Group tasks UBEC to blacklist contractors

Independent monitoring report on the implementation of the 2015 Kano state’s Universal Basic education (SUBEB) action plan has called for the collation of details of defaulting contractors to ensure that such contractors are blacklisted and reported to anti-graft agencies.
The report presented for validation at a meeting of stakeholders for upward projecting conducted by Human Development Initiatives (HDI) in collaboration with Grassroots Health Organisation of Nigeria (GHON) also call for the disclosure of the approved UBE action plans, bills of quantity of projects in public through a functional website and other social media platforms.
Earlier in his address, HDI research and monitoring officer, Mr. Olayemi Samuel stated that the aim of the monitoring exercise was to track the utilisation of Universal Basic Education matching grant in Kano towards ensuring improvement in the teaching and learning experiences,and also encourage citizen’s participation in monitoring of UBEC projects.
Similarly, GHON’s assistant programme officer, Malam Ali Abdu Sambo disclosed that without effective monitoring mechanism in the execution of the UBEC projects in states, the tendencies to use substandard materials and delay in project execution will continue to be experienced and the aim of the matching grant will be defeated.

 

Cleric tasks government on almajiri syndrome

A cleric and social activist, Rev.
Ladi Thompson, has appealed to government at all levels to come up with policies that are aimed at tackling the alma- jiri syndrome in the country.
Thompson made the appeal during an interactive session Monday in Kaduna focusing on actualising the potential of Nigerian children forced to beg on the streets and public places in order to fend for themselves under the guise of acquiring Qur’anic education.
According to him, establishment of feeding centres for the almajiris will go a long way towards discouraging the group of children from going about towns and cities to beg for alms and food.
Thompson, who is the chief executive officer of Non-Violence For African Development (NOVAD), an NGO, said it was urgent and important to address the plight of vulnerable children acquiring Qur’anic education under horrific circumstances.
“If I must confess since 1979 I have been observing almajiri issues, what I am going to do with the issues,” Thompson said.
He said human resources constituted Nigeria’s most precious resources which should be harnessed for its growth and development rather than natural resources such as petroleum that government was busy prospecting in many states in the country for the riches.
“We must establish it that the most precious and valuable resources a nation has, is its people,” he said.
He further said almajiris was the most important single group in Nigeria and West Africa that carried potentials in terms of its number, adding that the group needed support to give their best.
“ If we don’t invest in their lives, we are creating a wastage that this country will never recover.
There are things that are important and some are urgent.
The almajiri issues in Nigeria are most important and urgent to be addressed,” Thompson said Earlier, coordinators of NOVAD in the state, Rev.
John Hayab and Sheikh Haliru Maraya, said in their separate remarks that proper upbringing of children is a collective responsibility involving parents, government, communities and other relevant stakeholders.
They said every child has a potential and should be given access to opportu- nities to actualise his or her God-given talents.
On his own part, the state Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, called for the right empowerment programmes for the almajiris in order to address some of their challenges.
Also speaking the state secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Malam Ibrahim Kufena, urged parents to take their responsibility seriously by fending for their children placed under the tutelage of an Islamic scholar of their choice.

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