51 months after a fire incident claimed the lives of two female students of the Federal Government College, Keffi in Nasarawa State, the House of Representatives has recommended that the Federal Government pays N40 million as compensation to the families of the two girls who died when two of the school’s hostels were gutted by the fire.
Each family is billed to receive N20 million.
In addition, the House recommended at its Wednesday sitting a staff of the school, Mr Cyril Ajochi, who put his own life at risk to save three other trapped students be given a commendation letter by the Ministry. He is also to be presented for honour at the next World Teachers’ Day.
Other recommendations of the lower chamber of the National Assembly are:
▪︎that a letter of unreserved apology be written by the Federal Ministry of Education to the Parents of Miss Favour Ojima Omali and Miss Gloria Sabo Gajere for the negligence of the Management of the College that led to their untimely death;
▪︎that the burnt College Hostel be named after Miss Ojima Favour Tony – Omali and Miss Glory Sabo Gajere or simply called Ojima and Glory Hostel for paying the supreme price occasioned by incessant fire outbreaks in the College’s history.
Endorsing the report of its Committee on Basic Education and Services, led by Rep. Julius O. Ihonvbere, the federal lawmakers noted some structural negligence that led to the fire and death of the students.
Other recommendations of the committee endorsed by the full House are:
▪︎that the Ministry must ensure that building codes are strictly adhered to in future construction of Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs’);
▪︎that the existing hostels in FUCs’ should be redesigned to accommodate Porter’s Apartments within the hostels and the construction of new ones in the nearest future should be designed in that manner;
▪︎that there should be provision for firefighting equipment in all hostels in the Federal Unity Colleges;
▪︎that there should be periodic training of all students in FUCs on how to apply lives saving equipment with a view to averting any fire outbreak in the future;
▪︎that provisions should be made for solar lights in the nooks and crannies of FUCs to aid visibility at night;
▪︎that the Principal and Hostels Porters should reside in the Colleges at all times;
▪︎that there is a need to check corruption in the award of contracts in Federal Unity Colleges’;
▪︎that the Ministry of Education should be responsible for the payment of all outstanding hospital bills incurred by the parents of Juan Joshua and subsequent treatment until she is stabilized /healed;
Media reports over four years ago stated that the unfortunate fire started around 7:45 pm on Sunday, November 26, 2017 and continued until the next morning.
The fire was said to have reduced the entire structure to ashes.
“The students were in the dining hall when the fire started. Books and properties of the students were all razed down, nothing was removed,” a senior staff of the school was quoted as saying.
“One student, who did not go to the dining hall and was sleeping in one of the hostels, was almost affected.
“Immediately she sensed the smoke, she jumped through the window and sustained some slight injuries….”
The staff while describing the incident as “shocking and devastating” said it was the first time such would happen in the history of the 18-year-old school.
“The first term examination was scheduled to start (Monday), but with this development, no one is sure of what to do next. We shall wait for further directives from the federal ministry of education,” he said.