Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Friday, 30th August, 2024
1. Tinubu Jets Out To China On Official Visit
President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja on a working visit to Beijing, China, with a brief stopover in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to an official statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday.
The statement noted that President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and engage with top Chinese business leaders on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and China and explore new avenues for economic cooperation.
Accompanying the President on this trip are several senior government officials, though specific names were not disclosed.
Tinubu’s visit comes at a critical time, as Nigeria faces escalating tensions with Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese firm that recently secured a court ruling in France permitting the seizure of Nigerian assets.
The French court authorized the firm to seize three Nigerian presidential jets that were undergoing routine maintenance in France.
This legal development stems from a long-standing dispute involving a decades-old arbitration award connected to the Ogun State government.
2. ‘There Are Gang-ups To Exploit Consumers’ – FCCPC Gives Traders One Month To Reduce Prices Of Goods In Nigeria
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has ordered traders in the country to lower the prices of goods.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, who gave the directive on Thursday, announced a one-month grace period for traders to comply with the directive.
He said the commission had observed gang-ups by some traders to exploit consumers.
Bello made this known during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement focused on exploitative pricing, which took place in Abuja.
The FCCPC boss said the Commission plans to initiate enforcement actions as soon as the grace period ends, adding that violators could face imprisonment and fines if found guilty by the court.
3. I’m Out To Continue The Struggle – Ajaero Speaks After Honouring Police Invitation
The Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, has said the struggle for better welfare for Nigerian workers would continue despite the police invitation.
Joe Ajero said he is committed to dying for the labour movement if need be. He stated that the labour movement remained the only patriotic and biggest pan-Nigerian organization in the country.
Speaking to NLC members and other affiliate unions that gathered at the Labour House in Abuja, on Thursday, after visiting the police for interrogation on alleged terrorism charges, Ajaero emphasized that he was used to intimidation of labour unions by authorities.
The NLC President regretted that both federal and state governments have yet to commence implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage. He announced that the next struggle of organized labour would be to force the government to start implementing the minimum wage for workers.
4. Ganiyat Popoola: FG Begs Resident Doctors To End Strike
The federal government has appealed to resident doctors, under the auspices of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), to call off their seven-day warning strike.
The Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, made the appeal on Thursday during his visit to the National Eye Centre in Kaduna.
Naturenex recalls the resident doctors, on August 26, embarked on a nationwide strike action to press home their demand for the rescue of their kidnapped member, Ganiyat Popoola, who is a registrar in the department of ophthalmology at the centre.
Popoola was kidnapped on December 27, 2023, alongside her husband and nephew.
While her husband was released in March after discussions with the abductors, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.
Speaking on the situation, Alausa said the government is not silent about the kidnapped doctor, as efforts are in top gear to ensure her rescue and safe return.
The Minister added that all relevant security agencies are working to ensure her safe rescue.
The Minister said the strike by NARD members may not help the situation and appealed to the striking doctors to resume work.
He confirmed that the kidnapped doctor is still alive, adding that the kidnappers have been changing their demands frequently.
5. Send Your Gifts For My 58 Birthday To Vulnerable Nigerians – Shettima To Friends
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has advised politicians, friends and associates to send their gifts for his 58-year birthday to vulnerable Nigerians.
Kashim Shettima said he understands the desire of friends, politicians and associates to make Monday, 2 September, which marks his 58 birthday a memorable one. He appealed to all his lovers and friends to channel their efforts to Nigerians mostly hit by hardship caused by the government’s economic policies.
The Vice President explained that he does not want congratulatory message adverts on both print and electronic media. He added that he does not want an elaborate pageantry in marking his birthday on Monday, 2 September.
A statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Stanley Nkwocha, stated that Shettima intends to use the birthday occasion to reflect and recommit himself to the duties of making the lives of Nigerians better.
6. FG Announces 50% Subsidy On Electricity For Public Hospitals
The Federal Government has approved a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
He stated that the initiative is designed to lower these facilities’ operational expenses and ease patients’ financial burdens.
