Keyamo apologises to Senate

Photo Credit: Punch papers

The immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment and a ministerial nominee, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Monday, apologised to the Senate over his perceived disregard for the ninth Assembly.

He also explained that he had in the ninth Senate apologised to both chairman Senate committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Senator Godiya Akwashiki and his counterpart in the House of Representatives.

Keyamo said, I apologise to the Senate. I am sorry, I am sorry and I am sorry.

Regarding that programme, the account was handled by the World Bank. So, we, the head of the agencies, never saw one kobo. We only generated the list and the money was paid directly to the people’s account.

WAEC withholds over 200,000 results

Photo Credit: Punch papers

The West African Examination Council has said the results of 262,803 candidates, that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.

Speaking on Monday, at a press briefing, while announcing the release of the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for School Candidates, in Nigeria, the Head of Nigeria Office, Mr Patrick Areghan, said, the withheld results represented 16.29% of the total 1,613,733 candidates that sat the examination.

He said, the results of 262,803 candidates, representing 16.29% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. This is (6.54%) lower than the 22.83% recorded in the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2022.

The reasons for this are not far-fetched. Candidates are no longer ready to study, they lack self-confidence, and their preparations for examinations are poor.

El-Rufai, Danladi missing as Senate confirms 45 nominees

Photo Credit: Punch papers

The name of the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai was on Monday missing from the list of the ministerial nominees confirmed by the Senate.

Also missing on the list was the name of Senator Abubakar Danlandi from Taraba State and former Nexim Bank, MD, Stella Oketette (Delta State).

The Senate after the screening exercise which took place about them a week approved and confirmed a total of 45 out of the 48 nominees sent by President Bola Tinubu.

The PUNCH reports that a couple of petitions including those sent by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) were presented against the former governor during the screening.

Nasarawa govt sets up panel to tackle land grabbing

Photo Credit: Punch papers

Following issues of land grabbing that had led to several conflicts in the Southern Senatorial District of Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule has set up an investigative panel to look into the disputed areas in the zone.

There had been consistent outcries by Tiv communities in the area over the alleged seizure of their ancestral lands by other ethnic groups.

As a result of this, Governor Sule constituted the panel to look into the issue to reduce issues of communal disputes, loss of lives and property, and restore peace among communities in the area.

At the commencement of the hearing in Lafia on Monday, the Chairman of the panel, William Akika, assured the communities involved that justice would be done to find a lasting solution to land grabbing in the zone.

Arisco (
)