Committee - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Sun, 2024

NASS committee seeks enhanced security, power infrastructure in tertiary institutions

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By Naomi Sharang

The National Assembly joint committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund has called for urgent measures to address security and power challenges in tertiary institutions in the country.

Chairman of the joint committee, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, made this known in a statement in Abuja, as a fallout of a retreat organised by the National Assembly in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The retreat had as its theme “Security and Energy Challenges in Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions”.

According to Dandutse, the rising tide of insecurity and the persistent energy crisis in tertiary institutions demand immediate and focused attention.

He said that the landscape of our educational institutions was fraught with challenges.

“These challenges threaten not only the safety and well-being of our students and faculties, but also the very integrity of our educational mission.

“As a committee that is saddled with the responsibility of oversight of tertiary institutions, we cannot fold our hands and watch idly, the deteriorating state of our institutions.

“We feel legally, morally and conscientiously obligated to rise up to occasion with a view to addressing this menace.

“However, the recent surge in violence, kidnapping, and other security threats has created an environment of fear and uncertainty thus undermining the core functions of these institutions.

“Our students and educators deserve an environment conducive to learning and research, free from the spectre of insecurity.

“And this, we are poised to achieve by providing an enabling environment through legislative frameworks that would guarantee a level playing ground”.

Chairperson, House Committee on TETFund and other Services, Rep. Miriam Onuoha called for improved measures to tackle the security measures on campuses.

Also, Chairman of the Board of TETFund, Aminu Bello Masari, said that the fund would create a new budget intervention line aimed at addressing the pressing issues of security and power in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Masari underscored the pivotal role that education played in the nation’s development and the urgent need for improved funding in the sector.

“Threats to security and inadequate power supply pose significant risks to the stability and success of our higher institutions.”

“These issues not only jeopardise the safety of students and staff but also negatively impact academic performance and the overall functioning of institutions”.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Fri, 2024

Metro

FCTA begins post-development audit of buildings in FCT

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By Philip Yatai/Angela Atabo

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun a post-development audit of buildings in the FCT.

Chief Felix Obuah, Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), made this known while inaugurating a Ministerial Committee on Post-Development Audit of Buildings in the FCT.

Obuah explained while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Thursday that the Abuja Master Plan, developed in 1979 provides the roadmap for the orderly development of the nation’s capital city, Abuja.

According to him, the overarching goal is to build one of the most prestigious and modernist cities in the world.

He pointed out that over the years, the FCTA has been able to develop many phases of the city, districts and neighbourhoods.

“We have equally been able to develop critical infrastructures that provide circulatory road systems, metro lines and stations, sewer lines and drainages, among others.

“Today the city can boast of many iconic landmark developments such as the National Mosque, the National Christian Center, the National Assembly Complex, and the Supreme Court Complex.

“Others are the World Trade Centre, Abuja – the tallest building in the city with 22 floors, the CBN Complex, and many other iconic buildings of international repute and reference points for tourists.

“All these attests to the fact that our city has come to stay; our city has developed substantially from Phase 1 through Phase 3 while the other phases are equally being developed.

“Nonetheless, it becomes imperative too, that at this juncture of the city’s development, we take a cursory look at our journey in terms of what we have so far developed, the trend and chart a more robust course for the city’s development,” he said.

He said that it was on these grounds that the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike approved the constitution of the committee to audit the post- development of the city’s buildings.

He said that the committee, which would be chaired by Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, would be expected to provide accurate records of all development permits issued.

This, he said, would reduce the cases of unapproved development, illegal conversion of land use, and land grabbing.

He added that the committee would also provide data on the consumption of the city’s utilities and services such as water, electricity and connectivity to sewer lines.

This, according to him, will expose illegal connections to the facilities which is denying the government its due revenues.

“The committee will also provide data for accurate taxation and enhanced revenue generation by bringing all buildings and properties to the FCT Internal Revenue Tax Net.

“This will generate billions of Naira for the FCT Administration.

“Another task for the committee is the provision of data on research on city planning, development and management.

“Some of the buildings will be subjected to integrity tests to reduce cases of building collapse and hazards,” he said.

The coordinator said that members of the committee were drawn from all the departments in the FCTA and expected to conclude the tasks in six months.

He assured the committee members of the FCT Minister’s commitment to providing the necessary logistics to ensure the success of the exercise.

Speaking on behalf of the committee members, Galadima noted the need for the FCTA to document all activities, in terms of structures, services, and facilities.

He said that the committee would deliver on its mandate as expected. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza