Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 25th July 2024
1. Tinubu Has Taken All Steps To Make Nigeria Better – Speaker Abbas
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said President Bola Tinubu has taken all steps needed to make Nigeria a better country.
Honourable Tajudeen Abbas said this on Wednesday, on his X handle, while commending President Tinubu for assenting the North West Development Commission Bill into law.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Zaria Federal Constituency said the new North West Development Commission would help to address challenges facing the region, particularly unemployment.
Abbas added that by signing the NWDC bill into law, the President showed utmost patriotism. He noted that the commission would bring development closer to the people of North West.
2. FG Resumes Mass Trial Of 300 Terrorism Suspects
The Federal Government, on Wednesday, announced the resumption of mass trial for individuals accused of terrorism and other serious crimes against Nigeria.
Spokesperson for the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Abu Michael, stated that the trials are part of the government’s efforts to promote social justice through a transparent administrative process.
More than 300 suspects are currently on trial, with five reputable judges presiding over five courts and chambers dedicated to ensuring swift justice in terrorism and related cases.
The trials involve multiple stakeholders, including CCG prosecutors and defense attorneys from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON).
Previously, over 800 case files were reviewed, and charges were prepared to facilitate effective prosecution and ensure justice is served appropriately.
3. Details Of SGF, NSA, Ministers Meeting Over Planned Nationwide Protest Emerge
In response to the increasing economic hardship and mounting calls for a nationwide protest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians for more time, promising that the situation is being addressed with urgency.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed this message on Wednesday in Abuja after a Federal Executive Council meeting convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Idris described the planned protests as a “family matter” and reassured that the government is committed to resolving all issues in a manner that ensures peace and stability across the country.
The Minister acknowledged the legitimate concerns of citizens and stressed that the administration is focused on implementing solutions to mitigate the hardships.
He emphasized that dialogue and patience are essential during this period of economic transition.
4. Uzodimma Presents Pius Anyim To Tinubu
The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, who serves as the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, has officially introduced former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim to President Bola Tinubu.
This development follows Anyim’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Anyim, who also held the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under former President Goodluck Jonathan, made his switch to the APC last week.
Addressing the media after his meeting with Tinubu, Uzodimma expressed gratitude for the current administration’s support towards the South East region.
He highlighted the administration’s positive performance and its influence on political dynamics in the region.
Pius Anyim, speaking on his defection, emphasized his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s progress.
5. FG Slashes Stranded Foreign Scholars’ Allowances
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has slashed the allowances of foreign scholars who are currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, among others, by 12.7%.
Naija News reports that this comes after Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries on the Federal Government’s scholarship lamented their unpaid stipends for over eight months.
The students are studying under the Federal Government’s Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship for education exchange between Nigeria and the partnering countries.
The Federal Scholarship Board is supervising the scholarship under the Federal Ministry of Education.
In a memo signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Ministry of Education attributed the allowance slash to current economic crises.
According to the memo, the FG slashed monthly allowances from $500 to $220, the graduation allowance from $2500 to $2000, and the PG research allowance from $1,000 to $500, among others.
The total for the payments initially paid was $5,650 per student but will now be $4,370.
6. Protest: NLC Stands With Nigerians – Ajaero
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected purported reports that it has withdrawn from the planned nationwide protest against certain government policies and general hardship in the country.
The NLC, in a statement signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero, said only the organizers of the speculated national protest can decide to pull out or continue with the protest.
The statement added that the NLC has internal mechanisms that its industrial actions, such as protests pass through before such activities are undertaken.
Ajaero, in the statement, however, added that the fact that the NLC is not the body organizing the protest does not mean the labour union is oblivious to the harsh living conditions Nigerians have been subjected to due to the policies of the current administration.
He added that the NLC stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people in these trying times.
The NLC president further called on President Bola Tinubu and the various state governors to invite the leaders of the planned protest and dialogue with them on how to meet their demands.
Ajaero added that it would be counterproductive for the government to meet the protest with brute force.
7. NDLEA Arrest Wanted Drug Cartel Leader, Temo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has confirmed the arrest of a notorious drug dealer and kingpin, Sulaiman Jimoh, alias Olowoidiogede, popularly known as Temo.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement made available to Naija News on Wednesday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the NLDEA spokesperson, Temo has been evading arrest for several years, but was eventually arrested on Monday, 22nd July, 2024, by NDLEA operatives at his hideout in Mushin, Lagos State, after initial resistance from him and his hoodlum of supporters.
Babafemi said the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of the Lagos State Command, Special Monitoring Task Force and other formations tasked with the assignment of getting Temo arrested.
8. National Assembly Begins Seven-Week Recess
The National Assembly has commenced a seven-week recess and will reconvene on September 17th, 2024.
This was announced after plenary on Wednesday.
Naija News reports both chambers of the Assembly – Senate and House of Representatives, will be on break for seven weeks which is their yearly recess.
Before proceeding on recess, the National Assembly on Tuesday, passed the new minimum wage bill into law.
The bill passed through the first, second and third readings sequentially in plenary on Tuesday.
The bill, when active, would pave the way for the payment of the new minimum wage of ₦70,000 to Nigerian workers.
The newly passed bill also has a new provision for its review after 3 years, unlike the former provision with a 5-year review period.
9. Protest: ‘Monitor Your Children’ – APC Tells Nigerians, Summons Emergency Meeting
The All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on Nigerian parents and guardians to watch the movement of their children/wards so they won’t be used to cause chaos in the planned nationwide protest.
The call was made on Wednesday at the 153rd meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling APC, as made known by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
The ruling party also appealed to those planning the protest to shelve their plans, arguing that the policies of the government are targeted at resolving the challenges facing Nigeria but may not yield immediate results.
The statement added that while some of the demands of the protesters are political, others are constitutional, which may take some time to resolve.
Basiru also vowed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to the repositioning of the economy.
The party further called for an emergency meeting of Chairmen of the APC in all the 36 states of the federation for further discussions.
10. Local Govt Autonomy Is Tinubu’s Political Move For 2027 Election – Ahmed Buhari
The Vice Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 election, Ahmed Buhari, has voiced his opposition to the widely celebrated Supreme Court judgment that granted financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria.
Buhari believes that President Bola Tinubu is implementing this autonomy to secure political support at the grassroots level for the 2027 election.
Recently, Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to receive and withhold funds allocated to local government areas in their states. ‘
The court mandated that funds should be paid directly to local government councils by the federation.
Furthermore, the ruling stripped governors of the power to dissolve elected local government councils and replace them with caretaker committees.
Despite his support for local government autonomy, Buhari expressed scepticism about the motivations behind the judgment.
He argued that President Tinubu’s move aims to strengthen his political base at the grassroots level, potentially to counterbalance the influence of state governors who might contest against him in the future.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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