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RSUBEB Suspends Two Principals Over Collection Of Illegal Admission Fees … Set To Conduct Promotion Exams For Teachers, Oct 3
As a move to ensure compliance in the implementation of free education in basic education, the Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Dr Fynface Akah, has suspended two principals of junior secondary schools in the state indefinitely for alleged illegal collection of admission fees as well as uniforms from parents of students seeking admission into their various schools.
The two principals placed on indefinite suspension by the RSUBEB are, Mrs Lora Amadi of Community Secondary School, Rumuokurusi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area; and Mr Echiekpu Collins of Government Technical College, Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.
They have also been directed to hand over to the most senior vice principals in their various schools.
Akah announced the suspension while giving his keynote address titled, “Positive School Mission” during the flag off of the second batch of the UBE Training for Supervising Directors, Acting and prospective School Heads, held last Wednesday at the board’s headquarters, in Port Harcourt.
He said under the free education of the present administration in the state, no head of school or principal under the basic education system was allowed to collect any form of levy in disguise of admission fees or purchase of school uniforms.
He added that the board has not given approval of such, and declared the fees as illegal.
Akah described as worrisome information that some school principals cultivate the habit of commercialising their position as economic venture instead of exploring creative educational administration, and warned all basic secondary school principals and head teachers to stop exploiting parents and students in their schools as the board would not hesitate to reprimand any one violating the free education policy in the state.
He said the essence of the training was to create sense of positive change among leaders of both junior secondary schools and primary school heads with a view to instituting a positive culture change in the school environment.
According to him, “Within the seven years of its leadership, the board has appointed heads of schools and junior secondary school principals on merit and not on political affiliation.
“Those who we appointed are purely on merit after subjecting them to vigorous examination.
“As leadership, we need to let them understand that theyplay important role in achieving the creative leadership of inclusion where both parents, pupils, students and the community are brought together.
“We live in a time where principals, heads of schools are seeing their position as economic platform to enrich their purses rather than engagement in giving leadership learning to children to propel changes and attitude. So, we need to train them to focus and deepen their experience on how to positively manage their schools,” he added.
The RSUBEB boss urged the school heads and junior secondary principals to see themselves as an integral part of the education management system in the state, adding that those who were aspiring for leadership positions must be ready and distinguish themselves.
He said that the problem of out-of-school children in the state was compounded by the activities and actions of the principals and heads of schools.
“We need heads of schools and principals who will be worried and burdened when their students and pupils are not doing well or crying. Have passion to effect positive changes in the lives of the students under your watch.
“Also, try to understand the environment where you are and carry everybody along. Creative education must go beyond conventional education,” he stated.
According to him, “The regular training for teachers in UBE schools is to enable them imbibe creative education culture that would impact the children, parents and the environment of the school”, stating that “the training is a regular sensitisation programme where the best heads, the best hands and the best hearts are chosen to administer the schools”.
Earlier, the Director, Administration and Supplies, Mr Karibi George, said the training was a key policy of the board to build the capacity of teachers to administer the UBE schools.
By: Akujobi Amadi & Ike Wigodo
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
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.