Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 1st November, 2023

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

1. Tinubu Writes Reps, Seeks Approval Of N2.1 Trillion 2023 Budget

President Bola Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives, seeking the approval of the sum of N2.1 trillion as the 2023 supplementary budget.

According to Channels Television, the President also sent the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework & Fiscal Strategy Paper to the House of Representatives for approval.

On Monday, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the 2023 supplementary budget of N2.1 trillion to address labour wage adjustments, security and more.

While speaking after the FEC meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the budget is to fund the urgent issues listed above.

He added that N605 billion out of the money will be used for national defence and security to sustain the gains made in security and to accelerate, and these are funds that the security agencies need before the year runs out.

2. CBN Speaks On Plans To Redenominate Naira

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has dismissed viral reports that it plans to redenominate the naira.

In a statement on Tuesday by its Director, Corporate Communications, Isa AbdulMumin, the CBN expressed surprise over reports that it plans to redenominate the nation’s currency.

The apex bank urged the public to ignore such news, describing it as speculative and calculated to cause panic in the polity.

3. Court Of Appeal Returns Sylva As Bayelsa APC Guber Candidate

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, has restored Timipre Sylva as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

Naija News reports the Appeal Court on Tuesday, upheld Sylva’s appeal against the earlier High Court order which sacked him from the race.

A three-member panel of the appellate court held, in a judgment on Tuesday, October 31, that the Federal High Court, Abuja lacked the jurisdiction to have heard and determined the case filed by Demesuoyefa Kolomo, who described himself as a registered voter and a member of the APC.

According to the appellate court, Kolomo was not a contestant for the APC guber ticket, hence does not have the locus standi to initiate the suit against Sylva’s candidacy.

The court also awarded N1million cost in favour of Sylva.

4. Police Council Confirms Kayode Egbetokun As IGP

The Nigeria Police Council (NPC) has confirmed Kayode Egbetokun as the substantive Inspector-General of Police.

The council confirmed Egebtolun as the Police boss on Tuesday during its inaugural meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

It is understood that the meeting is the first of its kind under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The Nigeria Police Council, which is chaired by the President, is a constitutional body that oversees the organisation and administration of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The governor of each state of the Federation, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and selected ministers make up the Council.

The last time the Nigeria Police Council met was on June 4, 2021 and former President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the meeting.

5. Tinubu Intervenes In Rivers Crisis, Meets Fubara, Wike In Aso Rock

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intervened in the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, made this known while addressing State House correspondents.

Speaking after the maiden Nigeria Police Council (NPC) meeting under the Tinubu administration on Tuesday, Mohammed said Tinubu is currently meeting with the parties involved.

The Bauchi governor said President Tinubu is currently engaged in discussions with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to restore peace in the state.

6. Former NNPP National Chairman, Kaduna Guber Candidate Join APC

A former national chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rufai Ahmed Alkali and the candidate of the NNPP in the March 18 governorship election in Kaduna State, Senator Sulaiman Othman Hunkuyi have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News gathered that the National chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, received them into the party, on Tuesday.

A former national legal adviser of the NNPP and Benue State governorship candidate, Bem Angwe alongside 23 others from the NNPP and PDP also joined the ruling party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Alkali said they didn’t join the APC because it is the ruling party, but that having left the NNPP, the APC remained the best vehicle if they must make progress politically.

7. Appeal Court Declares Natasha Akpoti Real Winner Of Kogi Central Senatorial Election

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan as the rightful winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election.

The Appellate Court in a ruling on Tuesday, affirmed the ruling of the Tribunal which declared Akpoti as the winner of the February 2023 election.

In declaring Akpoti as the winner, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for lacking in merit.

Naija News recalls earlier in September, the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja had nullified the victory of Ohere as the winner of the Kogi Central Senatorial Election.

The APC candidate however appealed the ruling of the tribunal but the the higher court further upheld Akpoti-Uduagan as the winner of the poll.

8. Fubara vs Wike: PDP National Leadership Issues Fresh Directive

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ordered all stakeholders in the crisis currently broiling in Rivers State to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in a statement on Tuesday, signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba said the internal conflict resolution mechanism of the party has been activated.

The party leadership assured that all areas of disagreement would be addressed and called on the members of the party in Rivers State to come together and focus on governance.

It is understood that a leadership tussle between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike has caused heightened political tension in the state.

9. Tinubu To Spend N1.5 Billion On Cars For ‘First Lady’s Office’, N2.9 Billion For SUVs

President Bola Tinubu-led government is planning to spend N1.5 billion on vehicles for the Office of First Lady.

The amount is contained in the supplementary budget sent to the National Assembly for approval.

Naija News had earlier reported that President Tinubu on Tuesday asked the National Assembly to approve the N2.17 trillion supplementary budget.

The budget was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting on Monday.

Despite the hardship in the country, Tinubu and some of his aides and other government officials have repeatedly pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with the administration.

Tinubu had during his inauguration on 29 May removed the petroleum subsidy which has led to over 400 per cent hike in price of petrol at retail outlets.

The President, however, has decided to spend N1.5 billion on vehicles for the Office of the First Lady, an office that is not recognised by the country’s constitution.

Aside from the Office of the First Lady, the government plans to spend another N2.9 billion on Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) for the Presidential Villa, and another N2.9 billion to replace operational vehicles for the presidency.

The government is also proposing to spend N4 billion on the renovation of the residential quarters of the president, and N2.5 billion on the renovation of the vice president’s residence. In all, N28 billion is proposed for the State House.

It is planning to spend N12.5 billion on the Presidential Air Fleet.

10. Rivers Political Crisis Has Been Resolved – PDP Governors

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reacted to the political crisis in Rivers State.

The Chairman of the forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, while addressing newsmen after the emergency meeting of PDP Governors commended President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the political crisis Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

He noted that the political crisis has been resolved.

Mohammed further stated that PDP Governors are happy that there was no interference in the litigations that concerned their election.

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