Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Tuesday morning

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

1. The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Monday, approved the adoption of the Oronsaye Report aimed at the reduction of cost of governance, for implementation. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to journalists during a media briefing after the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

2. The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has suspended the sale of seized food items after a stampede claimed lives at NCS Old Zonal Headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos State last Friday. Spokesperson for the Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, announced this in a statement on Monday.

3. A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed March 19 for ruling on a fresh bail application filed by the detained leader of the prescribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Justice Binta Nyako chose the date on Monday, February 26, after taking arguments from lawyers to parties at the resumed hearing in the terrorism case brought against Kanu by the federal government.

4. The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, on Monday urged the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to shelve its planned industrial action and embrace dialogue with the federal government. A statement by NANS Senate president, Akinteye Afeez said the impact of the strike on academic activities would be particularly devastating for students, who are already grappling with various challenges within the educational system.

5. The Southwest conference of speakers has advocated the immediate creation of state police and devolution of powers to address the hydra-headed insecurity and other socio-economic challenges facing the country. The speakers, in a communique signed and made available to journalists after their meeting held in Ikogosi-Ekiti, said more power should be given to the sub-nationals to further enable them to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

6. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, says registration for its 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, ended on Monday, Feb. 26. The board made this known in its Weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar in Abuja. The 2024 exercise began on Monday, Jan.15, in over 700 Computer Based Test, CBT, centres nationwide.

7. No fewer than seven people were reportedly killed in a rival cult clash that rocked North Bank, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State. The severity of the clash, according to an eyewitness, forced the market located around the area to close for business. According to a source, the clash was between Black Axe and Red Axe cult groups.

8. The Federal Government on Monday said it would extend its social security payment net to graduates with qualifications from NCE and upwards. Addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, disclosed that the programme would see unemployed Nigerian youths being paid stipends.

9. Scores of youths, on Monday, hit the streets of Lagos State to protest against the soaring prices of foodstuff and the high cost of living in the country. The protesters voiced their displeasure over what they described as hardship and suffering under President Bola Tinubu, threatening to go on a nationwide action if the suffering persists.

10. No fewer than 51 illegal miners and three suspected telecom mast vandals have been arrested by operatives of the FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC. The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu disclosed this at the Command’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.