The Rotary Club of Abuja Karu Housing Estate has built a multi-million naira Health Centre for its adopted community, Jikwoyi a suburb within Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The Health Centre which is to be commissioned on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 by the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Hajiya Ramatu Aliyu was built and equipped at a cost of N15 million.
The furniture and medical equipment including kits and drugs were provided by Right Honourable Peter Akpatason, the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives.
The Health Centre is just one of the several interventions of the six-year-old club intended to impact on the residents of the community said the president of the club, Rotarian Anita Dominic.
A statement signed by Rotarian Titus Agbo, the Vice president and Publicity Chair of the club further quoted the president as saying that the project which was initiated by her predecessor, Rotarian Nimi Lawrence was projected for completion in five years “but we ended up complaining it in record time of twelve months.
Rotarian Dominic further disclosed that the Rotary Club though has a current membership of 37 subscribers, the Health Centre was started when the membership was just 32.
She praised the giving spirit of her members and the supports from sister clubs which according to her were the reason behind the early completion of the project.
Rotarian Dominic who will be handling over to the leadership at the end of the month equally expressed appreciation to the Esu Jikwoyi His Royal Highness Bawa Jeta for all the support and cooperation during the construction of the project.
Much as every one that fathers a child expects to be celebrated today, it is only expedient that we analyze how to earn encomiums today.
Some kids spend the greater part of their childhood in awe of their more fortunate peers; the ones with fathers who pick and or drop them in school,attend parent teachers meeting,turn up for school performances and give their children shoulder rides
Their own fathers are too preoccupied with career, business, friend and sometimes the other woman to spare them a thought.
Some fathers are their children’s worst nightmare as they take their frustration out on them by yelling and name calling. They put their kids down at every little mistake and reduce their self worth to rubbles.
Little wonder on a fathers day like this, their conscience tells them how undeserving they are and makes them try to downplay the beauty of such a day set aside to honor the true heroes.
It is more about time, attention and affection too than money, that is why today some very poor fathers will get the very best gifts while some rich dads will look on with regret.
Happy fathers day to every man who went beyond passive parenting to actually tend and nurture their children.you are the real MVPs.
…as talks between Kwankwaso and Obi mount centre stage
——40 bodies begin mass mobilisation of Nigerians
Abuja – Ten political parties are set to align with the Third Force Movement to forge a common front as 40 bodies begin mass mobilisation of Nigerians to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2023 general elections.
Sources close to the Third Force Movement revealed at the weekend that the ten political parties scheduled to start consultation alongside 40 bodies consisting of trade unions, religious bodies and students have concluded to bring the presidential candidates of Labour Party and NNPP as their arrowheads.
One of the sources privy to this development said, “Nigerians are tired of recycled politicians without any confirmed destination except inflicting hunger and frustration on Nigerians.
He explained that, “it’s a mass mobilisation of all Nigerians who crave for a positive change for Nigeria as an entity and our desire is to bring Obi and Kwankwaso under same platform for formidable marriage to wrestle Nigeria from those that have milked the country dry.
“The ten political parties and 40 bodies are ready to ensure both men accept to run a joint ticket to fulfill the wishes of many Nigerians presently clamouring for a positive development that will see a united Nigeria devoid of insecurity, hunger and frustration.
A top member of the Third Force Movement spoke in a similar vein saying: “Not long from now our signatures will be seen across Nigeria as we put Obi and Kwankwaso under same platform to galvanise Nigerians across board.
“Students, workers, lecturers, middle class Nigerians who constitute the majority of Nigerians are yearning for a Peter Obi and Kwankwaso ticket and this we shall consumate very soon.
“We are begging Nigerians to be patient with us as we finalize matters with Obi and Kwankwaso for a better Nigeria.”
Recall that the NNPP presidential candidate had granted the BBC Hausa service interview where he revealed that the move is on for an alignment between his party and Peter Obi’s Labour Party.
When contacted to comment on this development, the spokesman and a top membership of the Third Force Movement, Dr Yinusa Tanko said: “We have been on it for sometime but everything will soon be crystal clear as Nigerians have inundated us on the next move.
“All I can say for now is that talks are ongoing in all quarters, destination is Aso Rock.”
