There would be trouble if the principal officers of the 10th National Assembly are imposed, 92 civil society coalition, CSOs, have warned.
The group handed down the warning on Friday during a press conference in Abuja against the backdrop of the announcement of the zoning formula released by the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Monday.
The party through its Spokesman, Felix Morka, had announced the South-south as the beneficiary of the Senate president position with former Minister of Niger Delta as its anointed candidate.
It said the post of the Speaker should be occupied by a member-elect from Kaduna State, Tajudeen Abbas, as its anointed candidate from the Northwest.
The positions of the Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker went to the Northwest and Southeast respectively with Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) and Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) as the anointed candidates.
The zoning has been rejected by aspirants seeking election into the various positions even as non-members of the APC have also kicked against the aspirants anointed by the party.
The group which converged under the banner, “Centre for Credible Leadership & Citizens Awareness”, carpeted the president-elect, Bola Tinubu and the APC for what it called undemocratic tendencies being exhibited towards the formation of the 10th Assembly leadership.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Director-General of the coalition, Dr Nwambu Gabriel said, “Our Coalition has been observing with keen interest the grouping and regrouping, horse-trading, lobbying and power play associated with the election of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th National Assembly respectively.
“The major function of the Civil Society is to essentially act as the watchdog of the society. In other words, remaining docile at this critical time of our democratic trajectory would amount to allowing old mistakes of the past which have retarded our democracy to date to keep repeating themselves.
“The idea is to have an independent arm of government called the legislature for the purpose of providing ‘checks and balances’ in such a manner to avoid the concentration of powers in one body as this would lead to usurping of powers and consequently degenerate into dictatorship, tyranny and operation.
“Now, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 As Amended) is superior to every other document including the Senate and House Rules respectively. Section 50 (1a) and (1b) is simple, unambiguous and clear.
“This states that “there shall be (a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves”.
The group pointed out that, “As Civil Society Coalition therefore, we appeal to the President-Elect to tow this same line of honour that produced him as the Candidate of the party and consequently the President-Elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“By this medium also, we wish to urge the President-Elect to be wary of some anti-democratic forces around him who are only trying to cajole him to interfere in a function exclusively provided for the legislators by the Nigerian Constitution.
“We hereby advise the President-Elect, Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu to toe the line of honour and provide a level playing ground for the legislature to exercise their function as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria,” the group said.
The group allayed the fears that, “As CSOs, we are not interested in who emerges as the speaker or deputy speaker or the senate president or the deputy senate president.
“Our interest is that there is a provision in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and it is a document that is superior to any other document including the house rules or the senate rules.
“We are saying that since it is a constitutional provision, that the political party to which the president-elect belongs, should allow the constitution to be executed to the latter.
“We are saying that interference in the process of electing the speaker, deputy speaker, the senate president or the deputy senate president would amount to usurping the powers that were ab initio meant for the National Assembly,” the group added.
It stressed that, “An imposition of power will degenerate Nigeria to dictatorial tendencies, it is going to lead to tyranny and oppression and bring to mockery the principles of separation of power.
“It is pertinent that all politicians and political parties and the president-elect, allow the Constitution to be executed so that Nigeria will not be a mockery in the history of nations,” the group noted.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has been asked to bar the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola from swearing-in the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29 pending the determination of whether it is compulsory for the winner in a presidential election to get 25% of votes in the FCT.
The suit was filed by Messrs Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffery Ucheh, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwachukwu.
Describing themselves as registered voters of the FCT, Abuja, they alleged it was unconstitutional for Tinubu to be declared winner of the February 25 election despite failing to score 25 percent votes in FCT.
The reliefs sought include,
“A declaration that no state of the country is at the same time the FCT for any propose whatsoever, including, in particular, under section 134 (2) (b) of the Constitution.
“A declaration that no candidate in the February 25 presidential election in the country may validly be declared elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without that candidate obtaining at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT, Abuja.
“A declaration that no candidate in the February 25 presidential election may validly be sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without such candidate having obtained 25% of the votes case in FCT, Abuja.
