News Agency of Nigeria
FCT primary teachers to call off strike following Wike’s intervention  
Metro

FCT primary teachers to call off strike following Wike’s intervention  

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By Philip Yatai

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), may soon call off the three-month primary school teachers’ strike, following the intervention of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Chief of Staff to the minister, Mr Chidi Amadi disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, after a closed-door meeting with the area council chairmen, leadership of the NUT, and representatives of the FCT Administration.

Other participants at the meeting, he said, included representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANs) and the National Assembly.

Amadi explained that the meeting was convened by the minister, in addition to previous interventions to find a lasting solution to the prolonged teachers’ strike.

According to him, after extensive deliberation, a decision was reached to put the issues to rest.

He announced that part of the resolution was to withhold the 10 per cent accrued Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the area councils for the past six months.

He explained that the funds would be used to settle 70 per cent of the minimum wage owed the teachers.

“Although it will not cover 100 per cent of the debt for now, it will cover about 70 per cent. This is a laudable move towards addressing the fracas once and for all.

The chief of staff added that the minister had also directed that a Special Committee be constituted, composed of three members of NUT, two members from FCTA, one of the area council chairmen and representative of NANs.

He added that the committee would revisit all the other outstanding issues and within the next two weeks, submit a report detailing how the other outstanding issues would be permanently addressed.

“In addition to addressing the issues of the primary school teachers, Wike had taken a decision to address all outstanding issues of the local government employees.

“The minister pledged to personally intervene to ensure that their demands are addressed by the FCTA.

“This is to ensure that the area councils resume full operations effectively immediately.

Speaking on behalf of the area council chairmen, Mr Abubakar Abdullahi, acknowledged the resolution, saying “although it was not in favour of the area councils, it was necessary to resolve the issues.

“Six months of our IGR had been held to settle this issue. Ours at this point is to appeal to NUT to consider our children and call off the strike.

“Please NUT, we are calling on you to respect the fact that the minister has taken his time to resolve this matter.

“Wike had clearly stated that by law, he has no right to take the 10 per cent IGR of the area councils to clear the outstanding debt of the teachers.

“However, the chairmen have all agreed because they also, collectively, want an end to the strike and so we have agreed that the 10 per cent IGR should go to the teachers”.

He expressed optimism that the strike would be called off before Friday, so that children would go back to school.

Also, the National President of NANs, Olushola Oladoja, lauded the resolutions and expressed hope that the outcome would finally put the matter to rest and the teachers return to class.

Oladoja commended the minister for taking the bold step, stressing that any of the council chairmen could take him to court over such a decision.

“However, I believe because the council chairmen also want the issue resolved, they have no option but to concede the IGR for six months,” he said.

On his part, the NUT Chairman, Mohammed Shafa, acknowledged the deliberation, but said he would get back to the NUT State Executive Council, where the final decision would be taken.

The news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the teachers had embarked on the strike in March over non-implementation of minimum wage

Other issues included non-implementation and payment of 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary increase, and non-implementation and payment of 40 per cent peculiar allowance.

The union were also demanding the payment of the N35,000 wage award and the implementation of the template on outstanding entitlements of teachers as agreed in 2022. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Wike meets area council chairmen, NUT, NANs over teachers’ strike 
Metro

Wike meets area council chairmen, NUT, NANs over teachers’ strike 

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By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, will meet with chairmen of FCT area councils, leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and National Association of Nigeria Students (NANs) on Thursday.

The meeting, according to a statement by NANs in Abuja on Wednesday, is to finalise modalities for the reopening of all public primary schools in the FCT.

The statement was signed by NANs National President, Olushola Oladoja and the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Adeyemi Ajasa.

The association explained that it had earlier resolved to stage a mass protest Wednesday morning at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Secretariat.

It added that its leadership was invited to a high-level engagement at the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters, where the issues at hand were thoroughly discussed in the interest of national security and students’ welfare.

It said that the first meeting at the DSS paved the way for a second strategic meeting with the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Muktar Betara.

NANs said that the engagement revealed the root causes of the ongoing industrial action by the NUT and the efforts made thus far by the Wike-led FCTA.

It added that a third meeting was held with Wike on Tuesday, where the minister explained the issues at hand.

“That the FCT remains the only unit of the federation operating full local government autonomy, hence all salary payments, including that of primary school teachers, are the sole responsibility of the area councils.

“The FCT Administration is not directly responsible for the backlog of teachers’ salaries and therefore should not be held solely accountable for the inadequacies of the area councils.

