Nomadic Politicians Atiku Promoted Over Loyal PDP Members Will Leave Soon, Olayinka Slams Bwala, Pedro Obaseki
AdminPeople's Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain and former House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency, Lere Olayinka, has described the masturbation of Daniel Bwala and Don Pedro Obaseki, spokespersons of party's Presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, on the former Governor of Rivers State and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, as a function of political frustration, adding that they (Bwala Obaseki) and others like them will soon dump Atiku and leave the PDP.
In a statement on Monday, Olayinka, who said Bwala and Obaseki were nomadic and "anywhere belle face" politicians, said it was funny that someone like Bwala, in particular, who was in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as at the time Atiku emerged as PDP presidential candidate last year was the one championing the expulsion of Wike from the PDP.
He said "it is obvious that the more they disparage Wike and others like Ayo Fayose, who stood by the PDP when Atiku and others left in 2014, the more (he) Atiku keeps footing their bills, including accomodation and feeding in one of the best hotels in Abuja."
The PDP chieftain, who described as insulting that tenants in PDP were now the ones calling for the expulsion of owners of the house, said "I give them till January, next year, these nomadic politicians who are feeding fat on Atiku's money will dump him for their next political victim."
"I read Bwala's latest tweets, saying those calling for peace in PDP and that the party should manage Wike, were actually buying time for him (Wike) to continue his destructive agenda against the party. He went further to say that Wike has never been faithful or loyal to anyone.
"I also read the press statement by Pedro Obaseki saying to expel Wike now was a task that must be done by the PDP.
"It is so painful that PDP is now being spoken for by nomadic politicians like Bwala and Obaseki. Same Obaseki that traversed three political parties between 2016 and 2017, moving from APC to Accord Party and Accord Party to PDP.
"Funny that the same Obaseki who was everywhere campaigning against his own cousin, Governor Godwin Obaseki and teamed up with outsiders against his own blood will not stop masturbating over Wike.
"Funny too that Bwala, who condemned PDP up till July, last year and could still not clear his brain of the hatred he had for the party even after he had dumped APC is the one talking about loyalty as if he has ever been loyal to anyone other than his stomach," Olayinka said.
Speaking further, Olayinka said one of the main reasons PDP lost the presidential election was Atiku's insulting and disrespectful treatment of those who held on to the PDP and gave life to the party when he (Atiku) and others left in 2014.
He said; "You left your father's house and joined outsiders to throw stones to the house while your other siblings stayed to fix the damages you and the outsiders caused to the house.
"Then, you returned a few years later to take the master bedroom and chose to send out your siblings who remained in the house and shared rooms to people with whom you threw stones to the house. Do you think God will let you sleep peacefully in that house?
"For us the genuine lovers of PDP, we will be here waiting for the food on the table of Atiku to finish. By then, these emergency lovers of PDP will move to their next victims and the party will regain its life again."
Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in the last election, has said that Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, has crossed a red line by calling for the suspension of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Remember Wike saying on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, “Look at the areas that the PDP did not win because of high-handedness, greed, and impunity.” You could have discussed it if the PDP had done what they were supposed to do.
There should be equity, justice, and fairness, and that is why I am calling on the National Working Committee to suspend the presidential candidate, as well as people like Aminu Tambuwal so that the party (PDP) can be rebuilt.
In an interactive session with journalists yesterday in Abuja, Obaseki said bigwigs in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should also brace themselves for Wike’s “betrayal,” adding that the PDP will no longer accept impunity from Wike.
He said;
He is the most rewarded betrayer in the history of our recent politics. From his time with Rotimi Amaechi, Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Odili, Atiku Abubakar and now his time with Bola Tinubu.
Wike coming out to ask for the suspension of the number one leader of the party and the presidential flag bearer of the party and the recipient of the mandate of the Nigerian people as declared in INEC’s submission that we won 21 states and asking Atiku to be suspended from the party, Wike has crossed the red line and now, he should be ready.
He has all the money to fight us back because we are coming at him like a thousand bricks. I am sure Wike went to Law School. I am sure he is a lawyer and he knows that ‘he who is ready for peace should prepare for war.’
Nyesom Wike has touched the tiger’s tail, let him wait. The only extensional advice I am going to give is that those who have employed his dastardly betrayal and chicanery in the APC should watch their back.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has begged a federal judge in the United States to overlook records suggesting the person admitted into Chicago State University in the 1970s was a female, according to a report by Peoples Gazette.
