Good morning, Nigerians! Today, we’ll highlight the biggest news stories from Nigeria’s top newspapers for Thursday, September 28, 2023.
Strike: How labour veterans got NLC, TUC to close ranks
On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterparts, announced to Nigerians, especially workers, that the two labour centres would jointly prosecute the planned nationwide indefinite strike starting on October 3, 2023.
Until then, the two centres had been in a cold war and worked at cross purposes to the detriment of the suffering masses especially workers, who are bearing the brunt of the removal of subsidy on petrol.
Covenant, UI, FUTA, Unilag ranked top universities in Nigeria
Academic Ranking Website, Times Higher Education has released a ranking of Top Universities in the world with Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and the University of Lagos emerging top in the 2024 rating.
Covenant University, stands at the top spot in Nigeria, while the University of Ibadan followed in second, FUTA emerged third, the University of Lagos and the University of Bayero emerged fourth and fifth in Nigeria, respectively.
Oct 1: ‘False, misleading’ — Tinubu ‘ll not announce new wage for workers, says Labour Ministry
The Ministry of Labour says the report that President Bola Tinubu would announce a wage award to workers on Independence Day is untrue.
This is contained in a statement issued Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour on Wednesday in Abuja.
As Tinubu Returns… Labour Strike, Fuel Crisis, Others Beg For Attention
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returns to Nigeria, almost after two weeks away from the country, he will be greeted by harsh socio-economic conditions that have deteriorated within the period.
Tinubu had departed Nigeria on September 17 for New York, United States, for this year’s UNGA where he acknowledged the pains Nigerians were going through as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy by his administration.
The president had shortly after taking the reins of power on May 29 declared an end to the subsidy regime, a policy pronouncement has brought about acute hardship with prices of food, fuel and other essential commodities soaring, leading to industrial unrest.
Consequently, as Tinubu returns to Nigeria, he would be welcomed by the planned strike by organised labour which would kick off on Tuesday, October 3.
NASS Budget Has Been Stagnant For 13 Years – Abbas
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said the annual budget of the National Assembly (NASS) has been stagnant for 13 years despite inflation and the attendant consequences.
Abbas said notwithstanding, the expenditure of the federal legislature had gone up within the period, but without commensurate budgetary provisions to back it up.
He made the assertion yesterday in Abuja when a delegation from the African Business Roundtable visited him.
Floating Naira: Importers Abandon Tokunbo Cars At Seaport
Due to the rise in foreign exchange rate, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, said vehicle importers abandoned thousands of imported fairly used vehicles at the seaport.
Speaking when members of the Association of Nigerian Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) paid him a courtesy visit, the Customs area controller, Tin Can Island Command, Compt. Dera Nnadi, expressed worry over the continued drop in cargo throughput at the command.
Compt. Nnadi stated that the number of vehicles throughput into the command had continued to dwindle from 32,000 in 2018 to a mere 4,000 units in 2023.
Chicago academic record: Atiku plans fresh suit against Tinubu
The legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is planning to file a motion to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s plea for Chicago State University not to release privileged documents in his academic records.
The Special Adviser to Atiku on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, disclosed to The PUNCH that the legal team had up to 48 hours to respond to the motion in the US court.
Atiku had earlier secured an order for CSU to make the president’s academic records available to his legal team.
A magistrate, Jeffrey Gilbert, had last week ordered Tinubu’s alma mater to provide all relevant and non-privileged documents to the applicant within two days.
Labour faults FG’s meeting, insists on indefinite strike
The National Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress, Tommy Etim, said nothing would stop the strike, noting that Nigerian workers were disenchanted with the Federal Government.
He stated that the unions had given the government sufficient time to address their demands, stressing that the workers would not allow themselves to be deceived any longer.
Mohbad: I’m ready to return if my safety is guaranteed – Naira Marley
Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley has said he is ready to return to Nigeria to clear his name over his alleged involvement in the death of his former label signee, Mohbad.
Naira Marley made the disclosure on Wednesday during an interview session with Social Media influencer, Reno Omokri.
Expect 48-hour downpour in FCT, Edo, 23 states, NiMET alerts
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has notified the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Edo, Kwara, and 22 other states of 48-hour downpour beginning on Thursday.
In its weekly heavy rainfall forecast bulletin released on Wednesday, the agency told the residents to also expect flash floods.
Other states listed are Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Delta, Bayelsa, Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, and Benue.
