Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top Newspaper Headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 8th December, 2024.
1. FG Releases Final List Of Successful Candidates For Recruitment Into Fire Service
The federal government has announced the release of the final list of successful candidates for recruitment into the Federal Fire Service (FFS).
The Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board CDCFIB, Ja’afaru Ahmed, in a statement on Saturday, said the successful applicants will be able to check their status as from Monday, 9th December, 2024.
He urged successful candidates to print their invitation letters once they are able to confirm their status from the board’s recruitment portal.
“The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board wishes to notify candidates who applied for recruitment into the Federal Fire Service (FFS) to visit the Board’s portal at cdcfib.career from Monday 9th December, 2024, to check if they were successful in the final stage of the recruitment exercise and proceed to print their invitation letter,” he stated.
Ahmed added that the final documentation exercise will hold at the Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau Conference Centre located within the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Abuja from 9th to 21st December.
He urged successful candidates to turn up for the final screening on the dates indicated on their invitation letters with originals and photocopies of their credentials.
2. ‘PDP In Coma, Not Dead’ – Ologbondiyan
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has claimed that the party is in a coma.
Ologbondiyan, however, in an interview with Vanguard, claimed that the PDP is not dead despite the leadership crisis rocking the party.
When asked if the party was dead, the PDP chieftain said, “No. The problem as we speak today is that the party has gone comatose but it’s not dead. So, the issue of a requiem mass like some commentators are suggesting does not arise.
“I must, however, state that the party has been allowed to wax cold and rendered ineffective in the performance of its function as the leading opposition party expected to put this trial-by-error administration on its toes.
“Those in the current leadership of our party are going to tell you that oh, they have conducted Congresses conviently skipping the fact that the outcome of a majority of these congresses are currently subject of litigations in various courts.
“They will also tell you that o, they’re selling forms for zonal congresses but these are all games in which many party members are no longer interested because they’ve seen the direction these people are taking the party to.
“So, if any one says our party is dead, I’ll tell such a person that our party is not dead but it needs to be re-calibrated. It needs to be revived from its current state of coma.”
3. PDP Expels House Of Reps Member, Ikenga Ugochinyere
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the lawmaker representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State and spokesperson of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).
The expulsion, effective immediately, was based on charges of gross indiscipline, insubordination, and anti-party activities.
The Ideato Local Government Area (LGA) chapter of the PDP conveyed the decision in a letter dated December 5, 2024. The letter, signed by LGA Chairman Hon. ThankGod Okeke and Secretary Onyebuchi Umeh, was addressed to the party’s State Chairman.
This development follows the recommendations of a disciplinary committee report dated November 27, 2024. The committee investigated the allegations against Ugochinyere in accordance with Section 57 (1-4) of the PDP Constitution (2017, as amended).
The disciplinary process began after Ugochinyere’s suspension by the Umuopia/Umukegwu ward on October 14, 2024. The suspension was triggered by his failure to appear before the ward’s Executive Committee on October 5, 2024, despite multiple invitations and reminders.
4. Northern Senators Divided Over Controversial Tax Reform Bills
The controversial tax reform bills before the National Assembly have caused a rift among northern senators, with some lawmakers now endorsing the legislation despite initial widespread opposition.
The bills, which include the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024, and Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024, aim to introduce significant tax reforms and were forwarded to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu on October 3.
The bills were met with strong resistance from northern lawmakers and governors, who described them as anti-democratic and likely to harm the region’s economy.
The National Economic Council, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, called for the withdrawal of the bills to allow for further consultations.
Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, criticized the bills, stating in an interview that they would “crumble the north’s economy.”
Similarly, Senator Shehu Buba (APC, Bauchi South) and Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) called for the withdrawal of the bills, citing discussions with northern governors and leaders.
Amid the controversy, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau instructed the Senate Committee on Finance to halt activities related to the bills and engage with the Attorney General of the Federation.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio countered the directive, stating during Thursday’s plenary that the bills had not been withdrawn and public hearings had not been postponed.
5. President Tinubu Approves ₦250 Billion AfCFTA Readiness Fund
President Bola Tinubu, in a show of commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), has approved ₦250 billion readiness fund.
The Nigerian AfCFTA Coordination Office stated this on Friday in Abuja, at an event organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, in partnership with the Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (WCCIMA).
Senior Trade Expert, Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Olusegun Olutayo, said the office was working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industries (BoI) to fashion out how the Readiness Fund could be accessed.
The Trade Law Expert said the AfCFTA Readiness Fund is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s participation in the AfCFTA, aimed at improving the country’s ease of doing business, diversifying exports, aligning the AfCFTA agreement with Nigeria’s national economic growth plan, and catalyzing economic diversification and industrial expansion.