It was gathed that one of Tinubu’s lawyers in the case, Christopher Carmichael, entered the argument on the Nigerian president’s behalf.
“It is established beyond peradventure that it is improper to sandbag one’s opponent by raising new matter in reply,” Tinubu said.
Recall that in a September 11 filing before Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Tinubu said his Nigerian political rival Atiku Abubakar was trying to sandbag him in the ongoing case over academic documents.
Ahead of today’s hearing, Justice Gilbert had recommended that all parties appear before the court on Tuesday afternoon amid strong indications a ruling was imminent in the matter.
According to Tinubu’s lawyers, controversies in the Southwest College record generated around Tinubu’s identity was a conspiracy theory and not the fault of the Nigerian leader.
“The quoted and referenced portion of the Nigerian court filing parrots conspiracy theories about President Tinubu, including that the degree from Chicago State University really belongs to a female named Bola Tinubu,” Tinubu’s lawyers said. “That conspiracy theory is not an asserted basis for discovery.”
But Peoples Gazette reports that Atiku’s lawyers, led by Angela Liu, quickly filed a response to let the judge know that the argument Tinubu’s lawyers were making should be ignored and the hearing should be allowed to proceed as scheduled.
“Although Abubakar disputes the assertions made by Tinubu in his Motion for Leave and accompanying sur-response, Abubakar consents to Tinubu’s submission of the sur-response and its accompanying exhibit, Dkt. 27-1, on the assumption that the Court will allow his counsel to respond to the arguments and assertions made therein at the hearing before the Court scheduled for tomorrow (September 12, 2023),” the lawyers said.
Recall that Atiku is asking the US court to grant enough subpoenas to compel records and depositions from CSU amid controversy about Tinubu’s admission and graduation.
The school has continued to present contradictory documents that often throw up more questions than previously conceived.
For instance, at least two certificates issued by the school in Tinubu’s name are in the public domain. One was given directly to Tinubu, while the other was given to a Nigerian lawyer who obtained a subpoena for the records last year. The one given to Tinubu said he graduated on June 22, 1979, having been admitted in 1977, while the one issued to the Nigerian lawyer, Mike Enahoro-Ebah, carried June 27, 1979.
Still, additional records of admission submitted by CSU under the 2022 subpoena showed that a certain Bola Tinubu, who was admitted to CSU also in the same 1977, presented a Southwest College result belonging to a female.
Furthermore, Elnora Daniel, the CSU president who purportedly signed the 2022 certificate for Tinubu, only joined the school in 1998, or 19 years after Tinubu was said to have graduated. She left in 2008 following a financial mismanagement scandal, or 14 years before she purportedly signed the certificate as the school’s current president.
Peter Obi instigating youths against Tinubu’s govt, DSS, police should arrest him – APC chieftain, Onochie
AdminA former chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Board, Mrs Lauretta Onochie, has described Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, as a desperate man.
This is as Onochie urged the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to arrest the former Anambra state governor.
According to the former presidential aide, Obi was trying to forment violence and rebellion using the Obidients over his defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
Onochie opined that there was something disturbing and evil about someone who finished third in the poll trying to be President.
She made the call via her X account in reaction to a video posted by one Abubakar Sidiq Usman.
“Attn: @OfficialDSSNG,@PoliceNG I think it’s high time you pulled this clown,” she wrote.
She noted that since the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Obi’s running mate Dr. Datti Baba Ahmed and others she described as ‘unpatriotic angry birds,’ have been allegedly instigating the youth to violence.
“But our noble and patriotic youth completely ignored them, because sensible youth in Nigeria are more in number than his headless mob,” she said.
She further said that Obi has been deceived to try his luck at the tribunal where he failed and even attempted to use the Labour movement to stop the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal when they declared a two-day warning strike.
“This man, @PeterObi, continues to instigate his headless and consequently, brainless followers to a violent change of government. I have never seen a more desperate individual.
“There’s something sinister and ominous about a man who came 3rd in a race and wants to be declared the winner, AT ALL COST!
“I think it’s high time he was pulled in to answer a few questions. Nigerians want to know why Peter Obi is this desperate.
“Pull him in, the heavens will not fall,” she said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau state, has alleged that the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal committed electoral robbery by taking the Plateau South Senate seat from its members and giving it to their opponent.
Naija News reported that the tribunal declared that former Governor Simon Bako Lalong, who contested the senatorial seat on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform and emerged second, should be declared the winner.
