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The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo – Agege , has said the Senate would commence the much awaited constitution amendment exercise after the Sallah break, next week.

He also explained that the sexual harassment bill which he sponsored, was not targeted at lecturers .

He said the proposed law , recently passed by the Senate, was meant to flush out the few bad eggs tarnishing the image of university teachers .

Omo – Agege stated this when two groups – Women Education Advocacy and Development Initiative and League of Women Voters of Nigeria , – paid him courtesy visits.

On the constitution amendment exercise , he explained that the committee would swing into action immediately after the Sallah break .

The Senator pointed out that rights of women and the girl – child would be protected in the exercise .

He added that the panel would take into account experiences from other African countries .

He said , “ Immediately after the Sallah , we are going to hit the ground running with constitution review exercise . There are a lot of bills dealing with women rights advancement .

“ We will take the Ugandan and Rwandan experiences into account to see how we can meet up with the agitation of our women in the constitution review exercise , ” he stated .

Punch

The Federal Government says this year ’ s Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations for SSS3 pupils organised by the National Examination Council will start October 5 and end November 18 .

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director , Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong.

In the statement titled, ‘ FG Rolls Out Schedule For National Examination ’ , the ministry also said the National Business and Technical Examination Board examination would commence effective September 21 through October 15 .

“ Registration for NECO ( SSCE) which is ongoing will end on the 10 th of September 2020 and there shall be no extension for registration whatsoever , ” the statement noted .

The statement while noting that the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba , made the announcement today in Abuja, added , “The minister , therefore , directed all examination bodies to release details of their examination timetables in the next seven days . ”

Punch

The Federal Government says this year’ s National Common Entrance Examination organised by the National Examination Council will hold on October 17 .

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director , Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong.

In the statement titled, ‘ FG Rolls Out Schedule For National Examination ’ , the ministry added that the Basic Education Certificate Examinations for JSS 3 pupils also organised by NECO would commence August 24 and end September 7 .

The statement while noting that the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba , made the announcement today in Abuja, stated , “ The National Common Entrance Examination ( NCEE) which is a one – day examination for intending applicants into Unity Colleges (JSS 1 ) will run in between the Senior Secondary School Examinations i . e . on Saturday, 17 th October 2020 .

“ The minister , therefore , directed all examination bodies to release details of their examination timetables in the next seven days . ”

Punch

Though the Federal Ministry of Education has given go- ahead for resumption of JSS3 and SS3 classes in secondary schools, only SS3 classes will resume in Lagos, Ogun states.

While Lagos Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo and Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo confirmed resumption for only SS3 pupils, Ekiti Education Commissioner, Mr. Foluso Daramola said a decision would be taken about whether JSS3 classes would resume after a meeting with Governor Kayode Fayemi.

“I am just coming from a meeting at the Governor’s office on the issue. We will make a statement on it,” she said.

In Ogun State, Mrs. Soyombo said schools considered to be high risk would not be allowed to reopen.

She said they would be identified through their responses documented on the online school reopening form.

If they choose the ‘risky’ option (coded red) more than ‘moderate’ (yellow) or ‘none’ (green) in response to questions about the readiness of their facilities for resumption, they would have to improve before they resume.
Schools have until Friday evening to fill and submit the form online.

She said: “For schools that fill mostly red (risky) in all the fields concerning what they need for resumption, we will not reopen those schools. We may need to do contingency plan for their students.”

Soyombo said Ogun Deputy Governor, who leads the committee on reopening of schools, flagged off a series of meetings with principals, teachers, school owners, and other stakeholders under the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology on Monday in collaboration with the ministry of health.

Federal Government Colleges (aka Unity Schools) will resume August 4 for SS3 pupils only.

Mr. K. Oladejo, a teacher at Queen’s College Yaba, one of the 104 unity schools, said only SS3 pupils are expected when the school resumes.

However, Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Gong, said the PTF announcement on whether JSS3 pupils would resume would be made on Thursday.

“Announcements to that effect will be made on Thursday this week at the COVID-19 briefings,” he said.

Heads of Examining bodies met with FME officials on Tuesday in Abuja to discuss scheduling of other examinations apart from the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

Public Relations Officer of the National Examinations Council (NECO) Azeez Sani said the examining body was ready to conduct the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) once the FME gives the go- ahead.

TheNation

The Federal Government said the current regime ’ s anti -corruption war was not waning but alive and well.

It then asked those who feel otherwise , especially leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party , to dare the law and bear the consequence.

The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this at a press conference in Abuja .

He said Nigerians have recently been inundated with allegations of monumental corruption in a number of government agencies, including the NDDC , NSITF , and the anti – corruption agency , EFCC .

He said , “Many , especially naysayers, have misinterpreted these developments as a sign that the administration ’ s fight against corruption is waning.

“ In fact , the main opposition PDP has latched on to the developments to call for the resignation of Mr President , a call that is nothing but infantile !

“ Let me state here and now that the fight against corruption , a cardinal programme of this administration , is alive and well.

