News
Ken Poly Bill: Stakeholders List Demands
Stakeholders have called for a trimmed and efficient management of the Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, as the indigenes insist on the need for the renaming of the institution to reflect the host community, Zaakpon in Khana Local Government Area.
The submissions were among views expressed during last weeks’ public hearing on the bill aimed at amending the laws of the polytechnic, 28 years after its establishment.
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Mr. Ferry Gberegbe, in his presentation, stressed the need to cut down on the number of external members of the governing council outside the school.
Gberegbe said it was high time professionals were appointed as members, explaining that such decision will cut down external influences and give room for professionals to make input into the school administration.
In addition to appointing professionals and academics in the school’s governing board, the ASUP chairman also proposed that the age of retirement be expanded for academics as obtainable in the universities.
He maintained that the retirement age be left at 65 to 70 years.
“Our position on the matter of sub-dean should be based on mentorship, since that will expose our members to academic and administrative experience”, Gberegbe said.
The same view was expressed by Senior Staff Association of Non-Academic Union (SSANU) led by Mr. Chibuzor Asumgha, who insisted that compulsory retirement age should be fixed at 65 years for staffers.
A member of a non-governmental organization, Social Action, Mr. Ken Henshew stressed the need for the school to reflect the name of its host community, Zaakpon.
Henshaw also recommended that the curricula and teaching content should go beyond mid-level training to high manpower development.
The Social Action’s representative also picked hole in the composition of the polytechnic’s governing board, as he emphasised the need to incorporate experts in education.
He maintained that when professionals are appointed into the school’s governing board, it will reduce acrimony and bickering amongst members and give room for smooth management.
Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Farah Dagogo, representing Degema Constituency in the House, said the bill was aimed at repositioning the institution to meet modern standards and in line with the provisions of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Dagogo thanked all those who attended for their contributions, and assured them that their views will be collated and deliberated upon before the bill is passed into law.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, represented by the Majority Leader, Martins Amaewhule reiterated the resolve of the current administration to reposition the school to meet future challenges.
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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