“A declaration that following the February 25 presidential election and until a successor is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and sworn in, the term of office of his Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria subsists and endures in accordance with the provisions of section 135 (1) (a) of the Constitution”.
“An order setting aside or suspending any declaration and/or issuance of a Certificate of a Return to any candidate in the February 25 presidential election in the country as having been elected, save and except it is judicially determined with finality that such candidate fulfilled the conditions stated in section 134(2) (b) of the Constitution.”
This is the second suit against Tinubu’s swearing-in.
There is a pending suit at the Court of Appeal seeking orders barring the scheduled swearing-in.
These suits were filed despite the inauguration of the Presidential Election Petitions Court to preside over the fallout of the 2023 presidential poll.
The FCT question also forms the major grounds in the petitions of the Labour Party and the People’s Democratic party, against Tinubu and INEC.
The Tribunal is vested with jurisdiction in post presidential-election-related cases.
Angola has now overtaken Nigeria as the leading crude oil producer in Africa.
The Southern African nation upstaged Nigeria as the latter’s output level hits a new low.
The development is contained in the direct communication data in the April 2023 monthly oil market report (MOMR) of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
According to the report, Angola recorded 1.06 million barrels per day (mbpd) crude production in April 2023.
Despite initial optimism, Nigeria’s oil output dropped 23 per cent, month-on-month, MoM, to 999,999 barrels per day, bpd, in April 2023, from 1.3 million bpd in the preceding month of March 2023.
Also, on year-on-year, YoY, Nigeria’s output level indicated a drop of 16.7 per cent to 999,999 bpd in April 2023, from 1.2 million bpd recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.
After a steady decline to about 1.1 mbpd in the second half of 2022, due majorly, to oil theft, Nigeria’s oil output began to recover after a nationwide outcry in the fourth quarter of 2022 hovering at 1.3 million bpd in the first quarter of 2023.
At less than 1.0mbpd, this is the lowest production rate Nigeria has recorded in the year 2023 while Angola’s output shows steady increases.
The OPEC figure is close to that of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the regulatory authority in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, which shows that Nigeria produced 998,602 barrels per day during the period.
The OPEC report further stated that total OPEC-13 crude oil production averaged 28.60 million barrels per day in April 2023, lower by 191,000 barrels per day, month-on-month. Overall, the report showed that crude oil output increased mainly in Saudi Arabia, Angola and Iran, while production in Iraq and Nigeria declined.
OPEC noted in the MOMR that Nigeria’s economy faced challenges in gaining momentum in the first quarter of 2023, with business activity and consumer spending remaining subdued, in addition to high input-cost inflation and lower employment levels compared with 2022
President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, state governors, and their deputies have reportedly received about N651.2m as a hardship allowance over the last eight years, according to findings by The PUNCH.
This allowance, calculated as 50% of the annual basic salary, is also granted to judges across the nation.
According to a document from the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission’s website, President Buhari receives N1.76m annually as a hardship allowance, accumulating to N14.08m over eight years.
Similarly, Vice President Osinbajo’s annual allowance of N1.52m would total N12.16m over the same period.
State governors and their deputies receive an annual hardship allowance of N1.11m and N1.06m respectively, equating to an eight-year total of N319.68m for the governors and N305.28m for their deputies.
As President Buhari nears the end of his term, labour unions have criticized the government for impoverishing workers and increasing hardship for Nigerians.
Inflation has severely impacted the recently approved 40% pay rise, according to the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Hakeem Ambali.
He claimed that workers have experienced job losses, insecurity, and economic hardship under Buhari’s administration.
This report comes amidst increasing concerns over economic instability and poverty rates in Nigeria, with the National Bureau of Statistics reporting that approximately 133 million Nigerians live in poverty.
The International Human Rights Commission has warned that this could lead to unprecedented levels of hunger in Nigeria if not addressed urgently.
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has revealed why himself and other Northern Governors supported the presidential ambition of the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu.
