Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 18th October, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 18th October 2023.

1. Tinubu Launches Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme For 15 Million Households

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, launched the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme for 15 million households.
The President represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, launched the programme at an event held at the Press Gallery of the State House in Abuja.

Recall that the President had in his maiden Independence Day broadcast to Nigerians on October 1, 2023, announced the cash transfer programme which he said would target vulnerable citizens.

In attendance at the event are the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Eradication, Betta Edu; Minister Of Finance, Wale Edun; World Bank Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri; and the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator For Nigeria, Matthias Schmale; among other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, which coincided with the World Poverty Eradication Day, the humanitarian affairs minister said the 15 million households represent 62 million Nigerians.

She said that the sum of N25,000 would be transferred to the beneficiaries on a monthly basis for three months, which amounts to N75,000 for each of the beneficiaries.

2. Tinubu Is Running An ‘Animal Farm’ Economy – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that the latest inflation figure of 26.72% and food inflation of 30.6% underscores the incompetence and cluelessness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement on Tuesday to Naija News, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said Tinubu’s disingenuous removal of petrol subsidy, shoddy exchange rate unification policy, and uninformed introduction of VAT on diesel were among the reasons for the high inflation rate.

Atiku’s aide described the eventual removal of VAT on diesel as belated and evidence of the arbitrary nature of Tinubu’s administration.

He said Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security was nothing but mere rhetoric as food prices had continued to soar coupled with a hike in the cost of transportation and dilapidated federal roads that had made interstate travel unbearable.

3. Senate Holds Emergency Closed Session After Ali Ndume Stages Walkout

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, called for an emergency closed session of the Senate during plenary on Tuesday, Naija News reports.

It was gathered the emergency closed session was a sequel to a walkout of the chambers by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, after Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order.

The Senate Chief Whip was reported to have cited order 54 of the Senate Standing Orders and raised a point of order.

Ndume, after raising the order, called the Senate President’s attention to his approach to handling issues and how he disagrees with it.

However, Akpabio interjected at that point and called for a copy of the Standing Orders.

He proceeded to read order 54 and said it did not support the point Ndume was making and thereafter ruled him out of order.

Following this, Ndume packed files papers on his desk and, stormed out of the Chamber and went straight to his office.

He was reportedly just settling down when he received a call from a colleague to return to the chamber for an executive session.

4. President Tinubu Has Reintroduced Fuel Subsidy Without Telling Us – Agbakoba

A senior lawyer, and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has alleged that President Bola Tinubu has reintroduced fuel subsidy without telling Nigerians.

Agbakoba in an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday argued that Nigerians can’t be buying fuel for as low as N600 to N700 based on current market forces if truly subsidy was no longer in play.

According to him, if international fuel prices are applied, petrol should be selling between N1000 to ₦1,100 per litre at the moment in Nigeria.

He added that all over the world, there is no government that doesn’t subscribe to subsidy in one form or the other.

5. Peter Obi Won 2023 Presidential Election – Ex-SGF, Lawal

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal on Tuesday claimed that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, won the February 25 presidential election.

According to Lawal, the election was not won by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu who was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He further stated that available factual data as aggregated from several independent sources indicated that Obi got the majority votes while the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar came second in the election.

Lawal noted that President Tinubu came a distant third in the number of votes scored.

6. Ministers To Sign Performance Bond With Tinubu

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, on Tuesday, said each minister would sign a performance bond with President Bola Tinubu.

Bala-Usman stated this during an interview with TVC News on Tuesday, adding that the bond will contain key performance indicators (KPIs) that would be reviewed quarterly.

She further said that the bond will also come with a consequence management framework for appointees who fall short.

Bala-Usman added that Nigerians would see a remarkable difference in governance with the way the president manages his team.

7. Labour Party Faction Gives Peter Obi 48-Hour Ultimatum To Make Academic Records Public

The faction of the Labour Party (LP) has given its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, a 48-hour ultimatum to make all his academic records public and clarify all the discrepancies in his certificates or be suspended by the party.

The factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, gave Obi the ultimatum in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Arabambi condemned the spokesman for the Peter Obi/Datti Ahmed presidential campaign council, Tanko Yinusa, for claiming that the allegation that Obi was impersonating his late elder brother was a farce.

Arabambi stated that it must first be made clear to the public that there was no evidence provided by Obi against the allegations of forgery, impersonation and inconsistencies contained in his school certificate, the University of Nigeria Nsukka certificate and NYSC certificate.

He stated that the failure of Obi to clarify the discrepancies within the next 48 hours would attract his suspension from the party.

8. Aiyedatiwa’s Impeachment: Ganduje Reveals Outcome Of Meeting With Ondo Lawmakers

The National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Tuesday, said the Ondo State House of Assembly has agreed to suspend the ongoing impeachment process against the state deputy governor, Lucky Ayiedatiwa.

Ganduje revealed this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, after a closed-door meeting with members of the reconciliation committee.

Naija News gathered that the meeting lasted for about two hours at the APC national secretariat.

Chairman of the reconciliation committee and former governor of Kastina State, Aminu Masari also said, “For now, the probe and impeachment process have been suspended to allow room for the committee to work.”

9. Akeredolu Speaks On Returning To Germany For Further Treatment

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led government has debunked the report claiming that the Ondo State Governor is set to return to Germany for medical vacation.

The state government in a statement released through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde described the report as a figment of the imagination of evil-minded politicians.

Olatunde further stated that the report is concocted and planted by drowning politicians who are still nursing the pains of defeated expectations.

Contrary to the claims made by the opposition, Governor Akeredolu is diligently fulfilling his duties. Activities are ongoing in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and the governor is actively engaged in addressing state matters.”

10. ‘We Are Shocked, Disappointed’ – Labour Party Condemns N160 Million Car Gift To Lawmakers, Issues Directive

The Julius Abure-led Labour Party (LP) has expressed shock, sadness, and disappointment over plans to purchase vehicles worth N160 million each to members of the National Assembly.

Naija News reports that the Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi, had confirmed the distribution of Toyota Prado SUVs worth N160 million to each lawmaker.

The lawmaker said it is the tradition of the National Assembly to procure utility vehicles for members, noting that the cars will be needed for oversight functions in the discharge of their duties within the standing committees.

Reacting in a statement on Tuesday obtained by Naija News, Abure called on all Labour Party legislators in the 10th National Assembly to kick against this unnecessary wastage of resources.

He urged the present administration to, in the interest of Nigeria, retrace its steps and give priority to revamping the economy instead of its current obsession with luxury living.

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