Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 14th January, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Thursday, 14th January 2021

1. Kukah Has Offended Many With His Anti-Buhari Remarks But… —Presidency

The Presidency on Wednesday warned the Muslim Solidarity Forum to be mindful of its utterances against the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah.

Naija News had earlier reported that the Islamic group called on Kukah to apologize over his Christmas day message or vacate Sokoto State.

The Presidency in a statement released through President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, said though the cleric has offended many with his anti-Buhari statements, under Nigeria constitution, no group must direct anyone to vacate a state but must tolerate religious and ethnic differences.

2. President Buhari Approves Posting Of 95 Ambassadors-Designate

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the posting of ninety-five career ambassadors and non-career ambassadors-designate to various Nigerian missions abroad.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Aduda, 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors will be posted to various Nigerian missions overseas.

3. N40bn Allowance: SSANU, NASU Threaten Strike

The Joint Action Committee including the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, on Wednesday, threatened to embark on strike if the President Muhammadu Buhari led government fails to meet their demands by January, 14th, 2021.

The President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, stated this while speaking on Channels TV on Wednesday.

Recall that the non-teaching staffs started a nationwide protest on Tuesday over the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System and the N40bn earned allowance.

The unions which are not pleased with the 25 per cent of the N40bn presented to it by the Federal Government described the sharing formula as illogical and a divide and rule tactic.

4. 2023 Elections: PDP Mocks APC Over Zoning Debate

Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the ongoing debate on zoning in the party.

In a television interview on Wednesday, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbodinyan, said the PDP is fully aware of the conversation in the APC about which zone in the country will produce the next president in 2023.

He opined that the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari was the reason for the debate on zoning among APC members.

5. NEF Warns Those Trying To Cause Religious War In Nigeria

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has warned that Nigerians should watch and guard their statements so as to prevent any form of religious war in the country.

NEF in a statement on Wednesday by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed warned that Nigeria should not be subjected to further difficult circumstances capable of imposing fear in the mind of citizens.

Baba-Ahmed who expressed worries about certain disturbing comments in the polity, therefore, warned those spreading explosive and inciting statements to check their ways and desist from such acts.

6. Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Akeredolu’s Re-election

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, upheld the election of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.

Delivering a ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo, dismissed a suit challenging the validity of the emergence of the governor as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 20 primary election.

The presiding judge dismissed the suit filed by Olajumoke Anifowose, filed on her behalf by her lawyer, Adesina Oke.

7. COVID-19: ASUU Attacks FG For Failing To Put Measures In Place For Universities

The Federal Government has been accused by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Calabar chapter of failing to ensure a conducive environment for lecturers, students, and non-teaching staff in institutions.

The Chairman of ASUU in UniCal, Dr Edor J. Edor, on Wednesday, said the directive of the federal government ordering schools to resume on January 18, 2021, is an indication of the government’s failure.

The Federal Government on Tuesday, however, stated that schools across the country will resume on January 18, 2021, until a fresh directive by the Ministry of Education.

8. North Is Not Afraid Of Restructuring – Fage Replies Utomi

A Professor of Political Science, Kamilu Sani Fage, says the North is not afraid of restructuring and should not be blackmailed into it.

Naija News had reported that a professor of political economy, Pat Utomi, said the North is afraid of restructuring and northern politicians are uncertain where restructuring will lead them.

Speaking at a virtual media parley on Monday, the former governorship candidate said the north has become really unproductive because it largely relies on the federal government for its share of revenue.

Reacting to the claims, Fage asked the Southern leaders not to blackmail the North and its leaders into restructuring the country.

He said that the issue of restructuring must be seriously addressed and not forced down the throat of any region.

9. “We Will Not Accept Further Attacks On Bishop Kukah” – Southern Kaduna Youths Blow Hot

Southern Kaduna youths under the aegis of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has warned those attacking the person of Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah to desist immediately.

This is as the youths warned in a statement on Wednesday that they will not hesitate to reciprocate any harm that may be inflicted on Kukah who is the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese.

Bishop Kukah had been in the eye of the storm over his 2020 Christmas day message in which he alleged that many things are wrong with the way Nigeria currently stands under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

10. NECO Releases 2020 SSCE Results

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of candidates that sat for the 2020 internal Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE).

This was confirmed on Wednesday by the Registrar of the council, Professor Godswill Obioma at the NECO Headquarters in Minna, Niger State.

Compared to last year’s results, NECO announced a two percent increase in the number of candidates who made five credits and above in all subjects.

According to him, 894,101 candidates made five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics representing 73.89 percent of the total candidates that sat for the examination.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.