Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 1st January, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Saturday, 1st January 2022.

New Year: Carryovers From 2021 That Mustn’t Be Glossed Over

Smarting from the year 2020 pangs of economic lull occasioned by the devastating impact of Covid-19, Nigerians went into 2021 with strong optimism of a better year. This buoyancy showed in the numbers as the National Bureau of Statistics reported that the Nigerian economy grew at the rate of 5.01 per cent in the second quarter of 2021. Before the Federal Government can make political capital out of the framing of the story in some sections of the media as the highest economic leap in six years, analysts explained that it was a case of life and death comparison. Their cynicism was because the year-on-year GDP growth of Nigeria’s economy happened as a result of a low base set in 2020 when the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 was at its peak. The Federal Government would have to prove these financial pundits wrong by repeating the same feat by the second quarter of 2022.

FCT Minister Muhammad Bello Tests Positive For COVID-19

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Musa Bello has tested positive for dreaded COVID-19 disease.

Naija News reports that Bello confirmed the development himself on Friday in a post via his official Facebook page.

The Minister revealed that he decided to go for a test on Thursday morning after showing a mild symptom of the virus.

Bello explained further that he received the result of his test on Friday morning. Applauding medical personnel who are in the frontline combating the viral disease, the minister said he is currently doing fine, though with some sore throat, feverish feeling and mild running nose.

Lawan Reacts As Buhari Expresses Reservations About ‘Worrisome Changes’ Made By NASS To 2022 Budget

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has explained why the National Assembly adjusted the content of the 2022 national budget presented by the executive arm to the legislators.

According to Lawan, there is nothing to be worried about regarding the changes made by the lawmakers to the budget.

Naija News recalls President Muhammadu Buhari had slammed the National Assembly over the alterations made to the 2022 budget.

But speaking with State House correspondents after the N17.126trn budget was signed, Lawan while commenting on the President’s reservation said there’s nothing worrisome in what the lawmakers did.

He said they took the decision based on judgment and analysis of the budget figures.

What Buhari Said After Signing 2022 Budget Into Law [Full Text]

The remarks of President Muhammadu Buhari after he signed the 2022 appropriation bill and finance bill into law have emerged.

Naija News reports that the President signed the two bills into law at a brief event at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Friday.

Recall that the National Assembly had increased the 2022 budget figures from N16.391tn to N17.126 trillion and forwarded the same to the President for his assent.

Buhari Govt Extends NIN-SIM Verification As NIN Enrolments Exceed 71 Million

The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has extend the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022, Naija News reports.

This was made known in statement sent to Naija News on Friday and signed by the Director Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ike Adinde.

According to the statement, the federal government directive was conveyed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami.

Lagos Govt Announces Resumption Date For Schools

The Lagos State Government has announced the resumption date for the second term in the 2021/2022 academic session for schools in the South-West state.

In a statement on Friday by the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said schools are to resume on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, as academic activities will start the same day.

Seriki-Ayeni disclosed that all boarding students are to resume on Monday 3rd January 2022 in preparation for academic activities, while all learners are expected back in school.

Buhari Knocks National Assembly, Lists Worrisome Changes In 2022 Budget

President Muhammadu Buhari has slammed the National Assembly over the alterations made to the 2022 budget.

Speaking after assenting to the budget on Friday, the Nigerian leader expressed deep concern at some of the worrisome changes made by the National Assembly to the document.

He also carpeted the federal lawmakers for reducing the funds allocated to some critical projects and adding 6,576 projects of their own to the bill.

‘Joke Of The Year’ – PDP Mocks Buhari Over 2021 Achievements

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has mocked President Muhammadu Buhari over the long list of major achievements recorded by his administration.

Naija News had reported that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had said the Buhari administration has recorded huge progress and achievements in the year 2021 despite many economic and political challenges.

Mohammed made the submission while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Lagos State, the nation’s commercial capital city.

He listed areas of security, economy, infrastructure (rail, road, etc), job creation, and others as part of achievements recorded by the current administration in the year 2021.

Countering the progress recorded by the Buhari government, the PDP said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government should be ashamed of its “so-called achievements”.

Ganduje Set To Reconcile With Kwankwaso, Shekarau, Others

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has dropped a hint about reconciling with his two predecessors, Senators Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Ibrahim Shekarau.

Naija News reports that the governor made the promise in a New Year message by his Commissioner of Information, Muhammad Garba.

He also promised to reconcile with other political stakeholders in the state and the country in general, describing the New Year 2022 as an era of peace and reconciliation.

Bullying In Nigerian Schools, Effects, Prevention

12-year-old, Sylvester Oromoni, a Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS) student of Dowen College, in the Lekki axis of Lagos State, tragically died under controversial circumstances leading to a public outcry. The late Dowen student was reportedly said to have been bullied by the boys in his school who were quite older than him.

This came some months after an aggrieved mother, Mrs Deborah Okezie Archibong, the mother of an 11-year-old student in a private school in Uyo, posted a video on social media, where she cried out that her son’s seniors were sexually molesting him. Deborah alleged that her son, John Davies, was continuously tormented, demoralised by his older classmates in a faith-based school.

Mercy Johnson Okojie, a popular Nollywood actress, also recently cried out that a teacher in her daughter’s school was bullying her because of her celebrity status. The mother of four revealed that her first daughter, Purity, was bullied by a teacher in her school because of her hatred for her mother. An investigation was launched into the case which led to a resolution.

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