News

JAMB orders arrest of parents found near CBT centres during UTME

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed all Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre owners to arrest any parent found near any of their facilities during the 2024 UTME exercise.

This is contained in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

The board said directive became necessary following the intrusive disposition of some parents during the Board’s previous exercises.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede said that any parent, who disobeyed the order, would not only be arrested but his/her ward would also be disqualified from sitting the examination.

“The measure is necessary as it had been discovered over time that many of these intruding parents are facilitators of examination infractions while others have, by their actions, disrupted the board’s examinations in the past.

He added that some miscreants also disguised as parents to infiltrate the centres to perpetrate all forms of infractions.

Consequently, the registrar, urged security operatives to work with the centres to apprehend any meddlesome parent, who come near the centres.

He said that going by the extant national policy on education, a candidate for the examination must have attained the age of 17 years.

“Therefore, it is evident that these parents had not allowed their wards to pass through the classes as defined in the document, hence, the determination to follow their wards to the examination venue with the aim of compromising examination officials.

“At any rate, it is clear to any discerning observer that these parents deserve to be sanctioned as they had obviously ‘smuggled’ underage children into the ranks of those scheduled to sit the examination.

“The Board also availed itself of the opportunity provided by the meeting to advise candidates to jealously guard their personal details, e-mail address, as well as their registration and phone numbers.

“This advice is issued against the backdrop of some candidates, who might be enticed into patronising any of those fraudulent websites out there,” he said .

He also informed candidates that if their personal details were found with any of such sites, they would be treated as accomplices and prosecuted.

Oloyede further said that all arrangements had been concluded for the conduct of the 2024 UTME, which would be held in over 700 CBT centres across the nation.

He disclosed that the Board expected a seamless exercise as it had made adequate provision to tackle any technical glitch that might occur in the course of the examination.

He, however, warned that if a session experienced any technical challenge, candidates in subsequent sessions would be allowed to sit their examination as scheduled.

He added that candidates in the challenged session would be rescheduled for the last session for the day or the following day or even further depending on the centre schedules.

“Candidates are to take note of this so that they will remain calm in the event of any disruption.

” In this wise, any candidate or parent, who disrupt any subsequent session on account of the failure of his/her session, would be disqualified outright from taking the examination,” he added.

Oloyede appealed to centre owners to consider the assignment as a national engagement and not as a purely profit venture, while urging them to expose the bad eggs among them.

The registrar recalled that hitherto, CBT centres were allowed to register Direct Entry candidates but this practice was discontinued owing to the predilection of some of them to engage in fraudulent acts

He said this was in spite of the many opportunities that the Board had created for them especially by ensuring that other agencies patronise them.

He, therefore, enjoined centre owners to eschew unwholesome acts or risk losing vital opportunities.

He expressed shock over multiple intelligence showing how the CBT centres have been making efforts to compromise the Board’s staff especially with the offer of accommodation.

He asked why they would want to do that when they constantly complain that what was paid them was not enough.

He said the centres should not hesitate to expose any staff, who ask for such favours as the Board had sufficiently paid its staff for the exercise in line with government regulations adding that any centre which persists in doing so, might have something to hide.

The registrar informed the participants that the board deployed state-of-the-art technologies to check all manners of infractions, collaborations and other unsavoury acts that were at variance with its code of operations.

News

Climate Change: NSGF to adopt holistic approach to preserve environment

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna

Northern States Governor’s Forum, (NSGF) has resolved to adopt a holistic approach that promotes environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture despite climate change.

This is as the Forum said that responsible resource management to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the people and to preserve the national heritage of generations unborn remained their priority.

In a communique issued to journalists after the end of the forum’s meeting held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna on Tuesday, the Executive Governor of Gombe State and Chairman, NSGF, His Excellency Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya said the forum deliberated several issues of importance that are peculiar to Northern Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Forum also committed itself to invest massively in education and skill development, health care and social services in order to address the menace of the burden of out of school children.

The forum sympathised with Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara and Plateau states over the unprecedented security challenges currently affecting the states and resolved to stand in solidarity with them until there is a lasting solution to the scourge, while appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his determination to win the war against banditry and other criminal activities in the region.

