MSSN seeks judicious use of budget to improve education sector

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit has commended the Federal Government Government’s efforts to standardizing the education sector, particularly with the increment in the funds allocated to the education sector in the 2018 budget.

The Amir (president) MSSN in Lagos State, Dr Saheed Ashafa, during a press conference ahead of the 15th biennial Lagos Qur’an competition stressed the need to invest more in education.

He noted that Nigeria is yet to meet the 26 per cent UNESCO minimum benchmark, urging the Federal Government to invest more on education in future budgets, appealed to relevant bodies to release the allocated funds and earmarked projects should be executed without delay.

“We expect the Buhari-led government to invest more on education in future budgets. We want to appeal to relevant bodies to release the allocated funds, while earmarked projects should be executed without delay. What we have heard is that, most times, the little funds allocated to education are not released, which is why some projects are either not implemented at all or not completed”, he said.

Ashafa commended the administration for taking bold step towards investigating and stopping the Federal institutions that charge tuition fees from students.

“That move was the right thing to do, but government should ensure it does not affect infrastructural development” he said.
He faulted the continuous assaults on Muslim students over the use of hijab on their school uniforms.
“School teachers and administrators, who are the culprits in this case, hide under directives from the Lagos State Government to perpetrate this illegal assault and unconstitutional act” he said.

He added that, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria in Lagos State has been a law-abiding organisation despite incessant harassment and assault against its female members over the use of the hijab on their school uniforms.

“As at today, we have a substantive Appeal Court ruling which allows our students to use the hijab on their school uniforms freely without being victimised. It was a unanimous judgment by a five-man judicial panel. The students have the constitutional right to exercise their fundamental human rights, but this government, which claims to promote religious tolerance, ignores the court ruling” he said.

He called on Governor of Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode to respect the law and caution his officials from molesting students who wear hijab. “If government fails to caution these officials, legal action will be taken against them, particularly for contempt of court” he said.

Ashafa commended the government on the tremendous achievements in combating and reducing crime in the state. “It is an achievement we all should commend the state government over, even though it is not time to jubilate yet”.

He urged the Police in the state not to relent in their quest to keep Lagos crime-free for all citizens to live and do business.

Ashafa called on the Federal Government to take a cue from the Lagos State Government and improve national security against the senseless and indiscriminate killing of innocent souls in the North East and North Central zones of Nigeria.

“The incessant suicide bombing attacks against Muslims inside mosques in Adamawa and other States particularly come to mind. If not for the courageous move by some Muslim worshipers who foiled a suicide bombing attack in a Yobe mosque recently, innocent lives would have been lost.

“It is one of the primary responsibilities of the government to protect the lives of its citizens. We thereby call on the security agencies to find a lasting solution to these killings”, he said.