JAMB commences sales of 2017 Direct Entry forms – Official

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Tuesday said it has commenced sales of the 2017 Direct Entry application form.

This is contained in a statement signed by JAMB’s Head of Public Relations, Mr Fabian Benjamin, and issued to newsmen in Bwari in the FCT.

The statement said that the form was designed for candidates that have A-level results and wished to gain direct admission to Degree programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

It explained that the process of registration for the Direct Entry was spelt out in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to the statement, the board equally has commenced the sale of UTME application for Nigerians abroad and foreign candidates who desired to attend tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“We urge all candidates wishing to register through direct entry to obtain the pins at Interswitch, Remita or any of the commercial banks approved earlier for the vending of UTME pins.

“The process is as it was with the UTME where you create a profile and obtain the pins and proceed for biometric capturing at the CBT centres for Direct Entry candidates.

“Candidates for the Direct Entry are expected to possess `Advanced Level, Diploma or its equivalent, while foreign candidates must possess proof of residency abroad.

“For foreign candidates, you must have stayed in the foreign country for at least a minimum of six months and you must have had your secondary education there.”

It noted that the board had not commenced the change of course and institutions, but that it would soon begin.

It explained that when it starts such changes would be carried out in all approved Computer Based Centres (CBT) centres nationwide.

“Candidates need not necessarily come to the Board’s centres for the change; it can be done in any of the CBT centres.

“This is to avoid overcrowding of our offices for services that can be obtained at the utmost comfort by the candidates.

The statement further said that delay in the change process was due to the Board’s preparation to ensure that the system was carried out without encumbrances.

It advised candidates who are desirous of change of course or institution would be allowed to do so since the platform would be open until close of admission.

It also urged candidates not panic because the change process would not be closed as speculated by people that want to use the opportunity their desperation to defraud them.

However, it warned candidates not to patronise fraudulent individuals or organisations, but visit approved CBT centres and always cross check any information they are not too clear about, to avoid fraud.

“Do not fall victim of fraudsters who claim they can inflate your scores; they do not have the ability, the Board will prosecute such fraudsters and the candidate who patronise them,” it said.

Source: NAN

Nigerian senate passes bill on compulsory treatment and care of Gunshot victims

Today, the Nigerian Senate passed the Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Bill. The Bill, which was sent to the Senate for Concurrence, seeks to establish a law that ensures that victims of gunshot wounds receive necessary treatment from medical workers and assistance from security agencies.  

 

Speaking on the passage of the Bill, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stated that not every victim of a gunshot wound is a criminal, hence, it is important that a legal framework be put into place to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.  

 

“By the passage of this Bill, the Senate has moved to ensure that every hospital in Nigeria, both public and private, must accept to treat victims of gunshot wounds without any clearance from the police. What we have done is to ensure that everyone is entitled to medical treatment, irrespective of the cause of the shooting. We should reserve judgment for the criminal justice system, and leave healthcare for the medical professionals.” 

The Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshots Bill also ensures that every person including security agents shall render every possible assistance to any person with gunshot wounds and ensure that the person is taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.  Additionally, the Bill mandates that no person with gunshot wounds shall be refused immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria whether or not initial monetary deposit is paid.  

This brings the total number of Bills passed by the 8th Senate since June 9th​,​ 2015, to 108 Bills.

ISIS: Internal coup follows report of commander’s death

Iraqi sources reported eruption of conflicts and clashes among ISIL members and commanders after the terrorist group confirmed the death of its notorious leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

After an Iraqi source announced that the ISIL branch in the town of Tal Afar in Western Mosul has declared the death of al-Baghdadi and will decide about his successor soon, internal differences have intensified among ISIL members.

Iraq’s al-Soumeriya news channel quoted local sources in Tal Afar as saying that a number of ISIL members who supported al-Baghdadi have disobeyed their commanders.

The source added that the town of Tal Afar is now witnessing an internal coup by ISIL members, and the senior commanders who were waiting for al-Baghdadi’s death want to end the chaos to their own benefit.

He added that ISIL has declared curfew for militants, a number of al-Baghdadi fans have been detained and the Arab and foreign leaders of the terrorist group are attempting to control the situation.

The ISIL terrorist group confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that its notorious ringleader al-Baghdadi has died.

It also called on ISIL members to remain in their bases and continue resistance.

Reports said on Monday that the Iraqi security forces in Western Mosul found a document showing that ISIL commanders are under a strong ban to avoid discussing the death of al-Baghdadi or releasing any information in this regard.

Intelligence sources told the Arabic website of Sputnik news agency that the document which was discovered in an ISIL base in Mosul bans any discussion of al-Baghdadi’s death in a move to prevent chaos among members.

The document, distributed among the leaders, also emphasizes that “the ISIL will survive even if al-Baghdadi is dead”, stressing the need for the terrorist groups’ members to keep patient and take orders from their commanders.

A local source in Iraq’s Salahuddin reported on Thursday that the ISIL terrorist group has arrested scores of its members in the Eastern parts of the province for speaking about the death of al-Baghdadi.

The source said that the ISIL has arrested over 20 of its members in the villages of Eastern Makhoul in Salahuddin for making public remarks about al-Baghdadi’s death.

The terrorist group has accused them of promoting an internal sedition.

According to the source, ISIL members are confused over the ban on speaking about al-Baghdadi’s death, specially after the terrorist group was forced to arrest its members.

A well-informed local source in Northwestern Iraq reported earlier this month that ISIL has burned Abu Qatibeh alive on charges of implying the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the terrorist group’s ring leader, in his sermon on Friday Prayers in the town of Tal Afar.

The sources said that only a few hours after arresting Abu Qatibeh on charges of internal sedition, the terrorist group burnt him in front of tens of people in the Central part of Tal Afar.

