Oyo State Release Calendar for Schools Resumption And Examination For Terminal Classes

Press Release

Oyo State Calendar for Schools Resumption And Examination For Terminal Classes

The Oyo State Executive Council at its meeting today 21st of July 2020 has approved the academic calendar to guide resumption of schools and other associated educational activities in the State.

According to the approved calendar, Third Term 2019/2020 session has been cancelled and promotion of students, for all affected classes, will now be determined by First and Second Term Continuous Assessment.

Pry 6, JSS 3 and SSS 3 will proceed on holiday from 30th of July and resume for their Examination as follows;

Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)- 10th to 18th August 2020

Competitive Entrance Examination into the Schools of Science- 19th August 2020

Placement/Screening Test to JSS1- 20th August 2020

Placement Test into Technical Colleges- 28th August 2020

The SSS 3 will resume for their Examination as soon as WAEC announce the date.

The 2020/21 academic session, according to the calendar approved by the State Council is as follows;

First Term- 21th September to 18th December 2020

Second Term- 11th January to 9th April 2021

Third Term- 3rd May to 30th July 2021

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology enjoins all stakeholders and members of the public to take note of the details of the academic calendar.

Signed

Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology

Lagos State COVID-19 Enforcement Taskforce was attacked at the weekend with guns at a hotel in Ipaja

Osigold Hotels and Bar, No 15 Apostle Soyinka Street, Baruwa, Ayobo Ipaja, Lagos shut

Lagos State COVID-19 Enforcement Taskforce said it was attacked at the weekend with guns at a hotel in Ipaja area of Lagos when it went to enforce COVID-19 compliance.

The taskforce, led by  the Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, also sealed over 10 social and religious centres due to non-compliance with the government’s directive on social distancing and ban on social and religious gathering.

The enforcement Team disclosed that the Commission, during the enforcement operation carried out late hours over the weekend sealed The Harvest Lagos, Bay Lounge, The Heavens Suites, Angle Villa Bar, Ehi Guest House and Gardens Egbeda, Mountain Top Hotels and Suites Ojodu.

The Technical Adviser to the Commission Mr. Seun Awojobi stated that while carrying out the enforcement on Friday night, the team was attacked and shot at, at Osigold Hotels and Bar in Baruwa Ipaja, Lagos.

The Hotel had over 100 people clubbing and dancing within its premises flouting the State Government’s directive and contravening the Infectious Disease Law of the State.

However, Mojola said the hotel was sealed and that the team was determined to ensure that relevant laws and safety guidelines are strictly adhered to.

He appealed to citizens to take responsibility and fight against the novel Coronavirus more seriously to complement the efforts of the government to curb spread of the virus.

Mojola enjoined the public to continue registering their businesses in line with the Register to Open lnitiative of the Government on www.lasgsafetyreg.com to ensure adequate space management and preparation against when such businesses would be allowed to open.

He warned other facilities in the State, stating that the Commission would continue to shutdown erring and non-compliant facilities across the State.

Mojola reiterated the importance of wearing a mask always as it ensured that “you are keeping yourself and other people around you from being infected.”

Senate amended the Criminal Code Act Bill which increase jail term of kidnappers to life sentence

In the attempt to reduce the tide of the ever-increasing rate of kidnapping in the country, the Senate on July 14, 2020 passed for third reading an amendment to the Criminal Code Amendment Act Bill which increased the jail term prescribed for kidnappers from 10 years to life imprisonment.

This followed the adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act Cap.C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which was presented by the committee Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

The bill seeks to, among others, provide for life sentence for persons found guilty of kidnapping as against the provisions of Section 363 of the Act, which prescribes imprisonment for a term of 10 years, where the offence of kidnapping is established.

The bill notes that the frequency of kidnapping across the country, the resultant trauma as well as the number of lives lost to the crime, all make it imperative to review existing laws with a view not only to ensuring appropriate punishment for perpetrators but also to serve as deterrent to potential offenders.

Senator Bamidele in his lead contribution to the debate on the bill said the legislation will address the lingering issue of kidnapping which, in recent times, is on the rise.

