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Numan crisis: Muslim Students criticize FG’s “double standard”, appeals to El-Rufai over sack of teachers

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THE Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has expressed strong disapproval of what it described “double standard” role played by the Federal Government in handling the recent crises and aftermath of the crises in Numan, Adamawa state.

MSSN National Amir, Muhammad Jameel Muhammad strongly condemned the role of Nigerian government in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 104th Islamic Vocation Course (IVC) of B zone of MSSN held at IVC Permanent Camp, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State on Monday.

Muhammad said it was unfortunate that many Nigerians lost their lives during the two unfortunate incidents in Numan, declaring that the way the Federal Government was handling the crises and its aftermath was to say the least, a double standard.

Also, he expressed worried that governments at both state and federal levels do not resolve contending issues amicably with relevant stakeholders.

He stressed that the way and manner issues ranging from recurrent strikes by academic or non-academic staff of higher institutions to sudden radical frustration and dismissal of teachers at the secondary and primary levels are handled coupled with insensitivity with which the education sector in the country is handled is alarming, worrisome and demoralizing to the MSSN as a body.

Muhammad further remarked that the purpose of the IVC which is a tradition was to allow Muslims thinkers, intellectuals, scholars and indeed stakeholders from diverse walks of life to robustly and rigorously train the younger and up-coming members on the pristine Islam in the context of certain pertinent and burning national, regional and global issues, with a view to producing outstanding Muslim fortified with the wire withal to withstand the ever increasing, ubiquitous challenges of the present time.

“First, the way and manner in which the federal government is handling the crises and its aftermath in Numan, Adamawa state, is, to say the least, a double standard.Here is a place in which lives of Nigerians were gruesomely lost at two unfortunate incidents.

“But while the first set of victims were never recognised and may possibly never be at all, the second set of victims attracted the visit of the whole Vice President of the country and a series aids thereafter.

“This has painted a picture that some animals are more equal than others, as contained in George Owell’s fable, The Animal Farm”, Muhammad statement reads.

He then noted that one of the dangers of such double standard or favoritism is that it pitches Nigerians against themselves on the account that some are favoured while some are disfavored.

He said, ” the danger here is that Nigerians are being pitched against fellow Nigerians on account of being favoured/disfavored by the same government voted by and tasked with taking care of both.

“As students, our constituency resides within the educational sector. We are always worried that our governments at both state and federal levels do not resolve contending issues amicably with relevant stakeholders.

“Ranging from recurrent strikes by academic or non-academic staff of higher institutions to sudden radical frustration/dismissal of teachers at the secondary and primary levels, the insensitivity with which the education sector in our country is handled is alarming, worrisome and demoralizing to us as students.

“In all such cases, the schools that are the only symbol of governmental presence in most localities become abandoned by teachers, making us, students, more vulnerable before the myriad of forces of evil that have pervaded the land.

“We therefore call on all governments to handle the educational sector with the delicacy and seriousness it deserves. This programme, as is traditional, gathers our thinkers, intellectuals, scholars and indeed stakeholders from diverse walks of life to robustly and rigorously train our younger and upcoming members on the pristine Islam in the context of certain pertinent and burning national, regional and global issues, with a view to producing outstanding Muslim fortified with the wire withal to withstand the every increasing, ubiquitous challenges of the present time”.

Muhammad on behalf of MSSN then appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to tread more cautious in his plan to sack over twenty thousand teachers in the state.

He said “Specifically, we identify with the appeal to the government of Kaduna state that is planning the mass sack of over twenty-one thousand teachers to tread a more cautious path in this trying time as it takes its monumental decisions.

“We appeal further that all pertinent stakeholders policy makers, educational administrators, supervisors, teachers, students and even their parents should be repositioned and for good if the decay in education is to be adequately addressed.

“At this national gathering of delegates from the nooks and crannies of the country, it is pertinent to reiterate the need for all of us to contribute to the long-overdue project of building our National Secretariat in Abuja, the FCT.

“This dream and pride of every Nigerian Muslim student needs at least a hundred naira from each one of us as a patriotic member of the MSSN. So far, of the four hundred million naira estimated, only about six million has been realized. But we are optimistic that Allah will help us achieve this laudable dream.

“Respected personalities here present, my tenacious brothers and sisters in the quest for justice, permit me to emotionally but objectively appeal for justice.

Muhammad while commending House of Representatives in responding to the case of Firdaus Amas, a female law graduate denied to be call to bar recently, insisted that anyone found culpable should be brought to the book.

He said “Our second appeal relates to the brazen display of lawlessness by the trio of the Nigerian Law School, the Body of Benchers and the Council of Legal Education.

