National Issues
Numan crisis: Muslim Students criticize FG’s “double standard”, appeals to El-Rufai over sack of teachers
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.
TEXT OF THE BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE ON TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2025
Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.
With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.
Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.
On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:
“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”
The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected
“are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”
The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.
Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.
Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.
Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.
The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has emphasized the need for the recruitment of intelligent graduates into its ranks, stating that crime-fighting requires intellect and strategic thinking.
DSS Director, Oluwatosin Ajayi, made this known on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The lecture, titled “The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration,” highlighted the agency’s crucial role in safeguarding the nation and the necessity of strengthening intelligence institutions.
Ajayi, represented by DSS Deputy Director Patrick Ikenweiwe, stressed that the country’s best minds should be drafted into the DSS to address the growing security challenges.
“If I have my way, the best graduates in the country should be compelled to join the DSS and serve the nation in tackling security threats,” Ikenweiwe stated.
Drawing a comparison to Israel’s academic system, he noted: “In Israel, students who score above 70 marks in their university entrance exam are automatically placed in the university. Tell me, how would a ‘Dundee’ (dullard) be able to counter a criminal gang made up of first-class brains? Intelligence is key to fighting crime.”
He further advocated for collaboration with academic institutions to identify top-performing students who could be recruited into the intelligence service.
The DSS official also outlined several threats to national security, including sabotage, subversion, and espionage, urging a comprehensive approach to national security that includes intelligence-driven solutions and a well-trained workforce.
The Nigerian government spent a staggering $3.58 billion on servicing foreign debt within the first nine months of 2024, marking a significant 39.77% increase compared to the $2.56 billion expended over the same period in 2023.
This data, drawn from a recent report on international payment statistics by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), reflects a concerning rise in the country’s foreign debt obligations amid depreciating currency values.
According to the report, the most substantial monthly debt servicing payment occurred in May 2024, totaling $854.37 million. This is a substantial 286.52% increase from May 2023’s $221.05 million.
Meanwhile, the highest monthly payment for 2023 was $641.7 million in July, underscoring the trend of Nigeria’s escalating debt costs.
Detailed analysis of monthly payments further illuminates the trend.
In January 2024, debt servicing costs surged by 398.89%, reaching $560.52 million, a significant rise from $112.35 million in January 2023. However, February saw a modest reduction of 1.84%, with costs decreasing from $288.54 million in 2023 to $283.22 million in 2024. March also recorded a decline of 31.04%, down to $276.17 million from $400.47 million the previous year.
Additional fluctuations in debt payments continued throughout the year, with June witnessing a slight decrease of 6.51% to $50.82 million from $54.36 million in 2023. July 2024 payments dropped by 15.48%, while August showed a 9.69% decline compared to 2023. September, however, reversed the trend with a 17.49% increase, highlighting persistent pressure on foreign debt obligations.
With the rise in exchange rates exacerbating these financial strains, Nigeria’s foreign debt servicing costs are projected to remain elevated.
The central bank’s data highlights how these obligations are stretching national resources as the naira’s devaluation continues to impact debt repayment in dollar terms.
Rising State Debt Levels Add Pressure
The federal government’s debt challenges are mirrored by state governments, whose collective debt rose to N11.47 trillion by June 30, 2024.
Despite allocations from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and internally generated revenue (IGR), states remain heavily reliant on federal transfers to meet budgetary demands.
According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the debt burden for Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rose by 14.57% from N10.01 trillion in December 2023.
In naira terms, debt rose by 73.46%, from N4.15 trillion to N7.2 trillion, primarily due to the naira’s depreciation from N899.39 to N1,470.19 per dollar within six months. External debt for states and the FCT also increased from $4.61 billion to $4.89 billion during this period.
Further data from BudgIT’s 2024 State of States report illustrates how reliant states are on federal support. The report revealed that 32 states depended on FAAC allocations for at least 55% of their revenue in 2023.
In fact, 14 states relied on FAAC for 70% or more of their revenue. This heavy dependence on federal transfers underscores the vulnerability of states to fluctuations in federal revenue, particularly those tied to oil prices.
The economic challenges facing both the federal and state governments are stark. The combination of mounting foreign debt, fluctuating exchange rates, and high reliance on federally distributed revenue suggests a need for fiscal reforms to bolster revenue generation and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
With foreign debt obligations continuing to grow, the report emphasizes the urgency for Nigeria to address its debt sustainability to foster long-term economic stability.
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