The Academic Staff Union of Universities has suspended its eight-month-old strike.
The decision was taken at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, NEC held at ASUU national secretariat in Abuja .
ASUU Chairman, University of Abuja chapter, Professor Kasim Umar who confirmed the suspension to our correspondent said the Union’s president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke would brief the press on details of the suspension.
The ASUU NEC meeting which started Thursday night lasted till the early hours of Friday.
Daniel Adejo
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No fewer than 453 local contractors on Thursday participated in open bidding for the construction and renovation of public schools and other facilities recently advertised by the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB).
The Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Adeniran, said the bids were for 2020/2021 FGN-UBEC-SUBEB’s infrastructural renewal and educational development projects.
He added that the bid, conducted in the presence of the contractors and a few government officials at the premises of the Board, followed Governor Seyi Makinde’s directive about government contracts adhering to public procurement process for transparency and accountability.
Dr Adeniran said a total of Two Hundred and Twenty-three (223) projects were bidded for under the FGN-UBEC-SUBEB’S intervention project.
Applauding the present administration’s efforts in the Education sector, Adeniran noted that in spite of the State Government’s spending on various developmental projects in the areas of Health, Road construction, Agriculture, Social Welfare and a host of others which have been yielding positive results, the Board has also been able to roll out four years Intervention Projects in three years of assumption of office.
“His Excellency’s resilience in resuscitating the ailing standard of education in the State is highly commendable”, he said.
“This can be unequivocally stated as an unparalleled achievement that needs to be applauded”, Adeniran added.
He stressed that the annual intervention fund runs to billions of naira which is jointly and equally contributed by the State and Federal Governments for the development of Basic Education in the State.
The SUBEB Boss hinted that Oyo State has accessed all the accrued funds till date, saying “it should be accentuated that our State is doing brilliantly well in terms of developmental projects”.
Dr Adeniran appreciated the State Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement and her team for their ethical proficiency in ensuring and sustaining the best practices of Public Procurement Act.
He also applauded the efforts of the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission in facilitating free and qualitative Basic Education in a conducive learning environment for every Nigerian child, irrespective of their location in the entire country.
Speaking at the bid opening exercise, the representative of Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Abdul attested to the Oyo State Government’s commitment and passion for the Basic Education sector.
She applauded the efforts of the Board in ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability, which has not been compromised.
Dr Abdul appealed to the successful contractors to follow the contract modalities and regulations guiding the projects.
The Projects bidded for include Construction of 15 blocks of 4-classroom, construction of46 blocks of 3-classroom, construction of 5 ECCDE Pilot Centres, construction of 7Perimeter Fence, renovation of 53 blocks of classrooms, sinking of 39 boreholes, sinking of 2 deep well, procurement of furniture which has been broken into 56 lots (total of 8533 desks & benches as well as 502 pairs of teachers’ tables and chairs).
The event was witnessed by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education; Bureau of Public Procurement; Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors; Nigeria Society of Engineers.
Others present were the Nigerian Institute of Architects; the Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers; and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
Oluwakayode Banjo
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Ekiti State’s outgoing Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has approved the dissolution of the Governing Councils of state-owned universities, state Polytechnic, Isan-Ekiti and College of Health Technology, Ijero- Ekiti with effect from yesterday Monday, October 10.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode says the dissolution is in line with the extant transition policy of the State.
According to the statement, the Governor thanked the chairmen and members of the councils for the services rendered and wished them success in their future endeavours.
Amos Ogunrinde
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Nigerians have been baring their mind on the assurance by the Speaker, the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila and the National President, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU that the lingering strike would come to an end within days.
The assurance followed recent intervention by the Lower Chamber on the crises and unresolved judicial involvement in the conflict.
Reacting to the statements, some residents of Ibadan, including Mr Isiaq Abdulkabiru described the position of the two bodies as a welcome development.
They appealed to ASUU and the Federal Government to consider the plights of students and restore the dead academic activities on the nation’s campuses.
