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Senate alarmed as agency spends N8.5bn, generates N410m, remits only N30m
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The National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) is alleged to have been spending N8.5 billion yearly for its 5,963 staff to conduct examination for students.
The board conducts examination for students of Arabic and Islamic studies and hopes to expand its operations nationwide.
But when the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation met with the NBAIS leadership, it was discovered that the examinations may stand out as the most expensive in Nigerian history.
Following the discovery of heavy spending by the Board in the discharge of its duty, the Senators gave knocks to the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Board, Prof. Mohammed Shafiu Abdullahi, for spending so much money to achieve little.
The board was also accused of not remitting money generated to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
In his explanation, Abdullahi said the institution paid N30 million into the CRF out of the N410 million generated from the conduct of the examination. But this did not go down well with the Senate committee prompting the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Solomon Adeola, to query why the institution conducted just one exam in a year and spent over N410 million.
Adeola said, “To conduct an exam in a year, they are saying they have spent over N380 something million and you are here to collect another budget from the Federal Government, having contributed just N35 million.
“And if they are asked for their budget, they will be telling me in the region of N10 billion to N20 billion.”
Senator Abiodun Olujimi, a member of the committee who also felt alarmed by the conduct of the Board said there was urgent need to investigate the activities of the agency.
She said, “5,963 members of staff arranging for one examination in a year and being paid N8.5 billion and now generating only N410 million out of which you remit only N35 million. There is a need to look deeper into what this is all about.”
The committee resolved to set up a sub-committee that will investigate the board.
Prof. Abdullahi recently hinted on the board’s plan to increase the number of schools attending its examinations across the country.
Abdullahi said this at a two-day workshop on Corporate Communication and Strategic Information Management for NBAIS officers in Abuja.
“Now we have not less than 1600 schools across the country sitting for our examinations and same time we achieved to convince the government to give us recognition, approval to operate nationally,’’ he said.
On the workshop, the registrar said it was very important to all the staff, adding that it was important because it was specifically information technology.
“We have workers on ICT, most of them are new, you know, the board started new recently. So, we need to educate our people on that area, that is why we planned the workshop and we will soon have similar workshop,’’ he said.
On the board’s achievements, Abdullahi said was to have a unique and national curriculum for Arabic and Islamic schools.
“Secondly, we are able to mobilise even government to establish such institutions,’’ he said.
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Tinubu’s aide Ajuri Ngelale quits, proceeds on indefinite leave over family health
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Tinubu’s aide Ajuri Ngelale quits proceeds on indefinite leave over family health
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has announced his resignation, saying he is stepping down to focus on medical matters affecting his nuclear family.
Ngelale said he had submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, informing him of his decision to step down as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.
He said in the statement that he was stepping down from the two roles to enable him to proceed on indefinite leave.
President Bola Tinubu had on 31 July, 2023 named Ajuri as his official spokesperson and special adviser on media and publicity.
On May 19 this year, the president gave him an additional responsibility in the administration by appointing him Nigeria’s special presidential envoy on climate action. He served in that role as part of a larger presidential committee chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Ngelale, 38, was at different times a broadcast journalist with African Independent Television and Channels Television.
He also worked as public affairs consultant at the Federal Ministry of Power and later as senior special assistant on public affairs in the office of then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
His Resignation Letter
On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson for the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.
I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.
I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
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FG blocks Nigerian nurses from practising abroad, shuts certificate verification portal
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FG blocks Nigerian nurses from practising abroad, shuts certificate verification portal
Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom, the United States and other places outside the country are currently in limbo following the decision of the Federal Government to close the certificate verification portal.
This has frustrated their efforts at completing the verification required by the host countries to admit them as registered nurses to practise.
Those already practising abroad are also unable to renew their operating licence since the deactivation of the verification portal by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in February this year.
Many of the affected nurses are said to have been forced to return to the country.
In a report published on Saturday, PUNCH quoted some of those affecting voicing their frustration over the development.
One of them who spoke on condition of anonymity said the UK Trust, bound by its policies, reportedly terminated his employment due to his inability to meet the certification criteria.
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He said, “The situation is not only saddening but also suicidal. My career is stagnated because the portal is closed. I’m in Nigeria now. I have gone to the nursing council on several occasions to tell them that even if they should write a letter of good standing and send it to them, they would be happy to acknowledge it. But my efforts were futile.”
Another nurse based in Saudi Arabia, Hannah, said she travelled to the country in 2023 to practise as a nurse, but her future had become uncertain.
Reacting, President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Michael Nnachi, said the group had engaged the government on the reopening of the portal.
He noted that a committee was recently formed to review the issue among others.
He said, “I would advise our affected members to remain patient.
“We are deeply concerned about the difficulties they are facing, and we are not comfortable with the situation. However, patience is necessary at this time.
“Finally, in many cases, even when agreements are reached with the government, they often fail to fulfil their promises. I remain hopeful and expect a positive response from the government. There is hope.”
FG blocks Nigerian nurses from practising abroad, shuts certificate verification portal
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Petrol price hike, hard economic growth decision – Tinubu
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Petrol price hike, hard economic growth decision – Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has reacted to the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
Daily Trust reports that the newest hike, implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPCL) Retail Management, range from N855 to N897 per litre, depending on the location, from the previous N568-N617.
Independent marketers have adjusted their prices to between N930 and N1,200 per litre of petrol.
Since the removal of subsidy by Tinubu in May 2023, prices of petrol tripled, compounding the woes of Nigerians who power their vehicles and generating sets with petrol.
But speaking Friday at a meeting with Nigerians in Beijing, China, after rounding off his official engagements in the country, Tinubu said the increase in petrol price is a “bold and unprecedented decision” necessary for Nigeria’s growth.
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A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, quoted him to have said the petrol price hike and other reforms by his administration are part of an overall strategy to set Nigeria on the path of economic growth.
President Tinubu said: “Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices.
“But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?
“What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?
“So many of you are so talented, speaking very fluent Mandarin. It is what you contribute and tell them at home that will reflect in the attitude of our people.
“The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development.’’
Petrol price hike, hard economic growth decision – Tinubu
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