The National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities , Prof Biodun Ogunyemi have said Part of the conditions for reopening of universities is ( for the government ) to ensure that the issues on the table before them are satisfactorily resolved . We have that clear .
He stated this while speaking with newsmen about government ’ s plan to reopen schools amid the COVID – 19 pandemic , and the ongoing university lecturers ’ strike over the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, among other issues.
Recalled, The Federal Government has set out some conditions; decontamination of schools – educational institutions in general , provision of hand- washing facilities , hand sanitisers , face masks, and space for social and physical distancing .
We are available to meet them at any time to ensure that we engage one another and we resolve the issues that are outstanding .
These are from our Memorandum of Action of February 2019 . So , we have made the minimum conditions available to them and we believe that they will engage the issues at the appropriate time .
With schools reopening for graduating pupils this week after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic , parents of pupils in private secondary schools in Ogun State kicked against the request of N25 , 000 COVID- 19 test fee by the government .
Many of the parents , who took their demonstrations to the streets , faulted the decision of the government to ask them to pay N25 , 000 on each pupil before they would be allowed to resume .
The state government had said no boarding school pupil would be allowed to resume without a valid negative COVID – 19 test certificate .
The government also asked the parents to take their wards to designated places for the test between Friday and Monday .
The dissatisfied parents thronged the MTR 250 bed specialist hospital , Oke- Mosan , Abeokuta , the designated place for the pupils in Abeokuta .
It was gathered that attempts by the parents to get their children tested for free failed as they were asked to pay N25 , 000 for each child .
When news correspondent visited the venue , it was observed that many parents were locked out of the facility .
Some of the parents , who spoke with newsmen did not want their names in print because of attendant consequences but they lamented that the payment of N25 , 000 for COVID- 19 test shows the government cared less about its citizens .
They complained that the economic reality in the country has made it difficult to pay such an amount of money .
Speaking on behalf of the parents , the vice- chairman , Parents Teachers Association of one of the private schools , Dr . Kehinde Sanwo , queried the action of the government .
Sanwo, who was flanked by other aggrieved parents , decried the alleged discrimination against students in private schools .
She said , “ The parents here are good citizens of Ogun State and we are taxpayers . And it is so disheartening that we are here at the MTR hospital , the venue for COVID- 19 test .
“ When we arrived , we were told to pay N25 , 000 . Whereas, some people who arrived earlier paid nothing . So , we don ’ t know where the decision came from . Some of us have more than two children . Why this segregation ?”
Reacting to the protest , the state government insisted that the parents will need to pay the levy and get a certificate to show that their children are COVID- 19 negative before they could resume school .
The government in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Ronke Soyombo , said , “The government will bear the full costs of the COVID- 19 Test for all the boarding SS 3 students in the state – owned public schools .
“ All private school owners are also expected to ensure that all their boarding students are certified COVID- 19 test negative before being admitted into their boarding facilities .
“ To further assist the private schools , Ogun State Government has negotiated a huge discount in the cost of COVID – 19 Test with some healthcare service providers
“ However , private school owners and parents are free to engage any other service provider of their choice provided that the service provider is certified by NCDC as COVID- 19 Test service provider .
“ Indeed , Certificate of negative COVID- 19 Test from other locations across the country will be tenable provided, as usual , it is from an NCDC certified centre and the test has been performed within 72 hours of the date of resumption. ”
In conformity with the agreement reached by the Federal Government and the West African Examination Council on the commencement of the 2020 West African School Certificate Examination , Oyo State Government has announced an adjustment to its school reopening .
This indication was given in a statement made available to journalists , signed by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology , Olasunkanmi Olaleye.
The statement indicated that lessons would continue for Senior Secondary School 3 class till the commencement of the examination.
The West African Secondary School Certificate Examination is August 17 .
The statement added that “Students would go on Sallah break on Wednesday , July 29 and would be back in school on Monday August 3 , while Junior Secondary School 3 and Primary 6 classes were asked to proceed on holiday as earlier scheduled and resume for their examinations on the 10 th and 20 th of August respectively . ”
It urged stakeholders in the education sector in the state the new academic schedules was approved by the State Executive Council on July 21 .
“ On behalf of His Excellency , Governor Seyi Makinde, I wish to appreciate all stakeholders in the education sector for your unalloyed support and hardwork during the preparation for the resumption of academic activities in our schools .