The lawmaker stated that contrary to views expressed by those opposing the passage of the bill on the ground that it would usurp the powers of the states of the federation to legislate on the subject matter, the bill seeks to amend the Criminal Code Act of 1916 and not the criminal codes of the states.

It would be recalled that in her lead debate at plenary late last year, sponsor of the bill, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, observed that the frequency of kidnap cases across the country, its accompanying trauma, and the number of lives lost to the crime, are imperatives that necessitate the review of existing laws on kidnapping.

This is with a view to ensuring appropriate punishment for perpetrators as well as deterrence for potential criminals.

She lamented over the existing provision which prescribes a more severe punishment “for stealing replaceable property than the stealing of a human being”.

Until recently, when banditry took over the crime space in parts of the country, kidnapping at a time was about the worst security challenge that confronted the nation after insurgents were degraded by troops.

In 2017, kidnapping became a ‘money-spinning job’ for criminals.

Sometime in 2018, kidnappers almost made the Abuja-Kaduna highway their den.

Last year, they stretched their nefarious activities to Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.

This was also as the payment for ransom advanced to bitcoin. In 2019 alone, about 1,000 kidnap cases were reported in the media.

So many lives and property have been lost to perpetrators of this crime.

The trauma which some kidnap victims suffer in the hands of their abductors as well as the nightmares their family members go through are better imagined.

Due to huge losses, some traders have gone bankrupt.

To evade kidnap, many peasant farmers have abandoned their farms in areas where the crime is most pronounced.

The high incidence of this crime has also continued to divert the attention of troops from combating renewed insurgency.

Although Senator Oluremi Tinubu had maintained that life sentence is a tough punishment for persons found guilty of kidnapping, it is tougher when it is accompanied by hard labour.

Where the victim is killed, it should be the death sentence.

The bill could further be improved upon to, in addition, provide for confiscation of properties of persons guilty of the crime.

The house used for keeping kidnap victims should also be demolished.

It would seem ridiculous to have a threshold of punishment that is lower than the penalty already legislated by some states.

A heinous crime deserves a heinous punishment!

Govt alone can’t revamp basic education infrastructure – FG

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has said the state of dilapidation of basic education infrastructure across the country is embarrassing, but that the Federal Government cannot handle it alone.

Nwajiuba said this while presenting the Royal Icon of Hope for Nigerian Children award to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, in his palace on Tuesday.

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He said there was, therefore, the need for the private sector to get involved.

Represented by his Special Assistant on Projects, Engr. Adewale Adenaike, the minister said to promptly tackle defects of infrastructure, the Rapid Repair Report Project under Project Naija, Foundation Trust was initiated.

He explained the mode of operation of the project, saying “If there is a roof leakage in a classroom, for instance, it will be reported on our website and the person that reported the problem will be the one to execute the project using local artisans after we obtain the estimate of its cost.”

The minister further said the award was in recognition of the emir’s immeasurable support for education and for him to be in the driver’s seat to achieve the objective of the project.

The Police announced that the online application would be opened for a period of 6 weeks...

The Nigerian Police Force have started the process of recruiting qualified Nigerians for the constable cadre.

The Police announced that the online application would be opened for a period of 6 weeks, from the 14th of July to the 23rd of August, 2020.

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The first requirement, according to DCP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, is that applicants must have passion for a career in the Nigeria Police Force.

Below are other requirements you need to meet to qualify for the position:

Applicants shall be of Nigerian origin by birth and possess National Identity Number (NIN).

Applicants must possess a minimum of 5 credits in not more than 2 sittings in WASSCE/GCE/NECO/NABTEB with credit passes in English and Mathematics.

Applicants must be aged between 17-25 years.

Applicants must be medically, physically and psychologically fit and must not be less than 1.67m tall for male and 1.64m tall for female.

Applicants must not have less than 86cm (34 inches) expanded chest measurement (for men only).

Female Applicants must not be pregnant at the time of Recruitment.

Applicants must be free from any pecuniary embarrassment.

Applicants must print their completed online forms, guarantor forms and submit same at the examination/screening and recruitment centres.

Candidate who is suffering from any one of the underlisted abnormalities or deformities shall not be accepted for enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force: Impediment in speech, gross malformation of teeth or jaw, knock knees, bow legs, bent knees, deformed hands, defective eyesight or squints eyes, amputation of any part of the body.