“In a show of responsibility and commitment to resolving the crisis, Wike intervened by proposing a bailout—with FCTA offering to pay 60 per cent of the outstanding arrears while the area councils cover the remaining 40 per cent.

“When it became clear that this arrangement was not yielding desired results, the FCT minister withheld the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the area councils for the months of May and June, with a plan to utilize these funds to make up the 40 per cent requested of area council to clear the outstanding arrears owed to teachers.

“That based on this intervention, it was expected that the two-month arrears withheld be ready before the end of the week,” it said.

The association said that based on the productive engagements and emerging progress, it hereby suspends the planned protest while keeping close tabs on the implementation of all resolutions reached.

“We reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights of Nigerian students and ensuring that no child is denied access to education due to governmental lapses,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Foundation says teachers still unsung heros, urges adequate attention 
Education

Foundation says teachers still unsung heros, urges adequate attention 

255 total views today

 

 

 

 

 

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

 

The Team Leader of Regalo Hope Foundation, Dr Chinenye Onuorah, has appealed to governments, religious bodies, private organisations and philanthropists for a collective action to improve the lives of Nigeria teachers.

 

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, Onuorah expressed dissatisfaction at the living and working conditions of some teachers.

 

She said that teachers were making sacrifices and playing key roles in character moulding and, therefore, deserved the best care and reward.

 

She described teachers as mentors, counsellors and role models.

 

“If we don’t act now, we are signing off on the collapse of our future.

 

“Our teachers, the very architects of tomorrow, are among the under-appreciated and under-paid professionals in the country.

 

“With delayed salaries sometimes, they still rise every morning to face overcrowded classrooms and outdated and crumbling infrastructure.

 

“Some administer teaching without textbooks, electricity and modern apparatuses,” Onuorah said.

 

According to her, teachers nurture doctors, engineers, lawyers and others but some of them cannot afford the basic needs of life.

 

“Some walk miles to school, some sleep hungry.

 

“Many take odd jobs after school just to survive but pour their hearts into shaping lives.

 

“We must do better and bring to bear a system that respects, protects and rewards its teachers because without them, there is no future,” she told NAN.

 

The team leader, disclosed that the foundation, through its Support Fund, pay rents for some teachers who were on the verge of eviction.

 

“These are people who shape lives daily; yet, they live in fear of homelessness.

 

“That is not only unacceptable, it is inhumane. Teachers’ roles are critical in shaping the future.

 

‘’Their living and working conditions calls for urgent and adequate attention.

 

“Let’s join forces to create a better life for them, because as teachers’ lives get transformed, students get better and communities flourish,” she said.

 

Onuorah urged reforms which would restore dignity to the teaching profession.

 

She called for housing schemes with low-interest mortgages, as well as a comprehensive health insurance which would cover mental health, for teachers.

 

Onuorah also called for provision of modern teaching tools and internet access for teachers.

 

She also urged continuous training of teachers as well as pension reform and retirement security for them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

FCT-UBEB promoting entrepreneurship in basic education for self-reliance  
Education

FCT-UBEB promoting entrepreneurship in basic education for self-reliance  

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By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB) says it is entrenching innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in basic education to promote self-reliance.

Mrs Florence Wenegieme, Director, Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, FCT-UBEB, stated this in Abuja on Monday, at a two-day training of FCT teachers on innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Wenegieme, who represented the acting chairman of the board, Dr Dr. Alhassan Sule at the event, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the move was for children to drive solutions to societal problems.

She said that the innovation and entrepreneurship education was critical to achieving President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

“FCT UBEB is building the capacity of our children to make them self-reliant such that a child that finished primary and junior secondary school should be able to do something for him or herself.

“We don’t want a situation where children will graduate from school and become redundant, after obtaining a certificate in basic education, a child should be able to fend for himself,” she said.

She said that initiative focuses on relevant vocational and entrepreneurial skills such as welding and fabrication, fashion design, plumbing, brick laying, electrical fittings, and hair styling among others.

According to the director, acquiring such skills will not only enable the children to be self-reliant, but also employ and train others.

She explained that the two-day training would equip the teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills on how to entrench innovation and entrepreneurship among pupils and students.

Wenegieme said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, was doing everything possible to transform primary and secondary education in the FCT with focus on functional skills for national development.

Her counterpart at the FCT Education Secretariat, Mr kolawale Olobashola, said that the goal was to implant entrepreneurship education in the heart of school students.

