Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 24th March, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 24th March 2021

1. President Buhari Holds Security Meeting With Minister Of Defence, CDS Irabor

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, held a crucial security meeting with the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor.

The meeting which held at the President’s office at the statehouse in Abuja, was held behind closed doors.

The development was revealed in a Twitter post by the personal assistant on new media to the President, Bashir Ahmad who wrote: “Security: President @MBuhari earlier today, held a closed door meeting with Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff in his office, the State House, Abuja.”

2. 2023: There’ll Be No Election In Nigeria If…. Ortom

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has disclosed that insecurity is a big threat to the conduct of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

He noted that if the current security challenges persist or escalate, the 2023 election in the country may not hold.

He made the submission on Tuesday while addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

3. CBN Retains MPR at 11.5%, Leaves Other Parameters Unchanged

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the end of its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Tuesday has retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 11.5%.

This was disclosed by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele who read a communique at the end of the committee’s meeting.

Apart from the MPR which was retained at 11.50%, the members also voted to keep the asymmetric corridor of +100/-700 basis points around the MPR.

The CRR was retained at 27.5%, while the Liquidity Ratio was also kept at 30%.

4.  APC Convention Will Hold In June – Badaru

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Strategy and Contact Committee, Badaru Abubakar, on Tuesday said the ruling party will hold its national convention in June.

There had been claims that the tenure of Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee will be extended while the convention would be shifted.

The Jigawa State Governor while speaking with newsmen at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, said the Caretaker Committee is committed to delivering on its mandate not later than June.

5. Why I Am Not Ashamed I Went To Prison – Orji Uzor Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has said he is not ashamed of his six months stint in prison because “it is part of my life script”.

Recall that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and the Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe had reportedly said Kalu had not recovered from his prison experience after he asserted that roads in Abia were either funded by the federal government or Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Speaking during a campaign rally for Mascot Uzor Kalu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Aba North/South constituency in the House of Representatives, Kalu said God allowed him to be imprisoned.

6. Why Sunday Igboho, Others Are Calling For Yoruba Nation – Fayemi

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has revealed why a self-acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, and others are calling for a Yoruba nation.

Naija News reports that Sunday Igboho had last week declared the Yoruba as a separate nation and demanded the secession of the south-west states from Nigeria.

But in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, Fayemi said Igboho and his fellow secessionists are calling for the secession of the South West states from Nigeria out of frustration.

He said the calls for secession are expected when the society is agitated, noting that the country will overcome its challenges very soon.

Fayemi, who is the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), however, advised the federal government to look into better ways of managing diversity in the country.

7. Nigerians To Pay More For Electricity As FG Sets To End Subsidies By December 2021

The federal government of Nigeria is set to end subsidy payments on electricity consumption by citizens and residents of the country.

The special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on infrastructure, Ahmed Zakari made the disclosure, noting that the halt may be implemented by the end of 2021.

He spoke during a recent webinar organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AICC).

On, worries that plans by the government to end the subsidy will make electricity more unaffordable for the poor ones, the presidential aide replied that prices are high in Nigeria because the country doesn’t generate enough energy.

He added that the move would ensure a steady supply of electricity.

8. Parliamentary Workers Begin Indefinite Strike

The National leadership of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has begun an indefinite strike across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

PASAN National President, Usman Mohammed, who made this known at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja, directed members of the union to embark on industrial action from Tuesday morning.

He explained that directive became necessary following the unwillingness of the Federal Government to implement the Financial Autonomy Act of 2018 and Presidential Order 10.

Mohammed, who noted that the union had explored all available options to avert the strike, decried that their efforts had yet to yield any positive result.

9. Herdsmen: Open Grazing Should Be Banned – Yakasai

The sacked media aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Yakasai, has called for an end to open grazing in Nigeria.

In a post on his Twitter handle on Tuesday Yakasai, who was arrested by the DSS, said open grazing is no longer attainable and should be stopped.

He stated this while reacting to a video on social media that shows a woman in Ogun State lamenting as cows grazed on a vegetable farm while the herders watched.

10. Ibezim vs Araraume: Supreme Court Takes Fresh Decision After APC’s Allegation Against Judges

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended a hearing in a suit on the Imo North senatorial bye-election which was held on December 5, 2020.

Hearing the appeal on Tuesday, Justice Musa Datijo Muhammad, who led a five-man panel of justices, told the two counsel in the matter that the proceeding has been halted.

Muhammad disclosed that the interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had written a petition against him and two other justices – Helen Ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki – accusing them of allegedly having a meeting with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to subvert justice in the case.

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