The Kano State Government has vowed to clamp down on schools holding online examinations despite the closure of learning institutions occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic .
The government , in a statement by the state Education Ministry , also dismissed reports that it was considering the reopening of schools , describing it as “ fake ” .
It, however , said the ministry received proposed guidelines for school reopening from the Federal Ministry of Education for review.
“ Kano State, like other states , received a document from the Federal Ministry of Education containing proposed guidelines to be put in place whenever it is appropriate to re – open schools . The government was asked to review the document and give our input .
“ The Ministry of Education constituted an Ad- hoc Committee to undertake the assignment . Its input will be transmitted back to the Federal Education Ministry, ” the statement partly read .
The ministry stressed that online classes are encouraged in the state but directed all private schools to desist from conducting assessment tests and examinations online.
It explained , “Government has already suspended the second term academic activities, especially test and conduct of examinations .
“ A circular has been sent to school operators to halt the conduct of students ’ assessments and examinations .
“ However , we reliably gathered that some schools operating within the state refused to adhere to the circular. Some are conducting various forms of assessment to the extent of collecting 3 rd term school fees from parents and went as far as collecting huge amounts as cost of data. This is a clear violation of the directive given by the Kano State Government.
“ It is to be noted that the ministry has compiled list of violators and will soon invite owners of such schools for proper disciplinary . No one is above the law . ”
The Minister of state for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba , while answering questions from journalists during the press conference , faulted the reopening of schools by governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State .
According to him , the Ministry of Eduction did not give out any guideline to Oyo State to reopen schools , emphasising that like all other sub – nationals , governors were under the constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria .
The Oyo State Government, last week, announced that the primary 6 pupils , the Junior Secondary School 3 , and the Senior Secondary School 3 students in the state would resume classes next Monday ( June 29 ) .
Makinde, who said that a team of experts were reviewing the pattern and progress made in the fight against the virus , said the opening of schools in the state was scheduled to be gradual .
The Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 said on Monday it had started reviewing the guidelines for lifting of the ban on interstate travels .
Speaking at the daily press briefing of the PTF in Abuja , the National Coordinator of the task force , Dr Sani Aliyu , said the roads would be opened when the bus termini in the country all had COVID- 19 preventive measures in place.
Aliyu stated this as the PTF Chairman , Boss Mustapha , disclosed that the Federal Government would next week decide on its lockdown policies, including the ban on interstate movements .
The PTF coordinator said the guidelines submitted by the Minister of State for Transportation , Gbemisola Saraki, was being reviewed and the roads would be opened as soon as it is safe to do so .
He said , “ At the moment , we still have restrictions on interstate travel . But we have been linking up with the Federal Ministry of Transportation through the Minister of State for Transportation .
“They have given us guidelines that they have developed : very detailed guidelines, and we have looked at them, summarised them and discussed at PTF last week.
“We have asked the Minister of State for Transportation to please engage with the road transport workers to make sure that the usual garages and parks that we have are ready in terms of guidelines that we have in place such as physical distancing , reducing the number of passengers per vehicle and provision of hand washing facilities etc .
“And I believe they are already working on this and hopefully, we should be able to open as soon as it is safe to do so . ”
Aliyu expressed worry over the lack of compliance with safety protocols and urged states to increase the rate of their COVID – 19 testing also asked them to make laws to make the wearing of masks in public space mandatory .
FG to take decision month end
Meanwhile , Mustapha , said the Federal Government would at the end of the month take a crucial decision on the lockdown declared to curtail the spread of COVID- 19 .
Mustapha said , “At the beginning of the month of June , the PTF announced a one – month period for the implementation of the second phase of eased lock down .
“We have continued to monitor developments nationwide in order to take informed decisions at the end of the month . We have exactly eight days to that point of decision. ”
While answering a question on whether the government might consider a total lockdown again , Mustapha assured Nigerians that the decision that would be taken by month end would not any way amount to a change in strategy.
