Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Thursday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship in the country. The Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, said on Wednesday that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 as announced by the NLC was not taken collectively by both unions.

2. A fun-seeking Lagos-based prophet, Oriyomi Remilekun, was said to have drowned during a beach hangout in the Ajah area of the state to celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day. It was learnt that the deceased led some youths of his white garment church to the Avista Beach situated in the area on Saturday, February 17, to commemorate the day.

3. The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has welcomed the decision of the national leadership of the party to conduct a rerun of the governorship election in the state which ended in a crisis. The APC Publicity Secretary in Edo State, Peter Uwadiae, said the party was ready for the rerun holding today (Thursday), adding that the state exco would speak further after the exercise.

4. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will arraign the immediate-past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, for alleged N10bn fraud on Friday. Credible sources in the anti-graft agency said the ex-governor would be dragged before the Federal High Court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

5. The naira gained marginally against the United States dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market on Tuesday, closing at N1,542.58/$ from N1,551/$ recorded on Tuesday. The rate represents a 2.9 per cent appreciation from the N1,598.54 traded on Monday and a meagre 0.58 per cent against Tuesday’s rate.

6. The Federal Government is expanding the scope of its direct cash transfer scheme which it plans to restart any moment from now, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, hinted yesterday. He said that 12 million more households would benefit from the direct payments of cash to further cushion the effects of the rising cost of living.

7. The Federal Government is trying its best to deal with the various problems and it should be given time for its efforts to manifest, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon said on Wednesday. Gowon, Nigeria’s war-time leader, who was head of state between 1966 and 1975, spoke at Aso Villa, Abuja, after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

8. Federal Government workers have been paid N35,000 wage award for four months, the presidency said on Wednesday. The wage award is one of the measures introduced to soften the pain from removal of petrol subsidy.

9. The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Dr. Kelechi Ohiri for appointment as the Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA. The Upper Chamber also confirmed Jalal Arabi as Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, and three other commissioners for the agency.

10. President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of DCG Kemi Nanna Nandap as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS. Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesman, who announced this in a statement on Wednesday, said the appointment is effective from March 1, 2024.