Naija News: Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 4th January, 2024

Top Headlines from Naija News, Thursday, 4th January, 2024

1. The Idoma Area Traditional Council led by Agabaidu Elaigwu John Odogbo (Och’idoma V) has issued transformative directives to reshape cultural norms within the Idoma community. 

   After extensive consultations with leaders, both political and traditional, the council has taken a stand against what it described a outdated practices, deeming them as self-imposed, barbaric, and harsh.

2. Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has taken the step to suspend the caretaker chairmen overseeing the 18 local government areas and 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA). This suspension is to remain in effect until the court determines the case.

   The decision follows an interim injunction granted by an Akure High Court, presided over by Justice Yemi Fasanmi, in response to a plea by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The injunction sought to prevent the late governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from inaugurating individuals not democratically elected as members of caretaker committees for the local councils and LCDA until the court makes a determination on the interlocutory injunction

3. Malam Muhammad Sani Idris, the Chief Imam of the Jumma’at Mosque in Ndun village, Tangur District, Bokkos local government area of Plateau state, and Muhammad Gambo, a motorcycle taxi rider, have tragically lost their lives. Garba Abdullahi, the chairman of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), officially confirmed this unfortunate incident on Wednesday, January 3.

   According to Abdullahi, Salisu Muhammad Sani Idris, the younger brother of the deceased Imam, sustained injuries in the attack and was currently undergoing treatment at Dung Hospital in Bokkos town. The GAFDAN chairman reported the incident to the security agencies in Bokkos for prompt action.

4. President Bola Tinubu‘s government has instructed all ministries, departments, and agencies fully funded by the federal government to remit 100% of their revenues into the Sub-Recurrent Account, part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). This move is aimed at consolidating federal revenue earnings.

   The directives, detailed in a December 28 circular from the Finance Ministry and announced on Tuesday, marks a departure from the single treasury account system used during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

5. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has assured Nigerians that there is no plan to increase fuel prices.

   Giving this assurance against the backdrop of reports suggesting that fuel should be selling at N1,200 based on market realities, NNPCL, in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, urged Nigerians to disregard unfounded claims.

6. The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has tagged Nigerian students currently enrolled in higher institutions that have been de-listed by the Nigerian government as criminals.

   Making this claim while speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the education minister disclosed that he had no sympathy for Nigerian students affected by the de-listing of foreign universities, adding that no Nigerian students should be associated with such institutions.

7. A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has submitted that the current system of governance in Nigeria is too expensive for the country.

   He asserted that the country can not afford the financial burdens of running such a system of governance.

8. Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, became the subject of controversy when she failed to appear for an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) interrogation on Wednesday.

   IDOMA VOICE gathered that EFCC is currently investigating a significant financial scandal, allegedly involving a N37.1 billion fraud during her tenure, reportedly linked to a contractor named James Okwete.

9. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to enforce all agreements made with organised labour in 2023, with a particular emphasis on the National Minimum Wage.

   In a New Year message for 2024, Festus Osifo, the President of TUC, expressed this sentiment. The message was collectively endorsed by the union’s secretary-general, Nuhu Toro, and was issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

10. Rivers State politician, Magnus Abe has officially returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Abe, who was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the March 18, 2023 governorship elections in River State, returned to the APC on Wednesday.