By George Mgbeleke

The Senate on Tuesday at plenary declared a donation of N100 million to Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s national football team, the Flamingos, following their historic victory at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Rabat, Morocco.

The Senate President announced the donation while presiding over a motion moved by Sen. Abdul Ningi ( ADC Bauchi Central) on the need to congratulate the team on its achievement.

Ningi described the victory as historic, noting that the young players had achieved what several other Nigerian national teams had struggled to accomplish.

He said the team’s triumph was particularly remarkable, given the limited expectations surrounding the players before the competition.

The senator expressed concern that the achievement had not received adequate publicity and national recognition, adding that the players deserved to be celebrated for bringing honour to Nigeria and Africa.

He also expressed concern that the team did not receive sufficient official recognition upon its arrival in the country.

Seconding the motion,
Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (APC Edo North) commended the team for defeating Japan in the final, describing the victory as evidence of the potential and determination of Nigerian youths.

Oshiomhole urged Nigerians to appreciate the country’s achievements rather than constantly focus on its challenges.

He also appealed to the Senate leadership to make a donation to the team to support the players’ educational needs alongside their sporting careers.

The Senate thereafter adopted Ningi’s prayers congratulating President Bola Tinubu for his support for sports development, Nigerians on the historic victory, and the leadership of the National Sports Commission, particularly its Chairman, Shehu Dikko.

It also urged the federal government to provide adequate compensation and rewards for the players in recognition of their achievement.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks, said the victory was a significant achievement for Nigeria and Africa, particularly as the Flamingos defeated football nations, including Brazil and Japan.

Akpabio urged the federal government to adequately reward the players and called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sustain the team and continue developing the players for future competitions.

The Senate President also appealed to wealthy and sports-loving Nigerians to support the players and encourage other young people to participate in sports.

He noted that the N100 million donation by the National Assembly was intended to recognise the players’ achievement and encourage them to continue bringing honour to the country.

“I want to commend the Flamingos, the Under-17 youth team of Nigeria, for defeating major countries such as Brazil and Japan to win the Under-17 World Cup for Africa for the first time and for Nigeria.

“We also urged, and we pray that the federal government will recognise these children accordingly and give them adequate rewards.

“The Nigerian Football Federation, under its leadership, should see the need to keep these children together and develop them further,” Akpabio said.

He congratulated the players, the Senate Committee on Sports and all Nigerians on the historic victory.

By George Mgbeleke

The Senate has raised serious concerns over the growing practice of suspending commercial aircraft landings and restricting airport operations to accommodate movements of Very Important Personalities (VIPs), warning that the practice could trigger an avoidable aviation disaster if urgent measures are not taken.

The upper chamber expressed concern that commercial aircraft, some of which have already taken off and are approaching their destinations, are sometimes forced to remain airborne for extended periods because of VIP movements and security-related restrictions.

Lawmakers warned that keeping passenger aircraft in holding patterns for up to an hour or longer could expose passengers and crew members to unnecessary risks, including fuel depletion, adverse weather conditions, air traffic congestion and other operational emergencies.

The concerns formed the basis of an urgent motion moved by Senator Jibrin Isa, Kogi East which subsequently called for improved coordination among aviation regulatory agencies and security authorities to prevent commercial aircraft from being exposed to avoidable risks.

The Senate acknowledged the importance of security arrangements for the President and other designated public officials but insisted that such privileges must not be exercised at the expense of passenger safety.

As part of its resolutions, the Senate urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure proper advance coordination and notification of planned airspace restrictions to airline operators.

It further directed that where such restrictions are unavoidable, aircraft yet to depart should be held on the ground, while departure schedules and flight sequencing should be adjusted accordingly, rather than allowing aircraft to take off only to be kept circling in the air.

The Senate also mandated its Committee on Aviation to engage the relevant aviation authorities to ensure strict compliance and report back to the chamber within two weeks.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Dike Plang, representing Plateau Central, drew from his professional experience in the aviation industry to explain the dangers associated with poor flight scheduling and airspace management.

Plang disclosed that he worked with Kabo Air in 1996 as a station manager in Kano and Saudi Arabia, where he received training in ground operations.

He explained that aviation operations depend heavily on accurate timing and coordination, stressing that airlines and airport authorities should be adequately informed about planned VIP movements before commercial flights are cleared for departure.

According to him, it amounts to poor operational management to allow an aircraft to take off for a particular destination when authorities already know that another movement will prevent it from landing at the scheduled time.

He maintained that flight departures and arrivals must be properly coordinated to avoid unnecessary delays and potential emergencies.

The senator also noted that although aircraft are required to carry sufficient fuel to reach alternative airports in emergencies, such provisions should not become an excuse for poor planning by aviation authorities.

He warned that the growing number of private and government aircraft operating within the country’s airspace makes effective coordination even more important.

Plang called on the NCAA and FAAN to take decisive steps towards ensuring proper management of airport operations and airspace usage.

Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, expressed frustration over what he described as the persistent failure of aviation authorities to protect the interests of ordinary air travellers.