“ Your dedication to work , love for our students and personal involvement in the training and observance of COVID- 19 protocols in the bid to contain Coronavirus infection among our school children is unparalleled. COVID- 19 is real and unabating at the moment . We shall , however , defeat the virus with science , diligence and courage .
“ I cannot but must appreciate our teachers that took part in the revision exercise given to our students in terminal classes, that is SS 3 , JSS 3 and Primary 6 . I pray that all our efforts at recording success in all examinations by our students will not be in vain . ”
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), said his regime had done its best as far as fighting members of the Boko Haram sect in the North East and militants in the South- South was concerned .
Buhari spoke in an interview he granted State House correspondents after joining his family members and some top government officials to observe the Eid El- Kabir prayers inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja .
The President ’ s claim that he has done his best on insurgency and militancy came two days after insurgents attacked the convoy of the Borno State Governor , Babagana Zulum.
The governor was said to be on routine inspection when his convoy was attacked by suspected members of Boko Haram between Baga and Munguno on Wednesday .
On Thursday , multiple explosions from mortars fired by suspected Boko Haram members hit Maiduguri , the Borno State capital , leaving many injured .
But Buhari , who recalled that his regime inherited the security challenges from the previous administration , said he has done his best .
He however knocked security agencies on the current security challenges in the North West and North Central , saying they can do better than what they are currently doing .
The President said , “I want Nigerians to be very conscious of their country and what we inherited when we came in 2015 was Boko Haram – North East and the militants, the South – South . Nigerians know that we have done our best .
“ What is coming up in the North West and North Central is very disturbing indeed but I believe the military, the police , and other law enforcement agencies from the report I am getting , I think they could do much better .
“ They could do much better , but we are keeping them on the alert all the time to do their duties . ”
The statement was titled “ President Buhari pledges more resources to deal with ‘ very disturbing ’ security situation in parts of the country. ”
The statement read , “He ( the President ) said considering the security situation on ground when he came to office , ‘ Nigerians know that we have done our best . However , what is coming out of the North West and the North Central is very disturbing. ’
“ Responding to a specific question on the performance of the service chiefs which recently , he said needed to get better , the President said that the military, the police , and other security agencies are working hard .
“ We are making available resources to them to even do better , ” he assured, adding that “ from the reports I am getting , they could do much better …they could do much better . But we are keeping them on the alert all the time to do their duties . ”
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudiness and thunderstorms from Friday to Sunday across the country.
NiMet`s weather outlook released in Abuja said cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms were expected over parts of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kano and Sokoto on Friday morning.
“Other parts of the north should expect cloudy conditions during this period. Later in the day, cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms are expected over the region.
“Over north-central region, cloudy skies with light rains are anticipated over parts of Niger, Nassarawa, Benue, and Abuja in the morning.
“Later in the day, there are prospects of thunderstorms over most places of this region,” it said.
According to NiMet, the southern states are expected to be cloudy during the morning hours with chances of rains over parts of Calabar, Eket, Warri, Enugu, Umuahia, and Imo State.
It forecast cloudy skies with intermittent rains over the region during the afternoon and evening hours.
The agency said morning thunderstorms were anticipated over the northeast while the northwestern region was expected to be cloudy during the morning hours of Saturday.
It envisaged chances of thunderstorms over the northern region during the afternoon and evening hours.
“Cloudy skies with thunderstorms are expected over Abuja and Benue while other parts of the north-central should expect cloudiness during the morning hours.
“However, widespread thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the region during the afternoon with more prospects in the evening.
“Cloudy conditions are expected over the inland and coast of the South in the morning with the exception of Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Eket where there are prospects of rains during this time.
“Moderate rains are anticipated over most parts of the south during the afternoon and evening hours, “it said.
According to NiMet, cloudy skies are expected over the northern region with chances of thunderstorms over Borno and Sokoto during Sunday`s morning hours.
The agency predicted isolated thunderstorms across the region later in the day.
“Cloudy skies are expected over parts of the north-central states in the morning, while during the evening hours isolated thunderstorms are expected to prevail across the region.
“Cloudiness is expected to prevail over the inland and coastal cities of the south in the morning.
“Intermittent rains are expected over the south during the afternoon and evening hours, “it said.
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 .
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 . ”
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 . ”
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.
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 . ”
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