Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 31st October 2023.
1. Tinubu To Submit N2 Trillion As Supplementary Budget To National Assembly
President Bola Tinubu is set to present over N2 trillion naira as a supplementary budget to the National Assembly.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the submission of the supplementary budget at its weekly meeting held today at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recall that the federal government proposed N26 trillion as the 2024 budget to be submitted to the National Assembly before December 31, 2023.
The Minister of Planning and Budget, Atiku Bagudu, made the budget proposal known at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held last week Monday.
Bagudu said the council has approved the 2024-2025 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy papers (FSP).
He added that the executive is required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act to present to the national assembly ahead of a budget presentation, a document which will provide the medium-term economic outlook for the economy.
The minister said FEC made assumptions about the reference price for crude oil which is at $73.96 per barrel as well as an exchange rate of N700.
2. ‘All Is Not Well With Supreme Court’ – Atiku Reacts To Allegations Made By Justice Dattijo
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, said all is not well with the country’s highest court.
Addressing a World Press Conference in Abuja on Monday, Atiku said the recent comments made by the retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Musa Dattijo Muhammad, is a confirmation that something is wrong with the apex court.
The former Vice President said the apex court and the judiciary must never lend themselves to politicization as it is currently the norm with nearly every institution in the country.
Atiku said the allegations made by the retired Justice, who had meritoriously served for more than four decades, should not be swept under the carpet.
3. I Have Full Confidence In My Chief Of Staff – Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he has full confidence in the integrity of his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Tinubu stated this on Monday while presiding over the fourth Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of his administration at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The President admitted that his administration will make mistakes, noting that he is ready to take responsibility for the mistakes made.
President Tinubu, therefore, stated that all campaigns of calumny against the former Speaker of the House of Representatives must stop immediately.
4. Taiwo Oyedele Reveals How Tinubu Govt Plans To Make One Dollar Exchange For N650 To N750 Before End Of 2023
The chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, Taiwo Oyedele has revealed that the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu is working on achieving a fair price in the exchange of the dollar to the naira before the end of 2023.
According to him, the government hopes to see a “fair price” for the dollar at “N650 to N750” before the end of the current year.
Speaking with Bloomberg on Monday where he explained how the government intends to achieve this, Oyedele said the government intends to introduce new foreign exchange rules, including a crackdown on illicit currency trading.
According to him, the new rules and reforms are expected to result in the naira closing the gap with the unofficial rate and reaching a fair price.
Oyedele added that part of the rules and measures the government is planning is to clear a backlog of dollar demand estimated at about $6.7 billion, bolster the naira forward market, and set transparent rules for the operations of the official market.
In his view, the new measures would give a new lease of life to all legitimate foreign exchange transactions while stifling the illicit “black market” for foreign currency.
5. ‘6-year Single Term, 50% Of Votes, Rotational Presidency, Others’ – Atiku Makes Recommendations Ahead Of 2027 Elections
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar on Monday, made some recommendations which he said would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and political institutions.
Atiku made the submissions during a world press conference in Abuja in which he reacted to the Supreme Court verdict which affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu at the polls and threw out his own petitions.
He said the proposals and recommendations should “prevent any court or tribunal from hiding behind technicalities and legal sophistry to affirm electoral heists and undermine the will of the people.”
According to him, the recommendations are: electronic voting and electronic collation of results must be made mandatory, all litigation arising from a disputed election must be concluded before the inauguration of a winner, the requirement to declare a candidate winner of a presidential election must be moved to 50% +1 of the valid votes cast, a single six-year term for Presidents to be rotated among the six geo-political zones, INEC should be the one to verify the certificates of candidates and not opposition candidates, and amendment of the Electoral Act.
The PDP candidate emphasized the need to have free, fair and transparent elections.
6. “I Am Not Going Away” – Atiku Speaks On Contesting 2027 Presidency
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has declared that that he is not retiring from active and partisan politics yet.
He however hinted that the time has come for him to step aside from contesting elective posts and allow the younger ones to continue the struggle.
The former Vice President gave the hint while speaking on Monday during a press conference in which he reacted to the verdict of the Supreme Court which affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu, then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
The Supreme Court had on Thursday, October 26, dismissed the appeal filed by Atiku and the PDP for lack of merit and there are uncertainties about the PDP chieftain contesting the 2027 elections by which time he would be 81.
As part of his speech on Monday, Atiku said while the struggle will continue to deepen Nigeria’s democracy and political institutions, the struggle will now be led by the younger generation.
7. Rivers Assembly Forwards Notice Of Impeachment To Fubara
The Rivers State House of Assembly has forwarded a notice of impeachment proceeding against the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The House made the decision after an impeachment proceeding against the governor was held during an emergency sitting on Monday morning at the House auditorium.
Sylvanus Nwankwo from Omuma State Constituency presented the notice of impeachment against Governor Fubara, which was signed by 24 out of 34 members.
In the notice, the lawmakers accused the governor of acts of gross misconduct unbecoming of his office.
8. It Is Time For You To Go Away, Drop Ambition – Presidency To Atiku Abubakar
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has reacted to the world press conference held by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Naija News reports that Atiku had held a press conference at the PDP National Secretariat where he rejected the ruling of the Supreme Court that affirmed Tinubu’s victory and also accused the President of forging his academic certificate.
Reacting in a statement on Monday evening, the Special Adviser to the President on Strategy and Information, Bayo Onanuga, called on Atiku to finally go away and end his presidential ambition.
9. Boko Haram Terrorists May Wipe Nigeria Off – Gov Zulum
Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, has expressed concerns regarding the potential threat posed by the terrorist organization, Boko Haram, to the nation of Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with the reconstituted management board of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) at the council chambers of the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum emphasized the urgent need for necessary precautions to be taken in order to prevent the complete annihilation of Nigeria.
Zulum specifically highlighted the presence of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in various Local Government Areas of Borno State as a significant concern. He expressed his apprehension that these camps could potentially serve as breeding grounds for recruitment by Boko Haram and ISWAP, thereby exacerbating the threat posed by these terrorist groups.
The governor said it is imperative that immediate action be taken to address this pressing issue and ensure the safety and security of Nigeria, the governor stated, adding that failure to do so may result in dire consequences for the nation as a whole.
10. ‘The Battle Has Just Begun’ – PDP Chairman Speaks On Supreme Court Ruling
The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has reacted to the ruling of the Supreme Court on the 2023 presidential election.
Naija News recalls that the apex court, last Thursday affirmed President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25, 2023 election.
The Supreme Court in its ruling struck out the petitions filed by the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi.
Damagum while speaking on the court ruling on Monday, said the battle for the emancipation of the country has begun.
The PDP Chairman stated this while addressing stakeholders of the party at a world press conference organized for Atiku.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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