Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 5th August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 5th August 2023.

President Tinubu’s 48 Ministers While Imposing Austerity On Nigerians

There is no better illustration of Nigeria’s political leaders acting like drunken sailors having a revelry in a sinking ship than the bogus appointments they’ve been making despite the precarious fiscal state of the country. Nigerians thought they have seen it all when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas appointed 33 aides until Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State gleefully announced his appointment of 47 media aides. As if trying to outdo themselves, President Bola Tinubu has now broken an all-time record by appointing nominating 48 ministers to serve in his government. Not even when the economy was buoyant did any President amass such a large cabinet. Yet, this is a President who has implemented the harshest of economic policies that severely pauperized Nigerians.

In a bid to beat the 60-day post-inauguration deadline set for him by the Constitution, Tinubu on July 27 transmitted the first batch of nominees containing 28 names to the Senate. A few days later, he followed up with another list of 19 ministerial nominees which were also presented to the upper legislative chambers by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Amid criticism against his nomination of the high number of ministers ever, Tinubu in a communication read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio on Friday added one more nominee bringing the total number to 48. It will perhaps make more sense to look at this development from a historical perspective.

Niger: ECOWAS Chiefs Of Defence Meet In Abuja, Give Fresh Directive On Military Intervention

The Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African Nations (ECOWAS) member countries on Friday held another meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city over the coup in Niger Republic.

Naija News reports the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff after their meeting, urged Niger’s Military to give peace a chance by releasing President Muhamed Bazoum and return the country to Democracy.

The West African defence chiefs have however made a plan for potential military intervention in Niger.

But according to the ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, the regional bloc will not divulge to the coup plotters when and where it will strike. He added that the decision will be taken by the heads of state.

Coup: President Tinubu Closes Nigeria’s Land Borders Against Niger Republic

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the closure of all of Nigeria’s land borders with the Republic of Niger following the recent military coup in the country.

This development was made known on Friday by the Acting Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi Adewale who added that the move is based on agreements by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after the coup in Niger Republic.

Speaking to newsmen in Jibia after a visit to Nigeria’s border facilities with Niger, in Katsina State on Friday, Adewale said the customs service is poised to carry out the President’s directive to the letter.

President Tinubu Nominates Keyamo As Minister

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated the immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, as a minister.

Tinubu announced the nomination in a letter addressed to the Senate and read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Friday.

Recall that Keyamo had said it is an aberration to appoint a Minister of State, adding that the designation is unconstitutional.

He stated this while making a speech during a valedictory session chaired by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May.

Nigerian Navy Breaks Silence Over Vessel Allegedly Carrying Stolen Crude

The Nigerian Navy has reacted to the allegation of a vessel allegedly carrying stolen crude that Tantita Security Services intercepted.

Naija News recalls that on Wednesday, news broke that a vessel carrying 8,100 barrels of crude oil believed to have been stolen was intercepted by a private security company owned by Government Ekpemupolo, popularly called Tompolo, an ex-Niger Delta agitator.

Tantita Security recently entered into an agreement with the federal government to fish and bring boom oil thieves into the country to account.

The private security had claimed that the 1,117-tonne vessel was purported to be flying a Togolese flag and was being escorted by a Navy boat led by a senior naval commander.

President Tinubu Withdraws Nomination Of Maryam Shetty As Minister

President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the nomination of Maryam ‘Shetty’ Shettima as a ministerial nominee from Kano State.

Recall that the President had sent the name of the nominee alongside 48 other names to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation.

In a letter sent to the Senate on Friday, the President replaced Shettima’s name with Dr Mairiga Mahmud without stating the reason for the withdrawal.

This was revealed when Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out a letter by the President at Friday’s plenary session.

‘Heads May Roll’ – Lagos Assembly Probes Elevator Incident

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday commenced a probe of the elevator accident that led to the death of a medical doctor, Vwaere Diaso, promising to ensure justice for the deceased.

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.

The House held a one-minute silence in honour of the deceased while sympathising with the family and friends of the late doctor as well as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who set up a committee to investigate the accident, said a proper probe of the incident which happened recently at the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, was needed to ensure proper management and safety of lives.

‘I Don’t Blame You, President Tinubu Endorsed Criminality’ – Deji Adeyanju, Dokubo Fight On Live Programme

Human rights activist and political analyst, Deji Adeyanju, recently clashed with former Niger Delta Militant leader, Asari Dokubo, during a Mic-On podcast.

Adeyanju accused Dokubo of being more disruptive than the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu during his peak as a Niger Delta militant.

Dokubo has been openly critical of Kanu, who is currently in the custody of Nigeria’s security service and has called on the Federal Government not to release him.

The conversation escalated on air as Adeyanju and Dokubo traded heated words, signifying a serious disagreement between the two figures.

Anxiety As Over 500 Federal Civil Service Directors Are Set To Lose Their Jobs

Not less than 512 civil servants on the directorate level of the federal civil service in Nigeria may be forced into early retirement with the development generating mixed reactions.

This is based on the newly revised Public Service Rules (PSR), 2021, by the Federal Government which takes effect from July 27, 2023, and was launched by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on July 28, 2023, in Abuja.

The revised PSR states that directors who have been in their position for eight years or more would have to turn in their notice of early retirement. The rule also said permanent would spend four years in office but their own tenures would be renewable for another four years based on performance.

Niger Coup Leaders Withdraw Ambassadors To Nigeria, Three Others

The military junta in Niger, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, has announced the end of the mandates of ambassadors to four countries.

Naija News reports the spokesman of the military junta said this in a statement read on the country’s national television.

The coup leaders said the mandate of the Nigerien Ambassadors to France, Nigeria, Togo, and the United States have been terminated.

He said: “The functions of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger to France, Nigeria, Togo and the United States are terminated.”

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