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Protests Rock Model Colleges In Lagos Over 186% Hike In Boarding Fee
Peaceful protests have rocked the model colleges in Lagos State over the insistence of N100,000 payment per term as boarding fee by the State Government.
This is as the Parents Forum of Model Colleges in Lagos have officially informed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State of their intent to carry out a peaceful protest to the governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja on Monday.
At the Igbokuta Model College, Ikorodu, it was observed that students’ resumption was abysmally low.
Also, for the few students that turned up, teachers assigned to each class refused to accept them back to the school, insisting on the payment of the boarding fee.
Attempts by the parents to persuade the teachers to accept their wards failed, which did not go down well with most of the parents on ground.
However, the Principal of Igbokuta Junior Model College, Mr. Raheem later intervened and instructed the teachers to register the students for resumption of school.
At this point, more students were allowed to come into the school and resume their academic activities.
Also, it was observed that students in JSS1 and SSS1 who had initially paid the compulsory N70,000 were allowed into the school premises by the teachers.
Speaking on the issue, one of the concerned parents at Igbokuta Model College, Dr. Taofeek Ayinde, appealed to the Lagos State Government to rescind its decision on the hike on the boarding fee.
According to him, the government should listen to the plights of parents and guidance on the issue, stressing that the government did not show empathy with the parents especially at this time of economic doldrums.
He said: “Looking at the state of the economy, the government must listen to the yearning of the people in order not to send our children and wards out of school.
“We have some parents with three or four children in the colleges at this moment. Where do you expect such parents to get N400,000 every term from? The government should revert this bogus fee.
“If at all, nothing can be done, the boarding fee should not be more than N50,000 per term, not this about 200 per cent increment by the government. This is a bitter pill for parents to swallow.”
Also, at Agbowa Model College in Ikorodu, some of the parents were seen carrying placards of various inscriptions.
In solidarity, the parents chanted “We no go pay, we no go pay, N100,000 we no go pay.”
They also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to intervene in the matter.
Besides, a letter to the Police Commissioner of Lagos with the head: ‘Notice of Peaceful Protest (II), dated November 1, 2024, signed by Mr. Dapo Dawudu and Prince Adeyemi Sowemimo, the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Lagos State Parents Forum, respectively and obtained by our correspondent, notified the police of the intending protest slated for Monday.
The body also sought police protection for parents who might embark on the peaceful protest.
The letter read in part: “The essence of this protest is to peacefully register our dismay and grievances over the unjust, criminal and satanic increment of hostel boarding fee from N35,000 to N100,000, which we find to be outrageous being well over 200 per cent.
“We wish to notify you, sir, that parents also wish to picket on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at each of our respective children’s school gates.
“We seek for your understanding and protection of our members from unnecessary intimidation and harassment.”
News
No going back on forex, subsidy reforms – Finance minister
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, says there is no going back on the current administration’s reforms in the forex and oil and gas sectors.
Edun made this known when he received the newly assigned Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka Anitez at the Ministry’s headquarters, on Monday.
“Nigeria now have a foreign exchange rate that is market based and also a deregulated oil market pricing which are two reforms that are long overdue over many decades that President Tinubu is currently implementing.
“Therefore as co-ordinating minister of economy, we stand on a threshold of a new dawn to implement these reforms and increase productivity, create jobs and reducing poverty and we are glad to have a minister of state that will help in actualizing the President’s reforms,” he said.
According to him, consultation and collaboration is key to achieving these key reforms both from public and private sector, stressing that ongoing economic policies are showing sustainability and sign of success.
The Minister of State for Finance, in her response, restated her commitment to work with stakeholders in both private and public sectors to ensure economic growth is materialized.
News
Rivers: Fubara fond of disobeying judgements, – Amaewhule-led Assembly
The Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly in Rivers State said Governor Siminialayi Fubara has a penchant to disobey courts’ judgements and constitutional provisions.
This is as the lawmakers also vowed to make Fubara’s appointees and permanent secretaries aiding him to circumvent the law have their date with the law.
They stated this during their 65th sitting on Monday in the legislative quarters.
In a statement by Martin’s Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, said the lawmakers reviewed the governor’s actions while deliberating on the recent judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
The state legistators comnended the verdict of Justice J.O. Abdulmalik barring government from withdrawing from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State, until the 2024 Appropriation Bill is presented before a properly constituted Assembly describing it as a sound and well considered ruling.
The statement also pointed out that the Assembly on 15th July, 2024 deliberated and resolved on the continuous refusal of Fubara to present the 2024 Rivers State Appropriation Bill to the House.
The lawmakers then took the decision to write to the governor to shut down on expenditure pursuant to Section 122 of the 1999 Constitution.
Enabled by its resolution, the House and Amaewhule filed an action before the Federal High Court to determine whether Fubara could expend or continue to expend from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State without a valid 2024 Appropriation Law by the State House of Assembly.
The lawmakers prayed the court to invoke the consequences of such constitutional breach by ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant- General of the Federation, some Money Deposit Banks among other defendants to stop the release of moneys or permit the withdrawal of Rivers State funds until Fubara complied with the Constitution which he swore to uphold; and the court decided in favour of the House and the Speaker.
Commenting on the judgement, Amaewhule said, “Since 1st of July, 2024, Governor Fubara has been spending moneys of the State without approval hence the declaration of the shutdown of expenditure.
“Yet, the Governor in his characteristic manner of disobeying judgements of Courts, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and extant laws has continued to circumvent the Law with the aid of Permanent Secretaries, and some individuals who parade themselves as Commissioners. They will certainly have a date with the Law”.
News
NAF Airstrikes neutralize ISWAP commander, dozens of others
The Nigerian Airforce says its airstrike has neutralized 50 terrorists, including a high-ranking ISWAP commander known as Bashir Dauda, during an operation in Marte Local Government
Air Commodore Olusola F Akinboyewa, Director, Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, in a statement on Monday night said the precision strikes focused on known ISWAP strongholds in the villages of Tumbun Daribiyar, Jubularam, Buluwa, and Tumbu Karfe, marking a major effort in the ongoing fight against terrorism in Nigeria’s Northeast.
It said an on-ground assessment confirmed that “approximately 50 terrorists, including a high-ranking ISWAP commander known as Bashir Dauda, were neutralized in the operation.”
” Additionally, an ISWAP supply depot in the Jubularam enclave, filled with a substantial cache of food and essential items like beans, millet, and rice, was destroyed, effectively severing a critical resource line for the terrorists.
“These successful air strikes, targeting personnel and logistics, underscore NAF’s ongoing commitment to supporting ground forces and enhancing joint efforts to decimate terrorist strongholds in the region,” he said.
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