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The Delta State High Court in Warri on Friday granted an interim injunction as well as restrained the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, from taking further action on and/or giving effect to the directives contained in its circular of October 16, 2024, titled “Admission of Candidates With Minimum Admissible Age of 16 Years,” pending the hearing and the determination of an originating motion.

The court presided over by Justice A.O. Akpovi, in Suit No. W/311/FHR/2024, granted the order.

The judge said the effect of the interim orders is that JAMB’s circular to vice-chancellors, provosts and rectors is out in abeyance and on hold the implementation of the said directives.

Justice Akpovi further said that the status quo to be maintained is the admission list before the circular, pending the hearing of the originating motion dated and filed on October 24, 2024.

The court also granted an accelerated hearing, and the case was adjourned to October 31, November 8 and 21, and December 4, 2024.

The 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, John Aikpokpo-Martins, instituted the fundamental human rights action on behalf of all candidates born on September 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009, who wrote and passed the JAMB exam in 2024.

The legal practitioner argued that the said candidates are being denied admission only on the ground that they are not deemed to be 16 years old by August 31, 2025, in spite of meeting all other admission criteria.

According to him: “It is my contention that all those candidates that are due to be 16 years old from the 1st of January 2025 to the 31st of December 2025 are eligible for admission on the ground that they form part of the same class of 16 years old in 2025. That the limitation of the meaning of 16 years old in 2025 to only those born from the 1st of January to the 31st of August 2025 is an infringement of the freedom from discrimination of those candidates as guaranteed by Section 41(1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

He outlined the reliefs he is seeking: “A declaration that the circular of the 1st respondent dated the 16th day of October 2024 captioned “Admission of Candidates With Minimum Admissible Age of 16 Years” signed by Mohammed A. Babaji to all Nigerian universities, including the 2nd defendant, directing them to admit only candidates who will be 16 years old by the 31st day of August 2025, violently violates the fundamental right to freedom from discrimination of the candidates who will be 16 years from the 1st of September 2025 to the 31st of December 2025 guaranteed by Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and is therefore unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

“An order setting aside the circular of the 1st respondent dated the 16th day of October 2024 captioned “Admission of Candidates With Minimum Admissible Age of 16 Years” signed by Mohammed A. Babaji to all Nigerian universities for being unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

“An order directing the respondents to admit and/or issue letters of admission to all those candidates who are due to be 16 years from the 1st of January, 2025 to the 31st of December, 2025 and who met all other admission criteria.

“An order restraining the 2nd respondent from withdrawing the admission already granted to candidates who will be 16 years from 1st of September, 2025 to December 2025 on the basis of the 1st respondent’s directive dated the 16th of October, 2024.”

Other reliefs he seeks include fifty million naira damages against JAMB and an order of perpetual injunction “restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their agents, servants, privies and officials, from denying candidates admission into Nigerian universities only on the ground of not attaining 16 years of age.”

He added: “I hope we succeed in the main case and check the wanton disregard for the law and commonsense in the motherland.”

DAILY POST recalls that on October 16, 2024, JAMB, via the said circular, directed tertiary institutions to admit only candidates who will be 16 years old and older by the 31st of August, 2024.

By this directive, candidates who will be 16 years old by the 1st of September 2025 to the 31st day of December 2025 were thereby excluded from being admitted and therefore discriminated against by JAMB.

Owners of private schools in Enugu State have accused the government of placing a heavy taxation burden on them.

They alleged that the government was shutting down schools that cannot afford the high taxes which range between N450,000 to N2.2 million depending on the size of the school.

Addressing a press conference at the weekend, the pioneer chairman of Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Amb. Emeka Agbowo Grahams, said that all entreaties to make the government see reasons had fallen on deaf ears.

He said that before now they used to pay what is called ‘annual renewal fee’ of N30,000 but lamented that the Enugu State Ministry of Education has increased the fee above 200 per cent.

“The issue is that private school owners in Enugu State are being manhandled by a policy.

“The government, through the Ministry of Education came up with a policy of high taxation far beyond what we used to have prior to this administration.

