Good Morning, Welcome to Daily News24 Roundup of Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines for Friday, Jan. 3rd, 2022.
- Budget: National Assembly faults Buhari, insists on 6,576 extra projects
Members of the National Assembly have insisted on the amendments made to the 2022 Appropriation Bill, including the reduction of allocation to 10,733 projects and insertion of 6,576 new ones.
The lawmakers stated that by the power of appropriation conferred on the National Assembly by the constitution, the parliament has the right to tinker with the Federal Government’s budget like any other bill.
According to the members, who spoke to our correspondents, in separate interviews on Sunday, the changes made and the response by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), showed that the legislature was not a rubber stamp of the Executive, as being alleged by Nigerians.
2. JOHESU, NARD knock lawmakers over bill on strikes
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors and the Joint Health Sector Union, on Sunday, knocked members of the House of Representatives over plans to outlaw strikes in the health sector.
The bodies described a proposed bill to that effect as draconian and an assault on the democratic rights of employees.
The PUNCH reports that medical doctors and other health workers usually embark on industrial actions, which have crippled the health system in the country.
3. Food crisis to worsen as bandits kill, kidnap 352 farmers in 12 months
At least 352 farmers have been killed and kidnapped in 12 months amid the rising insecurity in Nigeria, a tally by The PUNCH has shown. The 352 comprised 216 killed farmers and 136 kidnapped farmers.
The figures were obtained from the Nigeria Security Tracker, a project of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Africa, as well as media reports.
The Council on Foreign Relations is a United States non-profit think tank specialising in US foreign policy and international affairs. It is headquartered in New York City, with an additional office in Massachusetts
4. Presidency: All Aso Rock Visitors Will Undergo COVID Test
Visitors to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, are now required to take a rapid COVID-19 test before they are permitted to enter the seat of power, popularly known as Aso Rock, either to visit the President or any other official.
The new regulation, according to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, will require every visitor to compulsorily take the test free of charge at the entrance gates of the Villa
He, however, said that some exceptions had been made for a few leaders coming from outside, though such persons are still encouraged to still take the test for safety reasons.
5. Gombe Gov Swears-In Acting Chief Judge, 4 Special Advisers
The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Sunday sworn-in Justice Joseph Awak as the Acting Chief Judge of the state.
 The appointment of Awak followed the retirement of Justice Mu’azu Abdulkadir Pindiga who reached the 65 years statutory retirement age and has served as acting chief judge since December 2019.
 Governor Yahaya said Justice Awak was appointed being the most senior judge in the state, adding that he was found worthy for the position because of his dedication, experience, principles and forthrightness.
6. Expect More Positives From Govt In New Year — Masari
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has urged Nigerians to expect better things to come their way in 2022.
The governor said the New Year was pregnant with endless positive possibilities.
Governor Masari gave the hope in a statement signed by his DG Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi.
7. Buhari: states fighting lost battle on $418m Paris Club cash
If the position of President Muhammadu Buhari is anything to go by, the suit filed by state governments seeking to stop deductions from their monthly allocations to fund debts associated with Paris Club refunds is an exercise in futility.
The states, the President said, are fighting a lost battle because they brought the trouble on themselves by failing to pay the consultants they engaged, thereby forcing the consultants to obtain court judgments against them and the Federal Government.
8. 2023: Tinubu, Osinbajo camps scheme for APC ticket
Irrespective of the roadblock against the compulsory direct primary option in the selection of political party candidates for the 2023 general elections, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will contest the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primary, multiple sources within and outside his camp have disclosed.
However, his efforts will sooner than later face the brusque response of his traducers within the party setting the stage for what sources say will be an eventful political year in the ruling APC. One of the remarkable unfolding developments, it was gathered, will be the increasing relegation of the President Muhammadu Buhari factor by party chieftains as he turns into a lame duck in period preceding his exit from office.
9. Ighalo opens 2022 with match-winner in 7-goal thriller
Odion Ighalo could again be the striker to stop at the AFCON when he grabbed the winning goal for Al Shabab to beat Al Ahli 4-3 in a thrilling Saudi Arabian league clash on New Year day.
Ighalo, who was the top scorer at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, stayed top of the Saudi topflight goals chart with 11 goals.
10. Asiwaju Tinubu condoles Makinde, Ibadan indigenes over Olubadan’s transition
All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Sunday expressed sadness over the death of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Adetunji Saliu, Aje Ogungunniso I, saying coming shortly after the death of another top-ranking traditional ruler in Yorubaland and precisely in Oyo State, it’s a big loss for the state and Yoruba race.
He described the late Oba Adetunji whom he said he had a personal relationship with as “humble, humane, mature, calm and decent, always a symbol of unruffled dignity.”