Man 39 in police net for defiling stepdaughter

The Police in Adamawa State have arrested a 39-year-old man, Obiora Patrick, for defiling his nine-year-old stepdaughter.

In a statement, the state police spokesman, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, said the suspect made confessional statements while the victim was undergoing medical checkup.

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DSP Nguroje appealed for support from members of the public in the fight against sexual violence and related crimes, and called on parents to pay attention to their children.

He said, “The Adamawa State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that following intensified action against sexual assault on women and children, the command on the 20/7/2020 arrested one Obora Patrick, a 39-year-old resident of No.46 Hospital Road, Jimeta, Yola North, for raping his nine-year-old stepdaughter.”

Another for raping 13-yr-old girl

In a related development, a 46-year-old man, Alhaji Sani Hashim, has been remanded by a Makurdi magistrate’s court in Benue State for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl.

The accused who lives on No. 54 Bauchi Street in Wadata suburb of Makurdi allegedly committed the crime when the victim was sent to hawk groundnuts.

The prosecutor told the court that one Abdullazak Umuru of No. 8 Ejule Street, Wurukum in Makurdi, reported at the Police Area Command, Makurdi, on July 7, 2020, at about 09:00am that he sent his 13-year-old daughter to sell groundnuts and that while on her way to the market, the accused forcefully dragged her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her.

The court was also told that from intelligence report, the said Alhaji Sani Hashimu was arrested for committing the crime; contrary to Section 284 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, denied committing the crime.

When the matter came up, no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.

The prosecutor, therefore, told the court that investigation was in progress and asked for a date to enable it complete investigation and prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Chief Magistrate, Isaac Ajim, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to October 9, 2020.

Drama as Senate walks out NDDC’s director from hearing

The Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, on Tuesday, walked out the Acting Executive Director, Projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Cairo Ojougboh out of an investigative hearing.

Ojougboh was among the management team of the Commission, who appeared before the Senate panel probing the allegation of ‘illegal’ sacking of staff of NDDC.

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Trouble started when Ojougboh asked the Chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to step down.

He said the NDDC management will not get a fair hearing with Nwaoboshi as the chair.

Ojougboh had earlier accused Nwaoboshi and the House of Representatives committee chair on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo of padding the budget of the Commission.

Tunji-Ojo, on Monday, recused himself from the House panel probing alleged financial recklessness by the NDDC Interim Management Committee.

Ojougboh said, “We feel we cannot get fair hearing from the Committee. It is regrettable that we have to take this decision. As Chairman, you can excuse yourself from chairing the meeting. This Committee is not properly constituted, you cannot and will not preside over this meeting.”

Nwaoboshi, however, told Ojougboh that the hearing was not about financial recklessness, but about the alleged sack of staff.

“We will not allow you to come here and insult anyone. The Committee was put up by the Senate,” he said.

The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Senator Amos Bulus; Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo) and Senator Eremienyo Degi (Bayelsa) urged Ojuogboh to stop the brickbacks as they were capable of postponing the issues at stake.

Ojougboh, however, did not softpedal, and the chairman asked him to excuse the panel “since you don’t want to take questions from us”.

Meanwhile, the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Caroline Nagbo said no staff of the agency was sacked.

“They were only asked to step aside for transparency and diligence.

“All such claims of sack, dismissal or suspension of staff of the NDDC are untrue and misleading,” Nagbo, who represented the Commission’s managing director, Kemerbrandikumo Pondei said.

Pondei, on Monday, collapsed during the House of Representatives investigative hearing.

Reps give Akpabio 48 hours to names of NASS members who got NDDC contracts

 

A former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio The House of Representatives has asked Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to publish, within 48 hours, members of the 9th National Assembly who contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Ruling on a matter of privileges brought by Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said the Minister, who alleged 60 percent of contracts from the NDDC were given to members of the National Assembly, should publish the benefiting lawmakers, especially members of the 9th Assembly. 

He further said the names of their companies and the contracts they got should be published or face the wrath of the House.

Gbajabiamila said the Minister owes it a duty to himself, the House Committee on Niger Delta, the people of Niger Delta and Nigerians to publish the names. 