The governor made the revelation on Thursday in Daura during a farewell visit to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruq-Umar.
According to him, the northern governors under the All Progressives Congress (APC) supported Tinubu in order to respect the zoning formula of the party .
He added: ”God had saved us from shame during the last general elections in the country where our party, the All Progressives Congress APC recorded huge successes.
“Any one in this country with foresight, should thank God again because had it been our party did not win the election, people may think that the Federal Government failed Nigerians.
“Whatever someone planned in this country, God has helped President Muhammad Buhari to defend his integrity, because if we had failed in the election, he would be the first to be blamed.
“Those with foresight have seen that, especially we the governors from the north under the APC. We have seen attempts to tarnish the image of Buhari.
“Everybody knows that all the political parties believe in zoning, but some people in our party wanted to keep that aside, but we rejected their attempt.”
According to Masari, the lack of respect for the zoning arrangement by some of the opposition parties had brought them into the current crises rocking them.
“So, if we had done such, only God would know the situation in the country at the moment. Therefore, we had to stick to our promises.
“That’s why the northerners then succeeded and earned respect for our people, because once we said yes, it’s always yes,” he added.
25-Year-Old Mother Masterminds Kidnap Of Her 6-Year-Old Daughter In Kano - Demands N3 Million Ransom
AdminKano State Command of the Nigeria Police Force paraded some criminals at its headquarters during the week, including a 25-year-old woman, Rahama Sulaiman, who reportedly kidnapped her biological daughter.
The young lady allegedly abducted her 6-year-old daughter, Hafsat Kabiru, and demanded N3 million ransom from her estranged husband.
Giving an account of the young girl’s abduction, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters, said the husband, Kabiru Shehu, approached the command earlier and reported that his daughter had been kidnapped.
“In a follow-up investigation, the victim was rescued in Madobi LGA, and the wife, who was earlier divorced by the husband, confessed to having planned the kidnapping of her daughter,” Gumel explained.
According to him, the woman had taken the daughter to a nearby relative in Madobi to keep for her and said she would travel for four days.
Speaking to newsmen after she was paraded, the suspect confessed that her ex-husband did not give her money to feed the children for over ten months, which prompted her to fake the kidnap of their daughter to get money from him to take care of his children.
“I called him and told him that our daughter was missing and we went to the police together and reported the matter. Inside the police station, I gave him the number of the guy that will receive the ransom,” she reportedly said.
She said she regretted her actions and said she had reconciled with her husband. The husband, who confirmed that they had reconciled, added that his wife had never done such before.
The command also paraded other criminals, including kidnappers and drug dealers, and also recovered over 600 parcels of Indian hemp.
The CP, however, said all the suspects would be charged after the investigation.
Nigerian singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has revealed what she did before appearing on former United States President, Barack Obama’s favourite music playlist.
Naija News recalls that five months ago, Obama shared his favourite music playlist for the year 2022 and it featured three top Nigerian singers.
Grammy award-winning singer, Burna Boy alongside Ayra Starr and Rema made it to the 2022 favourite music list of the former US President.
Speaking at a recent interview with NME, Ayra Starr recalled that she had prayed and hoped that her song will make Obama’s playlist someday.
The 20-year-old singer, however, said it was shocking to see that the following morning after her prayer, the former president unveiled his playlist and her name was on it.
“The funny thing about that is that the morning before the list came out. I was in the shower, and I was like, I really would really like to be on Barack Obama’s list for next year.
“I just thought about it, I didn’t know it was coming out. And I prayed, and I was like, ‘God, please just do this one for me. Please,” Ayra Starr recalled.
She added: “And somebody tagged me, like somebody sent the post to me and it wasn’t loading so I couldn’t really see, but I was like, this is Obama. I was like, why are people sending me Obama’s posts? I couldn’t see the picture. I was like, it is, it is! And I saw it and I was so excited.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores Aveiro, has reportedly debunked claims that his son and his long-time girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez are having issues that could lead to a breakup.
