Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 30th July, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 30th July 2023.

DSS Grills Kogi APC Governorship Candidate, Ododo

The Department of State Services (DSS) has grilled the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo.

Naija News learnt that Ododo was invited to the office of the DSS for investigation over a petition against him reportedly by some members of the opposition party in the state.

Confirming the event, the spokesperson to the Kogi State Government, Kingsley Fanwo, took to his social media page to reveal that Ododo willingly honoured an invitation by the DSS.

However, Fanwo, who accompanied the APC governorship candidate to the DSS office, did not reveal the allegations in the petition. He rather described the allegations as “frivolous and unfounded”, maintaining that the APC governorship candidate honoured the invitation by DSS “to respect a constituted authority.”

Nnamdi Kanu’s Family Confirms His Handwritten Letter Ending Sit-At-Home

The family of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has verified the authenticity of a handwritten letter purportedly penned by Kanu himself.

The letter, which calls for an end to all “sit-at-home” protests in the southeast, was shown to the world by Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, during a press conference on Friday.

However, Simon Ekpa, who identifies himself as the Prime Minister of Biafra, has rejected the claim, stating that the letter did not originate from Kanu.

Senate Divided Over Ministerial Nominee Screening Process

As the Senate prepares to commence the screening of President Bola Tinubu‘s 28 ministerial nominees tomorrow, a distinct divide has emerged regarding the proposed process.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Majority Leader, and Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, insist the screening will be thorough and that nominees will not be allowed to merely “take a bow and go” without facing questions.

However, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the former Senate Minority Leader, strongly disagrees, predicting no si

President Tinubu To Create, Scrap, Merge Some Ministries

Days after the submission of the first batch of ministerial nominees to the Senate, President Bola Tinubu plans to restructure some federal government ministries.

Some will be merged, others will be created, and a few will be scrapped.

This reshuffle is based on the Stephen Oronsaye report’s recommendations on restructuring the civil service.

According to Punch, President Tinubu is set to implement some of these recommendations.

The Ministries of Education, Youths and Sports Development, Agricultural and Rural Development, Solid Minerals, Works and Housing, Power, and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development are among those being considered for restructuring. These changes will also lead to the creation of new ministries.

Why I Said ‘Let The Poor Breathe In Senate’ – Akpabio

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, addressed criticisms received in response to a sarcastic comment made during a recent plenary session.

The comment, “Let the poor breathe,” was made in reference to stopping tariff hikes by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and distribution companies (DisCos).

During a motion presented by Senator Akintunde Abiodun of Oyo State, Akpabio employed the phrase, leading to public scrutiny and criticism.

Resident Doctors Reject FG’s 25% Pay Raise Proposal

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) rejected a government proposal on Saturday to increase doctors’ basic salaries by 25%, stating that it doesn’t meet their original demand.

The doctors insist on the complete restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to its 2009 value, as per their demand made to the federal government on July 5, 2023.

The doctors’ refusal, outlined in a communique signed by President Dr Orji Emeka Innocent, Secretary-General Dr Chikezie Kelechi, and Publicity & Social Secretary Dr Uma Musa, effectively extends the ongoing nationwide strike.

APC Chairmanship: Ganduje Gets Backing From Abacha’s Ex-Aide, Middle Belt Elders

Former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, has received the support of General Lawrence Onoja, a former Principal Staff Officer to the late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to become the All Progressives Congress (APC) new national chairman.

Recall that APC’s former National Chairman and Secretary, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, respectively, resigned last week, hence, the call for a replacement in their offices.

Reports obtained by Naija News on Saturday morning revealed, however, that some Middle Belt elders of the APC and Onoja have thrown their weight behind Ganduje to succeed Adamu.

According to The PUNCH, the zonal party elders, however, gave a caveat that Ganduje should only be allowed to serve in an acting capacity pending the conduct of a national convention.

President Tinubu’s Ministerial Nominees Stirs Up Political Tensions

Just a day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent a list of 28 potential ministers to the Senate, political tensions have flared up in ten key states that have not yet seen any nominees.

Prominent figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in these states have reportedly increased their lobbying efforts.

Some have turned to current and former governors, presidential aides, and others with influence over the president to make their case.

Naija News had earlier reported that President Tinubu’s list of nominees, announced on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, includes a wide range of names.

How Lagos Govt Refused To Release Body Of Slain Journalist, Other #EndSARS Victims For Three Years

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s led government of Lagos State has been enmeshed again in controversies surrounding the aftermath of the nationwide #EndSARS protest that birthed the reported massacre at the Lekki Tollgate in October 2020.

After three years, reports revealed how the state government kept away the body of a journalist, Pelumi Onifade, who was killed on October 25, 2020, allegedly by a police task force team led by one Yinka Egbeyemi.

It was gathered that Onifade, who was an intern journalist at the time, was interviewing a crowd of people assembled at a place where COVID-19 palliative was being looted in Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos, but never lived to tell the story as he first went missing, then found dead.

It’s Unfair To Accept Ministerial Appointment At My Age – Says El-Rufai In Old Video

A video has surfaced on social media showing the moment the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, said it was not fair for him to return as minister at his current age.

Naija News could not ascertain the exact date and where the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain made the statement.

However, in the old viral video now viral on the internet, El-Rufai, who was addressing a group of people in the Hausa language, recalled that he served as minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 under former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

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