Good morning Nigeria, Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 23rd, September 2023.
Tinubu’s Nepotism Just Like Buhari’s, Steals From Us All
With his chief spokesman, Femi Adesina disclosing on Wednesday that Muhammadu Buhari regretted some of his decisions as President, it is a no-brainer that top among the things the immediate past President now thinks he should have done differently is his nepotistic appointments. This should rank high on his list of regrets because flagrant disregard for the country’s diversity and harmony is the defining feature of his reign and saw him preside over a fractured nation between 2015 to 2023. Buhari should indeed rue the narrow-mindedness that not only questioned patriotism but accounts for his administration’s infamy as the most underwhelming and lackluster in Nigeria’s history.
Here is how the Buhari administration was recently appraised by erstwhile Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke SAN, “The most incompetent government we’ve ever seen in this country; ran by the most incompetent President that this country has ever had and will never have again. And ran by a set of political morons”. No doubt, at the root of this incompetence, is the nepotistic deployment of square pegs in round holes. Merit is usually the first casualty when a President is bent on appointing mostly persons from his provenance. As is to be expected Nigeria paid dearly for this antediluvian disposition not just in terms of the economy but the country within the past eight years picked up the rear in virtually all development indexes there are. It was so bad that Buhari’s relation, Hadi Sirika, as Minister of Aviation made the country a laughingstock with the Nigeria Air hoax and heist!
With this in mind, it is disturbing that freshly-minted President Bola Tinubu seems bent on continuing with this playbook that has since brought Buhari to regrets, even if he’s too egotistic to publicly admit it. Tinubu’s nepotism writ large even in his mammoth cabinet that the Constitution tried to impose balance. Once he met the legal requirement of nominating a minister from the 36 states, the President went on a frolic of his own with some states having as many as three ministers! This was as he reserved what is deemed juicy portfolios for his natal region. His nepotism is so glaring that even those who benefited while Buhari was perpetrating the same didn’t mind the hypocrisy in now coming out to bemoan Tinubu’s skewed appointments!
NLC To Embark On Indefinite Strike, Says FG Failed To Meet Demands
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it will be embarking on a nationwide indefinite strike, following the government’s failure to meet its demands.
The NLC Head of Department for Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah confirmed the strike action on Friday.
The union, which had embarked on a two-day strike, noted that the decision is as a result of the Federal Government’s inability to meet the Unions’ demand during the 14-day ultimatum given to them, which elapsed today.
Speaking to the Whistler, Upah, said that none of their demands had been met, noting that the strike “can begin any moment from now”.
Upah said, “The FG has put nothing to the table, There is no agreement from all the resolutions that are mutually signed. The government is not prepared.”
Presidency Backtracks, Says Tinubu Not First African Leader To Ring Nasdaq Bell
The Presidency has backtracked on its earlier claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the first African leader to ring the closing bell at the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quotation System (NASDAQ) in New York.
In a statement on Friday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that the Presidency inadvertently made the claim based on the information provided by a third-party event organiser.
He said: “We have since found out that this information was/is incorrect as a former African leader has indeed had the privilege.
“This error is sincerely regretted.”
Naija News recalls that the Presidency had earlier said President Bola Tinubu became the first African leader to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ.
Ngelale had on Thursday said the president was invited to the world’s second-largest stock exchange in honour of his determined global push to attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria aggressively.
Olayemi Cardoso Resumes As Acting CBN Governor
The acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Olayemi Cardoso on Friday formally resumed duties at the headquarters of the apex bank in Abuja.
This follows the resignation of Mr. Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),
Similarly, the Deputy-Governors-Designate have also assumed duty, in acting capacities, sequel to the formal resignation of Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, Mr. Edward Lametek Adamu, and Dr. Kingsley Obiora as Deputy Governors of the CBN.
This development was confirmed in a press statement by the CBN on Friday which was signed by the bank’s Director of Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin.