In April, reports went viral in Portuguese and Spanish media that Ronaldo was tired of his relationship with Rodriguez who he has been dating since 2017 and who has birthed two kids for him. The reports also claimed that the two lovers could go their separate ways because the 38-year-old football icon was “fed up” with the Argentine social media influencer.
After these reports went viral, Rodriguez was the first person to react to them.
The 29-year-old Argentine model took to her Instagram page to write: “The jealous makes up a rumor, the gossipy spread it and the idiot believes it.”
Days after, Cristiano Ronaldo shared a picture of himself and Rodriguez showing when they were having dinner and locking lips. The Al Nassr’s striker simply captioned the post with “Cheers to love.”
As a follow-up to that, Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother described all speculations claiming that his son was on the verge of a breakup with Rodriguez as “lies” according to a report by the Daily Mail.
The 68-year-old Portuguese woman was quoted as saying, “It’s all lies, Every couple quarrels, but what is written is a lie.”
Obi vs Tinubu: ‘God called me, nobody can intimidate my ministry’ - Primate Ayodele replies critics
AdminThe leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has cleared the air concerning his recent prophecies on the inauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Primate Ayodele had come under criticism after claiming the inauguration of the president-elect will hold regardless of the court cases being treated at the election tribunal.
The critics referred to his previous prophecies against the Muslim-Muslim ticket and the presidential ambition of Tinubu, noting that the prophet has changed his previous stand due to his recent prophecies.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele affirmed that his previous prophecies on Tinubu and the Muslim-Muslim ticket still stand and that he hasn’t changed his words concerning what Nigerians will experience under the administration of Bola Tinubu.
The prophet stated that his previous prophecies which were against Tinubu weren’t a personal attack or a result of his relationship with the president-elect but as a result of what he received from God.
He further reiterated his prophecies concerning the swearing-in ceremony and the presidential ambition of Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi.
Read full statement below:
It has come to my notice that some elements on social media have taken it upon themselves to spread unfounded information about my ministry due to my latest prophecies on the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of Nigeria on account of their political affiliations.
In the prophecies, I posited that the inauguration of Tinubu on May 29 will not be stopped and that Peter Obi will not become the president of Nigeria. I made it known that only God can stop the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not Peter Obi’s case at the election tribunal.
The disgruntled elements, who feel I should not be seen or heard saying anything that favours Tinubu because of my previous prophecies, have shared on the internet that I have joined the camp of the president-elect and that I have been bought over by the ruling party.
I am not one to be bothered about laughable accusations like this, I have never been concerned about comments regarding my statements because I owe no one explanations except God but I was led to set the record straight once again.
My stand on APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket remains the same. I have maintained that God isn’t in support of the Muslim-Muslim ticket and it is not his wish for our dear nation, I haven’t edited or changed my stand on the APC’s presidential combination.
I have been a prophet for decades and I’m not into ministry to play games for personal gains. I will never soil my prophetic reputation for any personal gains at any time. I have gone beyond saying a word and denying it as a result of any form of intimidation. There is no one born of humans that can intimidate my ministry because I wasn’t called by humans, God called me as a messenger to his people.
However, the disgruntled elements must know that my prophecies are not a result of my relationship with anyone. I am a man of God who has no preference when it comes to politics or elections. I am not interested in it because I sincerely don’t like politicians. If I give a prophecy that a politician will not perform well, it’s not because I hate such politicians or we have had issues in the past, I’m just performing my duty as a prophet to the world including politicians and ordinary citizens.
I am aware of my prophecies regarding Tinubu before the presidential election. At different times, I asserted that the candidate of the APC will be a dis*** to the country if he emerges as the winner of the presidential election.
I made it known that God will not support his government because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket and that Nigeria will experience more hardship under his administration. I also noted that Nigeria will sink if the citizens vote Tinubu into power or allow him to maneuver his way into the dignified office of Nigeria’s president.
The above prophecies remain unchanged, I will always stand by my prophecies and this time isn’t an exception.
