The Federal Ministry of Education has strongly condemned what it described as a “sponsored smear campaign” targeting the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba.

In an official statement released on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the Ministry’s attention had been drawn to “libellous” media reports circulated by an unknown group operating under the name Education Rights Activists Coalition (ERAC).

The group had accused Garba of administrative misconduct and disregard for the rule of law—claims the Ministry has dismissed as “baseless, misleading, and malicious.”

Dr Alausa described the attacks as a deliberate attempt by “disgruntled individuals” to derail the ongoing reform agenda in basic education under Garba’s leadership.

“Aisha Garba is an internationally recognised education expert with over 24 years of experience, including 15 years at the World Bank. She has brought integrity, competence, and global best practices to UBEC,” he said.

According to the Ministry, Garba’s tenure has seen major strides in access, equity, and quality of basic education. UBEC has constructed nearly 5,000 classrooms, renovated over 3,000, and established nationwide Early Childhood Care and Development centres.

More than five million textbooks and over 350,000 units of school furniture have also been distributed.

In the area of teacher training, over 147,000 educators have been trained in modern teaching methods, and nearly 978,800 have benefitted from Nigeria’s largest-ever Teacher Professional Development initiative.

A major curriculum overhaul to embed digital literacy and entrepreneurship is also underway in partnership with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

The Ministry also noted that reforms introduced under Garba’s leadership have improved the utilisation of the Basic Education Action Plan (BEAP) and the Matching Grant Formula, with ₦78.6 billion accessed by 28 states and the FCT in 2024 alone.

Institutional partnerships have also been strengthened with major development partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, KOICA, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Over 15,000 community projects have been implemented through the School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme.

The Education Ministry reaffirmed that no financial infractions or breaches have been recorded under Garba’s leadership, and urged the public to disregard what it called “orchestrated falsehoods.”

“We stand firmly with Aisha Garba as she continues her transformational work to deliver quality, safe, and inclusive basic education to Nigerian children,” Dr Alausa said.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri has described the NYSC as the corner stone for national identity.

Gov. Diri, who made this known at the opening/ swearing -in ceremony of Prospective Corps members deployed to the state for the 2025 Batch B, Stream 1 service year at NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Boro Town, said for many years, despite its challenges, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme has been a cornerstone of national identity, defined by shared values and commitment to unity amidst diversity.

Gov. Diri, represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, encouraged the corps members to the nation’s legacy bequeathed through the programme and contribute positively at making it their own.

He said ” As you take your first steps as members of this distinguished programme, I encourage you to embrace the privilege of contributing to this legacy and making it your own.”

He also encouraged them to consider Bayelsa State their own by exploring the various legitimate pursuits available to them,”During your brief time in Bayelsa State, I trust that you have begun to appreciate the renowned hospitality and warmth of our people.”

” You will find that our state is rich in opportunities, and I invite you to explore the various legitimate pursuits available to you. Remember, the opportunity of a lifetime must always be seized during the lifetime of that opportunity.”

,”Your time here is not just about service; it is about personal growth and seizing the possibilities that lie ahead.”

He encouraged them to maintain a harmonious environment within the camp by adhering strictly to the established rules and guidelines,”Discipline and respect for the surroundings will make their experience both productive and enjoyable.”

“As I often advise the youth, focus on the significant aspects that will sustain your future. It is easy to become distracted by fleeting pleasures, but the fruits of your labour will eventually lead you to the things you truly desire. Remain calm, stay focused, and you will discover that success will come to you in due course.”

He emphasized that, the government of Assured Prosperity remained steadfast in its commitment to enhancing the facilities of the Permanent Orientation Camp so that it is comfortable and conducive for orientation.

“Moreover, you can rest assured that wherever you are posted, we have taken adequate measures to ensure your peace and security throughout your service year.”

“As you embark on this new journey, I wholeheartedly welcome you and wish you continued success, good health, and prosperity in all your endeavours. This experience will shape your character and offer invaluable lessons that you will carry with you throughout your life.”

He extended his heartfelt gratitude to the leadership and staff of the National Youth Service Corps for their invaluable contributions to the nation.

According to him. their dedication to instilling the principles of integrity, patriotism, and service in the youth is vital for fostering a sense of national unity and pride.