Eminent Igbo leaders under the auspices of Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF) are to meet over the outcomes of the recently concluded presidential conventions of the various political parties, which clearly did not accommodate the interest of the South East.
The two major political parties – All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not elect any South Easterner as either their flag bearer or running mate. Instead, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State was on Thursday unveiled as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the PDP.
This is as the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, within the week said that it was still weighing options for the South East ahead of next year’s Presidential elections.
Secretary of the Chukwuemeka Ezeife-led Consultative Forum, Prof. Charlie Nwekeaku revealed on Friday, that the Igbo were disappointed that the PDP did not reciprocate the long years of support and faithfulness of the people of South East to the party.
Nwekeaku also said that the Southern Governors were selfish and disunited to have been angling for the slot of vice president in the PDP when actually they had resolved that it was the turn of the South to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.
“We said that Ndigbo will not accept anything less than the presidency of Nigeria in 2023. We said it in the interest of the entire Igbo. It is a collective interest. We also said that it is the turn of the South East because we believe that if you look at the history of Nigerian leadership from independence till now, you find out that South East has been terribly marginalized.
“Therefore, for the sake of justice, equity and fairness, the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum said that it is the turn of the South East. And the Igbo Council of Elders is not alone in saying that. You also recall that the Southern and Middle-Belt Forum said the same thing. The Southern Governors’ Forum, although they didn’t say it should be zoned to the South East, they said it should be the turn of the South. Afenifere said zone it to South East. PANDEF said zone it to South East. So, for any person, because we learnt that many persons were angling for that running mate even before Atiku finally settled for Okowa,” Nwekeaku stated.
He reasoned that these politicians did not have regard for the collective interest of the Igbo, arguing that if they did, none of them would have pushed to be vice presidential.
“It also means that they do not believe in even what the Southern Governors’ Forum said that all the major political parties should zone the presidency to the South.
“It means that Okowa who attended that meeting, he even hosted one of the meetings I believe. If he now accepts VP slot, it means that the entire governors did not believe what they said. It also means that there is a crack among the Southern Governors’ Forum because that forum said that it is the turn of the South. It is not only Okowa, some others were interested. It means that some of them did not even believe in that and that is quite unfortunate.
“It shows disunity among the South in pursuit of whatever the South called collective interest,” he said.
He explained that part of the issues to be discussed at the meeting would be whether to activate their earlier resolution to place a curse on any Igbo that accepted the position of vice president in the upcoming general elections.
“The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum had said that whoever betrays the decision of the Igbo, that they will publicly curse that person. But the Elders Consultative Forum has not met to discuss the new development. So, whatever I have said is my personal opinion. Igbo elders will meet to decide on next course of action.
“But we have not withdrawn from what we said about the pursuit of the presidency. We still have a window to pursue that course. And of course, you know that some parties observed what the Igbo elders said by zoning their tickets to South East and that is why you have some people from the South East who are presidential candidates. You know for example, Mr. Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. So, Labour Party has done what we asked the parties to do and our people will reciprocate by voting massively for Mr Peter Obi. Our people will reciprocate by making sure that we do not deny them our votes,” he concluded.
Similarly, President General of Coalition of South East Youth Laeders (COSEYL), Goodluck Ibem said: “The people of South East don’t want the position of Vice President of the All Progressives Congress or Peoples Democratic Party. What we want is the Presidential ticket of the parties.”
(Sun)
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday, described President Muhammadu Buhari, as a “true leader” and friend who demonstrated a “sense of purpose, composure, and maturity” in the weeks leading to the presidential primary elections of the party.
In a letter to the President, which he personally signed, Tinubu cited Buhari’s decision to leave the contest open to all the 23 presidential aspirants saying, “You belonged to everybody in the party and you belonged to none of the individual aspirants of the party.”
According to him, while all the contestants expected the President to “choose” his successor, he simply allowed a level playing field.
Tinubu also congratulated Buhari for the successful conclusion of the Convention and assured him of an issue-focused campaign leading to the 2023 general elections.
The letter read in part, “Dear Mr President, I bring you sincere fraternal greetings and congratulations on the successful conclusion of the special Presidential Convention of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.