Tinubu’s presidency will not be favourable for Nigerians, the economy will not be in good shape as I have said before. My recent prophecies are not to knock out the previous ones, they can both co-exist because they are not addressing the same issues.
Understandably, these elements have grown hatred for other candidates apart from theirs but I want to advise them to shun every form of hatred. It isn’t God’s wish for us to hate each other because of political affiliations, we should love ourselves as Christ loves us.
Let me also reiterate that it is only God that can stop Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, Peter Obi cannot also become president of Nigeria. Atiku still has a chance but for Peter Obi, it’s not possible.
This is not a personal attack on Peter Obi or any other politician. I love Tinubu, I love Atiku, I love Peter Obi but this shouldn’t stop me from delivering God’s message to his people.
- 112 bag first-class
The University of Jos will graduate a total of 20,532 students on Saturday, out of whom 112 will graduate with first-class honors in the forthcoming 33rd and 34th convocations of the institution slated for Saturday.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Tanko Ishaya, who disclosed this at the pre-convocation press conference at the Senate Chamber of the university, said the men and women to be presented for the award of various certificates during the convocation represent the best of the academic environment.
According to him, they comprise 159 PhDs, 3,669 Masters, 281 postgraduate diplomas, 11, 281 Bachelors, and 5,142 from affiliate institutions, adding that in the classifications, First Class 112, Second Class Honors (Upper Division) 3093, Second Class (Lower Division) 6325, Third Class 1361, Pass Division 281 while Pass Qualified for Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine Program 109
He further pointed out that the high point of the program on Saturday will be the investiture of His Highness Mallam Nuhu Bamali, Emir of Zauzau, as the new Chancellor of the University of Jos, adding that the Chancellor will also be conferred with the Doctor of Laws Degree (LL.D.) Honorris Causa in company with two other eminent Nigerians: Professor Elias Bogoro with an Engineering degree as well as the former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, who will receive Doctors of Letters.
On the achievements of the university, the vice chancellor said one of the strategies employed by his administration to improve the university’s academic standards is by being active in attracting donor grants and other funding support.
“In this regard, the University of Jos has secured a 250 million Naira grant from the Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Africa Initiative under the auspices of the foundation’s Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme. The scheme is part of ASR Africa’s intervention towards undertaking infrastructure projects in universities and institutions of learning across Nigeria.
“To fulfill this requirement, the university management and other relevant stakeholders considered our different areas of needs and agreed that due to the fact that UNIJOS is hosting the next edition of NUGA Games in 2024, the grant should be utilized to develop outdoor courts and spectator stands as part of the designed sports complex,” he said.
Professor Ishaya further added that despite the instability recently experienced in the nation’s tertiary educational system, the university has been able to cultivate several collaborations, partnerships, and networks with external bodies, institutions, and agencies that are yielding tangible results.
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Daredevil kidnappers have attacked a car dealer, shot his son and abducted his daughter who started her West African Examination Certificate Examination (WAEC) on Monday.
The attack on the car dealer, whose name has not been ascertained, occurred on Wednesday along NDDC Road, Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.
Reports say the car dealer was on his way home at about 7.00p.m, when the kidnappers laid ambush and swooped on him.
A witness told journalists that the car dealer, on sighting the hoodlums, escaped from his car into the woods, abandoning the children to their fate.
Feelers said the kidnapped girl is sitting the ongoing West African Examination Certificate Examination (WAEC).
It couldn’t be ascertained if the kidnappers had reached out to the man and his family and whether random has been demanded.
Meanwhile, residents of NDDC Road have lamented the recurring incidences of kidnapping in the area.
For instance, the latest kidnap incident at NDDC Road is the fourth so far in 2023.
The worried residents, therefore, called on relevant authorities to create two or more military checkpoints in the NDDC part of Sapele town to checkmate the untoward activities of hoodlums.
Amid sketchy details of the kidnap saga, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, has yet to comment on the incident.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has ordered the immediate payment of workers salary in the state four days after the Nigeria Labour Congress resumed strike in the state.
