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Lawan tackles education managers over policies with no direction 

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***Nigeria may not be able to compete in the 21st Century

The president of the Senate Ahmad Lawan on Thursday blamed education managers in the country for the lapses that stagnated the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), in Ondo State for three decades without fulfilling its mandate.

Lawan spoke when he declared open a public hearing on a bill to back up the establishment of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo, Ondo State.

The Institute was established in 1992 by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with UNESCO/International Institute for Educational Planning(IIEP) as a Staff College for Planners and Managers in the Nigeria education sector and West Africa sub-region.

However, Lawan in his remarks lamented that three decades after the institute was established, it had no identity.

To start with the senate President queried the ministry for sending the director of legal services Mrs Grace Ekanem to represent the minister 

“Why would the director of legal services represent the minister, don’t we have a doctorate in the ministry that deals with Education planning and administration.
“This is not good, that individuals just come here meanwhile the real people are not here.
Ekanem  responded saying that there is a director who is out of the country at the moment but that he made input to the presentation.

Continuing Lawan said,
“You are from legal services but what we are dealing with here is not only legal

“We are looking at the functionality of this institute and those that are supposed to move it to actualise the mandate should be here even if you are coming in to guide them from the legal perspective they should be here because they should be able to say certain things

“This is 30 years of this institute and it is just now we are giving it a name.For the 30 years it remained a child maybe an adolescent or an adult that had no name for 30 years. 

“I will like to know what this institute has planned for the educational sector of Nigeria for the 30 years because for me this is the base of the stakeholders of education in Nigeria. “All the others are supposed to key in to what the planners have for us. So this is a very critical institute. 

“That is why we are where we are today in education, because we have pushed this institute far at the back seat. It is supposed to be at the drivers seat

“I think we should be more serious with this and I will advise that we come out with what the educational plan on is for Nigeria

“Everything about our educational life should have direction, measurable targets, we don’t have anything, we are just groping in the dark and it is not good for us. If we want to be giant of Africa we have to do things that will make us giant of Africa.”

He said as lawmakers they are politicians that needs the help of education managers

“Don’t misunderstand me, we on this side we are politicians everybody catches us but you can make us or you mar us, you are supposed to help us. 

“If we go back to our senatorial districts you see millions of the youths, you are not telling us what to do about over 20 million out of school children

“We should have a comprehensive plan at every level, you should help us with that because everybody is to key into the your policies 

Speaking on the public hearing he said, “This is an opportunity for us to ensure that we make the institute as effective, efficient and professional as possible. 

“So here is an opportunity for us to have a no holds barred interaction and discussion because the essence of this bill is to make NIEPA worthy of its mandate.”

He charged participants to feel free to say what is encouraging and is necessary given the direction of the bill.

Lawan expressed the hope that the outcome of the public hearing will provide the senate with an opportunity to make the right decision in terms of how the institute should be as professional as possible. 

“In 2005 I was made chairman of House Committee on Education, my problem with this institute is that it is not giving Nigeria the service it deserves. 

“I am sorry I said we should hold a frank discussion and don’t feel very bad, I am not blaming you, I am blaming Nigeria because when you are in the education planning institute, you hold the ace for the development of your country. 

“It is what you provide that makes or mars Nigeria from making progress but you have to be also properly supported to do your work

“We are still not ready for the 21st century economy, if you want to attract foreign direct investment, in fact any investment at all, labour is a critical factor of production from elementary economics. 

“So what type of labour are we providing, we have to provide the type of labour which will provide first class when you set up your industry or your businesses, 21st century types of businesses, you don’t have to go and bring people from outside the country because it will drain your foreign reserve unnecessarily,.

“So it means we have to get our people, our youths, very energetic, properly educated and prepared for the 21st century economy

“It is for this reason that i think the time is ripe and the time is now that the Planning and administration institute is funded properly for you to give Nigeria the kind of education that will provide a successful future for our country. 

“We still teach in our schools subjects in the way we taught them fifty years ago. With that there is no way you can compete favourably even in West Africa with that kind of approach. So I think, we have to do something.

“For us in the national assembly, ours is to look at the loopholes in the law and do so urgently and also on how you are able to discharge your mandate as set in the laws establishing you

“I want to assure you that in addition to the amendments that this bill seeks, we will try to see that you are better supported  to enable you discharge your mandate more effectively and efficiently ensuring that the basic and secondary education in Nigeria become better and that is a huge challenge because that is where our most difficult problem in education is. 

