Category: Featured

The National Examination Council (NECO) was an attempt to break the monopoly of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) among other mandates. How far has it gone in meeting the mandates for setting it up? FRANK IKPEFAN reports.

The National Examination Council (NECO) has begun moves to make all of its examinations compulsory for secondary school pupils in the country.

Already, two states, Ebonyi and Cross River governments, have bought into the idea by making pronouncements to that effect.

Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi announced that examinations conducted by NECO are now compulsory for all secondary schools in Ebonyi.

The governor gave the directive following a request made to that effect by the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Prof Dantani Wushishi during a courtesy visit to the governor in Abakaliki, the state capital.

A statement by Head, Information and Public Relations Division of NECO, Azeez Sani, listed the examinations involved as National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

The governor, who commended NECO for playing an important role in the educational development of the country, assured that the Ebonyi State government will continue to support NECO to enable the agency deliver on its mandate.

His counterpart from Cross River, Benedict Ayade, also towed the same line by making the same pronouncement that all public examinations conducted by the Council are now compulsory for all public schools in the state.

The governor, who expressed satisfaction with the performance of Cross River Indigenes in NECO SSCE in the last five years, said there was need for the state to cue into all NECO conducted examinations.

He commended NECO for improving the quality of education in the country.

The governor assured the Council that the Cross River State government will continue to support NECO to enable her to deliver on its mandate.

 

Wushishi on a mission to reposition NECO

 

This move is part of the efforts of the Registrar to reposition the examination body and give it a national look.

Before this move, NECO exams were only optional for students in the country, with many taking it to make up for deficiencies in their West Africa Examination Council results.

The registrar explained that NECO, being the only national indigenous examination body in the country, deserved the support of all Nigerians.

Education stakeholders believe that the new development will give teeth to the examinations conducted by the examination body.

“Yes, this will give NECO more teeth and finally break the dominance of over reliance on waec results. Remember the need to have a home grown examination body to cater to the needs of Nigerians was one of the reasons for establishing NECO in 200,” one of the stakeholders said.

Council moves to recover N2.3bn from northern states Aside from trying to make its examination compulsory, the examination body has also moved to recover billions of naira owed by some state governments, especially those from the northern region.

In October 2021, Wushishi had lamented the indebtedness of many states to the council, lamenting that the debt was impacting on the operations of the council.

His position was corroborated by a former Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, who lamented how such debt was affecting the operations of the examination body.

Echono had said the huge debt some states are owing the Council was responsible for the drop in the number of candidates who register for the exams conducted by the Council.

He stated that many states, who offer to pay NECO fees for candidates from their state, had reneged on the actual payment, leaving the Council cash trapped.

The former permanent secretary stated that the huge debt by some states, which he described as “notorious”, had given rise to the strict measures currently being deployed by the Council which, according to him, may have had little impact on the numbers eventually registered to sit for its examination.

He said: “Clearly NECO has gotten full grip and hand on the process, we are impressed by the progress recorded across the country, we are also pleased with the measures taken to curtail incidences of examination malpractices.

“On our side, we ensure that we put the people in the right places. The credibility of our exams are ensured, we have improved on the process; integrity and credibility of our exams are upheld across the country.”

To force the states to pay, the examination body withheld the results of pupils from states owing it.

The Programme Officer for BudgIT, a civic technology organisation, Damen Ilevbaoje, explained that the move would strengthen the operations of the examination body to carry out its mandates.

“The era of using the payment of NECO examination fees for candidates in their states by politicians is over. State governments who make pronouncements to help their citizens should back it up by paying the fees not to use it as a tool for political gains.

Read Also: Ebonyi makes NECO exams compulsory in all secondary schools

“That’s why we in the civil societies always call for transparency and accountability in governance because our political office holders are notorious for using one scheme or the other to gain or score cheap political points.

“The registrar has shown within a short time in office that he has what it takes to do the job and by withholding results of debtor state governments, he has shown that he is not afraid to step on toes in his quest to reposition the examination body.”

 

Putting workers first

As with every organisation, human beings are known to be the ones that drive reforms, this no doubt explains why Prof Wushishi has rolled out a robust welfare package for staff members.

To the admiration of staff of the council, Prof Wushishi recently approved retirement benefits for some retiring staff, including provision of health support and assistance for burial expenses for staff, among others.

The NECO Registrar had through the Governing Board led by Dr. Abubakar Siddique as the Chairman accorded staff welfare a top priority by facilitating comprehensive life assurance packages for all staff, especially those involved in an accident during the course of the official assignment and for those who die in active service.