The counsel to the All Progressives Congress, Edward Pwajok (SAN), while speaking with journalists shortly after the judgment on Monday, said the Court held that the Peoples Democratic Party was not qualified to contest in the election following their refusal to conduct the ward congresses as ordered by a Jos High Court in the year 2021.
Rejecting the judgement, the PDP Chairman in Plateau State, Chris Hassan, during a press conference in Jos, insisted that the ruling was an electoral robbery and unacceptable to the PDP.
Hassan said the opposition rejected the judgement entirely, stressing it was contrary to the people’s will.
He maintained that the tribunal erred to have relied on the internal disputes of the PDP to deliver its judgement in favour of the petitioners.
He said, “The judgement was an electoral robbery, which is unacceptable to the people of Plateau because it is contrary to the will of the constituencies, which was freely expressed via the votes we got in the election.
“The PDP watched with dismay and trepidation the nullification of the elections of our Senator representing Plateau South and House of Representatives Member representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency.
“We reject the outcome of the judgement in its entirety because justice was not served, and it did not reflect the law and the interest of the majority of the people as freely expressed at the election.
“The judgement was an electoral robbery which is unacceptable to the people of Plateau because it is contrary to the will of the people of the constituencies which was freely expressed via the votes we got in the election”
Hassan further explained that the PDP had since complied with the judgment of Justice S.P. Gang and conducted a fresh congress, insisting that the Party currently has a solid and valid structure.
He noted that the Party would explore legal means to retain its mandate, adding that the judgement would not destroy its confidence in the judiciary.
He said, “In this case, the PDP had since complied with the judgement of Justice S. P. Gang through a repeat congress in September 2021 which was dutifully monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as required by law.
“This same congress was affirmed by the Federal High Court sitting Jos in a judgement delivered by Justice D. V. Agishi in the case of Augustine Timkuk versus PDP validating the state executive of the Party as duly elected.
“This same judgment was also unanimously affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Jos in favour of the PDP in a ruling by Justice T. Y. Hassan, Justice I. A. Andenyangtso and Justice O. O. Goodluck, delivered on 11 Feb. 2023.
“The fact remains that PDP has a valid and solid structure through which our mandate was given and we are optimistic that by the special grace of God, it will stand.
“This is because the same position was affirmed by the seven judgments of panel two of the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tri,bunal which is a sister panel to this one.”
The Labour Party has described as reckless the removal of its lawmakers by the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in many states across the country.
The tribunal had in recent days annulled the elections of many of the elected members of the party in Edo, Abia, Lagos and other states over mostly on grounds of their emergence as candidate of the party.
Reacting to the trend, the party, in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, opined that reasons advanced for the judgment of the tribunal sacking many of its lawmakers defied simple logic.
He pointed out that the higher courts in the country have ruled on many occasions that the issue of “membership is an internal affair of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts.”
He said, “We are worried because the reasons for reversing our victories are matters that have been settled by the superior courts in the past.
“It is even incomprehensible and ludicrous when different tribunals give conflicting and diverse judgements on the same matter, a matter that has since been ruled by the Supreme Court and very recently at the Presidential Election Petition Court in APC v Peter Obi.
“The courts have, in a plethora of cases, held that the court has no jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party.
“The issue of nomination of candidates as well as membership are internal affairs of the party beyond the jurisdiction of courts. Only a political party can determine who its members are and who their flag bearer for an election should be.
“The Labour Party Chairman described the judgements as reckless, saying the activities of the judges are suspicious.”
He called on the Nigerian Judicial Council to intervene in the matter by reviewing the activities of the legal practitioners.
“Though the tribunal is not the final court, we frown at the recklessness of our judicial officers in entering a judgement that looks suspicious.
“We are therefore calling the attention of the Nigeria Judicial Council to the injustice ongoing and to review the activities of some of our legal officers who may have been compromised and found wanting in the discharge of their duties.
“Labour Party must be encouraged to widen the political space and end the one party system being vigorously pursued by the ruling party. Pushing the party under a moving trailer will not in any way help anyone,” Abure added
As Party Begin Electronic Registration Of Members, Launches Research Institute
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced plans to digitize its membership register, while also announcing the launch of its National Institute of Progressives Studies.
The chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, made the announcement on Tuesday during a meeting with the party’s NEC members in Abuja.
Ganduje said the essence of electronic registration was to have the exact number of the party members.