“When you have 14m or 15m sometimes they quote 10m and I argue it is more than that, if you are talking of those who don’t go to private schools what of those who finished JSS and are not able to proceed to the SSS and they roam the streets and they are hardly engaged in a productive activity, they are there in millions

“So if we do our work well and research, we could be talking about 20m children of such out of school children. Can we afford? Because they are feed stocks to insurgency, banditry and to anything that is bad

“So we have to work so hard to provide the environment and climate to capture and retain these king of citizens that should be provided with a good future not only for themselves but also for national Development.”

In his welcome address, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Education(Basic and Secondary), Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, said the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration(Establishment) Bill 2022 sought to give legal backing to already functioning institution.

Gaidam said the institute was established in 1992 with three-fold mandate which was intended to move forward the professionalization of educational planning and administration.

“The essence of this public hearing is for the critical stakeholders and indeed the general public to objectively make their submissions to the committee for an informed recommendations to the Senate to pass or reject the Bill as proposed,” Senator Gaidam said.

Speaking at the commencement of the public hearing, the sponsor of the Bill, Senator Ayo Akinyelure said “sadly despite the institute’s enormous potentials and it’s long years of existence and operations, it does not have an enabling law to regulate it’s activities to strengthen and entrench its core mandates.

“The crux of this public hearing therefore, is to aggregate stakeholders’ opinion as input with a view to producing enabling laws which will serve as impetus to drive the Nigeria Institute for Educational Planning and Administration activities.”

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Legislature

Akpabio rejects one minute silence for dead innocent civilians in Okwoma

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***Insists, killers of soldiers may not be Niger deltans, Nigerians

The President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday rejected an ammendment to the prayer for a minute silence for innocent civilians just like the 16 soldiers who were gruesomely murdered in Okwoma in Delta State because the Senate was yet to ascertain their number.

Akpabio had also expressed doubt that those involved in the gruesome murder of 16 soldiers in Delta State are from Niger Delta or even Nigeria.

This was as the prayer for a minute silence for Innocent civilians who also lost their lives in the Okwoma community was turned down by Akpabio.
Some military personal who were involve in not just trying to keep peace but to ensure that the resources of the country are not stolen on Thursday, March 14, were attacked and killed at Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. 

While reading out the Prayers in the motion on the Killing of Nigerian Army Personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State and the Necessity for an Urgent investigation sponsored by Senator Abdulariz Musa Yar’adua Chauman, Senate Commitiee on Nigerian Army, Akpabio read the first prayer which was to observe a minute silence for the murdered soldiers.

Prayer one, “Observe a minute silence in honour of the military personnel who lost their lives on Thursday 14th March, 2024 in Okwoma community in Delta State which was unanimously adopted by the senate

He asked if there was any ammendment and Senator Ede Dafinone who wanted an ammendment said, “I will like to suggest that the Senate also recognized the innocent civilians in Okwoma who also lost their lives in this process, if we are observing a minute silence for the soldiers that were brutally murdered in this fracas, I believe also the innocent civilians in Okwaoma should also be recognized in a similar way. I am talking of the innocent Civilians sir.”

However, Akpabio interjected saying, 
“The number of the innocent civilians you are talking about are not yet known to the Senate. I am not saying that no innocent Civilian died. I am saying that what we know is the death of our gallant soldiers were murdered in a very horrific manner. 

“So I will take your ammendment to say that observe a minute silence in honour of those military personnel who were murdered in a horrific manner on Thursday the 14th day of March in Okwoma community of Delta state.

Ned Nwoko (Delta North) had Seconded the motion ably moved by Senator Dafinone that prayer one be amended to include a minute silence for the innocent Civilian who lost their lives on the 14th of March and Akpabio acknowledge it to be the second prayer however

However, he read the second prayer which urged the Federal Government to ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are identified, apprehended and are made to face the full wrath of the law through a fair and transparent legal process fir which the ayesha had it.

Again, Senator Dafinone moved for another additional prayer to urge the NEMA to reach out and bring relief materials to innocent civilians in Okwoma

However, Akpabio again interjected saying the innocent civillians you are referring to, we don’t have the record of them yet, to give relief materials to those who are killed? Or those who killed, how when they were the ones who killed?

‘I don’t believe that these people are from Niger Delta, those who did the killings because we respect our men and women in uniform, that is why I am saying your additional prayer should actually be to carry out a thorough investigation to know whether these were mercenaries from outside Niger Delta who came in to commit this crime, because I dont think these people are Niger Deltans.
“We are not at war, even in the field of war to lose such number of personnel, no community will go to the extent of doing this kind of thing. I don’t think they are from Niger Delta.
“I think the first point should be that we should first establish the culprits who committed this crime. We must take it seriously, supposen they arenot from Niger Delta? supposen they are not even Nigerians? We will now come and talk of giving relieve materials to people that have killed. People should stand up for the consequences of their crime we don’t support relief materials.

