Peter Obi Fulfills Pledge, Donates Bus, N5m to Kogi Nursing College

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, returned to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences in Anyigba, Kogi State, on Tuesday to fulfill a promise made during a previous visit.

Obi had earlier donated ₦10 million to the college to support learning and pledged to assist further in meeting their urgent needs for accreditation.

During his visit three months ago, the Proprietor and Rector informed him that the school’s immediate need was a 32-seater coaster bus for students’ clinical experience trips.

After discussions with Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Adaji, Obi was told that a fairly used bus costing between ₦20 million and ₦30 million would be sufficient, as the price of a new bus had risen above ₦100 million.

True to his word, Obi returned to the college to present a fairly used bus within the specified range, aiding the students’ clinical assignments.

He also donated an additional ₦5 million to cover the cost of the bus’s registration, insurance, and other expenses for a year.

Obi expressed his gratitude to the institution’s leadership for their warm reception and commended their efforts in advancing education and healthcare.

He reassured them of his continued support, emphasizing his commitment to building a better Nigeria.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 aggrement reached with it.

Prof. Timothy Namo, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of the union said this during a news conference on Friday in Jos.

Namo said that the union after its National Executive Council (NEC) held between Aug. 17 and Aug. 18, issued a 21-day ultimatum.

“As we speak, government has not honoured any of the agreements or address our concerns.

“At the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, we again issued another 14-day ultimatum that commenced from Sept. 23.

“So, we want Nigerians to blame the federal government if ASUU decide to down tools and shut down public universities,” he said.

Namo highlighted the lingering issues to include, non conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, non release of the three-and-half month salaries of academic staff, unpaid salaries of all academic staff on adjunct appointment and outstanding third-party deductions.

Other lingering issues he said were, poor funding for the revitalisation of public universities, none payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as captured in the 2023 budget, proliferation of universities, non implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, among others.

Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, on Thursday, announced free education for students of senior secondary in public schools in the state.

Soludo made the announcement in Awka while meeting with principals and head teachers in public primary and secondary schools.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Sept. 21, 2023, the governor announced free and compulsory education from nursery to junior secondary in public schools in line with his solution-free education policy.

Against this backdrop, the governor while meeting with principals and head teachers in public schools stated that from next week, the free education policy would be available to students of senior secondary in public schools.

He said this would further increase children’s access to education and ensure the effective development of their personality, talents, mental and physical abilities.

“I want to assure you that even with the resource constraint; our administration will continue to work very hard to deliver on its mandate.

“I’m giving a directive that students in senior classes, who have already paid their N5,000 tuition fees for this term should be refunded,’’ he said.

He reiterated his administration’s dedication to human capital development and promised to continue making strides in this area.

Soludo also said that the government would commence payment of the N70, 000 minimum wage in October.

“We remain committed to investing in our people and this new minimum wage and free education initiative are testaments to our resolve.

“This move is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of workers and students in Anambra, improving their standard of living and access to quality education,’’ he said.