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The Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate , has been shut down indefinitely as the crisis between the Students Union of the institution and the management led by the Provost , Dr Jospeh Adeagbo , got messier .

The Students Union ’ s President , Olaitan Muhammad , in an interview with news correspondent on the telephone confirmed that the college had been shut down by the Governing Council .

The students had embarked on protests over the alleged failure of the college to produce identity cards for students despite collecting money from them.

They claimed that some dangerous animals had been attacking them during lectures because of the bushes surrounding the place.

But the management of the school in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the college , Adeniyi Jolaoso , said academic and social activities were going on well at the college before the students suddenly embarked on a protest on November 5 .

The statement read , “ The college management wishes to assure that it charges one of the lowest school fees in the country, in consonance with the directive of the Governor Seyi Makinde- led administration and payment of all fees is made into the Treasury Single Account ( TSA ) of the Oyo State Government.

“ So , there are no outrageous fees charged by the college . Any demand for any payment other than that into the Treasury Single Account should be reported immediately.

“ Students are also encouraged to pick up their ID cards that have been lying down ready for collection at the Student Affairs office while those who are yet to undertake their photo capture for the student ID card should approach the schedule officer at the ICT and collect their ID card not later than one week after the capture . ”

Punch

The House of Representatives has asked the Inspector General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , to forward a list of slain officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force especially those who died during the recent # EndSARS protests.

Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs , Bello Kumo , told the IGP , who appeared before the lawmakers in Abuja for 2021 budget defence , that that budgetary allocation would be made to compensate the slain policemen and repair the damaged or burnt stations.

Kumo told the police boss that the Speaker , Femi Gbajabiamila ; Deputy Speaker , Ahmed Wase, and the leadership of the House mandated him to convey the instruction to him ( Adamu) .

At least , 11 persons have been reported dead with five hospitalised following the outbreak of a strange sickness in the Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State .

The five persons being hospitalised are said to be battling for survival .
Unconfirmed report indicated that it was an outbreak of cholera as the symptoms closely compare with the deadly disease .

However , the state government said the claim could not be immediately established as results of samples taken from the victims were still being awaited .

Residents of the community said tthe first case was recorded at Ariku village, where five people had, so far , been reported dead .

It was learnt that the disease later spread to Lagun village where six persons were confined dead .

The Caretaker Chairman , Lagelu Local Government Area , Mr Kelani Abdullahi , said the cause of the cases was being investigated.

Abdullahi said , “ So far , 11 persons have lost their lives to the epidemic , with five persons hospitalised while four persons have been discharged. ”

The Commissioner for Health in the state , Dr Bashiru Bello, said , “ The tests carried out on the affected persons are still premature and the samples collected have not confirmed the sickness to be cholera . ”

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has warned political office holders and policymakers against paying lip service to youth unemployment.

He challenged his colleagues in positions of authorities to factor youth employment and empowerment into the 2021 budget so as to escape another round of # EndSARS protests.

Lawan gave the warning when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development , Mr Sabo Nanono , led top officials of his ministry to defend its 2021 budget before the Senate Committee on Agriculture .

The Senate President said , “ Recently , we had protests by some of our youths . Some of them, very genuine , were seeking the attention of leaders and they got the attention .

“ So , our budget , especially for 2021 , should be mindful of what we do to provide employment opportunities for these youths .

“ They demonstrated , they protested because they could do so . There are so many other people who may not be youthful but are also in the same need . They didn ’ t protest .

“ Let us meet them where they are , we don ’ t want to wait until they also start to grumble or protest we should be proactive . ”

Nigeria may be heading towards another economic crisis with crude oil production threatened as the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has directed its members to proceed on a nationwide indefinite strike.

The strike may also affect fuel supply across the country.

PENGASSAN said the directive became exigent following the federal government’s breach of agreement on Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) implementation and redundancy in Baker Hughes.

The association had on November 2, 2020, issued a seven-day ultimatum to government agencies and institutions to protest its members’ inclusion in IPPIS.

PENGASSAN, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Lumumba Okugbawa, regretted that upon the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, their demands had not been met.

“In view of the above and with the expiration of the ultimatum and subsequent extension, you are hereby advised to withdraw your services effective 12 midnight on Sunday, November 8, 2020.

“Please ensure that your branch members fully comply with this directive while you await further directives,” the statement said.

The statement urged all zonal offices to monitor compliance and report the same to the national secretariat of the union.

Thisday

The National Examinations Council has announced the resumption of the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination in all states and the Federal Capital Territory, effective Monday , November 9 2020 .

NECO Head of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani , made the announcement in a statement issued , titled, ‘ Resumption of the 2020 SSCE ( Internal )’.

He said , “ The National Examinations Council wishes to inform candidates , schools and other stakeholders of the resumption of the 2020 Senior School Certificate Examination in all states and the FCT from Monday , November 9 2020 .

“ The council was constrained to postpone the examinations indefinitely on Monday , October 25 2020 due to security challenges occasioned by the # EndSARS protests, which disrupted the smooth conduct of the examinations in some parts of the country.

