News

Senate moves to tackle out-of-school children issue

Published

11 months ago

March 21, 2024

Worried by the alarming 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, the Senate on Wednesday asked the judiciary in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to take steps towards setting up mobile courts for the enforcement of the Universal Basic Education, UBE, Act.

This was even as the Red Chamber enjoined government, at all levels, to implement targeted intervention programmes that would address all factors militating against free access to quality and basic education, particularly multidimensional poverty and insecurity.

Similarly, the Senate mandated its Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) to engage the Federal Ministry of Education to pay attention to the issue of out-of-school children with the ultimate goal of drastically reducing the number.

The Senate also urged the ministry and its related parastatals and agencies, like the UBE stakeholders, to come up with a new strategy to effectively deal with the problem. The Senate further asked the ministry and its allied agencies to set a time limit of two years for the diligent implementation of the UBE Act, as stipulated in Section 2(2).

These resolutions were sequel to the consideration of a motion, titled, “Compelling Need to Tackle the Challenge of Out-of-School Children in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West) during plenary on Wednesday.

Presenting the motion, Adebule, noted that: “[The problem] has become worrisome, given the 2022 report of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, that about 20 million Nigerian children are out of school, which represents 10 per cent of the estimated Nigerian population of 200 million people and also represents the highest number of out-of-school children from any country globally.”

She said: “Though the Federal Ministry of Education has disputed the figure, it’s generally agreed that whatever the real figures, the issue of out-of-school children has become an albatross on the neck of the Nigerian State that must be dealt with as a matter of urgency.”

The lawmaker listed the social impacts of having about 20 million out-of-school children in the country to include the impediment to achieving some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal Four, which is to ensure inclusiveness and equitably quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all; and providing an easy pool for recruitment into criminal gangs, banditry and terrorism, which have been the biggest issues in the country for many years.

According to her, the achievement of national economic justice and inclusiveness would further be jeopardized and many more Nigerians may become ill-equipped to climb out of the poverty bracket if the situation persists. She also mentioned gender inequality, early or child marriage and general socio-political instability as other problems that might arise from the menace.

In their contributions, senators Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North), Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), and Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), described education as a vehicle to lift people out of poverty.

They lamented that lack of education remains a social problem that provides grounds for the recruitment of criminals.

On his own, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, said education is the bedrock of development, lamenting that many states in the North are the ones facing the calamity resulting from out-of-school children

While stressing the need to collectively address the menace, he affirmed that “untrained children are the ones who are now bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, etc.”

He urged every parent to take care of their children by providing education, shelter and other things that would make them succeed in life.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, recommended the policy he introduced as Akwa Ibom State governor for all 36 states and the FCT, whereby the Child Rights Bill was passed into law with six months imprisonment for offenders.

The law, he disclosed, covers free and compulsory education for all children of school age.

He, however, commended the Federal Government for the school feeding programme, noting that it is capable of attracting children to school.

News

50% telecom tariff hike: NATCOMS backs decision as NLC bows to FG’s pressure

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The Nigeria Labour Congress bowed to pressure to halt its planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunication tariff hike.

Also, the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers backed the decision by the organized Labour.

Gatekeeper reports that the NLC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government after a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Monday night.

In the MoU signed by the SGF, Senator George Akume, NLC president Joe Ajaero, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, and the National Secretary of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, both parties agreed to set up a technical committee to resolve gray areas in the 50 percent telecom tariff approval.

However, NLC reiterated its rejection of the tariff hike.

“Arising from the meeting convened by the Federal Government of Nigeria on the proposed 50% hike in telecommunications tariffs in the country, which the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed strong opposition to, citing its potential negative impact on the Nigerian workers and the economy with a threat to proceed on a one-day nationwide mass protest, the following resolutions were reached: That there is a need for the parties to sit together in a technical group to resolve most of the thorny areas raised during the discussion; consequently, a 10-man joint committee was set up of five (5) representatives each from the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); and the committee shall conclude and submit its deliberations within two (2) weeks from this 3rd day of February, 2025.

“The parties call on the Nigerian people to remain calm while this committee concludes its assignment,” the communique after the meeting stated.

Earlier, a civic society organisation known as the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, NCSCN, had announced the suspension of its planned protest against the 50 percent tariff hike.

Recall that last week, NLC announced Tuesday, 4th February, 2025, as a date for a one-day mass protest against the telecom tariff hike.

In a notice last Thursday by NLC National Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union had already asked the state congress and affiliate union to mobilise for Tuesday’s mass protest.

This comes after the Nigerian Communications Commission on January 2025 approved a 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike for operators.

