FG

The federal government said with the new curriculum set to roll out for Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria, every student must graduate with at least two skills.

The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman who stated this said the new curriculum is designed to incorporate knowledge, skills and values at Basic and Senior Secondary Education levels.

He stated this at the 68th National Council on Education (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, with the theme, “Innovation, Digital Technology Entrepreneurship: Tools for Educational and National Development in the 21st Century. “

He said the new curriculum is designed to incorporate knowledge, skills and values, especially with a special focus on skills, so that students, when they graduate, will have skills that they can connect with the economy and have a productive life.

He explained that today, they share a common challenge that the country’s educational curriculum is all in danger of becoming obsolete as technology is disrupting every industry, including education.

“A well-designed and effective curriculum determines a sustainable development, quality, and the relevance of education. This is the main reason why this administration places priority on the institutionalisation of curriculum development in the overall context of education,” he said.

The ministry, according to him, is implementing the Education Transformation Agenda of Mr. President designed to comprehensively overhaul the education sector to ensure quality learning, skill development, access and equity.

Prof Mamman reaffirmed that government has the primary responsibility of protecting and ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels for all learners.

“The government therefore, is committed to observing all relevant international protocols, conventions and treaties for the protection of our learners, teachers, learning institutions and facilities from attack and any other instrument on education, which the country has domesticated. “

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu said any nation that is desirous of growth must in essence embrace the new culture of creative ideas, entrepreneurship and the use of digital technology.

He said: “To meet the challenges posed by new technological development, we must ensure that the educational system is structured and made more relevant to the needs and aspirations of the society.”

Sununu noted that new and relevant ideas must be injected into the system to enhance national development, adding that education at all levels needs renewal in order to meet up with the present globalisation.

Also, the Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Muntari Mohammed said digital literacy must be a fundamental component of the curriculum, adding that their leadership remains focused to ensure stability in the education sector.

Amid the economic hardship in Nigeria, the Joint Tax Board (JTB) has announced revised rates for national driver’s licenses and vehicle number plates, set to take effect from November 1, 2024.

Under the new pricing structure, Nigerians will now pay N15,000 for a three-year motor vehicle driver’s license, while a five-year license will cost N21,000.

Motorcycle and tricycle operators will also experience a price hike, with the three-year license now set at N7,000 and the five-year option at N11,000.

In addition to the driver’s license rate adjustments, the cost of vehicle number plates has seen a considerable increase.

Standard private and commercial vehicle number plates will now be priced at a minimum of N30,000. Fancy number plates, often used for personalized identification, will be sold at N400,000, while motorcycle number plates will cost N12,000.

Dealer motor vehicle number plates have been set at N100,000. Government vehicle number plates have also been affected by the revision.

The government fancy motor vehicle number plate will now cost N120,000, while the standard plate will be N80,000. For motorcycles, the government fancy number plate is priced at N50,000, and the standard number plate is at N20,000.

According to the JTB, the new rates will support the implementation of enhanced security features aimed at improving the identification processes for both drivers and vehicles across Nigeria.

Olusegun Adesokan, Secretary of the JTB, emphasized the importance of public awareness and education concerning these changes.

He said in a circular: “The secretariat has requested that the FRSC notify the JTB of its public engagement and sensitization plans.

“This is to enable relevant inputs where necessary, as we are confident that a very robust engagement arrangement will ensure the seamless implementation of the revised rates as approved by the board.”

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo has denied saying that the federal government approved the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Company as the sole supplier of Jet A1 fuel to domestic airlines.

The minister made the clarification in response to reports quoting him as saying that the government approved the 650,000 barrels per day refinery as the only approved refinery for the job.

Keyamo appeared on Channels TV interview, which aired on Tuesday, where he said “The airline operators just met recently. With my blessing, it’s a decision from the airline operators in Nigeria that they should only buy from Dangote refinery Jet A1.

“You can see that yesterday we started naira-for-crude purchase with Dangote. It’s all Naira, no Dollar component.”

He also said sourcing petrol from Dangote would shield airline operators from the impact of crude oil price fluctuations.

But in a tweet seen by THE WHISTLER, the aviation boss clarified that the decision was not made by the federal government.

According to him, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) made the decision and not the federal government.

He clarified, “This is a misrepresentation of what I said. The correct position is that the Airline Operators of Nigeria voluntarily decided they would patronise Dangote Refinery in their purchase of JET A1 Fuel.

“Not that the federal government approves Dangote Refinery as sole supplier. that is not correct.”

