News

Students In Lagos Schools May Miss WASSCE Registration

Published

2 years ago

February 4, 2024

Editor

Some students in public secondary schools in Lagos State may miss being registered for this year’s West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, to be conducted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, because of the inability of their parents to pay N8,100 levy.

Lagos State government pays the WASSCE fees of students in public secondary schools, but parents who are working in the informal sector would have to pay the levy, while those working in the formal sector would make do with their tax clearance certificates.

Checks by Vanguard showed that some of the students, whose parents were unable to pay the levy were shut out of the free registration process last week, which was initially fixed as the deadline for registration for the exam by WAEC.

However, a saving grace came their way at the weekend when WAEC extended the registration till February 24, this year.

It was learned that due to the economic situation in the country, some parents were unable to pay the levy.

A parent, whose child is at Igbo Owu Senior Secondary School, Work Yard, near Majekodunmi Street, Mushin, lamented her ordeal to our correspondent.

“I am a petty trader and who struggles to take care of her children. We all know what the situation in the country is now. The cost of living is high and business is not like it was before. The state government just introduced this levy for final year students this year. They said people should show their tax clearance certificates or pay that levy.

” I tried as much as I could but could not make the deadline last week and the school authorities told me that my child would not be registered for the examination. We appreciate the state government for helping parents pay the exam fee, but they should know that not all parents work in the formal sector where they can get a tax clearance certificate to show, ” she said.

When contacted on the phone, the Commissioner for Secondary and Basic Education, Hon Jamiu Alli-Balogun, said the state government should be commended for taken the burden of the exam fee off parents’ shoulders.

“We are not asking the parents to pay any tax, especially those in informal setting. We only ask the for N8, 100 levy, that is less than N650 monthly. Those in formal setting who have tax deducted from their salaries have tax clearance certificates that cover them.

However, i don’t think that is too much for the parents because Lagos State government pays the WAEC examination fees of all students in public secondary schools and that runs into billions of naira.

“In how many states do they do that? Not even in FCT that they pay such on behalf of parents. if we now ask parents to show commitment and responsibility by paying that levy, i don’t think is is too much. Tax is paid everywhere in tbe world and it drives growth. I am not aware that some people were unable to meet the deadline. That has not come to my notice. Even the deadline is not about Lagos State, it is WAEC issue. Their examinations will start in March and they have the deadline to tidy things up, ” he said.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

12 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.