He said if there would be a change in strategy, it would be expected to come from the side of Nigerians .
The All Progressives Congress members in Oyo State under the aegis of the Oyo State Aspirants ’ Forum have declared a three- day fasting and prayer session for the former governor of the state , Senator Abiola Ajimobi .
Ajimobi , who is the Acting National Chairman of the APC, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Lagos .
The APC forum , in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan , urged all its members to participate in the three- day fasting and prayer session effective Monday , June 22 .
The statement indicated that the former governor ’ s contribution to national development and the progress of the ruling party are most needed at this time than ever .
It also commiserated with families of the former chairman of the Alliance for Democracy in the state , Pa Samuel Farinu, and the former chairman of the APC in Oyo Central Senatorial District , Pa S . M Akindele , who passed on recently .
“ We pray for the repose of the duo of Pa Farinu and Akindele who were committed Awoists and core Progressives during their lifetime , ” the statement read .
The Federal Government has been urged to jettison its proposal to disengage the N-Power beneficiaries.
Appealing a press briefing in Umuahia, National Chairman of Isun Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Sir Isaac Nkole, said the move would be counter -productive.
He said that the scheme had made tremendous impacts in some key sectors of the economy such as agriculture and education; stressing that any idea to discontinue the programme “is ill-advised and makes no economic sense.”
Nkole noted that several university graduates had been engaged in teaching primary school pupils through N-Power, a development, he explained, had improved the quality of education in primary schools especially in rural communities.
He further argued that disengaging the beneficiaries after giving them hope and little succour for about four years would not only worsen the unemployment situation in the country but lead to increase in crime wave as well as suicide cases.
In his words; ” The introduction of N-Power stands out as one of the best policies of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari. A lot of graduates have been engaged through the scheme. Some of them are in N-Teach, N-Agro, N-Tax and N-build. I appeal to President Buhari not to listen to anyone advising him to disengage the beneficiary as being speculated that the programme will be stopped by the 26th of this month.
“The questions are; If you disengage these graduates that are helping to improve the quality of education in primary schools, where do you want them to go? Is it to the over-saturated labour market or the crime industry?”
Nkole, however, urged the President not to make the mistake of laying off N-Power beneficiaries because of the grave implications of such action.
He rather urged the President to look for a way of permanently absorbing the beneficiaries into full civil service.
Nkole whose cooperative is in charge of disbursing the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Covid -19 loan to households and Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in South East and South South geopolitical zones, applauded the President for the gesture.
Mr. Nkole who said the loan had seriously assisted several households recover from the harsh impacts of the covid -19 pandemic, disclosed that over 2000 persons had benefitted from the scheme in the zones.
Nkole who said Buhari’s administration had made appreciable efforts in the fight against poverty through some laudable programmes like Covid -19 loan, Trader Money, and N-Power, urged the President not to relent.
He promised that the Isun Cooperative Society as one of the accredited cooperative societies in the disbursement of the covid -19 loan, would ensure “it gets to the people in the grass roots equitably”.
“This is the first time the down trodden in society is getting interest -free federal loans without stress. It’s amazing and it has restored the hope of many homes today.”
Nkole who said beneficiaries in the household category got up to N500,000 per person payable after three years, advised them to invest the money wisely, noting that “it’s a loan and not grant”.
He hinted that disbursement for the SME category would soon commence, and commended Buhari for his commitment in eliminating poverty among Nigerians.
In a renewed effort aimed at getting all workers in its employment to enroll on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS), the federal government has issued a fresh directive to all staff of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to enroll on the scheme on or before Thursday, June 18, 2020.
The latest directive by the federal government was extended to agencies not formerly captured by the salary platform, including departments and agencies in the oil and gas sector.
The two unions in the oil and gas sector, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), confirmed the deadline in their protest letter to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva at the weekend.
The unions said that their members would not register on IPPIS until the issues relating to peculiarities in the oil and gas sector are sorted out.
