Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 13th December, 2024
1. Tinubu To Present 2025 Budget On Tuesday
President Bola Tinubu will present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Naturenex reports that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made this known on Thursday during the plenary on the floor of the Senate.
Akpabio stated that the budget presentation will take place at the House of Representatives Chamber.
He said, “The president has made his intention known to the National Assembly to present the 2025m budget to the joint session of the National Assembly on the 17th of December, 2024.”
Recall that Tinubu submitted the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025–2027 to the Senate and the House of Representatives last Tuesday.
Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Finance, National Planning, and Economic Affairs to consider the MTEF/FSP documents and report within one week.
2. INEC Proposes Computer-Generated Voting Slips As Alternative To PVCs For Future Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suggested that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) should no longer be the sole requirement for voting in future elections.
The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has prompted the commission to recommend that computer-generated voting slips be used for voter accreditation, especially for those without PVCs.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at a quarterly consultative meeting with Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECs), INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, explained that the commission had extensively reviewed the 2023 general election and subsequent off-cycle governorship and bye-elections.
This review has led to the development of 142 recommendations aimed at improving the electoral process.
Yakubu highlighted the importance of these recommendations, which cover areas such as voter management, election operations, public communication, security, and the legal framework.
Among the 142 recommendations, 86 require administrative action by INEC, while 48 involve collaboration with various stakeholders, including political parties, security agencies, and civil society organizations.
3. Stop Criticizing Tinubu – Matawalle Tells Northern Nigerians, Others
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has urged those criticising President Bola Tinubu and his administration to put a stop to their actions.
Matawalle, in a statement on Thursday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, observed that several of the criticisms against President Tinubu are coming from the North.
He, however, observed that Tinubu is working, and his economic policies are producing positive results across the country, hence the call for those criticising the President to desist and join hands with him in the task of nation-building.
The Minister said the turnaround would benefit all Nigerians in the long run.
4. State Police Debate Stalled By FCT’s Non-Submission At NEC Meeting
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, has once again delayed a conclusive resolution by failing to submit its recommendations on the formation of state police.
At Thursday’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, 36 states submitted their recommendations.
The majority of states endorsed the establishment of state police. However, the absence of input from the FCT prevented a definitive resolution.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who briefed journalists after the meeting, confirmed the widespread support among governors for state policing.
He added that a final decision would be reached at the next NEC meeting scheduled for January 2025.
5. NEC Approves Marginal Pay Increase For RMAFC Workers
The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has approved a 0.05% marginal increase in workers’ emoluments under the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
This decision was revealed by Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo while briefing State House correspondents on Thursday.
Governor Soludo disclosed that the Commission had initially requested a 0.75% increment, citing the enormity of its responsibilities in mobilizing and allocating funds to states for developmental projects. However, NEC approved a reduced figure of 0.05%.
He added that the RMAFC has been directed to draft a bill for the proposed review and present it to the National Assembly for legislative approval.
6. Let Heaven Fall, There Are Many Land Grabbers In Abuja – Wike Fires Back
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said his administration would not go back on addressing issues of land grabbing in the capital city.
Nyesom Wike said many land grabbers took government lands without going through the formal process in line with the law.
He stated this on Thursday while distributing vehicles to security agencies in Abuja to aid crime combating.
The FCT Minister reiterated that he would not back down irrespective of blackmail from some media and civil rights activists.
The former governor of Rivers State added that the allocation FCT gets every month from the federal government cannot be enough to pay the salaries of staff in the FCT.
7. E-gates: We Have Data Linked To Interpol, Other Security Agencies To Prevent Crime – Tunji-Ojo Reveals
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, says the installation of e-gates at five of the nation’s international airports has enhanced the nation’s security architecture.
Speaking specifically, Tunji-Ojo said ten wanted persons were arrested in a matter of days due to the improved technology.
The Minister said the gates are integrated to data and watchlist provided by the International Criminal Police Organisation and those of security agencies in Nigeria.
According to him, the e-gates meet international standards which allow criminal activities to be detected and prevented from happening.
He disclosed that the technology can detect fake passports with its advanced passenger information system, adding that the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) now profile passengers before they come into the country through the nation’s airports.
8. Kano State Governor Sacks SSG, Chief Of Staff, Five Commissioners
The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has sacked the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Bichi.
The Governor also sacked his Chief of Staff, Hon Shehu Wada Sagagi, and five Commissioners as part of a major cabinet reshuffle.
The announcement was made during a press briefing by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, on Thursday.
Dawakin-Tofa said the actions of the Governor are part of efforts to realign his administration for “optimum performance” and deliver “more dividends of democracy” to the people of Kano State.
As part of the reshuffle, some Commissioners in the state also had their portfolios reassigned.
9. Gov Lawal Condemns Use Of Explosives By Bandits, Vows Not To Give Up Despite Frustrations
The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal has stated that he remains committed in his fight against banditry in the state despite vested interests working tirelessly to frustrate his efforts.
He fumed that the recent tactical change by the terrorists, which involves planting explosive devices on soft targets is cowardly and kicks of a dying horse.
Lawal noted that the strategy is aimed at preventing military and security troops from reaching the bandits enclaves.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, disclosed this on Thursday while declaring open the Northwest Zonal Conference of State Directors of Security (SDSes) for the fourth quarter of 2024, hosted by the Zamfara Department of State Security Services (DSS) in Gusau.
10. Why We Cannot Stop Wike From Demolishing Structures In Abuja – Akpabio
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has stated the National Assembly cannot outrightly prevent the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from demolishing structures in the nation’s capital.
Naturenex reports that Wike has been under criticism over the widespread demolition of houses in Abuja after a construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, raised the alarm regarding a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
The General Manager of the Estate, Vincent Enoghase, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, claimed the FCDA had demanded N10 million, for a Right of Occupancy, which it had paid but was yet to get receipt before the issuance of the quit notice.
On Thursday, the Senator representing FCT, Ireti Kingibe, brought the matter before the plenary, arguing that the demolitions were causing untold hardship to victims.
She pleaded with the Senate to intervene and halt further demolition of structures, including estates already marked.
Seconding the motion, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, said the demolition exercise should be stopped pending the outcome of the Senate investigation into the matter.
However, Akpabio stated that all demolitions could not be stopped because the courts ordered some.
He directed the minister to continue with the demolition of structures ordered by the courts in order not to be guilty of disobeying court orders.
