Index to Nigerian Newspapers

Six pupils, three teachers, and the driver of a private school bus in Ekiti State were kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen. The kidnapping came shortly after two monarchs were killed by gunmen along Ipao-Oke Ako Road. The kidnappers demanded N30 million as ransom to release the five pupils and other victims. The joint operation team of Ekiti State Police Command, Amotekun, OPC, Civil Defence, and Local Hunters arrested five suspected kidnappers during interrogation. The suspects were found with two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jack knife or dagger, and four phones. Tensions were brewing in the communities of the two monarchs killed by the gunmen, with a source suggesting that people might be forced to arm themselves against herdsmen in the state. Governor Biodun Oyebanji urged Ekiti residents not to despair over the kidnapping, and President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to rescue the abducted individuals. The Ekiti and Ondo Police commands have launched a joint rescue operation.

President Bola Tinubu on Sunday evening met with the Northern Governors, whose states are sharing boundary with Niger Republic at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, a presidency source said it was part of consultations by the President on the situation in Niger.

The governors in attendance were Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mai Malam Buni (Yobe), Idris Nasir (Kebbi) and Dr Dikko Radda (Katsina).

It was gathered that the Northern Elites have kicked against any military might against the military juncta following what would be the consequence of such action on Nigeria.

The meeting according to a presidency source was convened to get input from the northern Governors as the seven day ultimatum for the military to reinstate the overthrown President has expired. Recall that the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had about a week ago given ultimatum to the military junca that sacked the democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

The Presidency debunked a report that tuition fees in the federal universities have been increased, saying there was no such thing.Recall that many universities and unity schools ( federal government colleges) have announced an increase in the fees paid by students.Unity schools which are owned by the federal government increased fees from N45,000 to N100, 000.Besides, various universities have announced the new fees to be paid by students and the development has attracted outcry from parents and students.The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, also told the government to perish the idea of fees hike.But reacting to the plethora of complaints against the alleged hike in school fees in the ivory tower, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, said in a statement that federal universities were tuition free.Alake explained that what happened was that some universities introduced discretionary charges for hostel accommodation, registration, laboratory and other charges which, according to him, are not tuition.The statement read: “It was widely reported earlier this week across some news media outlets that the Federal Government had increased tuition fees in federal universities in the country.“These reports are inaccurate and not correct. We are aware that some universities have in recent weeks announced increase in the amount payable by students on sundry charges.Continuing, he said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to his promise of ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of the economic situation of their parents, have access to quality tertiary education.“Parts of the government’s plans to make sure all diligent students complete their education on time, notwithstanding their parents’ financial situation, include work-study, merit-based scholarships and grants.”

 

The Nigerian government has approved a one percent deduction from MDAs as workers' contributions to the Employee Compensation of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). This decision was made during President Buhari's Extraordinary Session on May 15, 2023. Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, assured the NSITF that it would be supported in fulfilling its responsibilities to Nigerian workers. The government is also reviewing its salary structure and digitising processes for transparency and accountability.

Nigeria's National Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened an indefinite strike if the Federal Government fails to address the mass suffering caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy. The NLC has been meeting with government team members to avert the strike, while the Minister of Finance and Labour and Employment are preparing a package, including wage awards, to be presented to the NLC leadership. The government is working to prevent further industrial unrest.

Nigeria's President has inaugurated the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee to determine a new minimum wage in line with ILO Convention 131. The 37-member committee, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Organised Private Sector of Nigeria, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, and the Federal Government, is expected to produce a new minimum wage in two months. The committee aims to motivate Nigerian workers to work for the common good, while also reducing commodity prices and aligning the minimum wage with the expectations of Nigerian workers.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to reverse the naira's slide as it unveils intervention measures. Folashodun Shonubi, acting governor of the nation's apex bank, warned that the government will take action against those involved in underhand activities in the foreign exchange market, including the parallel market. President Tinubu expressed concern about the market's development and its impact on the people. The CBN is working to improve liquidity and liquidity in the market, as well as in other markets, including the parallel market. The CBN is concerned about the impact on the average person and the potential losses to speculators when government strategies are activated. The CBN's actions aim to ensure efficient, reasonable, and non-negative market operations for the average person.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said that it is going ahead with its two-day warning strike beginning tomorrow, saying it was not aware of any meeting with the Federal Government today.A top official of the NLC, told Vanguard yesterday, that as of press time, there was no invitation from the Government for any meeting, adding that the industrial action was instigated by state councils and industrial unions.However, the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris Magaji. said the Federal Government is in discussion with Labour over the planned strike.He said that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, met with the leadership of the NLC on Saturday, adding “We are very hopeful that the strike may be averted.The minister said the government will continue to appeal to Organized Labour to see the reason and the efforts of the government in providing palliatives through state governors and the Conditional Cash Transfer programme.He said the government’s position was to pass the palliatives through state governors, irrespective of party affiliations, because the effect of the subsidy removal is felt more in states.The Police under the instruction of certain forces peddling the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have invaded and occupied illegally the national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers headquarters seeking to install its own executive.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday promised to ensure best return to Indian investors who have pledged to invest not less than $14billion in the country. Tinubu who made the promise at the Nigeria-India presidential roundtable and conference in New Delhi, India said: We are ready to give the the best returns on investments possible, there's nowhere else like our country. Nigeria offers the best returns for invetment today, so invest. A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the president, Ajuri Ngelale, explained that among the many new investments, Indorama Petrochemical limited pledged a new investment of $8 BILLION U.S. in the expansion of it's fertilizer production and petrochemical facility in Eleme, Rivers state.

President Bola Tinubu has resolved disagreements with the UAE on Emirate Airline and visa issuance, emphasizing African countries' economic and security challenges. He met with Ethiopia, Cuba, and UAE Ambassadors to discuss trade, security, and economic growth. Tinubu praised Ethiopia's historic decisions and Cuba's advancements in medical sciences. The UAE Ambassador expressed gratitude and urged Nigerian acceptance.

The Nigerian Federal Government has requested the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria to cancel their planned nationwide indefinite strike from October 3, citing a court injunction violation. The National Economic Council has appealed to both parties to continue negotiations at the state level. The government has instituted contempt proceedings against labor leaders, but they were not prosecuted further.