News
Send Your Kid To School or get jailed – Gombe govt cautions parents
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Gombe State government says it would send parents and guardians to jail for not sending their children to schools.
Babaji Babadidi, Chairman, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, said this on Monday at the inauguration of the 2025/2026 School Enrolment Campaign at Amada in Akko Local Government Area of the state.
He said that defaulting parents could face a two-month jail term under Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law 2021.
Babadidi said the measure was necessary to ensure that every child has access to quality basic education.
“Every parent should ensure that his child or ward attends and completes primary, junior and senior secondary education.
“Any parent, who contravene Section 19(2) of the law commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to pay a fine or serve a one-month prison sentence.
“Subsequent convictions also attract a substantial fine or imprisonment for a term of two months,” he said.
Babadidi said prior to this enrolment campaign, the state government adopted a carrot approach by providing free education.
“However, if we fail to meet our target of enrolling 400,000 students into primary schools this session, we will revert to the stick approach by enforcing the law.”
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, said the state has over 700,000 out-of-school children.
According to Maigari, the North-East region accounts for 15 per cent of Nigeria’s 18.2 million out-of-school children.
“We cannot sit and fold our arms while our children remain out-of-school. We will ensure every child is enrolled. Every child will receive quality education, and also learn a trade, which does not necessarily mean working for the government.
“An educated person can become an employer of labour through skills and entrepreneurship acquired in school,” she said.
News
Guwor in deep sorrow as shock hits Legislative Circles Over Kebbi Speaker Ankwai’s Death in Egypt
The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, has expressed deep sadness over the passing of the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Usman Mohammed Ankwai.
Guwor, who is the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, said the news of the loss of Rt Hon Ankwai came to him as a rude shock, especially at this critical point in the nation’s development.
Conference Chairman Reflects Delta’s Legislative Strength
The Conference Chairman, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nkem Nwaeke, described the sad incident as heartbreaking and painful.
Rt Hon Guwor, on behalf of colleagues nationwide, regretted the loss of such a committed legislator, humble leader, and a true brother in the service of the nation.
He disclosed that Rt Hon Ankwai passed on in Cairo, Egypt, after a brief illness, noting that the late Speaker’s dedication to the progress of Kebbi State and his contributions to the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria will be sorely missed.
Scrutiny Department to Ask “Is the Law Working?”
Guwor stressed that the demise Rt Hon Ankwai, was a great loss not only to the Government and people of Kebbi State but to the entire legislative community in Nigeria.
“At this painful moment, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the Government and people of Kebbi State, members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, and indeed all who mourn this irreparable loss,” Guwor said.
The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, prayed Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant the late colleague peaceful rest.
He also prayed that Allah give his family, the people of Kebbi State, and all those who mourn him the fortitude to bear this great loss.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un — Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”, Guwor stated.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle, redeploying the Commissioner for Works, Felix Akhabue, to the Ministry of Water Resources.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor.
According to the statement, the governor directed that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works should take charge of the ministry pending the appointment of a new commissioner.
“The Edo State Government wishes to inform the general public that the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the redeployment of the Commissioner for Works, Hon. (Dr.) Felix Ehiguese Akhabue, from the Ministry of Works to the Ministry of Water Resources,” the statement read.
“Consequently, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works is to take over pending the deployment of a new Commissioner to the Ministry.
“This directive takes immediate effect.”
Iran on Monday executed a man convicted of acting on behalf of Israel and the United States during a wave of anti-government protests earlier this year, the judiciary said.
“Ali Fahim, one of the enemy elements in the terrorist riots of Dey (January)… was hanged after the Supreme Court reviewed the case and confirmed the verdict,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.
His execution is the latest related to the protests that broke out in Iran in late December against rising living costs before morphing into nationwide anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9.
The execution also takes place against the backdrop of Iran’s war with Israel and the United States, which erupted on February 28 with strikes that killed the Islamic republic’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Mizan said Fahim was convicted of working against Iran on behalf of “the Zionist regime and the United States” as well as breaking into a classified military site to seize weapons.
Iranian authorities said the rallies began peaceful in December before turning into “foreign-instigated riots” involving killings and vandalism.
Tehran has said more than 3,000 people were killed during the unrest, including members of the security forces and bystanders, and has attributed the violence to “terrorist acts”.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), however, says it has recorded more than 7,000 deaths, the vast majority of them protesters, adding that the toll could be higher.
AFP
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