Jigawa To Clamp Down On Illegal Private Schools

The Jigawa State Government has stated that any private school that commenced junior or senior sections in the state without official upgrading from the ministry would be shut down.

The Director, Private Schools, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Malam Musa Ya’u, disclosed this in a statement in Dutse on Monday.

Ya’u stated that the state has concluded plans to clamp down on private schools operating illegally in the state.

He explained that the ministry had set up a committee to visit all private schools across the state, to collect their annual registration fees.

He urged proprietors of private schools to ensure full payment of outstanding debts as the team from the ministry will visit private schools to ensure debts are settled.

The director also advised private schools that were operating without approval from the ministry to do so before the arrival of the team.

Ya’u added that any private school that commenced junior or senior sections without official upgrading from the ministry would be shut down.

Ya’u stated that the ministry has already notified the association of proprietors of private schools about the exercise

“The exercise starts Oct. 28, and private school proprietors have been notified, he added.”

We ‘ll Call Off Strike After Salary Payment -SSANU

The National President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mohammed Ibrahim, has stated that the union’s ongoing strike, which began on Monday, will be called off once the four months’ salary arrears owed to members are paid.

He disclosed this on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s News Track programme.

Ibrahim stated that association members have exhausted all possible avenues to address the issue of withheld salaries by the Federal Government.

“We have made several efforts to engage with the government to resolve the situation. Even before the extension on the 23rd, several extensions were given. Recall that this is not a new issue.

“In July, specifically on the 17th, we held multiple protests in Abuja. Thereafter, the NLC took the matter to the president during discussions on the new minimum wage. At that meeting, the president directed that 50 per cent of the four months’ salaries be paid. But three months later, the promise remains unfulfilled.

“We have held numerous discussions with the ministers of education, who assured us of payment, yet the promise remains elusive. So, for now, we have been pushed to the wall because we have exhausted all avenues to resolve the issue, even asking our members to be patient. Our members across branches have met, and the strike has begun. Moving forward, all activities in the bursary, registry, works and maintenance, security, and student affairs have been put on hold until payments are made,” Ibrahim said.

He noted that members had been “pushed to the wall,” leading to the commencement of the ongoing nationwide strike.

Among other demands, the Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and SSANU are calling for payment of their four-month withheld salaries, improved remuneration, earned allowances, and implementation of the 2009 agreements with the government.

The SSANU president stated that all attempts that have been made by the union have proved unsuccessful, which resulted in the union commencement of the strike.

“Previous overtures were made by the former minister of education. And this morning, I received a call from the minister-designate to discuss a meeting. However, the strike is a process, and the leadership of SSANU and NASU will need to meet.

“Currently, none of us is in Abuja, but we are trying to organise a meeting. The truth is, once these payments are made today, since payments are done by electronic transfer, we will call off the strike,” he said.

Battered Teenager Gets Scholarship To Finish Secondary School

A 15-year-old teenager, Chikamso Ekeocha who was battered by her master has been awarded a scholarship to complete her secondary school education.

In 2022, Ekeocha suffered physical harm at the hands of her guardian in Owerri for allegedly riding his children’s bicycle without his permission.

Activist journalist and human rights defender Chidiebube Okeoma who disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Owerri, explained that the scholarship is a full package that covers registration fees, school fees, textbooks, exercise books, a desk, school uniforms, writing pens, and all other fees.

He said that the incident caught his attention, prompting him and his team to immediately rescue the girl, take her to a hospital, and arrest the suspect.

Okeoma noted that the suspect was later remanded at the Owerri Correctional Centre by a magistrate court.

The activist stated that he championed advocacy for the girl and her family, opening a bank account for her mother, raising nearly N1m for the family, and securing a scholarship for the victim.

He added that while the minor has been enrolled in Primary 4 to round out her secondary school education, her mother has started a business with the money raised for the family.

The journalist disclosed that the gesture was made possible through a compassionate Nigerian woman from Imo State who preferred to remain anonymous.

He said that the anonymous woman had, through him, promised to cover the primary school costs for the girl and ensure she completes her secondary school education.

“I have enrolled 15-year-old Chikamso Ekeocha in secondary school. This is made possible by a compassionate Nigerian woman who preferred to remain anonymous. She contacted me while I was campaigning for justice and welfare for the minor and pledged to cover the costs of her primary and secondary education,” he said.

He expressed optimism that, by the grace of God, Chikamso Ekeocha will grow to become a successful woman.

“Our role is to guide her on the path to excellence and help her fulfill her dreams. We want to show her that humanity is kind, not wicked. When she grows up, she will love humanity and not hate society. That is my goal,” he said.