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Subsidy Removal: School Owners Groan, Seek FG’s Assistance
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.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.