Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Monday, 17th July, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Monday, 17th July 2023

1. Past Plundering, Exploitation Of Africa Will Not Be Repeated – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, said past plundering and exploitation of the African continent would not be allowed to repeat itself.

The President stated this on Sunday at the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member-States in Nairobi, Kenya.

In his speech entitled “Address on Status of Regional Integration in ECOWAS,” Tinubu called for good governance to ensure a prosperous future for Africa, free from the exploitations of the past.

President, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, announced plans to strengthen the coalition’s Standby Force to deter coups and combat terrorism in the sub-region.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, the Nigerian leader reaffirmed Africa’s unity and strength while strongly rejecting the notion of a new scramble for Africa.

He emphasized the need for Africa to overcome its challenges and work towards a prosperous future, focusing on inclusive growth, good governance, and leveraging the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

2. Senate Speaks On Padding Supplementary Budget

The 10th Senate has denounced reports alleging it manipulated the 2023 Supplementary budget that was approved last week, calling these allegations mischievous.

The legislative body was responding to some online news publications’ claims that an unwarranted N70 billion was padded into the supplementary budget, labelled as a “gift” from the executive branch.

In a statement released on Sunday, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, questioned the origin of these reports.

He affirmed that the task of legislation falls solely upon lawmakers, removing the need for any executive “gifts” to perform their duties.

The statement further explained that the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act served to fund the Federal Government’s public palliative program, among other national needs.

3. ‘Why National Assembly Amended 2022 Supplementary Budget As Requested By President Tinubu’

The Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has explained the reason behind the decision of the National Assembly to speedily amend and pass the 2022 supplementary budget as requested by President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on Sunday, Senator Bamidele said the lawmakers took the decision to enable President Bola Tinubu to provide palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal and address other economic challenges.

He added that an amount of money has been set aside for the completion of projects across the states of the federation, including a total sum of 4 billion naira set aside for various road projects in Ekiti state.

Naija News reports Senator Bamidele is the lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

He spoke in Ikogosi Ekiti after a church service held at the First Baptist Church to commemorate the 90th birthday of the father of the state governor, Pa Ezekiel Olakunle Oyebanji.

4. President Tinubu’s Committee On Subsidy Removal Gives Update

The Chairman of the Palliative Committee on Subsidy Removal and the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris assured Nigerians that measures are being taken to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal.

President Tinubu had put the committee in place following the removal of the subsidy.

The pledge came during a committee meeting held in Abuja on Saturday. Details of the meeting were shared by Ahmed Idris, the spokesperson for the governor.

The meeting saw the attendance of Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Charles Soludo of Anambra, Uba Sani of Kaduna and Hyacindu Alia of Benue. Representatives from the Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations were also present.

Chairman of the committee, Idris expressed optimism about the committee’s efforts, promising that Nigerians would soon have a reason to smile as the committee worked diligently to ease the current hardships.

5. NDLEA Arrests Europe-bound Student With 7.2kg Of Drugs Hidden In Crayfish

A nineteen-year-old student, Benjamin Nnamani Daberechi has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for drug trafficking.

Naija News reports the teenager was arrested with Methamphetamine drugs concealed inside crayfish.

The arrest was confirmed in a statement on Sunday by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to Babafemi, the student was arrested on Wednesday 12th July, during an outward clearance of passengers on a Turkish Airline bound for Europe via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.

Upon interrogation, Daberechi said he is a student on his way to Cyprus for undergraduate studies.

6. Palliative Of N110 Billion For NASS Members Illegal, Outrageous – Falana

Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has described the decision of the National Assembly to allocate N110 billion as palliatives for its members as illegal and contemptuous.

Naija News reports that the allocation of N70 billion, disbursed among 306 newly elected members, in addition to N40 billion set aside for the purchase of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for principal officials and members, has sparked public outrage.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana said the lawmakers are callous and insensitive with their actions, considering the economic hardships endured by the majority of Nigerians as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

The Senior Advocate (SAN) said the decision of the parliament blatantly contravene Section 70 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, which outlines the appropriate remuneration and allowances for members of the National Assembly.