“ President Muhammadu Buhari , the African Union ’ s Anti- Corruption Champion , who also has an impeccable reputation globally , remains the driver of the fight and no one , not the least the PDP under whose watch Nigeria was looted dry , can taint his image or reverse the gains of the fight .

“ Anyone who disagrees that the anti -corruption fight is alive and well is free to dare us . ”

Punch

The Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed , said the present regime has recovered looted funds in excess of N800 bn.
He said the regime also recorded over 1 , 400 convictions .

Mohammed said this at a press conference in Abuja.

He said , “ This administration ’ s fight against corruption is as strong as ever , and we have the records to back up this claim .

“ This administration has recorded over 1 , 400 convictions , including high profile ones , and recovered funds in excess of N800 bn, not to talk of forfeiture of ill – gotten properties .

“ This is no mean feat . ”

Punch

The Federal Government has declared Thursday , July 30 and Friday, July 31 , 2020 as public holidays to mark this year ’ s Eid – el – Kabir celebrations .

This was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary , Federal Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah .

The statement was titled, ‘ Federal Government Declares 30 and 31 July, 2020 Public Holidays To Mark Eid – el -Kabir Celebration’ .

According to the statement , the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola , while making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Muslim faithful and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on the occasion .

“ He called on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love , peace , kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon Him ) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country especially as the world is witnessing global health challenges caused by Covid – 19 pandemic , ” the statement added.

The minister , who assured Nigerians that the regime of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , is “ committed to battling the scourge with the cooperation of all Nigerians , emphasised that the government would continue to foster peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and stability in its march towards actualizing the full potentials of the country” .

Aregbesola , while wishing Muslim faithful happy celebrations, advised all Nigerians to take responsibility against the spread of the virus by observing social distancing , personal and respiratory hygiene , as well as other regulations issued by relevant authorities

The Chairman of the Committee of Vice- Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities , Prof . Timothy Olagbemiro , has said private universities are ready to resume .

Olagbemiro , in an interview with news correspondent , said the private universities had big campuses with small population which would give room for social distancing .

He maintained that resumption would be done in phases , adding that university laboratories also needed to be opened for researches to take place.

“ Once we are given the green light , we will put everything needed in place. We have big campuses with small population . We don ’ t want to resume fully , we want to do it in phases whereby the year one and graduating students can resume to take their final exams after which the year two and three will follow suit .

“ We need the universities to open their laboratories so we can do researches in them . You can ’ t close universities and say you want to do research . ”

He said it was necessary to take cognizance of COVID- 19 while he noted that everyone needed to learn to live with it.

“ It is important that we are careful because of COVID- 19 ; of course , it will stay with us for a long time but we have to provide screening, face mask , sanitisers , temperature checker and the likes for our staff and students , ” Olagbemiro said .

He also appealed to NUC to consider their request to reopen schools .

“ We have written to NUC , they should look in to our request and see if it is visible for us to open our universities . We are also job providers and we need to pay salaries , ” Olagbemiro said .

Punch

An independent panel of experts, headed by former Irish president Mary Robinson, has cleared the beleaguered leader of the African Bank of Development (AfDB) of corruption, according to a report obtained by AFP.

Akinwumi Adesina, 60, a charismatic speaker known for his elegant suits and bow ties, became the first Nigerian to helm the AfDB in 2015 — but a 15-page report earlier this year claimed that under his watch the bank had been tarred by poor governance, impunity, personal enrichment and favouritism.

The panel of three experts, led by Robinson alongside Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and the World Bank’s integrity vice president Leonard McCarthy, cleared Adesina of all charges alleged by whistleblowers.

“The Panel concurs with the Committee in its findings in respect of all the allegations against the President and finds that they were properly considered and dismissed by the Committee,” report concluded.

The African banking institution and Adesina — who is the sole candidate for the bank’s August’s presidential elections — has been battered by the rollercoaster of allegations after the whistleblowers’ complaints were leaked to the media in April.

The former Nigerian finance minister had always stated he was “innocent” of the charges.

Robinson — who led Ireland from 1990 to 1997 before serving as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights until 2002 — dismissed the 16 whistleblower allegations against Adesina.

The panel did not investigate the charges themselves, as that was not within their mandate.

The AfDB plays an important if largely behind-the-scenes role in African economies, financing projects in agriculture, health, energy, education, transport and other development sectors.

AFP

The Federal Government has said Secondary schools in the country will reopen on August 4, 2020 for pupils in exit classes to sit for their examination.

The government said students will have two weeks to prepare for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination organised by the West Africa Examination Council.

WAEC exams, the government said will commence on 17th of August, 2020.

The government announced the decision at the end of a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), the proprietors of private schools, and Chief Executives of examination bodies.

In a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, FMoE, Ben Goong, said “stakeholders at the meeting agreed that the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, from the 4th of August, 2020 to enable them prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from the 17th of August, 2020.

“The meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and public spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track the preparations of safe reopening, as agreed.

“Another meeting is to be convened tomorrow between the Federal Ministry of Education and Chief Executives of examination bodies namely, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their examination dates, which will be conveyed to stakeholders expeditiously by the Federal Ministry of Education.”

TheNation