64th Independence: Speaker Abbas distributes 1,000 bags of rice to Abuja IDPs

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, reached out to some internally displaced persons in the Kabusa community camp of the Federal Capital Territory.

Abbas’s gesture was part of the activities lined up to celebrate the nation’s 64th Independence anniversary.

The Speaker, who led a delegation comprising the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, House Chief Whip, Bello Kumo, and other members of the House to the IDPs’ camp, stated that he was moved by their condition.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, Abbas distributed a total of 1,000 bags of 10kg rice, 200 cartons of noodles, over 800 pieces of clothing for men and women, as well as bedsheets.

The statement added that the Speaker was supported by officials from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, as well as the National Emergency Management Agency.

He was also reported to have provided health services to some IDPs.

Meanwhile, Speaker Abbas had earlier in the day hosted students from six public secondary schools in the FCT for an interaction session, where he responded to questions from the students.

At the interaction, which lasted over an hour, the Speaker emphasised that for Nigeria’s education sector to return to its former glory, adequate supervision and quality assurance in public schools must be prioritised by those responsible for running the sector.

He lamented what he described as the proliferation of private schools, which he said had led to an unacceptable decline in public schools across the country.

He remarked, “Even teachers in public schools now have their children in private schools because they no longer believe in what they are doing for a living.

“When we were growing up, there was no such thing as private schools because everyone, including the Emir, the commissioner, the minister, and the biggest business tycoon in town had to send their children to the available public schools.

“Everyone was invested in what happened there. For that reason, there was strict and adequate supervision of the teachers and those running the schools, which is why the standard was very high.Related News

“But today, it’s a different story altogether because even government officials no longer send their children to public schools due to the proliferation of private schools and the decline in standards in public schools,” he added.

The Speaker advised the students to work hard to realise their goals in life.

“You must embrace the culture of hard work if you want your patriotism to impact Nigeria. However, the current generation is a smart one that often seeks shortcuts to success without following due process. So please try to pay attention to details and follow due process. Also, believe in yourself and work hard. It worked for me,” Abbas said.

He also highlighted the importance of self-belief, recalling how he became self-reliant at a very young age after completing his secondary education, eventually becoming a teacher and a homeowner by 19 years of age.

“I was a trained teacher, and after my secondary education, I went straight into the classroom. Since then, I have never asked for financial assistance from my parents, and I became a homeowner at the age of 19.

“I remember the shock on my father’s face when I told him I was going for my youth service because he never knew I was at university. Because I believed in myself and wanted to do better, I took on the challenge of advancing my education without having to burden my parents again,” he added.

Stressing the importance of unity in diversity, Abbas urged the students to love their country as they love themselves.

“When you love your neighbour as you love yourself and relate to others as you would like them to relate to you, then your patriotism is well on its way to fruition. I view every Nigerian, male or female, as equal. I regard character as the foundation for good and purposeful relationships.

“If you consider my family background, you will see no issues of religious bias, even among my constituents.

“So, if you visit every religious sect in my constituency, you will see that I relate to them on an equal basis.

“In the House, we are brothers; we see one another as family,” Abbas stated.

The students were drawn from the six Area Councils that make up the FCT.