06/09/2023
HEADLINES FOR TODAY, 06-09-2023
DAILY TRUST
Our Democracy Not Working, Says Fayemi
Former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, says democracy in the country is not working despite the end of the military administration in 1999.
This is as Fayemi said the protest that trailed the fuel subsidy removal during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 was due to political interests.
He spoke Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a national dialogue organised to celebrate the 60th birthday of Prof Udenta Udenta, founding national secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD).
DSS Arrests Officials Diverting FG’s Palliatives
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, nabbed some officials of State Emergency Management Agency diverting palliatives meant for the citizens to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
Some of the suspects arrested at a popular market in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital where the items were being resold included officials of Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) and their accomplices.
Spokesman of the secret police, Peter Afunanya, who disclosed the development to journalists in Abuja, explained that some of the diverted items were recovered from the suspects
Banks, Hospitals, Courts, Govt Offices Shut As NLC Strike Kicks Off
Activities across different sectors have been grounded as a result of the ongoing strike of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The NLC had last Friday declared two-day warning strike over current hardship caused by the removal of petrol subsidy.
Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, had called for a meeting to resolve issues raised by the union, but while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) attended the meeting, NLC shunned it and directed affiliate unions, including the National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, among others stakeholders in the aviation sector to join the strike.
I Suspended Nigeria Air, Airport Concession Because Of Red Flags Within – Keyamo
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has said he suspended further actions on Nigeria Air and airport concession because of complaints from not members of the public alone but agencies of government.
Keyamo had last week announced the suspension of the two projects which were parts of the aviation roadmap of the last administration.
Speaking when he inspected the ongoing second runway project of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, Keyamo stated that the two projects would remain suspended until the government takes a final decision on them.
THE NATION
I will break all barriers for investors, Tinubu assures
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday said all barriers to investment would be dismantled by his administration to rekindle confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
He emphasised that the country will soon become destination of choice for investors because of measures being put in place to protect domestic and foreign investment.
President Tinubu gave the assurance in New Delhi, India, during his meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hinduja Group of Companies, Mr. Prakash Hinduja.
Beneficiaries of subsidy ready to frustrate government, says Shettima
Those who lost out as a result of the removal of subsidy are determined to frustrate government policies and programmes, Vice President Kashim Shettima has said.
Speaking yesterday at the 16th Annual Banking and Finance Conference organised in Abuja by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Shettima restated the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s commitment to its decisions, policies and programmes.
According to him, the removal of subsidy is irrevocable.
Court stops expulsion of Kwankwaso from NNPP
AHigh Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba, has restrained members of the group loyal to the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) from acting as officials of the party or suspending or expelling its presidential candidate in this year’s general election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The injunction followed a suit filed by the party against its BoT Chairman, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam; its former National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Agbo Major; and 16 others, said to have been filed on August 30, 2023 and deposed to by Hashimu Suleiman.
The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the “purported suspension (of Kwankwaso) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
We failed to integrate into a nation, says Jonathan
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said Nigeria failed to integrate into a nation since amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorate in 1914.
He spoke in Abuja at a dialogue to mark the 60th birthday of National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD), and Fellow of Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Prof Udenta Udenta.
Jonathan noted there was no commitment to integrate Nigeria into an entity with common philosophy.
LEADERSHIP
Labour Strike Suffers Partial Compliance Over Cracks In Union
A major division between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has led to partial compliance in the two-day warning strike declared by Nigerian workers over the delay in the implementation of the palliatives announced by the federal government to cushion the effects of its removal of fuel subsidy.
Across the states of the federation the TUC and NLC took opposing positions on the strike, which is slated to continue today.
The TUC said it opposed the strike because it would not yield the desired results.
Tinubu Has Shown Purposeful Leadership In 100 Days – Federal Govt
Federal government has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ushered in an era of purposeful leadership and progress for Nigeria in a report on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s first 100 days in office.
LEADERSHIP reports that exactly 100 days ago, President Tinubu assumed office, embracing the responsibility bestowed upon him by the people of Nigeria through their votes, emerging the 16th President of Nigeria.
The minister of information and national orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, who stated this in a statement yesterday in Abuja said during this period, he has tirelessly worked to fulfill the promises outlined in his Renewed Hope Agenda.
Concerns Over Renewed Attacks On Customs Operatives
In a bid to ensure security of the nation’s large and porous land borders, gunmen suspected to be smugglers have been unleashing attacks on officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) killing and maiming them in the most brutal manners
The officers on national and legitimate assignment are gunned down in their prime by marauding smugglers. Firstly, it was in Kebbi state where two officers, Inspector of Customs Alhaji Kabiru Shehu and Customs Assistant Abdullahi Muhammad, of Kebbi Area Command of the Service, met their untimely death while on patrol operations along Bunza-Dakingari-Koko Roads in Kebbi State.
In same week another patrol van was attacked in Katsina state, though, no death was recorded but a Customs officer was matcheted and severely wounded.
2023 Polls: 5 Judges Decide Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Fate Today
The Presidential Election Petitions Court will today deliver judgements on the petitions brought before it by Nigeria’s main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party (LP) and its standard bearer, Peter Obi, as well as the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tinubu was declared the winner of the February 25 presidential poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while Atiku Abubakar of the PDP came second in the election, with Obi of the LP coming third.