“On behalf of my wife, Oluremi, and my entire family, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the very special and personal congratulatory letter you sent to me. I am deeply honored. Your words in that letter were reassuring, reenergizing, and reinvigorating.
“Your Excellency, one must admire the sense of purpose, composure, and maturity you demonstrated in the weeks and months preceding the primary elections of our great party. As aspirants and party leaders, we all pleaded with you to “choose” your successor. Naturally, this is expected especially in African democracy. Up until June 6, 2022, the day of the APC Presidential primaries, the whole of Nigeria, including myself, was waiting for you to announce your preferred candidate. All of us thought and believed this was a very simple matter.”
The former Lagos State Governor noted that it was only as the primary wore into the night and as the candidates spoke that he fully appreciated President’s Buhair’s position to be “neutral and non-aligned to any of us.”
“As the hours rolled by that evening, it became clear to me that all of us were your preferred candidates. As you captured it aptly in your letter to me, the “spirit” of 2013 and 2014 when we created and built APC was there for all to see.
“One by one, I saw my colleagues and partners stand on the podium, full of the same passion and patriotic zeal they had in 2013/2014, presenting their ideas on how to build on your successful legacy. Back then, as it is now, we were from all parts of the country, all tribes, and all religions. We all had deep personal and strong bonds with you. We were together back then and our bonds remained strong up till now.
“Mr. President, as the night of June 6 turned to the morning of June 7, I fully understood and appreciated your stance. ‘You belonged to everybody in the party and you belonged to none of the individual candidates of the party.’ A true leader, brother and friend,” he said.
He noted that his emergence was only possible through the support of the President, the delegates, party leaders, members of the Progressive Governors Forum, National Assembly leaders and members and most of the 2022 APC presidential aspirants.
“I will forever be grateful to them for shaping my political journey over the decades. I want to assure you that I will continue to work with them going forward. My emergence as a candidate is also a victory for them,” he added.
Referencing the President’s Democracy Day speech, Tinubu pledged to run an issue-focused campaign ahead of the general elections.
He promised to “personally engage the candidates from other political parties to urge them to do the same,” and to ensure that “Voters should elect us based on our policies, programmers, and projects.”
“As candidates,” he said, “we will avoid having divisive, destructive and disruptive campaigns.”
Tinubu thanked Buhari for his support, promising to “build on the foundations of transparency and integrity which you have laid.”
… says ‘I’m good”
US President Joe Biden falls off his bicycle as he approaches well-wishers following a bike ride at Gordon’s Pond State Park in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on June 18, 2022. AFP
President of the United States, Joe Biden, tumbled as he was riding his bicycle near his beach home in the state of Delaware Saturday morning, but was unhurt.
A video from a White House pool report showed the 79-year-old president immediately getting up after his fall. He then says, “I’m good.”
He was biking with First Lady Jill Biden in a state park near their beach home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and had stopped to talk to onlookers when he fell.
The president told a small crowd of well-wishers and reporters that he had lost his balance as he tried to pull a foot out of a bike clip.
The result: “a mad scramble of Secret Service and press,” a White House pool report said, adding there were no visible scrapes or bruises from the fall.
“No medical attention is needed,” a White House official said. “The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family.”
As the oldest US president, Biden’s health is the subject of constant attention, particularly as speculation rises on whether he will seek a second term in 2024.
In November 2021, his doctor gave Biden a clean bill of health, describing him as “healthy” and “vigorous.”
Taking a few questions from reporters on Saturday, Biden said he was “in the process of making up my mind” about easing some Trump-era tariffs on Chinese goods in order to soften inflationary pressures.
He said he would be speaking to Chinese President Xi Jinping soon.
AFP
By Nathaniel Ikyur
These are the times. The time when everyone who seeks election into an office, goes about with some form of an over bloatead ego of expertise in governance. They theorise governance to high heaven but can’t be linked to what they have done to buttress their sermons. They would prefer to cast aspersions at the incumbent just to elicit support. Sadly, Benue is so fond of this. It’s like a tradition, a bad one at that. No government passes here without having a sour bite of this pie.
