News
Reps Grill Minister Over Sack Of 13 VCs
The House of Representatives Committee on Education on Tuesday queried the Minister of Education Alhaji Adamu Adamu over the sack of 13 Vice Chancellors urging him to reverse the sack of 5 Vice Chancellors (VCs) of the 13 newly established federal universities.
Chairman of the House Committee, Rep Aminu Suleiman at a meeting between the committee and the Minister noted that there were serious concerns by education stakeholders on the manner of removal of the five VCs of the new federal universities by the Minister.
He informed the Minister that there were pockets of mass protests on the matter which prompted the House to adopted a motion mandating the Committee to investigate the matter and report back to it.
The Minister in his response however said that what his ministry did was to follow the provision of the law on the matter adding that it was important for it to take that decision.
He told the Committee that the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan established these universities indiscriminately and that the sacking of the five VCs in question was because they were on illegal appointments as those institutions were established illegally.
On the sack of the 5 VCs he said that the President only exercised his powers under Sec 3 sub-sections 6 and 7 of the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1999 as the Visitor to the universities to remove these VCs.
The Committee Chairman was not however satisfied with the Minister’s position saying that the law is clear by the provision of the cited Act that a Vice-Chancellor can only be removed on the grounds of misconduct or inability to perform the functions of his/her office.
He said “for you to tell me that there are no laws governing these 12 universities is wrong. The only thing you can tell me is that the law is not gazetted. To that extent it is wrong to have acted on that basis”.
A former Minister of State for Education Hon Aishatu Dukku who is a Committee member expressed concerns about the minister’s action saying that the minister has not given any cogent reason for that action.
Other Committee members also expressed dissatisfaction over the sack pointing out that the ministry should ‘ve waited for the tenure of the sacked VCs to expire before the sack.
Alabi a professor and former university teacher described the entire exercise as one done with impunity.
The Committee asked the Minister to re-appear before it on Tuesady March 8 2016 with hard facts and more convincing reasons for the sack adding that it has two weeks to submit its report to the entire House in plenary.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
