Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 3rd October, 2024
1. President Tinubu Departs Abuja For UK
President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja, the nation’s capital, for a two-week vacation in the United Kingdom, which is part of his annual leave.
Naturenex reports the President left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, along with Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and other top government officials, were at the airport to bid farewell to the president.
Recall the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier on Wednesday, announced that Tinubu will depart Abuja for the United Kingdom to begin a two-week vacation, part of his yearly leave.
Naturenex reports that he stated that Tinubu will use the two weeks as a working vacation and a retreat to reflect on his administration’s economic reforms.
According to Onanuga, the President will return to the country after the leave expires.
2. Reps Reject Tinubu’s National Honour Award To Speaker Tajudeen Abbas
The House of Representatives has rejected the National Honour conferred on Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
The lawmakers accused President Bola Tinubu of discriminating against the lower chamber of the National Assembly after conferring a higher honour to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Naturenex reported earlier that President Tinubu, while addressing the nation to mark Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary celebration, stated that the Senate President, Akpabio and Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun had been conferred with honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
Others mentioned for awards include the Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Abbas and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau were conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), respectively.
However, following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Philip Agbese on Wednesday, the House resolved the Reps are not inferior to Senators, and therefore, both leaders should be treated equally.
The motion, signed by 360 members of the House, called for the abolition of the “upper chamber and lower chamber nomenclature”, stating that both chambers are equal.
3. Hire Military Contractors To Flush Out Boko Haram – Ndume Tells Tinubu
Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to temporarily hire the services of military contractors to wipe out Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Naturenex reports that Ndume’s comment comes after Boko Haram terrorists launched a fresh attack in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno, where they slaughtered six farmers and abducted five others, including women.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ndume, who hailed the gallant performance of the military and Civilian JTF, said they are ill-equipped to carry out the task of eliminating the remaining insurgents operating within the northern region.
The lawmaker noted that the hired military contractors can also eliminate bandits in the North West.
4. Abbas Haruna Dismissed From Service After Court Martial – DHQ Reveals
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the dismissal of ex-Seaman Abbas Haruna of the Nigerian Navy.
The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, who confirmed the development during a press conference on Wednesday, said Haruna was dismissed after he was found guilty by a military court martial in accordance with the provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
He also dismissed reports of unlawful detention without trial for six years, as alleged by his wife, while featuring on Brekete Family, a programme on Human Rights Radio.
Gusau said the ex-Seaman, with service number N5759, last served under Exercise AYAM AKPATUMA, which was a joint operation under DHQ.
On the allegations against the dismissed seaman, Gusau disclosed that Haruna was found misbehaving during a parade at a coordinating conference of the Commanding Officer (CO), who was addressing troops preparing for the operation.
He noted that while the CO was addressing the troops, the ex-naval rating continually interrupted the address, which warranted the officer to direct him to report to the guard room.
Gusau said that the ex-seaman refused to obey the order which made the commander order his arrest, adding that Haruna resisted and expended 16 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition belonging to the Nigerian Navy to prevent other soldiers from taking him into custody.
The DHQ spokesperson said Haruna pleaded guilty during his trial before a court martial, adding that he was tried from Dec. 20, 2022, to Feb. 7, 2023.
Gusau said Abbas faced three charges bothering on disobedience to particular orders, resistance to arrest, and offenses relating to public service property and was dismissed for violating sections of the Armed Forces Act.
5. FG Gazettes 2024 Withholding Tax Regulations
The Federal government has published the Deduction of Tax at Source (Withholding) Regulations, 2024, in the official gazette.
According to the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, the regulation was gazetted today, Wednesday, 2nd October 2024.
The Withholding Tax Regulations grant rates reduction and full exemption from withholding tax to many businesses, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with annual turnover not exceeding ₦25 million.
He explained that there is a provision permitting the Federal Inland Revenue Service with the approval of the Minister of Finance, to permit early application of the regulation from 1st July 2024.
6. Amaechi Remains Leader Of APC In Rivers State – Beke
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Emeka Beke, has declared that former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, remains the leader of the party in the state.
Beke added that despite Amaechi’s silence, the former minister remains a strong force and member of the APC.
He also denied rumours that Amaechi is no longer involved in politics, particularly at the state level.
Naturenex reports the APC chairman stated this during the presentation of party flags to its standard bearers in 21 local government areas of the state ahead of the scheduled October 5th, LGA elections in the state.
Beke added that Amaechi was fully aware the APC is participating in the upcoming elections and that the party candidates have his support.
While reiterating that the APC would participate in the local government polls, Beke added that the party candidates have been screened by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC), adding that they all stand qualified to contest the Saturday’s poll.
7. ‘I’ve Been Receiving Half Salary Since I Became Governor’ – Sani
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has disclosed he has been receiving half of his salary since resuming office on May 29, 2023.
Naturenex reports that Sani made this known in a video obtained by Daily Trust in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The Governor said N4.7 billion is being deducted monthly from the state government’s federal allocation to offset the debt inherited from the previous administration.
According to Sani, his commissioners’ performance bonuses and salaries, including that of the Deputy Governor, have also been reduced as part of efforts to cut governance costs and make sacrifices due to the state’s financial challenges.
He stated that his administration was doing everything possible to manage resources, given the debt inherited from the previous administration.
Sani added that he preferred not to complain about these issues, believing that governance is about continuity.
8. PDP Lawmaker Defects To APC
A member of the House of Representatives, Chris Nkwonta, has withdrawn his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pledged his allegiance to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Naturenex reports that Nkwonta’s defection was confirmed on the floor of the House during plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas on Wednesday in Abuja.
Nkwonta is representing Ukwa East/West of Abia State.
Reacting to the defection, Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki referenced a section of the constitution and called for Nkwonta’s seat to be declared vacant.
However, Reps Speaker Tajdeen told Madaki that he was aware of a faction in PDP.
9. Tinubu Govt Appoints Fapohunda As Group Chair To Review Laws Of The Federation
The Federal Government has set up a working group tasked with reviewing the Laws of the Federation, with the aim of updating and proposing new legislation to support the nation’s development across various sectors.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), made the announcement during the ceremony marking the start of the 2024/2025 Legal Year.
He emphasized the importance of adapting Nigeria’s legal framework to current national and global challenges.
A former Attorney General of Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), has been appointed to chair the working group.
Fapohunda is well-regarded for his contributions to justice sector reforms at both state and federal levels.
He has been a key figure in the enactment of several transformative laws, including the Judicial Remuneration Act, which increased judicial officers’ salaries by 300%, and other significant legal reforms such as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Police Act.
The last comprehensive review of the country’s laws occurred in 2004.
10. LG Polls: Fubara Declares Thursday, Friday As Public Holiday, Orders Restriction On Vehicle Movement
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared Thursday and Friday – October 3 and 4 as public holidays ahead of the forthcoming Local Government elections in the state.
In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, Fubara said his government remains committed to upholding the Constitution of Nigeria and abide by the rule of law and the principles of democracy.
According to him, any failure by his administration to conduct the local government election would be a clear disobedience of the Supreme Court’s mandatory order that no State Government must administer the Local Government Councils in Nigeria with unelected officers.
While stating that the government has made the necessary provision to Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of the election, Fubara said the two days public holiday will enable residents of the state to journey to their various communities to fully participate in the Saturday, October 5, election.
Fubara also ordered strict restrictions on vehicular movement for residents from midnight on Friday, October 4 to 5pm on Election Day.