Olobashola, the Director, Science, Technology and Innovation, added that with entrepreneurial skills, no FCT child would be a nuisance on the street. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

FG unveils UBE school improvement programme
Education

FG unveils UBE school improvement programme

425 total views today

Programme

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Government has launched the Universal Basic Education (UBE) School Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) to boost teaching capacity, under the Teacher Professional Development (TPD).

Speaking at an event in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, emphasized that the initiative would foster community partnership and engagement.

Alausa stated that the programme aimed to address the issue of out-of-school children and expand access to education for school-age children, while also improving the teaching and learning environment.

He mentioned that the activities would be funded through the Federal Government/UBE intervention fund and would guide further efforts to enhance the capacity of teachers across the country.

Alausa highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing girl-child education and tackling the out-of-school syndrome.

“If girl-child education is to be advanced and if we are to eradicate or reduce the out-of-school syndrome, the government alone cannot tackle these challenges.

“It requires a synergy of efforts from all stakeholders, with the community playing a major role, to pave the way for achieving the expected outcomes,” he said.

He stressed that the government alone could not solve these challenges and that a synergy of efforts, particularly from communities, was essential for achieving the desired outcomes.

The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the UBEC’s 2025-2027 initiatives, which include the construction of 7,200 new UBE facilities and the provision of 1,680,000 furniture pieces.

“Additionally, the initiatives involve the extensive renovation of 195,000 classrooms, as well as the installation of 22,900 water boreholes and 28,000 toilets across schools.”

These efforts, he said, were aimed at creating a safe learning environment, especially in rural areas.

Alausa outlined the pillars of the ministry’s education sector renewal initiative, which includes increasing enrollment, enhancing TVET to address skill gaps, advancing girl-child education, harnessing data and digitisation, and strengthening quality assurance to meet global standards.

He also explained that the teacher professional development programme aligned with the ministry’s goal of improving learning outcomes by strengthening teacher quality.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, also addressed the progress made in Nigeria’s basic education sector, noting a seven per cent increase in school enrollment over the past two to three years.

However, she lamented that about 13 million children remained out of school, particularly in rural and low-income communities.

Garba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering equitable, quality education for every Nigerian child.

“Imagine a child in a community eager to learn, full of promise, yet held back by a lack of infrastructure, qualified teachers, learning materials, and a conducive learning environment.

“Today, we mark a defining milestone in our shared vision to deliver equitable, quality-based education for every Nigerian child and to rewrite that story.

“We gather to reaffirm our commitment to every Nigerian child. We are unleashing the promise of a nation.

“The promise that every Nigerian child, no matter their circumstances or location, deserves a solid start to life through quality-based education,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

1,800 get teaching appointments in Kwara
Education

1,800 get teaching appointments in Kwara

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TESCOM

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

The Kwara state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has shorlisted 1,800 applicants for teaching appointments in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onile, made available to newsmen in Ilorin.

Onile said that the shortlisted applicants emerged from a screening exercise, which included computer based test, and interviews spanning over three months.

”The shortlisted comprises 790 (44%) for STEM subjects; 581 for core subjects; 370 for specialised subjects; and 59 for technical subjects.

”They will be assigned to senior secondary schools across the 16 local government areas of the state in line with the needs assessment of the commission,” he said.

Onile advised applicants who appeared for the interviews to check their status on the portal, adding “those shortlisted will undergo a mandatory drug test to ascertain their suitability to teach children.

”The drug test will be carried out by the NDLEA and will be coordinated by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Drugs Abuse, Prevention and Control, Hon. Mukail Aileru.

”The test will begin on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, and end on Saturday April 12, 2025. Shortlisted candidates from Baruten, Edu, Kaiama, and Patigi are slated for Wednesday.

“Those from Ekiti, Ifelodun, Irepodun, and Isin will be tested on Thursday, April 10; Offa, Oke Ero, Oyun, and Moro are slated for Friday, April 11, while the candidates from Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, and Ilorin West are to have theirs on Saturday.

“The drug test certificates will be sent to the commission by the NDLEA as no candidate is allowed to access it on their own to curb altering,” he said.

The official said that successful applicants would also sign a bond not to seek transfer for six years, a policy response to the dearth of teachers in rural areas.

“Shortlisted applicants are to also come with medical certificates from any state government hospital as well as the original copies of their credentials for documentation, during which they will be required to drop photocopies of same for record purposes.

