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20% Of Teachers In Bauchi Payroll Ghost Workers -Gov
Bauchi State Governor,Bala Muhammed, disclosed yesterday that up to 20 per cent of teachers on the payroll of the state were ghost workers.
Muhammed made the disclosure in Bauchi while addressing youths to commemorate the 2019 edition of the Day of the African Child.
The governor said that previous administrations in the state opted to enlist ghost workers, although many trained teachers were not having jobs in the state.
Muhammed vowed that his administration would conduct a personnel audit of teachers and also look into frivolous contracts that were awarded by previous administrations.
He said that he was going to wage a total war against those he described as “enemies of the state” who had retarded the development of the state.
Muhammed disclosed that he would prosecute some former top officials of the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) over their roles in managing the finances of the board.
He lamented that most primary schools in the state had their roofs blown off by windstorms with pupils studying under trees and sitting on bare floor, in spite of huge resources spent by SUBEB.
“I wonder what the previous administrations were doing while they allowed the infrastructure and education system to degenerate to the lowest ebb.’’
He promised to employ about 1,000 female teachers earlier trained by the state in conjunction with UNICEF and other organisations.
The UNICEF Field Officer in the state, Mr Bhanu Pathak, said that UNICEF in collaboration with SUBEB, had trained 120 youths drawn from 14 states and FCT in capacity building.
Pathak, represented by UNICEF Educationalist, Hajiya Mairama Dikwa, said that the programme was in commemoration of the 2019 Day of the African Child.
He called on the governor to ensure that the 1.2 million out of school children in the state were enlisted in schools, advising the governor to increase budgetary allocation to education.
Pathak also told the governor that UNICEF would be withdrawing from the third phase of the Girl-Child Education scheme being implemented in the state in 2020.
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.
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