Education
SENATE, HOUSE AGREEMENT RAISES STUDENT LOAN TO #10B
After harmonising the N2.17 trillion 2023 Supplementary Budget, the Senate and the House of Representatives have raised the student loan appropriation to N10billion.
Both chambers dropped the controversial presidential yacht, for which N5 billion was budgeted.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assured Nigerians after signing the budget into law yesterday that it would be judiciously utilised.
The House had transferred the N5 billion-for-yacht to the student loan item before passage, while the Senate retained the items as presented.
Senate Appropriation Committee Deputy Chairman, Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), said last night that the President cannot sign an Appropriation Bill passed differently by the two chambers of the National Assembly unless it is harmonised.
It was learnt that the Senate adopted the version passed by the House, paving the way for the President’s signature.
Ndume, the Senate Chief Whip, said the Senate had decided to probe circumstances surrounding the yacht acquisition, which he insisted was done before the Tinubu Administration.
After public outcry over the “Presidential Yatch N5billion vote” in the Supplementary Budget proposal, the Presidency cleared the air, saying the yatch was a Naval equipment and not a presidential luxury item.
The Navy said it had taken delivery of the vessel but had not paid for it due to cash constraints.
It said the yacht had been delivered since June and was for training purposes.
President Tinubu, at a brief signing ceremony at the State House, Abuja, commended the National Assembly for the swift consideration and passage of the budget.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the Federal Government assigned 32 per cent to the wage award for federal civil servants; 30 per cent is for defence and security.
The wage award is to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal.
Exactly 35 per cent will fund infrastructure under the Works, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Housing and Urban Development ministries.
The Ministry of Defence got the lion’s share of the allocations, receiving N476. 543 billion, followed by the Ministry of Works with N300 billion.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security got N200 billion; the Ministry of Housing received N100 billion.
The Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) got N100 billion and Police Formations and Command got N50 billion.
Service Wide Votes was allocated N615 billion; State House got N28 billion, while N210 billion was reserved for Capital Supplementation.
The National Assembly increased the budget for Defence from N456 billion to N546 billion.
It also increased allocation to police formations to N50 billion from the initial N27 billion.
At the budget signing were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Others were Senate Appropriation Committee Chairman Olamilekan Adeola, his House counterpart Abubakar Bichi and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji.
Senate Committee on Navy, mandated to investigate the controversial “presidential yacht” within one week, said the probe will seek to unearth the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the equipment.
The Committee chairman, Senator Gbenga Daniel, said the probe report will provide the public with an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the situation.
The committee will also visit all naval facilities towards modernising operational capabilities.
The National Assembly passed the supplementary budget of N2.176 trillion on November 2.
The student loan policy was initiated by President Tinubu to support indigent students and prevent them from dropping out of higher institutions.
Beneficiaries are expected to pay back after graduation to keep it as a revolving fund.
The policy will take effect from January.
Education
1ST NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS CONFERENCE ON UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) ESSAY COMPETITION
Competition Overview:
The SDG Youth Essay Competition offers a grand prize of N1 million for the top three winners, along with free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.
Competition Requirements:
1. Eligibility:
– Open exclusively to undergraduates in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
2. Entry Guidelines:
– Topic:The Role of Students in Attainment of SDG4
– length: Essays should be 1500 words.
– Entry Period: Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Thursday, February 29, 2024
– Referencing: APA Style (6th Edition).
– Font: Times New Roman, 12-point font size.
– Documentation: Typed in 1.5 line spacing, MS Word format only.
– Plagiarism: Only original content is accepted; plagiarized entries will be disqualified.
Benefits:
– Prizes:
– 1st Prize: N500,000
– 2nd Prize: N300,000
– 3rd Prize: N200,000
– Winners will also receive free sponsorship to attend the 1st Nigeria Tertiary Institution Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in April 2024 in Abuja.
Required Documents:
– Student’s Institution ID Card
– Copy of Student’s Admission Letter
– One recent passport-size photograph
– WhatsApp telephone number and email address
Application Procedure:
– All entries and submissions (essay and required documents) should be scanned and sent to nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org before the deadline.
For Further Inquiries:
– Call: 08068931151, 08133846739, 07067772964
– Email: nigeriaessay@sdgyouth.org
Deadline: February 29th, 2024
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to achieving SDG4 and win exciting prizes. Submit your entry and required documents before the deadline. For any inquiries, feel free to contact them via phone or email.
Competition Overview:
The National Essay Competition invites undergraduate law students to showcase their expertise and contribute to the discourse on AI, privacy, and data protection. In addition to cash prizes, participants have the chance to intern with Pentagon Partners, gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Competition Requirements:
1. Eligibility:
– The competition is open to 400-level and 500-level undergraduate law students in Nigerian universities.
2. Essay Requirements:
– Length: Essays should not exceed 1500 words.
– Format: Double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font.
– References: OSCOLA format for citations with 10pt font size for footnotes and endnotes.
– Submission Format: Essays must be submitted in PDF format.
– Entrant Details: Include full names, school, level, phone number, and email address in both the body of the email and on the last page of the essay.
– Single Entry: Each entrant is allowed only one submission.
– Originality: Plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
Competition Benefits and Timeline:
1. Prizes:
– Winner: N200,000
– 1st Runner Up: N150,000
– 2nd Runner Up: N100,000
2. Internship Opportunity:
– In addition to cash prizes, winners have the exclusive opportunity to intern with Pentagon Partners, enhancing their career prospects.
Application Procedure:
– Interested participants should submit their essays to essay@pentagonpartnerslp.com during the submission period.
– The subject of the email should be the Essay topic
For additional information and updates, visit www.pentagonpartnerslp.com.
Deadline: March 22nd, 2024
Don’t miss this chance to showcase your legal expertise, contribute to important discussions on AI and law, and vie for enticing cash prizes. Pentagon Partners looks forward to receiving your submissions.
Purpose:
Inaugurated in 2020, the CDEC is part of SystemSpecs’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to promoting capacity development in the Nigerian ICT industry. By encouraging young Nigerians to tackle everyday issues, the competition contributes to intellectual growth and societal progress.
Topic:
The theme for the 2024 competition is “Protecting the Nigerian Child from the Dangers of Online Technology.” Participants are tasked with exploring strategies to safeguard children in an increasingly digital world.
Eligibility:
– Open to primary and secondary school students in Nigeria aged 9 to 16.
– Junior category (ages 9 to 12) essays must not exceed 1,000 words.
– Senior category (ages 13 to 16) essays must not exceed 1,500 words.
Prizes:
– Winners will receive generous rewards, including a high-capacity laptop, premium headphones, a portable laptop stand, a smart wristwatch, and one year of internet data, among other items.
– Consolation prizes will be awarded to other participants.
Application Process:
– Interested candidates should access the application page
– Essays must be written in English and reflect original thought.
– Each participant is limited to one entry.
– Entries must be endorsed by an accredited school official, parent, or legal guardian.
– Deadline for submissions is April 12, 2024.
Submission Guidelines:
– All submissions must be in PDF format and include the student’s name, home and school addresses, email address, and contact phone number.
– Double entries will result in automatic disqualification.
– Submissions must be received by March 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Notification of Winners:
– Successful students and schools will be contacted in the second quarter of the year.
– Updates on winners will be announced on @nercng social media platforms.
The SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition offers a unique opportunity for Nigerian students to demonstrate their creativity and problem-solving skills. By addressing the theme of online child protection, participants contribute to building a safer and more secure digital environment for all. We encourage eligible students to seize this opportunity and showcase their talent and ingenuity.
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