Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 29th August, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 29th August 2023.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the newly inaugurated ministers to deliver an all-inclusive economy for all Nigerians.

The President stated this on Monday at the inaugural Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Setting the tone for his administration, the President asked the cabinet members to address the current unemployment rate in the country, which he said was unacceptable.

President Tinubu also addressed the heightened expectations and challenging circumstances in the country, urging his cabinet members not to dissapoint him and all Nigerians.

According to the president, key concerns of his administration include unacceptable unemployment levels and the looming threat of climate change.

Tinubu also called for decisive action to reform the economy for sustainable growth and enhance national security to attract investments.

He further urged the ministers to collaborate with each other while underscoring the essence of leadership.

President Bola Tinubu has barred all government officials with no proof of any direct participation in the official schedules for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) activities from travelling to New York for the event.

The President in a statement on Monday released by his spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, emphasized that the move is part of efforts to reduce the cost of governance.

According to his directive, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to freeze the processing of visas for all such government officials while the U.S. Mission in Nigeria is accordingly advised not to approve such visa.

The President added that if any excess or anomaly is still observed despite his directive, such affected persons would be removed during the final verification process.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has ordered the compulsory retirement of four Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) from the services of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the directive from the PSC, the retirement is in the exercise of its statutory powers, pursuant to the Third Schedule, Part 1 M, para A&B of the 1999 Constitution, reinforced with Section 6 of the Commissions (Establishment) Act 2001, para a, c, d, e, &f,.

Those affected by the directive are DIGs Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Moses Ambakina Jitiboh, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa, and Adeleke Adeyinka Bode.

The retirement of the top Police Officers follows the appointment of their junior, Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector-General of Police by President Bola Tinubu.

The PSC said the retired DIGs were expected to turn in their resignation letters following Egbetokun’s appointment but since they failed to do so within the ample time frame available to them, the commission took the initiative to retire them.

A statement on Monday by the spokesman for the PSC, Ikechukwu Ani added that the commission also approved the elevation of four Assistant Inspectors General of Police to the rank of Deputy Inspectors General of Police which would be subject to ratification by the Board of the commission to replace the retired DIGs.

The newly appointed DIGs are Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje; Daniel Sokari-Pedro, Ayuba Ekpeji, and Usman Nagogo who will all replace the retired DIGs as representatives of their geo-political zone.

As part of cutting the cost of governance in the country, the Presidency has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is working closely with the 10th National Assembly on the reduction of government expenditure.

Speaking on the Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Naija News gathered that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said increasing revenue is a top-line priority for the government, but it won’t be swift.

Ngelale said President Tinubu, however, trust that he can do much to clean up federal expenditure and ensure the reduction of the cost of governance.

The Presidential Election Petitions Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed an alleged date paraded on social media as the fixed date for judgment on the respective petitions challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.

This is coming after some reports particularly on social media claimed that the PEPC “has set September 16 2023 as the judgment date for the Peter Obi and Labour party’s case against Bole Tinubu, INEC, Shettima and APC.”

Reacting to the development, the Secretary of the PEPC panel, Barrister Josephine J. Ekperobe, dismissed the viral post.

The official replied to the Whistler’s inquiry as “No date yet.”

It would be recalled that after adopting the final written addresses of the parties involved in the suit, the five-man tribunal headed by Justice Haruna Simon Tsamani reserved judgment and said a date to deliver the verdict would be communicated to concerned parties and their lawyers.

Lagos State House of Assembly has insisted on its decision not to confirm some of the cabinet nominees sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for screening and approval.

The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the resumption of sitting on Monday, announced the lawmakers have concluded there is no going back on the nominees rejected, despite pressures from different quarters to have the decision rescinded.

Naija News recalls that the House had, last Wednesday, confirmed 22 out of the 39 cabinet nominees sent by Governor Sanwo-Olu and rejected 17 nominees.

The Presidency has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be afraid to sack any of his recently inaugurated ministers and other appointees who fail to perform.

Naija News reports that the Senior Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated this on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

The presidential aide said his principal is not someone who is afraid to sanction or sack anybody to ensure that they get the results that he wants.

Ngelale revealed that the President spent several months since his victory at the February 25 presidential election setting clear goals for each ministry and a series of reform committees across all the sectors.

The Edo State Government has disbanded the media crew attached to the Office of the Deputy Governor, with a directive to the Deputy Governor to henceforth request the Ministry of Communication and Orientation for media coverage of activities of his office.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Monday by the Commissioner of Information, Chris Osa Nehikhare.

This directive followed the ugly and unfortunate incident that happened during the colloquium held to mark the 60th anniversary of Midwest Referendum held at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Soundstage, where some journalists, who claimed to be the media crew of the Deputy Governor, attempted to force their way into the hall where the governor and other invited dignitaries were already seated.

This act was contrary to the accreditation protocol that had been established for media coverage of the event.

The orchestrated and stage-managed walkout and disruption is highly regrettable.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) during the 2023 elections, Peter Obi has denied giving money or any other incentive for a journalist to promote his image, speak or write in his favour.

Particularly, Obi in a personally signed statement on Monday said the rumours about him bribing popular journalist, Rufai Oseni by allegedly sponsoring the burial of his father are pure lies.

The former Anambra State Governor pointed out that he has always tried to avoid replying to cheap, wicked or malicious blackmail publicly or privately that are thrown at him but because this involves a third party, it has become necessary to clear the air.

According to him, he attends events he is invited to but for Oseni, whom he described as standing for what is right, he has never been to the journalist’s village nor does he know where he is from.

Obi therefore called on those behind the rumours trying to tarnish other people’s image to desist. He added that his focus remains on how to rescue Nigeria from the challenges plaguing it and ensure Nigerians live a better life.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a bad economy with an unacceptably high unemployment rate.

Naija News reports that Edun made this known on Monday while fielding questions from journalists at the end of the inaugural Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, presided over by President Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that Tinubu’s administration met an awful economy with 24 per cent inflation and a high rate of youth unemployment.

Edun said irrespective of the situation, the President has promised to make the economy better and create about 50 million jobs through the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

He also said that the Federal Government is not in a position to borrow money at this time, adding the emphasis is on how to create a macroeconomic environment where both local and foreign investors will invest and increase production.

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