Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has expressed delight over the appointment of seasoned administrator, Dame Didi Esther Walson-Jack, as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by President Bola Tinubu.
Gov Diri said the news of her appointment on Wednesday was heartwarming, well received and has brought joy to the people of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation in general.
In a statement, issued to TVN, through the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Daniel Alabrah, Diri while congratulating the new appointee, described Didi Walson-Jack as a distinguished civil servant with an exceptional public service career.
The statement further said, ”Your appointment as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation is a significant milestone in your public service career”
“The government and people of Bayelsa State, and, indeed, the Ijaw nation are excited about this notable advancement and achievement of a worthy daughter of our state and the Ijaw nation”
While commending President Bola Tinubu, Governor Diri noted that it is equally gratifying that merit was not sacrificed for other primordial considerations in appointing Didi Walson-Jack.
He said, ”Mr President has again proven that he is a leader who is committed to fairness, justice, national integration and upholding the principles of federal character in his administration.
Tinubu respected federal character principle in Head of Service appointment- Gov Diri
Tinubu respected federal character principle in Head of Service appointment- Gov Diri
JAMB excludes inmates, albinos, PWDs from Post-UTME
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Thursday announced categories of candidates to be excluded from the post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination popularly known as Post-UTME.
The Registrar, JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed the set of candidates to be excluded as follows, “Candidates from outside Nigeria who applied through UTME/DE modes are exempted from the Post UTME screening test but can be screened after admission.
“Candidates with disabilities, including but not limited to those who are blind, deaf, mute, autistic, amputees, lame, paralyzed, have Down syndrome, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, albinism, cerebral palsy, and disfigurements, are exempt from the Post-UTME screening test.
“All institutions should clearly disclose this exemption in their advertisements for the Post-UTME screaning test and strictly enforce this policy,” Oloyede said.
Earlier, stakeholders pegged the minimum benchmark scores for admissions into universities as 140; polytechnics and colleges of education at 100 respectively.
Details later…
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PDP women storm party HQ, protest NWC neglect, intimidation
A group of aggrieved People’s Democratic Party women have staged a protest at the PDP’s National Secretariat, accusing the party’s National Working Committee of belittling members and exploiting them.
The protest followed a meeting called by the NWC, which failed to materialize as no member of the committee attended. Instead, junior staff were sent to represent them, leading the women to feel ridiculed and disrespected.
In a statement released on x.com on Thursday, the concerned PDP Women group expressed their frustration and disappointment with the NWC’s behavior. They accused the committee of intimidation, exploitation, and anti-people actions.
The women stated that they will not meet with the NWC again and are willing to pay the price for liberation, even with their lives. They urged the party to undertake a National Convention as a matter of urgency, warning that things will only get worse if action is not taken.
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VCs, others peg varsity admissions at 140
Stakeholders in the education sector on Thursday pegged the minimum benchmark score for admission into universities at 140.
The benchmark score is not the cut-off mark for admissions for all universities, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, explained during the ongoing policy meeting in Abuja.
The According reports that various institutions had sent their minimum benchmark scores to JAMB. Institutions such as Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos; Covenant University, Ogun state, Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun state and the University of Lagos were the only universities that recommended 200 and above.
Oloyede further cautioned Nigerians against news of JAMB setting cutoff marks.
“JAMB does not set cut-off mark. What we have is a minimum benchmark score that any university cannot go below. Different universities have their benchmark scores.”
Details later…
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Police block SSANU, NASU protest
The Nigeria Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, on Thursday, stopped the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, from embarking on a protest in Abuja.
As soon as the leadership of JAC started addressing members for the protest for onward movement to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, where they are to present letters to the ministers, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, arrived at the Unity Fountain and warned that there would be no protest.
Consequently, the police used an armoured vehicle and a Hilux van to block the entry and exit gates to stop the protest.
All entreaties made to the police by the leadership of the two unions could not persuade them to allow the aggrieved members to proceed with the protest rally.
Some of the non-teaching staff members had wanted to revolt against the police directive, but they were calmed down by their leaders not to do anything that could lead to violence.
