The National Youth Service Corps has reviewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the Independent National Electoral Commission for a more robust welfare package and enhanced security for corps members and NYSC officials during elections.

NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, during the signing of the reviewed MoU at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday, said the involvement of corps members in the country’s electoral process has brought more credibility to the electoral process.

The DG promised that the Scheme would continue to sustain the relationship with INEC, adding that corps members are always willing to contribute their quota to the overall development of the country, especially in the enthronement of credible elections.

“I want to urge INEC that we will continue to sustain the relationship. I can assure you that corps members are willing, patriotic and ready to put in their best in the service of the country,” he said.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in his remarks said Nigeria is fortunate to have a Scheme called NYSC, adding that the Scheme’s participation in previous elections in different states across the country was commendable.

“I cannot imagine the conduct of credible elections happening in Nigeria without the NYSC. Youth Corps members are among the most educated, most committed, most patriotic and the most readily available election-duty staff in Nigeria,” INEC Chairman said.

Mahmood said the reviewed Memorandum of Understanding has identified eleven obligations on the part of INEC and ten obligations on the part of the NYSC.

The INEC boss promised to make security and welfare of corps members on election duty top priority.

He added that the MoU also provides insurance for all ad-hoc staff under the INEC Personnel Electoral Hazard Policy during election.

“This covers injury, permanent disability, loss of life or property; or any person declared missing in the course of carrying out the commission’s assigned duties.

“I want to assure you that we will continue to take our obligations with our youths very seriously. I want to thank you for standing by Nigeria and the electoral process, for standing by credible elections and standing by our democracy,” Mahmood said.

The National Commission for Colleges of Education said it would begin to clamp down on existing illegal colleges of education across the country.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, made this disclosure in Abuja, during the National Summit themed, ”Nigeria Certificate in Education: The Way Forward”.

According to Okwelle, despite adequate human and material resources, the decreasing turnout of students was contributory to the low capacity delivery experienced in the colleges of education.

“In the course of carrying out our regulatory and monitoring functions, we encounter challenges of the proliferation of illegal colleges of education and study centres around the country.

“This problem was discussed at the last meeting of the National Council on Education in Jalingo sequel to which we embarked on a special verification exercise,” Okwelle stated.

He explained further that the exercise was to pinpoint and ultimately shut down extant illegal colleges and the NCE study centres in the country.

“At the end of the exercise, we discovered the existence of some illegal institutions and study centres spread across the country.

“The reports have been harmonised and will soon be forwarded to the Minister of Education for consideration and further directive,” he affirmed.

The executive secretary expressed commitment toward regulating and holistically revamping the Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes, stressing the need for quality education, which, in all ramifications, was nothing to sneeze at.

According to Okwelle, the commission had recorded milestone achievements via accreditation programmes, resource visitation, including monitoring and inspecting programmes, integral to the overall quality of performance and development of the colleges of education.

“Periodically, we have been keeping close monitoring on the aforesaid institutions as a device to entrench standard and control or even upgrade the quality through accreditation.

“A total of 22 Colleges of Education have been accredited. Many other colleges have been scheduled for the exercise before the end of this year.

“We are in the process of reviewing our accreditation instrument to meet global trends, especially with the demand of the digital society,” Okwelle assured.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto.

Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, made this known while presenting a letter of recognition of the new university to Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State during a visit to the Commission on Monday in Abuja.

Rasheed said the new institution, which is the first university of education in the northern part of the country and fourth of its kind in the entire nation, would meet the educational needs of the people.

While commending the governor for his passion for the development of the education sector, the NUC boss said a number of private universities would soon spring up in Sokoto State, adding that the Commission had already begun the process of approving their establishment.

Speaking further, Rasheed said the Shehu Shagari University of Education is now fully recognised as the 58 state university and 206 in the country having met all the requirements.

He said with the approval, the National Youth Service Corps, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) would accord the university necessary recognitions.

“With effect from Monday 21 March 2022, the Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto, has been recognised as the 58 state-owned universities and 206 universities respectively in the Nigeria University System.

“This university is the first university of education in 19 northern states and Abuja.

