News
Enrol Your Children In Schools Or Go To Jail – Senate bill
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
The Senate has passed for first reading a bill that recommends a fine of N50,000 to parents who default in providing their children with primary and secondary school education.
The Red Chamber also recommended free meals for every child in the country.
The bill proposed by Senator Orji Kalu titled, ‘Compulsory free Universal Basic Education Act 2004, Section 2’ states that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.”
The act further states that, “Every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attends and completes his primary school education and junior secondary school education by endeavouring to send the child to primary and junior secondary schools.”
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“The Act further states that stakeholders in education in a local government area shall ensure that every parent or person who has the care and custody of a child performs the duty imposed on him under section 2(2) of this Act.”
The act further noted that a parent who contravenes the earlier prescription should be liable, on the first conviction, to be reprimanded.
“On a second conviction, a fine of N2,000 or imprisonment for a term of one month or both; and on subsequent conviction, to a fine of N5,000 or imprisonment for a term of two months or to both.”
The Senate, however, in its amendment, proposed N50,000 fines, instead of the N5,000 previously stated in the Act.
The amendment states, “Section (4) (b) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N2,000 and inserting N20,000. Section (4) (c) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N5,000 and inserting N50,000.”
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It added, “Section 3(2) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N10,000 and inserting N100,000.”
It stated, “A person who receives or obtains any fee contrary to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N10,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or to both.
“Every parent shall ensure that his child receives full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude by regular attendance at schools.”
However, the Senate proposes, N100,000 in replacement of the N10,000.
The Senate proposed, “Section 3(2) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N10,000 and inserting N100,000.”
Responding to this development, the Programme Coordinator for Basic Education at Reform Education, Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, noted that while the move by the lawmakers seems commendable, there should be an investigation into the additional charges by the public schools across the country.
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News
Tinubu Approves Portfolios For 5 NCDC Executive Directors
Published
12 hours agoon
September 15, 2025By
Editor
President Bola Tinubu has approved portfolios for five executive directors on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
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The appointees and their portfolios are: Hajiya Biliquis Jumoke- Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Aisha Rufai Ibrahim-Commercial and Industrial Development.
Others are, Mr James Abel Uloko-Corporate Services, Prof. Muhammad Bashar-Finance and Atika Ajanah-Projects.
The president urged the executive directors to work closely with the governing board of the commission to promote and coordinate sustainable development of the North-Central geopolitical zone.”
News
Court Orders Arrest Of 2 Lawyers Over Alleged Forgery, Impersonation
Published
12 hours agoon
September 15, 2025By
Editor
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Apo, on Monday, issued a bench warrant against two lawyers charged with forgery and impersonation.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the arrest order following repeated failure of the defendants- Victor Giwa, and Ibitade Bukola- to appear before the court to enter their plea to the charge that was preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.
In the charge marked: CR/150/25, the duo were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.
According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.
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The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of the SAN, requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.
The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.
It allegedly sought intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment that was scheduled before trial Justice Samira Bature of the high court.
The IGP, in the charge, maintained that the two lawyers committed offences punishable under Section 97, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.
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At the resumed proceeding of the court on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Eristo Asaph, noted that the defence lawyer told the court that the 1st defendant was bereaved, hence his absence for the scheduled arraignment.
The prosecution counsel further noted that it was on the strength of an application by the defendant that the case was adjourned.
He, therefore, wondered why the duo were also absent in court for the case to proceed.
Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the 1st defendant, Giwa, wrote a letter that was accompanied with a medical report dated September 3, indicating that he had a health challenge he described as “Degenerative disorder of the lumber vertebrae,” in addition to his hypertensive condition.
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He added that the 2nd defendant equally went to the hospital on Monday morning to keep to a routine appointment for the immunisation of her daughter.
More so, he drew attention of the court to an application the defendants earlier filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Dissatisfied with the developments, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for the defendants to be arrested y security agencies and produced for their trial.
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In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that having listened to both parties, he was minded to accede to the prosecution’s request.
He court stressed that the medical report did indicate that the 1st defendant would not be able to attend court, adding that the 2nd defendant did not adduce any material to justify her absence.
Consequently, relying on the provision of section 266 (2) and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a bench warrant for the defendants to be arrested and produced before the court on October 8.
(VANGUARD)
News
Community Attributes Access Road To Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Bauchi
Published
16 hours agoon
September 15, 2025By
Editor
A cross-section of residents in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has attributed the reduction in maternal mortality to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of the Kirjaule–Lame roads.
Mr. Samila Jauro, who spoke on behalf of the community, made the disclosure during a media tour of ongoing Bauchi State projects in the area.
He explained that in the past, no fewer than 50 pregnant women and their babies had lost their lives due to delays in accessing healthcare caused by the poor condition of roads.
“We have lost many of our pregnant women and their unborn babies in the past because of bad roads.
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“But the present administration has changed our lives through its infrastructural development,” Jauro said.
While commending the state government, he appealed for the electrification of Kirjauke community.
“We are grateful for the road project, but we still call on the governor to provide us with electricity.
For the past 18 years, we have had no source of power,” he added.
The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, in 2023 awarded a 40.5-kilometer road construction and rehabilitation projects in the aforementioned sites.
READ ALSO:Police Urge Bauchi Residents To Remain Calm Amidst Soldier’s Death In Bauchi
Speaking on the progress of the projects, the Site Engineer, Mr. Ado Shehu, said the project had reached 75 percent completion.
“The Kirjaule–Lame and Magama–Gumau roads were awarded at the end of November 2023.
“Some portions are already completed, while others are at the second layer and shoulder stage to ensure a successful outcome.
“The duration of the project according to the contract is 36 months.
” But with 75 percent already completed, the project will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.
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