of power and privilege to be mindful of the many Nigerians looking for work.

“If you are greedy, you will not look around to see what is happening to those who are less endowed,” he said.

The President informed the governors and political leaders that he had not visited his home in Daura in nearly a year due to the demands of office.

“The Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, made the observation that I abandoned my base at the Eid prayer ground.” He held the microphone and told everyone, “The last time I was in Daura was during Eid-el-Kabir in 2021,” he added.

President Buhari stated that he would retire to Daura rather than Kaduna, where he had a better house.

“I’ll come here in ten to eleven months.” “I have a better house in Kaduna, but it is too close to Abuja,” he explained.

The President explained that his work schedule was hectic, saying he recently had to sympathize with Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyema, who had to spend most of his time away from his family.

President Buhari urged APC leaders to continue working for the good of the people and the country, saying, “We are a lucky people, and we need to reflect more on where we are coming from.”

According to the President, the government has done well in many areas, particularly infrastructure, in comparison to the resources available and to the previous administration.

“I wish the person who comes after me the best,” he said.

On security, the President stated that the North West had presented more challenges, but that some success had been recorded in other regions, including the North East and South South.

President Buhari advised some South South indigenes to refrain from endangering national assets, which also affect their livelihood.

“I’m excited to go.” I can tell you it has been difficult. “I am grateful to God that people recognize the personal sacrifices we have made,” he added.

In his remarks at the meeting, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, thanked the President for his leadership roles in improving the nation’s economy and the many successes recorded at the APC, including two conventions to produce the party leadership and the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“We will work tirelessly to ensure the success of our party.” “We have reasons to work very hard,” he added.

Bagudu, the Governor of Kebbi State, stated that the favorable seasons supported the vision of ensuring food production and making agriculture a priority, with visible results in rice pyramids in various states.

“Despite the renegade attacks, our country remains self-sufficient in food production.” We have seen investments that were not present prior to your election.

“There are now agriculture processing zones in at least 20 states.” “We have rice pyramids in Ekiti, Gombe, and Niger, and maize pyramids have been revived in Katsina and Kano states,” he said.

He stated that more than 54 rice meals have been commissioned in various states, and that 57 fertiliser plants have been revitalized or rebuilt.

“All of this was made possible by your dedication and patriotism,” the governor told the President.

Bagudu also praised the President for making governors and political leaders more accessible, noting that the opening of the National Economic Council for a more fluid exchange of ideas has greatly aided in the improvement of the economy.

Katsina State Governor, Rt Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Fayemi Kayode, Plateau

Workers in the nation’s power sector have stated their intention to shut down electricity supply if the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) goes on a nationwide strike in protest of the country’s protracted strike in the educational sector.

Under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the nation’s power workers bemoaned the government’s indifference to the continued closure of schools and expressed concern about Nigeria’s progress toward nationhood and the future of the country’s youths.

In a statement, NUEE General Secretary Joe Ajaero stated that they were deeply saddened and appalled by the avoidable impasse between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Unions in the Tertiary Academic Sector (Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, and Research Institutes).

The statement observed that the months-long stalemate, with students staying at home, was undoubtedly exposing the students to all forms of negative vices detrimental to nation building.

As a result, NUEE has urged the Federal Government to address all issues concerning non-implementation of agreements and others affecting Nigeria’s tertiary institutions in order to reopen schools as soon as possible for the sake of the country’s future.

According to the statement, a nation committed to human capital development does not play with the education, training, and manpower needs of its youth population.

“The National Union of Electricity Employees, therefore, wishes to state that if the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) nationwide protest and the current impasse between Unions in Tertiary Institutions and government is not conclusively addressed, we shall be forced to stay at home with our children,” the statement said.

Concerned about a planned demonstration in support of Academic Staff Union of Universities members who are on strike, the Rivers State Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress are at odds.

The state government threatened to discipline any employees who joined the strike out of sympathy, but the NLC claimed that the government lacked the authority to do so.

The warning was delivered to employees in Port Harcourt by the state’s head of service, Dr. Rufus Godwins.

Godwins argued that there was no justification for state employees to participate in the strike, arguing that neither lecturers nor employees of the state government were owed anything by the state government.
The right of civil servants to be members of their various unions is not affected by this, he remarked.

They are not permitted to participate in a strike that they claim is in solidarity with another department or level of government that is failing to uphold its duties to its own employees while we are doing so.

Because of this, I advise against going on a sympathy strike. A different scenario arises when we owe you money. “Our universities are functioning. We have no obligation to our civil servants. Our obligations to them are being met.

