News

Senate decries brain drain in education, urges increased allocation

Published

1 month ago

October 9, 2024

The Senate has raised concerns over the escalating brain drain in the country’s universities and other critical sectors, calling for increased budgetary allocations to address the issue.

This was as President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, called for the strengthening of bilateral ties between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea, emphasising cooperation in critical areas like security, agriculture, poverty reduction and climate change.

During plenary, yesterday, the lawmakers lamented the mass exodus of skilled professionals from the country’s tertiary education and healthcare sectors.

Sen Anthony Ani (APC, Ebonyi South) sponsored a motion entitled, ‘Urgent Need to Address the Challenges of Increasing Cases of Brain Drain in the Nigerian University System’.

According to Ani, a report by the National Universities Commission (NUC) revealed that many Nigerian universities operate with less than 50 per cent of the required academic staff due to brain drain. He emphasised that the salaries of university lecturers had not been reviewed in over 15 years, placing them among the poorest-paid educators globally. This situation, he said, is driving academic talent abroad in search of better opportunities.

“Many universities in neighbouring West African countries offer better working conditions than Nigeria, which is alarming and disheartening. Brain drain poses a serious threat to the survival of higher education, particularly in fields like engineering, medicine and sciences,” Ani remarked.

Other senators contributing to the debate highlighted that the issue extends beyond universities. Sectors such as healthcare are equally affected, with doctors and nurses leaving the country en masse each year.

Akpabio noted that over 22,000 Nigerian healthcare workers were employed in the United States.

He said, “Brain drain is a big problem, not just in education but also in critical sectors such as healthcare. We will do our best to improve the situation and ensure better conditions for university teachers and other professionals.”

In response, the Senate called for increased yearly budgetary allocations for universities to address infrastructural decay and improve lecturers’ remuneration.

It also mandated relevant committees to work with the Ministries of Finance, Education and Health to develop strategies to combat brain drain.

Akpabio made the appeal, yesterday, when he hosted the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Pankyu, and other officials from the Korean Embassy at the National Assembly, Abuja.

He hailed the visit as a significant milestone in enhancing the relationship between both countries.

“There are many areas where Nigeria and Korea can cooperate,” Akpabio stated. “Nigeria, with its growing population and pressing challenges like climate change, stands to benefit from stronger ties with Korea, particularly in security, agriculture and poverty eradication.”

He further highlighted the importance of establishing a Nigerian-Korean parliamentary collaboration to boost diplomatic relations.

In response, Pankyu stressed that economic cooperation had long been the bedrock of the relationship between both countries. He cited recent policies by President Bola Tinubu to improve Nigeria’s business environment and attract foreign investment, creating new opportunities for Korean companies in Nigeria.

“The potential for economic cooperation is higher than ever,” Kim noted, referencing the Korean-African summit held in June. “We hope to see more Korean businesses expanding into Nigeria, leading to increased trade between our nations.”

The meeting underscored the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

News

Experts Urge NASS To Ban GMO In Nigeria, Says It Is A Time Bomb

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…says insecurity is caused by international community

…as agric minister assures FG will protect the interest of Nigerians

By Gloria Ikibah

A group of experts known as the “GMO-Free Nigeria Alliance” which comprises of over 200 individuals and groups including farmers, civil society, scientists/researchers, nutritionists, legal practitioners, medical practitioners, women and youth groups have raised alarm on the negative effects of Genetically Modified Organisms on Nigeria food system, human and environmental health.

The group which urged members of the National Assembly to place a ban on GMOs in the country stating that external forces who are behind the introduction of GMOs in Nigeria have fueled insecurity.

The group which represents millions of the Nigerian people with a share common concern disclosed this during a public hearing by the House Committee on Agricultural Production on genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

One of the consultant to the group, Johnson Ekpere presenting their memorandum to the Commitee said that government must take it as a personal responsibility to immediately declare a policy of no to GMO and GMO distribution and circulation in Nigeria should be halted.

