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SERAP Asks Buhari to Probe Missing $30m Safe School Fund
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the allegations on the missing, mismanaged or diverted $30 million Safe School Fund.
The group made this call in a statement signed by Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the deputy director, and further asked the President to direct Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), attorney general of the Federation and minister of Justice, to bring to justice anyone involved in the alleged fraud.
Also, SERAP called on Mr Buhari to “direct Mr Malami and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate why the Safe Schools Initiative, established to bolster security at schools in response to the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls has failed to stop frequent abductions of students and to ensure the safety and security of Nigerian children in schools across the country.”
SERAP further urged President Buhari to “ask the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Mr Gordon Brown, to wait for the outcome of any investigation into the spending of the $30 million initially budgeted for the Safe School Initiative programme before leading the international community and donors to push for more funds for the programme.”
SERAP’s letter followed the killing of three abducted Greenfield University students and the plan launched by the federal government last week to raise additional funds for safe schools.
The organisation noted that, “Rather than pushing to raise more funds for the Safe School Initiative programme, your government should prioritise and ensure a thorough, transparent, and effective investigation into the spending of the $30 million initially budgeted for the protection of schools, prevention of attacks, and continued education of students.
“SERAP will also consider asking Mr Brown to use his influence to insist on transparency and accountability in the spending of the $30 million safe school fund before rushing to engage donors to commit to additional funding of the Safe School Initiative programme.”
Also, it asked the 36 state governors to accept voluntary scrutiny by Nigerians and civil society regarding the spending of any funds spearheaded and raised to improve safety and security in Nigerian schools
“Despite the $30 million safe school fund meant to ensure safety and security in 500 schools, and to provide a school environment free of fear, no school has been protected, as illustrated by the recent spate of abductions and killings of students in several parts of the country.
“Allegations of corruption in the spending of the $30 million safe school fund undermine the safety and security of Nigerian children in schools and deny access of poor children to quality education in a safe environment because the money that the government should be spending to provide safe schools for Nigerian children is squandered or stolen.
“The Nigerian government has a legal obligation to protect Nigerian children from all forms of violence and other human rights abuses including abductions, killings, and to prevent and combat corruption in the spending of funds budgeted to improve safety and security in schools”.
According to SERAP, attacks on students, teachers, and their families violate constitutional and international human rights law and force many families to keep their children home. This aggravates existing disparities in access to education, further marginalizing the poor.
“The government’s apparent failure to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of the $30 million safe school fund is contrary to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and violates Nigeria’s obligations under international law and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.
News
Stella Ikwuegbu, Nollywood Actress is Dead
Stella Ikwuegbu, veteran Nollywood actress is dead.
![Stella Ikwuegbu, Nollywood Actress is Dead](https://i0.wp.com/www.nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Stella-Ikwuegbu.jpg?resize=457%2C186&ssl=1)
Mrs Stella Ikwuegbu
Stanley Nwoko better known as Stanley Ontop, movie producer, made known this known on Sunday by via his Instagram page.
Stanley Ontop, revealed that the actress passed away today, Sunday, June 16th, after battling with leg cancer.
He wrote: “Nollywood actress and veteran Mrs Stella Ikwuegbu is dead. The veteran actress left this world today after battling with leg cancer. Rest well, Madam Stella. Nollywood again. It’s well.”
The late actress began her career in 1990, appearing in numerous films such as ‘Spoiler,’ ‘Ukwa,’ ‘Sound of Love,’ ‘Holy Man,’ ‘Two Hearts,’ ‘Heart of Stone,’ and ‘Madam Koikoi,’ among others.
Hailing from Enugu, she was not only an actress but also a businesswoman.
A graduate of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) in Enugu State, she launched her restaurant, ‘The Film Bar,’ on August 1.
The actress’ death comes barely five days after veteran Yoruba actor Dayo Adewunmi, aka Sule Suebebe, died at 68.
News
MoneyMaster to Showcase Mobile Wallet @ Ojude Oba Festival
As the ancient city of Ijebu ode gets set to host another Ojude Oba festival, Nigeria’s leading payment service bank, Moneymaster Payment Service Bank Limited (MMPSB) has concluded arrangements to be part of the annual event where the indigenes of Ijebuland will be onboarded to the bank’s multipurpose mobile wallet.
The Ojude Oba typically holds on the third day of the Eid-El-Kabir whereby different cultural age groups put up a spectacular parade to pay homage to the Royal Majesty, the Awujale of Ijebualand.
Preparatory to the event, Moneymaster, had embarked on month-long market activation, across Ijebuland to onboard the indigenes on to one of its digital banking platforms – mobile wallet through which customers can transfer, withdraw from an agent, buy airtime and pay utility bills.
In a statement, Moneymaster opined that once majority of Nigerians embrace mobile wallet which enables them to cultivate a more convenient savings habit and also make to payment with ease, the nation’s move towards a cashless economy will become a reality.
“While we rejoice with the people of Ijebuland at this time, we also want to showcase what we have in Moneymaster’s mobile wallet that can help various people to enjoy seamless banking from their phones”, the statement noted.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria in August, 2020 and insured by NDIC, Moneymaster Payment Service promotes financial inclusion in furtherance of the Nigerian financial literacy initiative driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
With Moneymaster, Nigerians can open mobile wallets, savings account, individual and business accounts to make payments, buy airtime, pay utility bills to over 4,000 companies.
The Bank was recently appointed a payment partner to the Ounje Eko initiative by the Lagos State government in its bid to provide discounted food items to residents of the state amidst rising cost of food items.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi as New DG Procurement Bureau
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement released on Saturday, June 15, said the move was part of a larger reorganization effort in the public procurement system to reposition the agency for greater efficiency and transparency.
Ajuri added that the President thanked Ahmadu for his services and wished him success in his future endeavours.
The statement further noted that Gbeleyi is a renowned financial expert and award-winning chartered accountant.
It said he is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
According to Ngelale, Gbeleyi is also an alumnus of executive programmes of the prestigious London Business School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Lagos Business School.
He said Gbeleyi has over 30 years of post-qualification experience in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, investment and commercial banking, project finance, telecommunications, infrastructure, and public administration.
The statement added,“He was the Board Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State from 2013 to 2015.
The President expects the new Director-General to bring his vast experience and competence to bear in this role to strengthen the agency as the national resource centre for capacity building and sustenance of reforms through the promotion of a competitive private sector-driven economy, ensuring social accountability and efficient deployment of public resources, as well as advancing effective corporate governance and fiduciary discipline in the public and private sectors.”
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