Group calls for immediate suspension of EFCC chairman

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

North Central Citizens Council,(NCCC) has called for the immediate suspension of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.

The group also demanded the federal government to begin a thorough investigation into several allegations against him, especially for the fact that the commission has suffered a lot of setbacks as it relates to corruption.

The National Coordinator of the group,Comrade Mohammed Eneji made the call while addressing journalists in Abuja.

He said one of the allegations is that the Chairman recently spent a large amount of money to the tune of $300,000 for hotels and other activities, which is far and beyond his income as a civil servant, during a visit to Mecca with his family on a lesser Hajj.

According to him, “We are calling on the relevant authorities to initiate a proper investigation into Bawa’s spending spree in Saudi Arabia and also his involvement in concealing and/or obstructing the investigation into the death of Abel Isah.

“We are also calling on the

Senate Presidency to halt any plans for the confirmation of Bawa as a substantive EFCC Chairman until the conclusion of the investigation, as doing so will send the wrong signal to Nigerians”.

Speaking,Muhammed explained that the flamboyant lifestyle of Abdulrasheed Bawa has always raised suspicion as to the income of the embattled Chairman.

Former Agric Minister urges govt to prioritize education

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Former Minister of Agriculture, Professor Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah has urged the governments at all levels to give the required priority to educational sector to achieve development, promote social harmony and curb social vices especially among the youth.

He made this known while delivering the 4th combined convocation lecture, themed: ‘Building Bridge Between Community Elites, Education, Youth, University and Challenges for Development in the 21st Century’, at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State.

Prof Abdullah further revealed that neglecting the youth portends a great risk to the progress of the country and her image at the international community, hence the need for community renewal, empowerment of Nigerian youth and building of a solid interconnectivity between ruling elites and the ordinary citizens to make Nigeria.

Sheikh Abdullah who lectures in ABU Zaria challenged Nigerian Universities to adapt to changes in teaching and learning across the world especially the full adoption of ICT to enable their graduates fit into global ways of doing businesses and make themselves relevant to the country’s development.

He said about 70 percent of qualified Nigerians lack access to quality and skillful education that would make productive citizens after graduation, lamented that obtaining certificates in Nigerian schools have been monetized leading to production graduates without skills even in the areas they have studied.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of IBB University, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu has applauded the state government for its support thus far, adding that the 4th combined convocation marked another milestones in the journey of development of the Institution .

The chairman of the event and Niger state deputy governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso stated that building bridges between community elites, youths and university students required intentional effort and a commitment to working together towards common goals.