Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 4th December, 2024

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 4th December, 2024

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, submitted that no other system of government is better than democracy.

The Nigerian leader recalled how, in the past under military rule, he had been detained and intimidated for expressing the principles he believed in.

Naija News reports President Tinubu said this in Cape Town while speaking with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) on Tuesday in Cape Town.

He, however, expressed how grateful he is to be in South Africa as the President of Nigeria.

“I have been intimidated and detained for the principle of what I believe in, but today I carry the torch of that freedom, value, strong determination and commitment to the principles of justice, fairness. I’m grateful I am here as the President of my country,” he said.

The House of Representatives has issued an ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu to unfreeze all the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

Naija News reports that the lower legislative chamber on Tuesday asked the Nigerian leader to mandate Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to unfreeze the accounts within 72 hours from the time the ultimatum was given.

The lawmakers passed the resolution during plenary on Tuesday.

Naija News recalls that on January 12, President Bola Tinubu suspended all programmes administered by NSIPA for an initial six weeks as part of a probe of alleged misconduct in the management of the agency and its programmes.

Tinubu, on January 2, suspended the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSIPA, Halima Shehu, over alleged financial malfeasance.

The President also suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, on January 8.

The programmes affected include the N-Power, the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), the government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, and the Home-grown School Feeding Initiative.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has responded to the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, over its decision to withhold the identity of the owner of a recently recovered estate.

Naija News reported that the EFCC had on Monday announced the recovery of 753 duplexes and other apartments on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.

Sowore, while reacting to the development, accused the EFCC of being afraid of ‘big thieves’, unlike the treatment melted at suspects, who are Yahoo boys.

In response, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement issued on Tuesday titled, ‘Sowore and Co-Travellers’ Tantrums against EFCC’s Landmark Recovery’ stated that its actions were guided by the legal framework governing forfeiture proceedings and a commitment to professionalism.

Oyewale disclosed that actionable intelligence led to investigations into the estate, stressing that a company initially flagged as the likely owner denied any links to the property after public notices were published in leading national newspapers.

He added that revealing the names of individuals without direct evidence connecting them to the property’s title documents would be premature and unprofessional.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federal, Lateef Fagbemi, to work with the National Assembly to address concerns raised on the Tax Reform Bills.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Idris said the President was committed to addressing all interests that would help to reposition the country for economic prosperity.

While commending the different opinions on the bill, he called for democratic engagement of all stakeholders.

The President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has confirmed that Port Harcourt Refinery is working.

Festus Osifo, who is also the National President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said the refinery has been producing petrol, diesel, kerosine and other products since it came on stream last week.

He stated this on Tuesday at PENGASSAN’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

Clarifying questions from newsmen on the true position of the refinery, Osifo explained, “When they blend this, it gives us PMS. But what we should be interested in, as material, is that does Port Harcourt refinery produces AGO today. The answer is yes.

“Does Port Harcourt Refinery produce DPK today? The answer is yes. Does Port Harcourt Refinery produce PMS today? The answer is yes.

“So the processes are not much of our concern. The man on the street does not understand what CTU is.”

On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff (COAS) following the adoption of the Army Committee’s screening report.

The report was presented at plenary by the Chairman of the Committee on Army, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC-Katsina), who commended Oluyede’s impressive credentials, achievements, and understanding of the responsibilities of the office.

Yar’adua said the committee was impressed with the high level of understanding, achievements, and excellence in the nominee’s credentials.

He said the nomination of Oluyede is in line with Section 217, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

He also said that the nomination is under the provisions of Section 18, Subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act.

He explained that “the nominee possesses the required competence, experience, and educational qualifications to be conferred with Chief of Army Staff.

Yar’adua said the DSS had cleared the nominee and went through the correct promotion process to date, qualifying him to occupy the Chief of Army Staff position.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said power has been restored at Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Line vandalized by criminals.

The General Manager of Public Affairs of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, said discussions are on with Rivers and Bayelsa State governments to educate the local communities on the need to protect the power infrastructure.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mrs. Mbah stated that the planned community engagement is aimed at appointing community representatives who would help to supervise the power lines.

TCN spokesperson explained that there was a need for the communities to take ownership of the power infrastructure, stating that it would help to prevent such criminal acts.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to believe that God would make hardship go out of the country.

Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar advised Nigerians to go back to their religious houses and pray for the country’s leaders, and be good.

He assured that God, who created citizens of the country, would not allow the citizens to suffer for too long.

The Sultan of Sokoto stated this on Tuesday at the 2024 Fourth Quarter meeting of the Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), with the theme, “Our Natural Resources and Insecurity in Nigeria, in Abuja.

Abubakar further called on the privileged to extend a hand of charity to the needy in society. He prayed that God would guide the country right and bring peace.

The House of Representatives has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend its planned retirement of 1,000 staff, including directors and senior management, pending an investigation into the process and legality of the exercise.

During Tuesday’s plenary, the lawmakers resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to scrutinize the planned retirement, which is said to include a severance package exceeding ₦50 billion.

The committee is tasked with ensuring transparency, accountability, and the proper use of public funds, with a four-week deadline to submit its findings.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Kama Nkemkama, a representative from Ebonyi State.

Nkemkama raised concerns over the “sudden” nature of the retirements, questioning the criteria for selection and adherence to public service guidelines and labour laws.

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, put the motion to a voice vote, which was adopted unanimously.

The House further urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment to protect the rights of the affected employees.

Founder of The Kukah Centre, Bishop Mathew Kukah, has emphasized the need for better communication strategies from President Bola Tinubu’s Spokespersons, urging them to focus on effectively conveying the government’s message rather than resorting to insults or dismissing differing opinions.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Kukah called on the administration to engage Nigerians constructively, especially during a time of widespread poverty and economic hardship.

He stressed that clear communication is essential for reassuring the public and fostering patience as the government works through its proposed reforms.

Bishop Kukah also cautioned against the government’s tendency to blame predecessors for current challenges.

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