Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 1st August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 1st August 2023.

1. ‘We Are Working To Increase Minimum Wage’ – President Tinubu To Nigerians

President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that plans are underway to review the country’s minimum wage.

The President on Monday, while addressing Nigerians in his nationwide broadcast, revealed that the federal government is working with labour unions to introduce a new national minimum.

Naija News reports that the President, who acknowledges the hardship created by the removal of the fuel subsidy, said salaries of work would be reviewed upwards.

He said, “In the same vein, we are also working in collaboration with the Labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers. I want to tell our workers this: your salary review is coming.

“Once we agree on the new minimum wage and general upward review, we will make budget provision for it for immediate implementation.

2. What President Tinubu Told Service Chiefs During Decoration With New Ranks

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the newly-decorated Service Chiefs to work together and ensure peace and stability in the country.

Naija News reports that Tinubu stated this on Monday when he decorated the new service chiefs with their new ranks at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a statement by his spokesman, Dele Alake, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of maintaining teamwork, which he credited for the gains recorded so far in the security sector.

Tinubu commended the dedication, commitment, and steadfastness displayed by the armed forces, acknowledging their significant contributions to the nation’s peace and stability.

3. Taking A Bow Doesn’t Mean You Have Been Cleared Or Confirmed – Akpabio To Ministerial Nominees

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, told ministerial nominees on Monday that taking a bow during screening before the Senate does not mean they have been cleared or confirmed.

Naija News reports that Akpabio clarified the screening of a nominee from Anambra State, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye,

Kennedy-Ohanenye, was the first female ministerial nominee to be screened out of the seven females nominated by President Bola Tinubu.

She was the sole female presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election, and she stepped down for Tinubu during the APC presidential primary in June 2022.

After Kennedy-Ohanenye’s introductory comment, Senator Ireti Kingibe from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) asked her colleagues to let the ex-APC presidential aspirant take a bow.

Responding, Akpabio said, “Distinguished Senator Ireti Kingibe, any nominee that comes before us will take a bow, whether the person is cleared or not.

“At the end of the day, we will go into the clearance and the confirmation; we will confirm whether the person is qualified or not, but bowing before the hallowed chamber is a tradition all over the world.

“So, if you are saying others have taken a bow, they took a bow because they entered into the hallowed chamber.

“We have to amend our rules; we have to suspend our rules to allow strangers to come in. So, when they come, they take a bow; the bow does not mean they have been confirmed. So, even if she (Kennedy-Ohanenye) takes a bow, we will still go into the issue of confirmation later.”

4. President Tinubu Reveals How Much Has Been Saved From Subsidy Removal

President Bola Tinubu-led government on Monday disclosed that it has so far saved over N1 trillion after the removal of payment of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol.

Recall that the President on the 29th of May, 2023 during his inauguration, announced the removal of fuel subsidy which has seen the price of petrol in the country increased

The President, in his nationwide broadcast on the state of the economy, noted that his administration has saved N1 trillion following the decision.

5. Gov Sanwo-Olu Reduces Prices Of Lagos BRT Buses, Others

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has slashed the costs of transportation of all state-owned transport systems by 50 per cent.

Naija News gathered that the government took this decision to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu pledged to distribute foodstuff to the vulnerable in the state.

He stressed that the state government is working towards rolling out these palliatives to lessen the pain that the removal of subsidy has brought on the citizens.

The governor added that modalities have also been put in place by the informal transportation sector, especially the yellow buses, to slash their charges by 25 per cent.

According to the governor, the 50 per cent slash in transportation costs by the government will take effect from Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

6. President Tinubu Issues Fresh Order To Tertiary Institutions On Increase Of Fees, Approves Buses For Students

President Bola Tinubu has ordered federal tertiary institutions to stop the arbitrary increase in sundry fees payable by students amid the hardship experienced by Nigerians due to fuel subsidy removal.

The President’s fresh directive was contained in a statement on Monday by his special adviser on communication and strategy, Dele Alake.

The statement also conveyed the approval of the President for buses to be made available for student bodies of all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country to ease the movement of the students and ensure no student misses classes due to the challenges of transportation.

Tinubu also approved the removal of all restrictions on the students’ loans, to make it available to any interested student.

7. President Tinubu Addresses Nigeria, Approves N50 Billion For Small Businesses

President Bola Tinubu on Monday while addressing Nigerians in his nationwide broadcast approved N50 billion for small businesses.

Naija News gathered that the President spoke on the state of the economy.

President Tinubu charged Nigerians to bear the pains associated with the removal of fuel subsidies, assuring them that things would pick up.

8. IGP Egbetokun Establishes Schools Protection Squad

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun as part of his policy geared towards the security of lives and property, most especially the safety of schools and students, has announced the establishment of the Schools Protection Squad (SPS).

The Schools Protection Squad (SPS) is a specialized unit within the Nigeria Police Force tasked with drawing up policies and engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and protection of students, teachers, and school infrastructure. The squad will be equipped with relevant assets and advanced training to effectively respond to security challenges facing educational institutions.

A statement on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the move is a proactive initiative aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions across Nigeria.

In furtherance of the safety drives, the IGP has also concluded plans to launch a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) handbook for the Safe Schools Programme.

Naija News understands the official launch and training event is scheduled to take place on 9th of August 2023, with the participation of 250 individuals drawn from various sectors, including the presidency, executive, judiciary, legislature, security agencies, civil society organizations, media, school administrators, unions, and other stakeholders.

9. President Tinubu Declares Fight Against Economic Policies Favouring The Rich

In a nationwide address on Monday, President Bola Tinubu declared that the economic flaws he’s striving to rectify only benefitted the wealthy.

He cited the removal of fuel subsidy and the implementation of other fiscal policies as part of these corrective measures.

Tinubu noted that resistance is anticipated, stating that “those that benefited from the old order will fight back.”

Despite the opposition, the President pledged to lessen the hardships currently placed on the working class and the most vulnerable citizens due to these changes.

10. Your Report Scripted To Meet Political Needs, Aspirations Of APC – Peter Obi Knocks Economist IU

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has described the prediction of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election report as transactional work poorly done.

Naija News reports that the unit, in its report, predicted that the tribunal would not sack President Bola Tinubu.

Reacting in a statement to Naija News, the Obi-Datti Campaign Organization described the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) political prediction on the eventual outcome of the 25 February presidential election, titled, “When Brigandage Meets Merchantalism,” as appalling.

The council wondered why a highly reputed analytical entity would engage in such a counter-intuitive prediction.

Obi-Datti group notes that for the EIU to predict otherwise seems utterly self-serving and scripted to meet the political needs and aspirations of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the possible facilitator of the report.

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