“ Following the return of normalcy in the states and FCT, the examinations will now continue with a new time -table from Monday November 9 , 2020 , to Saturday, November 28 2020 .

“ This new timetable will be made available to the general public , schools and candidates from Wednesday , November 4 2020 . The timetable can also be downloaded from the NECO official website.

“ The council thanks the general public and candidates for their patience and understanding during the period the SSCE was suspended .

“ NECO assures the general public of quality service in the discharge of her statutory responsibilities at all times . ”

Punch

The West African Examinations Council has released the results of the 2020 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination .

Head of the National office , Patrick Areghan , said a total of 1 , 549 , 740 registered for the examination.

Areghan said 1 , 338 , 348 candidates representing 86 . 99 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects – with or without English Language and /or Mathematics .

He said 1 , 003 , 668 candidates representing 65 . 24 per cent obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects , including English Language and Mathematics .

To check the results , candidates were asked to visit the website of WAEC.

A statement from WAEC quoted Areghan as saying that the results of 215 , 149 candidates , representing 13 . 98 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld .

He said , “ A total of 1 , 549 , 740 candidates registered for the examination from 19 , 129 recognised secondary schools in Nigeria. Of the number that registered for the examination, 1 , 538 , 445 candidates sat the examination.

“ The examination was also administered to candidates from some schools in Benin Republic , Ivory Coast , and Equatorial Guinea where the Nigeria curriculum for Senior Secondary School is being used .

Punch

THE Federal Government last night said that it will commence the distribution of free meters with the target of getting 30 million consumers.

The National Mass Metering Programme, NMMP, is expected to commence today, Friday, October 30, 2020, and to be simultaneously launched in Kano, Kaduna, Eko and Ikeja DISCO franchise areas.

The free meter distribution, a Presidency source said was in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to ensure mass metering in the country and in the process put an end to the problems of estimated billing in the electricity sector.

The Presidency sources disclosed that the locations to receive meters include Bawo Road and environs in Kano metropolis (KEDCO), Governor Road/Tudun Wada in Kaduna (Kaduna Electric), Oshodi Business Unit in Ikeja (Ikeja Electric), and Yaba and Surulere (Eko DISCO).

The presidency source added that key stakeholders to monitor the launch of the distribution include Kaduna, Kano and Lagos State Government representatives, the Senate Committee and House Chair on Power as well as representatives of Organized Labour and Civil Society Organizations.

It said the “NMMP is to roll out six million meters for all connections points on grid without meters over the next 18 to 24 months, estimating to impact 30 million consumers nationwide.

“Following Mr President’s directive on mass metering, the Central Bank of Nigeria, on October 18th, approved guidelines for funding the mass metering programme which entailed that all meters under the scheme will be locally sourced, creating thousands of manufacturing jobs through lead manufacturers such as MOMAS, MOJEC and others.”

The source further said that” the launch of the NMMP will be part of a continuous effort where all DisCos will go from location to location across the country with their respective Meter Asset Providers to install meters for all Nigerians.”

Vanguard

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has accused the Federal Government of frustrating efforts to resolve issues that led to the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the lecturers .

The National President , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi , said this on Politics Today , a programme aired on Channels Television and monitored by news correspondent .

He explained that the Federal Government has refused to take the necessary steps in addressing the strike action .

According to him , the delay in adopting ASUU ’ s preferred platform , the University Transparency and Accountability Solution , is one of the major reasons why the strike has not been suspended.

He said , “ The strike is still on as a result of the FG not taking the necessary steps. We gave them two weeks to address our five points demands.

“ We engaged the government but they were not forthcoming . They had a whole year to address those issues . They gave us positions that were not acceptable to our members .

“ During our first meeting , we thought they were almost resolving the issues .

“ What compounded the problem is the issue of IPPIS. We have said that it is a distraction . There is no university in the world that IPPIS is being used .

“ We have done three presentations of UTAS to the Minister of Education and his team, the leadership of Senate and Office of the Accountant- General . They only agreed that UTAS is accepted in principles .

“ We are almost getting UTAS approved but govt is saying that our members should first migrate to IPPIS before returning to UTAS . That makes no economic sense . The government has made it difficult for smooth negotiation . They said our members will be paid when they move to IPPIS. ”

Punch

Ogun State Government, has directed full reopening of religious centres , businesses , hotels and other entertainment centres in the state .

While lifting the order, the governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary , Kunle Somorin , said the religious centres and other public places have been reopened following the success recorded in flattening the curve of COVID- 19 .

According to him , the government is aware that many people are just recovering from the economic hardship imposed by COVID- 19 , as their activities had been affected by the lockdown , while necessary measures had been put in place to combat the pandemic.

“ It stated that in the process of rebuilding the economy , the State Government was irrevocably committed to the successful implementation of the “ Building our Future Together ” agenda , and would ensure everything possible for people to have increased prosperity that would place the State on a sound footing towards continued development.

“ It further added that government would improve on testing , just as it continues to monitor the development and not hesitate to do selective lockdown should there be any flagrant disobedience to the set COVID- 19 protocols, ” the statement said .

Punch