METRO Food security: FCTA to boost collaboration with soil science Institute

FCT is always well received.

According to him,” if the land quality is weak you will farm for nothing and therefore, for a body to regulate the use of land is very important and appropriate for the country.

“We are here to receive you today on behalf of the FCT Minister, by my person Adesola Olusade, the Permanent Secretary FCTA, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCT, Abubakar Ibrahim and other management of staff in the secretariat.

“We have taken note of the

Minister hails Afreximbank boss for supporting FCT health sector

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, appreciated the efforts of the Chairman of Afreximbank, Dr. Benedict Oramah, especially in the development of the health sector in the FCT.

Bello revealed that Oramah, Chairman of Afreximbank resonates with stakeholders in the FCT, as the international financial institution, which he heads has keyed into our vision of making Abuja a global destination for the provision of world class healthcare with the construction of a 200-bed hospital in the city.

He adds: “Let me therefore seize this opportunity to call on other organisations and business concerns who share in our dream for the development of Abuja into a world class city to partner with us in this regard”, he added.

Bello who spoke at the 14th edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards in Abuja, while welcoming the thoughts of the keynote Speaker and former Prime Minister of Kenya, Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga on the event’s theme, commended him for being among the special recognition award recipients while also welcoming him to Abuja.

The Minister also commended the Wife of the Late Sam Nda Isaiah, and Chairman of the Leadership Group, Mrs. Zainab Nda Isaiah, the management and staff of the Group for sustaining the annual event and keeping alive the memory and legacies of Sam Nda-Isiah whom he described as a patriot and one of Nigeria’s great visionaries.

The Minister along with the Vice President, HE Yemi Osinbajo, Hon. Raila Odinga and the Etsu Nupe, HRH Alh. Yahaya Abubakar were bestowed with special recognition awards.

accomplishments of the institute and we also noted the paragraph two of your letter where you requested for an office space in the FCT. We will convey your request to the minister “I thank you Prof. Ayoade for acknowledging the robust structure we have in the FCT and for the enlightenment you provided us on the institute. On thing is certain the institute appears to be the father of all.”

Earlier, Ogunkunle, explained that the institute was an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with its Act enacted and signed by

President Muhammadu Buhari on February 3, 2017.

He also said that the institute was charged with the mandate of regulating and sustaining the profession of soil science and not only the profession but the use of soil.

He revealed that currently the institute have over 350 registered soil scientist that we can vouch for and they can counsel or advice people on the use of soil and if you adhere to it you are bound to succeed.

He said: “Soil is like the home for everybody such as human being, plants, animals and the nature of soil in every country makes it if we destroy it then we are in for problem.

“If we don’t manage it sustainably then we are in trouble. In abroad where we study we realized it and they make so many places untouchable because you cannot go to the next country to ask for their soil.

“You can ask for many other things but not soil. If a soil is erroded and damage it will take many years to restore it. Soil is like a living being when you start using it at a stage it doesn’t respond again unless it is well manage.”

Board concludes staff verification in public schools

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) has concluded its staff emolument verification exercise in the public senior secondary schools across the six Area Councils of the Territory, as part of effort to ensure staff remain committed and productive with improved academic performance of the students in the teaching and learning system.

Speaking at one of the verification centre at Government Secondary School, Kagini, SEB Director, Dr. Sani Mohammed Ladan, who led the Board’s management Team, said the exercise wa another initiative the Board decided to embark upon, in order to verify the staff’s presence on the field and credibility at their various Schools of primary assignment.

Ladan explained that the on the spot assessment verification is valuable tool for background checks of staff both in the city and rural areas where the Senior Secondary Schools are located to avoid some lapses such as abscondment and issues of Ghost workers who received monthly salaries and allowances but are not on ground physically to render the teaching services they have been employed for.

A statement from Deputy Director & Head, Information/ Public Relations Unit Education Secretariat, Kabiru Musa, added that the Director, who visited schools in the Bwari Area Council, explained that the verification procedures involve thorough checks of correct filling of the emolument forms with particular attention to the Tax Identification Number (TIN), national housing scheme Identification, contributory pension pin number and staff attendance records for punctuality and efficiency on the Job.

He added that the verification exercise will help the Board to know the appropriate data of teaching and non teaching Staff in Schools for proper planning and avoid wasted resources,time and the wrong person on the teaching job as the teaching job is an organized profession with ethical values guiding it’s operations.

Accorfing to him, orientation exercise for both old and new staff will soon commence to help them in the discharge of their duties while assess the fundamentals of staff.

He reminded the staff of their responsibility as a Teacher and role model urging them to continue to add values to the teaching system by impacting positive knowledge and moulding the Students in their custody for a brighter future.

He however, warned them against nonchalant and irresponsible attitudes or encouraging negative vices among the students as anyone caught will be sanction .

“In their various responses, some of the verified staff described the verification exercise as a welcome development, as it helps the Board to validate staff records as well as enable them provide proof of their productivity at their various schools.

“Also, they commended the SEB for it’s leadership skills and effort towards protecting its reputation, and building the staff confidence, promising to continue to put in their best on the Job.

“The intensive Staff Emolument Verification Exercise which was carried out in all the 88 Senior Secondary Schools in FCT lasted for a week”, the statement added.