Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has reassured Nigerians that the House is diligently reviewing the 2024 Supplementary Budget bill submitted by President Bola Tinubu. This request, made pursuant to Section 58, sub-section two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, aims to fund critical infrastructure projects, education, healthcare access, and public welfare initiatives.

In an interview on Friday, July 19, Agbese stated, “We will scrutinise every bit of the budget proposal to ensure that ultimately each kobo is well utilised and that the budget is in the best interest of our constituents.” The ₦6.2 trillion budget is divided into two main components: ₦3.2 trillion for Renewed Hope infrastructure projects and other critical infrastructure projects across the country, and ₦3 trillion to meet further recurrent expenditure requirements necessary for the proper operation of the Federal Government.

Agbese emphasized that the House will engage with stakeholders, conduct public hearings, and scrutinize the bill to ensure that it serves the best interests of Nigerians. He further explained that the House would work closely with the Senate to ensure the bill’s swift passage.

“We will work together to ensure that the budget is passed with the necessary scrutiny and oversight,” Agbese said. He highlighted that the focus areas in the supplementary budget include critical infrastructure projects that will impact the lives of Nigerians, such as roads, bridges, and healthcare facilities. Additionally, the budget will address education and public welfare initiatives to benefit constituents across the country.

Agbese assured that the House would take the time necessary to ensure the supplementary budget is passed with the required scrutiny and oversight, rather than rushing the process.

Ibom Air has refuted claims that it has been blacklisted over contract breaches. The company’s management described these allegations as false and misleading. Aniekan Essienette, the Group Manager of Marketing and Communication, stated in a press release from Uyo that the airline has not been blacklisted by any lessor, whether local or international, as the company owns all its aircraft.

Essienette emphasized, “We did not take any aircraft on lease from any lessor.” She reiterated that Ibom Air’s reputation has been unfairly tarnished by these erroneous reports, which contradict the company’s high corporate governance standards. She assured business partners that Ibom Air owns all seven aircraft it operates, all of which are financed by Nigerian banks.

Furthermore, Essienette confirmed that Ibom Air is in good standing with its financiers and remains committed to honoring all agreements it has entered into.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the re-election victory of Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa in the November 11, 2023, governorship poll. The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice James Abundaga, unanimously held that the appeal filed by Timipre Sylva and the All Progressives Congress (APC) lacked merit.

The panel ruled that the Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal was not in error when it struck several paragraphs of the petitioner’s reply against the governor’s election. It was deemed that the appellants’ witnesses’ statements on oath were rightfully struck out as they were hearsay and could not be relied upon. The court also noted that it had not been shown that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were tendered as evidence to prove allegations of electoral malpractice.

As a result, the appeal was dismissed for being unmeritorious, and a cost of ₦500,000 was awarded against Sylva and the APC. This decision upholds the tribunal’s earlier dismissal of the petition on May 27, which found the petitioners failed to provide credible evidence to support their allegations against the election outcome.

The House of Representatives has decided to support the Federal Government with ₦648 million over six months by reducing their salaries by 50%. This initiative, agreed upon on Thursday, July 18, aims to enhance food sufficiency and tackle the country’s rising food costs.

The lawmakers also urged Nigerians to be patient with President Ahmed Tinubu’s administration as it works to address the current challenges and hardships faced by citizens.

Additionally, the House instructed its Committees on Appropriation, Humanitarian Affairs, Finance, and Budget to ensure the resolution is implemented.

These decisions were made after the House adopted a motion by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC- Ogun State) during a plenary session in Abuja.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that three candidates emerged as joint top scorers of 367 in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This announcement was made on Thursday, July 18, in Abuja, during the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s ongoing 2024 policy meeting.

The top scorers are:
1. Olowu Joseph from Ondo State
2. Alayande David from Oyo State
3. Orukpe Joel from Edo State

“It is common knowledge that the Board has, at various fora, restated its unwillingness to publish the names of its best-performing candidates, as it considers its UTME as only a ranking examination on account of the other parameters that would constitute what would later be considered the minimum admissible score for candidates seeking admission to tertiary institutions,” JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said.

