The Federal Government has clarified that the proposed extension to a 12-year compulsory education system will maintain the existing 6-3-3 structure, contrary to recent reports suggesting the elimination of Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS). In a statement released by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, on Friday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that there is no plan to replace JSS and SSS with a new 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. Dr. Alausa clarified that his recent presentation at the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) meeting on February…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Middle Belt Journalists Forum (MBJF) has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for signing into law the bill establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). This landmark decision aims to address the longstanding challenges of underdevelopment in the North Central geopolitical zone. In a statement jointly signed by the National President and Secretary, Mark Mayah and Ladi Emmanuel, the MBJF also extended its appreciation to the executive governors of the North Central states and the National Assembly for their pivotal roles in bringing this initiative to fruition. The forum emphasized that the collaborative efforts of these stakeholders were…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the abolition of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) across the country, unveiling a new compulsory 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. This significant shift marks a departure from the traditional 6-3-3-4 education system, with the government replacing it with a 12-4 model, paving the way for children to seamlessly progress into higher education after completing their basic education. In addition to the basic education overhaul, the Nigerian Government has sought approval from the National Council on Education (NCE) to officially adopt 16 years as the minimum entry age requirement for…
The Concerned Muslims of Yorubaland has described as both “divisive rhetoric and misinformation”, the letter by Professor Banji Akintoye and Mr. Gani Adams, to the Sultan of Sokoto, which implied that Yoruba Muslims do not recognize the Sultan as their leader. The Convener and Secretary, Ustadh Musharafa Al-Khaqaq and Mr. Omololu Hakeem Adegesin, stated that “As Yoruba Muslims, we affirm our allegiance to the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, who is the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria. His leadership transcends tribal lines, and his position as President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) remains sacrosanct.”…
In a strategic move to enhance climate resilience and agricultural productivity, the Kano State Government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, has disbursed $250,000 in community revolving funds, with $25,000 allocated to each of 10 beneficiary communities. The funds are earmarked for investments in climate-smart agriculture and value chain development, including production, processing, and packaging. The cheque presentation ceremony held on Thursday was addressed by Dr. Dahir Muhammad Hashim, the Kano ACReSAL Project Coordinator and Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change. He highlighted that the initiative aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change and enhance food…
Milicent Muyoma has been turned away twice from the clinic where she collects her HIV medication in Mathare, an informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. On her last visit a week ago, she was told the medicines hadn’t arrived. When she returned three days later as advised, the clinic was closed. Now, she fears the consequences of missing her doses. “I was warned by my doctor never to miss a single dose because it could lead to resistance,” Muyoma told SciDev.Net. “I don’t know what will happen if I don’t secure my medicines soon enough.” The stockout follows a U.S. State…
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review has proposed the creation of 31 new states in Nigeria, a move that, if approved, would increase the number of sub-national governments from 36 to 67. The proposal was announced during Thursday’s plenary session by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided in the absence of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. According to Kalu, the committee’s recommendations were based on constitutional guidelines and the aspirations of various communities advocating for state creation. Breakdown of proposed new states by region: North Central: Okun, Okura, Confluence (Kogi); Benue Ala, Apa (Benue); FCT State North East: Amana (Adamawa);…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has raised serious concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to increase the 2025 budget from ₦49.7 trillion to ₦54.2 trillion. While acknowledging the reported additional revenues from key government agencies, the organization argues that the move is not only unprecedented but could also be unconstitutional. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), CISLAC cited Section 81(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that any extra spending beyond what was initially approved must go through a supplementary budget process. The organization insists that the president’s approach—informing the…
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reached a significant milestone by successfully exporting two jet fuel cargoes to Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer and a leading global energy company. Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, announced this on Tuesday during a visit by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to Dangote Fertiliser Limited and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos. “We are achieving the ambitious goals we set for ourselves, and I’m pleased to announce that we’ve just sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco,” Dangote said. Since beginning production in 2024, the…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Ltd. (First E&P) Joint Venture (JV) have achieved a 96% reduction in routine flaring of Associated Gas (AG). On Thursday, Mr. Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., attributed this milestone to operations in the Anyala (OML 83) and Madu (OML 85) fields. The statement by Olufemi Soneye, NNPC Ltd.’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, highlighted the JV’s commitment to environmental sustainability and emissions reduction. Kyari noted that the achievement aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% unconditionally and 47%…