Senate - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
Nov, Wed, 2024

Education: Senate pledges brighter future for Nigerian children

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By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has assured Nigerian children of a brighter future, enabling them to reach their full academic potential.

Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Sen. Ireti Kingibe, gave the assurance at an event to mark the “Universal Children’s Day” held at the National Assembly complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s event is “Investing in Our Future: Empowering Children to Build a Better World”.

Kingibe emphasised that children are the future of Nigeria, and it was essential to invest time, energy, and resources in helping them become the best version of themselves.

She stressed that children would ensure Nigeria’s greatness in the future.

The President of the NSE, Margaret Oguntala, represented by Dr Felicia Agubata, highlighted the importance of empowering and inspiring children to build a brighter future.

Oguntala emphasised that education, healthcare, and skill acquisition were essential investments in children’s potential to create a better society.

“Children are our pride and joy; they are the leaders of tomorrow’s progress.

“As leaders, parents and professionals, we bear a collective responsibility to nurture their dreams, safeguard their wellbeing, and equip them with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving world.

“Education, healthcare and skill acquisition are not mere privileges but essential investments in their potential to create a better society.

“I would like to call on all parents to take special interest in the development of their children.

“Let me also use this opportunity to urge our children to embrace education and skills acquisition with dedication and discipline.”

Also speaking, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi), called for the digitalisation of education, suggesting that e-libraries and digital learning platforms would improve efficiency and accessibility for students.

Sen. Neda Imaseun (LP-Edo), emphasised the importance of handing over the baton to children, acknowledging their crucial role in shaping the future.

However, he also stressed the need for better welfare and remuneration for teachers to provide quality education. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

isaac aregbesola
Nov, Tue, 2024

Defence/Security

Anti-graft: Senate pledges to increase EFCC budget allocation

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The Senate Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes has expressed determination to increase budgetary allocation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to effectively carry out its anti-graft obligation.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Sen. Emmanuel Udende, said this when he led the committee members on an oversight visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

The committee chairman said in honesty, the EFCC required more funding.

“When the EFCC chairman is telling you that he needs a software that will tackle virtual and fraudulent cryptocurrency trading, valued at about N3.4billion, then, you will understand why they need more funding.

So, they really, really need a lot of money. What you can do is that through budgeting processing, you will be able to also increase their budget,” Udende said.

He also said that the EFCC deserved a percentage of its recoveries to assist its operations just like the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) gets a certain percentage of its seizures too.

“Like customs do, they are entitled to a percentage of whatever they get for the year. And if we do it to EFCC, we will be able to work from the proceeds of crime that they recover,” he said.

He also lauded EFCC and its leadership for their performance in the last one year, stressing that the Commission had impressively tackled the menace of economic and financial crimes, with ascertainable proofs.

While giving the Committee’s evaluation of the efforts of the Commission, Udende declared that the Committee was satisfied with the performance of the EFCC and declared that it has done wonderfully well.

“We have looked at the records, the budget performance, what the EFCC has done in the past one year and we are quite impressed with what they have done,”he said.

Olukoyede had earlier called on the National Assembly to support the agency by increasing its allocation in the 2025 budget by 300 per cent.

He said that this was to enable it acquire requisite state of the art technology to fight illicit financial flows, economic sabotage.

According to him, one of the agency’s greatest challenges is inadequate funding, the agency will need about 300 per cent increment of its 2024 budget to carry out its duties effectively.

He also sought the cooperation of the lawmakers in terms of changing the negative perception of Nigerians about the agency.

The chairman also stated that the EFCC is currently investigating the extractive industry and very soon, indicted persons will be charged to court.

Olukoyede, who lamented the effects of corruption on the general activities in Nigeria, said EFCC would investigate government agencies, who corruptly divert budgetary allocations to other things or outrightly embezzle the funds.

He announced that the commission had been granted access to the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System to monitor and track all disbursements and ensure proper utilisation.

While seeking the cooperation of the senators in carrying out the agency’s duty, Olukoyede said the EFCC would also be monitoring their constituency projects.

“We now have a relationship with the Accountant General’s Office. We have been given access to the IPPIS. We want to monitor the releases and track where the money goes.

“So, I am pleased to inform you, distinguished members of the Senate, that we will be monitoring your constituency projects. I hope you will cooperate with us.

“There will be no problem. We will monitor the allocation, and I believe you will also help us champion this cause,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama

Philip Daniel Yatai
Nov, Fri, 2024

Politics

Senate moves to repeal Act establishing NBTE

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By Naomi Sharang

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund is considering repealing the Act establishing the National Board for Technical Education(NBTE) to realise its objectives.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Muntari Dandutse said this when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit to the Board’s office in Abuja on Thursday.

While noting the importance of the board to the technological development of Nigeria, Dandutse said that the Senate would look into amending the obsolete laws governing NBTE.

“We will look at repealing the laws that will make them realise the objectives of innovation in a modern set up.

“We are going to look into the challenges and address them. We want to partner with you. We need to address young Nigerians to be self employed.

“It’s only through these polytechnics we can have technical students who can achieve a very robust innovation in making Nigeria great in terms of engineering”.

The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje, said that the Board was established in 1977 adding that it supervises, accredits and regulates over 700 institutions, 156 polytechnics and 145 monotechnics.

He disclosed that Sokoto state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were the only states yet to have federal polytechnics.

“Sokoto is the only state in Nigeria without a federal polytechnic. We appreciate it so that Sokoto will also have a federal polytechnic.

“We are proposing that FCT has a federal polytechnic in Gwarinpa. A draft has already been given to the minister and it will soon go to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and from there to the Senate.”

He also noted that the struggle to upgrade NBTE to a national polytechnic commission has started.

“We look forward to support from this Senate Committee,” Bugaje said.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza