Kaduna State Government And Her Blockhead Teachers. By Sulaiman Kazeem.

Indisputably, it is disheartening to read sympathetic write-ups from supposed notable citizens and others faulting the decision of the Kaduna State Government to relieve teachers who failed the 'Competency Test' organized by the State Government and consider some of them for compensation. Left to some of us who don't give a hoot, those teachers should be made to refund their 2 years paid salaries, and pay damages to their pupils and the system.

Hypothetically, the decision to conduct a competency test for teachers in Kaduna State was a premeditated and well orchestrated move by the Governor Nasir Elrufai led government to downsize the over bloated workforce of the State. But how can you in your right senses castigate the Kaduna State Government and put up a defense for those teachers who failed the competence test, woefully.

It should bother you that the questions contained in the the said competency test are meant for primary school pupils. Sad, those shameless blockheads even went ahead to stage a protest against the State Government.

Interestingly, these blockheads won't teach their pupils well, because they can not give what they don't have. The bad eggs among Nigerian teachers sits in their staff rooms to gossip about others and sell their goods. On the long run, they will suggest extra coaching classes to the parents of their pupils who are performing poorly in class and later recommend 'paid' examination malpractices for their pupils.

In fact, many of us have scars we got from their merciless 'torture' and memories of how we were humiliated, because we had poor scores in our class works.

Again, those blockheads teachers are the ones who sexually abuse our girls and boys. Sad, they have brought disrepute to the noble profession and to the country at large.

TBH, this mess is not peculiar to elementary school teachers. Either as undergraduate students or as graduate students, we all know two or more lecturers who falls in this crappy category. These lecturers extorts their students and force their lecture materials which must have been downloaded from the internet, on helpless students. Believe me, it's a messier situation in higher institutions.

It is a huge shame to say that teaching jobs are now distributed like campaign materials to rogues and party members who are illiterates, as compensation for their roles during elections and as a price for their loyalty to their political party.

Lest we fail to say that the decadence in our educational section is a generational buildup and monumental. Thus, the approach to solving this aged mess must be pragmatic and very brutal. Pause and think about it, how do you tell the world that 75% of teachers in a particular Nigerian State failed 'Competency Test'.

Considering the inability of many State Governors to pay salaries, you will agree with me that the same calamity awaits their 'same-same' colleagues in other States. Left to me, I want the Kaduna State Government and other States to extend the competence test to other ministries.

Moreover, why the fuss, who says the examiners who examines students and marks exam answer booklets can not be examined.

Now, you know how we got here. Now, you know why year in and year out, students performance and pass rate in national examinations keep nose diving in many States.

@MrSteam_
14/11/2017

NIGERIA: UNDER HAMMER OR RESTRUCTURING? – By Olalekan Ayuba

Nigeria is the giant of the African continent. Not just because the country is ranked the most populous in Africa and one of the countries with the highest population in the world, but because the country has done incredibly well in building the biggest sustainable economy in Africa. No doubt, Nigeria is the business hub and the biggest market in Africa.

Today, Nigeria’s population accounts for one-sixth of African population, and one-fifth of the sub-Saharan African population. More so, approximately 50% of Nigeria population lives in the urban area. Invariably, more than hundred thousand (100,000) Nigerians live in twenty-four (24) cities each. Nigeria has three hundred and eighty-nine (389) ethnic groups, rich in culture with various customs, languages and various traditions, which gives a very phenomenal cultural diversity.

Inarguably, Nigeria is the pride of Africa, because she takes pride in whatever she does, being the best and stands out from her contemporaries. Nigeria’s colonial masters stand tall in the world economy, which calls for emulousness. Statistically, there are about fifteen million Nigerians in Diaspora, with people who cuts across all strata and works of life. However, vast majority of Nigerians in Diaspora are known for an unflinching drive to succeed in their chosen field of pursuits. Recently, a Nigerian family in the United Kingdom was named the smartest family in the UK. This is an addendum to the claim that Eighty percent (80%) Nigerians living in the United States of America are known to posses at least a first degree certificate, which makes Nigerians the most educated people in the United States of America.

A nation with a population of over 170 million people is bound to be faced with few challenges, one of which is recession and insecurity. It should interest you that the country was able to move its economy out of recession by fully leveraging on a vast number of work-force. In addition, it is plausible to give accolades to the current administration, for its successes in making the country safe for the citizens and for visitors. No doubt, this achievements would eventually encourage foreign investors, and in return make meaningful impacts on the economy, if and only if, corruption is dramatically addressed and drastically reduced.

Age-long, after Nigeria got her independence in 1960, the structure of Nigeria’s government was infiltrated by different factors which made abuse inevitable in the society. Several heroes of change have emerged, political movements that have the keen passion and interest for change came into play, but were all silenced. It’s been very difficult to disparate the good from the bad, because, the good ones have been overshadowed by the bad ones. Every Nigerian is overwhelmed by the struggle to survive, which make Nigerians focus on the present solution to their financial situation. Rather than prioritize the future, their focus is on the present.

Literally, as much there a lot of Nigerians who climbed the ladder of success, doing legitimate businesses and having regards for the rule of law, one should not shy away from the belief that there are a few who engages in illegal acts. Apparently, religion has taken over the mindset of a large population, making them susceptible to extortions and other forms of abuse.

Nigeria is a nation where corruption is endemic and deeply rooted in government apparatus, and in the lives of an average citizen. Claw marks of corruption has defaced her, and the zeal to continue to exist depreciates by the day. Criminals are being celebrated, the legit citizens are the naive. You won’t be wrong to say that nepotism has become a bane in leadership, this is prevalent in employment processes. Hence, Nigeria recycles the bad ones into public offices. Some people are of the believe that criminality is the easiest way to success. Since the dilapidation of the Nigerian economy, it’s been extremely difficult to preserve and leverage on Nigerian talents. Hence, the standard of living seem to be on the low.

Nigeria’s inability to explore science and nature of life is as a result of a lack of well structured educational systems. Companies that once built the economy deserted Nigeria due to lack of stable power supply. Few people who call themselves the government have taken over the economy for selfish interests. Nigeria cries for help, request for mind renewal and revival. Nigeria’s beauty has been displaced, and replaced with gruesomeness.

I hereby ask “SHOULD NIGERIA BE UNDER HAMMER, OR BE RESTRUCTURED? “. Putting Nigeria under hammer every year have made the her an object of ridicule to the world. The obsolete style of governance in Nigeria have influenced her stagnancy in a coon’s age, and have pertinently impacted the mindset of the youths through believing that the Nation’s affairs should be handed over to the highest bidder, thereby ignorantly selling off the future, hence, Nigeria is placed under hammer. To ensure retracement back to base, Nigerian youths need to relentlessly strive to demonetize politics, so as to throw the corrupt leaders off the throne, hence, the process of putting Nigeria under hammer is eliminated. Today, there is a need to provide opportunity to young people.

Above all, the question “SHOULD NIGERIA BE UNDER HAMMER OR BE RESTRUCTURED?” can best be answered by the youths, via either taking the future into their hands by rising up for the truth and becoming a stakeholder for change, or trading the future for just a bowl of porridge.

Olalekan Ayuba
18/11/2017
United Kingdom.