“We are in receipt of a copy of a directive from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation directing federal ministries, departments and agencies to enroll on IPPIS on or before Thursday, June 18, 2020, threatening to stop further release of personnel cost if the directive is ignored.
“ Please be informed that the association/union’s apprehension about IPPIS stems from the fact that it discountenances the peculiarities of the oil and gas industry, with regard to the collective bargaining agreement and approved pay structure between the unions and federal government through the Income, Salaries and Wages Commission.
The unions kicked against the directive by the Accountant General, insisting that its members would not comply with directive on the enrollment into IPPIS.
In a protest letter written to the Minister of State for Petroleum by PENGASSAN and NUPENG, the unions said that they were surprised that the Accountant General is ignoring the existing payment platform,
Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).
“We reiterate that industrial peace in the sector cannot be guaranteed if the salaries of our members are stopped or if the implementation is carried out unilaterally without our input,” it said.
The two unions said they are expecting the minister to use his good offices to prevail on the Accountant General not to implement the directive on the enrollment into IPPIS until the issued around it are amicably resolved
THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB,has told candidates jubilating for meeting its set benchmark for admission into tertiary institutions not to rely on the cut-off point.
JAMB said meeting its cut-off mark was not a guarantee for admission,explaining that there were other different factors for consideration for admission.
According to the board which stated this in its weekly news bulletin, released to the media Monday, by its Head of Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin,”The undue attention to the so-called national minimum UTME score (UTME cut-off point), is a major source of failure of many ill-informed candidates who assumed that they have finally attained the benchmark having achieved the so called minimum national score or “cut off point’ for admission.”
It said even with its benchmark, “each institution determines and submits to JAMB its minimum UTME score; after having analyzed the UTME performances of its applicants against its available quota.”
The board also explained that,”Decisions at the annual Policy Meeting on Admission does not reduce the minimum prescription of the institutions except the few institutions whose submitted minimum UTME- scores fall below what the Policy Meeting considers as the minimum score acceptable.”
“No uniform minimum UTME score (cut -off) for all Universities, Polytechnics or Colleges of Education in Nigeria; each Institution determines and submits to JAMB its minimum UTME score; after having analyzed the UTME performances of its applicants against its available quota,” it explained.
The board said,”There is a layer of misconceptions on what is generally described as “uniform minimum national UTME score” for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
“For long, many candidates and some members of the general public have come under erroneous impression that there is a minimum national UTME score, which they also refer to as “cut -off point”.
“The truth is that there is no one particular national minimum UTME score for all Universities, Polytechnics or Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
” It has never been. Similarly, in most cases, UTME score is not the sole determinant of placement of candidates into tertiary institutions,”it said.
According to JAMB,”It is therefore a double jeopardy for many candidates who swallow the popular myth that there is a uniform UTME score (cut-off) for all Universities, Polytechnics or Colleges of Education in Nigeria.”
“The myth also incorporates the erroneous impression that it is only the UTME score that constitutes the benchmark for admission.
“These are far from the truth. Such candidates on attainment of particular grade in UTME celebrate in advance their imminent placements, which in reality may not be at the end of the day,” it added.
In the bulletin, JAMB said:”The Board has repeatedly stated that: No uniform minimum UTME score (cut -off) for all Universities, Polytechnics or Colleges of Education in Nigeria; each Institution determines and submits to JAMB its minimum UTME score; after having analyzed the UTME performances of its applicants against its available quota.”
The bulletin read further: “UTME score is just one of the two or three scores that are generally added together to obtain the eventual aggregate score and ranking of the candidates.
” Other parameters are Post-UTME /Post -A/L qualifications screening/test score; O/L grade score; and in some cases, physical test (such as applicable in the Nigerian Defence Academy/Police Academy).Therefore, It is the score from all the segments that are added together to have eventual ranking table or “cut off” score.