The NLC had on Monday May 8 directed members to proceed on indefinite strike after deliberating on the plethora of problem workers and pensioner are facing in the state.
Barr Chris Ezem, Secretary to the Government, in a statement on Friday said despite the current challenges facing the state government, the governor had directed the office of the Accountant General to commence payment of salaries to ministries and parastatals from today Friday May 12, 2023.
According to the statement, the protracted court order freezing the various accounts of the state government affected the payment of salaries for the months of March and April 2023.
Ezem noted that no core ministry or civil servant is owed salaries before now, adding that salaries of local government staff are also up to date except for the inherited 5 months arrears out of which it had paid 3 months.
The government has however directed the local government authorities to commence immediate payment payment of salaries of health workers across the 17 LGAs.
He, therefore, called on all the affected staff to resume work at their offices immediately and ensure resumption of activities in all ministries and the office of the Accountant General for implementation of the directive.
Ahead of the inauguration of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, President Muhammadu Buhari has moved into the Glass House at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The iconic residence has served as a transitional abode for the outgoing president and their spouse during the handover period.
The Glass House has also traditionally played a crucial role in the transition of power, providing a symbolic and practical space for the outgoing president and their spouse.
The First Lady, Aisha Buhari disclosed this in a video on her Instagram page after showing the incoming First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu around the State House.
With only Aisha Buhari and her husband currently residing there, the outgoing first lady expressed her opinion that the house should maintain its longstanding practice of accommodating only the incumbent president and their spouse during the transition period.
During the tour, Aisha Buhari, introduced Senator Remi Tinubu to the various areas of the house, providing detailed explanations about its significance and history.
She said, “I have taken the incoming First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, around . She has seen the main house; we are now at the popular glass house. Glass house is a transitional home for the outgoing president.
“I’m advising that the Glass House should maintain its tradition of being a transition for the outgoing president. As I am talking to you now, I am residing here with my husband. Only two of us here, I think it should remain so as a norm of the institution and of the house.”
The experience left Senator Tinubu both impressed and humbled, acknowledging the overwhelming amount of information she received in such a short span of time.
While expressing her gratitude, Senator Remi Tinubu mentioned her belief in divine guidance to help her contribute meaningfully to the nation during her tenure. She expressed her eagerness to make a positive impact and build upon the legacy of her predecessors.
“I have gone around. She has magnanimously shown me around the house. And graciously explained a lot of things to me which is quite a short time and overwhelming for me to grasp. but I believe God will help me to be able to make an impactful contribution to the nation,” she said.
As Nigeria prepares for the transition of power to the incoming president, the tour of the Glass House serves as a symbolic moment of unity and cooperation between the outgoing and incoming administrations. The hope is that the torch will be passed seamlessly, ensuring a smooth continuation of governance and the pursuit of national development.
Kaduna State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has commended governor Nasir El-Rufai’s government for reinstating 1, 288 public school teachers that were earlier sacked after the competency test.
In a letter dated April 5, 2023, which had reference number NUT/GO/G7/Vol 4/732 and signed by state secretary Adamu Ayuba Kaltungo, the union appreciated the ‘’kind gesture extended to our esteemed members who were affected by this government policy.’’
The NUT said the reinstatement will ‘’go a long way in bridging the gap of the teacher-pupil ratio being experienced in the public primary school sector.’’
It will be recalled that Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) had sacked 2,357 primary school teachers over the competency test in June 2022, explaining that 2,192 teachers were dismissed for their failure to sit for the test, while 165 teachers were sacked for poor performance.
After written complaints, the board reviewed some cases, where some affected workers claimed that they were kidnapped at the time of the test, while some claimed that they were central administration staff and as such, were exempted from the exercise.
Last April, KADSUBEB reinstated 1,288 sacked teachers, arguing that ‘’having examined and verified their complaints, the state government approved the reinstatement of 392 teachers, who wrote and passed the test, and 515 central administration staff that were officially exempted from the test.