“Like I said this is a very shocking, horrifying and unfortunate incidence and every right thinking man must condemn it and must also mourn the lost of our personal who were involve in not just trying to keep peace but to ensure that the resources of the country are not stolen because that is Niger Delta.

“Whatever it is we have to find a way to reduce the involvement of the military in internal security so that police can do their work. 

“This has happened, while we condemn it we must as a senate set up a committee to do proper investigation and then of course come up with recommendations particularly to ensure that the culprits are brought to book and then we find a way to console the families and then also console the leadership of the Armed Forces of the country.”

Another resolutions of the Senate was to urge the recruitment and training of more police personnel to take up the job of policing responsibilities while the Nigerian Army plays its primary role in the affairs of the country.

It also urged the Federal Government to embark on enlightenment campaign to sensitize the public on their civic responsibilities as it affects their relationship with security agencies.

The Senate had condemned in clear terms the gruesome murder of 15 Nigerian Army Personnel in Okuama Community, Delta State and call for an investigations into this act of criminality. 

This is as it called for a compensation for the families of the deceased soldiers whilst investigations are ongoing.

Presenting the motion, the chairman of the Senate Commitee on Nigerian Army, Senator Yar’Adua noted that the recent tragic incident that resulted in the loss of a Commanding Officer, 2 Majors, a Captain, and 12 soldiers, highlights serious threat to the security and stability of the country. 

“Troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crises between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State. 

“The tragic incident involving the attack on military personnel from the 181 Amphitropous Battalion during the peace mission to Okuama community in Delta State underscores the urgent need for justice and accountability without resorting to retribution.”

The lawmaker voiced concern over the understaffing of the Nigeria Police which has made Nigeria’s military to take over internal policing duties such as, organised crime, oil theft, communal crisis, kidnapping, banditry and other policing responsibilities. 

He also recalled when the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) previously reported in August 2023 the loss of 36 Military Personnel in Niger State, underscoring the persistent challenges faced by the Armed Forces in carrying out their duties. 

“There is a critical requirement for a more streamlined and deliberate collaboration between the armed forces and law enforcement agencies on one side and the Nigerian populace and communities on the other. 

“This collaboration is essential to foster trust, enhance security measures, and promote a sense of shared responsibility in preventing such tragedies in the future,” he added.

On his part, Senator dafinone requested the Senate to show some concern in handling the situation.

According to him, if the matter is not carefully handled, it will lead to a further breakdown of law and order

“We need to commensurate with the people of Okuama Community over the loss of lives of some of the innocent indigenes in the unfortunate incident. 

“I therefore plead with the President, the Defence headquarters and the Chief of Defence Staff to please tamper justice with mercy and not punish an entire community of Okuama for the sins of a few unscrupulous elements,” he added.

Contributing to the motion, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) lamented over the inhumane act of the murderers of the military men. 

He said, “What happened is despicable. It is inhuman and it is something that cannot be accepted. We need to commensurate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and indeed the entire nation, to condole the immediate families of the fallen heroes and the Nigerian military for what happened. 

“These were men that were trained by the Nigerian government and huge resources spent on them to defend the territorial integrity of this country and keep us safe as a nation.

“Now, they were killed for no reason; not at a time of conflict, not at the war front, they were just murdered in the worst fashion that you can think about. 

“It should be condemned, what happened is inhuman and no stone should be left unturned in trying to find out the culprits who are responsible and they must face justice and this should never happen again in this country.

“The military is doing their best trying to deal with kidnappers, bandits and a host of others challenges, trying to make us safe and now some people decided to go and murder these people and I believe that it is something that we should all condemn and proffer solutions too,” he added. 

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Legislature

Anchor borrowers loan Default: Senate asks CBN to debit commercial Banks at Source

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Apparently piqued over the level of loan default by beneficiaries of Anchors Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Senate has ordered the apex bank to debit the account of commercial banks that guaranteed the loans

The Senate adhoc Committee set up to investigate the printing of N30 Trillion by the CBN through its Ways and Means overdraft and the disbursement of Anchors Borrowers Programme under the Muhammadu Buhari administration issued order at its inaugural sitting on Tuesday.
At its session with officials of the apex bank led by Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, CBN, Bala Bello, the Senate adhoc team led by Senator Jibrin Isah, was peeved that the outstanding sum of N358billion stands the risk of being categorised as bad debt.