“Another step that we have taken is that we are reviewing our registration electronically now. The work has already started, so you should be ready that all our members will be electronically registered so that we have an exact number physically,” he said.
The National Chairman lamented that the number of registered party members depleted after the 2023 presidential election.
“If you will recall, we had a number of 41 million members, while after the presidential election we had 8 million, what happened to the rest? So, we need to be digital and ensure that we are working with the correct data,” said Ganduje.
He added that the party introduced the National Institute of Progressives Studies to help Nigerians shape their behavioural patterns in line with democracy and progressive ideals.
No fewer than 67 persons have been recorded missing by the Gombe State Police Command.
Confirming this in an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, said the cases were reported across the 11 local government areas of the state.
Based on checks carried out by The PUNCH in August only about 65 persons were declared missing, with the present inquiry bringing the number to 67 in September.
According to Abubakar, the cases are from January to September 2023, adding that efforts were on to recover the victims.
“From January to date we have 67 cases of missing persons reported at the Headquarters,” he said.
Abubakar disclosed that although some of the missing persons have been found by their family members, the command under the state’s Commissioner of Police, Oqua Etim is still committed to securing residents.
“Let me add that some of the persons lost have been found. The cases were majorly reported by their family members and some of the missing persons have since returned home. I wish to reassure you and many other residents of the state that Gombe is safe as Commissioner Oqua Etim and his men are committed to securing the state and her people, there is no need for worries,” Abubakar added.
The feud between Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, deepened yesterday following the sacking of all media aides attached to the Deputy Governor’s office.
This has plunged some members of the State Executive Council into fear as reports emerged that the governor may dissolve his cabinet.
Recall that Akeredolu had last week returned to the country after a three-month medical leave in Germany.
The governor, who returned on Wednesday, is still in his Ibadan home, where he has been carrying out official duties.
According to reports, the governor may reshuffle the state executive council to weed out members suspected to be disloyal during his absence.
A source revealed that Akeredolu was sad that some of his aides caused serious tension in the state while he was away by sponsoring some reports that embarrassed the government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter.
The source stated that the Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, and about six commissioners might be sacked for working against Akeredolu.
It was gathered that Aiyedatiwa, who was the acting governor during Akeredolu’s medical trip, was accused of disloyalty by some of the aides of the governor for using the absence of the governor to fester his governorship ambition.
A party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Nation that trust has broken down between the governor and his deputy.
He said: “There is no division in the party. The Aketi family is big and intact. But, there are complaints against the deputy governor who tried to create a camp from the big camp while positioning himself.
“The camp of the deputy governor started misbehaving, thinking that the governor would not make it. Some actually thought that the governor would not return. It was even reported that the governor had died.”
The source said a detailed report about how the deputy governor ran the state in the governor’s absence got to Akeredolu, where he was recuperating in Germany.
The source added: “The deputy governor was careless with some statements, which were taped and played to the governor’s hearing.
“At a meeting with other governors, he, as acting governor of Ondo State, complained that he was being denied access to the governor and was not given a free hand when other governors asked from him whether he was hearing from his boss.
“Colleagues of Akeredolu called him to tell him that his deputy was not loyal.”
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate payment of all pending Group Life Assurance owed to the Next of Kins of families of soldiers killed in action.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, on Tuesday, who disclosed this while declaring open the combined 2nd and 3rd Quarter Chief Of Army Staff Conference 2023, held at the Army Headquarters Command Officers Mess Abuja said that in addition, the President has also directed the Armed Forces Nigeria AFN and other security agencies to end the insecurity in the country in the shortest possible time.
According to Gen Lagbaja, ”the Federal Government has a scheme called the Group Life Assurance. It is an insurance scheme designed to give succour to families of our departed heroes.
“This scheme works in such a way that the government pays premium to the insurance companies and in the event of death the insurance companies pay claims to the families of our departed heroes.”
”However, we have a backlog between 2012 and 2022, when claims were not paid. And some people died in the cause of service to the nation. So, the insurance companies who are at the liberty of paying the premium are not paying, and that is why the Federal Government has taken it upon itself to discharge that backlog and bring relief to the families of our departed heroes.”
The Army Chief said that in line with the matching order of the President to end insurgency activities in the country in the shortest time, the Nigerian Army has already established some Special Forces units with specially trained personnel to tackle various security challenges across the country.
He said with delight that the Special Forces units have continued to record tremendous successes through intelligence-led operations and the use of special equipment across the six geo-political zones of the country
Gen Lagbaja also said that the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist activities have been curtailed, adding that residents of the troubled states had commenced commercial activities in the states.