This is why we feel obliged to respond to the perfidious utterances of one Hyacinth Alia, a Priest who currently parades himself as the winner of the much discredited and disputed All Progressives Congress, APC Governorship nomination exercise in Benue State. The said custodian of the dubious APC mandate was quoted in the media while in Abuja as dismissing the dire security challenges experienced by the people of Benue State. He referred to it as a contrivance and propaganda by the State Government led by Governor Samuel Ortom. How absurd.
In the said interview with journalists in Abuja, the suspended Priest who is now actively in the murky political waters was also quoted as saying if he gets into office, the Holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of God will serve as the First Lady of Benue State!
While we cannot grudge the suspended priest the latitude to take liberties with the advantages conferred by his calling even if it bothers on blasphemy, we are constrained to dispute his treacherous claims as it relates to the security challenges which has claimed the lives of hundreds of our citizens across the state, including two of his brother Catholic Priests and several parishioners who were mowed down in cold blood by Fulani terrorists.
It’s unfortunate that Fr. Alia, much like all other APC partisans in Benue State has no scruples in betraying his blood that are crying out for justice on the altar of cheap politics. We would have thought that there’s a limit too low for an ordained priest of the church of Saint Peter to descend, even when he fraternizes in a circle of traitorous people, but we failed to realize that a priest who eagerly profits from an electoral heist where other contestants were eliminated by crude and fraudulent tactics cannot be an earnest ambassador of his calling.
What Rev Fr Alia is saying in effect is that the attack on St Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor, Mbalom Parish, in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State in April 2018 which claimed the lives of Rev Frs Joesph Gor and Felix Tyolaha alongside 17 parishioners was propaganda. Does it also mean that such attacks are in several other incessant attacks across the state? Nigeria was propaganda. What manner of propaganda is this that has kept more than 1.5 million of our loved ones away from their ancestral lands? What manner of propaganda has kept these 1.5 million people in IDP camps not fit for human habitation? Or is it that the untimely deaths of scores of our compatriots never really happened but was propaganda contrived by the state government?
Let me ask our brother Priest, are the state governments in Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ondo, Sokoto, Plateau, and those in such catastrophic states where the killer terrorists have laid siege also leveraging on propaganda?
Perhaps Reverend Fr Alia, given his dubious emergence now seeks some legitimacy and he thinks the cheapest means to achieving that is to rehash the same ludicrous allegations of his party chieftains who are already notorious to Benue people as the enemies within, desperate to trade the destiny of their people for political advantage.
We advise however that it is not too late for Rev Alia to retrace his steps from the despicable path of infamy he has chosen to thread. If indeed he intends to be a governor of Benue People, he should market his programs to the people as honestly as possible and in a manner expected of his spiritual ranking. And not in the manner he dances to the vulgarity of songs against his opponents as he is currently doing.
He can, for instance, bandy the name of the Holy Mother as much as he wants for political advantage if he thinks reducing the most important woman in Christianity to a phantom First Lady will make the APC members whose votes were stolen and given to him give up their quest for justice or if he thinks the people of the state will be swayed by such antics.
That will be between him, his conscience and the oath he has taken to further the work of God from which he has since been suspended. However, we can assure him that he is ill-equipped to sustain the mudslinging tactics he seems to find attractive at the moment.
It is a fact that there is a distinction between winning elections and the razzmatazz of claims of a saviour. It is more than shouts and rants of some slogans up and down. Those pretending around the impostor in the APC will be forced to come down from the high horse and admit that elections are far beyond the glitz and glamour of sloganeering. We also know that governance is more than presiding over a church congregation where no one questions anything from the altar, it’s the opposite here. It’s an admixture, a mosaic with varying degrees and shapes of sophistry. You will be called to account for your actions, before, now and in the future. It is more than dancing to the drum beats coloured in some sort of heroism that lacks depth and pedigree. You must be interrogated. And it has nothing to do with your call, either before God or man. After all, we are all called by God.
We do not want to join issues with people whose supposed mandate is in doubt. Already, their plate is full of protests and litigations. For us in PDP, the system is democratic and it evolves. Sadly, the Benue APC is a dysfunctional system. Its true character is strewn with manipulations, its treacherous and lacking in democratic tenets. This is why they’ve produced multiple candidates for various elective positions. It will be more appropriate for Alia to go sort himself with his fellow aspirants before talking about what he would do as governor when Governor Ortom’s tenure expires next year.
