Welcome to Informant247 Spotlight Daily for today, Sunday, June 18, 2023, where we bring you the latest updates from the top Nigerian newspapers. In today’s update, we explore the front pages of Nigeria’s top Newspapers to provide a comprehensive overview of the day’s events.
- Impending flood: NEMA to write govs, states, religious bodies, open camps
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) plans to write letters to state governors, reminding them about the high risk of flooding this year. The purpose is to urge the governors to speed up the implementation of measures that will mitigate the effects of flooding.
Some states that have been affected have already taken actions to prevent the loss of lives and minimize damage to property.
The Informant247 learned that several states have opened refugee camps to accommodate flood victims and individuals who might be displaced. They are also advising residents in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground.
For instance, Ogun State announced that it had secured the support of religious institutions, which have agreed to provide temporary accommodation for flood victims using their campgrounds and hostels.
NEMA emphasized that states need to prepare in advance and take necessary steps to reduce the impact of floods, as this is the best way to prevent disasters and protect lives and property.
The agency had predicted that the rainy season and other weather conditions could cause disruptions in the country. These disruptions could result in the destruction of roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. Additionally, they could create conditions that favour the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera, heat-related illnesses, and other health issues in many communities.
NEMA also highlighted the possibility of severe flooding washing away farmlands and causing damage to livestock. They warned that heavy rainfall and flooding could lead to airplanes skidding off runways, potentially causing a major catastrophe.
- “Baba Go-fast?”: Intrigues as nation awaits Tinubu’s ministers
Following the National Assembly inauguration last Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet composition is eagerly awaited by Nigerians.
The intriguing aspect is that last week, President Tinubu appointed some individuals rumoured to be on his ministerial list as his Special Advisers.
On Thursday, the President announced a list of eight Special Advisers, having already received approval for 12 Special Advisers from the Senate.
The appointment of Special Advisers, who are part of the federal cabinet, holds significance, but ministers outrank them and possess greater control over government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
According to the law, Tinubu must name his cabinet within 60 days after assuming office on May 29 and present it to the Senate for confirmation.
Now that the Senate has been inaugurated, analysts believe Tinubu is prepared to promptly send his ministerial list to the Upper Chamber for confirmation.
This action will signify his readiness to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians who suffered during the previous administration.
Lobbyists for ministerial appointments have been active since Tinubu emerged victorious in the February 25, 2023 election.
The media has mentioned several names, including politicians and technocrats, as potential nominees.
Notable figures touted for nomination include former Governors Muhammad Badaru, Atiku Badaru, Raji Fashola, Kayode Fayemi, Bello Matawalle, Nyesom Wike, Gboyega Oyetola, Ibikunle Amosun, and Nasir El-Rufai.
Former ministers like Festus Keyamo, Isa Pantami, and Femi Fani-Kayode are also among those mentioned.
There are additional individuals rumoured to be on the ministerial list, such as Kachifu Inuwa, Tanimu Yakubu, Hadiza Bala Usman, Hanatu Musawa, Betty Edu, and Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole.
- ‘Palliatives must be for all Nigerians, not only govt workers’
Stakeholders in the private sector and economic analysts said that the Federal Government must create extensive relief measures to help all Nigerians, not just civil servants, cope with the removal of fuel subsidies.
They emphasized this because public sector employees constitute a very small percentage of the country’s population, estimated to be around 200 million.
After President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration speech announced the end of the fuel subsidy regime, he emphasized the necessity of reviewing the minimum wage and implementing other relief measures to lessen the negative impact on the people.
Consequently, he instructed the National Economic Council (NEC) to provide input on relief measures and minimum wage review.
The NEC proposed relief measures for workers and vulnerable groups in the country following a meeting at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, who presided over the meeting along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, disclosed the outcome of the NEC.
He mentioned that the Council considered recommendations from the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, which suggested paying N702 billion as a cost of living allowance to civil servants as part of the intervention plans.
Furthermore, Mohammed announced that the NEC would establish a committee to develop the procedures for organizing and distributing the relief measures within two weeks.
He was joined by four other governors, namely Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Alex Otti (Abia), and Yahaya Bello (Kogi), who stated that the interventions also include a recommended monthly petroleum allowance ranging from N23.5 billion to N45 billion for civil servants.
- Cash Crunch Hits MDAs Over Freezing Of Accounts
Various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) expressed their frustration over the slow progress of work and other scheduled tasks due to a lack of funds.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) froze their accounts, resulting in the unavailability of funds.
Senior and junior government employees state that this financial constraint is impeding their ability to carry out their duties effectively.
Reports indicate that the federal government has imposed a restriction on MDAs, prohibiting further payments until further notice.
Our sources revealed that the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari issued this order just before handing over power to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The purpose of this freeze was to prevent any potential misuse of government funds or any last-minute frivolous expenditures.
- FG to Dissolve Boards of Federal Agencies, Parastatals
The federal government might dissolve the boards of federal agencies and parastatals in response to pressure from supporters seeking political relevance.
However, it remains uncertain how extensively they will implement this decision. Nevertheless, there are strong indications that the Presidency has given approval to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to dissolve and reconstitute the managements and boards of these agencies and parastatals.
Political lobbyists have already taken notice of the possibility of dissolving the boards of parastatals and are preparing themselves for potential appointments if the boards are indeed dissolved.
According to ThisDay Newspaper when contacted Director of Information at the OSGF, Willie Bassey, he claimed to be unaware of any such presidential approval.
The OSGF oversees approximately 42 agencies and parastatals that play crucial roles in the daily operations of the government, performing various oversight and administrative functions.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to be assisted in shaping the agenda of his administration through the dissolution of these boards.
Some senior civil servants, who spoke to THISDAY, stated that it would not be surprising if Tinubu decided to dissolve the boards of federal parastatals inherited from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
They pointed out that Buhari had also carried out a similar cleansing exercise in 2015 by approving the dissolution of governing boards of federal parastatals, agencies, and institutions.
In a similar manner, Buhari constituted the boards of the six aviation agencies less than 24 hours before the end of his administration. These agencies had operated without boards for nearly a decade, despite their Acts mandating the establishment of boards.
The six aviation agencies were the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and the recently established Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
However, the Ninth Senate could not ratify these appointments before its dissolution and the subsequent inauguration of a new government on May 29.