According to him, “It is heart-warming to note that our activities in Operation Hadin Kai in the North East have effectively curtailed Boko Haram and other terrorist activities in the Region. Overall, our efforts have resulted in the large-scale surrender of members of the terrorist groups and the submission of a large cache of arms and ammunition.
“The good people of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States are steadily picking up their livelihood as the military, in collaboration with the government, is helping to restore governance to the hitherto deprived areas
The Army Chief who used the occasion to launch his vision and mission statement for the Nigerian army, said troops’ welfare and that of their families would continue to remain predominant to him as COAS.
On insecurity, Lagbaja, while charging field commanders to ensure the maintenance of sophisticated platforms and equipment procured by the army, in order to prolong their life span and enable the nation to optimize its investment.
The Army Chief who said that the activities of Operation HADIN KAI in the North East have drastically reduced the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and other criminal groups, said it is the reason for the mass surrender of terrorists and submission of a large cache of arms and ammunition.
Speaking on the sit-at-home order being enforced by the Indigenous People of Biafra across the South-East states, General Lagbaja declared that the order is no longer in force as it has ended.
IPOB in August 2021 commenced the sit-at-home order to demand the release of its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from prison.
He explained that the menace has ended as a result of the heightened efforts of his men and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
According to him ” We have equally heightened our efforts in containing criminalities perpetrated in the South East Region by the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network. Through Operation Udo Ka, our troops have, in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, put an end to the infamous sit-at-home order that has almost crippled socio-economic activities in the Region.
” Law-abiding citizens of the Region now go about their businesses and everyday life. Similarly, our joint efforts with various government agencies have quelled attempts by criminals to disrupt economic activities in the South West Region. ”
General Lagbaja said that the conference would afford participants the opportunity to evaluate the conduct of ongoing Nigerian Army (NA) operations, training and other activities in pursuit of its constitutional mandate and enable the Nigerian Army to make projections for the fourth quarter, as well as comprehensively review ongoing counter-terrorism counter-insurgency operations in the North East and North West and other Nigerian Army operational engagements across the country.
The weeklong conference is being attended by Principal Staff Officers(PSOs), at the Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding(GOCs), Corps, Formations, Operations Commanders, Commandants of Nigerian Army Schools, and Tri-service Institutions, as well as select army officers holding key appointments.
[Nigerian Tribune]
More...
The cause of the death of popular Nigerian singer, songwriter and rapper, Mohbad, also known as Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, has been revealed.
Naija News earlier reported that the fast-rising singer, formerly signed to Marlian Records, passed on at 27 years old.
According to PulseNG, the rapper sadly passed away from an ear infection.
Sources from the singer’s team told the news platform that he took a trip to the hospital in the early hours of Tuesday, September 12, for treatment, after which he was administered an injection.
According to the sources, Mohbad passed out shortly after the injection and unfortunately did not wake up.
The deceased was best known for his hit singles Ponmo, Feel Good, and KPK (Ko Por Ke) with Rexxie which was nominated 3 times for The Headies awards 2022.
Engr. Kailani Muhammad, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, has warned governors against diverting N5 billion earmarked by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cushion the impact of subsidy removal.
He urged the governors to ensure that the funds received thus far are disbursed to alleviate suffering in the country.
Khailani, the national chairman of Tinubu Support Network (TSN) and the Director-General of the Amalgamated APC Support Groups, made the remarks while speaking to journalists in Kaduna.
He praised President Tinubu’s accomplishments, particularly removing subsidies, and expressed confidence that Nigeria would prosper under his leadership.
Kailani acknowledged that removing subsidies was causing hardship for Nigerians and urged President Tinubu to expedite palliatives and other measures to mitigate the impact.
Regarding the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) decision, he hailed it as a victory for democracy and praised the judges for dismissing the petitioners’ claims of irregularities.
He advised the petitioners not to pursue the case further in the Supreme Court, urging them to work with President Tinubu to build a stronger nation.
He was also pleased that the immediate past Governor of Kaduna, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, was not appointed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet.
Before the former Governor’s tenure in 2015, he claimed they had all worked tirelessly for him, making numerous promises he failed to fulfil during his eight years as Governor.
