Student loan to commence in September -Education Ministry

By Maryam Abeeb

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Education has announced that the student loans will kickstart in September/October 2023.

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew David Adejo, in Abuja at a press briefing on the Bill signed into law by President Bola Tinubu .

It could be recalled that President Tinubu had assented the Student Loan Bill in fulfilment of a promise he made during the electioneering campaign.

The Student Loan Bill sponsored by the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, provides for interest-free loans to indigent

Nigerian students.

The law is to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the Permanent Secretary said.

Adejo noted that president Tinubu has also approved a committee made up of Ministries and Agencies to see to the fruition of the loan scheme.

He said, “The Bill is to make sure that every Nigerian has access to higher education through what we called the Higher Education Nigerian Bank.

“Learning from past mistakes, the bank is not going to be the type that will sit down and be collecting loan applications, it will also perform normal banking functions and make sure loans are given because we had cases of loan recovery in the past.

“The Act, as it is, tells us the process, but as I speak with you today, the President has approved the committee made up of the Ministries and agencies and their meeting will be coming up 20th of June.

“The President has also directed that by September to October this 2023/2024 academic session, he wants to see recipients of these loans. So it is a very serious march for us. So, between now and then we have to figure out the process for people to get the loan,” he added.

The Permanent Secretary further said government will create a specialised bank for the operation of the loans, noting that there will be a tracking system for efficient run of the loan scheme.

He also said it will cover both students in private and public institutions, adding that the government will create a new bank for it.

“We are not going to use existing banks. We are going to create a new bank that will address this because we can’t use an existing bank.

“We don’t want to make it that only people who want to go to public schools will benefit from, private schools are paying tuition, so you have to give them the opportunity

“The loan is for you to get an education programme and get employed, then you start paying back. The loan recovery does not start until you get employed,” he added.

Speakership race: Wase congratulates Abbas, others says Zoning lacks equity, fairness

By Christiana Ekpa

ThePast Deputy Speaker of the 9th session of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase on Wednesday congratulated the newly elected Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and his Deputy, Hon. Benjamin Kalu following their emergence during the justconcluded presiding officers election.

Hon. Wase, who also contested alongside the incumbent Speaker who polled 353 votes, scored three votes while the third nominee, Hon. Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara) also got three votes during the tensionsoaked election in the history of the Green Chamber.

In his congratulatory message, Hon. Wase argued that his decision to contest was due to the marginalisation of the North Central and lopsidedness in the distribution of top political offices in the country.

He said: “I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu on their election as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively of the 10th House of Representatives.

“Although we were on different sides of the political space, we have, nevertheless, always acknowledged that we were all partners in the project of deepening our parliamentary democracy.

“I believe my contest in this Speakership election was much more about making a case for what I considered a lack of equity and fairness in the manner in which my Party’s zoning was done much more than it was about winning.

“As a politician who has been engaging in elections since 2007 and has returned to the House for the 5th term, I verily understand that every contest must generate its necessary contentions.

“However, in the end, we have to come together to confront the bigger matters of stability of the Parliament and enriching Legislative Governance to deepen our collective democracy.

“In this light, I wish to once again congratulate the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu on their victory and urge my supporters and well-wishers, as well as my fellow contestants to give them all the cooperation required to achieve a stable and united 10th House of Representatives.

“I intend to fervently and actively participate in all Legislative Business of the 10th Assembly and will continue to proudly represent not only the good people of Wase Federal Constituency but Nigerians at large,” Hon. Wase assured.

He also thanked his supporters as well as President Bola Tinubu for his “continuous fatherly support and counsel which he has sustained from my early days in ACN till date. I am immensely indebted to you sir and will continue to be.

“I thank my constituents who have consistently demonstrated their unalloyed faith in and support for me by continuously returning me to the Green Chambers now for the 5th term to represent them. I will continue to represent you well.

“I thank my Campaign

Team and supporters for their ceaseless efforts throughout the campaign. I am very much indebted to you.

“I thank all my Honorable Colleagues for their support and counsel. I thank those who voted for me. I thank those who did not vote for me. I thank those who voted my opponent even when their heart was with me. I am eternally grateful to you all and must say that I have been further enriched by the experience.

“I assure all my colleagues that I will continue to, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, show ‘Charity towards all and Malice towards none’.

“Thank you and May God bless the House of Representatives and May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

From David Hassan, Gombe

Former speaker of Gombe state House of Assembly and member representing Akko central Rt Hon Abubaker Mohammad Luggerowo has been re-elected as the new speaker of the 7th Assembly alongside his deputy.

His emergence as the speaker came on Wednesday at the floor of the house, after the clerk called on members elect to nominate speaker.

Member representing Dukku north Hon. Nasiru Abdulkarim who nominated Abubakar Mohammad as its new speaker said his nomination was based on merit.

He said the former speaker who piloted the 6th Assembly performed credibly well that triggered his returned.

Member representing Shongom constituency Hon. Zubairu Ayala who seconded the motion commended the former speaker for his leadership during the 6th Assembly saying his humility is worthy of emulation.

According to him, his emergence will bring more development.

In his inaugural speech, speaker of Gombe state House’ of Assembly Hon. Mohammad assured that he will not relent to carryout justice, equity and fairness in dealing with his colleagues.

He called for continuous support and cooperation in order to unite the house by giving the executive, judiciary and the electorates good governance they deserved.

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, told the Federal Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to take a holistic and systematic approach in containing the gully erosion menace across the country.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on the need for the Control of Persistent Gully Erosion along Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Federal Road in Enugu North

And Udi Local Government Area and across the country sponsored by Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu.

The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to complete the reconstruction of Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Road to prevent the total collapse of the road.

It mandated the Committees on Environment, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Works (when constituted) to investigate the threat posed by Gully Erosion along Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Road in Enugu State and recommend long term solution.