“For the 2020 admission exercise, for example, no candidate with a UTME score of 209 can be considered for admission into any programme at the Pan African University (PAN) whose minimum UTME score is 210. Also, no candidate with a UTME score of 199 can be admitted into any of the following universities whose minimum score is 200:Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife; University of Ibadan;Covenant University, Ota;
The Federal Government has summoned the Chargè d’ Affaires of the High Commission of Ghana to Nigeria , Ms Iva Denoo, over the demolition of parts of the Nigerian embassy in Ghana .
The Minister of Foreign Affairs , Geoffrey Onyeama, made this known .
The minister noted that Nigeria had asked the ambassador to give an “ urgent explanation ” on the recent attacks on apartments in the country’ s High Commission in Accra .
He tweeted, “ Summoned the Chargè d’ Affaires of the High Commission of # Ghana to Nigeria , Ms Iva Denoo to demand urgent explanation on the recent attacks on a residential building in our diplomatic premises and reinforcement of security around diplomatic premises and staff . ”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that some unidentified armed men attacked the building in Accra , the capital city on Friday , demolishing some apartments under construction .
The building was being constructed to house staff and visiting diplomats to the High Commission .
Both the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments had condemned the attack .
In its reaction , the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement said unidentified individuals allegedly breached the premises of the Nigerian High Commission and demolished the property under construction at about 10 . 30 p. m.
“ The Ministry views with concern this development which is a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“ Investigations are ongoing to unravel the facts of the matter and bring the perpetrators to book .
“ Meanwhile , the Ghanaian government has beefed – up security at the said facility and the situation is under control .
“ Whilst expressing regrets over the incident the Ministry wishes to reassure the Diplomatic community in Ghana and the Nigerian High Commission in particular that Ghana remains a law – abiding country.
The Oyo State civil and public servants of all grade levels , on Monday fully resumed work following the directive of the state government after a three- month stay – at – home order.
The state secretariat was closed on March 27 as part of the measures to check the spread of the COVID- 19 pandemic .
The secretariat, however , reopened on April 27 to workers on grade level 13 and above.
Governor Seyi Makinde, the State Chairman of the COVID- 19 Task Force on June 15 after a meeting by the task force , directed other categories of state workers to resume work on June 22 .
The News Agency of Nigeria correspondent who monitored the resumption, reports that some of the workers were seen trooping into the secretariat complex as early as 7 :10 a . m. wearing their face masks.
Those that resumed substantially complied with the COVID- 19 guidelines.
The ministries and agencies placed handwashing buckets , liquid detergent , and hand sanitisers at the entrance of their respective offices.
NAN also reports that cleaning of some of the offices was ongoing while some workers who resumed early at their duty posts were seen dusting tables , chairs , and files in readiness for work.
Mr Akin Olaitan , a level 10 officer, said two face masks were provided for each civil servant as they resumed at their respective ministries.
Olaitan commended the state government for the provision of the face masks and other items to contain COVID- 19 infection among the civil servants .
Mrs Foluke Adekunle and Miss Eunice Adeyemi , both on grade level 9 , were happy for returning to duty after almost three months of compulsory break .
The duo urged their colleagues to abide by the COVID- 19 guidelines and other precautionary measures outlined by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and state government , to contain/prevent the spread of the pandemic .
When contacted for comment , the State Head of Service , Mrs Ololade Agboola , through her Media Officer , Mr Abiodun Atilola , said an official statement would be issued on workers ’ resumption before the close of work on Monday .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) Is currently meeting with some state governors elected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress .
The meeting holding inside the Presidential Villa , Abuja , is part of efforts aimed at resolving the crisis currently rocking the ruling party .
The governors were led to the meeting by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum , Atiku Bagudu , who is the Kebbi State governor.
Others in attendance as of the time of filing this report include Plateau State Governor , Simon Lalong ; and his Jigawa State counterpart , Abubakar Badaru .
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