Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Thursday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, approved the exemption of tertiary institutions, including universities, from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Systems, IPPS. The Minister of Education, Professor Mamman Tahir, who disclosed this to journalists after the FEC meeting, also said the Council relieved managements of tertiary institutions of the burden of obtaining approval and waiver from the Office of the Head of Service for recruitment.

2. The federal government, on Wednesday, December 13, refuted an insinuation that it had a hand in the escalating political situation in Rivers State. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said the President Bola Tinubu administration is interested in the peace and well being of all the states, including Rivers.

3. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi state, Odefa Obasi Odefa has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Odefa made the switch alongside about 500 of his supporters from Onicha East Constituency.

4. Judges of trial courts in the country have been advised to write judgments and rulings that are flawless and could hardly be set aside on appeal. The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola gave the advice in Abuja on Wednesday while declaring open the 39th annual conference of the Federal High Court judges.

5. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited is not transparent about the financial gains from fuel subsidy removal, the World Bank has disclosed. This extends to subsidy arrears that are still being deducted and the impact of subsidy removal on federation revenues, the bank noted.

6. President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, sacked the heads of various agencies in the aviation sector, replacing them with acting and substantive heads. This was contained in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

7. Some suspected gunmen said to be dressed in military uniform allegedly kidnapped seven persons along the Fidiwo area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday, just as one person was shot dead while escaping the attack. Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the attack.

8. The crisis rocking Rivers State, on Wednesday, took a turn for the worse with the demolition of the River State House of Assembly complex. About 5 am on Wednesday, no fewer than 10 bulldozers, excavators and other heavy-duty machines were brought to the assembly complex for the demolition.

9. Foremost constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana, said the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly whose seats were declared vacant were not exposed to sound legal advice. He said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is required by law to conduct elections for the seats of the lawmakers.

10. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has reassured Nigerians that there are enough naira notes in circulation to meet their cash needs. CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Ali, gave the assurance in a statement on Wednesday.