Good day, good citizens of Nigeria, here are headlines from Nigerian Newspapers that may interest you today, Thursday, December 16, 2021.
1. Policies deter FG’s call for gas investments [BusinessDay Newspaper]
The Nigerian government says it is keen on forming collaborative partnerships with the private sector in a bid to grow the economy using gas, showing a new oil law as evidence of its intention, but operators say more is required.
In a speech at the Business Forum organised by the Nigeria Gas Association (NGA) on Tuesday, Temipre Sylva, Nigeria’s minister of state for petroleum resources, who was represented by Justice Deferaka, his technical adviser, said, “The bedrock of the government’s ‘Decade of Gas’ pronouncement is collaborative partnership to achieve smooth gas transition by 2060 as stated by the president during the Conference of Parties (COP 26).
2. #NorthisBleeding protests: FG under attack as DSS, police disperse, arrest demonstrators [Punch Newspaer]
A petition seeking a state of emergency in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and other states in the North-West had garnered 28,000 signatures on Change.Org on Wednesday evening even as the insecurity in the region continued to escalate.
The petition, which was started by one Alhanislam Alhanislam on Monday, called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to secure northern lives with the #SecureNorth and #NorthisBleeding.
As more people signed the petition, groups and individuals including Amnesty International, the Middle Belt Forum and a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, berated the Federal Government as the Department of State Services and the police dispersed in Kano. In Abuja, the protesters were not only dispersed, some of them were arrested.
3. ASUU meets Saturday, decides on planned strike over unfulfilled agreement [Punch Newspaper]
The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Universities will meet on Saturday with zonal leaders of the union over the Federal Government’s failure to implement agreements it reached with the union in 2020.
ASUU’s Coordinator in charge of Sokoto Zone, Jamilu Shehu, disclosed this at a press conference in Katsina on Wednesday, just as the union Chairman at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Dr Gbenga Adeleye and his counterpart for Tai Solarin University of Education, Dr. Kazeem Rufai, confirmed the proposed meeting.
4. To Boost Morale, FG Increases Police Salary By 20% Effective January 2022 [ThisDay Newspaper]
In a morale-boosting effort, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved a new welfare package, including a 20 per cent increase in allowances, for personnel of the Nigeria Police. Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, disclosed this in Abuja while speaking to newsmen at the end of the weekly virtual FEC meeting at the State House, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dingyadi said the increments would take effect from January 2022.
Other packages announced by the federal government included tax waiver for junior officers with effect from October 2021 and payment of outstanding funds for uninsured personnel between 2013 and 2020.
5. Otedola: I Have No Interest in Holding Any Board Position in FBN Holdings, First Bank [ThisDay Newspaper]
The Chairman of Geregu Energy Group and billionaire businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola has debunked speculations that he is interested in holding any board position in FBN Holdings, First Bank or any of their subsidiaries.
Otedola was recently invited by the UK-based Save the Children to join the prestigious group of its Vice Presidents, in recognition of his philanthropic efforts to better the lives of children in Nigeria.
