Reps committee urges Gombe on beefing security in schools
Chairman House of Representatives committee on Basic Education Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has urged the Gombe State Government on the need to increase security in the various schools.
The committee chairman who said they were in the state to perform oversight, made this disclosure on Friday, in his address during a courtesy visit to the governor, Muhammadu Yahaya at the Government House.
According to Ihonvbere, the personnel would help beef security around basic education centres within and around.
He lauded the effort of the government in ensuring perimeter fencing across the various schools visited, noting that the reason many governments abandoned fencing alot of times would be due to the cost.
Ihonvbere said, “We have been to so many states without perimeter fencing, no play ground, no water, no toilet, class dilapidated and students sitting on the floor in 2021. A few other states will copy your example, it shows your commitment to building the capacity of teachers no matter.
“We know perimeter fencing tends to be more expensive than the main building, so many Governors tends to run away from it. Thank you for your efforts, the perimeter fence is the first line of defence for the children. We have been to states where roads passed through the school or schools where people come to hawk alcoholic drinks.
“The only thing left is to liaise with Legion, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, or any other special arrangements, so that the entrance of will not be exposed to miscreants.”
On his part, Governor Yahaya enumerated the various interventions by his administration, adding that he was spurred by his campaign visits to the nooks and crannies of the state.
He said his administration’s declaration of state of emergency in the sector, explained the urgency to bring the deserved changes, stressing that insurgency has dire consequences on the burden of education in the state.
Yahaya said, “Gombe happens to be in the centre of the North East, we share boundaries with the remaining five states. We at the centre with the long standing relationship that we have with all the state.
“With the insurgency our problem was compounded because of the relative peace around here. Those that were displaced came to settle in Gombe that made us to accommodate their responsibilities.
“The declaration of state of emergency has helped us to use whatever means possible to see that the narrative change. I’m happy that you have acknowledged that. We will do more than what you saw not just education but high quality education that can compete elsewhere in the world.”
Also speaking, Deputy chairman Aishatu Dukku, said the committee noticed an increase in the enrollment of girl child within the Girls Secondary Doma
Dukku said, “Many across the 19 northern states are learning as part of the exchange programme and we saw the girls are happy and well fed. The governor is obviously, committed to basic education by declaring state of emergency.”
Commenting on the need to increase security, Chairman State Universal Basic Education, Babaji Babadidi, said at the state has witnessed theft of educational and non educational materials within the schools.
He said, “Yes, he (Prof. Ihonvbere) is right because we are experiencing theft vandalisation of state government property particularly furniture. At the moment we have a case of vandalisation of furniture. The request is justified because we need tight security and we have made the request to the governor. Hunters are sporadic security we want stationed security at the gate. By sporadic they will come and go.”
