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NASS Task Leaders On Economic Dev … Debates Pre-Budget Framework

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The Senate yesterday urged the federal, states and local governments
and all leaders in Nigeria to work harder to return Nigeria to economic growth,
sustenance as well as strengthen national unity.

The Senate made the call following the debate on a motion congratulating Nigeria and Nigerians on its 52nd Independence Anniversary sponsored by Sen.Ita Enang (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) and 107 other senators.

Leading the debate, Enang noted with delight that Nigeria
was gradually developing its domestic production capacity as an independent
nation.

Senate President David Mark, who presided over plenary
session, said that for Nigeria to remain one, united nation till date, was a
great achievement.

Mark noted that although the country might not be where it
ought to be, for now, it was making giant strides toward attaining its desired
destination.

The Senate president said that Nigeria needed political will
to take its policies to logical conclusions either at the executive level or
legislative level.

Mark said unless section 7 of the Constitution was amended,
the National Assembly would not be able to do something about the current
situation.

He, however, expressed optimism that if the state
governments would do even a little better than that what was currently
obtainable, the situation would be a lot different.

Mark noted that only Lagos was generating its own revenue
adding that other states were largely depending on federal allocation.

The Senate president said he completely disagreed with Sen.
Uche Chukwumerije (PDP-Abia), who described Nigeria as a failed state.

He said there was no doubt the country had challenges but
expressed optimism that with the right political will the challenges would be
surmounted.

The Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, urged
senators to remain patriotic and nationalistic, assuring them that all hope for
Nigeria was not lost.

Sen. Pius Ewherido (DPP-Delta) in his contribution,
congratulated Nigerians especially the ordinary masses, saying they were the
real victors.

Ewherido called on the National Assembly to take budget
implementation seriously, reminding them that it was one way to execute
projects that would impact, positively, on the lives of the ordinary Nigerians.

He stressed the need for effective funding of local
governments to ensure that they met the challenges of economic growth and the
need of the rural populace.

Meanwhile, the Senate
on Tuesday began work on the Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and Fiscal
Strategy Paper (FSP) by referring the document to its Committee on Finance and
National Planning.

President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded the MTFF and FSP
to the Senate for approval in accordance with sections 13, 12 and 11 of the
Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

The MTFF is the basis upon which the 2013 Appropriation Act
is structured.

There are certain key areas in the document that need to be
agreed upon by the Senate before the 2013 budget can be approved.

One of such issues is the benchmark of crude oil which the
MTFF document has placed at $75 per barrel. Another is oil subsidy, which the
Senate needs to agree on before the budget can be approved.

It would be recalled that Jonathan had last week
communicated to the Senate through a letter, his intention to present the 2013
budget at a joint sitting of the National Assembly on October 4.

Bearing in mind the importance of the need to submit the
2013 budget early to the National Assembly, Senate President David Mark advised
the committees to expedite work on the document.

Mark said the document should be returned to the Senate next
Tuesday.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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5 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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5 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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5 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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