Ningi declared that Nigeria was increasingly operating like a lawless country, arguing that passengers had become accustomed to unexplained flight delays and disruptions associated with VIP movements.

Recounting a personal experience, the senator disclosed that he recently boarded a flight from Kano that was scheduled to last approximately 40 minutes but ended up spending about two and a half hours in the air because of VIP-related restrictions.

He said the experience was particularly disturbing because passengers were left frustrated and angry, with many directing their complaints at the government and the National Assembly.

Ningi argued that responsibility should not rest solely with the NCAA, NAMA and FAAN, insisting that the National Assembly must also accept responsibility for failing to adequately supervise the agencies.

He criticised the aviation regulators, alleging that their effectiveness was more visible in official statements and on paper than in the actual experiences of passengers.

The senator also condemned the disparity in the treatment of airlines and passengers, observing that travellers could be denied boarding for arriving just a minute late, while airlines could keep passengers waiting for five or seven hours without adequate explanations or apologies.

Expressing concern over the approaching harmattan season, Ningi warned that poor coordination and prolonged delays could increase the risk of an aviation emergency.

He therefore called for the heads of NCAA, NAMA and FAAN to appear before the Senate Committee on Aviation, insisting that the leadership of the Senate should also be involved in the engagement.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio whose contribution centred on his personal experience as an air traveller, narrated how passengers were once stranded inside a bus for approximately three hours because of VIP movements.

Akpabio disclosed that passengers had already been transported from the airport terminal towards their aircraft when the bus was suddenly stopped, leaving them sweating inside for hours.

He said that, being a former governor himself, he had to conceal his identity and avoid eye contact with other passengers who were expressing anger and raining abuses on government officials over the delay.

He also raised concerns about what he described as poor coordination between airport authorities and the Presidency during presidential movements.

According to him, airports and airspace are sometimes restricted long before the President actually departs, resulting in prolonged disruptions to commercial flight operations.

He suggested that the President might not even be aware of the extent of the disruption caused to other travellers by the security arrangements.

In describing the vulnerability of air travellers, he reportedly referred to an aircraft as a “flying coffin”, stressing that passengers and crew members remain exposed to danger until the aircraft safely lands.

He further explained that commercial aircraft are expected to carry adequate reserve fuel to enable them to divert to alternative airports when landing at their intended destinations becomes impossible.

However, he raised concerns about allegations that some airline operators compromise on fuel requirements in an attempt to maximise passenger capacity.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio also recalled an aviation disaster allegedly linked to fuel exhaustion following a prolonged inability to land because of VIP-related restrictions.

He argued that the circumstances surrounding such incidents must be carefully examined to prevent a recurrence.

While acknowledging the need for presidential security, he maintained that airport closures should be properly timed and coordinated, rather than imposed unnecessarily long before the movement takes place.

He also called for all relevant authorities to sit together and develop a workable arrangement that protects both VIP security and the safety of commercial passengers.

In a further contribution, Senator Neda Emasuen, representing Edo South, introduced an amendment seeking to strengthen the Senate’s position on the management of commercial aircraft during unavoidable airspace restrictions.

Emasuen urged the NCAA, NAMA, FAAN and other relevant authorities to ensure that aircraft operators make adequate arrangements for alternative airports where emergency diversion becomes necessary.

His position was that commercial aircraft that have already taken off should not be left circling in the air indefinitely while waiting for restricted airspace to reopen.

Instead, such aircraft should be directed to suitable alternative airports where they can land safely and await clearance to continue their journeys.

The amendment, which was seconded by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central, was incorporated into the Senate’s deliberations.

The proposal reinforces the need for aviation authorities and airline operators to prioritise safe diversion procedures whenever the intended destination becomes temporarily inaccessible.

Ruling on the matter, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the situation as a serious safety concern that required immediate collective intervention.

He warned that failure to address the problem could result in what he described as an “avoidable accident that is waiting to happen if nothing is done.”

Akpabio observed that the matter would be better resolved through a coordinated meeting involving all relevant stakeholders rather than relying solely on general directives.

He consequently directed the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation to immediately convene a meeting with the relevant aviation authorities to examine the situation and agree on practical solutions.

The Senate President also called for clarification on the number of VIP movements for which airports and airspace are routinely restricted.

He observed that, apart from the President, the Senate was not aware of any other category of VIPs entitled to such extensive airport restrictions, adding that Nigerians deserved to know if the practice had been extended to other public officials.

During the deliberations, however, a senator pointed out that the Vice-President was also entitled to similar privileges under the relevant presidential security arrangements.

Akpabio stressed the need for the proposed engagement to establish clear operational guidelines and ensure that VIP movements no longer create unnecessary risks for commercial aviation.

Senate Seeks Lasting Solution

At the end of deliberations, the Senate called for an urgent meeting involving the NCAA, NAMA, FAAN and other relevant stakeholders to address the challenges surrounding VIP movements and commercial flight operations.

