Victor EzejaHere are the top 10 stories from Nigerian daily newspapers for today, 5th June 2023 on Politics, business, entertainment and economy.
1. Foreign Airlines To Meet With Tinubu’s Gov’t Over $812.2m Trapped Funds
Foreign airlines’ blocked fund in Nigeria has increased to $818.2 million, making it the country with such funds in the world.
This was disclosed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA Regional Vice President of Africa and Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, said the airlines will meet with President Bola Tinubu’s representatives over their trapped funds. Read more
2. NLC, SERAP Seek Probe of 8 Years Fuel Subsidy Payments
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) have called for a probe of funds spend on fuel subsidy payments in the last eight years.
Their demands come as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL) last week increased prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N175 to between N500 and N560 per litre nationwide following the announcement of fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration.
Stakeholders led by NLC and SERAP called for the probe of eight years N3.1 trillion fuel subsidy payments, alleged missing $ 2.1 billion crude oil, and provision of actual daily demand figures by NNPCL.
The NLC President, Joe Ajero, on Friday, announced that if the Federal Government does not reverse the pump price of PMS to the old price the union would embark on a nationwide strike by Wednesday, June 5, 2023.
3. NNPC Ends Oil Swap Contracts, To Pay Cash For Petrol Imports
Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has plans to end crude swap contracts and henceforth, pay cash for gasoline imports.
This was disclosed by the NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari. Read more
4. Fuel Subsidy Removal: Prices’ll Crash – IPMAN Assures
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has assured that the price of petrol which is currently high as a result of subsidy removal will drop.
Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN Enugu Depot Community, in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States, gave the assurance while reacting to the development.
He commended the Federal Government, for approving the importation of petroleum products by private firms.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, on Friday, said private marketers could now import petrol into the country.
Farouk said under the new arrangement, the NNPCL had ceased to be the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria.
Anyaso said that when the new regulation is put in place, and quality control is complied with by prospective importers, it would make the product available and it will be open to competition which will eventually crash the price.
5. Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Back NLC
Electricity workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), have indicated an intention to join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in its planned strike over the removal of the petrol subsidy.
This was contained in a notice signed by the NUEE, acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike, who urged its members to comply with the directive and stop work from the early hours of Wednesday.
6. Nigeria’s Broadband Penetration Drops as Telcos Lose 2.5m voice customers
Nigeria’s telecoms sector appears not to have sustained the upward trajectory it recorded early in the year as data showed that service providers had already lost about 2.5 million voice subscribers by the end of April.
The sector had ended 2022 with some 222.5 million subscribers. As of February 2023, it had increased to 227.1 million. However, It dropped to 223.7 million in April.
7. NLC Boycotts Talks with FG Insists on Wednesday Strike
Following the decision of the NLC to begin a nationwide strike on Wednesday if the price of PMS is not reversed the Federal Government on Sunday scheduled a meeting which the labour union boycotted.
Only the Trade Union Congress (TUC) attended the meeting and presented a list of demands to be fulfilled.
The demands include an increase in the minimum wage to cushion the effects of the increase in petroleum prices, tax holiday for some categories of people as well as reverting to the status quo as negotiations continued
8. Sit-at-home: Bishop Onah, Chukwuma, Enugu Town Unions Back Gov Mbah
The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, the Anglican Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, and the Enugu State Association of Presidents-General of Town Unions, have thrown their weights behind the efforts of the Government of Enugu State to end sit-at-home in the state starting from Monday, June 5, saying it is long overdue.
They equally expressed total support for Mbah’s call for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention, saying it is the right path to national healing and stability in the South East region. Read more
9. NYSC To Abuja Court: Peter Mbah Was Not On Ground To Collect His Discharge Certificate
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has responded to the suit brought against it by the newly sworn-in Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, over his controversial discharge certificate, submitting documentary proofs that point to a possible case of forgery against the Enugu State helmsman.
In a deposition at the Federal High Court, Abuja, deposed to by the Assistant Director in the Corps Certification Department, Mrs. Rhoda Dawa, it was revealed that the discharge certificate that Governor Mbah claimed was issued to him did not emanate from the NYSC. Read more
10. 10th Assembly: Tinubu Meets Opposition Lawmakers-elect
President Bola Tinubu meets with opposition National Assembly lawmakers-elect on Monday (today) at the State House, Abuja. The meeting comes ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly scheduled to hold on June 13.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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