The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , will on Friday ( tomorrow ) address the nation in commemoration of this year ’ s Democracy Day.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , the President ’ s message will be broadcast by 7 am .
The statement read , “To commemorate Nigeria ’ s Democracy Day, President Muhammadu Buhari will broadcast to the nation on Friday, June 12 , 2020 , at 7 am .
“ Television and radio stations as well as other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria respectively for the broadcast . ”
The Vice President for Agriculture , Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank, Dr Jennifer Blanke , has resigned her position, according to reports .
The bank disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement , saying Blanke ’ s resignation would take effect July 4 , 2020 .
She was quoted as saying, “ I am leaving purely for family reasons to rejoin my family in Switzerland, after a very fulfilling time at the bank. I will miss the bank and the excellent team we have built . I will continue to strongly support the bank from wherever I am .
“ I thank President Akinwumi Adesina for his strong leadership , guidance , and support which have undoubtedly motivated and helped my team and I to play a key role in the transformation of the bank. I feel privileged to have been given an opportunity to contribute to the bank’ s agenda for accelerating Africa ’ s social and economic transformation . ”
AfDB President , Dr Akinwumi Adesina , expressed delight to have worked with Blanke over the past three years .
“ She has demonstrated genuine leadership skills and moved the needles on so many fronts , especially in the areas of food security , women ’ s financial empowerment , and job creations . I wish her all the best and look forward to continued partnerships and engagement with Jennifer , ” Adesina said .
Blanke joined the bank in early 2017 and has overseen a number of its programmes , according to the statement .
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State says the reality of the time does not permit the reopening of schools in the state , according to reports .
The governor also disclosed that the restriction occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic on religious and social gatherings in the state may not be lifted as soon as envisaged by stakeholders in the state .
Makinde, while delivering an address at a special plenary to commemorate the first year anniversary of the state Assembly , said the state should not be in a hurry to fully reopen .
“ We saw what happened when a private organisation did not follow the advisories we provided to the letter .
Over 50 per cent of the COVID- 19 cases in Oyo State can be traced to this organisation .
“ So , I use this opportunity to , again , plead with our religious leaders to be patient with us . We are keeping an eye on the numbers and will adjust this directive at the right time, ” the governor said , adding, “ Schools won’ t be reopened yet . ”
The Federal Government has resolved to henceforth take decisive actions against rapists .
The decision was reached at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ).
The council took the decision after deliberating on a memo presented by the Minister of Women Affairs , Pauline Tallen, on the increasing cases of rape across the country.
Protests have been holding across the country following serial cases of rape .
Vera Omozuwa , a 22 – year- old student , was reported to have been raped and killed in a church in Benin City recently .
18 – year- old Barakat Bello was also raped and macheted to death in Ibadan , Oyo State lately .
Tallen told State House correspondents that the issue was discussed at the council meeting.
She regretted that only nine states out of 36 have domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.
The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba , has hinted that schools may reopen in the country after the ban on interstate movement has been lifted .
The minister stated this during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Abuja on Monday .
While restating that the government has not published any date for school reopening , he said the ministry will not want to lead Nigerians into danger .
Nwajiuba said , “ We want to open when it is safe to do so . We have heard about neighbouring countries that opened and shut . We have heard about cases spiking with children getting into school . Of all the things I will like to do , I will not like to experiment with your children .
“ We want a situation where once we are sure it is safe , we can then take them into school .
“ I have just finished a meeting with the representatives of WAEC and NABTEB and I understand how that worries our parents at the moment and how anxious our children are to know what next .
“ As soon as those in charge of the blockade lift it because there is no way we can open our schools if teachers can ’ t come . So , we are looking at somewhere after the interstate lockdown is lifted . Because we will need that kind of openness for the children to move . ”
The Federal Government had in March shut all schools in the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Federal Government has declared Friday, June 12 , as a public holiday to mark the 2020 Democracy Day celebration.
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola , made this known on behalf of the Federal Government.
The statement , which was signed by the Permanent Secretary in Minister of Interior , Georgina Ehuriah , quoted Aregbesola as congratulating Nigerians for the entrenchment of democratic rule in the country.