Besides, staff of the council that are due for promotion after passing the prescribed examination have been promoted for the year 2021.

Also, under the new NECO management which saw to the development of ICT software, fairness and equity have returned in the posting of staff for assignments.

According to a staff of the Federal Government agency, this has also engendered relative calm and peace in the Council because the staff now knows that there is nothing like favouritism in posting for assignment any longer.

Wushishi superintends conducts of NECO exams in face of COVID-19 pandemic  Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, in 2021, NECO successfully conducted and released results timely for the National Common Entrance Examination NCEE, including that of Senior School Certificate Examination SSCE for school-based candidates.

The agency also ensured that it successfully conducted and released in record time the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for JSS 3 candidates, in the course of the same year conducted a trial test of items in some selected secondary schools across the six geo-political zones in the country.

Also worthy of note was the conduct of accreditation and re-accreditation of secondary schools across the country as well as overseeing the conduct of the 2021 Senior School Certificate Examination SSCE for external candidates.

The Council also ensured that it paid all ad-hoc staff involved in the conduct of the 2021 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for school based candidates. The ad-hoc staff included 18,243 Supervisors, 887 Assistant Supervisors and 65,159 Examiners.

“The Management appreciates the invaluable contributions of the Supervisors and Examiners in the success story of the Council over the years, and reiterates its determination to strengthening the existing cordial relationship between them.

“The Council however appeals to state governments yet to pay the examination fees of their candidates who sat for the SSCE (Internal), to do so in order to facilitate the release of the result of such candidates.

“It would be recalled that the Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi had on 29th October, 2021 announced the release of the results of the 2021 SSCE for School based candidates,” the council had said in a statement.

With six months into his tenure of five years, education stakeholders are watching with keen interest, how Prof Wushishi will consolidate on the positive steps he has taken so far.

 

Who Is Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi?

 

Wushishi was born on April 5, 1965 in Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State and attended the Central Primary School Wushishi from 1973 to 1979 before proceeding to Government Science College, Izom, for his secondary education from 1979 to 1984.

His quest for higher education took him to Niger State College of Education where he obtained the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1987. He also attended the Nigeria Navy Ship, Akaso, BaroKiri, Port-Harcourt in 1988 for the Naval Training Certificate.

He obtained his first and Masters Degrees as well as a PhD in Science Education with bias in Chemistry from the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, in 1998, 2001 and 2005 respectively. He lectured at the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, from 2004 to 2007 before he transferred his service to the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in 2008.

He was appointed an Associate Professor in 2004; Head of Department, Department of Science Education (2014 to 2017) and Head of Department, Department of Science Education, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL 2015 and 2016) while on sabbatical.

Until his appointment as Registrar/ Chief Executive of NECO on 12th July, 2021, he was a Professor of Science Education (Chemistry) at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and has so many scholarly publications to his credit.

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nullified the outcome of the party’s January 15, 2022 Ekiti state delegate congress.

The party elected a three-member ad hoc ward delegate to elect the PDP flag bearer in the July governorship election.

The national chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who announced the nullification at a media briefing on Monday night, said the Ekiti governorship primary election will be conducted using the statutory/automatic delegates list.

The primary election is billed to hold on Wednesday.

The PDP chair called for the immediate withdrawal of all Court actions instituted by aggrieved parties in the dispute.

According to him, the decision of the party leadership was binding on all stakeholders in the Ekiti.

Abducted Bayelsa Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Mr. Federal Otokito, has regained freedom.

His abductors released him on Monday five days after he was kidnapped from his Otuokpoti community residence in Ogbia Local Government Area.

The Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ben Nebolisa, and the State Director of the Department of State Services, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, presented Otokito to Governor Douye Diri on Monday evening at Government House, Yenagoa.

Addressing Government House correspondents after his release, Diri announced the deposition of the Otuokpoti community paramount ruler, Chief A.C.T Wongo and appointed Chief Rescue Abe in acting capacity.

The Governor also announced the sacking of the community’s development committee chairman, Azibalua Amon and replaced him with Jerry Offor in acting capacity while the youth president, Emolem Igue was also removed and replaced with Shedrach Afiemo.

Investigation indicated that they may be complicit in the kidnap of the commissioner.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Governor as reiterating the state government’s zero tolerance for crime and kidnapping.

Diri warned all those who see kidnapping as a business to desist as his government would not hesitate to invoke the extant laws and make the State uncomfortable for criminal elements.

He called on all community leaders to remain vigilant and ensure that peace prevailed in their communities as government would not hesitate to sanction anyone found wanting in the discharge of their duties.