The proposed engagement is expected to examine advance notification of airspace restrictions, improved flight scheduling, ground delays for aircraft yet to depart and the diversion of aircraft already airborne when necessary.

The Senate’s intervention has brought renewed attention to the balance between official security requirements and the fundamental responsibility of aviation authorities to protect the lives of passengers and crew members.

For millions of Nigerians who depend on air transportation, the central question remains whether government officials’ movements should continue to disrupt commercial flight schedules and expose passengers to unnecessary uncertainty.

The Senate has now called for a coordinated solution, warning that the consequences of failing to address the situation could be disastrous.

By George Mgbeleke
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has cautioned Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, against allowing 4,700 newly recruited primary school teachers to work for months without salaries, describing the situation as an unacceptable exploitation of young graduates.

HURIWA says the governor must immediately intervene to end the alleged withholding of salaries from the teachers, who were recruited by the state government and deployed to public schools, particularly in rural communities.

The association in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko,said it is scandalous that the government allegedly expects the teachers to work until January 2027 before receiving their first salaries on the grounds that they are undergoing a three-month probationary period.

HURIWA condemns what it describes as an attempt to use probation as an excuse to deny workers payment for services already rendered.

The association questions how a government can recruit thousands of graduates, issue them posting letters, deploy them to schools and then expect them to teach without receiving a single naira in wages.

“Governor Otti must explain why 4,700 teachers employed by his government should work for months without salaries. These are not volunteers or charity workers. They are employees who deserve to be paid for their services. Probation must not become a licence for exploitation,” HURIWA says.

The association says the affected teachers resumed duties last month and have since been teaching pupils in their respective schools.

HURIWA also raises concerns over reports that the teachers have not received their training allowances, which they say have remained unpaid since September.

The association says the situation becomes even more disturbing when viewed against the economic difficulties confronting young graduates, many of whom have families and children depending on them.

“How does the government expect these teachers to pay their transport fares, feed their families and meet their responsibilities when they receive no salaries? Must they endure hunger before the government recognises its obligation to pay them?” HURIWA asks.

The association also challenges Governor Otti to explain the alleged exclusion of the newly recruited teachers from the N1 billion reportedly released for teachers during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.

HURIWA says the affected teachers allege that existing teachers received N50,000 each from the fund, but the payment did not reach their newly recruited batch.

The association says the teachers are still appealing for their share of the reported payment, which they hope to use to offset their transportation expenses.

HURIWA demands transparency in the distribution of the funds and urges the state government to clarify why the newly recruited teachers allegedly received nothing.

HURIWA WARNS AGAINST ABANDONING TEACHERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

The association says the alleged non-payment of salaries represents only part of the hardship confronting the newly recruited teachers.

HURIWA accuses the relevant authorities of failing to provide adequate transportation, accommodation and other essential welfare arrangements for teachers posted to remote communities.

The association urges Governor Otti to deploy some of the electric buses reportedly procured by his administration to convey teachers to and from their duty stations.

It also calls for the construction of teachers’ quarters, provision of affordable accommodation and introduction of accessible car loans or other transportation support.

HURIWA says the government must stop treating posting letters as sufficient preparation for rural teaching assignments when teachers still need accommodation, transportation and basic welfare support to perform their duties.

The association further raises concerns over the reported deplorable conditions of some primary schools where the teachers have been deployed.

HURIWA urges the state government to rehabilitate dilapidated classrooms, provide furniture, improve sanitation and equip rural schools with facilities that support effective teaching and learning.

The association says Abia children, particularly those in rural communities, deserve decent learning environments and must not continue to receive education in schools that fall below acceptable standards.

“Governor Otti cannot claim to be transforming Abia’s education sector while the teachers recruited to drive that transformation allegedly beg for transportation money and wait for months to receive their salaries. A government cannot celebrate recruitment figures while neglecting the welfare of the very people expected to deliver quality education,” HURIWA says.

The association acknowledges that rebuilding public institutions requires resources and sustained commitment but insists that paying workers for services rendered remains a fundamental responsibility of government.

HURIWA therefore demands that Governor Otti immediately:

Order the payment of outstanding salaries due to the 4,700 teachers.

Release all outstanding training allowances reportedly due since September.

Investigate the alleged exclusion of the newly recruited teachers from the N50,000 Teachers’ Day payment.

Provide transportation support, including the deployment of electric buses to rural schools.

Establish affordable accommodation arrangements and teachers’ quarters.

Rehabilitate dilapidated primary schools and provide essential teaching facilities.

HURIWA warns that the governor must not allow a recruitment exercise that should strengthen basic education to degenerate into a scandal of unpaid labour, frustration and administrative insensitivity.

“These 4,700 teachers are not volunteers. They are not charity workers. They are employees recruited by the Abia State Government and deployed to serve the state. Governor Otti must pay them, protect their dignity and provide the conditions they need to teach. Government cannot demand their labour and deny them their wages,” HURIWA says.

The association urges Governor Otti to act immediately and demonstrate that teachers’ welfare and the education of Abia children are genuine priorities of his administration.