El-Rufai declares state of emergency in education sector

• Pardons nine prisoners 
KADUNA State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, in the spirit of independence day celebration has declared a state of emergency in the education sector. He also granted state pardon to nine prisoners serving various jail terms in the state.

According to him, as the nation is celebrating freedom, there was need to also liberate the people by making quality education accessible to all.

El-Rufai, who delivered a speech at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS) in Kaduna during the 55th Independence Day celebration, said that the nation and the state has reached an era of positive development and growth with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria.

According to him, “Education is freedom from want and disease. The provision of free basic education in decent schools and with skilled teachers is one of the priorities this government will accomplish in its four-year term.”

We have spent the past few months planning school repairs, the provision of school furniture and the training of teachers. Today, we move to declare a state of emergency in education. We ask for your support as we begin to implement extraordinary measures in the educational sector.”

Tomorrow by God’s Grace, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology will announce the measures that will be taken to ensure that our school infrastructures, tools and teacher quality are improved significantly within the next six weeks. We are determined that one legacy for the rebirth of our country will be the restoration of education as a tool to free our people from the fetters of ignorance.”

El-Rufai also set nine prisoners free. He said five of them were serving sentences from three years above; three were released based on age while one gained freedom on health ground.

He also added that five convicted prisoners had their death sentences commuted to prison terms.

The governor who inspected a parade by the army, police, para-military and other security operatives as well as school children at the main bowl of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, noted that the gesture to extend mercy to the prisoners was in pursuant to section 212 of the Nigerian constitution as conferred on him.

El-Rufai, however warned that the gesture must not be abused, noting that his administration would not tolerate crime and threat to security of the state under any form.