### Full List of Top Scorers:
1. Olowu Joseph, 367 – Ondo State
2. Alayande David, 367 – Oyo State
3. Orukpe Joel, 367 – Edo State
4. Emmanuel Jeremiah, 366 – Akwa-Ibom State
5. Essiet Etini, 365 – Akwa-Ibom State
6. Ezenwoko Zara, 365 – Abia State
7. Umoh Joshua, 365 – Akwa-Ibom State
8. Mamudu Abdulraham, 364 – Edo State
9. Adeleke Abdulbasit, 363 – Kwara State
10. Echem Victor, 363 – Rivers State
11. Etute Emmanuel, 363 – Edo State
12. Jedidiah Chidiebube, 363 – Imo State
13. Adesanya Oluwatimilehin, 363 – Ogun State

At the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting on education in Abuja, several stakeholders opposed the newly established minimum admission age of 18 years.

Students of the Muslim Girl’s High School are pictured in Ijebu Ode, Nigeria, 11 June 2014. [Getty Images]

When the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced the new policy, stakeholders from various tertiary institutions reacted strongly, causing a disruption. According to Daily Trust, their vocal objections compelled the Minister to halt his speech temporarily until order was restored.

One participant at the stakeholder meeting expressed that JAMB is to blame for permitting underage children to take the examination. “How can a child finish school, write WAEC and JAMB, and pass, and you deny him admission?” the participant questioned, highlighting the frustrations regarding the new policy.

Responding to complaints from the participants, the Minister emphasised that the law mandates children to be in school until the age of 18, following six years of primary education, three years of junior secondary, and three years of senior secondary schooling. He reiterated that the new policy is based on this legal framework and that institutions must comply.

Prof. Mamman stated, “There is no going back,” underscoring the government’s commitment to enforcing the new admission age requirement. He also highlighted that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure a fair admission process for the 2024/2025 academic session. The Minister reiterated the Federal Ministry of Education’s stance on the Central Application Process (CAP), emphasizing that any institution conducting admissions outside this process would not have their admissions accepted.

This strong stance aims to address concerns regarding underage admissions and ensure compliance with educational policies to improve the overall quality of education in Nigeria.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has vowed to enforce a law mandating the minimum age for entry into tertiary institutions as 18 years.

Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education [Punch Newspapers] Prof. Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education [Punch Newspapers]

Speaking at the 2024 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja on Thursday, Mamman directed JAMB to admit only students who have attained the age of 18 years into tertiary institutions in its 2024 admission process.

“Information has revealed that the enrolment of underage candidates is inflicting serious damage on the university and the education system, hence, the need for enforcement of extant rules. When I was monitoring the just concluded 2024 UTME, I was alarmed at the participation of a large number of obviously underage candidates in the examination. This necessitated my comment on the need to enforce the extant provisions of the educational policies which made provision for nine years of basic education and three years of Senior Secondary Education before entry into tertiary institution. It is clear that a child who, as expected, is enrolled in basic school at the age of six and having undergone 12 years of education would be around 18 years old when being enrolled in a tertiary institution,” he said.

Mamman bemoaned the surge in applications for immediate requests for a change of age to reflect a higher age in anticipation of the imminent enforcement of the age policy.

“This again reflects dangerous games being played with the life and future of innocent children by those expected to nurture them. Flowing from this, JAMB is hereby instructed to admit only eligible students, i.e., those who have attained 18 years. Universities are advised to avoid recommending unqualified children for admission,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was uproar during the meeting when the minister handed down the decision of an 18-year entry limit for admissions into tertiary institutions. Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, and other stakeholders at the meeting protested their disagreement with the minister’s pronouncement. The minister, however, said that the 2024 admission criteria remained approved, urging institutions to adhere to the laid down requirements for admission processes.

He warned that any Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts, who infiltrated admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing Systems (CAPS), would henceforth be sanctioned.

The Federal Ministry of Environment in Adamawa has partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to plant thousands of seedlings across the 21 local government areas of the state. This initiative aims to make Adamawa greener and protect the environment against climate change and other environmental challenges.

Hajiya Safiya Abubakar, the Controller of the Yola Field Office of the ministry, discussed this partnership in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Thursday. She emphasized the program’s goal to enhance environmental protection through the active participation of youth corps members.

“We sensitised the youth corps members on our mission and they cooperated. We distributed seedlings for them to plant in their respective local governments of deployment or places of primary assignments. We expect them to plant and take good care of it throughout the service year,” Abubakar said.

Additionally, the ministry is collaborating with the state’s Ministry of Education to visit schools for sensitisation on environmental protection, safety, and tree planting. “It is our plan to see every pupil and student in primary and secondary schools plant a tree and nurture it before completing school,” she added.

