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Slain Greenfield University Student Was Nephew To University Owner

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Above: Late Precious Nwakacha; below: Engineer Simon Nwakacha

Precious Nwakacha, one of the three students of the Greenfield University (GFU) Kaduna killed by bandits is not the daughter of the Pro-Chancellor, Engineer Simon Nwakacha. She is actually his niece.

Also, a staff of the university associated with Nwakacha, whose name Everyday.ng could not ascertain at the the time of this publication was kidnapped and kept by his abductors for about a month until he was released early this year.

He was abducted in one of the communities around the university when he stepped out to make purchases.

Observers are wondering if there is a connection in these events and the fact of late Precious’ relationship with the proprietor. Precious was said to be the daughter of an elder brother to the school’s pro-chancellor.

She was said to have attended Imperial College, a secondary school in Kudende in Kaduna also associated with Simon Nwakacha.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of the GFU, Bashir Muhammad, has said efforts made to secure the release of the staff and students were not yieldeding the desired results.

“Even so, very sad news reaching us is that three of the students were killed and their bodies were found near the University,” he said.

He confirmed that a ransom of 800 million Naira has been demanded from the abducted staff and students.

He added: “We are at this point calling on the government and people of goodwill who can be of assistance to come to our aid as the situation is becoming overwhelming.

“The management of Greenfield University appreciates the concerns of the government of Kaduna State, led by Malam Nasir el-Rufai and commend steps taken so far in ensuring the safe return of those abducted.

“Finally, we appeal to those in custody of our staff and students to spare their lives,” the statement added.

Engineer Nwakacha, from Nnewi, Anambra State, did his National Youth Service Corps in the Kaduna Refinery Company in 1978, and was retained as a staff, and rising to the position of a manager until he retired in 2013, having retired after 35 years in service, according to details published on the internet.

Recall that earlier today, President Muhammadu Buhari, like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, expressed worry over the circumstances surrounding the death of the three student -Nwakacha, Dorathy Yohanna and Sadiq Yusuf Sanga.

Yusuf’s body, along with those of Dorathy Yohanna and Precious Nwakacha were found in Kwanan Bature Village, close to Greenfield University, where they were captured on 20 April.

The Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, announced the discovery.

He said the bodies were taken to a mortuary by him and the Commander Operation Thunder Strike.

Sanga, son of a former Chairman of Jemaa Local Government Area, presently a director with the Kaduna Stae Government, was buried on Friday, according to Muslim rites.

Buhari, on Saturday strongly condemned the killing describing the students as bright youngsters who were cut down by evil people in their prime.

He directed the deployment of “fiercest show of legitimate force against perpetrators.”

“My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace,” said the President. He extended his condolences and that of the Federal Government to the relatives, associates of the murdered students and the Kaduna State government.

On the recurring incidents of kidnappings and killings in Kaduna State in particular, the President condemned them as “barbaric terror attacks,” and described as “unfortunate the tenor of some political and religious leaders that seem to further incite and stoke the pain and anguish of mourning families who are forced to confront these tragedies.  Addressing this scourge, requires great show of empathy and coming together as a society to squarely confront these elements and the danger it poses to our democracy and peaceful life in the country.”

He gave strong assurances that those who think that profits can be made, either from money paid as ransom or in politics, “will suffer with equal measure of recompense under the full weight of the law for their wickedness and brutality.”

“Banditry, kidnapping and the politics of murders will be fought with all the resources available to our country,” declared the President.

Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong described the murder of the young innocent students as shocking, barbaric and condemnable.

Lalong said there is no justification for the kidnap and murder of the innocent students who were simply in school to study and prepare themselves for service to the nation.

This action according to him is an act of sheer wickedness that must not be allowed to go unpunished.

Source: EverydayNigeria

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Education

Tertiary Institutions to Exit IPPIS Payroll Platform, as Accountant-General Issues Guidelines

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By Elizabeth Okwe and Ojone Grace Odaudu 

In line with the long-standing agitations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the federal government has rolled out guidelines for the removal of federal tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).

The IPPIS is a centralised payroll system the federal government introduced in 2006 to manage the salaries of public sector employees.