The minister also called on “ Nigerians to continue to cherish the selfless efforts made to attain democracy ” .
He reassured “ Nigerians of the Federal Government’ s commitment to battling the scourge of COVID- 19 with the cooperation of all Nigerians ”.
He emphasised the need for all Nigerians to stay safe by observing physical and social distancing , personal and respiratory hygiene , as well as other regulations issued by relevant authorities .
The former Osun State Governor also advised them to “ take responsibility for stopping the spread of the virus ”.
The National Association of Resident Doctors, the umbrella body of all doctors working in government health facilities , has issued a notice of strike effective Monday , June 15 , 2020 .
The association said the call to strike also includes doctors attending to COVID- 19 patients and other emergencies .
The National President of NARD , Dr Aliyu Sokomba , said this in an official letter with reference number NARD /SG / 2019 – 2020 / 070620 / 246 .
The NARD President said the strike would be total regardless of the current pandemic.
Sokomba said the action had become necessary due to the failure of the government to redeem its pledges especially in the areas of salary arrears and working conditions .
The letter read in part, “ The strike shall , therefore , be total and indefinite . No service of any kind , be it emergency , care at COVID- 19 treatment centres shall be exempted and members including all resident doctors , medical officers below the rank of principal medical officer, and house officers are expected to be part of the strike . ”
While sympathising with Nigerians and patients as a whole , the doctors said they could no longer condone government neglect .
NARD said the plight of its members in state health facilities was sometimes worse than those at the federal institutions.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Heads of Tertiary Institutions are expected to meet June 16 over cut – off marks and other guidelines for the 2020 /2021 Admission exercise .
The exam body announced the 2020 Policy Meeting of tertiary institutions in its weekly bulletin obtained by news correspondent .
According to the bulletin, the policy meeting , which is expected to hold online, will be chaired by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu .
The bulletin read in part , “Part of the protocols put in place by the government to curb the spread of COVID- 19 requires that no gathering of persons exceeding the prescribed number.
“ Compliance with this directive has become imperative as no fewer than 4 , 000 Heads of Tertiary Institutions comprising Degree, Diploma , NCE , and NID- awarding institutions and other stakeholders would normally be expected to congregate at a location but because of extant protocols, they would now be expected to participate in the virtual meeting .
“ The meeting will discuss critical issues bordering on the advances made in the educational sector in the last one year in addition to setting the tone for the 2020 / 2021 Admission exercise .
“ The meeting will also chart policy directions for the nation ’ s tertiary institutions, set admission guidelines, and make a holistic review of application statistics , performance as well as evaluate the 2019 admissions exercise .
“ The meeting , in addition to other deliberations , would take a stand on concessional and acceptable minimum admissions standards to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria . ”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has directed candidates who sat for the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination to print their result slips .
The board said this in its weekly bulletin which was released by its Head of Media and Information , Dr Fabian Benjamin .
According to the bulletin, the UTME results , which had earlier been made available through text messages to candidates , could be printed from the board ’ s website on request .
“ All a candidate needs to do after visiting the site is to click on quick links , then on e – facility where the candidate would be required to provide his / her registration details and the result notification slip would be displayed for printing.
“ The printing of the result notification slip is free as it is different from the original result slip that comes with the candidate ’ s picture . ”
Meanwhile , JAMB has said it will hold an online meeting with at least 4 , 000 heads of tertiary institutions over the policy guidelines for the 2020 admissions .
The board added that the virtual meeting was to guard against the spread of COVID- 19 and ensure decongestion .
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), has reappointed Umar Danbatta as the Executive Vice Chairman , Nigerian Communications Commission .
In a press statement released by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the minister , Isa Pantami , said the reappointment was in line with the NCC Act 2003 .
He charged Danbatta to improve on the performance of the commission as well as ensure that adequate mechanisms are put in place to facilitate the implementation of all policies of the Federal Government through the agency .
The minister also enjoined him to ensure that the interest of the telecommunication consumers , Nigerians and investors are adequately protected .
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