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Reps Say Dichotomy Btw HND, Degree Will Be Eliminated

Published

2 months ago

October 26, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has said that, the dichotomy between Degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) in status and employment in the country will be a thing of the past.

Chairman, House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda gave the assurance during an interactive oversight engagement with the Rectors of Federal Polytechnic Shendam and Federal Polytechnic Wannune on Thursday, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

The Chairman also stated that there are a number of proposed Bills to address the various challenges facing Polytechnics in the country aimed to strengthen them to provide the needed professional technical expertise towards the country’s quest for development.

According to Rep. Laguda, the essence of the meeting was to assess their budget performance and know the challenges facing the institutions and find ways to support them to enable them run smoothly and serve their intended purposes.

He said, “As we approach the 2025 budget year that’s coming next, we need to actually see to the performance of current year, previous years, to ascertain and to know to what level we will be doing future work, and to also understand what your individual challenges are in your institution and what you will require to move on”.

In his presentation, t

Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nyam-Shendam, Dr Mikaila Zakari Yau, said, they are still struggling to stay afloat since the creation of the Polytechnic in 2021 which he said kicked off without a temporary site but started from a primary school building in the community.

He said, “We are just giving a bush like this, donated by the state government as a start-up.

The Rector said N2 billion was given to them by TetFund as take-off grant part of which was used to buy a water tanker because there is no water in the school, renovated the existing primary school and carryout other projects for the takeoff of the institution.

Yau however informed the committee that, there was no take-off grant from the federal ministry of education but there has been steady budget with a fair release which enabled the institution to execute capital projects and structures needed for learning.

The Committee expressed displeasure that, the school has only 27 students for three years despite having with an academic and non academic strength of 245.

A member of the Committee said, “You only mention that the take-off grant was two billion. What about the other grant? How much was given to you for other grants? He said, we need to know how that money was expended. You didn’t tell us.

“So we need to know how those money was spent. Who and who get what? What is the outcome of the grant? Can we see who get a grant? Can we inspect them? Because 27 students for three years to a school. You said you’ve done only one admission. For two years, what were you doing?”.

Another member of the Committee said, “And I think this is a very, very peculiar case and situation in terms of the number of students you have. It is alarming.

“It is really, really alarming. And if for all reasons stated by you, because if I want to understand what you’re saying as far as where your school is located, you’ve said before us here that it is not a conducive environment. From what you have said”.

In his presentation, the Rector, Fedpoly Wannune, Benue State, Dr Tyover Ashinya apologised for what happened about the plan by the Committee to visit the school and the statement credited to him which the committee members found uncomplimentary.

He said, the school also started in 2021 and was the last six Polytechnics that were established during the second tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said, “So when the school came on board, we were given, as usual, there was a take-off grant. And if you go there now, we judiciously use the take-off ground for administrative block, academic block, classrooms, offices.

“We have whatever for a better start of an institution. And if you equally go there, we’ve been able to have students, because when we came on board, we decided that this school, within the vicinity, is going to be a wonderful catchment position for our students. So we have students of almost 1,000, at least”.

The Bursar and Director of Planning of Federal Polytechnic Wannune reeled out details of the School’s finances as well as projects before the Committee.

However, the Committee observed that, the presentations by the two institutions are both defective, as there a were many details that are required which were not presented like employment, adherence to federal character and others.

Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Laguda directed them to work on their presentations and re-submit within five working days.

“If you make a political decision as well, if I don’t appreciate the number of students, what I know is that the report is not accurate. You agree that the report is not accurate? Okay…let’s save ourselves the continuous agony and let’s also save ourselves face.

“I think at this point, if you can own up and say that you know your report is inaccurate, I would be saying to all my members and say that we grant you the grace to resubmit another report to us.

“That would be more comprehensive and I’ll be able to speak to all these questions we’ve been asking you all day. We do need pictures”, he stated.