“In a monumental display of impunity, in broad daylight and at the critical occasion of calling a new set of lawyers to the Nigerian bar, the trio denied our sister, Firdausi Aljannah Amasa, the last leg of her passionate dream of being a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, the dream she tenaciously toiled for over two decades.

“Her only crime was that she was, and still is, alhamdulillah, a practicing Muslim. We already have written a heavily worded letter to Mr President and copied relevant holders of stake on the matter.

“As we demand an expeditious investigation of the matter, calling Firdausi to bar, bringing to book all persons or groups found culpable in the unconstitutional act and a formal public apology to all that relates to Firdausi in any way, we urge all our members to continue to be law-abiding pending the response of stakeholders and our subsequent communications.

“We must mention here, the commendable and responsive effort of the House of Representatives on the matter and earnestly await the report of the House committee saddled with that.

“At the international scene, we join the rest of the world in condemning the international bully, the USA, and her partner in crime, Israel, for the unjust, unpopular and provocative decision to turn Jerusalem to the capital city of the illegally imposed state of Israel. It is inescapably necessary to, at this juncture, commend the consciences driven countries that voted overwhelmingly for the United Nation’s declaration of the move as illegal and the maintenance of status quo. We want to also educate the US, Israel, their covert and overt supporters that injustice due to might or whatever reason is only transient. They better tread the path of honour by reconsidering such unhealthy stands.

“Still internationally, brothers and sisters, we are ceaselessly sad that the genocide in Myanmar is continuing unabatedly simply because the victims are the Muslims. The media that should be the conscience of the society has abandoned its duty by being silent on the heinous crime against humanity. No one hears about the plight of the endangered people of Myanmar. The declaration by the UN that they should be given their due rights, important and laudable as it is, should be matched with actions. The culprits should not be stopped but also they should be adequately sanctioned.

“Before this speech is concluded, let me cease this opportunity to say my final salam to you as the National Amir at a National IVC.

“By next year, precisely in May, 2018, my set of EXCO and I will leave office. I therefore must not fail to acknowledge that the little achievements I had were due to your unflinching support.

“Though this is not my valedictory speech, I must appeal to you to pardon me for my wrongs in my capacity as a national officer on behalf my executive council with whom we piloted the affairs of this complex organization in this complex country for three years.

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National Issues

Rep. Oseni Urges Urgent Action on Rising Building Collapses in Nigeria

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Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.

In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.

The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.

Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.

“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.

“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.

He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.

Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.

The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.

 

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Corruption Among Political, Religious Leaders Stalls Nation-Building – Olugbon

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The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.

Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.

The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.

Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”

He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.

“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.

He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.

Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.

“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.

The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.

In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.

“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”

Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.

Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.

 

 

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Nigeria’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.3% in Q1 2024 — NBS

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The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. The latest figures were disclosed in a report released by the NBS on Tuesday, marking an uptick from the 5.0 per cent recorded in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023.

According to the NBS, the unemployment rate for males stood at 4.3 per cent, while females experienced a higher rate of 6.2 per cent during the same period. The report also highlighted disparities based on location, with urban areas recording a 6.0 per cent unemployment rate compared to 4.3 per cent in rural areas for Q1 2024.

“The unemployment rate for Q1 2024 was 5.3%, showing an increase from 5.0% recorded in Q3 2023,” the bureau stated in its report. The NBS defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of the labour force, including both employed and unemployed individuals, who are not working but are actively seeking employment.

Youth Unemployment Rate Declines

In a positive development, the report indicated a slight drop in youth unemployment, which fell to 8.4 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 8.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This figure represents the unemployment rate among Nigeria’s young people, a demographic that often faces unique employment challenges.

Educational Attainment and Unemployment

The report further provided insights into unemployment rates based on educational attainment. Individuals with postgraduate education recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0 per cent, while those with post-secondary education faced a rate of 9.0 per cent. For people with secondary education, the rate stood at 6.9 per cent, and those with only primary education recorded a 4.0 per cent unemployment rate.

Employment-to-Population Ratio Falls to 73.2%

In addition to the unemployment data, the NBS also reported a decline in Nigeria’s employment-to-population ratio, a critical indicator of workforce participation. The ratio dropped to 73.2 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 75.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This ratio represents the percentage of the working-age population that is employed.

Breaking the data down by gender, the employment-to-population ratio for males was 74.2 per cent, while it was 72.3 per cent for females. By place of residence, urban areas had an employment-to-population ratio of 69.5 per cent, while rural areas recorded 78.9 per cent in Q1 2024, compared to 71.1 per cent and 80.7 per cent in Q3 2023, respectively.

 

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