THERE is this hue and cry about the huge failure rates in this year’s Senior School Certificate Examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

A university don, Professor Rufus Akinyele, has advised the National Assembly to impose a moratorium of 10 years on state creation following several request for more states.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s two-day official visit to Plateau State weekend will go down in history, not just for its historical significance, but also for its political implications for the state. For Governor Jonah Jang, it was a much-needed tonic to energize his second-term bid as the visit was an opportunity to showcase his achievements to the Number One Citizen of the country and by implication, nationwide.

WORRIED by mounting fears of a possible return to the dark days of avoidable huge indebtedness to the Paris Club which once stood at $30 billion, the Federal Government, yesterday, resolved to constitute a presidential committee that would work out realistic modalities for future external borrowing by both the Federal and State governments

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday sent a passionate appeal to striking doctors in the state to call off its two-month old strike in the interest of the suffering masses

As the nation prepares for another round of Constitution amendment, the Renaissance Network Africa, RNA, has frowned at the exclusion of Diaspora Nigerians from exercising their franchise at the forthcoming general elections, advising that the National Assembly initiate a bill that would avail Nigerians residing outside the country an opportunity to cast their votes at the 2011 polls.

Senate President, David Mark, yesterday charged the Chiefs of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, and Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, to ensure professionalism in the military by remaining subordinate to civil authority

Protests have trailed the recent recruitment of workers, conducted by the State Civil Service Commission, just as one of the civil servants was arrested in Asaba, yesterday, Delta State, for issuing out fake letters of appointment after collection of bribe.

CENTRAL Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has become famous for speaking his mind, not minding how that affects the sensitive job he does. If he feels like saying something he just says it. Never mind that he could be the first to admit he should not have spoken like that.

DEPUTY Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said the Senate was committed to May 29 handover date, saying:“We will not allow anything that will alter the May 29, handover date.”

HUMAN Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation, HRJPF, has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Abubakar Ringim, to order the immediate arrest of the DPO attached to a police station in Aba, Abia State, for allegedly raping a lady to death.

The Alliance for Democracy, AD, has asked the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, to prevail on its members who decamped to the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to hand over all its documents and property in their possession

Several government establishments among them, the anti bomb squad and anti kidnapping outfits have been submerged by flood in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, after days of heavy rains.

IN line with their stand that no court can stop the amendment of the constitution, the Senate, yesterday, commenced the second amendment process to the 1999 Constitution with majority supporting the conduct of the 2011 general elections in April as requested by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

RECOMMENDATIONS of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, TRC, that was set up by the Rivers State government to evolve a road map to lasting peace in the state, has been set aside by a Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt. Trial judge in the matter is Justice Rowland Ahiakwo