Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Tuesday morning

Good morning! Here are 10 things you need to know this morning.

1. President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Tijjani Mohammed Abdullahi as the Director-General (Budget).

Abdullahi, a fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria, and a banker with vast experience in managing public finance, has replaced the ex-Director-General (Budget), Mr. Yahaya Gusau.

The new Director-General (Budget) is expected to work with the Minister of Budget and National Planning to efficiently deliver on the mandates of the Budget Office of the Federation.

2. The Federal Government has announced the dissengagement of the heads of the six information-related parastatals under the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced this during a meeting he held with topshots of the agencies on Monday.

Those affected were heads of the Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, News Agency of Nigeria, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and the National Orientation Agency.

3. In a related development, the federal government has announced the sack of those in charge of 20 other parastatals.

Those affected include the Industrial Training Fund, ITF; Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF; New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD and among others.

4. President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a former member of the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as his Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.

Abike Dabiri, an ace journalist, who was very vocal during the 2015 election, played various roles in the All Progressives Congress’ campaign.
Her appointment takes immediate effect.

5. Former senate president, David Mark has claimed that his opponent in the forthcoming rerun in Benue South, Dan Onjeh was planning to kill him.

Mark has since petitioned the IGP, alleging that his life was under threat.

However, Onjeh in a swift reaction, described the claims as baseless and unfounded, asserting that his opponent had seen his imminent defeat, hence his loud cry.

6. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a two- year extension of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The programme is now expected to end in 2017.

7. Lt Col Ojogbane Adegbe, a former ADC to immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan has denined ever being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Adegbe also debunked a statement credited to him that if he was forced to speak on what went under the bridge in the past government, Nigeria would boil.

8. Najatu Muhammad, one of the staunch supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari has turned down her appointment as chairperson, governing council of the Dutse Federal University.

Muhammad, whose appointment was announced, alongside 12 other persons on Saturday, said she was not consulted before her appointment was announced in the media.

9. The Kano State government has confirmed three cases of the deadly Lassa Fever in the state.

Dr Kabir Getso, Kano State Commissioner for Health, who made this disclosure while addressing newsmen, said two of the confirmed cases were recorded in Garun-Malam Local Government Area of the state.

10. Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has called on governors from South East and South South part of the country to urgently stop the constant attacks on pro-Biafra protesters by security agents in their states.

Leader of MASSOB, Chief Solomon Chukwu who stated this during the group’s sensitization visit to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, described the killing of defenceless protesters as a crime against humanity.