Senator Isah who was not impressed with explanations offered by officials of the apex bank to restructure the loans asked the apex bank to go after the collaterals offered by the defaulting beneficiaries, through the Commercial Banks
He said:”They defaulted and why do they default. You can’t restructure the loan forever.! You can go after the collateral, you must up your games, we need to recover these monies. We can’t continue to restructure forever.
“We are talking about N358b that hasn’t
been repaid and at the risk of default.
“For those that have defaulted, I suggest that we put a peg on the interest . Our focus should be on the principal. On that, those loans must have been guaranteed by the banks. I want to believe that those banks must have covered their backs through collateral. I am sure no bank will grant loans without collateral . “They must open up to you. We have the power to go through the whole hog by debiting them at source. We can do that, let them go to Court.”
Deputy Governor, CBN, Corporate Services, Bala Bello expressed regrets over the lack of supervision by the immediate past management of the CBN under its erstwhile Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
He assured the lawmakers that the new management was doing everything possible to recover outstanding loans.
“On our own part, I want to tell you that the new management of CBN have given us a mandate to get the money back. We are under responsibility to recover these money, they belong to tax payers. It saddens my heart to answer questions on things we don’t know. But we inherit both assets and liability. Things could have been done better.”
Speaking on the Ways and Means advances, the Chairman of the Senate adhoc Committee expressed disappointment that the CBN Act was observed in the breach by its immediate past Governor, Godwin Emefiele whom he noted unilaterally approved loans without recourse to the statutory approving authority, the Committee of Governors.
“Under the Ways and Means, Committee of Governors should have been the approving authority. But the CBN Governor did not do that, he unilaterally approved.
“We also want to know the total figure of the Ways and Means because what we have here, the figure didn’t add up. We want to know who got what . ”

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Reps panel on Housing, Habitat Receives New REDAN President

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***Sets up Joint Committee to Review RECON Bill

By Ben Ogbemudia, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat led by Hon. Aminu Balele on Wednesday received in audience the newly elected President of Real Estate Developer’s Association of Nigeria (REDAN) Prince Adeoye Akintoye in his office.

The committee members who were excited to receive the REDAN 7th Executive members unanimously agreed to turn the visit into interactive session.

Hon Balele while welcoming the Prince Adeoye Akintoye and his Executive members to the National Assembly said the committee is ready to work with them particularly in the area of amending some acts that will help regulate the housing sector in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the committee and its members therefore agreed on a joint committee with REDAN to look into the RECON Bill.

According to Hon. Balele, “we appreciate your coming at this critical time where there is a lot of changes.

“We are going to work together and we are going to come in where you want us to come in, particularly in an area whereby we can amend some acts and other things. An area whereby we can collaborate with other committees to work hand in hand to better the housing situation in Nigeria.

“There are a lot of areas we can touch together, like the issue of people running houses without certificate, this is something we should look into. We need to do this urgently. And so, we are going to set up now a joint committee between you people and our committee to seat down and look at the area that needs an amendment. We assured you that we will push it with our colleagues in Senate and through to the President for absent.”

Earlier, the President of Real Estate Developer’s Association of Nigeria (REDAN) Prince Adeoye Akintoye said REDAN as an advocacy group that will always advocate for the cost of housing and all matters pertaining to allied matters around Housing sector.

Prince Adeoye Akintoye said Housing industry remains one of the avenue to provide employment in a very humongous capacity.

While he strongly believe that working together with the committee will go a long way to change the face of housing in Nigeria, he therefore solicited for the National Assembly help in scaling through the RECON Bill which the 9th Assembly earlier passed but was not absent to by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“There are so many things that we can push together, concerning the land administration system in Nigeria , I think we have to do more. We practitioner represent property development companies today and the sector is not well controlled. We have signed a strategic agreement with SCUML, EFCC to collaborate with them in shipping out the bad eggs in the built industry.

“We brought a bill and the bill was passed by this honourable house at the last assembly. Both the senate and the House of Representatives, passed the Bill, but getting to the presidency it was not signed and I think that bill has lapsed now.

But today, we will be seeking the help of this honourable committee because we like to bring the bill back. So , our plea is in the area of Synergy, the area of collaboration and the area of advocacy. We assure you that we will not do anything that is outside the law. whatsoever subject that we are asking you to involve in, it will definitely be to the benefit of Nigerians and for the good of the country. When REDAN starts to lend their voice and participate in the renew hope agenda, many Nigerians will get more shelter.

The REDAN President however reminded the committee that, Alh Jakande was the 1st president of the group and by the grace of God he is the 5th president.

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