Responding, Governor Tambuwal, who expressed delight over the approval, thanked NUC for the support extended to the existing Sokoto State University.

He said the new university, which is an upgrade of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was put in place to meet the serious human resource needs of the state in the area of education.

Tambuwal, who presented the law, academic brief, master plan and other documents of the university to NUC, said the institution would be different from others as it would churn out graduates that are self-reliant.

“It will be an entrepreneurial base. It is a special kind of university that will focus on functional and effective education,” Tambuwal added.

The  National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ebonyi State has urged the Stakeholders in the State to support it’s  Health Initiative Program.

This was contained in the the address presented by the NYSC Director General, Professor Shaibu Ibrahim, represented by the State Coordinator, Mercy Bamai Dawuda during the swearing- in ceremony of 2022 batch ‘A’ stream II corps members at  NYSC permanent Orientation camp, Old MacGregor College Affikpo North Local Government Area of the State.

Professor Shaibu said “May I appeal for the support of all the stakeholders for the success of our Health Initiative for Rural Dweller HIRD, which is aimed at providing easier access to free and qualitative health care, especially for rural poor”.

He urged the Corps members to always abide by the NYSC guidelines.

“Let me also remind you that the oath of allegiance you have taken is significant, as it is expected to guide your conduct in the service year, as well as having everlasting influence in your life after service” . Shaibu added.

The DG appreciated the Nigeria  Government for its unwavering support for the Scheme. In the same vein, he appreciated the support of State Governments, Local Government Councils, Security Agencies, especially in ensuring the General safety and well-being of the Corps members and other officials.

Major stakeholders in the Nigeria’s health sector have rejected the move made by the National Assembly to pass five bills aimed at establishing new institutions in the Sector. 

At a public hearing on five Bills and twelve Motions organized by the House Committee on Healthcare Services, the Ministry of Health said the establishment of the proposed institutions will amount to duplication of functions with existing ones and add to the cost of governance in the country.

Nigerian Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, who was represented by the Director Department of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Zainab Shariff said the bill for an Act to establish the Public Health Practitioners Council of Nigeria is a duplication of efforts and in conflict with the respective acts establishing the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Healthcare Development Agency as well as Africa Institute of Public Health Practitioners.

“These are regulatory bodies under the Ministry that are already performing the stated functions in this proposed bill. The Federal Government is already working to harmonize the agencies which have similar functions.” The Minister added.

While rejecting the bill for an Act to make Healthcare Services free for all children in Nigeria, the Minister said “With the current realities, economic challenges and dwindling funds, it will be difficult to have free healthcare service for children.

There should be more public enlightenment to get every child enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Community Based Health Insurance Scheme, State Health Insurance Scheme which provide healthcare service at subsidized rates.”

Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, while declaring the hearing open, said due to the dire realities of the country’s public finances, stakeholders should consider the possibility of achieving the bills’ objectives without imposing additional obligations on Nigeria’s public finance.

 Gbajabiamila who was represented by Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the bills and motions reflect the enormous importance that the 9th House of Representatives placed on public health, access to quality healthcare and conditions of service of those who work in healthcare services across our country.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun, Southwest Nigeria has appealed to the Ile-Ife indigenes who are protesting the choice of the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University to stop the protest forthwith and give peace a chance.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, Oyetola noted that Ivory Towers across the world are sacred institutions and everything must be done to accord them the deserved dignity.

While noting that the state has no major role to play in the choice of who becomes the Vice Chancellor, being a Federal institution, he stressed that, as the host governor, he has a responsibility to ensure safety and security of the institution as well as its workers.

“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of concern that I call on the good people of Ile-Ife, especially those protesting over the choice of a new Vice Chancellor for Obafemi Awolowo University, to stop further protest and give peace a chance.

“By their nature and functionality, universities are rules and convention-based conservative institutions premised on academic and governance autonomy, I therefore enjoined those who felt or have any reason to believe the rules have been circumvented to realise there are laid-down procedures to remedy such situations and endeavour to follow them, rather than resort to self-help”.

Oyetola said Osun residents are known for peace, saying they must therefore not do anything to tarnish their enviable reputation.