6. Okpebholo Appoints Edo Board Of Internal Revenue Executive Chairman
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has approved the nomination of Hon. (Barr.) Oladele Bankole-Balogun for appointment as Executive Chairman, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue.
Naturenex reports that this was made known in a statement on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor.
Hon. (Barr.) Oladele Bankole-Balogun born in 1961 into the illustrious family of the Late Chief Bankole Balogun of Igarra Akoko-Edo, Edo state obtained his education in University of Ibadan (BSc Hons Political Science 1984); University of London (LLB Hons Law); College of Law, Store Street, London (Postgraduate Diploma Law).
He is a Member, Law Society of England and Wales, Nigeria Bar Association; International Bar Association and Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).
Professionally, Hon. Bankole-Balogun has worked in different spheres of human endeavours. At various times, he worked at Cadbury Nigeria Plc (1985-1989); Pfizer UK Sandwich Kent (1989-1994); Alphabet Group UK; Chairman Alphabet House Ltd; Director/Board Member, Allen Angus Resources Ltd; Chairman, Barking and Havering Hospital trust Appointments Board; Principal Partner, Oladele Bankole-Balogun & Co.; Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (2012-2015) representing Edo State.
7. Niger Governor Bago’s Entourage Allegedly Strays Into Terrorists’ Enclave
Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago and his entourage narrowly avoided tragedy last Sunday when they allegedly strayed into a terrorists’ enclave in the Igade (Mashegu LGA) and Bangi (Mariga LGA) axis.
The incident occurred during the governor’s ongoing tour of local communities in the Niger North Senatorial District, where he has been inspecting development projects and engaging with residents.
Governor Bago inspected a five-kilometre road in Igade and announced plans to extend the project to Mariga Local Government Area. Addressing locals in Igade, he pledged to rehabilitate health centres in the area to improve access to essential healthcare services.
However, sources close to the governor’s entourage revealed that while returning to Kotangora, the team inadvertently drove into a terrorist-controlled enclave.
The group reportedly realized the danger and quickly adjusted their route, narrowly avoiding a confrontation.
“They missed their road and found themselves around the Bangi and Igade axis controlled by bandits,” one of the sources, whose identity has been concealed for security reasons, told our reporter.
Another source with a close tie with the government said the security operatives in the convoy “observed that the area was not safe, and they immediately advised the convoy to back off.
“It was when they were trying to turn and take another route that the bandits fired at them,” the source said, adding that security operatives overpowered the terrorists.
8. PDP NWC Takes Stand On Ugochinyere’s ‘Expulsion’ From Party
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has nullified the expulsion of Ikenga Ugochinyere, the House of Representatives member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, describing the action as inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
In a statement on Saturday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, declared that the expulsion, allegedly carried out by the Umuopia/Umukegwu ward chapter of the party, contravened Sections 57(7) and 59(3) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
Ugochinyere, who also serves as the spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), was expelled on Friday, according to a statement by Imo PDP Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiak.
The expulsion was reportedly executed by the Ideato LGA chapter, citing alleged gross indiscipline, insubordination, and anti-party activities.
A letter dated December 5, 2024, signed by Ideato LGA Chairman ThankGod Okeke and Secretary Onyebuchi Umeh, outlined the charges against Ugochinyere and claimed that the decision followed recommendations from the party’s disciplinary committee.
However, Ologunagba countered these claims, emphasizing that disciplinary actions against a member of Ugochinyere’s status must align with the party’s constitutional provisions, which he said were not adhered to in this case.
9. IPOB Denounces Finland’s ‘Second Declaration Of Biafra,’ Labels It A Sham
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from the recent “second declaration of Biafra” in Finland, dismissing the event as a gathering of content creators aimed at discrediting the genuine struggle for an independent Biafran state.
In a statement released on Thursday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group described the event, organized by the so-called Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), as a joke and a shameless act.
Emma Powerful also criticized statements from purported groups such as Igala factions and PANDEF (Pan Niger Delta Forum) disassociating themselves from Biafra.
He described these declarations as laughable and a distraction from the core agitation of IPOB.
10. Don’t Travel At Night, Don’t Enter Buses By Roadside – NYSC DG Warns Corps Members
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed, has warned corps members against travelling at night and boarding vehicles by roadsides.
General Ahmed advised corps members to serve as positive agents of development that would give succour to their host communities.
The DG, Ahmed, stated this on Friday in his address to Corps Members at Anambra State Orientation Camp, Mbaukwu and Ebonyi State Orientation Camp in Afikpo.
He urged them to study the needs of their host communities, seek for support from the residents and initiate laudable projects that would improve the standards of living of their hosts.
The Director General also warned them against embarking on unauthorized and night journeys but added that they should obtain permission from the NYSC and their employers if it becomes mandatory for them to travel.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naturenex. See you again tomorrow.