For Governor Ortom, he has fared well in the last seven years. His achievements are loud even in the face of daunting security and financial challenges. His administration has provided dividends of democracy in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and other critical sectors of development. This is not all that he had set out for the state. But given the resources available, and the crunchy issues he has been compelled to tackle, we can boldly beat our chest. So let no one come with an over-bloated ego, laced with a false sense of heroism. This won’t fly here.
This is why we appreciate the people of the State. They have continued to support the Ortom administration at all times despite all. Governor Ortom particularly extends his warm wishes to the civil servants for their continued understanding. And that is the reason why the Ortom administration will not waver. We will surely sustain the tempo in this remaining year, God helping us.
Ikyur is the Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has unveiled former members of the group behind the insecurity situations in the South East even as it declared them wanted.
Spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful who listed the names in a statement he released to newsmen disclosed that most of them were sacked from the group after discovering their criminal intents.
Powerful claimed that most of them have been behind incessant killings and kidnap in the South East for the sole purpose of disparaging IPOB.
Reeling out their names, Powerful said “We are working towards exposing to the public those behind the ongoing criminalities in Anambra State, Enugu State and Imo State.
Those behind these devilish activities are neither IPOB nor ESN members as always, unfortunately, “alleged” and we cannot allow them to succeed in our land.
“In Abia State, particularly a certain Nkechi Kalu and her gang of about 8 kidnap gang operating between Abia state and Igweocha Rivers State are not IPOB members, they and their activities should not be associated with “IPOB Family” membership.
“In Enugu State, a certain group of criminal elements turned themselves as enemies of the people, the names of their gang leaders are as follows; Chocho and Mazi Ejiofor are not IPOB members and anybody associating with them is a confirmed criminal.
“The above-named persons who were formerly IPOB members were expelled as a result of indiscipline and insubordination which is not tolerated by IPOB leadership.
“These men and women neither represent the cherished values for which IPOB is known for nor do they have any mandate to represent, transact, discuss, operate, enter into any binding agreement for and on behalf of IPOB/ ESN.
“In Anambra State, our painstaking investigation revealed the Kidnapping syndicates gang leaders as Mazi Chijioke Aloy Emechie (pastor), Uchenna Nnadi, Nwamamiwater, Michael and Mark Okpulor. These men are also not members of IPOB and do not represent the cherished values of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
“It is evidently certain that the above-mentioned persons were masterminds of kidnappings in and around Nnewi North LGA, Nnewi South, Ekwulobia Aguata and other places in Anambra State, anybody that comes across them should treat them as criminal that they are.
“The above mentioned people who recently joined IPOB came with very dubious and criminal intents. However, our well-tested and trusted guiding principles exposed their ulterior intent and motive and unworthy of being part of the noble IPOB family and were therefore expelled to avoid contamination with disciplined members of IPOB.
“These people are disturbing and kidnapping our people in Anambra State and must not be allowed to associate with IPOB activities. The leadership hereby direct all IPOB members to take note and never to have any dealings with them.
“Abia State, operating from Abia State to Igweocha Rivers State are Madam Nkechi Kalu and her Eight man gang of kidnappers. They are neither IPOB members nor ESN operatives and anybody who see them must bring them down.
“These people are declared wanted by IPOB leadership and ESN operatives, anyone that sees them or knows their whereabouts should report to IPOB leadership,” Powerful stated.(Sun)
Abuja – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed worries about the brutal revenge attacks allegedly unleashed by the security operatives on insurgents, which at the same time affect innocent citizens, particularly in the North East.
The Chairperson Governing Council of the Commission, Dr Salamatu Suleiman who stated this in Abuja at a Colloquium on Human Rights in Counter Insurgency Operation in Nigeria observed that the NHRC has recorded numerous complaints of alleged extra judicial killings and other human rights violations of innocent civilians in the course of the counter insurgency operations.
According to Dr Suleiman, under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, citizens are presumed innocent until proven otherwise and the Military and Citizens have been known to suffer constant human rights violations most times when there is a counter insurgency operation.
These violations, she noted, include right to life, right to freedom of movement, torture, extra judicial executions, inhuman and degrading treatments among others.
