…As Reps seek total reform in Nigeria’s education sector***

The Senate has resolved to investigate the Kogi State government over alleged borrowing of $500 million (N180 billion) from the United Arab Emirates without the required constitutional authorisation from the upper chamber.

It, therefore, mandated its committee on local and foreign debts to probe the allegation and establish the approach used to access the loan, and report back within 48 hours or maximum of five days.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West.

In his lead debate, the lawmaker pointed out that the state was already indebted to a whooping sum of N40 billion.

Melaye alleged the loan under investigation was christened Loan of Debt Refinancing, ostensibly for the state government to avoid approaching the National Assembly for approval.

Also, the lawmaker said that an approval for the loan had already been given by the Ministry of Finance, despite the clear contravention of the provisions of the law.

Melaye alleged that the state government went for the loan to enable it prosecute the 2019 elections and cause mayhem during the polls. He further claimed that the House of Assembly was not carried along.

According to him, the East West Capital Cooperation, based in United Arab Emirates and owned by one Mahmood was behind the loan granted to the government.

“The law clearly states that any foreign loan must be approved by the National Assembly. That was not done. But I am aware that the Minister of Finance has already given the approval. The Senate cannot sit back and allow this illegality to stand. The Senate needs to stop this.”

Aita Aidoko representing Kogi East also alleged that the House of Assembly has adjourned sine die, following the failure of Governor Yahaya Bello-led government to pay salaries and allowances of the state lawmakers.

Aidoko said the situation in the state showed that civil servants had not been paid in the last one year. He further claimed that judicial officials were planning to embark on a state-wide strike over failure by the state government to pay their salaries.

“ As I speak, the salaries, allowances and other payments due to the deputy governor of Kogi State have not been paid in the last one year. Now, the deputy governor is broke.

“Again, his official residence has been thrown into darkness. The government has refused to pay the electricity bill of the residence of the deputy governor. AEDC has disconnected the residence.

“If the government has not been able to justify all the monies it has received in form of allocations, Paris Club refund, bailouts and loans, why will it go for another foreign loan of $500 million? Let us save our state.”

At this juncture, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, assigned the Senate committee to investigate and establish, if the loan has been taken.

Back in Kogi State, the assembly members yesterday boycotted plenary session over the non-payment of their salaries.
The House had adjourned plenary two weeks ago, to resume yesterday, however the plenary session failed to hold as many members chanted “no money no sitting.”

It all started when the lawmakers went into executive session where the issues were first discussed before raising them on the floor of the house. The executive session was so prolonged that many of the members left the complex around 1pm.

In the meantime, the House of Representatives Wednesday has said the government should declare an emergency in the country’s education sector.

The lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Education, The National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) to carry out a holistic reform that would make Nigeria’s tertiary institutions internationally competitive, and support its national Economic Development and Growth Plan.

The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion by a member, Hon. Ayodele Oladimeji (Ekiti) on the need to reform Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

The Green Chamber also resolved to set up an eleven man adhoc committee to interact with stakeholders in the sector to examine the issues.

The House also decided to have a one week education summit slated for January, 2019.

The lawmaker told the House that being the fulcrum of national growth and development, the strategic importance of education cannot be over emphasized.

He opined that human capital is developed for social economic and technological transformation and advancement of any nation through tertiary education.

He said 75,000 Nigerians are currently studying in Ghana, Benin Republic, and Egypt, amongst others, adding that Nigeria loses a minimum of N1trillion to education tourism annually.

The dwindling quality of education in the country, he said, is the reason people seek for quality education outside the country.

The lack of quality makes the country’s graduates unemployable, he said, adding that no fewer than eight million graduates in the country moved into the labour market every year looking for non-existent jobs.

The lawmakers noted that there’s need for urgent reform in the sector or Nigerians will keep expending foreign exchange in financing education outside the country.

Many lawmakers contributed to the motion and they all agreed something must be done to rectify the situation condemned the poor approaches employed towards solving the educational sector problems.

The Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun said the abandonment of the sector, has crippled the educational system in the country.

“There must be reform to salvage it,” he said.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the House Leader, noted that dearth of infrastructure was killing the sector, “Lecturers and teachers can’t give their best in such a situation,” he said.

Hon. Chika Adamu from Niger state, blamed government appointees and politicians including President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly for the downturn in the Nation’s education sector.

According to him, they’re all hypocrites, who send their children abroad to school, while paying lip service to reforms in the sector.

When the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote, it was passed by a majority of members.

Guardian NG with additional report from The Nation