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JUST IN: ASUU rejects Core-Curriculum designed by NUC
The Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards prepared by the National Universities Commission has been rejected by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, saying that the curriculum was nightmarish, a threat to quality university education, and an erosion of powers of the university Senate in Nigerian universities.
A statement signed by the national president of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Friday, explained that it was inexplicable that NUC pre-packaged 70 per cent CCMAS contents were being imposed on the Nigerian University System, adding that university Senates, who are statutorily responsible for academic programme development, were left to work on only 30 per cent.
It stressed that there were growing concerns about the numerous shortcomings and gross inadequacies of the CCMAS documents.
“ASUU is not unaware that setting academic standards and assuring quality in the NUS is within the remit of the NUC. Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, Cap E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, enjoins the NUC to lay down the minimum standards for all universities and other degree awarding institutions in the Federation and conduct the accreditation of their degrees and other academic awards.
“However, the process of generating the standard is as important (if not more important) than what is produced as “minimum standards”.
“In this instance, the NUC has recently, through some hazy procedures, churned out CCMAS documents containing 70% curricular contents in 17 academic fields with little or no input from the universities. The academic disciplines covered are (i) Administration and Management, (ii) Agriculture, (iii) Allied Health Sciences, (iv) Architecture, (v) Arts, (vi) Basic Medical Sciences, (vii) Computing, (viii) Communication and Media Studies, (ix) Education, (x) Engineering and Technology, (xi) Environmental Sciences, (xii) Law, (xiii) Medicine and Dentistry, (xiv) Pharmaceutical Science, (xv) Sciences, (xvi) Social Sciences, and (xvii) Veterinary Medicine,” it read partly.
It stressed that many university administrators, though dissatisfied, were shying away from making public comments on CCMAS.
The statement revealed that, however, some university Senates did not hide their displeasure with the ongoing efforts to impose CCMAS on Nigerian universities by the NUC.
It read, “The CCMAS is a nightmarish model of curriculum reengineering. It is an aberration to the Nigerian University System. The CCMAS documents are flawed both in process and in content. There is no basis for the 70% “untouchable CCMAS,” which cannot stand the test of critical scrutiny of university Senates.”
However, it suggested that “NUC should encourage universities, as currently being done by the University of Ibadan, to propose innovations for the review of their programmes. Proposals from across universities should then be sieved and synthesised by more competent expert teams to review the existing BMAS documents and/or create new ones as appropriate.
“The difference here is the bottom-up approach, unlike the top-bottom or take-it-or-leave-it model of the CCMAS.”
News
Police hunt for abductors of Ebonyi ex-deputy Governor’s Father
Eyewitnesses said that armed men on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle, forced him out, and whisked him away to an undisclosed location.
The Nigeria Police Force in Ebonyi State has confirmed the abduction of Francis Igwe, father of former Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe.
He was reportedly kidnapped on Sunday morning while on his way to church in Ndufu-Alike community.
Eyewitnesses said that armed men on a motorcycle intercepted his vehicle, forced him out, and whisked him away to an undisclosed location.
The Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Sunday Nwankwo, confirmed the incident, noting that local authorities are working closely with security agencies to facilitate his rescue.
Also confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, said operatives have intensified efforts to ensure the victim’s safe return.
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A Lagos Drug Kingpin Ends Up in NDLEA Net After 13 Years in Hiding
Reacting to the eventual arrest of Chidiebere after 13 years on the run, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), said that the agency remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks and bringing all offenders to justice.
Photo credit: NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere after 13 years in hiding.
Femi Babafemi , Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday.
The drugs kingpin was caught by the operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.
The drug lord was first arrested in 2013 over the shipment of cocaine into Nigeria and was subsequently arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court Lagos in charge no. FHC/L/187c/2923.
He however jumped bail and went into hiding after the trial judge granted him bail in 2013 and has since remained at large.
In February 2024, his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds of the shipment of 49.70 kilograms heroin imported from South Africa following the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport.
A follow-up operation was carried out on 19th February 2024 at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites, located at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos where an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin was recovered from one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod.
As a result, Chidiebere went underground.
The agency however secured the interim forfeiture of his hotel and blocked all bank accounts traced to him since 2024.
Following these developments, Chidiebere could no longer sustain himself in hiding, prompting his surrender to the agency on 13th February 2026 and has since been taken into custody to face his pending charges for which he jumped bail in 2013 and fresh charges based on the 2024 heroin consignments linked to him.
Reacting to the eventual arrest of Chidiebere after 13 years on the run, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), said that the agency remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks and bringing all offenders to justice.
“I commend our officers and men for their persistence and professionalism in this operation”, he added.
News
Governor Nwifuru Suspends Commissioners of Work and Infrastructure
The affected commissioners have been directed to hand over all government property in their possession, including their official vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government without delay.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has approved the indefinite suspension of the State Commissioner for Work, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, and the Commissioner for Infrastructure Development for Concession, Engr. Ogbonnaya Obasi Abara, over alleged dereliction of duties.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Monday Uzor, the suspension takes immediate effect.
The affected commissioners have been directed to hand over all government property in their possession, including their official vehicles, to the Secretary to the State Government without delay.
No further details were provided regarding the specific circumstances surrounding the suspension.
Police hunt for abductors of Ebonyi ex-deputy Governor’s Father
A Lagos Drug Kingpin Ends Up in NDLEA Net After 13 Years in Hiding
Governor Nwifuru Suspends Commissioners of Work and Infrastructure
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