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

Let’s Approach Regional Development Issues Differently – Fubara …As S’South Govs Host Fubara To 50th Birthday Celebration

Published

32 mins ago

January 30, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has sued for a change in the current approach adopted by South South Governors in their pursuit to achieve holistic regional development and economic prosperity.

The governor insisted on de-emphasis in vested individuals’ political interests while looking at the bigger picture of achieving enduring regional integration that will strengthen unity of purpose to change the trajectory of development in the region.

Fubara made the appeal during the meeting of Governors of South-South States, under the auspices of BRACED Commission, at the Bayelsa State Government House in Yanagoa on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi.

BRACED is an acronym for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta.

He said: “I want to appeal that if we have to succeed in this drive, we need to keep our political differences aside and understand that the struggle, as at today, is for posterity, for the development of our region.

“It is really sad that in Niger Delta that is the economic base of this country, the construction of a road that you tagged ‘East-West Road’ could be an issue, that we need to beg, protest, and complain to get it fixed. I don’t think it is proper.”

Governor Fubara stated that it is not that the federal authorities do not understand that Niger Delta needs the road but quickly added that they have seen that even the people of the region do not take themselves seriously.

The governor said the moment Niger Delta people stopped playing to the gallery, and place value on themselves, outsiders will have no option than to accord the region and its people due regard.

Fubara said: “On my part, I want to say this: This is not the first time we are meeting. For me, I followed the course of the region meeting in a forum that we tagged “BRACED Commission.”

“BRACED Commission is also one of the bodies that was constituted at that time to support and work out development strategies for this region. But what I am seeing today is just limiting this meeting to only BRACED COMMISSION.

“We need to widen the scope where other leaders of the region should be part of the discussion of the development of the region, and I think this is the direction that will help the region.”

Reading the Communique of the meeting, the new Chairman of the Forum of Governors of South-South States, and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, said they support the Federal Government Tax Reform Bills, and urged President Bola Tinubu to extend the Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing percentages to oil and gas derivation.

He stated the Forum’s request to the Federal Government to urge relevant stakeholders and agencies to extend remediation of polluted environment ongoing in Ogoni land to other impacted communities and States in the region.

Governor Diri also said that the Forum resolved to establish a structural regional security network to enhance safety and security, foster stable Niger Delta region conducive for economic growth and prosperity.

Highlight of the event was the hosting of Governor Fubara to a surprise 50th Birthday celebration by the Governors of South-South States at the Government House in Yenagoa.

News

TotalEnergies On Red Alert As Ekpeye Monarch Dissolves UCA

Published

3 hours ago

January 30, 2025

The Tide

The Ekpeye Supreme Monarch, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, has urged Total Energies Limited to relinquish gas exploration in his kingdom if the company is not ready to site its gas plant within Ekpeye land.

The monarch also announced the dissolution of Ubie Consultative Assembly (UCA), describing it as a kangaroo arrangement.

Eze Ekpeye Logbo III made this known during a general meeting of the people of Ekpeye ethnic nationality held on Tuesday in his palace at Ula-Upata Community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, over Ubeta community gas project.

While ordering for the dissolution of the High Chief Mazi Bright Enyelike led UCA, Eze Anugwo charged Uzugbani Ekpeye to work with Ekpeye Oil and Gas, Ekpeye Youth Congress (EYC), and thereafter reports to the House on workable sharing formula.

The Ekpeye Monarch vowed that he would not fold his hands watching some charlatans conniving with TotalEnergies to steal their crude oil and gas to other lands.

Also speaking at the meeting, Hon. Victor Obuzor, member representing Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, advised the people of Ekpeye to protect their rights.

Obuzor narrated the raging battle at the Senate in Abuja between TotalEnergies Ltd and the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas of which he is a member.

He, however, berated UCA and other disgruntled elements from Ubie clan who were claiming ownership of the oilfield for their unholy roles in the matter.

Other notable speakers at the meeting including Chief Andrew J. Egbelu, High Chief Engr. Samuel Ekiye, EYC President General, Dr. Justice Ewoh, also criticized the UCA, saying it lacked the power to set up committee for the generality of Ekpeye.

It was reported at the meeting that His Majesty Eze (Hon.) Augustine Maxwell Okpokiri Eze Igbu Ubie VI instructed his subjects not to attend the meeting, an order which most people violated.

It was gathered that UCA is a body created by a few people of Ubie clan to represent and transact the oil and gas business for and on behalf of Ubie kingdom, but the formation according to sources, was against the overall interest of Ekpeye populace.

Present at the meeting include His Majesty, Eze Prince Ike Ehie – Eze Igbu Orlukwor II; His Majesty Eze Apstl. Joshua Eyiba – Eze Igbu Igbuduya II; His Majesty Eze Anderson Okpara Egbuluka – Eze Igbu Ugbobi II; HRH Eze Nnodim Michael represented His Majesty Eze Dr. Felix Enene Otuwarikpo – Eze Igbu Upata; HRH Eze Dr Chigemerem David – Eze Emene Echi Ubie; Mr Kingdom Ajugo represented Rgt. Hon. Chibudhom Nwuche; Dr (Mrs) Patricia Wudhiga Ogbonnaya – Ada Ekpeye among several others.

News

FG Deports 828 Illegal Immigrants, Tightens Border Security

Published

3 hours ago

January 30, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government says it deported 828 illegal immigrants in 2024 as part of its intensified efforts to combat irregular migration and enhance national security.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday.

Highlighting the government’s achievements, the minister stated, “In the last one year, 137 victims of trafficking were intercepted, and in 2024 alone, 828 foreigners were repatriated by the Nigerian Immigration Service.”

As part of broader reforms, the government implemented measures to modernise border operations and immigration systems.

These include integrating Nigerian passports into the International Civil Aviation Organisation Public Key Directory, allowing seamless verification worldwide, and establishing a centralised Visa Approval Centre in Abuja to streamline visa processing.

To support these initiatives, an 8.3-petabyte data centre—the largest in Nigeria—has been constructed, and a solar-powered infrastructure was introduced to ensure uninterrupted operations.

A Command and Control Centre now provides real-time monitoring of all land and air entry points, boosting surveillance capabilities.

The minister noted that the NIS also cleared a backlog of “200,000 passport applications within three weeks in 2023 and issued 1,836,533 passports in 2024.”