“The Forum commended the Federal Government under the dynamic, focused and courageous leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR which has demonstrated total commitment to winning the war against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

“The Forum expressed deepest sympathy and collective support to the Governments and people of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Plateau and Zamfara States over the unprecedented security challenges currently affecting the States and resolved to stand in solidarity with them during these difficult times.

“The Forum noted that Human Capital Development is critical to the progress and prosperity of the region and expressed concern that the region currently bears the burden of having the highest number of out of school children in the World. The Forum committed itself to invest massively in education and skill development, health care and social services in order to address the menace.

“The Forum noted that climate change, unsustainable agricultural practices and population growth posed significant challenges to the region. The Forum resolved to adopt a holistic approach that promotes environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture and responsible resource management to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the people and preserve the national heritage of generations yet unborn,” the communique read in part.

News

Nasarawa Assembly gives AEDC 14-day ultimatum to restore light or quit

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to restore normal electricity to communities across the state or quit.

The House issued the ultimatum so that residents of the state will enjoy adequate power supply due to the importance of electricity to human and societal development.

The Speaker of the House, MrDanladiJatau, made the call when officials of AEDC and Nasarawa Electricity Power Agency (NAePA), appeared before the House during its proceedings on Tuesday in Lafia.

The Speaker said that the invitation extended to the AEDC and NAePA was to enable them brief the House on the power blackout and outrageous bills in the state.

According to the Speaker, “Our resolution is to the effect that AEDC is hereby given 14 days to restore normal light to communities across the State and failure to do that, we will be left with no option but to ask them to quit.

“In their place, we will invite competent hands that will give the people of the state normal light.

“Secondly, the Area Manager, PowerGen Interconnected Energy ltd., handling electrification project in Toto Local Government, is hereby directed to appear before the House on May 21st, 2024, to explain their role in power distribution in the area.”

The Speaker commended Gov. AbdullahiSule for his efforts in ensuring power supply in the state through his efforts in ensuring full take off and success of installation of Akurba power sub station but expressed dismay that the Governor’s effort has been sabotaged.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has empowered us to invite anybody on public issue for questioning, that is why we have invited you.

“There is power blackout and outrageous bills across the state by AEDC as our people are in pains and suffering. We cannot take it any longer,” he said.

He said that the activities of the AEDC is creating hardship and poverty to the people of the state.

“Your company is giving our people poor services. Our people have been sleeping in darkness.

“Our people are in pains because they are paying for light without enjoying the light,” he said.

All members who spoke also urged the AEDC to sit up or quit the state.

On his part, Engr. Adeyemi Jonathan, the AEDC Chief Business Officer in charge of Kogi, Niger and Nasarawa, admitted that the company was not 100 per cent in replacing damaged transformers and cables among others to communities across the state.

The Chief Business Officer assured of improvement in electricity supply to the state.

“I want to assure you that we are ready to do our best in improving power supply across the state,” he said.

Also speaking, Engr. Yakubu Umar, the General Manager, Nasarawa Electricity Power Agency (NAePA), said that the agency was established to ensure adequate power supply to communities across the state.

On the allegation that he uses a transformer alone, he said that the transformer was given to him as gratification by one electricity company.

The General Manager assured of his continued determination to do his best to improve on the situation.

On April 23, the House summoned the Area Manager, AEDC, to appear before it on April 30, over persistent power blackout and over billing of customers across the State.

The House also summoned the General Manager, Nasarawa Electricity Power Agency (NAePA) to appear before it on April 30.

The House said the invitation was to enable them tell the House why there is persistent power blackout and outrageous billing in the State.

The Speaker of the House gave the ultimatum after Mr Solomon Akwashiki (SDP- Lafia Central), raised the issue on the matter of public importance during the House proceedings.

News

NIMASA constitutes committee to review salary of Nigerian Dockworkers

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

By Seun Ibiyemi

The Director, General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) through its Executive Director on Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, Mr. Jibril Abba has constituted an NJIC committee to start with immediate effect the already elapsed Dockworkers Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the year 2023/2024.

The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) under the leadership of Comrade Adewale Adeyanju who was present in the meeting thanked the NIMASA DG, Dr. Dayo Mobereola for the gesture.

The NJIC committee on the Dockworkers Branch of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) is expected to do thorough work on the new CBA.

The meeting which was held Monday, 29th April, 2024 was at NIMASA Corporate Headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.