During his address at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, the Minister also inaugurated the Electronic Health Records system and Alternative Power Supply at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex.
Additionally, he launched a solarization project at the dialysis unit, which features a solar-powered borehole and a 10.2 KVA inverter equipped with a lithium battery at the Abdulkareem Jika Yusuf COVID-19 Intervention Centre.
7. Must This Government Get Everything Wrong? Kenneth Okonkwo Knocks Tinubu’s Minister Over Age Restriction For WAEC, Others
Former Labour Party (LP) chieftain and actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, has disagreed with the position of the federal government that candidates under 18 years of age will no longer be allowed to sit for secondary school leaving examinations.
Naturenex recalls the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed this on Sunday during a TV interview.
He said the Federal Government has instructed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) which administers the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) which organises the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to comply with the directive on 18 years age limit for any candidate to be eligible for the two examinations.
Mamman also insisted that the age limit for any candidate to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remained 18 years.
The policy has continued to attract condemnation and criticism from several stakeholders.
In his reaction on Thursday, Okonkwo said the government policy which was made public recently by the education minister is unfortunate and undesirable.
He recounted a personal experience of some of the vices he picked up as a teenager when he stayed at home for one year before proceeding to a higher institution of learning.
The actor cum politician also noted that the current educational system in Nigeria makes it possible for students to conclude secondary education by 16 years of age and wondered why such students must be forced to stay at home and what they would be doing until they turn 18.
8. Strike: FG Evokes ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy Against Resident Doctors
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has invoked the “No Work, No Pay” policy against the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in response to their recent seven-day warning strike.
The strike, which began on Monday, was in protest of the continued detention of their abducted colleague, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola-Olawale.
In a statement released on Thursday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Ado Bako, the government expressed deep disappointment over NARD’s decision to proceed with the industrial action despite ongoing negotiations.
The ministry stated that it had been making significant efforts to resolve the doctors’ concerns and ensure industrial harmony, and that the strike was unnecessary given the progress made in discussions.
The statement emphasized that the decision to implement the “No Work, No Pay” policy was not intended to undermine the doctors’ legitimate concerns but was necessary to prevent the disruption of essential healthcare services to the public.
The ministry also reiterated its commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers, including resident doctors.
The ministry further highlighted its ongoing efforts, in collaboration with security agencies, to secure the safe release of Dr. Popoola-Olawale.
9. Ajaero: You Cannot Bend Us – NLC To Tinubu
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has told President Bola Tinubu that the labour union cannot be bent to do the wish of the government.
NLC Secretary General, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, said this on Thursday, at the Labour House, in Abuja, while addressing members who gathered in solidarity with NLC president, Joe Ajaero, who is in police headquarters on an alleged case of terrorism.
Ugboaja said Labour leaders had never gone into exile or organized a hijacked protest. He stated that the current leadership of NLC would not be cowed by the government.
He regretted that the government sees Ajaero as a hard nut while citizens feel the NLC President has sold them out to the government and is weak.
NLC General Secretary noted that no amount of charges or cases against NLC leader would make organized labour bow.
10. National Assembly Intervenes In Age Limit Controversy For WASSCE
The National Assembly has stepped in to address the growing controversy surrounding the Federal Government’s proposal to set an age limit of 18 years for students to sit for the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The proposal, announced by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, on Sunday, has sparked widespread criticism from various quarters, including former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and several civil society organizations (CSOs).
Critics have described the policy as “archaic and draconian,” urging the government to halt its implementation and convene a meeting with education sector stakeholders to deliberate on the matter.
In response to the public outcry, the Senate has indicated that it will hold a public hearing on the issue when it comes before the senators.
According to Vanguard, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), said, “The Senate will consider, through it’s relevant committee, public views on any government policy brought to our legislative notice. Whatever is brought to the Senate for constitutional and statutory stamps shall be subjected to legislative crucible which includes public hearings.”
On his part, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, said the Green Chamber has no position on the matter yet, as members have not been briefed.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naturenex. See you again tomorrow.
