Good morning Nigeria, welcome to the Editor roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Wednesday, 18th October 2023.
1. Organised Labour on Tuesday issued a two-week deadline to governors to commence negotiations on the N35,000 wage award for workers in their states in line with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Federal Government, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
2. The Senate, on Tuesday, received a letter from President Bola Tinubu, seeking the confirmation of Ola Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda as the substantive Chairman and the Secretary, respectively, of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The President’s letter was read at the plenary on Tuesday by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.
3. There was palpable fear at Apalokun village in Iwerele, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, as many persons were reportedly feared dead in a clash between Operation Burst, Oodua Peoples Congress, Amotekun, Soludero and a group of Fulani herdsmen. It was gathered that a group of Fulani herdsmen invaded a farm in the community with their cattle and grazed on it, a situation which led to the demise of the owner of the farm during an argument.
4. The Lagos State Police Command said it raided the factory of a blacksmith where illegal firearms were being fabricated for criminals. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this on Tuesday while parading suspected criminals at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
5. The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has condemned the N160m official vehicle being awarded to each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives. While urging his party lawmakers to reject the gift, Abure described the action as the height of insensitivity. He gave the charge in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
6. A former Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal has said that the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, won the February 25 presidential election, and not Bola Tinubu. Babachir Lawal in a statement on Tuesday claimed that data from independent sources indicated that Obi had majority votes, while Atiku came second in the election.
7. The Peoples Democratic Party has said that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, cannot win a credible governorship election in the state. The opposition party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, said the APC candidate has no fighting chance before the PDP candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
8. At least 500 people were killed when an airstrike reportedly from Israel hit Al-Ahi Baptist Hospital in Gaza, on Tuesday. According to Palestinian health officials, the hospital was packed with wounded patients and others seeking shelter. Several hospitals in Gaza City have become refuges for hundreds of people, hoping they would be spared bombardment.
9. President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu as chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who announced this in a statement, on Tuesday, also said Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu was appointed as the new Secretary of the commission.
10. President Bola Tinubu has sacked Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). This was announced in a statement issued by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential spokesman, on Tuesday night. According to the statement, Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi, former permanent secretary of Aso Villa, is the new CEO of the commission.