Abubakar also advised the public against indiscriminate disposal of refuse to safeguard the environment. She stressed the importance of maintaining good hygiene, a clean environment, hand washing, and proper cooking and food storage to prevent the spread of cholera and other diseases.

She commended the Adamawa Government for reintroducing the monthly sanitation exercise and urged citizens to support this initiative with maximum cooperation.

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has expressed deep shock over a fire incident that claimed the lives of the daughter, elder sister, and two siblings of Dr. Yusuf Kofar Mata, the Commissioner for Higher Education.

Kano State Commissioner of Higher Education Yusuf Kofar Mata and Governor Abba Yusuf [Pulse.ng] Kano State Commissioner of Higher Education Yusuf Kofar Mata and Governor Abba Yusuf [Pulse.ng]

The tragic event has left the governor and the state in mourning. During the funeral rites held at Kofar Mata quarters in Kano on Wednesday, Governor Yusuf, accompanied by members of the State Executive Council and other dignitaries, conveyed his condolences.

Governor Yusuf described the incident as a significant loss, stating, “We received with shock the sad news of a fire incident that led to the loss of three siblings of one of us.”

He continued, “The affected the Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata at his residence in Kofar Mata quarters within Kano metropolitan. It is indeed sad, heart-breaking, and an unfortunate incident that will linger in our memory for a very long time.”

Governor Yusuf extended heartfelt commiseration to the commissioner and his family, offering prayers for the departed souls. “We wish extended heartfelt commiseration to the commissioner, and his family; beseech Almighty Allah to grant eternal rest to the departed souls and prevent occurrence of such ugly incidence,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported the governor’s sentiments and the significant impact of the tragic event on the community.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced that a new curriculum will be implemented in secondary schools nationwide by September 2024. This declaration was made on Thursday, July 18, during the 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting in Abuja.

“We are working hard to ensure that a new curriculum is introduced for secondary schools by September,” Mamman stated.

He mentioned that the process has been ongoing for the past year and that a stakeholders’ meeting is scheduled for August 6, 2024. “It is our plan that by September, this programme will be implemented in all schools, public and private,” the minister added.

The new curriculum aims to address several longstanding issues in the education sector. The National Senior Secondary School Education Commission has expressed concern over the poor condition of senior secondary schools, citing a lack of infrastructure, unqualified teachers, outdated curricula, and inadequate libraries and laboratories. Despite these challenges, the commission is committed to collaborative efforts to improve the situation, providing hope for the future of education in the country.

A 24-year-old Nigerian named Oside Oluwole, also known as “Khoded,” has broken a world record certified by the Guinness World Records (GWR) for the longest videogame marathon playing a soccer game. He achieved this feat by playing Dream League Soccer 2023 continuously for 75 hours, surpassing the previous record of 50 hours set by Englishman David Whitefoot in 2022.

Oluwole, who is a qualified biochemist and currently works as a car dealer, undertook this record attempt to raise funds for a local hospital in his hometown of Ijebu Ode. Unlike previous record holders who played FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer, Oluwole played the mobile game Dream League Soccer 2023 on his iPhone, which was connected to a TV screen. Throughout his marathon, he played over 500 matches.

During the attempt, Oluwole followed the rules stipulated by GWR, taking five minutes of rest after each hour of gaming, during which he could eat, nap, or use the toilet.

Reflecting on his achievement, Oluwole expressed enjoyment and satisfaction despite the challenges, emphasizing that the experience was fulfilling and successful. He now aims to pursue additional world records by playing soccer video games, including popular titles on gaming consoles like FIFA and PES series.

President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19, as confirmed by the White House in a statement on Thursday. Despite being vaccinated and boosted, he is experiencing mild symptoms. Following an event in Nevada, where the positive test result emerged, Biden will self-isolate at his private residence in Delaware. Despite his illness, he intends to continue fulfilling his presidential duties during this period.

Biden’s physician noted that he has developed upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and a cough. While awaiting confirmation from a PCR test, Biden has already begun treatment with the COVID-19 drug Paxlovid. This is Biden’s second bout with COVID-19; his first occurred two years ago, resulting in only mild symptoms.

Given Biden’s age of 81, there are concerns about his susceptibility to severe illness from COVID-19. This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of his mental and physical fitness as he faces the prospect of running for re-election in the upcoming presidential elections in November.