The approval has sparked tariff hike controversy in Nigeria’s telecom sector.

NLC and other telecom subscribers had opposed the tariff implementation, citing the persistent economic hardship Nigerians already face.

Subscribers back nationwide protest suspension.

DAILYPOST

Politics

Edo tribunal: PDP, Ighodalo, close case against Gov. Okpegholo

Published

5 hours ago

February 4, 2025

Seyi Babalola

*As INEC opens defence Wednesday

After calling 19 witnesses at the Edo State governorship election tribunal, to attack the credibility and outcome of the September 21, 2024 governorship election that produced governor Monday Okpegholo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, closed their case.

The decision was communicated to the Justice Wilfred Kpochi- led three-member tribunal yesterday by counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN.

In their petition, the petitioners who called 19 witnesses and tendered several documents and devices used for the disputed polls, urged the tribunal to nullify the election of Governor Okpegholo over alleged irregularities including over-voting and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, produced five additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines that were used for the election.

The electronic devices, which were tendered by a Senior Technical Officer in the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Anthony Itodo, were admitted in evidence, amidst opposition from the camp of the respondents.
This is in addition to the 148 BVAS machines that had earlier been admitted in evidence by the tribunal for the conduct of the election in 133 polling units.
After the short proceedings, the tribunal then adjourned till Wednesday for INEC to open its defence.
The electoral body had declared that Okpebholo of the APC secured a total of 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ighodalo of the PDP, who got a total of 247,655 votes.

However dissatisfied with the results, the PDP and its candidate approached the tribunal, praying it to nullify INEC’s declaration of the APC and Okpebholo as winners of the election.

In the petition marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024, the petitioners argued that Governor Okpebholo of the APC did not secure the highest number of lawful votes that were cast at the election.

Daily Sun

News

FG approves N4.8bn for HIV/AIDS treatment amid U.S. funding suspension

Published

5 hours ago

February 4, 2025

Seyi Babalola

…Okays $1bn HOPE programme to fix PHCs, others

Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Tinubu, has approved a significant allocation of N4.5 billion for the procurement of HIV treatment packs, aimed at supporting Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.

This decision comes in light of the recent suspension of U.S. government funding for HIV programs, which is undergoing a 90-day review period.

Addressing Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy of Nigeria, Wale Edun and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, explained that the approval underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring continuous access to life-saving treatment for individuals affected by the virus.

The funding landscape for HIV/AIDS treatment in Nigeria has been heavily reliant on international assistance, particularly from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund. Historically, about 80% of HIV response funding has come from external donors, with domestic contributions lagging behind.

Under the Buhari’s administration, the government had admitted that since 2005, about $6.2 billion had been spent on HIV response in Nigeria, with approximately 80% of these funds contributed by external donors.

Pate, on Monday emphasised the importance of this funding: “This allocation is critical for ensuring that those living with HIV continue to receive necessary treatments without interruption.”

The approved budget will facilitate the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs over a four-month period. This initiative not only aims to provide immediate relief but also demonstrates Nigeria’s intent to build a more sustainable domestic financing model for health interventions.

The minister said FEC also set up a committee with membership drawn from the Ministries of Finance, Budget, Defence, Environment and the Nigeria Governors Forum to come up with a sustainability plan.

Responding to U.S. Policy Shifts on Development Assistance

Addressing recent U.S. policy changes affecting development assistance for diseases like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, Pate highlighted Nigeria’s proactive approach to sustainability. “While we appreciate the contributions of the U.S. government over the last 20 years, Nigeria is now focused on transforming its health sector using national systems and domestic financing,” he said.

To ensure a seamless transition amid these policy shifts, a committee comprising key ministries and state governors has been tasked with developing a sustainability plan. “This is about ensuring that no Nigerian loses access to treatment during this period of adjustment,” he emphasised.

Pate said FEC approved the HOPE (Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity) programme, a $1 billion initiative designed to strengthen governance and primary healthcare systems nationwide. “This programme is very much in line with the direction of this administration—to focus on investing in the human capital of Nigerians. People are at the center of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Pate stated.

The funding, developed in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA), allocates $500 million for governance improvements and another $500 million to enhance primary healthcare. The governance component will incentivize states to recruit and train teachers and healthcare workers, while the healthcare portion will expand primary health care services, improve quality, and boost resilience. “This is about accelerating transformation in the health sector,” Pate explained, referencing the ongoing Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) launched in 2023.

The programme also includes $70 million in grant financing from the Global Financing Facility to support maternal and child health services. “We are building on free emergency medical services for maternal and child health as part of this initiative,” Pate added