Falana affirmed that the judiciary had already ruled against such excessive allowances to lawmakers, adding that the Federal High Court had declared that the National Assembly Service Commission has no authority to determine the remuneration and allowances of its members.

He stressed that the judgments remain valid and binding, and the National Assembly’s actions are therefore illegal and contemptuous.

The senior lawyer, therefore, called on the leadership and members of the National Assembly to reverse the controversial allowances and the purchase of luxury vehicles.

7. In Final Address, President Tinubu Reveals Why Atiku, Peter Obi’s Petitions Should Be Dismissed

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have given reasons why the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) should dismiss petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and their presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

Naija News reports that Tinubu and Shettima insist that claims that a candidate must score 25 percent of votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be declared president could have been a result of either their misreading of the Constitution or their miscomprehension of the relevant provisions of the nation’s ground norm.

This publication gathered that these submissions were part of their arguments in two sets of final written addresses filed on the petitions by Atiku/PDP and Obi/LP against the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

According to The Nation, the two final addresses were filed on Friday by the Tinubu/Shettima legal team, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

Describing both petitions as strange and hollow, Tinubu and Shettima argued that neither of the two sets of petitions provided relevant evidence to support the claims of the plaintiffs that the election was not held in compliance with relevant laws or that the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the APC were not qualified to contest the election.

8. Why President Tinubu Is Yet To Move Into Aso Villa Residence Weeks After Inauguration

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly yet to move into his official residence at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, six weeks after taking over power from former President Muhammadu Buhari.

While Tinubu is yet to occupy his residence, the President is using his private conference room, office space, and Aso Chambers for crucial meetings.

According to Sunday PUNCH, Tinubu’s moving in has been delayed due to ongoing renovation that began in late April when former President Buhari vacated the 32-year-old structure for a temporary residence called the Glass House.

Although it took Buhari almost three weeks before he moved into his new residence, Presidency sources said the same could not be expected of the new Commander-in-Chief, who is moving in eight years after a previous occupier.

9. President Tinubu Should Focus On Fighting Corruption Not Insecurity – Baba-Ahmed

The spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to focus on fighting corruption in the country.

Speaking in an interview with The Punch, Baba-Ahmed said fighting corruption is very important because it is the root of insecurity, societal corruption, and the erosion of values as Nigerians.

He said if President Tinubu can curb corruption from the processes and operations of the government and from the lives of Nigerians, he can solve the problem of insecurity in a year or two.

The NEF spokesman, however, expressed hope that Tinubu will be able to bring in some bright people who will give him some good ideas on how his government will tackle corruption.

10. Tinubu’s Solution To Poverty, Insecurity Underway – Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the federal government will unveil an initiative that will address insurgency, poverty, and other challenges confronting Nigerians in the coming weeks.

Shettima made the disclosure in a chat with journalists while on a condolence visit to Kano State over the passing away of elder stateman, Alhaji Abubakar Imam Galadanci.

Speaking on the plan to address challenges confronting Nigerians, Shettima said President Tinubu is determined to address the crisis in the North West which is further accentuated by poverty.

Earlier on arrival in Kano, the Vice President received by Governor Abba Yusuf, proceeded to the residence of the Emir of Bichi, HRH, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, where he condoled with him on the passing away of the late Imam Galadanci.

From the Emir of Bichi’s residence, Shettima proceeded to the family compound of the late Alhaji Abubakar Imam Galadanci where he was received by Prof. Shehu Galadanci and Air Vice Marshal Nura Imam (Rtd), on behalf of the extended family.

In a statement by his spokesman, Olusola Abiola, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, expressed his condolences, prayed Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and to also console the entire Galadanci family.

Those are the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.