The state HoS announced that an attendance register would be opened right away to track disloyal civil servants and dispense the necessary punishments.

In Nigeria, there are 170 academic institutions. Allow the Federal Government to close down and rationalise the universities if it is unable to manage them.

Every civil servant is aware that being absent from work while on duty is considered misconduct and is subject to a penalty under the public service rules that apply to the services.

“Malingering, loitering, refusal to treat files; you can’t be away from your duty without permission, you will he asked.

For you to participate in a strike that we forbid you from participating in, especially if the absence was motivated by an illegal motive, Godwins said.

Beatrice Itubo, the NLC’s state chair, quickly refuted the allegations that the union intended to begin a solidarity strike on Wednesday.

Itubo, however, criticised the Head of Service for calling a meeting just to issue threats to the state’s civil servants.

Nobody has demanded a national strike, she remarked. The incident occurred last Thursday when we attended a meeting of the National Executive Committee.

The labour family is to stand in solidarity with the students and ASUU, it was announced on the NEC floor.

“Based on that, we ought to return home and educate our populace so that we will all join the fight the moment the whistle blows.

“As a result, I’m not sure how the Rivers State Government learned that a global protest is about to start.

Like that, there is nothing. Observe our websites all. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that everyone in this nation stands with ASUU and shares the students’ plight who have been at home for nearly six months.

The majority of their kids aren’t in school in Nigeria, they say.

She clarified that if organised labour decides to go on strike, the state government does not have the authority to put an end to it.

The head of the state’s NLC referred to the state’s government’s threat to penalise any civil servant who participates in the solidarity strike as an empty threat.

They are only threatening. The staff is more knowledgeable. We are going to cross that bridge when we get there,” Itubo said.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Mohammed Fadah, has warned corps members sternly against drug abuse and other related offences.

At the Permanent Orientation Camp in Dazigau, Nangere Local Government Area of Yobe State, where he was speaking to corps members assigned to Yobe State on Sunday, the DG issued the warning.

The orientation camp is like a semi-regular environment, so please act in an orderly manner and be good representatives of the programme, he reminded them.

Along with warning them to avoid social media abuse, Brig. Gen. Fadah added that the NYSC programme has zero tolerance for cultism.

Avoid nighttime travel, needless ride-seeking, and joining vehicles at unofficially designated parks, he advised.

On behalf of Yobe State, Mrs. Hafsat Yerima, the State Coordinator for NYSC, congratulated the director-general on his appointment and visit to the orientation camp there.

She informed the visiting NYSC boss that 1,185 corps members in total had registered for the orientation course in Yobe State.

Yerima praised the corps members for their diligence and dedication to taking part in all the camp’s activities.

Songs and traditional performances were used to entertain Fadah while showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage.

On Tuesday, Mrs. Fatima Abubakar, the chairman of the National Governing Board of the NYSC, urged corp members to enrol in the agency’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme in order to improve their lives.

During the board’s tour of the Rivers NYSC orientation camp in Nowa Tai, Abubakar gave the advice.

She explained to the corp members how SAED was created to give them training in a variety of trades and skills as well as provide them with the means to apply for an agriculture loan after their service.

You are given the chance to learn different trades so that, in the event that you are unable to find white-collar employment, you can use the skills you acquired during your service year to better your life, according to Abubakar.

The purpose of visiting various orientation camps across the nation, according to her, was to assess the amenities offered there and the welfare of the corp members.

The board chairman wished them luck in all their endeavours and admonished them to pay attention to and obey the orders of the corps’ management and staff.

Abubakar also praised the Rivers Government for constructing the state orientation camp’s hall, noting that it was 97 percent finished.

“The governor promised to give the camp facilities, and I think he has kept his word,” the speaker said.

We appreciate Rivers State’s administration and residents doing that for NYSC, the woman said.

658 men and 1,080 women made up the 1738 Batch “C” Stream 1 corps members who had registered, according to the State Coordinator, Mr. Mangofan George.

According to George, the University Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital in the state of Nigeria fully manages the NYSC National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in order to strengthen the corp’s health division.

In the camp, he listed ongoing theft, a lack of electricity from the national grid, a lack of official vehicles, and a lack of financial support from the state government as problems.

However, he assured the board that the staff would be dedicated to their work and thanked them for coming to Rivers.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the board also included Mr. Prince Oyewumi (a presidential appointee), Mrs. Hajia Binta Muazu, Alhaji Yusuf Nalado, and Prof. Suleman Abdukari in their group (representative of Vice Chancellors).