He said: “We would like to see in the interim, while the argument is even going on, a national moratorium declared that even if they are not convinced that the adverse effects which majority of the experts have spoken eloquently to are obvious, even if they still want to go ahead with the investigation, pending when they reach a conclusion, GMO distribution and circulation in Nigeria should be halted.

“Because there is not a perception that you can do to Nigerians whatever you want to do and nothing will happen. And that explains some of the institutional arrogance that we witness today. To the point that someone was so audacious to say it is better to eat and die than not to eat and die.

“While we recognise the governments efforts at improving food security in Nigeria, the adoption of GMOs as a silver bullet to agricultural challenges is an error. Continuing this path holds serious implications on Nigeria’s food sovereignty, on our biodiversity/environmental sustain-ability, and on our health.

“We recommend a wholistic approach to these problems – one that addresses the root causes, ensures food security/food sovereignty, empowers the small holder farmers who are the mainstay of Nigeria’s agriculture system and builds biodiversity and overall environmental resilience.

“This Memorandum calls on the Nigerian National Assembly to ban GMOs in Nigeria and to instead, invest in Agroecology comprising of Organic Agriculture, Regenerative Agriculture, Agroforestry and other practices that are proven to be able to transform the Nigerian Food system to sustain-ability.

“GMOs do not Improve Productivity

In September 2024 the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) reported that they “did not record any significant increase in their yields compared to the local seed varieties but instead, since the introduction of GM cotton seeds during the 2020/2021 farming season, yield per hectare has remained almost the same.

“They also reported that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years. Across the country, farmers have complained that with GMOs, productivity reduces in the second planting season, meaning farmers cannot replant these seeds but have to continuously purchase the seeds every new season.

“While some GMOs are designed to have increased levels of some nutrients, studies have revealed that other essential nutrients or functions can be reduced in the process. An in-depth scientific comparison of GM crops and their non-GM varieties shows that the assumption of substantial equivalence is false, as unexpected differences has been found. Examples include that GM soy had 12–14% lower amounts of isoflavones than non-GM soy; GM soy had 27% higher levels of a major allergen, trypsin-inhibitor, than the non-GM parent variety.

“Burkina Faso, in 2016 phased out GM Cotton because it produced a poor quality lint which fetched low prices for the farmers and amounted to millions of dollars of losses. The same variety was approved for commercial release in Nigeria, that same year.

“Nigerians’ Right to Safe Food

Decisions made by the government should be in the interest of the Nigerian people. Since this year, 2024, there has been increased demands from the Nigerian people in online media and several other fora for a ban on GMOs.

” Nigerians do not want this technology in our food and the government’s persistent approval of GMOs, means a total disregard for the rights of the people and exposes the vested interest in this technology.

“GMOs are not currently being labeled in Nigeria. Although this is important, it is not a realistic practice considering of socio-economic context; with food mostly sold in basins in open markets and in processed forms.

“Additionally, Nigerians are consuming imported processed foods bought from supermarkets without any idea that they are made from the genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The manner in which these items are imported into the country calls for serious concern” he stated.

Briefing Journalist on the aftermath of the hearing, Executive Director Center for Food Safety and Agriculture Research, Qrisstuberg Amua said international forces were reason behind insecurity in Nigeria .

He said: “From Benue State, a food basket that is becoming empty, not because Benue people are not producing food, not because they don’t have GMOs, it’s because ethnic and foreign interests have successfully, and I’m saying this boldly to the media and to Nigerians, because I’m a researcher, ethnic interests that are interested in marketing, dumping GMOs, which are agents of mass destruction. These are biological weapons. I’m a professor of bioinorganic chemistry.

“They are pushing insecurity on our nation, sponsoring it clandestinely, and I challenge the national security apparatus to look deeply into, investigate into why our farmers can’t go to farms, only to create a scenario of hunger to advertise genetically modified poisons.

