Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naturenex roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 15th August, 2024
1. Tinubu Approves Implementation Of Import Duty Waiver On Food Items
President Bola Tinubu has approved the implementation of zero percent import duty and exemption of value-added tax (VAT) on basic food items.
The approval was confirmed in a letter forwarded by the Ministry of Finance to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
In the letter, Wale Edun, the minister of finance, said the “measure which is geared towards ameliorating the high cost of food items in the Nigerian market shall be limited to the national supply gap to be determined by a committee set up by the Minister.”
Edun said importers applying for the duty waiver must have milling capacity and a verifiable backward integration programme (BIP).
BIP is the sourcing of raw materials locally to reduce dependence on foreign raw materials.
Also, he said from time to time, during the implementation period, the ministry will furnish customs with the list of importers and their approved quotas to guide the importation of the basic food items.
Edun said customs must ensure strict compliance.
2. FG To Hire 3,500 Teachers For Unity Schools
The Federal Government has revealed plans to hire 3,500 teachers to enhance the educational standards across Federal Unity Colleges nationwide.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, made this announcement during a two-day National Stakeholders’ Forum focused on Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria.
The forum titled “Revitalising Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria for Global Competitiveness” gathered education stakeholders to address the challenges in the country’s secondary education system.
Sununu highlighted that the recruitment would play a crucial role in elevating the quality of education.
In addition to recruitment, the Ministry has already trained over 1,000 staff members in the application of technology in education through its research resource center.
Moreover, more than 53 vocational skills acquisition centers have been established to meet the needs of young people, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Sununu also mentioned that approval had been obtained for the construction of 50 new model schools across the country to further enhance teaching and learning.
3. Abass Withdraws Counter Subversion Bill
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has withdrawn the counter subversion bill.
The bill prescribes a 10-year jail term, N5 million fine or both for those who refuse to recite the national anthem and pledge.
The decision, announced in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, on Wednesday was said to have come after extensive consultations with various stakeholders and a careful assessment of the nation’s current circumstances.
Krishi noted that the withdrawal of the bill underscores Tajudeen’s pledge to never support any legislation that could potentially disrupt the peace and unity of the nation.
4. Do Not Mistake Our Peaceful Attitude For Weakness – FG Sends Warning To Political Thugs Ahead Of Edo State Gubernatorial
The Federal Government has warned those planning to unleash havoc in next month’s governorship election in Edo State to perish the thought.
The government stated that it is ready to deploy the full weight of the law in dealing with such elements.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja at the third regular quarterly consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security ICCES hosted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ribadu warned that President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to peace must not be taken for granted.
5. ‘This Isn’t About Partisan Politics’ – Gov. Bala Mohammed Unapologetic About Criticism Of Tinubu
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has declared he is unapologetic about his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policies.
Naturenex recalls that Mohammed had, last week, described President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address over the hunger protest as ’empty speech’.
Mohammed, who doubles as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum, also urged President Tinubu to change his policies, adding that it may jeopardise his reelection come 2027.
During the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Bauchi on Wednesday, Mohammed said as a leader with national responsibilities, it is his duty to speak out on national issues.
Mohammed clarified that his comment was not intended to cause disaffection or insult anyone, stressing it is not about partisan politics but responsibility.
He said that everyone is aware of the situation in the country, and the recent protests are a wake-up call, not only for the presidency but for all levels of government, to listen to Nigerians raising their voice against poor governance.
Governor Mohammed assured that his administration would continue to develop policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of the people, despite the challenges and limited resources.
6. Each Senator Gets ₦21 Million Monthly As Running Cost – Kano Senator Makes Fresh Revelation
The lawmaker representing Kano South senatorial district of Kano State in the National Assembly, Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, has revealed that Senators get ₦21 million naira monthly each as allowances and running costs.
He made the revelation in a chat with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday morning.
Sumaila, who was elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), narrated that his actual salary, as fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), is less than N1m and comes down to about ₦600,000 after deductions.
The Senator, however, said the leadership of the Senate has made some increases in the take-home pay of the lawmakers, with each Senator getting up to ₦21 million in salary and allowances.
The revelation comes at a time when the controversy and secrecy over the earnings of lawmakers in Nigeria are taking the front burner of public discussions again.
