Nigerian Newspapers Summary
Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Daily News 24. Stay updated with the key headlines shaping Nigeria, including President Tinubu’s push for power restoration in the North, the North’s stance on VAT-sharing proposals, and impactful decisions in both governance and the judicial system.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Newspapers: Top 10 Stories to Start Your Monday Morning
1. Tinubu urges rapid power restoration for northern states: President Bola Tinubu directed Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu and other relevant agencies to hasten the restoration of electricity to northern states affected by outages. According to his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the president expressed concern over the prolonged power crisis and aims for a swift resolution.
2. Northern leaders reject VAT-sharing in tax reform bill: Northern political leaders and traditional rulers opposed President Tinubu’s proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing formula within the new Tax Reform Bill. However, they voiced support for the livestock reform program, praising the creation of the Livestock Development Ministry.
3. Saraki allowed to amend EFCC suits in Abuja court: A Federal High Court in Abuja granted former Senate President Bukola Saraki permission to amend his lawsuits against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Saraki’s counsel, Tunde Afe-Babalola, moved the motion unopposed, and Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the request.
4. Minister of Works terminates delayed road contracts: Works Minister David Umahi announced the termination of various road contracts delayed for over two decades. Although specific projects were not named, Umahi assured that due process was observed in discontinuing these long-overdue developments.
5. House Representative questioned over dispute with Bolt driver: Hon. Alexander Ikwegh, representing Aba North/South, is being interrogated by police in connection with an incident involving a Bolt driver in the Federal Capital Territory. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, confirmed the ongoing investigation.
6. Lagos court sentences five women for cannabis importation: Five women were each sentenced to two years in prison by a Lagos Federal High Court for illegally importing 6.96 kilograms of high-potency cannabis known as “Ghana loud.” Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued the sentences following their guilty pleas.
7. Imo State University student arrested for faking abduction: A 17-year-old student, Jesse Chidebere, was detained for staging her own kidnapping and death, causing alarm within her family and university community. The Imo State Police disclosed that the incident caused significant distress, leading to her arrest.
8. Tinubu satisfied with state compliance on new minimum wage: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, revealed that President Tinubu is pleased with states’ compliance with the N70,000 minimum wage. Akume commended states that have set their minimum wage above the federal benchmark.
9. Senate begins screening of Tinubu’s ministerial nominees: The Senate is set to screen new ministerial nominees submitted by President Tinubu for confirmation. Cleared by the DSS, nominees were seen filing their credentials to meet the deadline at the office of Senator Basheer Lado.
10. Naira gains in parallel market amid fluctuations: The Naira appreciated slightly in the parallel market to N1,730 per dollar, recovering from last weekend’s N1,740 rate. However, it depreciated to N1,670.65 per dollar within the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM), reflecting ongoing currency fluctuations.
