Good Morning, Welcome to Daily News24 Roundup of Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines for Wednesday, Dec. 15th
- Presidency spends N34bn on food, travels in six years
The Presidency’s budgetary allocations for food and travels hit N34bn in six years, according to data obtained from the appropriation bills of the Federal Government within the period under review.
A total of N5.16bn was spent on food and N28.94bn on travels. The allocations for food include foodstuff/catering materials supplies, refreshment and meals, and cooking gas/fuel cost, while the allocations for travels include local and international travels.
It covers the presidency and its agencies, which include the Bureau of Public Enterprises, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission & Its Centres.
2. NSA lists Islamic groups behind terrorism, seeks clerics’ support
The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), has identified at least three groups supporting the activities of terrorist organisations in Nigeria and the Sahel.
The groups are the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam Wal Muslimin, the Islamic and Muslim Support Group and Islamic State in Greater Sahara.
Monguno made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja at the 14th workshop of the league of Ulamas, preachers and Imams of Sahel countries.
3. Private sector fears job losses, firms’ closure over planned taxes, tariffs
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria, comprising the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, among others, has expressed its opposition to any attempts by the Federal Government and other tiers of government to introduce new taxes or levies.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Budget, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, had on Monday said the ministry “is closely studying” the possibility of introducing new taxes, tariffs and levies as part of measures to shore up government revenue.
But the OPSN said the introduction of new taxes or levies by the federal, state and local governments would lead to an upsurge in the country’s unemployment rate with its attendant socio-economic consequences as it could trigger job losses and companies’ closure.
4. N/Assembly Members, Others Prone To Assassination, Kidnapping – DSS
Amid rising security challenges, the Department of State Service (DSS) says recessing members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly as well as other public, private sector workers on vacation may be predisposed to threats of various degrees.
DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya, at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, said “these individuals are susceptible to kidnapping, hijack, assassination, armed robbery and political manipulations.”
Daily Trust reports that the DSS had for long been issuing advisory to VIPs in general but this is the first time the security outfit was specific.
Of recent, the legislators themselves have been speaking on top of their voices that they could not visit their hometowns and constituencies because insecurity had reached the rooftop
5. 2023: I won’t turn down your calls, Tinubu assures Nigerians
National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured his teeming supporters and other Nigerians across the country that he will not turn down their clamour for him to be the next President of the country.
Tinubu made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with members of the Northern Alliance Committee.
Asked if he will not heed the clamour of Nigerians to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju said; “I am not going to turn them (Nigerians) down, but I will still effective and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians.”