Naturenex recalls former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently called out the members of the National Assembly, accusing them of fixing bogus salaries and allowances for themselves in contravention of extant laws.
7. Tribunal Removes Enugu Rep Member, Declares LP Candidate Winner
The House of Representatives Tribunal has removed Simon Atigwe, the representative for the Igboeze North/Udenu federal constituency.
Furthermore, the tribunal has recognized Dennis Nnamdi Agbo of the Labour Party as the legitimate winner of the rerun election for the Igbo Eze North/Udenu Federal constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously announced Atigwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the rerun election conducted on February 3, 2024.
According to INEC, the PDP candidate received 23,863 votes, surpassing Agbo, who garnered 23,226 votes. Agbo, who had initially won the election on February 25, 2023, but was later ousted by the appellate court, sought redress at the tribunal to contest Atigwe’s declaration.
His legal representatives contended that erroneous result calculations and significant violations of the electoral act, among other issues, tainted the rerun election.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, August 14, the tribunal, presided over by Justice H. N. Kunaza, found the petition to be valid and declared Dennis Nnamdi Agbo as the rightful winner of the Igbo Eze North/Udenu Federal constituency.
Justice Kunaza’s panel invalidated the additional 2,000 votes attributed to the PDP candidate and reinstated the votes from the February 25, 2023 election, which were 14,229 for the PDP and 28,870 for the Labour Party candidate, Rt. Hon. Dennis Agbo.
The tribunal also determined that Atigwe was not duly elected based on the valid votes cast, as Agbo received 23,221 votes compared to the PDP’s 21,863 votes. Consequently, the certificate of return issued to Atigwe is to be revoked and reissued to Agbo.
8. #EndBadGovernance: Enemies Of The State Hired Protesters To Steal Ganduje’s Corruption Trial Documents – Gov Yusuf
The Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has stated that protesters who stormed the State High Court during the #EndBadGovernance protests, carted away alleged corruption cases filed against the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Naturenex reports that the Kano State High Court of Justice was among the places vandalized and set ablaze by the EndBadGovernance protesters.
Speaking on Wednesday during an assessment visit to the State High Court, Yusuf shared his concern over the corruption charges case files taken away by the protesters.
The Governor, who was conducted around the court premises by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, Chief Registrar of the High Court, Abdullahi Ado Bayero, and other High Court Judges of the state, was furious at what had happened at the court.
This was contained in a press statement made available to newsmen in Kano by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa today.
The statement described the vandalization as a master-minded and staged-managed mission.
9. Six Foodstuffs Benefit As Customs Begin Implementation Of Tinubu’s Directive On Free Imports
Following the approval of President Bola Tinubu for the implementation of zero percent import duty and exemption of value-added tax (VAT) on basic food items, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued new guidelines for the implementation of the presidential directive.
The approval was confirmed in a letter forwarded by the Ministry of Finance to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The Customs Service thereafter, in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, listed and identified six food products that will benefit from the Zero Percent Duty Rate (0%) and an exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain essential food products.
The NCS provided guidelines detailing the eligibility requirements for businesses that want to take part in the zero-duty importation initiative, which is designed to bolster local food security and make essential goods more accessible and affordable.
The guidelines outline the specific food items included in this policy, as well as the compliance requirements that importers are expected to follow.
The fundamental food products that qualify for the zero percent duty rate include husked brown rice, grain sorghum, millet, maize, wheat, and beans.
10. Tinubu Arrives Equatorial Guinea For Three-Day Visit
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for a three-day official visit at the invitation of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The Gulfstream aircraft carrying President Tinubu and his key aides touched down at Saint Isabel Airport, Malabo, at 02:07 pm local time on Wednesday.
Upon arrival, President Tinubu was warmly received by Equatorial Guinea’s Prime Minister, Mrs. Manuela Roka Botey, along with other top government officials.
The visit marks Tinubu’s first official trip to the Central African country and his 22nd foreign destination since taking office 15 months ago.
During his stay, President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with President Mbasogo at the Presidential Villa, where the two leaders will engage in bilateral talks.
The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in key areas such as oil and gas, as well as security.
The visit will also see the signing of several agreements aimed at bolstering ties between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naturenex. See you again tomorrow.