Meanwhile, the ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan Chapter, Professor Ayoola Akinwole, in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan, has described the general opinion on the Union’s plans to call off the eight months strike as mere speculation.
Professor Akinwole said ASUU members were awaiting the outcome of the National Executive Council’s meeting before any decision could be taken at the branch level.
The ASUU strike which commenced on 14th February this year marks eight months old this Friday 14th October 2022.
Rotimi Famakin
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As the world marks International Day of the Girl Child, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, MWAN, Oyo State chapter has congratulated Nigerian girls on this year’s celebrations.
The president of the association, Dr Oyindamola Adeyemi in a message to mark the day, said this year’s celebration will spur the girls and daughters to diligently pursue excellence and achieve greatness through education.
According to Dr Adeyemi, quality education empowers the girl child and enables them to become leaders and women with vision.
She revealed that the association is promoting Girl Child education through advocacy and partnership with relevant stakeholders in the education sector in Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration“Digital Generation: Our generation”, Dr Adeyemi said girls are a fundamental source of transformational change for gender equality and technology which is a crucial tool to support their work, activism and leadership.
She explained that the Medical Women Association of Nigeria would not relent in its efforts at empowering girls to become positive agents in Nigeria and the world at large.
Dr Adeyemi advocated equal access to the internet and digital devices for girls’ to excel in their future endeavours.
She posited that girls are breaking boundaries and barriers, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities.
The association, therefore, called on the federal government to give more priority to education and ensure the ongoing ASUU strike is resolved urgently to avoid jeopardizing the future of Nigerian youths.
Nafiu Busari
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The court of appeal in Abuja has ordered the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off its industrial strike action and to return to work immediately.
The appellate court gave the order in a ruling on an application filed by the ASUU seeking permission for it to appeal against the order of the National Industrial Court which asked the striking lecturers to resume duty.
The industrial court had on September 21, granted an interlocutory order following an application to that effect by the Federal Government, ordering university lecturers to return to work pending the resolution of their dispute with the government.
Not satisfied with the outcome, ASUU had through its counsel, Femi Falana SAN headed to the appellate court to seek redress.
At the Appeal Court, ASUU filed an application dated September 28, seeking the leave of court to file an appeal against the industrial court order.
But in its ruling, the Court of Appeal which granted ASUU conditional leave to appeal the order of the Industrial Court, insisted that ASUU must obey the order of the lower court with effect from today, October 7.
The 3-man panel led by Justice Hamman Barka said for ASUU to file its notice of appeal within 7 days, it must show evidence that its members had resumed work on October 7.
The panel unanimously held that Failure to adhere to the order would make the appeal incompetent before the Court of Appeal.
Ifeoma Nwovu
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Saint Michael’s African Church Primary School 1, Ota, Ogun State has emerged as the Best Public School in the country in the 2022 National Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards to commemorate World Teachers’ day.
In a statement in Abeokuta by the Chief Press Secretary to Ogun State Governor, Mr Kunle Somorin, indicates that the school won a 18 seater bus at the ceremony held in Abuja.
The statement shows that a teacher from a private secondary school in Odogbolu, Mr. Tajudeen Ayantola emerged as the best private school teacher in the country.
It adds that Mr. Owolabi Adelana from Ijebu Muslim College Junior, Ijebu-Ode won the second best teacher in the country in the Public Schools category.
The statement describes the achievement as a manifestation of the investment and commitment of the State Government in the education sector.
Ekiti State government has awarded the best primary and secondary school teachers in the state, Mrs Adeyemi Omolade and Mrs Mary kupolati with ten million naira each while other outstanding ones went home with different amounts of cash gifts
Presenting the cheque to the outstanding teachers in Ado Ekiti during 2022 Teachers’ Day, Governor Kayode Fayemi said billions of naira had been spent to reposition primary and secondary education in the state.
He called on teachers in Ekiti State to cooperate with the administration of the Governor-Elect, Mr Biodun Oyebanji.
