Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Thursday, 16th March, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, welcome to Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Thursday, 16th March 2023

1. Buhari Inaugurates ICPC Board, Swear-in Members

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in seven reappointed board members for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related offences (ICPC).

Naija News reports that the swearing-in ceremony, which took place in the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, was conducted before the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by the President.

The members are Justice Adamu Bello (retd) Katsina State; Hannatu Mohammed (Jigawa State;, Olubukola Balogun (Lagos State) and Obiora Igwedibia (Anambra State).

Others are Dr. Abdullahi Saidu (Niger State); Yahaya Umar Dauda (Nasarawa State) and Grace Chinda (Rivers State).This online news platform understands that all seven reappointed board members were initially inaugurated by the president in 2019, and their renewed four-year tenure ends in March 2027.

2. FG Postpones 2023 Population Census

The Federal Government of Nigeria has postponed the 2023 population and housing census until May 2023.

The 2023 population and housing census was scheduled to commence towards the end of March and end in the first week of April.

Before now, there have been reports that the census will be postponed since election-related matters could clash with the nationwide event.

The speculation was put to rest on Wednesday, March 15, when the postponement of the head count was announced to reporters at the state house in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council’s meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While announcing the development to reporters, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed said the Federal government had to change the date due to the rescheduling of the governorship and state house of assembly elections from March 11 to March 18.

He also revealed that the Council had allocated N2.8 billion to buy software for the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct the census in May.

3. Crisis Rocks APC As National Secretary Threatens National Vice Chairman, Demands N500 Million

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore has asked for the payment of N500 million from vice-chairman of the party in the north-west, Salihu Lukman, over alleged libel.

Naija News reports that Omisore and Lukman, who are both members of the national working committee (NWC) of the ruling party, have been at loggers.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on AIt, Lukman had called on Omisore to resign from his position.

The APC vice chairman accused Omisore of mismanaging campaign funds meant for the Osun state election which the APC lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).In a letter dated March 15 and addressed to Lukman, counsel to the APC national secretary, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) said Lukman’s comment is false and was aimed at maligning Omisore’s character.

The APC Secretary through his legal counsel threatened to drag Lukman to court if he fails to apologise and pay 500 million naira.

4. ‘Governorship Election Will Expose Presidential Poll As Sham’ – Atiku

With a few days to the governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has declared the exercise would expose the presidential poll as a sham.

Naija News reports that the former vice president made this known on Wednesday, in a video addressing Nigerians, which was shared by his spokesman, Paul Ibe.

According to Atiku, Nigerians should disregard the flaws of the presidential election and come out en mass to cast their votes.

Atiku also urged Nigerians to vote for candidates of the PDP during Saturday’s governorship and state House of Assembly elections across the country.

5. Soludo Speaks On Threatening Anambra Residents To Vote APGA Candidates

Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has denied threatening residents of the state to deliver candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Saturday’s House of Assembly election in the state.

Speaking through his press secretary, Christian Aburime, Soludo stated that he never threatened to blacklist traditional rulers and presidents’ general of communities.

Aburime described as untrue allegations that the governor threatened anyone, adding that what Soludo said is in the public domain.

Aburime said Soludo’s achievements were enough to give APGA victory in the upcoming election.

According to him, opposition leaders are feeling uncomfortable because they know that Anambra remained APGA land and that they had slim chances of winning any seat in Saturday’s election.

He added that apart from the fact that APGA is the ruling party in the state, it would be unfair for any Anambra indigene to see all the good works of the governor and still not vote for APGA in the election.

6. 2023 Polls: NBC Gives 16 Broadcast Stations Final Warning, Sanctions 25 Others

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has issued final warnings to 16 broadcast stations and has sanctioned 25 others for their alleged failure to adhere to extant broadcast law on coverage of the 2023 general elections.

Naija News reports that the commission’s Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah made the revelation at a press briefing in Abuja.

The NBC boss submitted that while 25 stations were sanctioned by the commission in the course of monitoring the 2023 presidential election, 16 other stations were given final warnings for various offences.

Ilelah, in his break down of the stations and some offences committed, explained that one station was sanctioned for broadcasting the results of the election before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results which contravene Section 5.33 of the NBC code, while 17 others were sanctioned for broadcasting partisan party content after the prescribed 24-hour deadline time by NBC and four stations have been sanctioned for divisive comments.

He maintained that broadcast stations have a duty to protect the nation’s unity and punctuate diversity as a distinctive mark of pride and promote sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

7. Gov’ship Election: Why INEC Bowed To Pressure To Sign Results Sheets In Cross Rivers Ahead Of Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has signed the result sheets to be used for the March 18 polls in Cross Rivers State.

Naija News understands that the commission said it signed the result sheets in other to guarantee a transparent process on Saturday.

The commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Cross River, Professor Gabriel Yomere disclosed that INEC’s decision to sign the result sheet was to maintain a clear conscience and boost the people’s confidence in the electoral process.

The Cross Rivers REC decided to sign the sheet following petitions it received concerning some agents who allegedly had results sheet in their possession to use for the manipulation of the forthcoming governorship polls in the state.

It was after a lot of pressure arising from concerns from the petitions that the commission in the state decided to sign the result sheets.

8. Sanwo-Olu Gives Marching Order Over Student Sent Out Of School Because Of Peter Obi Posters

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the State Ministry of Education to begin investigation into the complaint of a parent whose child was sent out of school for using the poster of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi to wrap her books.

Naija News earlier made a report that a parent of a JSS2 student had taken to social media to allege that her 10-year-old daughter was sent out of school because of a situation regarding Peter Obi posters.

The incident was reported to have happened at Odomola Junior Secondary School, Epe area of the state.

Reacting to the situation, the Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo announced that the governor has approved the recall of the principal, who will be asked to explain the incident.

9. ‘I Fight Without Hiding, Don’t Make Me Expose So Many People And Politicians’ – Wike Threatens

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has rejected claims accusing him of betraying the Christian faith because of his political decisions during the just concluded 2023 presidential elections.

Wike warned that those spreading rumours about his alleged betrayal of the Christian faith might push him to expose many people and politicians if they don’t stop the narrative.

He said he is one individual that has benefitted so much from the mercies of God so nothing would make him turn against the church or the Christian faith.

Naija News understands Governor Wke made the submission during an interactive session with the leadership and critical stakeholders of the Rivers State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.

Wike who spoke against the backdrop of happenings during the February 25 presidential elections maintained that he was bold to declare Rivers a Christian state, and owed nobody any apology.

The Rivers State Governor reportedly worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC) which fielded a Muslim-Muslim ticket of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima.

Speaking further, Wike maintained his belief and that of the integrity group/G5 Governors that power should return to the south in 2023 remains unshaken and insisted that he did the right thing by supporting it to happen in the February 25 elections.

According to him, it’s a lie to claim he didn’t support the Christian presidency.

10. Nigeria’s Inflation Surges To 21.91%

Nigeria’s inflation has increased by a 0.09% point increase in February as compared to January 2023.

Naija News reports that while the inflation rate recorded in January 2023 was 21.82%, the latest has risen to 21.91%.

The new development was contained in a recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.

The reports revealed that the increase between January and now in the country’s inflation rate represents a 0.09% point surge.

The NBS report said the rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of oil and fat, fish, meats, vegetable, yam and other tubers, bread and cereals, and other foods.

This development follows the ongoing cash crunch being experienced across the federation.

The new rate is the second consecutive rise in the country’s inflation figure this year, as Nigerians struggle to access cash for their daily needs.

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

This article was originally published on Naija News