As Schools Resume, Parents Groan Nationwide Over Fee Increase Amid Rising Inflation - Dropouts, Out-of-school children May Rise
AdminWhy we’re increasing fees – School Operators
Private school teachers lament low wages, delayed salaries
As primary and secondary schools nationwide resume for a new academic session, most parents and guardians throughout the country are grappling with the added burden of schools’ decisions to raise tuition fees, findings by LEADERSHIP Data Mining Department have shown.
This fee hike coincides with a period of dwindling disposable incomes for families, primarily due to galloping inflation in the prices of goods and services across the nation triggered by the removal of petrol subsidy.
Parents of tertiary institution students have voiced their concerns about the high tuition fee increases in some Nigerian universities. These universities, in turn, attribute the 100 to 200 percent fee hikes to insufficient financial support from the government and the high inflation rate.
And despite the government’s efforts to implement scholarships for underprivileged students, many students remain uncertain about their educational prospects.
Also, tensions are on the rise across various universities as students voice their discontent with recent hikes in school fees and other charges, staging protests nationwide. For example, students of the University of Jos recently took to the streets to protest the increased fees and service costs imposed by the institution.
The protesters, led by the Student Union Government, demanded an immediate reversal of the fee hikes. Carrying placards bearing messages like “If your children can afford the money, we can’t” and “We don’t want to drop out of school,” the students conveyed their grievances.
They stressed that Nigerians were already grappling with significant economic hardships, and further fee increases would exacerbate the situation. The students’ peaceful demonstration caused traffic disruptions as they blocked roads leading to the university campus.
Similarly, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), tension escalated on campus as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) supported the students’ decision to plan protests. In fact, NANS recently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the University of Lagos management to reverse the fee hikes and refund affected students.
NANS also called upon all tertiary institutions and Unity Schools across the country to refrain from raising school fees, warning that they were ready to mobilise its members nationwide to protest such actions. This stance was announced during a press conference held at the International Press Centre, Lagos, following the disruption of their peaceful protest by the police at UNILAG.
Prior to this, NANS had protested a more than 300 percent increase in school fees at the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. While gathered at the premises of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, the students demanded an immediate fee review for the sake of peace.
One student from the institution, Shuaib George, pointed out that the new tuition fees made AAU the most expensive public university in Nigeria, with law students expected to pay N741,500, compared to the previous N185,000, and medical science students now facing N638,000 instead of N216, among other increases.
LEADERSHIP’s investigations revealed that rising living costs and operational expenses are limiting access to education, making it unaffordable to many parents.
Private schools have hiked fees for primary and secondary students by over 300 percent, fueling concerns that a significant number of pupils may not return to schools. Some parents are contemplating enrolling their children in public schools, while others are uncertain about the next steps, raising fears of a surge in the number of out-of-school children.
According to a parent in Kano, Mallam Abubakar Umar, many schools, particularly those with boarding facilities, have announced substantial fee increases to cope with the effects of rising fuel prices, increased transportation costs, and other overheads.
He said, “While some parents acknowledge that annual fee increases have become the norm for most private schools, others argue that the fee hikes are a response to the prevailing economic situation characterised by rising inflation and the depreciation of the national currency.
‘‘Don’t forget that the federal government had announced a significant review of fees in the Unity Colleges, with fees increasing from N45,000 to N100,000. This change affects various aspects of school expenses, including tuition, boarding, uniforms, textbooks, and more.’’
Another parent in Abuja, Maryam Bello, said some schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and across the states have quietly increased their fees and logistics charges, causing frustration among parents.
For instance, a top secondary school in Gwarinpa, Abuja, raised fees from N1.8 million per term to N2.87 million, while another popular secondary school at Games Village, also in Abuja, increased fees for junior students from N3.8 million to N4.5 million.
In response to these fee hikes, parents are calling on both the government and school proprietors to reconsider their decisions. They emphasize the need for transparency and a fair balance between quality education and affordability, as many parents are finding it increasingly challenging to cope with the rising costs of education, including fees and the prices of school materials.
A resident of Port Harcourt, Grace Wogu, said she had so far spent over ₦40,000 on her children who are returning to school for the 2023/ 2024 academic session.
Wogu said, “My daughter, who is my last child, is returning to a government secondary school and so far I have spent over ₦40,000. I know that the fee may increase later but that is what I have paid so far.”
On his part, another resident, Okoloma Grant, said her two sons who are undergraduates at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) could not immediately return to school due to recent increase in school fees.
Grant said: “Outside my first son who is in Level One at the University, I have three daughters who are in secondary school. Considering the amount of fees at the University, I asked my son to wait a little while so that I can take care of his sisters’ school fees. You know that there is an increase, especially in private schools where three of them attend.”
