Nigerian Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS) Communique
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) MEETING HELD AT FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE BETWEEN 7 TH AND 9 TH OCTOBER, 2022 (11 TH – 13 TH RABI’UL-AWWAL, 1444 AH).
INTRODUCTION: Nigeria Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS) held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at Federal College of Education Yola, Adamawa State between 7 th and 9 th October, 2022 (11 th – 13 th Rabi’ul-Awwal, 1444 AH).
The meeting was attended by the National Executive members, State Chairmen and Secretaries across the country. The opening Ceremony was attended by the Kaigama of Jimeta, Alhaji Usman Ahmad Dada. OBSERVATIONS After thorough deliberations on the matters affecting the teaching and learning of Arabic and Islamic Studies, the Meeting observed that:
1- The 39 th Annual National Conference of the Association would hold between 16 th and 21 st December 2022 at Maiduguri, Borno State.
2- There is acute shortage of teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies in public Primary and Secondary Schools in Adamawa State and complete absence of the twin disciplines in Adamawa State University Mubi and Modibbo Adama University, Yola. The same is the case in some other States in the Federation.
3- The Bill establishing National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) submitted to the National Assembly has been set for public hearing on 11 th October 2022 amidst several challenges.
4- The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike has lingered for so long a time and the conflicting parties are not ready to shift grounds despite the intervention of many stakeholders in the country.
5- The campaign for the 2023 general elections has been flagged-off and campaign teams were formed by the political parties.
6- The climate change has affected several States in Nigeria resulting to extinction of many villages engulfed by flood.
8 th October, 2022
RECOMMENDATIONS In view of the above observations, the meeting recommends that:
1- Stakeholders in Arabic and Islamic Studies and the general public, in and outside the country, should endeavour to participate and present academic papers in the NATAIS conference, Borno, 2022.
2- Adamawa State Government should expedite action in recruiting the available and qualified teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies into public Primary and Secondary Schools in the State and introduce the Departments of Arabic and Islamic Studies in all relevant tertiary institutions in the State. Other States should also do the needful in making provision for Arabic and Islamic Studies in their institutions of learning.
3- All stakeholders should contribute positively to the Public Hearing on the Bill establishing NBAIS to ensure fair hearing and speedy passage of the Bill. NBAIS management should work hard to address all the identified challenges.
4- Federal Government of Nigeria and ASUU should continue to dialogue towards amicable resolution of the conflicts that caused the strike action to rescue public tertiary institutions from imminent collapse in the country.
5- Political parties should uphold the ethics of campaign enshrined in the Electoral Act to ensure peaceful conduct and enduring democracy in the country.
6- Government at all levels should adhere to the professional advice and guidelines in respect to climate change, be proactive in evacuating people from the flood prone areas and come to the aid of the affected areas with humanitarian assistance.
CONCLUSION
The National Executive Committee of NATAIS expresses its profound appreciation to the good people and Government of Adamawa State, Adamawa Emirate Council, Management of the Federal College of Education Yola for giving us the favourable ambience for a successful hosting.
The NEC also appreciate the Local Organizing Committee and all participants for making the NEC meeting a success.
Issued by: Prof Musa Adesina Abdu-Raheem, the President and Dr. Muhammad Shariff Ramadan, the Secretary.
