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Borno flags off 2nd phase of training for 781 incompetent teachers

Borno flags off 2nd phase of training for 781 incompetent teachers
…Present N783 million cheques for participants
By: Ndahi Inusa
Following the inability of thousands of Primary School Teachers to pass competent test earlier conducted, in which they are yet to be placed on N30,000 minimum wage, the Borno state government under the leadership of governor Babagana Zulum has flagged the second phase for the training of 781 teachers who were yet benefit from the N30,000 minimum wage.
This is as the sum of N783 million cheques has been approved and disbursed for the three months exercise at Bama College of Education, venue for the training.
The 781 second beneficiaries were part of the over 2,740 teachers, mostly those who failed to meet up with the 2019 Verification and the 2022 competency tests organized by a committee that were constituted by the present administration.
Just last week, a total of about 1,949 teachers formed part of 1st phase free training at Waka- Biu college of Education in southern Borno Senatorial District, where the sum of over N1 billion cheque were presented.
Unveiling the second training on Monday at Umar Ibn- Ibrahim College of Education, Science and Technology (UIICEST), Bama in Borno Central, Governor Zulum, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur said, “the programme underscore the pragmatic policy initiative of this
Government in the critical sector of education, as such, is quite
appropriate and timely.
“You may recall that on Monday, 6th May, 2024, we unveiled phase 1 of this significant programme with one thousand nine hundred and fourty nine (1,949) teachers from 27 Local
Government Areas. This initiative is part of Government broader commitment to improving the quality of education in the State, as outlined during the inauguration of the Local Government Education Secretaries on March, 19th 2024.
“It is strategically pertinent to note that Government allocated a substantial sum of one billion naira (N1 Billion) for
the training of 2,730 teachers. These educators will undergo rigorous training at both the College of Education Waka-Biu and Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi College of Education, Science and
Technology Bama.
“The duration of the program is three months, covering one thousand eight hundred and eighty four (1,884)
teachers through a sandwich programme and eight hundred and
forty six (846) teachers through a full-time NCE program.
“It may interest you to note that the aim of this initiative is to address issues of remuneration, retention and most importantly the competency of our teachers in line with national standards.
The program is free of charge and each participants is entitle to N30,000.00 monthly stipend, in addition to their regular salaries. Those enrolled in full-time NCE program will attain automatic in- service status.
On this note, let me use this medium and urge the participant to approach this opportunity with utmost dedication
and seriousness, knowing fully well that successful completion of the program and passing the competency test will lead to a review of wages.
“To ensure adequate preparation, the Ministry of Education has been directed to release an additional sum of
fifty thousand naira (N50,000) to all participants”. Zulum stated.
In his address, the Commissioner Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Wakilbe while commending governor Zulum and all state holders for repositioning the sector said, the ceremony is a pivotal step in journey toward revitalizing basic education in the state.
He hinted on the Needs Assessment carried out in 2021, which prompted the competency test for teachers across the different Local Government Education Authorities that took place from 5th to 20th January 2022.
Wakilbe noted that “the outcome of the test revealed that Five thousand Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven (5,257) individuals passed, Six Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-seven (6,227) were considered trainable, and Four Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty-Nine (4,339) were found to be untrainable.
“The challenges facing basic education in our state have reached critical levels, particularly following the cessation of the direct absorption of Primary School teachers from their Teachers’ Colleges.
“The absence of a structured employment framework has led to various issues, including discrepancies in salary scales and the recruitment of
underqualified personnel. Consequently, the Borno State Government has been confronted with significant challenges in teacher recruitment, remuneration, and
retention.
“Therefore, decisive measures have been taken to address these challenges, especially the authorization granted for the Ministry of Education to reassign untrained personnel from Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) to alternative roles, freeing up positions for qualified individuals.
“Secondly, a comprehensive assessment of manpower requirements within the LGEAs has been authorized, leading to the employment of suitable candidates to meet those needs. And lastly, plans for Phase III of the teacher training program have been initiated, encompassing individuals with Diplomas and those unable to participate in the initial training phase.
“Additionally, arrangements are
underway for further education and development programs through the Institute of Education at Borno
State University (BOSU) for eligible personnel.” Wakilbe stated.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Borno State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Bulama Kagu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hyelni Mshelia lauded governor Zulum for magnanimously ordered the lifting of the embargo on promotions across the Civil Service, including teachers.
“Borno SUBEB has taken decisive steps to implement this executive order. First, the management issued a circular to all former education secretaries, urging them to urgently compile authenticate, and submit the list of all deserving teaching and non-teaching staff due for promotions.
“Secondly, the management constituted an ad- hoc committee to screen and verify submissions from the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs). However, a change in leadership within the LGEAs necessitated another circular from the
management to the new education secretaries to revalidate and Submit the earlier list.
“This process is ongoing, and I urge all our education secretaries to expedite their actions.
“Thirdly, the management has written through the Honourable Commissioner to the Deputy Director of Statistics, Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, requesting the submission of the list of NCE and graduate teachers with their current salary scales for appropriate placement, considering their experience and years of service.

