Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 28th September 2023.
1. Why Tinubu Appointed New Management Team For CBN – Aide
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Gumel, has said the appointment of the new management team for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is to rescue the image of the apex bank.
Naija News reports that Gumel disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, stressing the CBN’s image has been severely battered.
According to him, the appointment of the team by President Bola Tinubu was part of efforts to rescue the country’s economy from its challenges.
Gumel noted that, like Nigerians, the ECOWAS sub-region and the African Union are waiting to see the country’s economy back on track.
2. FG Reveals Tinubu’s Plan To Avert NLC, TUC Nationwide Strike
The Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Simon Lalong, has revealed that plans are underway to avert the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) nationwide indefinite strike action.
Naija News reported that the organised Labour Unions reached a decision to go on strike on October 3 on Tuesday after the failure of the Federal Government to implement policies to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
The organised labour unions had made demands from the Federal Government following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit.
Among other things, the NLC and the TUC are asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.
Reacting to the NLC and TUC’s announcement, the spokesperson for the Labour Ministry, Olajide Oshundun, on Wednesday, said FG would meet with the union to avert the strike, stressing that the country’s economy is too fragile for a nationwide shutdown.
Oshundun said President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement during the October 1 Independence Day broadcast is expected to unveil a palliative package for workers.
He added that the Labour Ministry is also working on meeting the NLC and TUC demand, which focuses on wage awards.
3. Iseyin: Obasanjo Attempted To Ridicule Those In The Rank Of Gods – Afenifere Demands Public Apology
The Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere has knocked former President Olusegun Obasanjo for what it termed a ridicule of the Yoruba traditional institution as a recent public event in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The group while referring to the incident on September 15, 2023, in which Obasanjo ordered some traditional rulers to stand up and then sit down during a road commissioning in Oyo State hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde said the former Nigerian leader subjected those next in rank to the gods (igbakeji orisa) to ridicule.
According to them, Obasanjo’s act as if a commander was giving orders to his troops is nothing but an attempt to ridicule the obaship traditional institution in Yorubaland.
They therefore demanded nothing short of a public apology from Obasanjo for what transpired between him and the traditional rulers in Oyo State.
Naija News reports Afenifere made their stand known in a communique issued at the end of the group’s meeting which was held at Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s home in Akure, the Ondo state capital on Wednesday, September 27.
4. DSS Appoints Afunanya As Director Of Newly Established Directorate Of Public Relations And Strategic Communications
The Department of State Services (DSS), as part of efforts in sustaining its engagement with citizens and the public at large as well as deepening democratic governance, transparency and accountability, has established a new Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications (DPRSC).
The Agency also appointed Peter Afunanya, the erstwhile Public Relations Officer, to head the Directorate as the supervising Director and also be in charge of the Service’s public communications.
The appointment took effect from 26th September, 2023.
The DSS has commended its Director General, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi for the initiative to undertake the expansion and particularly appointing Afunanya to pilot the Directorate.
5. Kwankwaso Is A Professional Presidential Election Contestant And Would Remain A Professional Failure – Ganduje
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje has described his predecessor in office as the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso as a serial loser.
Ganduje submitted that Kwankwaso has become a professional presidential election contestant in Nigeria but will remain a serial loser.
Speaking in Abuja at the party’s national secretariat while hosting the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Haliru Dauda Jika, who formally defected to the APC, Ganduje said Kwankwaso is a selfish individual who specializes in deceiving people and is always first to jump boat when he doesn’t get what he wants.
The APC Chairman said Jika made the right choice to dump the NNPP and return to the APC.
6. Insecurity: INEC Express Worry Over Forthcoming Guber Elections In Imo, Kogi States
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed apprehension over the likely effect of insecurity on the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Imo States.
INEC on Wednesday through one of its National Commissioners, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna expressed worries about the impact the security situation in the states may have on the conduct of elections.
He raised the concerns during a media executives meeting for the 2023 Governorship election in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Wednesday.
To that end, the electoral umpire appealed to all stakeholders to shun violence and embrace peace before, during and after the elections scheduled for November 11, 2023, so voters can carry out their civic duties of electing new leaders.
7. Tribunal Dismisses Nnamani’s Petition Against Chukwu’s Election, Fines Him N500,000
The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu, on Wednesday, upheld the election of Senator Kelvin Chukwu of the Labour Party in a suit filed by the former Governor of the state, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.
Naija News reports that Chukwu represents Enugu East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, which Nnamani had represented in the Senate for two tenures.
Recall that Senator Chukwu emerged as the senatorial candidate of LP after the killing of his elder brother, late Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, who was then the candidate of the party.
Nnamani, who had contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had alleged irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Law against Chukwu.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Chukwu the winner with over 69,000 votes as against Nnamani’s 49,000 votes.
Delivering its ruling on Wednesday, the tribunal upheld Senator Chukwu’s victory and also awarded a cost of N500,000 against Nnamani and the PDP in favour of the three respondents, Kelvin Chukwu, Labour Party and INEC.
8. NAF Bombs IPOB/ESN Hideouts In Imo, Anambra States
Some camps used as hideouts by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) in Imo and Anambra States have been destroyed by airstrikes from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The airstrikes which were executed by the Air Component of Operation UDO KA II destroyed the IPOB/ESN hideouts in Mother Valley Orsumughu in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State and Aku Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, on Tuesday, September 26.
This was confirmed in a statement on Wednesday by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet.
According to him, the airstrikes were carried out based on credible intelligence made available to the military. He disclosed that the IPOB/ESN terrorists were planning to carry out attacks in the southeast region but their plans have now been disrupted.
9. MC Oluomo Breaks Silence On NURTW Crisis, Warns NLC Against Interference
The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State Council, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has warned the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) against interfering in the union’s activities.
Recall that the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, had called for the release of the NURTW National President, Tajudeen Baruwa, and some of his executive members arrested by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Following the call in a recent meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the federal government facilitated the release of the executives of the union.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, Akinsanya asked the NLC leadership to allow the union to organise itself without undue interference and bias.
MC Olumo also blamed Baruwa for the crisis in the union, saying that his actions without recourse to the union’s constitution were responsible for the crisis.
He accused the Baruwa faction of trying to create fracas in the Lagos state chapter of the union by appointing another state chairman to handle the tricycle operators (Keke Marwa) in the state.
10. I Didn’t Falsify My Age Before Appointment, Receive Bribes – AGF
The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, has denied the allegations that she falsified her age prior to her appointment to head the Treasury House.
Madein also refuted the claims that she received cash inducement in posting accountants to various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Naija News reported that some aggrieved directors in the Office of the AGF, in a petition to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, accused Madein of falsifying her age.
Also, the aggrieved directors petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan; and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The directors also accused the AGF of bribing her way to become the head of the Treasury House despite not passing the special professional examination conducted for shortlisted directors.
They alleged that Madein didn’t qualify as the best candidate for the office, having emerged second behind one Olakunle Oladipupo, now posted as Director of Finance in the Ministry of Works.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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