The Kano State government had stopped all private schools in the state from increasing their school fees by revoking their licences and asking them to reregister.
There are new rules that will be binding on them as they re-register their schools, part of which disallows increases in school fees.
The special adviser to the Kano State government on Private and Voluntary Institutions, Baba Abubakar Umar, in a recent meeting with private schools’ proprietors, announced that all the schools are expected to collect new registration forms to fill out for new certificates to be issued.
Some of the parents, who spoke to LEADERSHIP, expressed gratitude that there is no increase in the tuition of the private schools.
Kaltuma Muhammad is a mother with two children in a private school who appreciates the stoppage of school fees increase.
“This is a very nice development and I am very happy that the school fees are not increased. We pray other things that have inflated will come down,” she said.
However, some parents see justification in the hike of the school fees in private schools due to general economic problems in the country that has led to inflation in the prices of goods and services.
Bashir Yusif, a parent whose children are in a private school said, “It is not wise to disallow private schools from increasing their fees because they have invested in what they are doing.
“There is over 100 percent inflation in the prices of goods and services in the country and the school owners are part of this reality,” he said.
Meanwhile, 7000 students, who are state indigenes at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK), will receive scholarships worth N700 million.
A parent who has two children at BUK complained that the over 100 percent increase in the school fees is too much.
Abdussalam Muhammad said, “I have two kids in the university. I used to pay about N100,000, but now with the increase I am paying about N250,000.”
On the other hand, state-owned tertiary institutions will benefit from a 50 percent decrease in school fees.
The state’s commissioner for education, Dr Yusuf Kofar Mata, said the reduction affects all Kano State indigenes studying regular courses for the 2023/2024 academic session at institutions which include Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil (ADUST), Yusuf Maitama Sule University, (YUMSUK), Kano, and Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education.
Others are Kano State Polytechnic, Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies, Audu Bako College of Agriculture Danbatta, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso College of Advanced and Remedial Studies, Tudun Wada, and Kano State College of Education.
He said the decision is in line with the state government’s commitment to education development and to also restate the state government’s commitment to pay N3.6 billion for foreign scholarships for over 1,000 students.
The commissioner for information Baba Halilu Dantiye confirmed to this reporter that the state government is taking all these steps to ensure that it reduces the hardship the people are facing.
“The government has stopped the private schools from increasing school fees, is paying N700 million worth of scholarship for 7000 Kano indigenes of BUK, has reduced 50 percent of tuition for tertiary institutions owned by the state and is paying N3.6 billion for about 1,000 students schooling abroad.
“All these are necessary to arrest the hardships being faced by the populace” he stated.
In Ondo State, some school proprietors have attributed the increase in tuition fees to the present state of the economy in the country.
Those who spoke with LEADERSHIP said the materials used in the schools for teaching and learning have also increased in price.
The proprietor of Achievers Primary and Nursery School in Akure, the state capital, Mr. Wale Fajoye, said apart from teaching materials, the staff of the school is also yearning for an increment in salary due to the present situation in the country.
He said, “Presently in the country, we cannot do without the increase in the tuition fee. The economy is so bad to the extent that some materials bought last academic session have increased in price. Apart from that, the staff working in the school also need additional payment into their salaries. The maintenance of the school and other expenses have also gone up. So, we need it at this time.”
But a parent, Toyin Ogunleye, described the increase in the school fees at this critical stage in the country as a huge burden on the parents.
He said, “We didn’t know what we were going to face when we supported the present administration’s quest for the removal of fuel subsidies. Everything has now gone up as if the ground should swallow us. Where do they want us to get all this money? The salary has not been increased. Despite that, everything, including food, school fees and books, has gone up. Government should find something to do urgently, or else, the situation may degenerate into what we do not pray for.”
In Lagos State, some schools have increased their fees, while other have made no marginal increase.
Akin Fadeyi, Board Advisor, Chrisland Schools Limited, said that the school has been operating under harsh business terrain, adding that the increase in school fees is justified.
He said. “Owing to the fact that our nation’s economy has been challenged for a while, we have been operating under an inclement business climate. In the same vein, our standard operative practice is to continue to stimulate creativity and productivity in our students, making sure they compete globally. We have a proven track record that this has been achieved. To hold fast to this momentum, we equally have to make decisions that engender entrepreneurship sustainability, hardly profit driven but to keep above waters.”
