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FOLLOWING the suspension of the conduct of the Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, for its 2020 school candidates, the West African Examination Council, WAEC, in Nigeria has announced the provision of online portals to update candidates, other Nigerians on the rescheduling of examination.

Recall that WASSCE earlier scheduled for April 6 was suspended due to the global pandemic, Coronavirus.

In a statement signed by Demianus Ojijeogu, the Head of Public Affairs, WAEC, Nigeria, the body called on candidates and other Nigerians to avail themselves of the rich resources available on the portals to be abreast with happenings at the council.

Part of the release reads: “As we eagerly await the end of COVID-19 and the resumption of normal activities in the country, the West African Examinations Council in Nigeria wishes to urge candidates to take advantage of the rich resources provided by it on the following portals to keep themselves updated, pending the commencement of the examination.

The Chief Examiners’ Reports

“This will give you reasons why candidates who sat for previous WAEC examinations performed below expectations. It will help you to avoid the errors that made candidates record below-average performance. Log on to: http://www.waeconline.org.ng/e-learning and check the Chief Examiners Reports from 2008 to 2018.

“This portal gives a comprehensive analysis of candidates’ performance in all subjects, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, what they failed to do and what they should have done to perform better. The link again is: http://www.waeconline.org.ng/e-learning.

Candidates’ Interactive Portal

“This is an interactive information sharing platform that allows the Council to effectively engage candidates before, during and after examinations. Candidates are advised to log on to the portal: http://www.waeckonnect.com with the login details sent to their email addresses during the registration process, and avail themselves of this veritable tool for their examination success.

“It is necessary to admonish candidates not to play around during this waiting period, but to study hard for the postponed examination. A new timetable will be announced once normalcy is restored.”

Power distribution companies has announced that they were in support of the proposal by the National Assembly and the Federal Executive arm of government that Nigerians should get two months of free electricity.

Speaking through their umbrella body, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, the Discos stated that modalities for the free power would be worked on and made public in due course.

The Executive Director, ANED, Sunday Oduntan, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja .

He said, “The electricity distribution companies recognise the challenging effects of the coronavirus on the economic and daily lives of our customers.

“In fulfillment of our commitments to the nation, we hereby align ourselves with the efforts of the National Assembly and the Federal Executive to mitigate the hardship that is currently being borne by our customers and other citizens all over the country.”

Oduntan added, “We are committed to working with them to ensure more efficient power supply within this difficult period, as the nation battles with the ravages of COVID-19.

“We are also completely aligned with the plans to ensure palliative measures, including free electricity supply to all Nigerians for two months, to make life easier, during the lockdown period. Details of implementation to come soon.”

He reiterated the commitment of the Discos to improving service delivery to the nation during the period of the coronavirus pandemic and thereafter.

US Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his presidential campaign Wednesday , clearing the way for rival Joe Biden to win the Democratic nomination and challenge incumbent Donald Trump in November .

“ I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful , ” the leftist Sanders told supporters in a livestream announcing he is dropping out .

“ Vice president Biden will be the nominee , ” the 78 – year- old added .

“ I congratulate Joe Biden , a very decent man , who I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward. ”

Sanders , who challenged Hillary Clinton for the party ’ s nomination in 2016 , mounted a formidable challenge to Biden in the 2020 race , becoming the frontrunner early this year and earning the most votes in the first three state – wide contests .

But he was soon eclipsed by a surging Biden , who won the vast majority of the remaining primaries and now holds a commanding lead in the all-important race for delegates who choose the nominee .

Sanders ran an intense , issue- driven campaign , bringing his liberal ideological platform – including a call for universal health care and a $ 15 hourly minimum wage – into the mainstream .

“ Together we have transformed American consciousness as to what kind of nation we can become , and have taken this country a major step forward in the never – ending struggle for economic justice, social justice, racial justice, and environmental justice, ” Sanders said .

Several US lawmakers have come out in support of such prescriptions , and Biden himself has shifted leftward to incorporate some Sanders policies, although he has stressed he does not support Sanders ’ s Medicare for All plan .

Biden tweeted his thanks to Sanders , hailing him as “ a good man , a great leader , and one of the most powerful voices for change in our country. ”

AFP

The Federal Government has sent a revised budget to the National Assembly , cutting down some costs in view of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria .

A top source in the National Assembly shared a copy of the revised 2020 budget , noting that a meeting was ongoing between the leadership of the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed , and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , Mele Kyari.

Part of the documents showed that there is a 20 per cent cut on capital projects across ministries, departments and agencies to the tune of N312 , 820 , 542 , 675 .