Diri, who said preliminary investigation revealed that illegal refining of crude was connected to the kidnap, warned all those involved in such business in the State to stop forthwith.

He thanked security agencies and all those who availed the government of useful information that led to the release of the commissioner.
He assured the people that his government would continue to make Bayelsa safe for all residents.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ben Nebolisa, declared Joshua Abi, Clergy Mabinton, Gift Tebeda and Azin Azin wanted in connection with the kidnap.

The rescued Otokito thanked Governor Diri, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and all those who worked for his release.

He also ruled out the payment of ransom for his release.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant against former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The Presiding Judge Bolaji Olajuwon made the order on Monday following an oral application made by Farouk Abdullah, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC said its investigations revealed that the ex-Minister who is facing several money-laundering allegations, has remained in her hideout in the UK and refused to return to the country to enter her plea to charges against her.

Abdullah told the court that all efforts by the agency to get the ex-Minister extradited proved abortive.

He stressed that the warrant would enable the EFCC to persuade the International Police (INTERPOL) to arrest Diezani and also help the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to facilitate her extradition.

“We urge my lord to issue an arrest warrant against Alison-Madueke, who is believed to be in the UK to enable all law enforcement agencies and the INTERPOL to arrest her anywhere she is sighted and be brought before this court to answer to the allegation made against her,” EFCC’s lawyer added.

EFCC anchored the application on section 83(1b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

After he had listened to the application, Justice Olajuwon granted it as prayed, even as he adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely) to await the arrest and extradition of the Defendant.

Read Also: Diezani loses bid to recover $40m jewelry from Fed Govt

EFCC had told the court that investigations revealed that the former Petroleum Minister was not only deeply involved in money laundering but equally played key roles in other financial crimes.

It decried that since the ex-Minister fled the country immediately after she exited the office, it has been difficult to get her back to respond to different criminal allegations against her.

In one of the documents it filed before the court, EFCC said Diezani was among other things, wanted over the alleged role she played in the award of Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) to; Septa Energy Limited, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited by NNPC.

As well as to answer questions on her role in the chartering of private jets by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and Ministry of Petroleum Resources and her role in the award of contracts by NNPC to Marine and Logistics Services Limited.

Besides, the agency said it was investigating the nature of business relationships the former Minister had with some persons.

It listed some of Diezani’s alleged allies under investigation as Mr Donald Amamgbo, Mr. lgho Sanomi, Mr Afam Nwokedi, Chief lkpea Leemon, Miss Olatimbo Bukola Ayinde, Mr Benedict Peters, Christopher Aire, Harcourt Adukeh, Julian Osula, Dauda Lawal, Nnamdi Okonkwo, Mr Leno Laithan, Sahara Energy Group and Midwestern Oil Limited.

The Federal Government said it has shelved plans to remove fuel subsidy this year.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, disclosed this during a stakeholders meeting with the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, in Abuja.

Read Also: Oil subsidy controversy rages on

Also at the meeting was the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

Details Shortly…

The leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force (NDPSF) Asari Dokubo has tackled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu over the constant closure of business in the South East region as a result of the sit-at-home order of the IPOB.

In past weeks, IPOB has compelled residents of South East to remain indoors whenever Kanu, its leader, is arraigned in court.

Kanu and Dokubo have been at loggerheads over the quest for Biafra — the very cause that unites them.

The cold war between them resulted in the formation of the Biafra Customary Government (BCG) which Dokubo announced in March last year, with himself as the head.

In a Facebook live update monitored by The Nation, Dokubo carpeted the group for forcing Igbos to stay indoor whenever Kanu is arraigned in court.

He said: “Fellow Biafrans, I have to come to you because of the crisis and the tragedy of genocidal proportion that’s enveloping Igboland, and any igbo man that’s supporting this, is evil. I want to clearly state that I have Igbo blood flowing in my veins.

Read Also: VIDEO: You are a stupid extortionist, Asari Dokubo mocks Nnamdi Kanu

“I have enough dose of Igbo blood flowing in my veins, and I have never denied it. Every part of my family have Igbo blood flowing in their veins. So I am a stakeholder in Igboland, I can speak on what’s happening.

“Those of you who are encouraging this evil of cannibalism, forcing Igbo people will be haunted forever. Igboland has been destroyed by some demented followers. These demented persons are engaging in all sort of evils, eating humans. I have first hand information. I have pictures and videos.

“Many Igbos are abroad, and they are supporting evil happening in Biafra land. Look at Onitsha has been destroyed. Now they’ve 4 days or sometimes 3 days of market, and no sales.