News

Jubilation as Senator Manu links Gunduma to national grid, commissions, power project (Photos/Video)

Published

29 minutes ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

…provides another transformer for Emir’s Palace and environs

Finally, after 15years of blackout, Senator Manu Haruna of Taraba Central Senatorial District has officially commissioned the Gunduma Ward Electricity Power Project.

Senator Manu during the electioneering period had promised to link Gunduma to the national grid.

It’s indeed a promise well fulfilled as his constituents Jubilate.

This marks a historic moment for the community, which has been without electricity for the past 15 years. This transformative initiative underscores Senator Manu’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure challenges and improving the lives of his constituents.

During the commissioning ceremony, former Federal Lawmaker of Taraba Central, Senator Dahiru Bako, commended Senator Manu for his dedication and vision in delivering this essential project.

Hon. Musa Chul Member House of Assembly Gassol II,Constituency TRHA described the achievement as a monumental milestone, emphasizing its potential to significantly enhance economic activities and improve the standard of living for the residents of Gunduma Ward.

The Gunduma Ward Electricity Power Project represents a significant step towards infrastructural development in Taraba Central and reflects Senator Manu’s proactive approach to governance and service delivery.

Manu also presented a new Transformer with specifications of 300KVA Valtage CL: 35KV and standard TS:EN60076-1 to the His Royal Highness Alhaji Justice Sani Sulaiman Duna the Emir of Mutum-Biyu for the Mutum-Biyu Environs.

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Allegations by Niger Republic attempt to incite northerners against Tinubu – Presidency

Published

55 minutes ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, says claims by the military leader of Niger Republic, Abdourahamane Tchiani that Nigeria is colluding with France to destabilise his county are despicable propaganda.

He declared that the claims were aimed at inciting Northern Nigeria against President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala said the military leader deliberately chose a local language in the North.

The media recalls that Abdourahamane Tchiani, military leader of Niger Republic, made the claims in an interview on Wednesday.

Tchiani, who spoke in Hausa, alleged that France is negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.

According to him, France made a substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, shortly afterwards, dismissed the allegations and described them as baseless.

Reacting to the allegations in a video posted on his X page on Friday, Bwala said the claims are baseless propaganda, designed to create chaos and incite bad blood in northern Nigeria against Tinubu.

“Yesterday I came across a video, a despicable propaganda piece by the military head of state of the Niger Republic against the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and this is what you often see with military interregnum,” he said.

“The honeymoon is over; he has not been able to address economic situations in his country; everything is turning against him, and in the desperate gasp for breath, he decided to resort to cheap false lies and propaganda against Nigeria.

“The choice of words used by the military leader is quite insultive for what his intentions are; probably in cohoot with politicians in Nigerians; you never know.

“But the whole idea is to create chaos and bad blood in Northern Nigeria against the President,” he added.

Bwala explained Nigeria’s longstanding leadership role in West Africa and its commitment to fostering bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.

News

Police deny investigating VeryDarkMan’s missing N180m NGO funds

Published

56 minutes ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has said it is not investigating the claim by online personality, Vincent Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan’s that N180 million meant for his non-governmental organisation, NGO, has gone missing.

Vanguard reported, Friday, that VDM had alleged that over N180 million was stolen from his NGO’s account after it was hacked.

In October, Otse launched the Martins Vincent Osei Initiative, raising over N35 million in donations within hours. Shortly after, he announced receiving a N100 million contribution from music producer Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy.

Otse further explained that he had to shut down the NGO’s app for maintenance to prevent further breaches and promised to provide updates on the situation.

VDM has in the video claimed that he had reported the matter to the police and he was also travelling to Jos because one of the hackers had been found.

According to reports, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, clarified that the command was not involved in the matter.

She said, “The FCT Police Command has no information regarding any missing funds involving VDM, nor is there any ongoing investigation into the matter. The individual concerned should be contacted directly for details on where the case was reported, as we have no record of such a case with our command.”