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RSG Warns Schools Against Extortion Of Parents

The Rivers State Government has warned school heads in the state against extorting money as fees from parents and guardians under the guise of completing the final lap of the 2019/2020 academic session.
A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, yesterday, reads, “It has come to the attention of the Rivers State Ministry of Education that some private schools have resumed for the final lap of 2019/2020 academic session and are collecting fees under the guise.
“The ministry states categorically that: Schools have not resumed for the third term 2019/2020, hence fees cannot be collected for same.
“The ministry is still making consultations with the leadership of private schools and stakeholders in the public-school sector regarding the continued learning of the students.
“The ministry has not announced resumption, hence schools that have asked parents to pay fees for third term purportedly suggesting that third term has started have not told the truth.
“The original calendar of 2019/2020 was suspended with immediate effect on the 23rd of March, 2020 when the closure of schools was announced by the governor of the state.
“Every school that has asked parents to pay fees for third term has acted without authority and should forthwith withdraw all such letters to parents.
“However, the ministry do not abhor online support from various schools for their students. Announcement for collaborative online teachings for third term will be made in due course only after consultation with all stakeholders in the education sector,” the statement added.
Earlier in a meeting with some private schools, last Monday, Ebeku, had warned management of the schools against operating outside the confines of the state government’s orders.
The state education commissioner had invited the management of Greenoak School and Royal Girls Academy, to the meeting following an alleged exploitation report against the schools by some parents.
Ebeku said the state government would not tolerate flouting of the directive on the closure of schools, and warned against exploitation of parents during the period of the pandemic under the guise of third term e-learning programme.
The commissioner also warned that all private schools within the state should desist from inviting parents to pay fees for third term since the state government has not made an official announcement for its commencement.
He said: “Your schools acted without authority. The letters you sent to parents are being protested by the parents and government has a duty to protect the parents.
“Schools have not opened, and therefore, third term had not commenced to the extent of any private schools inviting parents to pay fees. Schools that have asked parents to start paying fees purported that third term had started. The Ministry of Education in the state has not announced resumption of school.
“The original academic calendar for 2019/2020 was suspended with immediate effect on March 23, when the closure of schools was announced by the governor of the state.”
Ebeku, however, directed the withdrawal of the letters forthwith, and warned other private schools not to collect any fees for third term unless and until an agreement has been reached on the issue with all stakeholders.
He indicated that any school that violates this directive of the state government would face unpleasant consequences.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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