Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 2nd October 2023.
1. FG Extends N25,000 Increment To All Workers
President Bola Tinubu-led government on Sunday evening announced that the N25,000 provisional wage increment announced for low-grade workers is now applicable to all levels of civil servants.
The announcement was made by the chief of staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.
This is coming after the organised labour, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have rejected President Bola Tinubu’s N25,000 Provisional wage increment for the average low-grade worker.
The organised labour during a meeting with government officials had called for a 100 per cent increment.
The President during his nationwide broadcast on Sunday had said the increment would be for lower civil servants.
2. October 1: Tinubu Reveals Plan For CBN After Appointing Emefiele’s Replacement
President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast speech to mark the country’s 63rd Independence Anniversary on Sunday revealed his plan for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The President days after appointing a replacement for the former Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele promised a thorough housecleaning of the den of malfeasance the CBN had become.
Naija News recalls that President Tinubu on the 15th of September, 2023 appointed Olayemi Michael Cardoso as Emefiele’s replacement.
According to Tinubu, the special investigator appointed to probe the activities of the apex bank while Emefiele was still in office will soon present his findings on past lapses and how to prevent similar reoccurrences.
He pledged that monetary policy would be of benefit to all Nigerians and not exclusive to the province of powerful and wealthy individuals.
3. Federal Government Removes VAT On Diesel For Six Months
The Federal Government, in an effort to cushion the effects of the recent removal of the fuel subsidy, has declared the removal of the value-added tax (VAT) on diesel for the coming six months.
This announcement was made public by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, after the conclusive discussions with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The National Bureau of Statistics had highlighted a worrying trend in diesel prices which, spurred by a 7.5% VAT and forex challenges, catapulted from N650 per litre to nearly N950.
In light of these developments, Bennett Korie, the President of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, had emphasized the severe impact of the VAT on diesel, which had propelled pump prices to staggering heights across the nation.
4. US Court Orders Chicago State University To Release Tinubu’s Academic Records To Atiku
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has ordered the Chicago State University (CSU) to release President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic record to former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, by Monday, October 2.
Recall that Atiku, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded presidential election, is challenging the declaration of Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25 poll.
Parts of Atiku’s petitions include the challenging the academic records of the APC presidential candidate. He argued that Tinubu did not graduate from Chicago State University as claimed in his academic records.
In a copy of the latest judgment by the US Court, Judge Nancy Maldonado, noted that CSU raised no objection to Judge Jeffery Gilbert’s decision that Tinubu’s academic record be made public.
The court explained that any intrusion on Tinubu’s privacy interests in his educational records is outweighed by Atiku’s interest in the sought-after discovery.
Maldonado overruled Tinubu’s objections to Gilbert’s recommended ruling and therefore adopted the ruling in full.
5. Your 63rd Independence Anniversary Speech Shows You Lack Ideas To Rule Nigeria – PDP Blasts Tinubu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the gross inefficiency of President Bola Tinubu has subjected Nigerians to unnecessary hardships.
This is as the opposition party also rubbished the 63rd independence anniversary speech by President Tinubu earlier on Sunday, saying it is bereft of ideas and clearly shows the President and his party lack the capacity to manage Nigeria.
The PDP in a statement on Sunday by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba said it is clear that Tinubu and those working with him “lack the competence, capacity, required skills and humaneness to effectively run the affairs of the nation.”
The statement added that Tinubu’s speech did not provide any form of comfort for Nigerians whom he has thrown into suffering with his policies.
According to Ologunagba, it is worrying that President Tinubu’s independence speech failed to provide any solution or workable plan on how to stop the continuous fall of the Naira against the Dollar, revamp the economy, and address insecurity and unemployment.
6. My Husband Is Not A Magician – Oluremi Tinubu
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, during the interdenominational church service marking Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary, asserted that her husband, President Bola Tinubu, is no magician but is committed to amending the issues the nation faces. The event, themed “Christ in you, the hope of glory”, was held in Abuja.
Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that the current administration did not create the problems it faces but has inherited them from years past. “All we inherited are things that had happened many years ago. We are not here to put blame on any administration but to fix what has been damaged.
“My husband is not a magician; he is going to work and I believe and hope that we will have peace in this country; the best is yet to come to us,” she remarked.
Highlighting the essence of good governance, she shared that it could truly be impactful if the populace embodied the virtues taught by Jesus Christ, citing love, joy, peace, long-suffering, and others. She voiced her optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying, “A Nigeria of abundance has begun, and to be part of the greatness that God has started in the nation, Nigerians must look beyond their current realities and embrace hope anew.”
Reiterating her husband’s commitment to the nation’s advancement, Mrs. Tinubu revealed that President Tinubu had been in talks with international communities and investors to recalibrate Nigeria’s position on the global stage.
7. Federal Government Speaks On N50 Billion Non-prosecution Plea Bargain With Emefiele
The Federal Government has on Sunday debunked claims of a N50 billion planned non-prosecution plea bargain with former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Naija News understands that there have been reports that Emefiele entered into a plea bargain with the government on condition of surrendering N50 billion to facilitate his early release from the custody of the Department of the State Services (DSS).
It was also alleged that the plea bargain would cancel the trial of the former CBN chief.
However, on Sunday, the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, said there is no iota of truth in the alleged plea bargain deal.
Fagbemi explained that neither his office nor the Presidency has had anything of such nature with Emefiele.
This was disclosed via a statement by the Director of Information in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Modupe Ogundoro.
8. BUA Crashes Cement Price
The manufacturers of BUA cement have announced a reduction of cement price from 6000 to N3,500 per bag.
Naija News reports that this comes barely two weeks after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement on Sunday, titled ‘Reduce in Prices of BUA Cement’, BUA Group disclosed the new price of its product will take effect from Monday, October 2, 2023.
The company added that the decision aims to spur development in the building and infrastructure sector.
9. ‘If You Like Cry As You Want’ – Wike Slams Workers Protesting MD’s Sack
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has reacted to the trending video of Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO) staff lamenting over the sack of the company’s Managing Director.
Wike said in his reaction to the development said neither sentiment nor emotion will stand in his way of doing the right thing.
Naija News recalls that the MD and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Najeeb Abdulsalam, was among the 21 heads of parastatals, agencies, and companies of the FCT Administration that were sacked by the minister on Wednesday.
He advised political appointees to always prepare to leave office at any time because someone might come and want to have a total change.
10. FG Considers Fresh $1.5 Billion Loan From World Bank
President Bola Tinubu-led government is seeking a fresh loan of $1.5 billion from the World Bank.
According to Sunday Punch, the loan is titled ‘Nigeria Human Capital for Opportunities and Empowerment’ based on information obtained from the website of the Washington-based institution.
The objective of the loan is “to strengthen systems for improved delivery of basic education and primary health services in participating states.”
The loan is meant to be implemented in 2024 pending approval by the board of the World Bank Group.
The platform revealed that there is another loan titled: ‘Nigeria Macro-Fiscal Reforms for Economic Stability and Economic Transformation’.
The amount of the other loan, however, was not revealed as of the time of filing this report.
There were also pending discussions on five other loan projects, according to findings.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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