The aggrieved staff wondered why the police could attempt to stop a peaceful protest in a democracy, describing the action as a bad omen for democracy.
To ensure that the letters were submitted to the relevant ministries, the leadership of JAC decided to use their vehicles instead of the initial peaceful protest to go to the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
The unions issued an ultimatum, warning that if the four months’ worth of withheld salaries are not paid by next week, they will have no choice but to embark on a full-scale strike, shutting down universities and inter-university centres nationwide
Those who addressed the protesting workers are the SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, the NASU President, Hassan Makolo, and the NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi.
Count Niger youths out of planned nationwide protest
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has assured Nigerians that Niger youths will not be part of the planned nationwide strike set for August 1 to 10 2024.
A widely publicised youth protest has been planned to drive home the current hunger and economic hardship facing the country.
Bago made this known on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Minna where he averred that the youths in the State were peaceful and would not be drawn into any national protest.
He called on the youths planning the protest to bury the thought saying, “We, as youths of Niger state, have distanced ourselves from the nationwide protest because we are peaceful and want peace and tranquillity.
“You can start demonstrations but you cannot end demonstrations. To youths who are agitating for this protest, let us end these agitations, let us communicate and dialogue on the best way forward.”
The governor announced the release of 50,000 metric tonnes of grains which, he said, would be sold at 50 per cent of its present price and called on security agencies to be on their toes in monitoring and ensuring that the directive is followed to the letter.
“We have over 100, 000 metric tonnes of food in our reserves out of which we will be releasing 50,000 metric tonnes to be sold at 50 per cent of its present price. Before the end of the year, we will slash food prices by 90 per cent,” he assured.
Bago who also announced his support for the autonomy of local governments urged the Chairmen to sit up saying that several of them could not pay salaries for a year. He also boasted that the state government did not depend on FAAC to finance its projects or move the state forward.
“I do not need FAAC in Niger state. The roads I am building and the projects I have undertaken are not being done by FAAC. We are producing and that is the secret behind what we are doing. There are people who have invested in Niger State in the next five years.
“The food I am giving out at a 50 per cent subsidy was originally meant for export but due to the hardship faced by the people, we have opened our warehouses to feed Nigerlites.”
In his remark on the planned protest, the Emir of Bida and the Chairman of the council of traditional rulers of Niger state, Abubakar Yahaya urged the youths not to be tempted to embark on the planned nationwide protest, saying that the protest is not a way to go.
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji in his address, also urged the youths of the state not to be part of the protest, stressing that the state would organize programmes for the youths to engage in.
FG to enforce ban on underage admission in 2025
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Thursday, reversed his ban on underage admissions following protests by stakeholders at the 2024 ongoing policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination.
Stakeholders protested the new minimum admission age pegged at 18 years.
Immediately, Prof. Mamman made the announcement, the stakeholders who turned out their members from across tertiary institutions in the country, voiced their resistance which turned the session into a rowdy one.
The minister who was unable to proceed with his address as a result of the uproar, had asked “Are we together?”
However, the stakeholders had responded with a resounding “No!”
The minister who seemed unperturbed with the development, continued with his address as he tried to give reasons for pegging the new admission benchmark at 18.
It took the intervention of the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, to restore order to the policy meeting.
However, after consultations with other stakeholders, Oloyede said, “At the time they (candidates) were taking the examinations, they were not aware. So if we want to enforce it then it should be for subsequent years.”
The minister, however, noted that the ban would be set aside for 2024 admissions.
“Information has revealed that the enrolment of underage candidates is inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system, hence, the need for enforcement of extant rules.
“When I was monitoring the just concluded 2024 UTME, I was alarmed at the participation of a large number of obviously under-age candidates in the examination.
“This necessitated my comment on the need to enforce the extant provisions of the educational policies which made provision for nine years of basic education and three years of Senior Secondary Education before entry into tertiary institution.
“It is clear that a child who, as expected is enrolled in basic school at the age of six and having undergone 12 years of education would be around 18 years old when being enrolled in a tertiary institution.
“Flowing from this, JAMB is hereby instructed to admit only eligible students’ i.e those who have attained 18 years.
