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Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 31st October, 2024
1. Tinubu Appoints Oluyede As Acting Chief Of Army Staff
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Oluyede will serve in the capacity of COAS until the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is currently unwell and undergoing treatment overseas.
President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this development in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
Prior to his recent appointment, Oluyede held the position of the 56th Commander of the prestigious Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, located in Jaji, Kaduna.
At the age of 56, Oluyede was a coursemate of Lagbaja, both having been part of the 39th Regular Course.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992, with an effective date of 1987, and achieved the rank of Major-General in September 2020.
2. Senate Confirms Seven Ministerial Nominees
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of all seven ministerial nominees of President Bola Tinubu, which was submitted to the upper chamber for accelerated consideration last week.
Naija News reports that the confirmation follows the screening of the nominees by the upper chamber on Wednesday.
Recall that President Tinubu had written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of appointments of seven ministerial nominees announced in Abuja on Wednesday.
President Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and read last week Thursday during plenary.
The nominees include Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi (Minister of Labour and Employment), Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu (Minister of State, Foreign Affairs), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade, and Development), Idi Muktar Maiha (Minister of Livestock Development), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister of State, Housing), and Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad (Minister of State, Education).
3. Serious Employers Of Labour Should Pay More Than ₦70,000 Minimum Wage – Oshiomhole
Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged employers of labour, including the private sector, state and federal governments, to pay workers above the approved minimum wage of ₦70,000.
According to the former Edo State Governor, the urge is due to Nigeria’s depreciating and current economic realities.
Oshiomhole argued that the concept of minimum wage is grossly misunderstood in Nigeria, noting that the whole idea of minimum wage is not to restrict worker salaries but to protect the lowest income earners.
Naija News reports Oshiomhole made the submission on Wednesday while speaking at the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture for Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 17 of the National Institute For Security Studies (NISS), an educative arm of the Department of State Services (DSS), in Abuja.
He commended state governments that have offered to pay more than ₦70,000 and urged the federal government to also pay more, especially for workers living in expensive cities such as Abuja.
The former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), explained that during the tenure of President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic, when the concept of minimum wage was introduced, it was ₦125 or about $160 at the time but today, with the national minimum wage set at ₦70,000 or about $42, things have not really improved for Nigerian workers.
4. Court Bars FG From Allocating Funds To Rivers State Over Assembly Leadership Dispute
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order barring the Federal Government from releasing further monthly allocations to Rivers State, following a lawsuit filed by the Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the court specifically instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to prevent the state from accessing funds in the consolidated revenue account.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/984/24, was initiated by the Amaewhule faction, which challenged Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s compliance with previous court orders.
Cited as defendants in the case are the CBN, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Governor Fubara, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and the Rivers State Chief Judge, among others.
The plaintiffs argued that Governor Fubara had failed to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to their faction, as previously directed by a Federal High Court ruling, which recognized Hon. Amaewhule as the legitimate Speaker of the Rivers State Assembly.
A separate faction of the Assembly, led by Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, had initially received the budget proposal, which the court invalidated.
The court’s decision follows an earlier judgment by Justice James Omotosho that recognized the Amaewhule-led faction and invalidated the 2024 budget presented to the rival Assembly faction.
5. House Of Representatives To Investigate Approved Construction Of Airstrip At Bishop Oyedepo’s Canaanland
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the decision of the federal government to approve the construction of an airstrip at Canaanland, the headquarters of Living Faith Church.
Following a motion on Wednesday by Sulaiman Abubakar Mahmud Gummi, the House resolved to investigate the approval given by the federal government to the church owned by Bishop David Oyedepo to construct an airstrip.
The lawmakers argued that allowing private entities to establish airstrips may facilitate the illegal importation of firearms and hard drugs into the country as well as money laundering issues, which could further alleviate the challenges of insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping facing the country.
The House also urged the Minister of Aviation to cease the issuance of airstrip licenses to private individuals while it also called for the withdrawal of any licenses that have already been granted to private entities and organizations.
Naija News recalls the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed the approval of a private airstrip for Canaanland, the headquarters of the Living Faith Church, located in Ota, Ogun State.
