Top Nigerian Newspapers Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 1st March, 2022

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspapers headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 1st March 2022

1. Presidency Reveals Why Buhari Signed Electoral Act 2022

The Presidency has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law in order to deliver change in Nigeria.

Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement released on Monday titled, ‘Assent into law of the electoral act 2022: Landmark moment for the nation’.

The Presidency disclosed that the signing of the bill underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring free and fair elections and justice to all political participants.

According to the statement, the President’s assent to the bill has eroded what was witnessed in the past when self-interest overrode the nation and the fashioning of electoral acts.

2. NLC Storms NASS, Demands Autonomy For Local Government, Judiciary

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday stormed the National Assembly to demand autonomy for the local government and the judiciary.

Naija News reports that the labour union led by its National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, arrived at the National Assembly complex at about 11:am.

According to the banners carried by the workers, they are demanding that the lawmakers vote in favour of autonomy for the local government and the judiciary ahead of the clause by clause voting on the ongoing constitution amendment process.

The workers stated that the lack of autonomy for both the judiciary and local government contravenes democratic principles.

3. DSS Sends Strong Warning To PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu

The Department of State Services (DSS) has accused the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Iyorchia Ayu of making statements capable of inciting members of the public against the agency.

The DSS in a statement on Monday signed by the spokesperson of the agency, Peter Afunanya said the PDP Chairman accused the DSS of making itself available to those in government to be used to harass those in opposition.

While distancing DSS operatives from any unlawful action, Afunanya said as a former Senate President and ex-Minister who served in various positions, Dr. Ayu should understand the operations of the secret police and desist from spreading false allegations.

Naija News understands the DSS statement comes as a reaction to the speech made by Ayu in Owerri while addressing party faithful during the civic reception held to honour the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Nnaemeka Samuel Anyanwu (Samdaddy) at Kanu Nwankwo Center Owerri Imo state.

While stressing that the DSS would not join issues with politicians, Afunanya maintained that members of the public should not be fed wrong information for political reasons.

4. 2023 Elections: INEC Publishes Notice Of Election

Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday published the Notice of Election (Form EC60A).

This is in compliance with the timetable and schedule of activities released over the weekend by INEC as well as the constitutional provisions, Naija News reports.

The electoral umpire in a tweet via its official Twitter account said the publishing of the form EC60A is in line with the first activity in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

5. 2023 Presidency: What Is Power Shift? Ango Abdullahi Disagrees With Zoning

The convener of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi has declared that he is not in support of zoning the 2023 presidency in Nigeria.

According to the former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, zoning is not found in the Nigerian constitution and it is important to follow the law.

While stressing that he doesn’t believe in power shift, rotation or zoning, Abdullahi stressed that the beauty of democracy is to allow every qualified individual to join the race and the people determine who they want to lead them.

Naija News reports the NEF convener made his mind known in a recent interview with Vanguard where he spoke about the state of the nation and the 2023 general elections.

He however stated that the original idea of a power shift was well conceived but the politicians, particularly members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), killed it.

6. Abba Kyari To Remain In Custody As Court Denies Bail Application

The embattled former head of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari has been denied bail by the court.

Kyari’s bail application was denied on Monday by a federal high court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

It will be recalled that following his arrest and subsequent transfer to the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for drug-related offences, Kyari had approached the court asking for bail on health grounds.

But giving the ruling on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo has denied the application.

Justice Ekwo held that the application has been overtaken by events following another court order granting NDLEA permission to hold Kyari for another 14 days to enable it to conclude its investigation.

7. 2023: What Igbos Will Do If Atiku Wins PDP Presidential Ticket – Ohanaeze

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has threatened to dump the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar wins its 2023 presidential ticket.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group said Atiku by now should have retired from partisan politics and adopt a humble position of an elder statesman, Naija News reports.

Ohanaeze warned the presidential hopeful against desperation to lead the country, urging him to dump his bid and support a younger aspirant in the PDP.

According to the Igbo group, though the aspirant the right to contest, age and region, however, is not in Atiku’s favour to win the 2023 election, hence he should dump his aspiration immediately.

Ohanaeze went on to say that the current security challenges facing the South-East are a result of Igbo loyalty to Atiku in 2019.

8. Cabal Hijacked Buhari Government? – Ango Abdullahi Opens Up

The convener of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi has revealed that those that worked for Muhammadu Buhari to emerge as President of Nigeria in 2015 had high hopes in him.

He said they saw in him an individual capable of turning the fortune of the country around for the better.

Abdullahi however revealed that after President Buhari came into power, his administration might have been hijacked by some cabals who have made it difficult to actualize his dreams and intentions seeing by all standards that he has fallen below expectations.

He added however that the presence or otherwise of any cabal should not be an excuse as the people voted for Buhari and not any cabal.

The NEF leader submitted that part of the failures of the Buhari government is the growing insecurity in Nigeria which is obvious in the rising cases of banditry, ritual killings, kidnappings and other criminal activities across the country.

9. Russia: Buhari Berates Ukraine, Poland For Stopping, Maltreating Fleeing Nigerians, Africans

President Muhammadu Buhari has slammed Ukrainian and Polish officials for maltreating Nigerians and Africans at the Ukraine-Poland border.

In a statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said Nigerians and other Africans have the same right to safe passage under the UN Convention.

The Nigerian leader said everyone should be treated equally irrespective of the colour of their passport or their skin.

10. 2022 UTME: JAMB Announces New Exam Date, Gives Reason For Reschedule

The 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME mock examination will no longer hold on April 16, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced.
The exam body announced this in its Weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar on Monday in Abuja, Naija News reports.

Explaining why the exam date was rescheduled, JAMB said it understood the initial date was an Easter Saturday, a symbolic and holiday day, celebrated by Christians to mark the end of the Lent period before Easter Sunday.

JAMB announced that the mock exam will now hold on April 9, and not April 16 as earlier scheduled.

The board also noted that the date for the exercise had been affected also by the shift in date for the registration of the UTME and Direct Entry (DE), which was earlier scheduled for Feb.12, but later commenced on Feb.19.

JAMB urged all candidates who registered and would want to sit for the mock exercise to note the change of date and be prepared.

The 2022 registration commenced on Saturday, February 19, and would end on March 26.

The UTME however has been scheduled by JAMB to hold from May 6 to May 16, Naija News reports.

Those are the top Nigerian newspapers headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.