“They will also submit handwritten letters of acceptance of the job offer, while other conditions of service will be spelt out during the documentation process,” Onile added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Why Google is training 6,000 Nigerian teachers
General News

Why Google is training 6,000 Nigerian teachers

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By Funmilayo Adeyemi

An Educational Technologist, Dr Oluwakemi Olurinola, said that the emerging influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational sector has raised the need to train 6,000 teachers across the country by Google.

 

Olurinola, who is from the Department of Science and Technology Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun state, said this at the opening of the training on Tuesday in Abuja.

 

She explained that AI had the potential to revolutionise teaching and learning, adding that teachers need to harness the power of AI to create more engaging and effective learning experiences for students.

 

“We all know that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a critical digital skill deficit among our educators.

 

“This challenge is compounded by the emerging influence of AI in the educational setting, introducing a new dimension of inequality that threatens to widen the existing skill gap.

 

“As we set on this journey, let’s consider that the educational landscape in Nigeria is at a very crucial turning point, where the old ways of teaching are being questioned by the swift progression of technology,” she said.

 

Speaking virtually, a Research Engineer at Google, Avishkar Bhoopchand, said the training would improve the experiences of teaching and learning.

 

“We recognise the vital role that teachers play in shaping the future. We strive to provide tools and resources that empower them to create engaging and effective learning experiences.

 

“In my work with Google Classroom and Workspace for Education, which offers an expanded access to digital literacy, our focus remains on fostering innovation and equity in education,” he said.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-weeks training is expected to equip teachers in the six-geopolitical zones with AI skills and competencies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

FG trains 6,000 teachers in AI pedagogy
Education

FG trains 6,000 teachers in AI pedagogy

490 total views today

 

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Government has unveiled a five-week training for 6,000 senior secondary school teachers in Artificial Intelligence Pedagogy across the country.

 

At the official kick-off of the training in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, called on the participants to take advantage of the training in order to contribute to national development.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also featured the unveiling of the Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education.

 

Represented by the Director, Senior Secondary Education Department NSSEC) in the ministry, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the minister described education as the cornerstone for any meaningful development.

 

He stressed the need for beneficiaries to equip themselves with modern technology for teaching and learning.

 

“The world is undergoing a technological revolution and artificial intelligence (Al) is at its core.

 

“Al is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day reality, transforming industries, economies and societies.

 

“As educators, we must embrace this evolution and ensure our education sector is not left behind.

 

“The integration of Al into pedagogy offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance learning experiences, personalise education and develop critical thinking skills among our students,” he said.

 

Also, the Executive Secretary, National Senior Secondary Education Commission, Dr Iyela Ajayi, called on state governments, school administrators and private sector partners to support the initiative.

 

Ajayi appealed for investment in infrastructure, teacher training and learners’ welfare to ensure that no school, teacher or learner was left behind in the journey towards educational excellence.

 

On the implementation of the minimum standards, he assured of immediate and full implementation, while giving nine-month widow for school sanctions.

 

Ajayi said that the commission, through its intervention programmes, would develop the minimum standards to build capacities and provide instructional resources, among others, for schools.

 

“The minimum standards is a strategic response to the challenges and gaps identified in the senior secondary education sub-sector.

 

“Over the years, we have observed disparities in curriculum implementation, teaching quality, school infrastructure and learners’ outcomes across different states and schools.

 

“These inconsistencies have contributed to uneven access to quality education, limiting the potential of many learners.

 

“With these newly-developed standards, we now have a comprehensive framework that sets clear benchmarks for learning content, teacher qualification, school facilities, learners assessment and governance in all senior secondary schools,” he said.

 

The Lead Facilitator, Dr Oluwakemi Olurinola, said that the training would bridge the digital gap in teaching and learning.

 

Olurinola, of Department of Science and Technology Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun, called on teachers to utilise every opportunity gained to be self-productive.

 

“We’re at a crucial turning point where the age-old ways of teaching are being questioned by the swift progression of technology.

 

“As we stand at the intersection of technology and education, it is clear that AI has the potential to revolutionise how we teach and learn.

 

“This training programme is not just about introducing teachers to new tools; it is about empowering them to harness the power of AI to create more engaging, personalised and effective learning experiences for their students,” she said.

 

Giving an overview of the programme, the Head of Teacher Training and International Partnership, NSSEC, Mr Mohammed Salihu, said it was grouped into cohorts to accommodate teachers for five weeks.

 

NAN reports that the programme was attended by commissioners of education or their representatives in all the 36 states of the federation and FCT.

 

NAN also reports that the virtual training was sponsored by Google Research, supported by Data Science Nigeria and Olabisi Onabanjo University. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

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