“It used to be N30,000 annual renewal but now we have various taxes that are broken into stages.

“Prior to now, it used to be one and it covers everything but now you have early child tax, one for Junior Secondary School, one for Senior Secondary School and other categories.

“The worst of it is that the provisional approval fee that schools used to pay no longer applies.

“They say you have to register afresh. Let me just say that if you are running early child – that is nursery, primary, Junior and senior secondary school, you are expected to pay close to N2.2 million,” he lamented.

According to him, comparatively other states like Lagos, Rivers and Abuja don’t pay that much.

Grahams pointed out that efforts they have made for a change of heart have not yielded any dividend.

“There was a time they would listen to us but this government is not listening to us.

“Schools are being shut for not paying the fees and once they pay, they are reopened. Their interest is not in the quality or standard of education but money,” he further alleged.

Also speaking, Dr. Ejiofor Godwin, member Enugu State Education Stakeholders and President (PAPS), South East, pointed out that “These heavy taxes do nothing to improve the quality of education but serve only to further burden private school owners.”

Godwin noted that private schools contribute significantly to the state internally generated revenue, adding that they should be encouraged and assisted to grow instead of stifling them.

The private school proprietors also demanded that the government should give at least 3 years for them to improve on structures and facilities in their schools.

They also requested financial and material support to school owners and removal of equal fees payable at the ministry adding that fees should be charged according to the location, financial and numerical strength of each school.

Meanwhile, the counsel to the Private School owners, Barr. Ogbuka JMCC, said that under the Nigerian law, private school owners were not to pay tax because schools fall under Section 18 of the Constitution which stipulates Compulsory Free Education.

He maintained that, “there is no levy or tax for private schools. Anything contrary is nullity.”

The Executives and Congress of the Federal University of Education, COEASU FUE, Kano, have registered complaints against a splinter group from among members who created a parallel Academic Staff Union without recourse to the transition period the Institution is going through.

The Chairman of the Federal University of Education Union, Kano, Dr Ado Muhammad Abdullahi, said while responding to the new splinter group that they are only trying to create chaos and disrupt peace and unity in the ranks of the union by floating a parallel academic staff union.

“We view this as an attempt by a few self-seeking saboteurs to undermine the peaceful and orderly transition process that the Council has already put in place by constituting committees and calling for memorandums from all stakeholders.”

He added, “You might have already noticed that staff unions in the University are happy and have strong confidence in the management’s ability and willingness to reflect positively on the primary concerns of members of staff during the transition process.”

Muhammad said, “It is interesting to note that COEASU still operates legitimately in both Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri and Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo, where the upgrade came more than a year earlier than our Institution. Similarly, COEASU also operates peacefully in FUE, Zaria which was upgraded alongside our own University.

The Chairman acknowledged the right of any lecturer to pull out of the union but warned that “we cannot allow any mischievous attempt at polarizing the University and creating undue animosity and chaos among us.”

”Therefore, in view of the potential threat to peace and the smooth transition of the Institution to its new status, we urge the management to halt any undue rebellion against our Union,” the statement said.

The Governing Council of Abia State University, Uturu, has directed the management, parents and guardians of students of the school to ensure their children and wards are registered for the ongoing Federal Government NELFUND loan scheme.

The governing council gave the directive during its 156 regular meeting, saying that the loan scheme would benefit indigent students.

The development was made known through a press release made available by the Secretary to the council and Registrar of the institution, Acho Elendu.

The Abia State University bemoaned the low enrollment of students in the Federal government student loan scheme and urged them to key into the educational package.

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Abia State office of the Federal Information Centre had early this week held sensitization campaigns in Umuahia, calling on Abia people to take advantage of the Federal government’s intervention programs.

Meanwhile the management of ABSU has thanked Governor Alex Otti for restoration of security around the University, regular payment of staff salary, as well as the commencement of payment of 11 months salary arrears to staff, among others.

The council also ratified the reappointment of Professor Ogbonna Onuoha as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) for a second term of two years

Kano State Government has postponed the resumption date of both primary and secondary schools for the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic session.

