Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 10th September, 2024
1. ‘Stop Arresting People Without Thorough Investigation’ – AGF Fagbemi Warns Anti-graft Agencies
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has warned anti-graft agencies in the country against arresting individuals without thorough investigations.
Naturenex reports that Fagbemi noted this while declaring that any Nigerian convicted of corruption should not be granted a state pardon.
On arresting individuals considered suspects, the AGF stressed the importance of having solid evidence before calling individuals in for questioning.
During a roundtable discussion hosted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for state attorneys general in Abuja on Monday, Fagbemi said: “I will suggest in our next constitution review exercise that we expunge those found guilty of corruption from benefiting from powers of ‘Prerogative of Mercy’ to serve as a deterrent to others.”
The AGF emphasized the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, particularly the Attorneys General, in the battle against corruption.
2. DSS Arrests NLC President Joe Ajaero
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The NLC president was arrested on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
Naturenex understands Ajaero was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today.
Confirming the development, the NLC, in a short statement via its X account, said following his arrest by DSS operatives, Ajaero was subsequently moved to the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
“The assault on Nigerian workers continues, the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero was arrested and abducted by the men of DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja this morning on his way to attend an official engagement of the TUC United Kingdom and he is now detained at the office of the NSA,” the brief statement on NLC’s X handle read.
3. FG Denies VAT Increase, Confirms 7.5% Rate Stands
Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has dismissed rumours of a potential hike in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate from 7.5% to 10%.
In a statement released Monday, Edun clarified that the VAT rate is still firmly set at 7.5%, as outlined in Nigeria’s tax laws.
He elaborated on the need for a balanced tax system, emphasizing that Nigeria’s tax framework operates on three key components: tax policy, tax law, and tax administration.
Edun addressed concerns from the public about policies that might seem burdensome, assuring that fiscal measures are designed to foster sustainable growth and reduce poverty, not the opposite.
In response to media reports suggesting the government is imposing undue hardship on citizens, Edun refuted such claims.
Edun also pointed out recent government actions aimed at reducing the financial strain on Nigerians, particularly by eliminating import duties on key food items like rice, wheat, and beans.
4. 2027: No More Automatic Tickets For Peter Obi, Alex Otti – Labour Party
The faction of the Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Julius Abure as its National Chairman, has ruled out an automatic ticket for Peter Obi as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The faction also ruled out an automatic second-term ticket for the current Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, on the party’s platform.
The developments were announced during a press briefing on Monday by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The NEC has now announced that these nominations, and all others for which the party would contest, will be open to all candidates.
Also speaking during the press briefing, Abure, in what appears to be a direct response to the stakeholders’s meeting convened by Governor Otti last week in which a caretaker committee for the party was appointed, said no governor can harass them out of office.
Abure argued that the mandate given to him and his team as leaders of the Labour Party at the convention of the party held on the 27th day of March 2024, will be defended.
5. Unjust, Clear Violation Of Rights – TUC Knocks Tinubu Govt Over Ajaero’s Arrest
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has slammed the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government over the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Naturenex reports that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had on Monday morning arrested Joe Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on his way to the United Kingdom.
Reacting in a statement to journalists, TUC National President, Festus Osifo, said that the arrest of the NLC President is an unjust action that represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression.
While condemning the arrest, Osifo called for Joe Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release.
6. China Is Not Exploiting Us, We Know What We Want – FG
The Federal Government has said the country’s relationship with China has no exploitation issues, stating that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration knows what it exactly wants.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, said the federal government sees China as a country that understands Nigeria does not want to be exporting primary resources, but to be exporting finished products to the country.
Tuggar stated this while addressing the press at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in China; a video of which he posted on his X handle.
He explained the federal government wants to add value, create jobs, manufacture and export finished products.Tuggar stated this while addressing the press at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in China; a video of which he posted on his X handle.
He explained the federal government wants to add value, create jobs, manufacture and export finished products.
7. Peter Obi, Otti Betrayed Us; Okupe, Oshuntokun Responsible For Mismanaged Campaign Funds – Abure
The Labour Party factional national chairman, Julius Abure, has said Peter Obu and Governor Alex Otti betrayed the party that fought for them.
Julius Abure also stated that the issue of campaign fund mismanagement should be directed to the former directors of Obi/Datti Campaign Council in the 2023 election, Doyin Okupe and Akin Oshuntokun who were in charge of the campaign funds.
Abure said this while addressing his National Working Committee at a meeting, in Abuja, on Monday.
Abure stated that the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, made wrong accusations against him. He explained that there was no Supreme Court ruling against him.
He also stated that issues concerning party agents for the Edo governorship election are in the hands of the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata.
Speaking on the allegation of mismanaging the 2023 campaign funds, Abure disassociated himself from the campaign funds.
8. NLC Issues Red Alert After Meeting Over Arrest Of Joe Ajaero By DSS
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) made some fresh decisions during its emergency closed-door meeting following the arrest of its national president, Joe Ajaero, on Monday.
Naturenex recalls that Ajaero was arrested on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) as he was about travelling to the UK on an official assignment.
Following the arrest, the NLC summoned an emergency meeting of its National Administrative Council (NAC) to discuss the arrest and chart a course of action.
At the end of the meeting, the NLC unequivocally condemned the arrest and detention of Ajaero by security operatives. It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its detained president before 12 midnight.
The labour union said the arrest was an attack against all Nigerian workers.
The NLC in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, which was signed by its deputy president, Adeyanju Adewale, also placed all its afflaiates, state councils and Nigerians on a red alert.
It said the arrest of Ajaero is another attempt to delay the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The union also demanded the immediate reversal of the price of petrol to ₦617 per litre.
In mobilizing for further action, the NLC also summoned an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC), scheduled for tomorrow, 10th September, to discuss the situation and take fresh action.
The NLC warned the government to stop the dangerous trend of going after dissenting voices, adding that it would not waver in its duty to protect the rights of workers and the freedom of all Nigerians.
9. We Know The Sponsors Of #EndBadGovernance Protest – Says PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed that they are aware of the individuals behind the #EndBadGovernance protests, which caused a series of mixed reactions across the nation in August.
Recall that from August 1 to 10, numerous Nigerians and various groups took to the streets in multiple cities to voice their discontent regarding the ongoing hardships faced in the country.
In a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, emphasized that hunger was the true instigator of the protests and called upon the federal government to address the issue of hunger rather than targeting the citizens.
Ologunagba’s remarks came in light of the recent arrest of Joe Ajearo, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
10. Who Are You Fighting?’ Peter Obi Questions Julius Abure’s Intentions Amid Labour Party Crisis
The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has responded to allegations of betrayal made by Barrister Julius Abure, the embattled national chairman of the party.
Naturenex reports that at a recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, Abure accused Obi and the party’s sole governor, Alex Otti of Abia State, of conspiring against him.
Abure claimed they organized a stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, where a former Minister of Finance, Esther Nenadi Usman, was elected as chairperson of a 29-member caretaker committee to resolve the party’s leadership crisis.
In his response, Obi, through his spokesperson, Comrade Ibrahim Umar of the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), expressed his disappointment with Abure’s remarks, calling the accusations politically motivated and intended to mislead the public.
Umar further criticized Abure for misleading the public and defaming Obi’s character. He questioned Abure’s resistance to leaving his position, which was supposed to end in June, and his readiness to engage in conflict.
