- Ask JAMB to extend UTME registration by 2 weeks
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives, yesterday, set up an ad-hoc committee to examine the Steve Oronsaye report.
The panel, christened Ad-hoc Committee on Restructuring of Federal Agencies and Commissions, is headed by the House Leader, Julius Ihonbvere.
It is expected to, among others, examine recommendations for restructuring of federal agencies and commissions and recommend legislations, as well as measures to mitigate the effects of the reforms.
Similarly, the House charged President Bola Tinubu to effectively review the Oronsaye report and other reports aimed at re-energising the civil service before implementation.
President Goodluck Jonathan had, in 2012, set up a committee headed by Oronsaye, former head of service, on the restructuring of the Federal Government parastatals, commissions and agencies. It recommended the reduction of the Federal Government agencies and commissions
Last week, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) resolved to implement the committee report, which recommended the reduction of 541 government agencies to 220.
The House, in the motion sponsored by Kama Nkemkanma and two others, said there was need to ensure a comprehensive review of the report in line with current realities before its implementation.
Meanwhile, the House has mandated the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to extend the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise by two weeks.
The resolution followed adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Hassan Shinkafi at plenary in Abuja, yesterday.
The motion is entitled: “Need to extend UTME registration by JAMB.”
Moving the motion, Shinkafi said the UTME registration exercise which commenced on January 15, ended on February 26.
He added that as a result of the painful economic situation in the country, “many families have been constrained from registering their wards, by this timeline.”
He said if extension was not given by JAMB, many candidates would not be able to register and participate in the exercise.
According to him, there may not be a wider coverage and participation in the 2024 UTME in Nigeria.
He urged the lawmakers to intervene, adding that an extension would encourage parents of less privileged students to register their wards for the exercise.
Adopting the motion, the House urged JAMB to extend the registration by two weeks, while mandating the relevant committees on Education and Legislative Compliance to enforce strict compliance.