6. DHQ Speaks On Terrorists Taking Over Niger Training Camp
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed claims that terrorists have taken over its training camp in Niger State.
Naija News reports that the clarification comes after the Niger State House of Assembly on Tuesday raised concerns, alleging that bandits had occupied the military camp in Kontagora Local Government Area and parts of Mariga Local Government Area.
The lawmaker representing Kontagora II State Constituency, Abdullahi Isah, in a motion of urgent public importance, noted that following the purported presence of terrorists in the military training camp, over 23 farming communities near the camp have been forced to relocate due to frequent attacks by gunmen.
However, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement on Wednesday, said while bandit activity is present in these areas, no part of the training camp has been conceded to them.
Buba stated that military operations in the area have constrained the terrorists’ ability to operate, adding that the military is collaborating with the state government to restore peace in the region.
7. Senator Ndume Opposes Proposed VAT Hike, Urges FG To Spare The Poor
The lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Senator Ali Ndume, has voiced opposition to the proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT), arguing that the federal government should avoid placing additional tax burdens on poor Nigerians.
The National Assembly is reportedly considering a bill to raise VAT from the current 7.5 percent to 10 percent by 2025, with further plans to increase it to 12.5 percent between 2026 and 2029.
Appearing on Arise Television, Ndume expressed concern that the proposed tax hikes would disproportionately impact Nigeria’s struggling population.
Ndume highlighted the daily struggles of millions of Nigerians, many of whom, he noted, are barely able to make ends meet.
He advised the government to reconsider the VAT increases, warning that further tax hikes could exacerbate the financial strain on low-income households.
8. Alex Ikwechegh Pleads Not Guilty In Court For Assaulting Bolt Driver, Gets ₦500,000 Bail
Abia State federal lawmaker, Alex Ikwechegh, has been granted a ₦500,000 bail in the case involving the assault on a Bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya.
The lawmaker was granted bail by a magistrate court in Kuje, Abuja, following his arraignment by the Police.
Ikwechegh was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on assault and threat to life in charges filed by the office of the Inspector-General of Police.
The federal lawmaker, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Naija News recalls that an altercation had ensued between the lawmaker and the bolt driver, Stephen Abuwatseya, while delivering a package in the Maitama area of Abuja.
The disagreement led to the lawmaker assaulting the cab driver, threatening to make him disappear from Nigeria without any consequence.
9. Jubilation In Jos As Electricity Restored After 10-Day Blackout In Four States
Electricity has been restored in Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, and Benue states under the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) franchise, bringing relief to residents after a 10-day blackout.
Power was restored around 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, sparking celebrations in Jos, the capital of Plateau State.
For the past 10 days, several northern states had been plunged into darkness due to the tripping of the 330kV transmission line connecting Benue and Enugu states.
The outage disrupted daily life and hampered businesses, with residents voicing frustration over the extended power cut.
The restoration of electricity has been met with widespread relief as affected communities resume regular activities after days of difficulties.
10. Court Order Restricting Rivers Allocations Least Of My Problems — Governor Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has downplayed concerns over the recent Federal High Court order restricting the release of state allocations, stating it is “the least” of his worries.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service held by the state government on Wednesday, Fubara emphasized that his administration would continue to pay contractors and disburse workers’ salaries as scheduled, with payments set to commence tomorrow.
Governor Fubara reassured that allocations for the state’s 23 local council chairmen would also be processed, as all necessary Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) procedures have been completed.
The service, held at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, marked a year since the arson attack on the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, a crisis that Governor Fubara said his administration has overcome through resilience and commitment to governance.
Reflecting on his administration’s achievements, he stated that despite predictions his government wouldn’t last a week, he has successfully led for over a year, implementing various projects across the state and conducting local government elections.
Governor Fubara recounted a violent incident last year, which he described as an assassination attempt, involving an ambush by individuals in police uniforms.
He attributed this to political opponents following his withdrawal of legal cases against a faction led by Martin Amaewhule, after an intervention by President Bola Tinubu.
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