Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 3rd August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 3rd August 2023.

1. President Tinubu Sends Fresh Ministerial Nominees List To Senate

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday transmitted the list containing the second batch of ministerial nominees to the senate.

Naija News reports that the list was submitted through Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.

The Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, Ekiti-APC, raised “a point of order to allow a stranger approach the chamber” which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Simon Mwadwon, PDP, Plateau.

At exactly 03:18, Gbajabiamila walked into the chamber to hand over the list to Akpabio.

The list contains nominees from the remaining states of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Gombe, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Plateau, Osun, Yobe and Zamfara.

The list was later unveiled by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

2. ‘No Kobo Saved’ – NLC Counters Tinubu’s N1Trillion Claim On Fuel Subsidy Removal

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rubbished the claims by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that N1 trillion has been saved since his government ended the era of fuel subsidy payment.

Naija News reports that President Tinubu, during his nationwide broadcast on Monday, declared that not less than N1 trillion had been saved since the removal of the fuel subsidy.

However, while speaking on Wednesday during the ongoing nationwide protest of organized labour, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said no dime had been saved from the latest policy as claimed by the Nigerian leader.

Ajaero, who co-led the protest to the National Assembly complex in Abuja alongside his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, said: “Mr President talked about N1trillion saved. The committee when we met, told us that no one kobo has been saved so far. Therefore, we have not agreed on what to pay anywhere.”

3. Organised Labour Members Break Down National Assembly Gate, Force Way Into Premises

Members of the Organised Labour, on Wednesday, kicked down the first gate of the National Assembly complex and forced their way into the premises.

Naija News gathered that the protester, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, and Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Festus Osifo, had earlier asked security operatives stationed at the legislative building to open the gate to allow the angry workers to express their displeasure.

Following the failure of the security officials to adhere, angry protesters pulled down the gate and subsequently moved to the second gate of the Assembly Complex.

Recall that the Organised Labour and their affiliate unions, today, kicked off a protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and other states of the Federation, including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.

The protesters, in their hundreds, convened at the Unity Fountain, from where they marched to the NASS Complex.

4. INEC Has Nothing To Hide Regarding 2023 Election – Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it had nothing to hide regarding the conduct of the 2023 General elections.

Naija News reports that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at the Post Election Review of the 2023 General Elections with Media Stakeholders in Lagos.

The chairman admitted that despite the challenges during the last elections, many positive things came out of the 2023 elections.

Yakubu added that there would be continuous improvement by the commission in the conduct of elections nationwide.

5. Osinbajo To Miss APC Caucus Meeting With President Tinubu, Gives Reason

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has excused himself from the scheduled national caucus meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) set to hold today.

This was made known in a statement on Wednesday by his media aide, Laolu Akande.

Naija News earlier reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will host some APC stalwarts including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and other heavyweight members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s National Caucus meeting.

However, Osinbajo in an apology letter addressed to the APC acting National Chairman said he was already abroad for another engagement, hence won’t be available for the party’s caucus meeting.

He added that he had canceled some previous appointments to accommodate the APC meetings which were later postponed unfortunately.

The former Vice President however reiterated his loyalty and commitment to the party and wished the members fruitful delibrations.

6. Tinubu, Labour Leaders In Closed Meeting After Nationwide Protest

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday held a closed door meeting with members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the presidential villa in Aso Rock Abuja.

Naija News had earlier reported that the unions embarked on protests across States in the country on Wednesday over the removal of petrol subsidy without adequate palliative measures.

The unions, through planned protest, expressed displeasure over what it described as the unfavorable policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led government.

The meeting has in attendance the NLC president Joe Ajaero, TUC president Festus Osifo, and other delegates.

7. NMA Declares Indefinite Strike Over Death Of Doctor In Lagos Hospital

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), on Wednesday, declared an indefinite strike over the death of their colleague, Dr Diaso Vwaere, a medical house officer.

Recall that Dr Vwaere died as a result of injuries sustained when she was trapped in an elevator at the Lagos General Hospital for more than 40 minutes.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu and Dr Ismail Ajibowo, respectively, NMA declared a 5-day statewide mourning over Vwaere’s death.

The association called on all doctors in the three State Hospitals to commence indefinite strike, while demanding an investigation and justice for their deceased colleague.

8. Ejimakor Remains Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer – Family Disagrees With IPOB

Barely 48 hours after the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) sacked Barrister Aloy Ejimakor as the special counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the family of the detained Biafra agitator has countered the move.

Naija News recalls the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in a statement on Tuesday by its publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, sacked Nnamdi Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

According to Powerful, Ejimafor has ceased to be the special counsel of the pro-Biafra activist.

But Kanu’s family in a statement on Wednesday signed by Prince Kingsley Kanunta Kanu said Ejimakor retains his position. The statement added that the release by Powerful is false and defamatory.

Prince Kanu added that Ejimakor remains the IPOB leader’s lawyer until Kanu himself says otherwise. He added that both Powerful and the IPOB DOS are not in the position to make personal decisions for Kanu.

9. Reject FG’s Palliative Fraud, Obaseki Backs NLC Protest

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has supported the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in its nationwide protests against the federal government over fuel subsidy removal.

Obaseki called on organised labour to tackle the federal government over palliatives it was planning to distribute to Nigerians to ameliorate the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

The governor said this on Wednesday during the NLC protest while addressing members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

He said his administration will disburse N500 million monthly to poor households in the State as palliative to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

Obaseki reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of workers and all Edo people, saying that his government will sustain efforts to reduce the suffering and hardship inflicted on the people by the federal government.

10. NLC Protest: Ndume Takes Swipe At Police Officers, Urges Tinubu To Negotiate With Labour

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, on Wednesday, frowned at Police officers at the National Assembly entrance gate over the refusal to allow the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to gain access to the Assembly complex to present their demands.

Naija News earlier reported that members of the Organised Labour kicked down the first gate of the National Assembly complex and forced their way into the premises.

The protesters, led by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Festus Osifo, had earlier asked security operatives stationed at the legislative building to open the gate to allow the angry workers to express their displeasure.

Following the failure of the security officials to adhere, angry protesters pulled down the gate and subsequently moved to the second gate of the Assembly Complex.

Speaking at the rally, Joe Ajaero, said Nigerians are suffocating under the present administration as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy and its attendant hike in fuel prices.

The Senate Chief Whip, who represented the upper legislative chamber leadership, condemned the blocking of the workers from having access to the National Assembly, asserting that it was the poor that are always fighting against the poor.

He pleaded with the organised labour to suspend the protest and give the National Assembly one week to look into their grievances and demands.

Ndume also said that President Bola Tinubu or the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, should directly negotiate with organised labour.

He also urged Tinubu to listen to Nigerians, and not the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, IMF, whose policies they claimed are anti-people.

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