“Once this data is collated, the committee will expeditiously work on it and submit it to the management for the board’s consideration and, ultimately, for government approval.
“Presently, 5,408 teachers are on their qualifications. We have 3,096 teachers with NCE qualifications, of whom 1,907 are already appropriately placed.
“Another 1,189 require upgrading and will be placed on GL 07 step 1 immediately. We have 1,032-degree holders, of whom 324 are appropriately placed, while 708 teachers with degrees will be upgraded immediately to GL 08 step 1. Seven teachers hold master’s degrees, and only one needs upgrading.
Earlier in his welcome address, Professor Kalli Tijjani, Provost of UIICEST, Bama appreciated the efforts pit in place by the present administration in improving quality of teaching, and pledged that participants would receive the basic training needed to inculcate knowledge to pupils and students in the state.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Shehu of Bama, Alhaji, Dr. Kyari Umar Kyari El-Kanemi, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Borno chapter, Comrade Zali Garba and the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Comrade Yusuf Inuwa cautioned people to stop politicizing the issue of education, in which some resort to social media alleging poor salary package to those incompetent teachers who were supposed to be laid off from the teaching profession.
Borno flags off 2nd phase of training for 781 incompetent teachers
News
2027 Elections: UN Asks Political Parties to Focus Campaign on Policies and Ideas