“What’s the use of Igboman without commerical activities? The time is coming when the people will rise up. Very soon. What sort of Biafra are we looking for, we kill our own people.”

He added: “What’s Igboman without trade? What freedom is Igbo man looking for without trade? Many have been killed because they spoke against the sit-at-home. Sooner or later, every Igbo man will rise up.

“I’m not jealous of Nnamdi Kanu, I’m richer than him. I’ve more children than him. I have 21 children. So why would I be jealous of him?”

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday announced that registration for the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and the Direct Entry examination will begin on February 12.

The board said the examination would hold between April 20 to 30, 2022.

The board made this known in its weekly bulletin released by its Head of Media and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin on Monday.

In the timeline of events attached to the bulletin, the board said: “UTME/ DE registration starts 12th February 2022 and ends 19th March 2022. Mock examination holds on 20th April, 2022. UTME holds from 20th to 30th April 2022.”

JAMB also said that it would refund N4,000 deposit paid by candidates who failed to complete the registration process for the 2021 UTME and the Direct Entry Examinations.

In its latest bulletin released on Monday, JAMB urged the affected candidates to visit its website and complete a form for the refund of the value of the draft they submitted to the Board.

The bulletin partly reads: “This is to notify all 2021 candidates who had deposited a draft of four thousand naira (N4,000) for late registration for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry but were unable to complete the registration process owing to no fault of the Board, even after the Board had extended the registration period twice,to visit the Board’s website https://www.jamb.gov.ng, and complete a form for the refund of the value of the draft they submitted to the Board.

“The above candidates are to click on the link 2021 UTME/DE Unregistered Candidates Bank Draft Recapture and fill the spaces after which they would key in the token sent to the phone numbers they had submitted during the submission of their drafts.

Read Also: JAMB: 2022 UTME, DE registration commences February 12

“It is this token that would be used to access a form on which they will fill in their account details for the refund of the value of the draft.

“Candidates are to provide these details within the next two weeks from the date of this publication.

“A text message containing OTP has been sent to the affected candidates besides this notification.

In another development, the Board said it has rejected the apology of a “repentant” candidate who wrote to intimate the board of examination malpractices which he committed 21 years ago.

This is as the examination body said the only way it would accept the apology is for the former candidate to forfeit all the certificates he had acquired with the result of his UTME.

This was disclosed in the weekly bulletin published by the board and released by Dr. Benjamin.

The bulletin partly reads: “A repentant candidate named Mr. Timipade Kemepade has written to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board asking for forgiveness owing to his involvement in examination malpractice in the course of obtaining the result of the UME (as UTME was known then) that he sat twenty-one years ago

He blamed youthful exuberance for his misconduct.

“Mr.Kemepade’s plea was contained in a letter addressed to JAMB titled: Restitution on my JAMB Result 21 Years Ago.”

The letter read in part: “With regret and sincere apology to JAMB, I, Timipade Kemepade, with Certificate No. 33208803GA confess that I participated in examination malpractice 21 years ago while sitting my JAMB examination.”

“The letter continued, ‘I, therefore, seek the forgiveness of JAMB. I sincerely regret my youthful exuberance.”

The Board, in its reply to Mr. Kemepade, stated that the apology and consequent admission of guilt are “rejected in their entirety and are, therefore, not admissible.”

The bulletin added: “Consequently, Mr. Kemepade was informed by the Board that the only condition for accepting his apology is his willingness to forfeit all the certificates he had fraudulently acquired with the result of the University Matriculation Examination.”

Angry youths have razed a private school in Kano over the murder of five-year-old pupil, Hanifa Abubakar.

The private school, Noble Kids Comprehensive College, is located at Kwanar Dakata in Nassarawa local government area, in Kano metropolis.

The Nation reported last week that the school was closed by the State Government.

Read Also: Our ordeal trying to find Hanifa, by father

In the now-viral video seen by The Nation, angry youths of the community mobilsed in full force to burn down the school.

Parts of the school’s building were razed.

The proprietor of the school Abdulmalik Tanko confessed to the police he used a N100 rat poison kill Hanifa and buried her “in a shallow grave within the private school premises.”

According to him, the school has two branches and the first — where Hanifa was buried — was opened in 2017.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday announced that registration for the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and the Direct Entry examination will begin on February 12.

The board made this known in its weekly bulletin released by its Head of Media and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin on Monday.

Read Also: JAMB to tertiary institutions: conclude 2021 admissions

In the timeline of events attached to the bulletin, the board said: “UTME/ DE registration starts 12th February 2022 and ends 19th March 2022. Mock examination holds on 20th April, 2022. UTME holds from 20th to 30th April 2022.”