News

Otti Clears Air On N1.5billion For Two Hilux Vehicles In Abia Budget

Published

3 months ago

February 6, 2024

Editor

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has clarified the issue of the proposed procurement of 2 Hilux vehicles at the cost of N1.5 billion in the state annual budget.

Otti , who made the clarification while reacting to a question on the report that the Abia State government had voted N1.5 billion to purchase two units of Hilux vehicles in her 2024 budget, attributed the controversial figure to a software glitch generated by the Excel package used in preparing the budget document.

He said; “When I saw that report, I knew something was wrong. I knew it could either be the units or the price. So, I called the Commissioner for Budget and Planning and asked him to check it out and call me back. He did and reported that it was neither the units nor the price that was wrong but the excel. If you use excel and the formula is not very right on a particular line, you are bound to have a problem like that. It’s a mistake that has been corrected.

“When the news of the bloated figure got to me, I immediately had to cross-check the budget numbers and found that the N1.5 billion was not translated to the total budget figure.

“In statistics and even in accounting, there is what is referred to as the materiality concept, and that talks to the significance of a number to influence the outcome. So if you check N1.5 billion against N487 billion budget, that translates to about 0.3%, less than half percent of the total figure, and I believe that it is not that significant in determining the outcome. So even if the wrong number was carried down to the total, it wouldn’t have been material.

“But suffice it to say that anything that comes from government must be correct. It is an error, and it has been corrected.

“I must thank the people who pointed out the error. It means that people are vigilant; people are checking and I encourage people to check, and hold the government to account.

“I believe that our people should remain awake and be vigilant and hold governments to account because the governments are governments of the people, for the people, and by the people and that is the definition of democracy.

“But having said that, that you have produced a budget does not mean that everything in the budget must be spent. I tell my people that out of the two parts of the budget, the one part of the budget that is sacrosanct is the revenue but the expenditure part of the budget must not necessarily be exhausted. And for my government, the fact that you have something in the budget does not mean it must be spent. You will still come back to me for approval.

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. The overall numbers are correct and the figure of N1.5 billion was actually N150 million; two units of Hilux vans at N75 million each will give you N150 million, that’s the correct number,” Otti said.

News

Jonathan Calls For Recalibration Of Nigeria’s Educational System As Igbinadion University Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Published

2 mins ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

Former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, has called for a recalibration of the nation’s educational system in order to be relevant in the technology-driven 21st century.

Jonathan made the call on Friday at the 25th anniversary and colloquium of Nigerian premier private university – Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State.

The former president who was the chairman of the anniversary celebration, stressed the need for the Nigerian educational system at all levels to be tailed towards the reality of modern technology.

He said: “I am one person that believes we need to recalibrate our educational system, not only at the tertiary level but at the primary and secondary levels. How do we recalibrate our educational system? It is to make sure that we produce products that will be able to pilot our economy; products that will be able to fit in in this technology-driven world.

Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (in white) arriving the occasion on Friday. He is accompanied by Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Deputy Chancellor, the University VC, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye and other dignitaries.

“Now, no matter what you studied, you must know how to operate a computer, you must be technology savvy else you become irrelevant. Many things are being done with robots in this 21st century. Now, if we are not teaching our children all these, how do they fit it? This is why we need to recalibrate our educational system.”

According to the former president, as part of the recalibration of the nation’s educational system, the government and educationalists need to stop the menace of bullying in primary and secondary schools, and cultism in tertiary institutions in order to attract people from all over the world.

L-R: Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Deputy Chancellor; Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arch Victor Attah; VC of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye; Prof-Chancellor, Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah; Dr. Joan Oviawe, Edo State Commissioner for Education at the occasion on Friday.

Jonathan, while congratulating the founder and principal officers of the institution for the 25th anniversary, said that it is not easy to run a university for good 25 years.

On his part, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, said “the university has over the past 25 years, evolved into a beacon of academic excellence, a crucible for innovation, and a nurturing ground for future leaders.”

The VC, while describing the celebration as “emphatic illustration of dogged determination of of the founder, the Esama of Benin Kingdom to transform the educational landscape of our nation,” boasted that the university has “continued to champion revolution in higher education in Nigeria, changing the narrative in higher education pedagogy.”