Naija News recalls President Bola Tinubu on September 15, 2023, appointed Cardoso and the Deputy Governors in acting capacity pending the confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.
Tinubu Govt Approves Salary Increase For University, Polytechnic Workers, Others
The federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu has approved the implementation of 35% And 25% salary increments for staff of all federal tertiary institutions.
The government also resolved to pay arrears from 1st January 2023.
It is understood that the 25% increase is for lecturers while 35% is for professors in all federal institutions.
The government had earlier objected to the payment of 25% to lecturers in tertiary institutions when it raised those of Professors to 35% but has now given approval for the increase.
The decision was taken by the Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting based on the different stages of collective bargaining and specifically the engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Institution-based unions.
Plateau: Tribunal Upholds Mutfwang’s Election, Dismisses APC’s Petition
The Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos, the state capital, has upheld the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Recall that Mutfwang, who contested the election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Following the declaration, Nentawe Yilwatda of the All Progressive Congress (APC) headed for the tribunal to reject the election results and asked to be declared the winner.
The petitioner also asked the court to include the votes of the 14 polling units rejected by INEC.
Delivering judgement on Friday, the tribunal led by Justice R Irele-Ifineh, dismissed the petition of the APC and its governorship candidate.
The judge held that the issues raised by the petitioner on party structure were pre-election matters, and the petitioners lacked the jurisdiction to challenge it.
APC vs NNPP: DSS Speaks On Arresting Kano Guber Tribunal Judge
The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed claims that its operatives had arrested one of the tribunal judges who ruled on the 2023 Kano State gubernatorial election.
Naija News reports that this is following allegations by the Chief Press Secretary of the Kano State Governor, Sanusi Bature, who claimed that the Kano State government believes that the judges that handled the judgment of the Kano State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal were intimidated and arrested by the security agencies.
Recall that the tribunal on Wednesday nullified Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s victory and declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Gawuna, winner of the March 18 governorship election.
While speaking to PRNigeria on the phone, the spokesperson of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, denied the claim by the Kano Governor’s spokesperson.
Zamfara: Bandits Abduct Federal University Of Gusau Students
Armed bandits in the early hours of Friday abducted an unspecified number of students of the Federal University of Gusau, Zamfara State.
Naija News learnt that the bandits in large numbers invaded the Sabon-Gida community of the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A resident of Sabon-Gida identified as Nazeer Sabon-Gida, who spoke with Channels TV, disclosed that the gunmen invaded the community around 3 am and started shooting indiscriminately.
Sabon-Gida revealed that three students’ hostels were attacked and all the students in the hostels were taken away by the bandits.
Tinubu Leaves New York After Attending UNGA
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday departed New York in the United States after attending the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Naija News reports that Tinubu, while in New York, addressed world leaders at the session and highlighted the issues facing Africa, such as foreign exploitation of natural resources, human trafficking, forced migration and climate crisis.
He also participated in some of the high-level events, including bilateral meetings with some world leaders like the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, among others.
He also met with the President of Angola, João Manuel, an ExxonMobil delegation led by the company’s President of Global Upstream Operations, Liam Mallon, and with King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of Jordan.
On Wednesday, President Tinubu met with some Nigerians living in the U.S. at a town hall meeting, where he urged them to come back home, noting that there are a lot of business opportunities in the country.
US Warns Citizens Against Travelling To Some States In Nigeria (Full List)
The United States government has warned its citizens against travelling to Nigeria, citing increased levels of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and cultism.
The US government, in a travel advisory/security warning issued on Friday, urged its citizens not to visit some states classified as Level 4, which is the highest-risk category.
It further identified some specific states in Nigeria with high risks of terrorism and kidnapping, warning its citizens to stay clear of such places.
The advisory stated that America has limited ability to provide emergency services due to the security situation in Nigeria.
Specifically, the US government warned its citizens to avoid the following states: Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and Adamawa (northern part), Bauchi, Gombe, and Kaduna.
Other states listed are Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Rivers (except for Port Harcourt).
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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