2027 Elections: UN Asks Political Parties to Focus Campaign on Policies and Ideas
By: Michael Mike
As Nigeria gears up for season of electioneering, the United Nations has called on political parties to focus their campaigns on policies and ideas, not insults or divisive rhetorics.
During a speech at the Roundtable on Hate-Free Politics in Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Fall said as we head to the 2027 elections. “Allow me to share some recommendations. First, political parties must lead by example. Campaigns should focus on policies and ideas, not insults or divisive rhetoric.
“Second, parties should commit to codes of conduct that reject hate speech and promote information integrity. Third, cooperation with media and digital platforms is essential to ensure that harmful content is not amplified, while factual, reliable information reaches voters.
“Above all, we must remember that elections are about people, their dignity, their rights, their future. Hate speech strips people of their dignity and undermines the very foundation of democracy. As leaders, you have the power and the responsibility to set the tone, to show Nigerians that politics can be conducted with respect, truth, tolerance, and integrity.”
Fall added that: “On this International Day of Democracy, I call upon you today: let us work together to make democratic participation in Nigeria free from hate and grounded in information integrity and respect for human rights. Let us affirm that words matter and that in choosing our words carefully, we choose peace, unity, and progress for Nigeria. Let us act collectively to strengthen and protect democracy in and beyond Nigeria.”
He stated that this International Day of Democracy with theme “Democracy and Inclusion in an Age of Insecurity” should remind us that democracy is not only about holding elections, but about ensuring inclusion, pluralism, and public participation of everyone in a respectful and inclusive manner.
He noted that: “When falsehoods spread unchecked, especially during elections, they weaken public trust, mislead citizens, and undermine democratic choices. Promoting information integrity means ensuring that Nigerians can access reliable information, that public debate is grounded in facts, and that voters are empowered to make informed choices free from manipulation.”
He insisted that: “In Nigeria, the stakes are high. Vibrant political discourse and engagement should be moments of ‘no gree for anybody’, unity, and pride. But they can be harmful if hateful language and hostile narratives are allowed and accepted; it can incite hostility and result in violence. We know from history that hate speech has been a precursor to some of the worst atrocities, including genocide.
“The Rabat Plan of Action, endorsed by the United Nations, reminds us that advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence must be prohibited by law and that these laws must comply with international human rights standards, including the right of association, expression, and assembly.
“This is a cornerstone of democracy. Restrictions must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, never a pretext to silence debate. The challenge before all of us here today is to strike the right balance: engaging in open political discourse while safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting Nigerians from the harms of hate speech.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu noted that since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigeria has made notable progress in democratic development.
He said: “We have witnessed successive electoral cycles, the strengthening of civil society, and the expansion of political space. Yet, our democracy remains a work in progress. Challenges such as low voter turnout, weak internal democracy in political parties, electoral violence and malpractices, weak institutional accountability, and limited inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities and harsh political climates continue to undermine public trust and democratic consolidation. Above all of these, our democratic and political processes including communication have often come under immense challenges of poor values, deep-seated hate-filled and divisive rhetoric threatening the core foundation of our nationhood.”
He noted: “The National Human Rights Commission has been at the forefront of efforts to promote ethical and hate-free politicsin Nigeria. In the 2023 elections.”
Ojukwu stated that hate speech is intricately related to human rights, either in its form or outcome, adding that: “To the person spreading hate speech, it is about right to freedom of expression, opinion, speech or belief. To the recipient of hate speech, it is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.
“When applied to politics, hate speech and unethical communications breed political divisions that facilitate violence, weak voter electoral participation, stifles plurality and social cohesion.”
He said: “As we count down to the 2027 General Elections, the NHRC is alarmed at the high level of hateful politics and unethical practices that seemed to have taken the centre stage with some of our political actors. Achieving a culture of responsible and value-laden political process continues to remain a challenge for Nigeria. From the independence of the election management body to unethical actions of political parties, their candidates and agents to the inappropriate use of security and law enforcement agencies.
“Vote buying and inducements of various sorts during past and recent elections have become worrisome indicators of the fragility of the Nigerian electoral culture with severe consequences on the freedom of association and the right to participation.”
He noted that: “The Roundtable on Ethical and Hate-Free Politics in Nigeria which we are convening today in partnership with the United Nations is aimed at forging a shared understanding of the drivers, patterns, and impacts of hate speech and unethical political communications in Nigerian electoral and democratic processes and to secure practical, rights-based commitments from key actors to promote ethical politics, reduce hate speech and protect pluralism and inclusive participation—especially for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and minority communities in the electoral processes leading to the 2027 elections and beyond.”
2027 Elections: UN Asks Political Parties to Focus Campaign on Policies and Ideas
News
Eight ISWAP fighters including two Commanders killed in clash with troops in Borno

Eight ISWAP fighters including two Commanders killed in clash with troops in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
At least eight Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including two field commanders and a sector leader, have been killed by Nigerian troops in Borno.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the insurgents were neutralised in an encounter with troops along the Maiduguri–Baga highway on Monday morning.

According to the sources, the clash occurred near Garin Giwa, close to Cross Kauwa, when the terrorists laid an ambush on troops on patrol.
“During the engagement, eight terrorists were killed, including two ‘Munzirs’ (field commanders) and one ‘Qaid’ (sector leader).
“They were identified as Modu Dogo, a Munzir from Dogon Chukun; another unidentified Munzir; and Abu Aisha, a Qaid from Tumbun Mota,” one of the sources said.

The source added that several other fighters were wounded, especially those who fled on foot after abandoning 14 motorcycles recovered by the troops.

The incident is the latest setback for ISWAP fighters operating around the Lake Chad basin.
End
News
Nigerian troops neutralise armed bandit, recover AK-47 in Katsina

Nigerian troops neutralise armed bandit, recover AK-47 in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
The troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have neutralised an armed bandit and recovered an AK-47 rifle during an operation in Turare Forest.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the operation, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, was based on credible intelligence received about the presence of bandits in the forest.

“The operation, which took place at about 3:00 a.m., on Monday led to the killing of an armed bandit. One AK-47 rifle was recovered from the suspect,” he said.
The sources added that patrol and monitoring activities in the area have been intensified and would be sustained to prevent further criminal activities.
Nigerian troops neutralise armed bandit, recover AK-47 in Katsina
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