In his speech, Chairman Academic Staff union of Secondary School, Ekiti State chapter, Mr Sola Adigun who appreciated Governor Fayemi for giving recognition to the union appealed to government to pay all outstanding benefits of teachers before the expiration of his tenure on the fifteen of October, 2022.
Also, the Ekiti State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Emmanuel Oke appealed to government to employ more teachers to fill the vacant posts.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Basic Education Staff Association of Nigeria, BESAN, Ekiti State Branch, Oyindamola Ogundumiye called for the review of secondary school curriculum to meet up with modern day reality.
Mr Ogundumiye who stated this while speaking with our correspondent on this year’s teachers’ day also called on government to review upward budgetary allocation for secondary education for optimal performance.
Ogun state government has rewarded the overall best teacher in the State, Mr Odubela Tajudeen with a two bedroom bungalow and offered employment to the wife of a deceased teacher, Mr Sunday Ogunjimi, who died during a labour protest in July this year.
Governor Dapo Abiodun who disclosed this at the 2022 teachers’ day celebration in Abeokuta equally announced cash rewards for three teachers in primary and junior secondary schools for their outstanding performances.
Governor Abiodun explained that the gesture was part of the efforts to appreciate teachers for their numerous contributions to the overall development of the nation and said arrangements had been concluded to clear the outstanding leave bonuses of teachers.
In a remark, State Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, Comrade Akeem Lasisi urged the government to invest more on education and sustain the payment of adequate allowances to motivate teachers serving in the rural areas.
Also, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Ogun state wing, Comrade Akinola Abiodun appealed to the government to address the disparity in the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers and work with relevant stakeholders to tackle the issue of out-of-school children.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, had earlier noted that Ogun State was committed to the theme of this year’s celebration “the transformation of education begins with teachers” as part of the agenda to strengthen the education sector.
Principal, Oba Akinbiyi Model School, Mokola, Ibadan, Mrs Folasade Ayodele has attributed the role of a teacher as a ladder to the quests of students to succeed in life.
The educationist made the assertion while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s World Teachers Day.
Speaking on this year’s theme ‘Transformation of Education Begins with the Teacher’, Mrs Ayodele, attributed double interest as a factor contributing to the low academic performance of most students.
This, she noted was affecting the education sector in the country.
Mrs Ayodele enjoined students to do one thing at a time as different activities could not be combined with education.
She urged parents to allow their wards to be focused and work for hand in hand with the teachers to bring out the best in any child.
Another teacher, Mr Henry Adebusoye called on teachers to see the profession as a call to humanity.
He said there was a reward from God for anyone that impacted knowledge on others, urging teachers to embrace their profession joyfully.
Mr Adebusoye appealed to people to see teachers as trainers irrespective of the challenges they are facing in their profession.
The educationist noted that teaching was a mental task that needed stability to perform optimally.
He called on government and non-governmental organizations to prioritize the welfare of teachers.
Olukemi Akintunde
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Residents of the Lepers Colony, Iberekodo, Abeokuta have appealed to the Ogun State government to give scholarships to their children to enable them to further their education.
The leader of the community, Mr John Odunawo made the plea when he led some residents of the colony on a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
Mr Odunawo who also urged the state government to rehabilitate the road leading to the colony commended the present administration in the state for not neglecting them through the provision of regular stipends.
Responding on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr Toyin Taiwo said the state government would continue to be inclusive by ensuring that all citizens, irrespective of their status and physical conditions were not excluded in the scheme of things.
Dr Taiwo gave the assurance that despite dwindling revenue and numerous issues contending for government’s attention, their welfare and well-being would not be neglected.
Bolanle Adesida
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The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of 2022 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination(SSCE).
It blacklisted 29 supervisors for alleged involvement in various malpractice offences during the just concluded examination.
NECO Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, who announced the results on Thursday at the NECO Headquarters in Minna, said four schools were recommended for de-recognition for two years due to their involvement in mass cheating during the exercise.
Minister Of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has restated the ministry’s commitment to work closely with all Nigerians to provide safe schools where children and teachers are protected from threats and crisis.