“In agriculture, they are gain-of-function research outcomes. That means these transgenes, they are transgenic, can be manipulated to do exactly what they have been manipulated to do. Number one, whereas our grandparents were having children, our mothers were having children, 11, 12, 13, today, young Nigerian girls marry, and they are jumping from one fertility clinic to another, struggling to get pregnant”.

Also speaking earlier at the hearing, Minister of Agriculture and food security Sen Abubakar Kyari said the federal government would not in any way promote anything that would endanger the people .

“The government would not deliberately bring what is poisonous to the people . This forum is meant for searing ideas from the GMOs experts to find a level plane field for food security.

“There are seed councils and regulatory bodies, res rich institute in charge of checkmating seedlings used by farmers hence the need for a collaborative effort”, he stated.

News

President Tinubu Seeks Legislative Approval for $8.6bn, N100m External Borrowing Plan

Published

4 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

President Bola Tinubu has written to the National Assembly, seeking the approval for N1.767 trillion ($2.209 billion) new external borrowing plan in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

This request from President Tinubu was contained in a letter addressed to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen titled: “Request for a Resolution of the National Assembly for the Implementation of the New External Borrowing of N1.767 trillion (About $2.209 billion) in the 2024 Appropriation Act”.

In the letter read by Speaker Abbas at the resumed plenary on Tuesday, the President said the borrowing was to part-finance the 2024 budget deficit of N9.179 trillion.

According to President Tinubu, the 2024 Appropriation Act approved the sum of N7.828 trillion as New Borrowings out of which Domestic Borrowing stood at N6.061 trillion and New External Borrowing pegged at N1.767 trillion to part-finance the N9.179 trillion budget deficit.

The letter reads in part: “In accordance with the provisions of Sections 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office (DMO) (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2003, and the approval of the Federal Executive Council, I write to request for a Resolution of the National Assembly to raise the sum of N1,767,610,321,779.00 (equivalent of USD2,209,512,902.22 at the Budget Exchange Rate of USD1.00/N800) provided as New External Borrowing in the 2024 Appropriation Act to part finance the budget deficit of N9.179 trillion.

“The Right Honourable Speaker may wish to recall that the 2024 Appropriation Act approved the sum of N7,828,529,477,860.00 as New Borrowings to part-finance the 2024 budget deficit of N9.179 trillion. The total New Borrowings of N7.828 trillion was further subdivided into New Domestic Borrowing of N6.061 trillion and New External Borrowing of N1.767 trillion”.

The President also explained that external borrowing funds were needed to give more momentum to the ongoing implementation of the projects and programmes in the 2024 Appropriation Act, which were designed to stabilise the economy and put it on the path of sustainable growth and development.

According to him, the key projects to which the proceeds will be deployed include the priority sectors of the economy, such as power, transport, agriculture, defence and security, while increasing accretions to the external reserves.

Likewise, President Tinubu in aletter transmitted to the House requested that it approve the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).

Naijablitznews.com reports that the Federal Executive Council last week, approved the MTEF/FSP which pegged the 2025 budget at N47.9 trillion, oil price benchmark at $75 per barrel, oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day, an exchange rate of N1,400/$1, and GDP growth of 4.6 per cent.

The president asked the House to expeditiously consider the

MTEF/FSP as the 2025 budget was prepared based on the document.

“It is with pleasure that I forward herewith, the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF&FSP) for the kind consideration and approval by the House of Representatives. The 2025- 2027 (MTEF&FSP) was approved during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of 10th November, 2024.

“The House is invited to note that, as the 2025 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions of the approved 2025-2027 (MTEF&FSP), it is imperative to seek National Assembly’s expeditious legislative action on this submission,” the letter stated.

In another letter to the House, President Tinubu transmitted to the House, the National Social Investment Programme Agency Establishment Amendment Bill, 2024, and requested expeditious consideration and passage.

