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The Benue State Government has introduced a raft of new measures in public and private schools, including a ban on unauthorised external activities, after-school extra lessons and the use of mobile phones during school hours.

The Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Margaret Adamu, announced the directives on Monday during a press briefing in Makurdi, saying the measures were aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents, improving discipline and raising educational standards.

Adamu said no individual, non-governmental organisation (NGO), private organisation or other external body would be allowed to access schools or conduct programmes, research, advocacy or interventions without prior approval from the ministry.

She also directed schools to discontinue extra lessons after normal school hours, stressing that learners must make effective use of regular classroom periods.

The commissioner further banned the use of mobile phones by learners during school hours and warned school authorities to ensure strict compliance.

According to her, the new academic session commenced on Monday, September 7, with students expected to resume on time, attend classes regularly and remain within authorised school areas.

“Learners are expected to resume school on time, attend classes regularly and remain within authorised school areas. Late coming, truancy and loitering during school hours must be firmly addressed by school authorities,” she said.

Adamu also condemned what she described as “barbaric ways of celebrating birthdays”, warning learners against assaulting or manhandling celebrants in classrooms, schools and hostels.

She equally cautioned parents and guardians against assaulting, threatening, intimidating or verbally abusing teachers, principals and other school staff.

The commissioner warned that bullying, harassment, hazing, intimidation and other forms of violence among learners would not be tolerated.

“Bullying, intimidation, harassment, hazing and all forms of violence among learners are strictly prohibited. School authorities must establish and maintain safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments,” she said.

On external activities in schools, Adamu stated: “No NGO, individual, organisation or external body shall enter a school to conduct programmes, activities, research, advocacy or interventions without the appropriate authorisation from the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management.”

She said the new policies were intended to protect learners, strengthen school management, promote discipline, reduce unnecessary expenses for parents and improve the overall quality of education across the state.

Adamu warned that schools and individuals who violate the directives would face sanctions under relevant laws and regulations.

“I therefore warn that non-compliance with approved policies and directives will attract appropriate sanctions in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and guidelines,” she said.

She directed school proprietors, principals and heads of schools to familiarise themselves with all ministry directives and ensure their full implementation.

“Ignorance of an existing policy will not be accepted as an excuse for non-compliance,” she added.

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for candidates offered admission between 2021 and 2026 to accept or reject their admission offers.

The deadline, earlier fixed for Monday, August 31, 2026, has now been extended to Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

The Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement posted on X on Saturday.

The board described the extension as “a final opportunity” for affected candidates to take action on their outstanding admission offers.

“Candidates with pending admission offers who have not yet accepted or rejected (regular or CUIIA) such offers are strongly advised to do so before 30 September 2026,” Benjamin said.

JAMB urged candidates not to wait until the deadline before taking action, warning that failure to do so would affect the status of their admissions.

Candidates should not wait until the deadline, as failure to take action within the stipulated period will have consequences for the status of such admissions,” the board stated.

According to JAMB, candidates who accept their admission offers will be able to proceed to print and obtain their admission letters.

It added that candidates who reject their offers would have their dashboards reverted to “Not Admitted”.

“Those who reject their offers will have their dashboards reverted to ‘Not Admitted’, enabling the Board to update its records and ensure that its admission data accurately reflects the current status of candidates,” it said.

The board also guided that candidates who were no longer studying at the institutions where their previous admissions were offered.

“For candidates who are no longer in the institution where the previous admission was offered, or who are currently in a different programme from the one for which the previous admission was offered, such candidates may accept the outstanding admission and subsequently apply for the appropriate correction or deletion of the admission, as the case may be,” JAMB stated.

It explained that the process would enable it to update the candidates’ admission status and records.

This will enable the Board to appropriately update the candidate’s admission status and records,” it added.

JAMB also addressed candidates currently pursuing a second degree but who still had an earlier admission offer pending.

“Similarly, candidates who are currently pursuing a second degree but still have a previous admission offer that remains unaccepted may go ahead and reject such an offer and continue with their current programme,” the board said.

The board further assured candidates who had secured admission in the 2026 admission exercise that rejecting an earlier outstanding offer would not affect their new admission.

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The National Youth Service Corps has warned prospective corps members that they will not be mobilised for national service without obtaining clearance from the National Electronic Registration Database (NERD).

The warning comes as the scheme continues preparations for the mobilisation of a fresh batch of prospective corps members, while also intensifying efforts to ensure their safety during orientation camp journeys.

In a public notice shared on its official X account on Monday, the NYSC declared that NERD clearance is now compulsory for all prospective corps members.

The scheme urged prospective corps members to complete the process early to avoid delays in mobilisation.

It also cautioned that failure to obtain the clearance could delay mobilisation into the national service programme.

“This is to inform PCMs (Prospective Corps Members) that without NERD clearance, no NYSC. Get your NERD clearance early. Avoid delays in your mobilisation.”

Reiterating the mandatory nature of the requirement, the NYSC stated, “NERD clearance is compulsory for all PCMs. No NERD clearance, No NYSC!!!”

Although the scheme did not provide additional details about the clearance process in the notice, the directive signals a stricter verification regime as preparations continue for the next orientation exercise.

The latest advisory comes barely hours after the NYSC announced the mobilisation of another batch of prospective corps members for the 2026 Batch ‘B’ service year, urging institutions and eligible graduates to complete all necessary documentation ahead of the orientation exercise.

It also follows another recent safety advisory by the scheme in which prospective corps members were warned against travelling at night to orientation camps.

The NYSC advised them to break their journeys whenever necessary and lodge in safe locations or designated military and security formations where available, rather than risk travelling after dark.

The renewed advisories reflect the scheme’s efforts to improve both the integrity of its mobilisation process and the safety of prospective corps members, amid growing security concerns on Nigerian highways.

With mobilisation activities gathering pace, prospective corps members are expected to complete all required registration and verification procedures, including the newly emphasised NERD clearance, before reporting for orientation camp.