While the Federal Government is planning a low-key Independence Day anniversary celebration, the EndBadGovernance protest organizers have also concluded plans to stage protests across the country.

Leading reporters reports that for the second time after President Bola Tinubu took over the leadership mantle in 2023, the FG on Thursday, September 26 announced that the October 1 Independence Day would be on a low key basis due to the mood of the nation.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume told newsmen that President Tinubu’s government was aware of and sympathized with all Nigerians over the economic conditions they were passing through, hence the treason for a low-key celebration.

However, some activists clamouring to end bad governance in Nigeria are seeing the event as a fertile ground to continue their protest against the high cost of living and other lingering challenges bedeviling the nation.

Economic hardship

For most Nigerians, the economic situation of the country has aggravated to an unbearable stage.

Leading reporters reports that currently, there is no end in sight to the untoward hardship imposed on Nigerians from May 2023 after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy.

On Friday, September 27, the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that the prices of Beans, Rice, Bread, Egg have continued to rise across the country.

NBS, in its data, indicated that one Kilogram of Beans rose by 271.55 percent on a year-on-year basis to N2,574.63 in August 2024 from N692.95 recorded the same period last year.

Also on a month-on-month basis, the price of Beans increased to 5.31 percent to N2,444.81 in July 2024.

According to NBS, the average price of 1kg Local rice sold loose went up by 148.41 percent from N 737.11 in August 2023 to N1,831.05 in August 2024, while there was an increase of 3.65 percent on a month-on-month basis.

It also stated that the price of medium size eggs (12 pieces) experienced significant price increases by N121.92 percent from N1,031.55 in August of last year to N2,289.19 in August 2024.

Our correspondent gathered on Saturday that the price of a 50kg bag of rice has jerked up to about N100,000.

The Federal Government has declared Monday, 16th September as a public holiday to mark the celebration of the Eid-ul-Mawlid, the birth of the Prophet Muhammad,

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.

“The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Muslim Ummah both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion,” the statement read.

The minister called on the Muslim Ummah and, by extension, Nigerians, to imbibe the spirit of patience, sacrifice, and resilience.

“While congratulating the Muslim Ummah on the occasion, the Minister implored them to use the opportunity of the period to pray for enduring peace and a more prosperous egalitarian nation,” the statement read.

The Federal Government has said only public servants with duly registered National Identification Numbers (NIN) will be allowed to purchase as it flags off the sale of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari while flagging off the exercise, said the move is to curb racketeering, and is part of efforts to crash the prices of food in Nigerian markets.

Represented by President Bola Tinubu, Kyari said the intervention will be sold strictly “one man to one bag or one woman to one bag”.

He said the rice — which is to be sold at a flat rate of ₦40,000 naira only for 50kg — is the federal government intervention for the sales of subsidised milled rice to ameliorate the prevailing food crises in Nigeria.

“This food intervention can be said to be timely considering the times and challenges we are in as citizens of this great nation,” he said.

As one of the numerous efforts of the present administration to cushion the effect of high cost of food commodities, kindly join me to applaud the immense efforts of the present administration such as the release of 42,000MT of Assorted Food Commodities (AFC) to vulnerable and the 30,000MT of milled rice which is being flagged-off for sales to Nigerians today 5th September, 2024.”

The minister blamed COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, climate change amidst other localized factors/challenges for the high cost of food prices.

This has led to increase concern and risk of food insecurity and general decline in the standard of living globally. I therefore urge us to understand that the present challenges are not peculiar to our great country,” he said.

He added that the federal government being aware of the potential challenges associated with the sales of an important staple such as rice, at this critical period has deployed a multi-disciplinary machinery of Government, as well put in place certain processes and conditions to ensure the transparency, wider reach and success of this exercise.

This includes one man one 50kg of rice, others are the verification of intending beneficiaries using relevant identification mediums such as the National Identification Number (NIN) and phone numbers to forestall multiple access to this food commodity by fraudulent individuals at the detriment of other citizens,” he said.

He implored citizens to cooperate with the relevant citizens to achieve the initiative.

Let us work together to ensure that the dream of the present administration to uphold the fundamental right to food for all Nigerians is achieved. It is expected that with the injection of 30,000MT (1000 trucks of 30MT each of these important staples into Nigeria’s food balance sheet, it will not only crash the price of rice but also other closer food substitutes and alternatives.”

He called on Nigerians to remain steadfast and be patient with Mr. President as his numerous efforts to enhance Food security will soon begin to pay off.