“Abu Qatibeh, who was a close friend to al-Baghdadi, implicitly endorsed earlier revelations about the death of ISIL’s ring leader and cried for him in his Friday Prayers sermon, which raised several questions. ISIL kept mum on the issue at first, but later arrested him and executed him on charges of sedition,” the source went on to say.

(Source: Farsnews)

26 states owe workers one to 16 months salaries –NULGE

Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) said yesterday that 23 states of the Federation currently owe local government workers’ arrears of salary ranging from one to 16 months.

NULGE National President, Ibrahim Khaleel, stated this in a statement, in Abuja, yesterday.

Khaleed was, however, full of praises for Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Cross River, Niger and Anambra that are up to date in payment of local government workers.

According to Kaheel, Bayelsa State is leading in indebtedness to local council workers with between 10 to 16 months, followed by Kogi, between seven to 15 months; and Delta State with eight to 14 months.

“Kaduna, 12 months;  Oyo three to 11 months; Edo 10 months; Abia five to nine months;  Kwara two to nine months; Benue nine months and Nasarawa seven months.

“Ondo, Ekiti, Imo with six months; Zanfara has not been implementing the minimum wage, Adamawa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Plateau owe four months, while Taraba and FCT owe three months.

“While Osun State has been paying half salaries for 24 months and few, staff are owed few months in Enugu,” he said.

The union noted that Ekiti has refused to remit union dues for the past nine months and Ogun has not also remitted its deduction for seven months.

The national president also said that 700 staff were owed between one to three months in Cross River State.

He called on the governors of the states to offset the salaries and other allowances of local government workers with the second tranche of the Paris Loan Refund released to them.

He said that failure to do so, the union would be forced to mobilised and shut down all local government councils in the country.

Khaleel urged state governors not to divert or tamper with the second tranche of the Paris Club Loan refund but deploy it to offset the entitlement of the workers.

He, however, said the union is aware that some state governors were already claiming that the amount released was not in conformity with the published figure.

“We want to state in strong terms that no governor should either divert or tamper with the funds.

“This should be an avenue where the backlog of arrears of salaries owed local government workers and some other welfare packages should be settled; such as leave bonus, arrears of promotion benefits, arrears of annual increment and non implementation of minimum wage most especially in Zamfara State are resolved and paid.

“We, therefore, use this medium to appeal passionately that governors should use this second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund to clear arrears of salaries.

This will help ameliorate the untold hardship our staff are currently passing through due.”

SALLAH MESSAGE TO MUSLIMS REVEALS BUHARI'S SPEECH IMPAIRMENT

An edited audio message released by the handlers of President Muhammadu Buhari greeting Muslims during today's Sallah has validated SaharaReporters’ exclusive report that the president, who has spent at least 49 days in the United Kingdom for medical treatment, is suffering a speech impairment.
SaharaReporters had revealed in a report that Mr. Buhari’s speech was impaired while receiving medical treatment for what is believed to be prostate cancer. Days after the report was published, the president’s aides claimed that his speech impairment was a temporary side effect of the medical treatment he was receiving. They also said he was experiencing temporary lapses in memory.
SaharaReporters learned that, rattled by our reporting, a cabal using President Buhari to manipulate the political process at home prepared a handwritten text for him to greet his admirers in Hausa and released it to a select group of journalists. In choosing to deliver the greeting in the Hausa language, the cabal behind Mr. Buhari wanted to whip up sentiments within the northern parts of Nigeria and to create the impression that the president was in good health, contrary to the claims of SaharaReporters.
The audio recording of the greeting was released today, and the manner in which the president rushed through the text was indicative of his failing health and further proof that after 49 days in London, the president's health has not improved as much as being bandied by his handlers.
Two of the aides had told SaharaReporters that Buhari was on his way back to Nigeria, "stronger and fitter" than he was when he left the country, but the audio has proved otherwise and shows that President Buhari is in poor health.
A presidency source also told SaharaReporters that the president enjoys a few moments when he is lucid between hours of being administered drugs for his treatment. The audio recording, just over a minute long, was possibly recorded during that period.
Listen to the audio here. https://soundcloud.com/saharareporters/buhari-impaired-speech-during-sallah-greetings

JONATHAN WAS A WEAK PRESIDENT… HIS WIFE WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER - NNAMDI KANU

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a weak and incompetent leader.
In an interview with The Sun, Kanu, said the wife of the immediate past president would have been a better leader.
He alleged that Jonathan favoured the north at the expense of the southern part of the country.
“Jonathan is my uncle, yes. I was one of those who said Jonathan’s tenure was more or less an Igbo presidency; it’s on record I said that. But, he knew I never liked his regime because he was weak and incompetent,” he said.
“I don’t support evil; if you do good, I will tell you, if you do bad, I will say it the way it is; I don’t curry favours.
“He was weak, I said I wish it was aunty Patience Jonathan who was in-charge, she would have done better.
“Look at where Jonathan dropped us today; he never finished building the East/West Road, but, he built railway line from Abuja to Kaduna, so they will love him. Who told you that if they did not love Zik, that they will love you?”
On April 25, when Binta Nyako, justice of a federal high court in Abuja, granted him bail on health grounds, she ordered Kanu not to grant media interviews and to avoid being seen in a crowd of more than 10 people.
Kanu has not only addressed crowds on numerous occasions, he has also granted media interviews.
In May when he spoke with Al Jazeera, he was asked if he was worried that the interview could land him in trouble, but he snapped: “I don’t care.”
In his latest interview, Kanu said denying him his fundamental human rights to speak and to freely associate when he has not been convicted, speaks volumes about the “hopelessness” of the Nigerian judiciary

'BBC Hausa did not interview Buhari, his aides sent in the edited recorded tape' - Sahara Reporters claim