Connect with us

News

Chaos As Reps Ordered Arrest Of WAEC Officials Over Investigation On Accountability

Published

on

 
By Gloria Ikibah 
 
It was drama as Four staff of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) were on Tuesday evening arrested on the orders of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies.
 
The officials were the Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria, Amos Josiah Dangut who represented the Registrar of WAEC; Senior Deputy Registrar Angus Okeleze; Acting Director of Finance, Victor Odu; and Deputy Director of Finance, Segun Jerumeh.
 
This was sequel to a motion moved by a member of the Committee, Rep. Uchenna Okonkwo, during an investigative hearing, after the officials failed to answer the questions to their satisfaction.
 
The lawmakers during the hearing were in heated arguments with the WAEC officials whether the examination body was accountable to parliament or not.
 
Dangut had earlier in his presentation to the committee posited that WAEC was not an agency of government, hence not accountable as other agencies.
 
But the lawmakers insisted that WAEC Nigeria was a creation of an Act of the National Assembly, and must account for all their activities to them.
 
They pointed out that the National Assembly makes appropriation for WAEC.
 
The lawmakers also stated that WAEC’s convention dictates that they must submit to the legislation of any of its member countries.
 
Following the arguments, Okonkwo moved the motion: “I will like to move a motion that while pending the investigation to look into the activities of WAEC Nigeria, the invited guest before us should be taken into custody and held at the police post while we seek for solutions for these issues they are bringing upon Nigerians.”
 
The motion was seconded by Rep. Marie Ebikake a member of the Committee. 
 
There was an uproar in the venue of the hearing as one of the WAEC officials kept shouting at the panel that it was being unfair to them.
 
Thereafter the officials were taken away by members of the Sergeant at Arms of the National Assembly where they were detained in one of the offices for about 15 minutes.
 
However, after a brief closed door session, the Committee resolved to allow them go and come back at a later date with relevant documents demanded of them.
 
The Committee Chairman, Rep. Oforji Oboku, said they must bring the audited statement of accounts of the examinations body from 2018 till date.
 
He also directed that they must present relevant documents in respect to a N5 billion loan, WAEC got in 2022 to buy a customised calculator among others.
 
The Chairman said WAEC cannot operate outside the supervision of the National Assembly.
 
“You are not different from any other agency, saying you are not an agency of government. We are not here to witch hunt you. WAEC is subject to Nigeria’s laws. We have reviewed the position and we have all the powers to oversight you. You cannot come here and say WAEC is not an agency of government,” he said.
 
He said WAEC would be invited at a later date.
 
He insisted the WAEC officials bring the requested documents, else there would be sanctions.
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Trump set to sign Executive Order to flush out transgender personnel from US military

Published

on

President-elect, Donald Trump, is set to sign an executive order that would remove all transgender members from the United States military.

It was learnt that the development has intensified concerns within the LGBTQ+ community.

The report claimed that the state officials had stated that transgender personnel would be discharged on medical grounds, deeming them “unfit” to serve.

Recall that during Trump’s first term as president, he introduced a similar policy that prohibited transgender individuals from joining the armed forces while allowing those already enlisted to remain in their roles.

Advertisement

After Trump left office, President Joe Biden had overturned the military ban in his first week as president in 2021, issuing an executive order to restore transgender individuals’ right to serve openly. However, with Trump’s potential return to the White House, transgender rights in the US may face renewed challenges.

However, the current proposal, as reported, would extend to removing all transgender service members, regardless of their current status. It is anticipated that the executive order will be issued on Trump’s first day in office, January 20 next year.

If signed, Trump’s new directive could be broader and more contentious than the policy he implemented during his first term. What would be its impact on transgender personnel serving in US military.

Reports indicated that approximately 15,000 transgender individuals are actively serving in the US military.

Advertisement

This is coming amid moves by US congress to stop irst transgender lawmaker from using female restrooms and bathrooms in her new workplace.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson had expressed his support for the policy that tends to disregard transgender ideologies in the legislative arm.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” the speaker said in a statement last Wednesday.

“It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

Advertisement

The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

Advertisement

The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

PHOTO: Courtesy visit to Priesthood Orphanage by Just Friends Club of Nigeria Founder

Published

on

Dr. (Mrs) Blessing Echenwo, left, founder of Priesthood Orphanage, Karamajiji, Abuja and Mrs. Maria Cardillo, a member of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, during the visit of the club to the orphanage in Abuja…recently

Continue Reading

News

Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters

Published

on

The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I call-up letters for prospective corps members.

The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.

It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on November 27, 2024 and closes on December 17, 2024.

According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.

Advertisement

“While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”

The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp.

Tips to guide Deployed Prospective Corps Members

Do not travel to the Orientation Camps at night. Break your journey when necessary.
Report on your scheduled reporting date.
Apply for spelling error and name rearrangement on your dashboard.
After documentation in the Camp, you cannot change your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, Course of Study and Passport Photograph.
Do not report to the Camp if there is any discrepancies in your course of study or with the Date of Graduation on your Statement of Result and your Call-up Letter. Contact your Institution to sort it out.
ATTENTION TO ALL 2024 BATCH ”C” STREAM I MARRIED FEMALE PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS

Advertisement

All married female Prospective Corps members (PCMs) who are deployed to States where their husbands are not domiciled should report to the nearest NYSC Orientation Camp for their State of Deployment to be changed.

They are to report during the period of Registration at the Orientation Camps with the copies of their marital and other relevant documents as evidence. Once the change is made it will reflect on theirM dashboard for reprinting.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News