Mallam Adamu made this known in Ibadan while delivering his goodwill message at the 58th national delegate conference of the Nigeria Union Of teachers, NUT, with the theme “Terrorism and attack on schools: effects on education and Nigeria’s economy.’
Represented by the coordinating evaluator, quality assurance in the ministry, Ibadan, Mrs Odeleye Abimbola, the minister said Nigeria was making tremendous efforts to ensure the protection of education from attacks with special priority on security of students, teachers and facilities.
He explained that the attack on schools has become a global challenge where virtually all countries have recorded incidences of the effect of such attacks on children’s education.
Also speaking, Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu lamented the state of attack on schools, calling for concerted efforts to stem the tide.
In an address, NUT national president, Mr Audu Amba called on relevant authorities including state governments to implement the 2020 welfare packages approved by President Buhari on the occasion of the 2020 teachers day celebration.
National President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba promised to support NUT in all states to ensure that retirement age of 65years and other welfare packages were implemented.
Highlight of the conference was presentation of award to President Muhammadu Buhari for his teachers friendly policies.
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has called for more support from voluntary individuals or groups that are ready to give back to society through collaboration with the government in order to ensure the quality standard of education in the state.
Governor Makinde made the call while inaugurating the board of trustees of Government College, Ibadan, GCI at the executive chamber, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde who emphasised that government alone could not fund education echoed that the activities of GCI remain subject to regulation by the state government, and divulged that the board deliverable would be reviewed in 2024.
In a remark, the Commissioner for Education, Abdurahman Abdulraheem said the inauguration is another landmark achievement of the state government stressing that the template would help to solve major challenges in the sector, as well as inspired critical stakeholders including old students associations of various schools to be actively involved in the management and funding of education in the state.
While applauding Governor Makinde, the President, Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association, Dr Wálé Babalakin, assured the government that the gesture would be the beginning of great things in the state with a remarkable difference within a year of taking over.
The board of trustees of Government College, Ibadan GCI inaugurated comprises of seven representatives of GCI, two from the state government and two others from the parents-teacher association,( PTA) while the rest from the old Students.
Iyabo Adebisi
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One of the items of the sustainable development goals is access to quality education.
In Nigeria at present however , over 7 months ASUU strike has destabilized the school’s academic calendar and also crippled business activities around varsities.
The 7months plus strike did not only affect business activities, academic calendar has been destabilized for the past few months.
According to a business owner around the Federal University of Technology FUTA Akure Mrs Oluwakemi Sanya said she suffered a monumental loss with the ongoing strike with about 50% low sales of her goods.
Another trader, Mrs Bola Akomolafe said many business areas on campuses had grown bushes, even as edible products worth millions of naira had been destroyed due to the unending strike.
Stories of students were quite different from the scenario portrayed by the business owners as the students claimed they diverted their energies into profitable or worthwhile ventures as revealed by a 200 level political science student of the university of Ibadan ,Abdul Rahman Adebayo.
“I currently work as freelance reporter since the ASUU strike 7months ago,it is so pathetic that tertiary institutions can be shut when there is no pandemic or war Abdulraham Adebayo said “
Similarly ,his countertpart in the Usman Dan fodio University sokoto ,Abdul malik sufurullaahi said that the strike was affecting his mental health considering the fact this education had now been put on hold as a final year student
A visually impaired young man ,Oyediran Emmanuel from the university of Lagos disclosed that he had engaged as volunteer to civil society organisations to keep body and soul together .
Other students who spoke Oluwatuase Olatomiwa of the Olusegun Agagu university of science and technology Okitipupa,Ondo state ,Alofe Faith ,Obafemi Awolowo university Ile Ife ,Ewuje precious and peace oladipo of the federal university Oye Ekiti however called for a compromise between government and ASUU for the schools to reopen for the future of the nations education system.
In a submission ,a university lecturer , Dr Gbenga Abimbola expressed displeasure with the poor handling of university education by government due to poor and outdated policies that endanger the country’s education system.
