News

Subsidy Removal: School Owners Groan, Seek FG’s Assistance

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

School owners in the country under the auspices of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) have cried out to the Federal Government to assist them in coping with the fallouts from the removal of fuel subsidy that has increased their cost of running their schools.
NAPPS made the call during a webinar held to find solutions to the high cost of running schools occasioned by the recent fuel subsidy removal.
The webinar was titled: “Government policies and resultant effects on private school administration: A case study on the removal of fuel subsidy.”
Addressing the participants, the National President of NAPPS, Chief Yomi Otubela, noted that the policy has far-reaching implications not only for private schools, but also for the education sector as a whole.
“Government policies have a profound impact on various aspects of our lives, and education is no exception. Private schools, in particular, play a crucial role in providing quality education and complementing the efforts of the government. They contribute significantly to the development of our nation’s human capital and shape the leaders of tomorrow.
“The decision to remove fuel subsidies has had undeniable repercussions on private school administration. Fuel is an essential commodity that affects transportation costs, energy expenses, procurement of goods and products, services and overall operational cost. As private schools heavily rely on transportation for students to commute and energy for day-to-day operations, any alteration in fuel prices inevitably affects their financial sustainability and, consequently, their ability to deliver quality education.
“The removal of fuel subsidy has had its ripple effect on private school administration. Transportation costs have soared, cost of goods and services have increased, forcing schools to reassess their budget allocations. This, in turn, has led to potential increases in tuition fees, placing an additional burden on parents already grappling with economic challenges. Moreover, the increased cost of fuel and other resources may lead to cutbacks in infrastructure development, teacher training programmes, and extracurricular activities, which are all vital components of a holistic educational experience,” he said.
While appealing to government for support, Otubela opined that there were limitations to how school owners could pass costs to parents and guardians without risking losing patronage.
He solicited government’s support in the areas of providing school buses on lease agreement models; sponsoring state and private teachers training; giving education grants to school teachers and administrators; opening of education banks to grant loans to teachers, school owners and parents at single digits, and approving tax holiday for teachers and schools.
He also charged private school administrators to adopt prudent financial management practices, explore alternative energy sources, and collaborate with each other to pool resources and expertise.
The Guest Speaker and Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane, said education is critical to the social development of a country.
According to him, the lower a country spends on education, the more it would experience crisis-ridden economy and political instability.
On what are some of the consequences of the policy on schools, Rewane said default in the payment of fees by parents and guardians would be on the rise.
Listing the steps school owners need to take to cope, he suggested the outsourcing of some aspects of running schools like transportation of students.
“It is only bigger schools that may be able to afford running transport scheme for students. Schools can outsource such either on wet lease or dry lease. Schools should also embrace more of virtual learning, though that cannot replace physical learning hundred percent.
“Government should also give scholarship to students and the money involved paid directly to beneficiary schools directly before the term begins. The federal government should help private school owners and teachers . NAPPS should be part of the palliatives to be given by the government,” he said.
On the desirability or otherwise of the Federal Government securing $800 million loan from the World Bank, Rewane submitted that given the experience of Nigerians during the COVID-19 pandemic, handouts might not be the best.

News

We’ll Make Fire Service Functional After 12 Yrs, Fubara Assures …Inspects Rehabilitation Works On Three Stations

Published

20 hours ago

January 28, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed regrets that, for over 12 years, the State-owned Fire Service Stations were left in limbo but assured that the ongoing rehabilitation will be concluded and the stations ready for public use in the first week of March, 2025.

Fubara gave the assurance when he embarked on an inspection tour of the three Fire Service Stations to access the extent of work done with the ongoing remodelling, expansion and reconstruction activities on the sites, yesterday.

The governor visited the fire service stations located beside the Isaac Boro Park/Mile One flyover, Borokiri in the old Port Harcourt Township and Rumuodomaya Community, all in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

He explained that with the ongoing work, the three major Fire Service Stations would be put into effective state to provide rapid and quick response to fire incidents in the State.

Fubara said, “For a very long time, we have had this situation that we have to depend on the multi-nationals; Shell, Agip and Chevron and even (Elf) TotalEnergies at that time, including to respond to fire incidents in the State.

“From what we have seen today, we can confirm that the contractor is working very hard to meet the deadline. We must, I repeat, we must commission this project first week in March.”

The governor said it is the responsibility of the government to have such facilities that provide vital social services available to the people to address fire incidence when they occur.

He assured that his administration would reverse the utter neglect such social services had suffered, and ensure that Rivers people, in no distant future, begin to benefit from the stations.

