Top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 8th November 2022
1. Half Salary: Gbajabiamila Appeals To ASUU To Keep Calm, Says Buhari Will Intervene
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamiala has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown interest in the issues of half payment to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to him, efforts to find lasting solutions to the concerns frequently raised by ASUU were on, hence the union should maintain calm.
Truetells Nigeria reports that Gbajabiamiala, in a statement signed by himself in Abuja today, said since ASUU called off its eight-month-old strike a few weeks ago, the Executive and the House of Representatives have been working to address the issues that led to the strike.
The speaker noted that the 2023 Appropriations Bill, which includes N170 billion to provide a level of increment in the welfare package of university lecturers, also includes an additional N300 billion in revitalization funds to improve the infrastructure and operations of federal universities.
Gbajabiamila said that the position taken by the Executive that it was not obligated to pay salaries to lecturers for the time spent on strike is premised on the law and the government’s legitimate interest in preventing moral hazard and discouraging disruptive industrial actions.
The speaker also restated his commitment to providing sustainable reforms to the tertiary education system, noting that the challenges facing the country’s tertiary education are multifaceted therefore the need for all stakeholders to come together and proffer solutions.
2. Lai Mohammed Slams PDP, Says Buhari Government Has Lots To Campaign With
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has slammed the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the mockery of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the minister, who faulted the PDP’s comment that the APC can’t campaign with President Buhari’s achievements said the Naira exchange rate and inflation were insufficient indices to write off Buhari’s performance.
According to him, it is a cruel irony that the main opposition party, who couldn’t complete a single modern rail line, can describe the Buhari government as a failure.
Mohammed, at the second edition of “PMB administration scorecard” in Abuja, said “I want to address what I will call an absurdity that is being bandied about by the opposition, that the Buhari administration has nothing to campaign within the run-up to the 2023 general elections.
3. FG Announces Resumption Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Services
The Federal Government on Monday announced that Abuja-Kaduna train services will resume before the end of November 2022.
Recall that the Nigerian Railway Corporation put hold its services on the route in March this year following an attack by dreaded terrorists.
Truetells Nigeria reports that gun-wielding terrorists about eight months ago attacked a moving passenger train heading to Kaduna, and killed and kidnapped scores of passengers.
The assailants subsequently released the captives in batches. The government had earlier declared through the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, that it will not resume services on the route until all the captives are released.
Okhiria who spoke to newsmen in Lagos in late September said the corporation had restored the damaged rolling stock and fixed the track.
In the latest development, however, the Minister Of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, announced today while giving the scorecard of his ministry in Abuja said that adequate security had been put in place to ensure the safety of passengers.
4. 2023: ‘Atiku Can Go To Hell’ – Ortom Fires PDP Presidential Candidate
The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom on Sunday noted that he would not be supporting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Ortom said he would not support Atiku who is not concerned about the continuous killings of the Benue people.
The Benue State Governor while lamenting the killing of people in his local government last week said, “to hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him.”
He noted that anyone supporting the presidential ambition of Atiku in 2023 is an enemy of Benue State.
Ortom stated this on Sunday night when he hosted the party’s G-5 Governors comprising Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) in Government House, Makurdi.
He added that he would rather die than become a slave to a Fulani man.
5. Oyetola Stays Positive, Says He Will Reclaim His Mandate
With less than three weeks to hand over power to the governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola is still positive that he will reclaim his mandate.
According to him, he didn’t have any fears about the ongoing petition at the tribunal to cancel the victory of the governor-elect due to irregularities in the July 16 governorship election of the state.
The governor said he was sure he will deliver the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) next year at the polls.
Truetells Nigeria reports that Oyetola, who expressed optimism about claiming his seat today, told pressmen in Abuja after a brief visit to the National Secretary of the party Iyiola Omisore, that the state will deliver one million votes to the APC presidential candidate Bola Tinubu in 2023.