“Universities are advised to avoid recommending unqualified children for admission,” he added
BREAKING: Minister makes u-turn, concedes to 16yrs University Admission benchmark for 2024
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has conceded his decision to peg the admission age of undergraduates to 18, following protests from stakeholders at the ongoing Policy meeting organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.
Mamman said Heads of tertiary institutions could be allowed to admit candidates who are 16 years of age, gain admission into tertiary institutions of their choice.
The minister was forced to succumb, following the argument that students under the age of 18 had already registered, sat and passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and were awaiting admission.
Leading the motion, Vice Chancellor of Elizade University Prof. Kayode Thadius Ijiadunola who got massive support from other heads, registrar and admission officers participating in the policy meeting, proposed 16 as the minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
He said, “What happens to those who have written this year’s exams and passed their exams? We reject 18 years as the minimum age requirement and are proposing 16 years.”
While the hall erupted in support of 16 years as a minimum requirement, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, asked where parents and candidates were rushing to?
Oloyede said: “The only point is they have taken examinations and at that time they were not told or aware and therefore if we want to enforce it, it should be from subsequent years.”
The minister in response had said, “I can work with that but I want to remind you of one thing, even that argument cannot stand if we want to go by the law which states 6-3-3-4 as our system of education, it won’t stand but for practical reasons, for this year, I will allow it to stand.”
Reiterating the minister’s decision amidst a resounding applause, Prof Oloyede added, “We thank the minister for conceding but from next year we will enforce it.”
Earlier, the minister while delivering his address as chairman of the 2024 Joint Admissions Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) policy meeting on Education holding on Thursday in Abuja, had called for enforcement of 18 years as the new minimum admission age for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.
Immediately after the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman made the announcement, the stakeholders who turned out their members from across tertiary institutions in the country, voiced resistance which turned the session into a rowdy one.
The minister who was unable to proceed with his address as a result of the uproar, had asked “are we together?”
However, the stakeholders had responded with a resounding “No!”
The minister who seemed unperturbed with the development, had continued with his address as he tried to give reasons for pegging the new admission benchmark at 18.
It took the intervention of the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, to restore order to the policy meeting with his plea of “Please pay attention please!”
The policy meeting on education is an annual event. It authorised the commencement of admission into tertiary institutions in the country.
More details later…
BREAKING: Minister makes u-turn, concedes to 16yrs University Admission benchmark for 2024
Italian journalist to pay €5,000 for mocking PM’s height
A Milan court has ordered a journalist to pay Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni damages of 5,000 euros ($5,465) for making fun of her in a social media post, news agency ANSA and other local media reported on Thursday.
The journalist, Giulia Cortese, was also given a suspended fine of 1,200 euros for a jibe on X in October 2021 about Meloni’s height that was defined as “bodyshaming”.
Meloni took legal action against Cortese after the two women clashed on social media.
Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy party was in opposition at the time, took exception when Cortese published a mocked-up photo of her with a picture of the late fascist leader Benito Mussolini in the background.
Cortese responded with further tweets including one that translates as “You don’t scare me, Giorgia Meloni. After all, you’re only 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall. I can’t even see you.”
Meloni’s height is given as between 1.58 m and 1.63 m on various media websites.
Cortese can appeal against the sentence, and Meloni’s lawyer said the prime minister would donate to charity any damages she eventually receives.
A high number of lawsuits brought against journalists were cited this year by Reporters without Borders, which relegated Italy five places to 46th in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
Meloni is not new to taking journalists to court. In 2023, a Rome court fined best-selling author Roberto Saviano 1,000 euros plus legal expenses after he insulted her on television in 2021 over her hardline stance on illegal immigration.
Journalists at Italian state broadcaster RAI went on strike in May in protest against the suffocating control over their work by Meloni’s government.
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BREAKING: Autonomy: Senate moves to establish Electoral Commission for LGAs
A Bill seeking to establish a federal agency for the conduct of local government elections has scaled first reading at the Senate.
The Bill titled, “Local Government Independent Electoral Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024” was sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa.
Details to follow…
BREAKING: Autonomy: Senate moves to establish Electoral Commission for LGAs