Dr Abimbola called for a synergy between government and ASUU to put an end to the ongoing strike.
Olufisoye Akinola
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Osun State governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has assented to the law for the upgrade of Osun State College of Education, OSCOED, Ilesa to a full-fledged University.
The governor’s assent followed the successful passage of the Executive Bill into Law by the Osun State House of Assembly, OSHA, in August this year.
Speaking shortly after assenting to the law, Governor Oyetola reiterated the fact that the decision of the government to upgrade the College to a university was “not a product of fanciful effort”.
He said the proposed university had been carefully conceived as a thoroughly entrepreneurial and innovative institution to be co-funded by many sources.
“The proposed university has been carefully conceived as a thoroughly entrepreneurial and innovative institution that would be funded through a mix of sources such as the government, community, industry, and other stakeholders without exerting unnecessary pressure on the finances of the state.
While receiving copies of the University Establishment Law from the Governor, Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Mr Timothy Owoeye, noted that the signing of the bill into law is a new dawn in the entire Ijesa land in particular and the state in general.
“This is a huge development for Ijesa people and Osun State. This is what we have been clamouring for, for over 40 years. As a matter of fact, the College which was established in 1979 is more than 40 years now, and thinking to upgrade it to a full-fledged University is a welcome development. We commend and appreciate Mr Governor for his magnanimity and generosity to the Ijesa people”.
“I want to assure you that the establishment of this University will attract a lot of developments and improve on the socioeconomic activities of Ijesa land; and by extension, it is going to turn Ilesa into a tourist centre as Ijesas home and abroad will come to support the government. I can assure you that the government will not regret upgrading the College to a University”.
The Chairman of the Implementation Committee of the proposed University, Professor Olu Aina, applauded the governor for the swift response, saying the signing will give the Committee enablement to continue to conclude the implementation process.
“The work is not yet completed. What we had today is the enablement for us to continue to conclude the work of implementation. I can see three major stages ahead of us.”
“First, the constitution of Governing Council and appointment of Principal Officers of the University, and secondly we will start work and, begin to recruit staff and finally we will open up the classrooms for academic activities.”
“With this, the government is opening up more opportunities for youths to have and access quality education. This is going to be the first university of its type in Nigeria to have a Public-Private-Partnership and the provision of quality education which will be vocation-orientated. We are all looking forward to it.”
Abiodun Adeoye
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set out new guidelines for the conduct of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
This is contained in its Weekly Bulletin released on Monday in Abuja.
The board said the development was released in a communiqué issued at the end of a five-day brainstorming retreat for management staff held in Abuja.
It explained that the modifications include; new ways to further strengthen the conduct of the UTME accreditation centres, registration of candidates, examination process, result management and general administration.
According to JAMB, all Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres must henceforth use laptops running on at least 2 gigabytes (2GB) RAM for the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) tests.
The board also barred CBT centres from collaborating with cyber cafes or tutorial centres, saying “any violation of the directive, whether in part or whole, will lead to the revocation of the licence of the erring CBT centre.”
“It became necessary for the board to modify its operations towards achieving far-reaching improvements on various issues emanating from the registration process and biometric challenges, among other operational procedures.
“Hence, no new Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre would be accredited without meeting the new requirements.
“To this end, new CBT centres must use laptop computer systems as clients, zero thin-clients or Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) would no longer be accepted”, the bulletin reads
The Board is also considering separating UTME registration from that of Direct Entry (DE) from 2023.
JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, also stated that biometrics of all accredited CBT centre registration officers would be captured ahead of the exercise.
FRCN Abuja/Daniel Adejo
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The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), on Monday afternoon withdrew a circular directing the reopening of federal public universities.
The directive was given to Vice-Chancellors, Pro-Chancellors and Governing Councils to re-open Federal Universities.
The government had in a circular tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/135 addressed to all vice-chancellors; Pro-Chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities, ordering them to re-open universities.
The circular was signed by the Director, Finance and Account of the NUC, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof Abubakar Rasheed.