The allegation Akpabio, had alleged that most of the contracts of the NDDC were awarded to the National Assembly members. The minister, in Abuja on Monday, said this to the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC investigating financial mismanagement in the NDDC.

“Most of the contracts in NDDC are awarded to National Assembly members,” he said. A member of the committee, Boma Goodhead (PDP, Rivers) challenged Akpabio: “You were a member of the NDDC Committee in the 8th Assembly. “Are you telling me that lots of jobs were awarded to you?” Responding, the minister said: “No.”

The lawmaker took on him again, saying “If you were not awarded the contracts, why are you coming here to say that you are aware that lawmakers were awarded contracts?” 

But as Akpabio attempted to respond, the deputy chairman of the committee, who presided over the session, Thomas Ereyitomi, interrupted him thus: “It’s okay Hon. Minister! It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay. Hon. Minister, it’s okay. Don’t talk again, off your mic.” 

FIRS clarifies stamp duty rates, others

Following several requests by taxpayers seeking clarifications on the current administration of Stamp Duties Act in the country, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has published detailed information to guide taxpayers and the general public on rates payable as stamp duty.

The clarification guide, which is contained in a Public Notice signed by Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Muhammad Nami, published on its website, stated that Stamp Duty is chargeable on both physical and electronic instruments in two ways i.e. Ad-valorem, where duty payable is a percentage of the consideration on an instrument; or Flat Rate, where a fixed sum is chargeable irrespective of the consideration on dutiable instrument or document.

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The notice described stamp duty as a tax payable in respect of dutiable instrument as provided under the Stamp Duties Act, CAP S8, LFN 2004 (as amended). “Such instruments include Agreements, Contracts, Receipts, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Promissory notes, Insurance policies and others stipulated in the Schedule to the Stamp Duties Act” .

The guide further stated more than 50 types of chargeable transactions require stamp duty.

It also specified the rates chargeable on each, adding that some of the chargeable transactions are bank deposit or transfer, loan agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to land, sales agreement, will, tenancy/lease agreement and all receipts.

The service has also clarified that the recently launched FIRS Adhesive Stamp “is not the same as postage stamp administered by NIPOST for the purposes of delivery of items and documents, and is therefore not a substitute for the FIRS adhesive stamp, which is produced for the sole purpose of stamp duty payment.”

It stated, “It is the responsibility of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Money Deposit Banks (MDBs), Companies, Landlords, Executors, etc. to ensure that service providers, contractors, tenants etc. pay stamp duties due on agreements, receipts and other dutiable instruments.

“Failure to deduct or remit stamp duties into the Federal or State Stamp Duties Account attracts relevant penalties and interest as stipulated in the Stamp Duties Act, Cap S8, LFN 2004 (as amended)”, FIRS added.

Ondo Governoship: Meet the Eight aspirants battling for PDP ticket

Eight aspirants will on Wednesday battle for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that would pitch them against the incumbent governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the October 10 election.

The candidates include former Attorney General and commissioner for Justice of the state, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) who was the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in 2016 election.

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Jegede comes from Ondo central senatorial district, He is the only aspirant from that district.

Eyitayo Jegede

Another aspirant is Dr Eddy Olafeso, the national vice Chairman of PDP, South West.

Olafeso is a former Commissioner for Information in the state and he is from southern senatorial district.

We also have the state deputy governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi who crossed from APC to PDP recently. Like Olafeso, the deputy governor is also from the southern senatorial district. About five of the candidates are from the district.

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi

Engr Sola Ebiseni, a two time commissioner is also from the Southern senatorial district and a consistent member of the PDP.

Another aspirant is Mr Banjo Okunomo, he was a publicity sectary of the party. He is also from the southern senatorial district.

Another aspirant is Senator Boluwaji Kunlere who was elected senator on the platform of Labour Party. He is also from the southern senatorial district.

Mr Godday Arewa is another aspirant. He is also from Ilaje, the southern senatorial district.

Dr Bode Ayorinde, a former member of the House of Representatives from Owo town, the hometown of governor Akeredolu.

He was a member of the APC before he crossed to PDP. He is from northern senatorial district.