By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat, Danlami Hayyo, has appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT Wing, to suspend its ongoing industrial action.

He warned that the strike is “psychologically demoralizing” for students scheduled to begin their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) papers tomorrow.

Speaking during a school inspection on Monday, Hayyo expressed deep concern over reports that union members were forcibly removing students and teachers from classrooms.

“I was initially impressed by the high turnout of both students and teachers ready for learning.

“However, the NUT has chased pupils out of some schools. I do not believe it is constitutionally right for a union to forcefully eject students who are eager to learn”, he noted.

Considering the timing of the strike is critical, with WAEC examinations set to commence nationwide, Hayyo questioned the union’s commitment to the welfare of their own children.

He said:”How can you expect your sons and daughters to write their exams tomorrow when you are chasing them out of school today?

:You are demoralizing them; psychologically, this could lead to mass failure. WAEC will not reschedule its calendar specifically for FCT students. Do you want them to miss this opportunity entirely?”

Defending the current administration’s record, Hayyo highlighted that the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has prioritized educational infrastructure, with over 100 schools currently undergoing or having completed massive renovations.

He further clarified the financial standing of the government regarding union demands.

Stressing theat the Minister paid 40% of teacher entitlements last year., the Secretary emphasized that many of the outstanding grievances involve the Local Education Authority (LEA) and the Area Council Chairmen, rather than the central FCT Administration.

Hayyo urged the union to return to the bargaining table rather than “destabilizing” the entire FCT education system over local council disputes.

“I am tired of this cycle of strikes. For effective learning and quality education, industrial action is not the best path. If we continue to discourage these children now, they may retaliate when they become the leaders of tomorrow.

“We are working to reduce the number of out-of-school children, but this strike is pushing us backward”, he stated.

The Education Secretariat concluded by calling on the NUT to set aside “selfish interests” and prioritize the future of the students by allowing teaching and learning to resume immediately.

By Felix Umande from Makurdi

The President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, Benue State Chapter, Hon. Ada Sunday Ojo, has faulted the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, for assigning candidates to examination centres far from their homes, warning that the policy ignores the country’s fragile security climate.

Hon. Ojo spoke in an interview with Press Icon Newspape in Makurdi, while reacting to the abduction of JAMB candidates who were travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo on Wednesday night for an examination scheduled the next day.

“JAMB should have considered the security situation in the country and learnt to take precautionary measures,” Ojo counseled. “Candidates must not have to travel long distances to write their exams. The Board should split the numbers and post them to nearer centres.”

The NAPPS president insisted that JAMB must review its centre-allocation system to prioritise safety, arguing that posting teenagers across volatile routes at night exposes them to avoidable danger.

“If centres in Makurdi are full, then stagger the exam dates. Don’t move the children into risk.” Hon. Ada said.

Reports indicate that an 18-seater Benue Links bus was conveying passengers, most of whom were candidates scheduled to sit for the UTME the following day, when it was attacked by armed persons at the Ikobi area along the Makurdi–Otukpo road on Wednesday night.

During the incident, the driver and a few passengers managed to escape, while 15 passengers were reportedly abducted. Two of the abducted passengers subsequently escaped, bringing the number of those currently unaccounted for to 13.

In an official statement made on Friday, however the Benue Links Transport Company distanced itself from the journey, describing it as “unauthorised and conducted in clear violation of the company’s operational guidelines.”

According to the management, a standing directive prohibits all company vehicles from undertaking journeys beyond 6:00 p.m. due to prevailing security challenges. The driver, it added, acted “without the knowledge or approval of Management, removed the vehicle from the company’s premises, picked up passengers and embarked on the journey without due documentation or clearance.”

Because the trip was not officially recorded, the company added that it does not have comprehensive details of the affected passengers, “aside from indications that a majority were JAMB candidates.”

Meanwhile, the driver involved is currently in police custody as investigations continue to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Benue State Commissioner of Police on his part said efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the 13 missing passengers.

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

The Federal Government is to embark on the full automation of the authentication and evaluation of academic credentials, aimed at ending physical visits for verification processes.

In a statement on Thursday, the Federal Ministry of Education through the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, stressed that the reform is in furtherance of the current government’s digital transformation agenda.

“The Federal Ministry of Education has fully automated the process for the Authentication and Evaluation of academic credentials as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, improve data management, and enhance public service delivery,” the statement said.

The new arrangement requires applicants to register and upload documents via the ministry’s verification portal at essverify.education.gov.ng.

They are also expected to request their institutions to send transcripts directly from official institutional email addresses to ess1@education.gov.ng

Justifying the new system, the statement added, “This transition to a fully automated platform is expected to simplify procedures, reduce processing time, and further strengthen the integrity and credibility of academic credential verification in Nigeria,”