However, in another circular tagged NUC/ES/138/Vol.64/136 which was also signed by the Director, finance and account of the NUC, Onazi, the commission withdrew the order.
No reason was given for the sudden withdrawal of the circular.
As the drama between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU continues, a traditional ruler has pleaded with both parties to reach a common ground to prevent the nation’s education sector from total collapse.
The Asotun of Isotun-Ijesa, Oba Akinola Owosekun made the appeal in Ilesa while speaking with Radio Nigeria’s Gold FM.
Oba Owosekun maintained that ASUU was justified by embarking on strike as the federal government had failed to implement the agreement it reached with the union.
Oba Owosekun, who noted that it was constitutional for ASUU to demand its rights and students to protest to show their grievances, however, called on them to avoid violence while making their grievances known.
Funmi Adekoya
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The Federal Government has ordered the vice-chancellors of universities to re-open schools and allow students resume lectures.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has been on strike for about seven months now.
Recall that the federal government went to court to challenge the action of the association. Last week the national industrial court through Polycarp Hamman, the judge in the NIC, granted the federal government’s application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing with the strike.
The outcome of the judgement was questioned by Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who stated that the national industrial court does not have jurisdiction to rule on the case between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
However, tired of the lingering strike the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission ordered vice-chancellors to re-open schools and allow students resume lectures.
In a letter disclosed to journalists on Monday, signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of the NUC, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, FG instructed all vice-chancellors; Pro-Chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities to re-open schools.
“Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; Restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses”, part of the letter read.
Punch/Titilayo Kupoliyi
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Students of Osun State public and private schools on Monday defied the early morning showers and resumed for the first term of the 2022/2023 academic session.
A visit by Radio Nigeria to some public and private primary and secondary schools in Osogbo indicates that teaching and learning could not commence as students, under the supervision of teachers, were seen clearing their environment.
In an interview, a teacher, Mr Samuel Akintayo said sanitation was necessary for the safety of students as well as that of teachers.
He, however, assured the preparedness and readiness of teachers for teaching stressing the need for students to be prepared and serious with their studies since they are in a new and higher class.
A headteacher, Mrs Yemi Abimbola stressed the need for parents and guardians to get necessary textbooks and other written materials for students to aid their learning.
In Ilesa, a Radio Nigeria correspondent who visited some public schools including Babalola Girls’ Grammar School, Obokun High School and Ilesa Grammar School reports that about 70% of students resumed today for the 2022-2023 academic session.
Students were seen in their classes receiving lectures from their teachers.
In an interview with Gold FM, one of the principals, Mrs Adesola Olowoyo advised parents to always prioritise their children’s education.
Mrs Olowoyo also advised students to concentrate on their studies in the new academic year.
Also speaking, two students from Ilesa Grammar School, Moyinoluwa Fariogun and Musa Muize who expressed happiness to resume another academic year urged other students to concentrate on their studies.
Abiodun Adeoye /Olufunke Adeosun
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Schools in Ogun State resumed for the 2022/2023 academic session after the long vacation.
Radio Nigeria correspondent, who visited some of the Schools in Abeokuta, the state capital, observed a large turnout of students as early as seven thirty for morning assembly.
Apart from the heightened activities in the schools, the state also witnessed heavy traffic as parents and guardians were out early for school runs while traders in various items required for academic and extracurricular activities also made brisk business.
Radio Nigeria observed that pupils and parents making their way to public schools across the state were seen with chairs of different shapes and sizes which must be provided for the use of the pupils, especially the new intakes.
Some parents, including Mr Emmanuel Ifadeyiye and Mrs Feranmi Akindeji who were excited to have their children back in school, decried the hike in the school fees and educational materials and appealed to school owners not to mandate the children to patronize the schools for items that could be procured at a cheaper rate elsewhere.
Speaking with our reporter, two school Administrators, Mrs Babalola Abosede and Mr Abraham Oyekunle who pointed out that academic activities had resumed with immediate effect urged the pupils to settle down quickly and shun truancy.
