Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 25th October, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 25th October 2023.

1. President Tinubu Orders Implementation Of Tax Reform Committee Report

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a quick and immediate implementation of the recommendations made by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee across ministries, agencies, and departments of the federal government.

The President gave the order on Tuesday, October 24, after receiving the report on the quick-win achievements of the committee from its chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, at the State House, Abuja.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, told newsmen in Abuja that Tinubu also directed his Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, to liaise with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Oyedele to give effect to the directive.

Furthermore, the President is set to present the recommendations to the Federal Executive Committee (FEC) during their meeting on Monday.

2. Senate Gives Reasons For Purchasing Exotic Vehicles For Lawmakers

The 10th Senate led by Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, justified the purchase of 360 Sports Utility Vehicles for lawmakers.

The decision of the lawmakers in the Red Chamber to purchase exotic cars has been widely condemned in the country.

The Chairman of the Committee on Senate Services, Sunday Karimi, during a press conference on Tuesday, however, stated that Nigerians are picking on lawmakers but ignoring ministers who have about four official vehicles.

Karimi said, “Somebody that is a minister has more than three Land Cruisers, Prado and other vehicles and you are not asking them questions, why us?

“These vehicles that you see, go to Nigeria roads today, If I go home once, my senatorial district, I come back spending a lot on my vehicles because our roads are bad.

“I said the decision that we took on using Land Cruiser is the cost and durability.

3. Why Abia, Imo, Ondo States Should Be Removed From NDDC – Edwin Clark

Prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has called on President Bola Tinubu to remove Abia, Imo and Ondo states from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

According to the elder statesman during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the three states were initially included for the sake of convenience.

He argued further that the presence of Abia, Imo and Ondo States in the 2000 NDDC Act is a political aberration as they are not part of the Niger Delta.

Clark therefore called on President Tinubu to re-enact a new bill for the Niger Delta oil production states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Cross River and Akwa Ibom because according to him, the three states have to be removed for the NDDC to succeed.

4. U.S Court Declines Request To Compel FBI, CIA, IRS To Release Files On Tinubu

A United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington D.C, has denied a request for an urgent release of President Bola Tinubu’s confidential records compiled by American law enforcement authorities.

An American transparency activist, Aaron Greenspan, had filed a motion to order the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other U.S. bodies to immediately turn over records they scheduled for release before the end of October.

Greenspan filed the emergency request after Tinubu deployed lawyers to fight against the release, saying it would violate his privacy, among other statutory rights.

He said Tinubu was trying to stall the release of the documents to foreclose any impact the disclosures may have on the ongoing election dispute at the Nigerian Supreme Court.

But in a ruling on Monday, Judge Beryl Howell denied the hearing to compel the immediate release of the documents, saying that no hearing to determine the merits of the motion is necessary.

Judge Howell, in her decision, said Greenspan did not adequately justify his request for an urgent hearing on his motion for expedited release of records, especially against the need to protect Tinubu’s interest.

5. Peter Obi Sends Strong Message As Supreme Court Adjourns Appeals Challenging Tinubu’s Victory

The presidential candidate of the Labour party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has reminded the Judiciary of its ‘bounding duty’ to protect society’s value system after the apex court adjourned the appeals challenging the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25 election.

It would be recalled that a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by John Okoro, on Monday, adjourned the appeal for judgement after taking the arguments of lawyers to the parties to the case.

Naija News reports that Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) are challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was declared winner of February 25th general elections.

Speaking in a lengthy post on Tuesday, the LP candidate in a statement shared on X and titled: “THE RULE OF LAW AND THE CREDIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP” stressed the judiciary’s role in upholding transparent rulings.

Obi maintained that the rule of law remains the lifeblood of democracy and the foundation for all fundamental rights as humans, adding that when the fairness and transparency of the judiciary is not assured, the rule of law will come under severe threat.

6. What Akeredolu Discussed With Southwest Governors In Ibadan

Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum and Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has disclosed details of his meeting with Southwest governors during a meeting on Tuesday.

Naija News reports that Governors present at the meeting, held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, includes, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti.

Sharing photos of the visit via his X handle, Akeredolu said he met with governors from the region to discuss national and other issues affecting the region and the people.

He appreciated the Governors’ solidarity and harped on continuous collaboration among the Southwest States.

7. Lawmakers Summon CBN Gov Over Decision Of Lifting Ban On 43 Forex Items

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, has been summoned by the House of Representatives regarding the decision to lift the forex ban on 43 items.

Recall that the said items, including toothpicks, and cement, among others, were initially restricted from accessing forex in 2015. As a result, importers of these commodities were compelled to obtain foreign exchange from the black market, often at inflated rates.

However, days after the ban was lifted, the lower legislative chamber on Tuesday passed a resolution during plenary, following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Sada Soli, a lawmaker from Katsina, to summon the CBN governor.

This summon comes at a time of heightened volatility in the FX market, following the consolidation of all trading windows into the investors’ and exporters’ (I&E) window.

While moving the motion, Soli expressed concern that the decision could result in the closure of factories and ultimately weaken the nation’s ability to develop the local economy. He emphasized that the Nigerian economy would be negatively affected by this decision, and there was a possibility that “middlemen” could exploit the new policy.

8. Free Fall Of Naira Shows CBN Leadership Incompetent – Reps Deputy Spokesman

The Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has said that the new leader of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is not meeting with the expectation of Nigerians.

Agbese shared his concerns during a courtesy visit from elder statesman and former Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh.

The lawmaker argued that the current leadership of the apex bank is not different from the previous one led by Godwin Emefiele.

Naija News reports that on Monday the naira had fallen to ₦1,200 per dollar in the official market.

Reacting to the development, Agbese asserted that the spike in the exchange rate of the dollar shows the new leadership is ‘incompetent’.

9. It Is Not Initial Gra Gra, Something Will Happen – Wike Warns Abuja Residents

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has reiterated his resolve and commitment to get things done the right way in Abuja.

Wike on Tuesday during a meeting with the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo cautioned those thinking he would soon calm down to have a change of heart and be ready for what will happen.

According to him, he and the FCT Minister of State have the political will to take steps against defaulters of ground rents in the territory and ensure such persons offset their outstanding liabilities.

The Minister warned that once the grace period is over, actions would be taken to revoke such plots. He added that the era of abandoned projects in the FCT was over.

10. Gumi Using Threats To Secure Negotiation Contract With Bandits – Igboho

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has accused Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, of using subtle threats to secure his negotiation contract with bandits.
The Islamic cleric also labelled the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as “Satan” for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, in his office and planning to collaborate with Israel over security issues in Abuja.

In a statement made available to reporters on Tuesday, Adeyemo berated Gumi over comments that the nation’s security cannot be left with Christians and Southerners.

Adeyemo said Tinubu’s choice of his ministers and their activities should not be used as a decoy by Gumi to obtain the job of negotiating with bandits, as he did under the immediate past government of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

He warned Gumi to refrain from fanning the embers of disunity in Nigeria with his inflammatory statements, which he claimed were capable of causing disaffection among the citizenry.

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