The Director, Public Enlightenment in the State Ministry of Education, Balarabe Kiru made this known in a statement on Saturday in Kano.

According to him, the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Umar Doguwa, said the decision was compelled by some undisclosed ‘urgent reasons’.

Kiru quoted Doguwa as saying that a new date would soon be announced by the ministry.

“I wish to inform pupils, students and parents that the announcement earlier made for school resumption on 8th and 9th Sept 2024 is now being postponed.

”This is due to some urgent reasons that will help in improving the provision of a conducive learning atmosphere for our children.

“Another date for the resumption will be announced in due course,” the director said.

Kiru, however, appealed to the people concerned, especially the students, parents and guardians to bear with any inconveniences that may be caused by the postponement

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education in Ebonyi State, Prof. Amari Omaka, has announced that the two newly established universities in the state are expected to commence academic activities early next year.

Omaka spoke with newsmen shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of the acting vice chancellors of the University of Information Communication Technology, Oferekpe-Agbaja, and the University of Aeronautical Engineering, Ezza, at the New Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki.

The commissioner stated that the necessary preparation needed to ensure the universities are ready for their first intake of students has been put in place.

“Our initial target was for the universities to take off by September, but it appears that may not be realistic because a lot of things have to be done,” he explained.

He cited the ongoing construction of academic buildings and the development of the university master plans as the causes of the delay.

“For things to be ready for the students to come into the university, I don’t expect them to go maybe later than early next year,” he added.

He stressed that the newly sworn-in acting vice chancellors, Prof. Ernest Egba for the University of Information Communication Technology, and Prof. Patrick Nwofe for the University of Aeronautical Engineering, have significant responsibilities beyond academic leadership.

“This appointment is not to come and drink tea, but to come and work,” Prof. Omaka stated.

He urged them to engage with relevant authorities, including the National Universities Commission, NUC, to secure necessary approvals and the seamless operation of the universities.

In his remarks, the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Information Communication Technology, Prof. Ernest Egba, expressed his commitment to advancing the university’s mission.

“I’m overwhelmed by what happened, and I promise to do my best to keep the flag flying,” he said.

He expressed confidence in ensuring the smooth running of the institution. “I believe with so many intellectuals around me, we will move mountains and level the mountains,” he added.

Similarly, the acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Aeronautical Engineering, Prof. Patrick Nwofe,

pledged to fulfil his duties in alignment with the state’s educational goals.

“I will perform my duties as expected and ensure that the people’s charter of needs mantra concerning education, for which, today, I have been given a special assignment, is fulfilled,” Prof. Nwofe stated.

He assured that his efforts would make both the state and the world proud of the university.

“The university will be a world-class institution,” he affirmed

The Federal Government has vowed to crack down on substandard school building construction across the country, urging stakeholders including the State Universal Basic Education Boards, SUBEBs, to ensure quality in the delivery of school building projects.

The threat was issued by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, during the training of staff of the Commission’s Department of Physical Planning, on enhancing the quality delivery of projects using simple tools for on-the-spot assessment at project sites.

Bobboyi, who noted that the Commission would no longer condone the shoddy execution of projects, warned contractors about the risks of delivering substandard school infrastructure in the country.

He also disclosed that the Commission would deploy monitors to frequently find out what is going on across the construction sites.

Bobboyi maintained that educational infrastructures are sensitive projects that must be handled with the ultimate sense of responsibility so as not to risk the lives of children and staff of the institutions.

Making reference to the recent incident of a school building collapse in Jos, although not sponsored by UBEC, Bobboyi expressed regret over the incident.

He urged state governments to take proactive steps to ensure that contractors handling school building projects adhere strictly to specifications.

“We are dealing with a very strategic sector, children who are between the ages of 5,6 up to about 12 that are very vulnerable in any building collapse. We saw that when it happened in Jos.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that we take all necessary steps to build school infrastructures that are solid and can stand the test of time,” he stated.

According to him, for quite some time, the Commission has had an elaborate monitoring system as far as the construction of educational infrastructure or school infrastructure is concerned