Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 2nd November, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 2nd November 2023.

1. ‘If You Cannot Perform, Leave My Govt’ – Tinubu Challenges Ministers, Others

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said government officials and appointees who cannot assist in ensuring the success of his administration and delivering on the expectations of Nigerians are free to leave.

Naija News reports that Tinubu stated this on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day retreat with the theme, “Delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda,” organised for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries, and top government officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He reiterated his commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians irrespective of whether they are affiliated with political parties, saying the country is one big family with people partitioned into different rooms.

President Tinubu noted that at the end of the retreat, a bond of understanding would be signed between the participants and himself, insisting he has given them a free hand to carry out their responsibilities and advised them to ask questions about how and when to do their jobs.

2. NLC President Joe Ajaero Hospitalized In Imo, Eyes Completely Shut

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has been hospitalized in Imo State after he was brutally beaten according to a top official of the Labour Union.

The NLC head of Information and Publicity, Comrade Benson Upah said Ajaero’s right eye was completely shut at the time of making contact.

He stated that the NLC President was beaten up, blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where he was brutalized.

He added that the NLC President’s phones, money, and other personal effects were taken off him and yet to be returned.

According to Upah, Ajaero is currently hospitalized and receiving attention at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri.

3. ‘If I Want To Do Something, I Will Do It’ – Wike Defends Impeachment Plot Against Fubara

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said impeachment was not equivalent to a military coup as it has constitutional backing.

Naija News reports that Wike asserted during a courtesy visit by the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Bala Mohammed, and his counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), and Agbu Kefas (Traba), over the crisis rocking Rivers State.

Wike, a former Rivers governor, had worked for the emergence of Siminalayi Fubara as his successor, but the duo fell out in less than six months.

However, a crisis erupted at the Rivers House of Assembly on Monday over the move to impeach Governor Fubara, which led to protest in the state by some aggrieved youths.

In his chat with the PDP governor, Wike said he can not be intimidated, dismissing the rumours of interest in money belonging to Rivers state.

He reiterated that nobody can take away the political structure of the state.

Wike also appreciated the Governor’s Forum for the visit and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the privilege to serve as FCT Minister, while reiterating his support for the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

4. Appeal Court Sacks Suswam As Senator

A former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam has been sacked by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja from the Senate.

The appellate court, on Wednesday, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, said it was satisfied that Suswam was not the valid winner of the senatorial election that held in Benue North East on February 25.

It faulted the judgement of the Benue State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which returned Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Senate.

The tribunal had nullified the election victory of Emmanuel Udende of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the appellate court, the tribunal wrongly evaluated the evidence that was presented before it by the parties in the matter and thereby arrived at an erroneous conclusion that upheld the petition Suswam filed to challenge Udende’s election victory.

Consequently, the court voided the judgement of the tribunal, saying it found merit in the appeal that was lodged before it by the APC candidate.

5. Tinubu Writes Senate, Seeks Approval For $7.8bn, €100m In Borrowing Plan

President Bola Tinubu has requested the Senate to approve the sums of $7.8 billion and €100 million in his administration’s proposed 2022–2024 borrowing plan.

The president made the request in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

6. Senate Confirms 7 REC Nominees For INEC

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday screened and confirmed seven nominees for the position of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Naija News recalls President Bola Tinubu had nominated ten persons for the REC positions for a five-year term each in accordance with the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution.

Earlier, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had ready Tinubu’s letter requesting legislative confirmation for the nominees during Wednesday’s plenary.

Those screened and confirmed by the Senators are:

Etekamba Umoren — Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner

Isah Shaka Ehimeakne — Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner

Oluwatoyin Babalola — Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner

Abubakar Ahmed Ma’aji — Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner

Shehu Wahab — Kwara State Resident Electoral Commissioner

Aminu Kasimu Idris — Nasarawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner

Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq – Niger State Resident Electoral Commissioner

However, REC nominees from Rivers State, Anugbum Onuoha, Zamfara State, Isma’ila Kaura Moyi, and Lagos State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, did not appear for screening.

7. There Is Nothing Wrong If Father And Son Have Problem, Fight – Fubara

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, on Wednesday, said there is no political crisis in the state.

The governor stated that the issue involving himself and his predecessor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is an internal issue which will be resolved soon.

Fubara stated this when the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, led a military delegation to the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The governor said there is nothing wrong for a father and a son to have problems, stressing that all issues, if any, will be resolved.

8. Senate Confirms Shaakaa Chira As Auditor-General Of The Federation

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, confirmed the nomination of Shaakaa Chira as the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF).

Naija News recalls President Bola Tinubu had earlier transmitted the name of Chira to the Senate for confirmation of appointment as the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF).

Recall that President Tinubu had on Friday, 20th October, appointed Chira as the substantive Auditor-General of the Federation, as recommended by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

The announcement was made in a statement released by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.

He said the appointment was done in the exercise of powers vested in him by Section 86 of the 1999 Constitution (Amended).

Ngelale said the president approved Chira’s appointment after the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) conducted a screening exercise that identified him as the most qualified candidate who had also scored the highest in the examination amongst all qualified candidates for the office.

9. Rivers Assembly Restrained From Impeaching Governor Fubara

The Rivers State House of Assembly has been restrained from carrying out any move relating to the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Naija News reports that a Rivers State High Court in Isiokpo Division in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state issued an interim order which restrained the Rivers Assembly and Speaker, Martin Amaewhule from impeaching the governor.

The motion ex parte was filed by Governor Fubara through his lawyer, Damian Okoro (SAN), earlier on Wednesday.

Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi were also served the restraining order.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Ben Whyte, issued the order following a suit filed against the defendants and directed that parties should maintain the status quo pending the determination of the Motion on Notice and thereafter adjourned to November 14.

10. Imo Police Deny Arresting NLC President, Says He Is In ‘Protective Custody’

The Imo State Police Command has denied reports suggesting that it arrested the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.

Spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Okoye Henry, in a statement on Wednesday, denied arresting the union’s president, stating that the union leader was only taken into protective custody.

The Police comment comes as the labour organization threatened a nationwide strike in response to the arrest of its national president.

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