Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the NATURENEX roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 11th July 2024
1. Tinubu To Meet With Organized Labour Over New Minimum Wage
President Bola Tinubu will meet with the Organised Labour in Abuja on Thursday to further discuss a new national minimum wage for workers in Nigeria.
NATURENEX reports that the Thursday meeting is coming about a month after the President said in his Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2024, that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for workers would soon be sent to the National Assembly for passage.
Recall that on June 25, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Tinubu, stepped down issues of the new minimum wage from consideration and deliberation on the memo to allow for more engagement with stakeholders.
A top labour source who spoke with Channels Television said the President invited the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for the meeting on Thursday.
The source said the meeting will be held at the Aso Villa in the nation’s capital city, and Tinubu is expected to decide on the ₦62,000 proposal of the government and private sector side, as well as the ₦250,000 demand of the Organised Labour.
2. ‘We Are Still Studying The President’s Pronouncement’ – Customs Speaks On Opening Nigeria’s Borders
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Wednesday, declared that the recent pronouncement by President Bola Tinubu does not imply that Nigeria’s land borders would be fully opened.
Adeniyi stated that the service is still studying the directive made by the President but noted that the pronouncement is not aimed at opening the border for smuggled goods to enter the country.
The Customs boss emphasized that the President’s pronouncement is to ease food importation into the country and curb hunger issues in Nigeria through the suspension of tariffs and taxes.
NATURENEX reports he stated this while speaking when the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise visited the headquarters of the service on oversight.
Adeniyi, during the interaction, also denied authorizing customs officers to raid markets in search of smuggled goods.
3. ECOWAS Court Finds FG Guilty Of Rights Violation During #EndSARS Protest
The Nigerian Government has been found guilty of human rights abuses in its response to the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.
NATURENEX learnt that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) community court of justice ruled on Wednesday that the Nigerian government’s actions, particularly its use of force at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, breached several international human rights criteria, including articles 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 of the African charter on human and peoples’ rights.
According to Cable News, the court ordered the Nigerian government to pay N2 million in compensation to each victim named in the suit.
4. Food Prices In Nigeria Will Crash In 180 Days – FG Announces
The Federal Government has declared that the ongoing food crisis will subside in the next one hundred and eighty days.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, announced this via his social media platform on Wednesday, July 10.
NATURENEX reports that this announcement comes at a time when Nigerians are expressing frustration over the hardship and hunger in the country.
Kyari, however, has outlined the strategies that will be put in place during this period to address the issue.
5. PDP NWC Suspends Dan Orbih, Orders Investigation
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South) Dan Orbih.
Orbih was suspended on Wednesday at the meeting of the NWC in which issues, including complaints on the activities of the National Vice Chairman concerning the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State were considered.
A statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said Orbih’s activities and utterances constitute an embarrassment to the party.
It added that Orbih has been suspended from participating in all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by a six-man investigative committee.
6. I Sympathize With You For The Discomfort And Verbal Assaults In The Future – CJN Ariwoola To New Judges
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has warned the new Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to be prepared for troubles, uncomplimentary remarks and verbal attacks from litigants.
The CJN stated this on Thursday while inaugurating the high court judges.
He said that although he congratulates the 12 new Judges, he still sympathizes with them because of the discomfort they would encounter in the discharge of their judicial duties.
Ariwoola warned the judges to be prepared to absorb all uncomplimentary remarks and do their jobs in line with the dictates of the law and the oath of office administered to them.
7. ‘Supreme Court Delivers Final Judgement On Local Govt Autonomy On Thursday’
The Supreme Court has reportedly picked Thursday, 11th July, to deliver the final judgement on the issue of local government autonomy between the federal government and the 36 state governors.
According to a report on The Nation, the Supreme Court has already informed all the parties and their lawyers about the date.
A document relating to the matter indicates that the notice for the judgment delivery was served on the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the federal government is seeking full autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country, but the move is being opposed by the state governments.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court on Thursday, 13th June, reserved judgment on the Federal Government’s lawsuit against the 36 state Governors regarding the autonomy of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
8. Reps Deny Asking Tinubu Govt To Suspend Implementation Of Samao Agreement
The House of Representatives has refuted claims that it asked the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa agreement.
According to The Nation, the House spokesman Hon. Akintunde Rotimi clarified in a statement that the House’s resolution was to investigate the controversial clauses allegedly contained in the Samoa Partnership Agreement.
NATURENEX learnt that the goal is to ensure these clauses align with constitutional provisions, existing laws, and national interests and values.
Rotimi stated that the Green Chamber also urged the Federal Government to ensure thorough consultations and stakeholder engagement on matters related to the agreement.
9. Herders Can Resume Using Rail Services To Transport Cows Soon – NRC
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said that herders and traders can soon move their cows from northern Nigeria to the country’s southern region using rail services.
The NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast show on Wednesday.
This is coming hours after President Bola Tinubu announced the creation of a new ministry for livestock development.
Okhiria stated that the movement of cows and other goods would resume with the Warri-Itakpe route.
NATURENEX reports that the NRC in 2017 had suspended the movement of cattle by train following technical hitches.
However, Okhiria said, in a matter of one or two months, herders would be able to move their cattle on the Warri-Itakpe train services.
Speaking further, he explained that the NRC has brought in some wagons that can mobilise livestock and they are being assembled in the Kajola area of Oyo State in the South-West.
10. ‘Tinubu Has Been Caged, Not Aware Of What Is Happening Outside Presidential Villa’ – Ndume
The Chief Whip of the 10th Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not aware of events happening outside the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
According to him, the Nigerian leader has been trapped and confined by specific groups.
NATURENEX reports that the lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district made this remark during a press conference on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Ndume expressed his frustration that President Tinubu’s administration has not taken significant steps to address the ongoing security issues plaguing the nation.
He stated that the public’s dissatisfaction stems from the government’s inability to effectively address the issues of poverty, insecurity, and hunger, among others, which have severely impacted the nation.
