The Federal Government has proposed a new examination timetable aimed at ensuring that candidates who sit for the 2027 West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO) and other major external examinations receive their results by August 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The initiative is intended to ensure that students obtain their results before the September admission process into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education begins.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, disclosed the plan during a meeting with heads and representatives of examination bodies at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement released on Wednesday night by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government wants examination bodies to collaborate in meeting the proposed deadlines.

“The meeting focused on harmonising examination schedules, preventing clashes among major examinations and ensuring that results are processed and released within agreed timelines,” the statement said.

Under the proposed timetable, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is expected to conduct the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) between March 15 and March 25.

Candidates who sit for the UTME are expected to receive their results in March, enabling them to proceed to the next stages of the tertiary admission process.

The NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is scheduled to hold from April 1 to May 14, 2027.

Meanwhile, the WAEC West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is expected to commence on May 11 and end on June 18.

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination is scheduled to take place between June 1 and July 5, 2027.

Similarly, the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) examination is expected to run from June 10 to July 9.

Results for the NABTEB and NBAIS examinations are also expected to be released in August, in line with the government’s proposed timeline.

The Federal Government’s plan is designed to harmonise the examination calendar and ensure that students have access to their results in good time for the 2027 tertiary institution admission process.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it is better prepared than opposition parties for the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The ruling party accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), of focusing more on criticising President Bola Tinubu than presenting their own plans for Nigerians.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

Morka spoke shortly after the ruling party inaugurated its Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, stating that the APC had begun putting its campaign plans and structures in place ahead of the elections.

He maintained that the party was taking the 2027 contest seriously and would leave nothing to chance.

According to him, the APC’s performance in bye-elections and other polls conducted since the 2023 general elections demonstrated the effectiveness of its political structures and preparation.

“Virtually all elections that has been called, bye-elections, whatever election, since the last general elections, we’ve won fantastically. There is a reason for that. It is because we prepare, we do not take anything or leave anything to chance,” Morka said.

He explained that the party was finalising its campaign strategies and preparing for a large-scale mobilisation exercise ahead of the polls.

“We prepare, we do our homework, we put together our systems and we trigger massive campaigns, which is what we are about to do,” he stated.

The APC spokesman also dismissed suggestions that the party’s early preparations were a sign of desperation, arguing that planning ahead was a normal responsibility for any serious political organisation.

Morka subsequently criticised Atiku and Obi, accusing them of concentrating on what they believe Tinubu has failed to accomplish rather than explaining what they would do differently if elected.

“So, look, I don’t think it’s a sign of desperation to prepare. As a matter of fact, I think we are more preparing than the people in the opposition,” he said.

He added, “The Atikus, The Peter Obis, who are simply shooting the breeze, doing nothing to speak for themselves rather than tell you what you think the president is not doing or should be doing.”

Morka insisted that the APC remained focused on its own agenda and was determined to contest and win the next general elections.

“We mind our business and we are in this to compete and win the next election,” he added.

During the interview, the APC spokesman was also asked whether Nigerians liked and trusted the ruling party.

Responding, Morka pointed to the party’s control of the federal government and several state governments as evidence of its electoral support.

“First of all, let me remind you that the APC is the governing party in this country, put in office by Nigerians. So, already, the answer to your question has been codified in an election of the APC, that is governing, not just at the centre but in so many states of our country. So, the answer is yes,” he said.

The Abia State Government has directed permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals and non-ministerial departments to identify civil servants approaching retirement and ensure they commence the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The directive was contained in an internal memorandum signed by the state Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere.

According to the memorandum, the affected officials are required to compile the names of eligible workers and ensure they comply with the pre-retirement leave policy.

The policy applies to civil servants who have attained the statutory retirement age of 60 or completed 35 years in service. It also covers directors affected by the eight-year tenure limit for the position.

The state government cited the existing Public Service Rules and circulars issued on June 6, 2017, and July 18, 2017, as the basis for enforcing the directive.

Consequently, heads of ministries, departments and agencies have been instructed to identify all workers due for retirement, including directors affected by the tenure limit, and ensure they begin their leave in line with the approved schedule.

They were also directed to expedite the processing of retirement and pension documents within the stipulated timeframe to prevent unnecessary delays for workers leaving the public service.

Ojeikere further instructed the heads of the relevant institutions to report any difficulties encountered in implementing the policy to his office for prompt intervention.

Speaking on the directive, the Head of Service confirmed that the government had issued the memorandum but noted that some workers expected to retire were reluctant to begin the process.

He explained that the three-month pre-retirement leave was designed to give civil servants sufficient time to prepare their retirement documentation while they continued to receive their salaries.

According to Ojeikere, the state government is working to ensure that retired workers begin receiving their pensions as quickly as possible, rather than waiting for months after their salaries have stopped.

He observed that pension payments had sometimes taken two, three or even four months to commence after workers retired, a delay he said could damage the reputation of the state public service.

Ojeikere said the government intended to tackle the problem by ensuring that retirement and pension arrangements were initiated before workers officially left their positions.

He added that civil servants covered by the directive would continue to receive their salaries throughout the three-month pre-retirement leave while the necessary pension arrangements were completed.