Good Morning, Welcome to Daily News24 Roundup of Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines for Tuesday, Dec. 28th.
- FG plans N12tn fresh borrowing, public debt to hit N50tn by 2023
The Federal Government hopes to push its public debt stock to N50.22tn by 2023, with domestic debt at N28.75tn and external debt at N21.47tn.
This is according to the projections in the National Development Plan 2021-2025.
The Debt Management Office had disclosed that Nigeria’s public debt was N38tn as of the end of the third quarter of 2021, with the total debt stock rising by N2.540tn in three months from July to September 2021.
2. Nigeria has only 40,017 functional hospitals, clinics, says ministry
Data obtained from the health facilities register of the Federal Ministry of Health has revealed that Nigeria only has 40,017 functional hospitals and clinics across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The health facilities are jointly owned by the government and private sector operators.
It was observed that Bayelsa, Borno and Ekiti states had the least number of functional hospitals and clinics in the country.
3. Firms’ failure to remit 1% profit to NYSC fund attracts jail term
The House of Representatives has proposed in the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill 2021, a fine of N2m or an imprisonment of one year for companies or owners, respectively, who fail to release one per cent of their profit to fund the scheme.
According to the bill which is awaiting second reading at the House, the Fund would be financed with a levy of one per cent of the net profit of companies and organised private sector operating in Nigeria.
It will also be financed with 0.2 per cent of total revenue accruing to the Federation Account; and any take-off grant and special intervention fund as may be provided by the federal, state and local governments.
4. Rsidents flee as bandits take over SGF’s hometown
Residents of Kwapre and Dabna villages in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State have fled their homes over persistent attacks by bandits.
Kwapre, Dabna, Lar, Zah and other adjoining villages are in Garaha Ward, where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and the slain Nigerian Army Brigadier General, Dzarma Zurkusu, hailed from.
According to a community leader in Garaha, Honorable Hyella, people fled Kwapre to escape being trapped.
5. UBTH Loses N100m Yearly To Patients’ Inability To Pay Bills
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Darlington Obaseki, has said the hospital loses an average of N100 million revenue yearly to patients who accessed its facility but were unable to settle their medical bills.
He said in 2020 alone, about 400 patients who accessed treatment at the hospital were unable to pay their bills.
Prof. Obaseki, who stated this in Benin during the award of prizes and recognition of deserving staff at the weekend, said his vision was to make UBTH a leading hospital in West Africa.
6. Federal Govt set to deploy fighter jets against bandits
The Federal Government is set for the deployment of 12 Super Tucano jets against bandits as part of concerted efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari to end terrorism before 2023.
As a prelude to the deployment, government has also started perfecting the conditions for the release of a gazette, which will legally classify bandits as terrorists.
Already, the government has secured a court order declaring bandits as terrorists.
7. I don’t hate Niger Delta, Obasanjo replies Clark
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he had never shown anger or distraught to the Niger Delta region or any part of the country.
Obasanjo said this and more in response to Chief Edwin Clark’s accusation that he(Obasanjo’s) disdain and insincerity for the people of Niger Delta have not in any way reduced.
Clark, the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress, INC, had written an open letter to Obasanjo.
8. Thugs disrupt Zamfara PDP congress
Thugs invaded the venue of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congress in Zamfara State and disrupted the proceedings.
The thugs, who looked fierce and dangerous, damaged canopies and plastic chairs, causing party members to run.
The congress, which started peacefully at the Samaru area of Gusau, ended up in commotion as the thugs chased party stalwarts and vehicles were vandalised.
9. N45bn bridging debt unsettles petroleum downstream
AS hiccup in the supply of premium motor spirit (petrol) continued into the Christmas week, petroleum product marketers have said the delay in the payment of about N45 billion bridging cost debt has affected their ability to remain to open
The debt has skyrocketed in the past two months following the scrapping of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund Board, whose responsibility to settle the transportation cost of petrol has been assumed by the newly created Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.
10. Food Security: Labour Seeks Increased Vigilance Over Insecurity
rganised labour under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called for increased vigilance, resilience, discipline, patriotic commitment and innovative solutions by the Federal Government and citizens to bring the reign of insecurity to a conclusive end.
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in statement of Christmas greetings from the Congress said insecurity was one major headache for Nigerians in 2021.
He said: “There are genuine concerns of a looming hunger epidermic in 2022 as many farmers were unable to plant and those who planted are required to pay ‘harvest’ security fees to non-state actors who have now carved out autonomous power bases in different parts of Nigeria.
