Education
… Explains Role On Budgets
The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) says it can only perform advisory role to the government on budget implementation for now.
Its president, Hajiya Maryam Ibrahim, said this while featuring at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja yesterday.
She said that Nigeria’s budget had always come in irregular manner hence the difficulty in its implementation.
Ibrahim told NAN that professional accounting bodies should have the capacity to monitor budget implementation at all levels of government.
“Budget is the Bible or Quran of any government because it’s what you decide to do for the people.
“Unfortunately, budgeting in the country has not been a bottom-top approach; it has always been up-down approach.
“And possibly that is why we have not gotten it right in knowing what the people really want.
“ But having said that, we are not in government, we wait for government to present its budget and we try to analyse and give our own advice to the government.
“During our training, we advise our members to assist in advising their various ministries, departments and agencies in the performances of their budgets, especially if they are given that responsibility.
“We should be able to call the executive at federal, at states level and the local government level to account for the fund that is being given to them and to ensure having looked at what they have done with the money, whether they have used it effectively, efficiently and economically.’’
She commended the Auditor-General of the Federation for introducing the Performance Audit and Environmental Auditing into the system, adding that it should be replicated at all tiers of governance.
Ibrahim said the National Assembly was also trying in terms of oversight functions and called on civil society groups to join in the quest for financial discipline in the system.
“A lot will be achieved in terms of value for money in the National Assembly partners with the Auditor-General in checking the government.’’
She said it was time Nigeria became prudent in the management of her excess crude savings to avoid problems.
The ANAN boss said it was through such savings that the government could handle emergencies and infrastructural maintenance.
She appealed to the government to appoint a body to monitor the excess crude savings for the sake of transparency.
“A body should monitor and we should be involved, an independent body should be the one giving the report to the public.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.