Enumerating some of the university’s landmark achievements so far, the Vice-Chancellor said: “Just yesterday, the university unveiled the Petrol Minibus designed and developed by the College of Engineering for use as project vehicle. This prelude to the second phase of the project which will entail the design and development of an electric minibus by the College scheduled for completion before the end of next year

“Similarly, the University’s multi-million Naira Oil Palm Processing Mill was commissioned yesterday. A collaborative project between the Central Bank of Nigeria and Igbinedion University, Okada, the processing mill has an installed capacity to process Palm oil at the rate of2Tons/hour with provision for future expansion. The facility will not only boost the University’s internally generated revenue but also serve as a platform for research and training by staff and students.

“In the same vein, the newly completed Okunozee ultra-modern Hotel (a Division of IUO Holdings) at Usen Junction, Okada was also commissioned yesterday. The first of its kind in Okada and Usen communities, the 5-Star Hotel boasts of state-of-the art facilities and is set to change the tourism landscape of Edo State. More importantly, it will cater to the needs of parents and visitors to Igbinedion University who will no longer need to shuttle between Benin and Okada when they have to stay in Okada for more than one day.”

He added: “We will continue to invest in cutting-edge research, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, digital literacy, technological fluency, and curriculum shift to meet the evolving needs of the global workforce. Our ultimate goal is to provide our students with a truly global education that
prepares them to navigate the complexities of an interconnected world.”

On his part, founder and Chancellor of the university, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion who was represented by the Deputy Chancellor, Lucky Igbinedion, while stating that establishment of private university in Nigeria did not come on a platter of gold, said the bold step he took in 1999 has paved way for 147 private universities in the country.

Dignitaries who attended the 25th anniversary included former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.); Governor Godwin Obaseki represented by Commissioner for Education, Joan Oviawe; former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah; former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori; members of the Governing of Council led its Chairman, Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah, among others.

News

Court Stops Speaker, 24 Others Loyal To Wike From Parading As Assembly Members

Published

32 mins ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

The Rivers State High Court has given a temporary order to stop the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 others from parading as assembly members.

The said court presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Charles N. Wali, added that their legislative seats have been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The case has been postponed until May 29th.

More Details Later…

News

Bauchi Lawmaker Pledges To Expedite Passage Of Bill On Reduction Of Out-Of-School Children

Published

12 hours ago

May 10, 2024

Editor

Honourable Nasiru Ala, the Chairman, House Committee on Education in the Bauchi State House of Assembly has pledged to expedite the passage of the state framework Bill to reduce Out-Of-School in the state.

He made the pledge during a two-day regional stakeholders meeting on out-of-school children and retention, transition as well as completion models in Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa states.

According to him, any moment the bill is sent to the state House of Assembly from the Executive, the lawmakers would expedite actions to ensure that the bill is passed within three to four weeks.

He said: “Based on the law making, we are going to enact this particular law on the domestication of the Bauchi state framework to reduce Out-of-School children bill within three to four weeks from the day of reception from the Executive Arm.

“Our governor has been very cooperative and supportive on this particular issue of out of school children because it is a serious menace.

“As an academic, I’m not always happy anytime I hear the word Out-of-School children.

“That is why it’s not going to be a big deal in the Bauchi state House of Assembly to enact the state framework to reduce Out-of-School children in the state.

“In three weeks time In-Sha-Allah, we are going to pass into Bill this State Framework to reduce Out-of-School children in the state”.

Also speaking, Mr Raphael Aiyedipe, Education Officer, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, said that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had developed a National Framework of Action to Reduce Out-of-School Children and drive access to education in the country.

According to him, the framework commits to substantially and systematically decrease the number of Out-of-School children in Nigeria by 2030.

He highlighted some of the objectives of the framework to include; improve access and quality of education for all Nigerian children, drive improvement in learning and relevant skills development.

Others, he said, were to accelerate the social and economic development of communities and the country at large.

“The Framework has 5 thematic areas that includes; political actors and this means gaining the political will and government commitment.

“Best practices and alternative pathways and this translates to defeating learning poverty, Community accountability, that is engaging stakeholders to build ownership.

“Technology and ICT which means improving access through innovative solutions and Financing mechanisms, that is, reaching the most vulnerable,” he explained.