Despite the aforesaid challenges, the Chairperson stated that all hope is note lost given the statutory mandate of the NHRC to promote and protect human rights in Nigeria, which the Commission has made a tremendous impact by repositioning human rights protection in the country.
She stressed that the Commission has the mandate to ensure that the state adheres to its obligations and responsibilities in line with international best practices, such as the obligation to respect and protect the right to life of both the military and individuals under their jurisdiction from attacks by armed groups.
“Such an obligation includes taking measures to ensure officers are well trained and equipped to counter insurgents, putting measures to prevent the commission of offences, prompt investigation of human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses, thorough and independent prosecuting of those found responsible, providing adequate and effective remedies, and preventing the recurrence of violations, etc etc.”, she added.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) said the colloquium is coming at a time when the terrorists insurgency, banditry and separatists agitations continue to unleash violence on Nigeria.
The Chief Custodian of Human Rights in Nigeria therefore lauded Centre for Democracy and Development (CDC) and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) for the partnereship in organising the colloquium which is an opportunity for stakeholders to brainstorm on how best to mainstream human rights principles in counter insurgency operations in the country.
According to Ojukwu, Boko Haram insurgency in the North East has led to loss of over 350,000 lives and displacement of more than 2 million people from across the region and other parts of Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Continuing, the Executive Secretary stated that the Commission under its power in Section 5 (j) of the Act to receive and investigate complaints concerning violations of human rights, and that it has also continued to receive reports of human rights violations by our Armed Forces on civilian.
These human rights violations, the NHRC’s Chief Executive Officer noted, include prolonged detention, bombardments, revenge attacks and extra-judicial killings among others, which the Commission is addressing in line with its mandate.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Military always protect the interest of the civilian populations in its counter insurgency operations in Nigeria and would not embark on any operation that would result in civilian casualties.
The Chief of Defense Staff who was represented at the event by Rear Admiral A. O. Ayobanjo said that in a bid to mainstream human rights in the operations of the military, efforts are usually made by the military authorities to collaborate with the necessary partners like the NHRC and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to continuously train military personnel on human rights principles that are applicable during operations.
In doing this, he disclosed that apart from training Commissioned Officers as was done in the past in counter insurgency operations, non-commissioned Officers now participate in the various human rights training targeted at meanstreaming human rights in military operations and this, he stated has yielded some positive results.
In the same vein, the Chief of Army Staff stated that the Military will not fail in its responsibility to fight the Boko Haram insurgents and ISWAP, which he noted are characterized by destruction of lives and properties of citizens.
Other participants at the colloquium including members of the CSOs, development partners, regional and international human rights networks, etc and they were all united in their concerns that the military has no option than to protect the rights of the civilian populations in its operations, by abiding by the Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct for military personnel.
Abuja – A bill seeking to provide for the establishment of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme scaled second reading in the Senate, on Wednesday.
The bill sponsored by Senator Umar Sulieman (APC, Kwara North), seeks to provide a realistic framework for the success of education financing.
Suleiman, in his lead debate on the principles of the bill, said same provides for the management, governance and administration of the scheme.
According to him, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, upon its establishment, would grant interest free loans and bursaries to eligible students at higher Institutions.
He added that it would also ensure the well-structured administration of such loans and bursaries and their recovery.
He recalled that the Nigeria Students Loan Board which was established in 1982 to help students finance undergraduate and graduate studies within and outside Nigeria, provided loans between 1972 and 1991 totaling N46 million to help students finance their education.
He disclosed that out of the sum, the Board faced the problem of recovering outstanding loans of over N40 million, which led to the suspension of the scheme in 1992.
He stated that the Students Loans Boards was replaced in 1993 by the Nigerian Education Bank.
He explained that the Education Bank serves as a major intermediary in education credit market financing, and designed to harness private sector resources for funding education.
The lawmaker, noted that the bill to establish the National Students Financial Aid Scheme, also seeks to repeal the existing Nigerian Education Bank.
The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further inputs.
Meanwhile, a bill to establish the Federal University of Education (Technical) Bichi, also scaled second reading on Wednesday.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North).
The bill after consideration was also referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.
The Committee was given four weeks to report back to the Senate in plenary.
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