Headlines
NUJ wants KAROTA personnel deployed to rural areas
Nazifi Dawud
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano state council has called on the Kano state government to deploy operatives of the Kano Road Traffic Agency to rural communities across the state so as to check frequent accidents caused by reckless drivers.
The union revealed this as part of resolutions adopted following a congress held on Saturday.
In a communique jointly signed by the council’s chairman Comrade Abbas Ibrahim and Secretary Abba Murtala, the union also called on the management of KAROTA to “train and retrain its staff to ensure professionalism in road traffic management”.
Also, the NUJ advised broadcast media to always exercise professional conduct and desist from reckless and irresponsible comments especially on political programs, calling on Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to be responsive to its responsibility to safeguard the prestige of the media industry.
Other resolutions contained in the communique are:
- The congress commends the state government on the implementation of the new minimum wage of thirty thousand six hundred naira and called on the government to address discrepancies in payment of teachers and local government staff.
- The Congress while commending the state government for implementation of free and compulsory education, called on parents to also support the government’s effort for the success of the policy.
- The congress in session, also calls on the state government to direct local government councils to support the National Identity Management Commission NIMC with logistics to facilitate easy access for registering of Kano residents, also charged the commission to ensure speedy issuance of the cards.
- The congress appeals to politicians to desist from inflammatory comments that may heat the polity and caused disaffection among the electorates, at this time of elections.
The Congress calls on the state admission drive committee responsible for securing admission into tertiary institutions to ensure that Kano candidates fill their quota in all the tertiary institutions across the country. - The congress calls on local government councils to provide support to the National Population Commission to conduct accurate Area Demarcation which will make it possible for a credible Census.
- The union commends the state government for the appointment of the first female Head of Civil Service in the state, Hajiya Binta Lawan Ahmed and also condoled the state fire service over the death of its Director, Sagir Madaki.
- The congress urged the state government to prevail on the Federal government to ensure speedy renovation of the Kano-Kaduna Express way to avert incessant accidents.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The government has introduced new guidelines for fee increment.
Kano State Government has prohibited private and voluntary schools from arbitrarily increasing fees and forcing parents to purchase materials directly from the schools.
KANO FOCUS reports that Executive Secretary of the Kano State Private and Voluntary Institution’s Board( KSPVIB,) Comrade Baba Abubakar Umar, gave the warning in an interview with journalists.
The Executive Secretary said that some schools have been taking advantage of parents through hidden charges and exorbitant fees.
He said to address this issue, the board has introduced new guidelines.
According to him, “Schools must convene a Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) meeting to discuss any fee increments”.
He also stated that school must then write to the board seeking approval for the increase, attaching the attendance sheet from the PTA meeting.
He added that”At least two-thirds of parents must be present at the PTA meeting”
Comrade Abubakar dated that, the board has received complaints from parents who were charged excessive fees or amounts different from what was initially agreed upon.
He therefore disclosed that despite the current economic situation, schools must be realistic and fair in their charges.
“The board will work with relevant authorities to prosecute schools that operate illegally or evade taxes”
He however maintained that the board is committed to ensuring that schools provide safe learning environments and employ qualified teachers.
“Parents are encouraged to report any schools with substandard teaching or unsafe conditions”
Comrade Abubakar emphasised that, new census forms will be distributed to private and voluntary schools to ensure accurate data collection and effective monitoring. Saying that the board remains open to dialogue and discussions with schools willing to comply with the law.
He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his commitment to education, allocating 30% of the state’s budget to the sector and declaring a state of emergency.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that two people have died and two others were injured following the collapse of a two-storey building in Noman’s Land, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano.
KANO FOCUS reports that the NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Officer, Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident on Thursday, said the agency received a distress call around 2:00 a.m. from a Good Samaritan about the building collapse.
Dr. Abdullahi stated, “The agency received a distress call today at about 2:00 a.m. from a Good Samaritan that a two-storey building collapsed in Noman’s Land Quarters, Kano.”
He further said, “Upon receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our rescue team to the scene.”
Dr. Abdullahi added, “Four persons were rescued by our team—a husband, wife, and two children. Unfortunately, the two children were confirmed dead, while the couple were rushed to the Armed Forces Specialist Hospital, Kano, for treatment.”
The NEMA Coordinator also noted that search and rescue operations were still ongoing to find any persons trapped in the building.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano students from Kano are the top applicants of the student loan scheme, data from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has revealed.
KANO FOCUS reports that NELFUND, in a data chart posted via its official X handle, @nelfnigeria on Friday, highlighted the number of applicants per state of origin.
According to the data chart, students originally from Kano State topped the list of applicants with 17,122 applicants; Borno followed suit with 13,798 applicants while Benue had 11,754 applicants. The three states were the only states with over 11, 000 applicants.
The implementation of the student loan scheme is President Bola Tinubu’s flagship project in the education sector.
Barely a month after his inauguration as president, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, which creates a legal framework for granting loans to indigent or low-income Nigerians to facilitate the payment of their fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The law, reenacted earlier this year, created the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
NELFUND is saddled with the responsibility of handling all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.
The fund, according to the act, is to be funded from multiple streams and will engage in other productive activities.
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