Earlier In her welcome remarks, the State Coordinator, Mrs Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, highlighted the objectives of the orientation course and advised corps members deployed to the state to embrace the service year with all the seriousness, ” it deserves because careful and deliberate programmes have been well designed to adequately prepare and equip them for optimum performance.”

Mrs Okpalifo also enjoined them to shun all forms of social vices and actions detrimental to the image of the scheme during orientation course and in their various places of primary assignments .

She specially thanked the Executive Governor of Bayelsa state Senator Douye Diri for his immense support to NYSC.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Patients and in Bayelsa State were on Wednesday stranded as public hospitals in Bayelsa abruptly discharged patients as nurses across the country begin a 7 day warning strike to press home their demands on the issues affecting them.

The strike action embarked by the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), affected the proper functioning of the public hospitals in the state in the early hours of the day, as union leaders were on ground to monitor the compliance.

When our correspondent visited the Primary Health Centre in Amarata community, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, the busy health centre was not even open as at 9am, a situation where the locals said it might be due to the strike.

Also, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), few patients were seen roaming around some wards without prompt attention.

Some patients said that they were still waiting for doctors’ attention after arriving the hospital as early as 8am.

Also, those who said they were on appointment with the doctors on Wednesday were also seen roaming around, waiting for attention.

The Chairman of NANNM at the Federal Medical University (FMC), Mr Liberia Woyengibarafagha Progress, who led the enforcement team at FMC, said there will be no skeletal services when the warning strike lasted.

He said: “We have nine point demands, in Nigeria, they say nurses should not travel out of the country, and we have been suffering all these while taking care of our patients and we have been doing our best, at this point we asking the government to give us our needs, so that we can also take care of our patients.

“Our demands are, government should gazette our nursing scheme of service, we are asking for the implementation of industrial act, 2012, upward review of professional allowance for nurses and midwife, employment of more nursing personnel and adequate provision of health facilities equipments.

“Currently, if you look at the hospitals, most times you don’t have equipments, it’s even hard for government to even provide light for us in the hospital environment, we have been suffering to take care of our patients, we are saying no, enough is enough.

“We are also asking for the creation of nursing department, in the federal ministry, nursing department is not there, everything boiled down to one particular department, which I don’t want to mention, but we the nurses know that we are the majority in the health sector, and we are not being recognize in Nigeria, other countries, they recognize nurses and we are not being recognize here.

“We are also asking for inclusion nurses in the headship of health policy, what I mean is that most of our boards, nurses are not there, and we form the heart of the health sector, and we are not being included, how do we take decisions, it’s only few states in Nigeria that they always appoint nurses as Commissioner for health.

“We are also asking for centralization of internship posting for graduates nurses, federal government should take over the posting of internship posting for nurses as it’s done for doctors, we are also asking for consultancy cadre for nurses, there should be nurse consultants and nurse practitioners.

“This strike is a total shut down, no plan for skeletal services, this strike had to do with federal, state and local government nurses nationwide, and currently, the hospital has discharge so many of their patients, we don’t have patients at the wards, so even the patients are suffering now.

Also speaking, the National Treasurer of NANNM, Federal Health institution Sector and South South zonal Coordinator, Comrade Amos Ombufa, said after the 7 days warning strike in accordance with the labour law, the Union will also give the Federal Government another 21 days ultimatum to meet the needs of the nurses, stating that if at the end of ultimatum, the demands are not met, they will proceed on indefinite strike.

“I urged nurses not to relent, we should press home our demands, as we are speaking, all the federal hospitals across the nation are totally shut down, especially in the South South zone where I’m in charge, there is total compliance, there is no provision for skeletal services.” He said.

The Public Relations Officer at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Mr Akpedi Bernard, said though it was unfortunate that nurses were proceeding on strike, adding that the management envisaging the strike, put the house together by mobilizing the doctors to see the skeletal services they could provide.

He said: “With regards to strike declared by NANNM, it’s unfortunate that as a management here, we are not happy about it, particularly in FMC Yenagoa, is the only tertiary federal health facility in Bayelsa State and we have the responsibility of taking care of more than 70% health care needs of the people, it’s the only principal referral centre that we have here too, so when strike occured like this, it really affect us negatively.

“However, the management envisaging the strike, put the house together by way of mobilizing the doctors to see the skeletal services they could provide, off course, the very senior nurses, those at the management cadre will support too, so that those with very critical health needs, we will still be attending to them and maybe some very urgent cases that may come too, while the strike is ongoing.” He said.