A 15 – member medical team from China has arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport , Abuja , according to reports .

The team was flown on an aircraft operated by Air Peace .

The medical personnel, who landed around 5 :15 pm were received by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria , Dr Zhou Pingjian; Executive Director , China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation , Mr Jacques Liao as well as senior officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs , Health amongst others.

The Lagos State Government has withdrawn charges against a musician, Azeez Fashola , alias Naira Marley , and a politician, Babatunde Gbadamosi .

Naira Marley , Gbadamosi and his wife were charged before the Lagos State Magistrates ’ Court in Ogba for attending a crowded birthday party in violation of the government ’ s social distancing directive to check the spread of coronavirus .

They were scheduled for arraignment , according to reports .

But the government , according to one of the defence counsel, Mr Ebun- Olu Adegboruwa (SAN ), withdrew the four counts filed against the three defendants .

Earlier reports said that policemen barred journalists from the court premises.

At the end of the proceedings , Adegboruwa briefed journalists on what transpired in the courtroom.

He said the state withdrew the charges on the condition that the defendants would tender an apology to the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo -Olu .

There was a fire outbreak at the Treasury House, which is the headquarters of the Office of the Accountant – General of the Federation .

The cause of the fire , which started about 10 am , is yet to be known .

Reports gathered that as soon as the incident started , men of the Federal Fire Service were alerted to assist in putting out the fire .

They were later joined by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency , the Nigeria Police Force and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board .

Doctors treating the over 40 COVID- 19 patients at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital , Gwagwalada, have complained about the failure of the Federal Government to pay them their allowances , according to reports .

Newsmen learnt on that there are five doctors and four nurses , as well as three cleaners working at the isolation centre who are collectively owed over N 30 m.

News correspondent was informed that due to the sensitive nature of the disease , the government picked and trained the five doctors with a promise to pay them the sum of N50 , 000 daily while nurses were to be paid N40 , 000 .

The allowances are also supposed to cover feeding as well as accommodation
They were also promised hotel accommodation near the hospital .

However , top health officials told news correspondent that only N40 , 000 had been given to each doctor since they started working there on February 15 , 2020 .

A top source said the doctors had already started working on suspected cases at the isolation centre before the first confirmed case in Abuja on March 20 , 2020 .

He said , “ We were paid N20 , 000 the first week and then N 20 , 000 the following week and we haven ’ t received anything since then . When we started , we were promised N50 , 000 per day for doctors while nurses receive N40 , 000. The cleaning staff were promised about N25 , 000 per day .

“ The health minister said during the Presidential task force briefing recently that we were well taken care of but we have not received anything besides the N 40 , 000 in the last two months.

“ When we went to understudy Lagos at the time the disease first broke out in February, we were told that the doctors were receiving N50 , 000 per day . In fact , Dr Ismail Abdusalam, who was in charge of the doctors , said N40 , 000 was paid to nurses , N20 , 000 to cleaners and then there was a special package for security while the staff that come in contact with patients would be placed on life insurance . That was the template we used . ”

The health worker said some firms had offered to take care of the doctors but the hospital authorities seem to be more interested in donated equipment and neglecting the staff .

“ The CMD claims the government has not released the funds but the government claims the money has been released , ” he said .

More news https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/04/08/just-in-chinese-doctors-arrive-today/

A nurse who also spoke to newsmen said they would rather have the allowances than have life insurance which is only payable in the event of death .

The nurse added , “It is because we are not well taken care of that health workers don ’ t want to join in this COVID- 19 fight . We have been working since February 9 . On February 9 we had the first set of suspected cases that were Chinese . They were later discovered to be negative and discharged .

“ We had the second set of Chinese that were negative discharged . We had set of Nigerians that were discharged before we had final set that turned out positive and treatment started . We have not been received anything since then .

“ They are thinking of bringing volunteers and retired doctors while we that have been in the trenches have been abandoned . ”

A spokesperson for the hospital , Frank Omagbon , neither responded to calls nor a text message .

Similarly, the Director , Hospital Services , Dr . Adebimpe Adebiyi, could not be reached for comment.

However , a top source at the ministry of health said , “ The money will soon be released . We appreciate the 24 -hour job the doctors are doing. They should be just a little more patient . ”

Punch

The result of COVID- 19 second test done for the chairman of the governing board of the University College Hospital , Ibadan , Ibrahim Shetima , has returned positive .

Shetima had been in isolation at a special ward in the UCH after he tested positive for coronavirus two weeks ago .