“As a matter of fact, I can boldly say that Rivers State has not had a functional Fire Service for the past 12 years. We are a government, and amongst our responsibilities, is to protect lives and property. Issues of fire incidents could be as a result of some mistakes in our homes.

“So, it is our duty to make sure that we are prepared to combat it whenever it occurs. We are trying to make sure that we do not depend again on the multi-nationals, but be ready and prepared to save lives and property of Rivers people,” he said.

Governor Fubara was accompanied by the former Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, and was conducted round the facilities by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Samuel Anya.

News

FG Shops For New Accountant General, Plans Exams, Interviews

Published

21 hours ago

January 28, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government has initiated the process of appointing a new Accountant General of the Federation and filling vacancies for permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

A memo from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, dated January 24, 2025, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office, Fatima Mahmoud, outlined the timeline for the process.

The memo was addressed to the Offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President, ministers, and heads of ministries, departments, and agencies.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier, in December 2024, appointed Babatunde Ogunjimi as the acting Accountant General of the Federation.

The appointment, announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, followed the commencement of pre-retirement leave by the then-incumbent AGF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein.

However, Madein returned to her duties after receiving a directive extending her tenure until March 7, 2025.

This development led to the reassignment of the acting AGF, Ogunjimi, who was redeployed to the Public Service Institute of Nigeria as Director of Accounts.

The directive authorising Madein’s continuation was reportedly issued by the Head of Service of the Federation.

According to the spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, the directive reinstated Madein to her role as AGF, enabling her to oversee treasury operations until her retirement.

Mokwa clarified that under civil service regulations, embarking on terminal leave is optional, raising questions among staff about the implications of Madein’s reinstatement on Ogunjimi’s prior appointment as acting AGF.

The new memo by the Head of Service noted that accreditation of eligible candidates for the position of OAGF will commence on January 28 and end on February 1, 2025.

“Stage 1: Written Examination for eligible Candidates from North-West Zone and Oyo State on Monday, February 10, 2025.

“Stage 2: Written Examination for eligible Candidates/Directors (Accounts) in the Pool of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on February 11, 2025.”

The memo further noted that further stages will hold on February 12 and 13, respectively and will be in the form of computer-based tests, while the final lap, which is the oral interview, will hold on February 14, 2025.

News

FRSC Records 9,570 Road Crashes, Arrests 21,580 Offenders In 2024

Published

22 hours ago

January 28, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it arrested no fewer than 21,580 traffic offenders between January and December 2024 across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, disclosed this while addressing the reporters on the 2024 special patrol operations in Abuja, yesterday.

Mohammed said that the Corps recorded a reduction in the number of offenders recorded in 2024 as against 29,220 within the same period in 2023.

“This signifies a 26 per cent increase in compliance to traffic rules and regulations.

“The total number of offences committed stood at 25,942 representing 23.5 per cent reduction in traffic law violation compared to the data of the same period in 2023,” he said.

Mohammed said that the analysis of the Corps’ annual performance indicated a drastic reduction in Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs).

This, he said, was as well as in the number of people injured compared to the annual record of 2023.

“From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, a total of 9,570 RTCs were recorded nationwide. This figure is against 10,617 RTCs recorded in 2023 which signify a tremendous reduction of 10 per cent.

“Furthermore, 31,154 people were injured in 2024 while 31,874 were injured in 2023 representing a two per cent decrease.

“However, the Corps recorded a seven per cent increase in fatalities as 5,421 people were killed in 2024 while 5,081 people were killed in 2023.

“Meanwhile, a total of 70,530 people got involved in RTCs in 2024 compared to 70,092 of 2023 signifying an increase of one per cent, ” he said.

The FRSC boss emphasised that out of the total fatalities that occurred in 2024, 411 deaths, representing 7.6 per cent of the total deaths, were not primarily caused by the crashes.

Mohammed said that the crashes were caused by a secondary factor which he described as the very monster the Corps was fighting; scooping of fuel from fallen tankers.

“This, therefore implies that without the casualties recorded from scooping fuel from crashed tankers, the Corps would have recorded 5,010 deaths in 2024.

“This will be as against 5,081 in 2023 signifying a 1.4 per cent reduction in the total number of people killed,” he said.

The FRSC Corps Marshal reiterated that the alarming rate of crashes and fatalities occurred as a result of loading of trailers with goods and persons.

This, he said, was in addition to fatigue, speed violations, overloading, dangerous driving as well as poor vehicle maintenance within the period under review.