For Mrs. Augustina Alheri, a cleaner who earns N40,000 per month, relocating her children to Lagos public schools is a viable option.
Mrs Salome Kolawole who has three children in Kindred Nursery and Primary Schools, said economic hardship is really hitting deep into their family.
Mrs Kolawole noted that she is not changing her wards from the present school because the management has been kind to the parents, especially those with multiple children.
Mrs Biola Ukairo who is a school teacher and resides in Ejigbo area of Lagos said she and her children have put austerity measures in place to ensure they spend less and not purchase what is not needed at home.
In Ogun State, management of public institutions as well as proprietors of private schools in Ogun State have blamed increase in school fees on what they described as “the reality of the economy.”
Also speaking with our correspondent, the Proprietress of Goodness Kiddies Nursery and Primary School, Federal Housing Estate, Olomoore, Abeokuta, Mrs. Olubukola Azeez blamed the situation on the current pump price of petroleum products which she said forced prices of materials needed to run schools up.
“So, we have no alternative than to increase the cost of the school fee”.
In Oyo, an educationist and president, Educational Legacy College (ELC), Dr. Ibraheem Saka Ominiwe identified the high inflation in the country as the cause of increase in school fees in either primary, secondary or tertiary institutions.
A parent, Ogundele Mutiu said considering the economic situation in the country, the school fees increase was expected.
In Osogbo, Osun state, the proprietor of A2 Group of Schools, Iragbiji, Osun State, Elder Olusesan Alonge has blamed the 30 per cent increase in school fees of students of the schools across board on high cost of living in the country.
Reacting to the increase in school fees just made available by the authorities of her children’s school, Mr Adegbola Abdulazeez said he had no option but to withdraw his children from private school to public school.
In Ekiti the situation is not different, most schools, especially private schools in Ekiti state have increased their fees.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti, the proprietor of Wonder Kids Group of Schools, Mr Oluwole Ekundayo said the hike came as a result of the current increase in prices of goods and services.
“Prices of everything have gone up, some by 200 percent, and we need more money for us to run the school effectively.
“Our staff also demanded an increase in their pay, we have to consider this and do something because we all know what is happening in the country now, if not they will leave the school for another.”
As the Kaduna State Police Command and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) agree to work against insecurity and activities of bandits and kidnappers, the Christian community has hinted that 23 pastors/priests have been killed and 200 churches destroyed by bandits in four years.
The decision was reached at a meeting which was held at the Albaraka Baptist Church, Barnawa Kaduna at the instance of the commissioner of police, Musa Garba with the CAN leadership and pastors.
The police commissioner told the CAN leadership and over hundred pastors that criminality has no religion and whoever engages in any act of criminality should be addressed as a criminal without profiling him or her as a Christian, Muslim or by their tribes or ethnicity.
This is just as he said, security is the responsibility of all and not only that of the government, stressing that while the government takes the lead in protection of lives and property, individuals are also expected to play their parts particularly in the area of information provision.
RELATED: Bandits Burn Catholic Seminarian Alive, Destroy Parish House In Kaduna
He said the meeting was basically to strengthen the relationship between the police and religious leaders and listen to their challenges and together foster possible solutions, while expressing the commitment of the police force under his leadership to do their very best in the discharge of their duties.
The commissioner called for unity in diversity, adding that “we should all be our brothers’ keepers. “
“Always reach out to security personnel around your communities with prompt information once you identify suspicious persons,” he stressed.
Earlier, the state chairman of CAN, Rev. Dr. John Joseph Hayab, commended the police commissioner for finding time to interact with Christian clerics.
He said the church had gone through difficult times with over 23 pastors and priests killed by bandits in the state alone and over 200 churches closed due to activities of bandits in the past four years.
Rev. Hayab recounted how one Pastor (name withheld) was kidnapped on the 8th of August, 2023 before he was released, adding that according to the kidnapped pastor’s account, there are over 215 Christians abducted by the bandits and they are still there and that the bandits asked him to lead prayers for them while he was in their den.
He therefore called on the commissioner to look into these issues among many others holistically and build the confidence of the people once again.
Also, the immediate past secretary-general of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) worldwide, Rev Yunusa Nmadu Jnr and many other pastors who spoke urged the commissioner to also consider bringing to book activities of pastors and imams who engage in hate sermons and speeches.
They called on the commissioner to look into cases of those selling hard drugs, stressing that most of the criminalities occur under the influence of hard drugs.