The Administrators encouraged the parents and guardians to support the schools in promoting academic excellence among the pupils by providing them with the necessary materials and making the homes conducive for the learners to thrive.
An educationist, Mrs Miriam Wali also admonished parents to consider affordability while enrolling their children in schools to avoid unnecessary economic pressure.
Modupeola Sobukonla
Similarly, Public and private schools in Ibadan this morning resumed for the 2022/2023 first term academic session.
Radio Nigeria correspondent, who monitored the resumption, reports that some students were cleaning the school tables, chairs and premises while others were our correspondent, some of the students said they utilized the holidays for thorough revision ahead of the new session.
In an interview, the Principal, Ibadan Boys High School, Oke Bola, Dr Rasheed Fasasi and his counterpart at Oba Akinbiyi High School, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ayodele said the teachers and the students were set for the commencement of class work.
The principals, who commended the State Ministry of Education for the timely release of materials and results of JSS3 students, said the turnout of students was high.
They expressed optimism that the students would perform excellently in the new session
Rotimi Famakin
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has scheduled a supplementary UTME for Saturday, September 24, 2022, for 67 candidates who registered but were unable to take the exam due to unforeseen circumstances.
According to a statement issued by JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Febian Benjamin, candidates will take their exams at specially designated locations.
According to Dr. Benjamin, following the 2022 UTME, the Board reviewed the entire process, and candidates who had biometric challenges were given the opportunity to sit for a mop-up examination.
The Board also announced that since the conduct of a mop-up examination was a stopgap measure, it would not be allowed to be a permanent feature of its calendar.
It noted that any candidate presenting any challenge(s) would have to indicate such peculiarities at the point of registration for them to be given special consideration.
Dr Benjamin pointed out that the decision to consider the candidates was to ensure that no single innocent candidate is punished unjustly.
The statement urges the 67 candidates to print their supplementary examination notification slips from Monday, 19th September 2022, to know the centres where they would be sitting for the examination.
Daniel Adejo/Adetutu Adetule
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Vehicular movement is at a stand-still at both the local and international airports in Lagos as the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS protest the continued stay at home of students due to the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU strike.
All the access roads into the airports have been condoned off by the students around the hajj and cargo terminal, and the road leading into the International airport terminal.
They defied the morning rain, chanting solidarity songs to register their anger over the failure of the Federal Government and ASUU to reach a truce on the demands of the lecturers.
The once busy airport roads and toll gates are deserted, and the usual hustle and bustle that characterized the airport environment was absent.
Staff and workers of the various agencies and companies at the airport cannot access their offices, and students of the airport secondary school are also affected.
Many air passengers are currently stranded on the roads.
Security agencies, the police, Civil Defense corps are on the ground to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Currently, the once chaotic traffic situation on Mondays in the Lagos metropolis has been compounded by the protest as it has extended to the Ajao Estate area to Oshodi, the local airport to Ikeja under the bridge, and the Agege motor road, spilling over to other roads linked to these areas.
Nosa Aituamen
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President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday, promised to extend the ongoing consultations between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities to end the seven-month strike.
“I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you,” Buhari said to the chairman and select members of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities at the State House, Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President promised to engage in further consultations with relevant stakeholders towards ending the protracted strike by university lecturers.
The statement is titled ‘ASUU Strike: President Buhari meets with pro-chancellors of varsities, promises further consultations.’
The President said without necessarily going back on what is already established policy, “I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you.”
The Pro-Chancellors were led to the meeting by Professor Nimi Briggs, who said they had come to meet with the President in three capacities: “As President and Commander-in-Chief, as a father of the nation, and as Visitor to the Federal Universities.”
Citing the recent listing of the University of Ibadan among the first 1,000 universities in the world, Briggs noted that “the future of the university system in the country is good,” despite the seven-month industrial action.
Professor Briggs commended the Federal Government for concessions already made to the striking lecturers, including the offer to raise salaries by 23.5 per cent across board, and 35 per cent for Professors.
He, however, asked for “further inching up of the salary, in view of the economic situation of the country.”