The Public Relations Officer of the institution , Mr Toye Akinrinlola, had said the chairman manifested symptoms of the virus shortly after the last board meeting of the hospital began in Ibadan , adding that the test conducted on him revealed that he was positive for COVID – 19 .

Akinrinlola, in another interview with news correspondent , said Shetima would continue to receive treatment at the UCH and that a third test would be done in a few days .

He said , “ As I earlier said , the chairman only attended the first day of the board meeting on Tuesday , 24 th of March , 2020 . It was at the meeting that he began to exhibit symptoms of COVID- 19 . The meeting was suspended and a test was done and result came out positive. He was placed in a special ward at the hospital for treatment .

“ A repeat test , which was done to see if he was negative after a series of treatments , was conducted two days ago ( Sunday ) and the result still showed positive.

“ He is being treated at an isolation centre at the UCH . He will continue treatment and a third test would be done at an appointed time. ”

The UCH image maker , however , said Shetima was “ sharp and alert . ”

He added , “ The chairman ’ s case is not severe. He is sharp and alert but we have to attain that negative status before we can consider him as fully recovered . The record we have places him around 65 years of age. ”

Also at the meeting was the Chief Medical Director of the hospital , Prof Jesse Otegbayo, who later tested positive for the virus . After days of treatment , a reconfirmation test was carried out on the CMD which came out negative on Sunday .

Akinrinnola said, “At the meeting , the chairman was sitting close to the CMD , Chairman , Medical Advisory Committee and at least two other top officials of the hospital. As of today , none of these people is showing any symptom. The CMD that was found to be positive is now negative when a confirmatory test was done . Hopefuly , the chairman will be negative too when the third test is be done . ”

Despite opposition by the Nigerian Medical Association, the visiting 15 -member medical team from China will arrive the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport , Abuja , on a chattered Air Peace aircraft on Wednesday ( today ) .

The personnel, who are experts in infectious diseases , respiratory illness, intensive care , cardiology , neurology, general surgery and anesthesiology , will be coming with their drugs , and equipment to carry out Covid – 19 tests on the staff of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in the country .

The Executive Director, CCECC , Mr Jacques Liao , said in a statement in Abuja , that the medical team would be coming with 16 – ton test kits , ventilators, disinfection machine , disposable medical masks, drugs , infrared thermometer and other items ordered by the Federal Government.

Liao dispelled what he described as the controversy about the team’ s visit , stating that “ the primary purpose of the team is to provide CECC employees with critical and necessary healthcare . ”

He added , “ All members of the working team have tested negative for COVID- 19 and shall commence their stay in Nigeria by spending 14 days in quarantine .

“ The primary purpose of the team is to provide CCECC employees with critical and necessary health care assistance. They are also coming with adequate personal protective equipment and medical items for the employees . ”

The director explained that under the directive of the Embassy of China in Nigeria and in response to the Federal Government’ s request , the team may also share with their Nigerian counterparts effective methods on COVID- 19 containment .

Liao explained that in keeping with CCECC ’ s corporate value, ‘ stride with Nigeria , ’ the firm would be participating in the construction of two COVID- 19 response facilities in the Federal Capital Territory for free .

Meanwhile , the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, has rejected the decision of the Federal Government to bring in Chinese doctors and nurses to assist in tackling the coronavirus pandemic .

The lawmakers on Tuesday , said the decision to bring in people from “ the hotbed of the plague ” was not in Nigeria ’ s best interest. They urged the Federal Government to suspend the plan .

Their position was contained in a statement signed by the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu ( PDP, Delta ) , in Abuja .

Elumelu , said the caucus wanted the Federal Government to rescind its decision to import doctors from the “ hotbed of the plague into our country at this critical time. ”

The statement read in part , “The lawmakers note that Nigerian doctors and nurses are doing well so far in managing the scourge , and express fears that bringing in Chinese medical personnel, whose status, intentions and scope cannot be easily ascertained and controlled is totally against our national interest.

More news👉 https://latestnewsupdates.news.blog/2020/04/07/just-in-cbn-to-suspend-interest-payment-on-state-debts/

“ The Federal Government should note the apprehensions of Nigerians and professional bodies including the Nigeria Medical Association over the decision . The caucus notes that this is particularly after alleged escalation of the pandemic in certain countries after Chinese doctors were reportedly involved , in addition to widespread trepidations over the safety of medical equipment and kits from China at this point in time .

“ At such critical time , the safety and wellbeing of our citizens must be paramount and anything that is capable of further jeopardising their lives must be avoided . ”