From Basil Obasi, Abuja
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for September 2016 indicate that the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, increased by 17.9 per cent (year-on-year), 0.24 percentage points higher than the 17.6 per cent rate recorded in August 2016.
According to the report, the average annual rate of change of the food sub-index for the 12-month period ending in September 2016 over the previous 12-month average was 13.2 per cent, 0.5 per cent points from the average annual rate of change recorded in August (12.7 per cent).
However, communication, restaurants and hotels were reported to have recorded the lowest rates of increase of the 12 divisions, growing by 5.6 per cent and 9.6 per cent, respectively.
The food sub-index increased by 16.6 per cent (year-on-year) in September, up by 0.19 per cent points from rate recorded in August (16.4 per cent), the NBS said.
Urban inflation rose by 19.5 per cent (year-on-year) in September from 19.3 per cent recorded in August while the rural index increased by 16.4 per cent in September from 16.1 per cent in August. On a month-on-month basis, both urban and rural indices eased, increasing by 0.8 per cent a piece.
Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce increased by 17.7 per cent during the month, 0.5 per cent from 17.2 per cent in August as all key divisions, which contributes to the index increased.
COREN: COREN bars 142 Unizik graduates from practicing
From Magnus Eze, Abuja
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has banned 142 graduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, from practicing engineering in Nigeria or any part of the world.
Arising from its 151st Ordinary Meeting presided over by the president and chairman of the council, Mr. Kashim Ali, COREN noted that the NAU graduated five sets of students numbering 142 between 2010 and 2015 in two undergraduate programmes, Agricultural & Bioresource Engineering and Polymer & Textile Engineering, which were not accredited in line with the COREN Act.
The two programmes were, however, given interim accreditation for a period of two years, with effect from September 9, 2016.
The council, which considered the report of the Universities Accreditation Visitation to engineering programmes of Nigerian universities in the third quarter of 2016 where 10 programmes assessed visited in four universities across the country, also gave full accreditation to six programmes while four got interim aaccreditation, two from NAU inclusive.
A statement by COREN registrar, Mr. Kamila Maliki, said the council approved the registration of 10 engineering consulting firms, 1,626 engineers, 77 technologists, 40 engineering technicians and 21 engineering craftsmen whose capabilities were adequately tested and found worthy of COREN registration.
EDUCATION: JAMB opts for serving VC, Rector as head of Board
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has suggested a reversal to the old system of appointing a serving head of a tertiary institution as the chairman of the governing board of JAMB.
He noted that the board was a creation of the committee of Vice-Chancellors, hence the need for their recognition as active stakeholders, to avoid acrimony between them and JAMB.
According to the registrar, this will also strengthen the synergy and harmonious relationship with the institutions.
According to a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the head of media, JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Oloyede made the suggestion at a meeting with the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) in Abuja.
He charged heads of tertiary institutions to always participate in the supervision of the board’s matriculation examinations, particularly in centres within their jurisdiction, to ensure the sanctity of the system.
He maintained his earlier stand that the task of JAMB was coordination and not usurpation of the traditional responsibilities of the Senates/Academic boards of tertiary institutions.
The registrar informed the AVCNU that JAMB has abolished the use of scratch cards for its services and substituted same with other payment platforms such as Web, ATM cards and mobile applications.
NCS: Customs dismisses 17 officers for drug addiction, certificate forgery
From Uche Usim, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed 17 junior officers for offences ranging from drug addiction and certificate forgery to theft and absence from duty.
Spokesman of the Customs, Wale Adeniyi, who disclosed this yesterday, said the officers went foul of Customs laws and were investigated from January to September 2016.
According to him, the appointment of two other officers has been terminated for absence from duty while one officer was fired for drug addiction.
“Investigations into offences committed by the officers in the senior category are now being concluded. Officers found guilty are expected to face similar stiff penalties. These disciplinary measures were taken after series of investigations and deliberations by the disciplinary committee and recommendations were made to the management.
This process is a continuation of the reform agenda that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, promised upon his assumption of office, which emphasised discipline, good conduct and transparency,” Adeniyi said.
Ali had recently stated that many officers, especially those at the border posts, have become so corrupt that they connive with smugglers to flood the country with fake and substandard goods.
HEALTH: NHIS, NOA to sign MoU on health insurance coverage
From Magnus Eze, Abuja
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at correcting widespread misconceptions about health insurance and invariably deepen its coverage nationwide, especially at the grassroots.
Director-General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, stressed the need for the NHIS to succeed in providing universal health care coverage for all Nigerians, because health care is a very important aspect of the nation’s socio-economic development.
Receiving the NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf, in his office, Abari observed that good health care enhances the productivity of a people, hence the NHIS was key to national development.
He noted that the MoU was to cement the partnership between the two agencies.
Yusuf, on his part, was emphatic that the mandate of providing universal and affordable health care for all Nigerians required the support of NOA.
“NHIS cannot successfully provide health care for all if it does not partner NOA to reach Nigerians in the villages, hamlets and communities, because NOA has the spread and the platforms to effectively mobilise Nigerians to participate in the scheme”, he said.
Nigeria has low health insurance coverage, with about 5 per cent enrolment, made of mainly federal workers.