Administered by the office of the accountant-general, the platform had increasingly accommodated federal tertiary institutions by 2016.

It however became a subject of heated protests for many public tertiary institutions that alleged unilateral manipulation and fraud.

Administrators across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education argued that its centralised nature eroded the powers of provosts and governing councils since the head of the civil service often had to determine what staffers were employed and when.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) proposed the Unified Treasury Accounting System (UTAS) proposed as an alternative.

Oluwatoyin Madein, the accountant-general of the federation, has now issued a circular effectively setting out a guideline for the removal of federal tertiary institutions from the IPPIS payroll platform.

The move, he said, was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for institutional autonomy and efficient payroll management.

The circular highlighted an exit strategy for the tertiary institutions and mandated that the affected institutions immediately comply.

Madein said the payroll for the public institutions will be processed by the IPPIS for October ahead of the exit in November 2024.

He said the institutions would now process the payrolls themselves while the IPPIS department of accountant-general’s office vets them.

The accountant-general said payment will be through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

Madein said institutions must fill out and submit GIFMIS enrolment forms to personnel handling payroll-related roles before October 21.

He said the forms will grant access to the personnel cost budget line for each institution on the GIFMIS platform.

On outstanding financial obligations that have been the subject of protests, the circular instructed federal tertiary institutions to compile data on promotion/salary arrears and forward them to the budget office of the federation for onward further processing and resolution.

Madein said the bank details of the employees must be validated and uploaded on the GIFMIS platform within the specified timeframe.

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Education

Glisten Academy Felicitates with Muslims on Eld-el- Maulud

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* Emphasis on the need for selfless service, integrity and social justice

By Ojone Grace Odaudu

As Muslims in Nigeria join others all over the world to celebrate Eid-el-Maulud, the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the management of Glisten International Academy, Abuja has charged the people to reflect on his exemplary life of compassion, integrity and humility.

In a statement by the institution to felicitate with the Muslim community, the Academy said the ceremony will be more significant if the people strive to embody the values of patience, generosity and justice in the society.

The Eid-el-Maulud celebration, according to the statement, should remind the people of the importance of kindness, honesty and dedication to serving others selflessly.

Dr Samira Jibir
Proprietress, Glisten International Academy

“As we mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we reflect on his exemplary life of compassion, integrity, and humility. This occasion reminds us of the importance of kindness, honesty, and dedication to serving others. Let’s strive to embody the values of patience, generosity and justice in our communities”, the Academy wrote in its statement.

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Education

Pegging WASSCE/NECO Candidates’ Ages Detrimental to Children’s Development – NAPPS

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By Ojone Grace Odaudu

Proprietors of Private Schools have expressed concern over the Federal Government’s directive to peg the age of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) candidates.

Alaka Lukman, Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos Chapter, expressed this concern in an interview with the Newsmen in Lagos.

The Federal Government recently directed that candidates under the age of 18 years will no longer be allowed to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO).

Lukman said that pegging the age limit for the candidates for the examinations would lead to delaying and denying some students access to higher education when they complete their secondary education.

Dr Samira Jibir
National President, NAPPS

“The policy of the government gives us room for concern. We believe that the government is only focusing on maturity of the students.

“But this is just one of the mental development of any human being.

“Maturity does not come by age alone. This policy can prove detrimental to brilliant students that finish secondary before they clock 18 years.

“Will they have to wait two years extra, before taking WAEC?

“There is need for the government to give the directive a second thought because it may not be the best for the system and can lead to frustration.

“The development can also lead to potential disparities in students’ educational outcomes, as not all students may have the same opportunities or resources to continue their education until they reach the age of 18.

“Our government should consider the mental health of our students, some are presently facing the pressure of how to quickly go through secondary school because of the financial position of their parents,” he added.

The NAPPS president suggested that the government should rather peg the entry age for students getting into university.

He said admission into university should not be for people at any age.

According to Lukman, the policy will breed teenagers with idle hands roaming about the streets, adding that this can prove detrimental, if an alternative way of engaging these teenagers is not provided.

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