House Urges Education Ministry to Harmonise Budgetary Allocations with MDAs

Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike Muhammad Bello The shortfalls in budgetary allocations and disparities in overheads submitted by the Federal Ministry of Education, polytechnics, Colleges of Education as well as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) totalling N5.3 billion yesterday attracted the attention of the House of Representatives Committee on Education which hosted the ministry to its 2014 budget defence. Some of the shortfalls, particularly those of polytechnics, were as result of the new staff employed, thereby migrating from their previous emolument status to a new one. Another issue, which the committee chairman, Mr. Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano), drew attention to was that some provisions in the sub-heads of the ministry's allocation N493.5bn budget, are for travels, conferences and others "which are not issues requiring attention."In view of these, the committee directed the ministry to work closely with the various institutions which had different proposals from its own to harmonise their positions. It also indicated that it may review, in consultation with the ministry, certain provisions for trips that are not really in the overall interest of the development of education in the country. Suleiman told the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, to address all lapses, saying: "we will scrutinise the allocations and see where it is necessary to shift some from one area to another."He added: "Where there is important need to travel, it is okay to do so. But it shouldn't be a jamboree." In his defense, Wike said "no amount was too much for training. However, you make use of whatever is available," he argued, reasoning that all areas for which allocations had been made are significant. The highlight of the proposed budget of the ministry, which fell short of its 2013 mark are N12.9 billion allocation to the ministry alone. There is also a provision of N1.5 billion as liability arising from a total liability of N3.7 billion that accumulated within the last five years.

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Nyako: Enough is Enough with Boko Haram, Raises Posers

APC prescribes low-key centenary celebrations Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Daji Sani Pained by the degree and frequency of the Boko Haram sect deadly attacks, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has declared that it is high time something drastic was done to contain the sect scourge ravaging the North east region. The governor who seemed exasperated by the attack in Michika on Wednesday, declared that: ''Enough is Enough,'' stressing that the Boko Haram crisis is getting out of hand and needs new strategies to tackle it. Nyako,who was commenting on the Boko Haram attacks on Madagali and Michika in Adamawa State had maintained that the state of emergency slammed on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States have proven to be ineffective. He lambasted the federal government for failing to foil Yobe School's attack that seemed predictable since school children had previously been murdered that way in the same state. The governor said: "there is no ...

Centenary: Nigerians Urge Leaders to Brace up for Prosperous Nation

President Goodluck Jonathan Igbo group threatens to sue British govt. As the country marks 100 years of its existence, Nigerians have urged the federal government to brace up for future challenges and to work harder to ensure a prosperous nation. They urged government at all levels and stakeholders to work together in addressing the myriad of problems facing the country. Some Nigerians, who spoke in separate interviews to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, called on the government to address the issues critical in the drive to move the nation forward rather than dwell in the past. "We must sincerely as a people forge stronger bonds as we strive to build a united and prosperous country," Dr Shola Adeyanju, a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) said. Adeyanju, who is of the Department of Mass Communication, said there was need for change in behavior among the citizenry. According to him, rather than waste energy and resources on the centenary, the govern...

Court Dissolves Pastor’s 5-year-old Marriage Over Infidelity

An Abeokuta Customary Court on Thursday dissolved a five- year-old marriage between Pastor Samuel Oniyide, 42, and his wife, Kabirat, saying it was obvious they no longer loved each other. The pastor had asked the court to dissolve the marriage, accusing his wife of disrespectfulness and infidelity; claims which the respondent denied. Despite the denial, however, the respondent consented to the dissolution of the marriage, saying she was tired of the union. Dissolving the marriage, the President of the Court, Olalekan Akande said it was obvious that love no longer existed between the couple. He, however, said that the welfare of the two female children of the couple was of importance to the court. Akande granted custody of the children to Kabirat and ordered the pastor to pay N5,000 monthly for the children's upkeep. Earlier, the pastor had told the court that the marriage produced two female children aged five and two. He said that his wife was a trouble maker and was always jealo...

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