He said the purpose of the bill was to make National Social Register a primary targeting tool for the implementation of social investment programmes of government.

According to the President, this will ensure social welfare programmes are data driven and implementation processes are transparent, targeted, dynamic and effective in delivering social protection benefits to vulnerable Nigerians.

“Pursuant to Section 58(2) of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I forward, herewith, for the kind consideration and passage by the House of Representatives, the National Social Investment Programme Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, for the amendment of the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act, 2023.

“The purpose of the bill is to make the National Social Register the primary targeting tool for the implementation of social investment programmes of Government. This will ensure our social welfare programmes are data driven and implementation processes are transparent, targeted, dynamic and effective in delivering social protection benefits to vulnerable Nigerians,” the letter read.

News

Catholic Church rejects $40k from Kenya’s president

Published

5 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Naijablitznews

Archbishop of Nairobi Philip Anyolo said the cash would be returned and declined other pledges from

Kenya’s Catholic Church has rejected a donation of about $40,000 (£32,000) made by President William Ruto.

He offered the money towards the building of a priest’s house and as a gift to the choir during Mass on Sunday at the Soweto Catholic Church in the capital, Nairobi.

The donation followed a recent statement by Catholic bishops, who had hit out at the government for failing to fulfil their electoral promises.

Churches have been under pressure this year from young anti-tax protesters who have accused them of being too close to politicians.

Following Ruto’s much-publicised donation on Sunday, many Kenyans urged the Catholic Church to reject the money.

The president had given around 2.6m Kenyan shillings ($20,000, £16,000) in cash, pledged the rest of the money later and also promised to give the parish a bus.

The Catholic Archbishop of Nairobi, Philip Anyolo, said the cash would be returned over “ethical concerns and the need to safeguard the Church from being used for political purposes”.

He also declined his other pledges and said a donation of 200,000 Kenyan shillings made by the Governor of Nairobi, Johnson Sakaja – who attended the same service, was also being handed back.

“The Catholic Church strongly discourages the use of church events such as fundraisers and gatherings as platforms for political self-promotion,” Archbishop Anyolo said.

Such donations were in breach of the church directives as well as the Kenyan law, he added.

The long ties between churches and political institutions – in a country where more than 80% of the population are Christian – seem to be fraying.

Three years ago, established churches banned politicians from using the pulpit during services in return for donations.

But the relationship was still perceived to be close – with young demonstrators accusing the churches of siding with the government when it decided to impose new taxes earlier this year.

Under the social media hashtag #OccupyChurch, many hit out at the churches for failing to take their side during the deadly protests that erupted in response to the planned tax hikes.

The uproar forced President’s Ruto’s government to withdraw the controversial finance bill in July.

Then last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops – which represents all Catholic bishops in the country – accused the government of perpetuating a “culture of lies”.

In a scathing statement, it also raised issues about over-taxation, corruption, violation of human rights, freedom of speech, unemployment as well as a “crumbling” education system and healthcare services.

“Despite the calmness we are experiencing, there is a lot of anxiety and most people are losing trust in the government,” it said.

In response, President Ruto appeared to hit back at the clergy, saying “we must be careful to give factual information lest we become victims of the things we accuse others of doing”.

A senator allied to government, Aaron Cheruiyot, also accused the church of “misinformation”, adding that the “clergy must avoid being purveyors of propaganda, fake news and falsehoods”.

Many of Kenya’s Christians are Catholic – estimated to number 10 million, about 20% of the population, according to government statistics.

Other Christians belong to a variety of evangelical churches and other denominations, including the Anglican Church of Kenya – which has defended the Catholic Church’s position.

Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said the Catholic bishops had reflected the feelings of many Kenyans.

“Calling church leaders names or dismissing the bishops’ statement as ‘misleading, erroneous and false,’ is itself dishonest,” he said.

“The [Catholic] bishops have spoken the minds of Kenyans and faithfully expressed the truth as things are on the ground.” (BBC)