Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 27th September 2023.
1. Tinubu Govt Speaks On Negotiating With Bandits In Zamfara
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has asked the Zamfara State Government to stop peddling rumours that the federal government is negotiating with the bandits.
Naija News reports that the Acting Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Defence, Attari Hope, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.
On Monday, Lawal had claimed that some agencies of the Bola Tinubu-led government had entered a secret dialogue with the bandits after he ruled out the option of negotiating with criminals.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the governor said some government agencies engaged in negotiations with bandits without the knowledge of the state government and other security agencies.
Lawal, therefore, called for an urgent and comprehensive investigation by the Tinubu government into the secretive negotiations held with bandits in the state by the agencies.
However, Badaru said contrary to the claim, the federal government is working assiduously to ensure that the students of the Federal University Gusau and other abductees return home safely.
The minister said that the allegation is false and misleading as the Ministry has not mandated anybody or any group to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.
2. Tinubu Approves Purchase Of 12 Attack Helicopters For Nigerian Army Aviation
President Bola Tinubu has approved payment for the procurement of 12 attack helicopters for the Nigerian Army.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja disclosed this at the opening of the maiden Nigerian Army Aviation Seminar, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, the 12 MD 530F Cayuse attack helicopters would operationalize the Nigerian army aviation unit, which was set up to improve ground troops’ agility, responsiveness, and efficacy during operations.
The COAS added that it would also contribute to the overall operational success of joint and coalition troops.
Lagbaja explained that the army aviation was generally separate from a nation’s dedicated air force, but usually equipped with helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.
He appreciated the president for buying into the aspiration of the Nigerian army to have an equipped aviation unit, which would support ground troops as they focus on tactical and operational engagements.
3. We’ve Seen The Effect Of Hijack, It Won’t Happen Again – New CBN Governor, Cardoso Makes Promise
The newly confirmed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Olayemi Cardoso has vowed that he and his team would not be hijacked by anyone, including politicians.
According to him, the effect of hijack and not doing right has been seen already and they do not intend for it to happen again.
The CBN Governor gave the assurance on Tuesday when he appeared alongside his deputies for screening by the Senate.
The deputy governors include Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello.
Answering a question from Senate President Godswill Akpabio during his screening on whether he would be influenced and hijacked by politicians when he assumed office, Cardoso promised that such won’t happen.
4. INEC Is The Headquarters Of Fraud In Nigeria – Adebayo
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has described the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the headquarters of fraud in the country.
He stated this on Tuesday during an interaction with a cross-section of Nigerians in an online interactive forum HaveYourSay247, moderated by Rudolf Okonkwo.
Adebayo recalled how he warned stakeholders about the insincerity of the electoral umpire months before the February 25 presidential election, stressing that INEC was just fooling everyone with its promise to transmit results electronically.
The legal practitioner questioned how anyone could trust INEC to conduct a credible election when one can’t go to them to register a political party or file reports or invite them to party conventions without inducing them with money.
5. NLC, TUC To Embark On Nationwide Strike From October 3
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have concluded to embark on a nationwide strike starting from October 3, 2023.
The decision was reached by the organised Labour Unions on Tuesday after the failure of the Federal Government to successfully 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.
The National President of NLC, Joe Ajaero during a virtual National Executive Council meeting which was held on Zoom, Tuesday told members of NEC that a meeting was held with the officials of the TUC to deliberate on ways forward.
Ajaero noted that it was resolved that the two centres work together to make their stance known to the government.
6. Tension As IPPIS Rejects Over 17,000 Civil Servants
Over 17,000 federal civil servants are at risk of not getting their salaries paid as their records have allegedly been deleted from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
It is understood that the affected workers are said to be guilty of failing to comply with a verification exercise spanning over five years which was carried out by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
However, some of the affected workers argued that they complied with the verification exercise but were still affected by the delisting on IPPIS.
Reacting to the apprehension created by the development, the National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Tommy Etim Okon urged affected persons to remain calm as measures have already been taken to address the situation.
Okon said there were some discrepancies noticed in the IPPIS verification process, as names of Personal Assistants (PAs), Special Advisers (SAs) and, in some cases, Ministers who had served in successive governments were found in the portal.
He also knocked some of the affected civil servants who failed to comply with the verification exercise while it lasted.
According to him, the office of the Head of Service has graciously given one week for the affected civil servants with genuine claims to rectify their records. He urged such persons who were erroneously omitted from the portal to forward their documents to the appropriate email for action.
Those who had initially done the online verification on the portal of the IPPIS are to submit a scanned copy of their document to the email that has been provided.
7. Chicago University: Those Who Presented WAEC Certificates Are Challenging Tinubu – Umahi Slams Atiku, Peter Obi
The Minister of Works, David Umahi has called on the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively as well as their supporters to leave President Bola Tinubu alone.
Umahi said there’s no need to dig into the academic past of Tinubu from the Chicago State University because the President has distinguished himself in all his appointments in public service.
The former Ebonyi State Governor who described President Tinubu as an ‘A student’ also took a jibe at Atiku and Obi who he said presented WAEC certificates.
He called on both presidential candidates and their supporters to leave Tinubu alone because he is the last hope for Nigeria.
Naija News reports Umahi gave the admonition on Tuesday while unveiling his policy direction for the Ministry, in Abuja.
8. PDP Crisis: ‘Wike Has Unleashed Dogs Of War And We Will Not Sit Back’ – Obaseki
The Director of Research and Documentation of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization, Don Pedro Obaseki, has declared that it is time to sanction the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Naija News reports that Obaseki, in a statement released on Tuesday, questioned the audacity of Wike in calling for the expulsion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the February 25th election, Atiku Abubakar.
Obaseki said the former governor of Rivers State has unleashed chaos, and PDP will not sit back and watch him ride on them and most Nigerians as he did in the past.
He also noted that Wike is not a PDP member, stressing he openly campaigned against the party during the last election.
The PDP chieftain also challenged Wike to publish his bank account when he assumed office as a governor and after his eight years tenure as the governor of Rivers State.
9. ‘Please Shealth Your Sword’ – Akpabio Begs Aggrieved Lawmakers As Senate Dissolves Into Closed Session
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged all aggrieved lawmakers to sheath their swords and cooperate with his leadership.
The embattled former Akwa Ibom State Governor said that the progress the country deserved at the moment could only be achieved in a state of unity.
Naija News reports that Akpabio stated this on Tuesday as the Senate resumed plenary after six weeks of recess and dissolved into a closed session to deliberate on issues affecting the nation.
Top of the agenda of the plenary session is the confirmation of the nomination of Olayemi Cardoso as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The red chamber also planned to screen and confirm, at the committee of the whole, the appointment of four new deputy governors, namely Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor, and Bala M. Bello.
Naija News reports that some aggrieved lawmakers are plotting to impeach Akpabio over his handling of the Senate Leadership selection and committee membership.
Akpabio has adopted two options to accommodate the divergent interests of his colleagues, who were palpably disenchanted by the July 27 exercise when the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the various committees were allotted to the lawmakers.
10. Nigerians Will Be Shocked When Tinubu Is Done With Appointment – Women Affairs Minister
The Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is passionate about moving Nigeria to a different position.
Naija News reports that Uju made this known during an interview with ARISE TV on Tuesday.
She said America will be child’s play, and Nigerians will be shocked when President Tinubu is done with appointing individuals to his cabinet.
Also, speaking on plans to ensure more women are appointed to the cabinet of President Tinubu, Uju stated the current administration is interested in moving Nigeria forward with women.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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