The Federal Government of Nigeria has refuted reports in some national dailies that it has approved and allocated six (6) new Colleges of Education across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Tribune online reported a Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Bem Goong, describing letters purportedly emanating from the Federal Ministry of Education and circulating in the social media as fake.
Goong said that the ministry was appalled by the fake letter purportedly signed by the Permanent Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono.
“I’m aware of the letter. The Permanent Secretary showed it to me on Friday. It is fake. We will do something about this before havoc emanates from it,” he said.
There was confusion when two letters were written on the same date and addressed to Mr Gboyega Oyetola, Executive Governor of Osun State, from the Federal Ministry of Education with the same signature carrying different approvals for the location of the new College of Education in the state.
Curiously, while one of the letters indicated that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a College of Education to be located at Iwo in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria.
The second letter said President Buhari has approved the establishment of a College of Education to be located at Ila Orangun, Ila local government of Osun State.
The two controversial letters dated 16th April 2020, all addressed to Osun State Governor entitled: “Approval of the Establishment of new College of Education in Osun State was purportedly signed by the Permanent Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono.
One of the letters read: “I write to inform your Excellency that Mr President has graciously approved the establishment of six (6) new Colleges of Education across the six (6) geopolitical zones to address the emergency education needs of the country particularly in the states where such federal institutions do not exist.
“Consequently, the president has approved the establishment of a College of Education to be located at Iwo in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria.
“In view of the above, a Technical team from the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) would be visiting your state to review and inspect the location from 11th May 2020 to facilitate early take-off.
“Kindly accord the members of the Team necessary cooperation as they liaise with State Officials (Hon. Commissioner and his team) to ensure adequate arrangement for the commencement of academic activities by October 2020.
”In apparent contradiction, paragraph two of the second approval letter carried Ila Orangun, Ila local government of Osun State as the location of the College of Education.
The Ministry of Education spokesperson, Mr Ben Goong when contacted denied that no such letter emanated from the Ministry, saying the Ministry would issue a statement on the new colleges soon.
“I’m not aware of such letters but the Federal Ministry of Education will resolve that. Citing Federal institutions is usually a subject of controversy.
Maybe some people want it cited in their place,” the source who is not in a position to speak for the commission said.
There was similar report of a letter that was addressed to the Bauchi state Governor, Bala Mohammed on the approval and location of a Federal College of education in Jama’are LGA of the state.
The approval was contained in a letter addressed to Governor BalaMohammed, dated 16th April, 2020, duly signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal ministry of Education Arc. Sonny S. T Echeno.
“I write to inform your Excellency that Mr. President has graciously approved the establishment of six (6) new colleges of education across the six (6) geopolitical zones to address the emergency education needs of the country, particularly in the states where such federal institutions do not exist”, the letter read in part.
It added that, “consequently, the President has approved the establishment of a college of education to be located at Jama’are in Jama’are local government area of Bauchi state, Nigeria”.
The letter further said that a technical team from the federal ministry of education and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) will be visiting Bauchi state to review and inspect the location from 11th May 2020 to facilitate early take off.
It also urged the Bauchi state government to give necessary cooperation to the team to ensure adequate arrangement for the commencement of academic activities of the institution by October 2020.
WikkiTimes had reported how Jama’are defeated its closest contestants of Misau, Ningi and other front line local governments to bag the allocation of the said Federal College of Education.
This medium recalled that Misau, Ningi and Jama’are emirates have made effort to get the FCE sited in the emirates, to which Jama’are emerged victorious at the end.
When Ningi argued for suitability to get the FCE, Misau went spiritual in addition to providing 100 hectares of land in order to bag the institution.
A community forum, Jama’are Development Forum which was said to have housed progressive people of Jama’are LGA of Bauchi State, has extended its joy and appreciation to the Federal Government for awarding the purported Federal College of Education at the LGA.
