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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 . ”

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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 .

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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. ”

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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 .

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The Federal Executive Council has approved N2 . 9 billion contracts for the printing of sensitive and non – sensitive examination materials .

The council also approved N 1 . 6 bn for the rehabilitation and upgrade of some roads within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja .

The decisions were taken at the council ’ s meeting presided over by the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ).

Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed ; Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu ; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting at the Presidential Villa , Abuja.

Adamu said the printing contracts were awarded to a group of eight printers.

According to the minister , the materials are meant for the Basic Education Certification Examination , the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination , and the National Common Entrance , adding that “ because of the recent disturbances, we have postponed the examinations that have not taken place . ”

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Academic Staff Union of Universities and Federal Government have resumed their negotiation over the strike embarked upon by the lecturers .

They had adjourned their meeting till Monday after the meeting last Wednesday ended in a deadlock.

The parley is expected to decide on the platform for the disbursement of the funds pledged by the FG.

The FG team had offered to pay the salary arrears and the N30 billion earned allowances of the university lecturers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform pending the roll – out of ASUU ’ s preferred platform , the University Transparency and Accountability Solution .

But the ASUU delegation reportedly insisted that the university teachers would not enrol on the government salary platform .

The Minister of State , Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo , announced the continuation of the meeting on Monday .

“ Our discussions/negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities continue today , ” he tweeted .

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige , is leading the FG’ s team while the ASUU president , Biodun Ogunyemi , leads the lecturers .

Reports says that, the meeting between FG and ASUU deadlocked last Wednesday , following the disagreement over the payment platform that would be used in disbursing the salary arrears and the N30 bn Earned Allowances of the university lecturers .

The spokesman , Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Charles Akpan, explained that the meeting adjourned till Monday to enable the union leaders to get across to their members on the mode of payment .

Among other things , the government had agreed to pay N40 bn, being the pending Earned Academic Allowance of the university teachers overdue since November 2019 .

Out of the amount, N 30 bn would be paid on or before November 6 , while the remaining N10 bn would be spread equally over two tranches to be paid in May 2021 and February 2022 .

Punch

Academic Staff Union of Universities and Federal Government have resumed their negotiation over the strike embarked upon by the lecturers .

They had adjourned their meeting till Monday after the meeting last Wednesday ended in a deadlock.

The parley is expected to decide on the platform for the disbursement of the funds pledged by the FG.

The FG team had offered to pay the salary arrears and the N30 billion earned allowances of the university lecturers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System platform pending the roll – out of ASUU ’ s preferred platform , the University Transparency and Accountability Solution .

But the ASUU delegation reportedly insisted that the university teachers would not enrol on the government salary platform .

The Minister of State , Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo , announced the continuation of the meeting on Monday .

“ Our discussions/negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities continue today , ” he tweeted .

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige , is leading the FG’ s team while the ASUU president , Biodun Ogunyemi , leads the lecturers .

Reports says that, the meeting between FG and ASUU deadlocked last Wednesday , following the disagreement over the payment platform that would be used in disbursing the salary arrears and the N30 bn Earned Allowances of the university lecturers .

The spokesman , Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Charles Akpan, explained that the meeting adjourned till Monday to enable the union leaders to get across to their members on the mode of payment .

Among other things , the government had agreed to pay N40 bn, being the pending Earned Academic Allowance of the university teachers overdue since November 2019 .

Out of the amount, N 30 bn would be paid on or before November 6 , while the remaining N10 bn would be spread equally over two tranches to be paid in May 2021 and February 2022 .

Punch

Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has warned looters still in possession of stolen items to return them before the commencement of the house – to – house search by security agents on Thursday .

Oyetola made this known while inspecting some of the recovered loots deposited at the parking lot of the Government House, Osogbo .

Oyetola, who said about 20 per cent of the looted items have been returned , enjoined other looters to take advantage of the hours left in the amnesty period , adding that there would be no extension.

According to a statement by his office , the governor stressed that those who refused to embrace the offer of the government would face the full wrath of the law .

The statement quoted Oyetola as saying, “ For us , this voluntary return of the of loots is a welcome development. The intention is to assist the various owners of these items to have the opportunity of getting their properties and belongings because we believe strongly that it is going to be a big setback for them to have all these properties lost . ”

Warning the looters , the governor added , “ What they should realise is that , there are a lot of video clips and video coverage for all the looting that took place in the state. The implication of this is that there is no hidden place for anybody that looted anything in Osun .

“ So , it is in their interest to voluntarily return all the items or face the wrath of the law after the expiration of the 72 hours . We are not going back after this period . We are going to go from house to house to retrieve the looted items . ”

Punch

The West African Examinations Council has said the results of the 2020 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination would be released next week .

The results were supposed to be out today but the examination body said the postponement was due to the violence and arson in the country which affected some of its offices and some of its operations nationwide .

The unrest experienced in the aftermath of the # EndSARS protests against police brutality had forced governments to impose curfew in their respective states .

“ WASSCE SC 2020 Results Release Date : Dear candidates , the Council had planned to release the results today in fulfilment of our Project 45 but due to the curfew imposed last week, it had to be postponed till next week.

“ The exact date will be made known soon , ” @ waecnigeria tweeted .

When contacted , the Head of Public Affairs , WAEC Nigeria , Demianus Ojijeogu , confirmed the development.

Punch