Oyetola, who lost the July 16 Osun governorship election to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had approached the tribunal and demanded cancellation of the election over alleged over-voting and by-passing of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, among other electoral frauds.
Responding to his fears about the current issue of his petition at the tribunal, the governor said “I don’t have any fear. I have faith in Almighty God. I will reclaim my mandate by the grace of God.”
6. Terror Alert: UK Gives Update On Terrorists’ Plan To Attack Abuja
The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has disclosed that it no longer advises against travel to the federal capital territory (FCT) in Nigeria.
Recall that the UK had, on October 23, warned of an increased threat of terrorist attack in the FCT, urging its citizens to stay alert and avoid visits to public places in the FCT.
The UK also restricted access to the British High Commission in Abuja and later warned British nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Abuja
But in an updated travel advisory published on its website on Monday, the UK said British nationals could travel to Abuja, but the risks of travelling to the capital remain.
7. Yoruba Nation: Akintoye’s Deputy, Spokesperson Resign
The Deputy Alana of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Wale Adeniran has resigned from the apex body of the Yoruba Self-Determination struggle.
Adeniran’s decision to resign from his position is coming hours after the spokesperson of the group, Maxwell Adeleye also turned in his resignation.
The decision of Adeleye to resign as the spokesman for Ilana Omo Oodua was, however, rejected by the Worldwide Executive Council of the Self-determination group.
At the time of filing this report, Adeleye is yet to accept the rejection of the Worldwide Executive Council.
Adeleye in a statement released on Monday disclosed that Adeniran’s resignation from office took effect from Sunday, November 6th, 2022.
Adeniran, however, in the letter vowed to remain a staunch member of Ilana Omo Oodua despite his resignation.
8. 2023: Fresh Trouble For Atiku As Another Northern Governor Threatens To Dump Him
The 2023 presidential ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar has suffered a fresh setback as another Governor has threatened to dump the former Vice President.
The threat is coming at a time Atiku is yet to resolve the grievances of the five PDP Governors led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who have vowed not to support him except Iyorchia Ayu steps down as the National Chairman and is replaced by a southerner.
Information gathered by Naija News has it that the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed is also set to back out of supporting Atiku for the 2023 presidency.
Mohammed is a former presidential aspirant himself and has also been appointed as the Vice Chairman, North-East of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council but is said to be at loggerheads with Atiku over some recent developments.
It is understood that the Bauchi State Governor feels slighted and left out of happenings in the campaign strategy particularly in the North-East region despite his position in the council.
According to sources, he feels Atiku is not giving him the needed respect and confidence to work which has caused a cold war between them.
9. “I See More Turbulence” – Fayose Opens Up On PDP Crisis, Reveals Why He Has Been Silent
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose has opened up on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The former Governor in a statement on Sunday evening via his Twitter handle said the internal crisis rocking the PDP may escalate further except quick action is taken to arrest the situation.
Speaking further, Fayose said he had not spoken publicly on the matter earlier because he hoped things would get better, but now he has realized that if no action is taken urgently, things will only get messier.
He concluded by praying his advice is not ignored.
10. Ned Nwoko Tells PDP To Expel Wike, Says He Is A Nuisance
The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Delta North senatorial candidate, Prince Ned Nwoko, has advised his party to expel the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Nwoko said he sees Wike as a nuisance that has caused a lot of damage to the party and therefore should be sent out of the PDP.
Nwoko, who spoke to pressmen in Asaba the Delta state capital, noted that the PDP hierarchy was treating Wike with levity, and at this point, he should be sent out of the party.
According to him: ” Wike Is a nuisance, quote me anywhere. If I were the leader of the party, I would have acted differently. I would have done things differently. He has done a lot of damage to the PDP and I don’t know what they are waiting for to show him the way out.”
Nwoko, speaking on his political ambition, said he would do better than he did in the House of Representatives in 1999, adding that the hallmark of a good legislator is the ability to lobby.