Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Wednesday, 6th January, 2021

Good morning Nigeria, we bring  to you Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today Wednesday, 6th January 2021

1. FG Again Increases Electricity Tariff

Nigerians would hence experience a hike in the payment of their electricity bill starting from this month, as the Federal Government has again increased the electricity tariff, Naija News understands.

Power consumers across the country will now pay higher than the usual in 2021. The development was revealed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, in its December 2020 minor review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order and Minimum Remittance Order obtained made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

According to the NERC in the report, the increase which varies, based on different consumer classes kicked off from January 1, 2021.

2. FG Yet To Release N40b Earned Allowance – ASUU

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has accused the Federal Government of not releasing the promised N40 billion earned allowance days after calling off the nine-month strike.

The union has stated that FG has refused to continue the payment of the withheld salaries of its members that are not enrolled on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) after paying two months in December.

3. 2023: APC Founding Fathers Agreed Southerner Will Succeed Buhari – Osoba

A former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, has revealed that the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) agreed in 2013 that a southerner will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Recall that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) merged to form the APC.

Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Osoba said the agreement stated that after Buhari’s tenure, the next president will come from the south.

4. FG Tackles ICC, Amnesty International, Says Probe Into Lekki Shooting, Others Threat To Nigeria’s Security

The Federal Government of Nigeria has slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Amnesty International (AI) over calls for investigation into possible war crimes by Nigeria’s security forces.

Naija News reports that operatives of the Nigerian Army had on October 20, 2020 opened fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters, with many accusing the military of carrying away bodies of those gunned down.

Recall that CNN had, in a two-part report backed with pictures and video clips, implicated the Nigerian Army in the alleged killing of peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate.

5. Court Orders Sowore, Others Detention, Adjourns Till January 8th

A Magistrate Court in Wuse 2 Abuja has ordered the continued detention of the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and others.

Naija News reports that Mabel Segun-Bello, in her judgement on Monday, also adjourned the case till January 8, 2021.

Mr Sowore was arrested alongside four protesters during a #CrossOverProtest held on the eve of new year in Abuja.

6. Ndume To Buhari: Rejig Your Cabinet, Ministers Disconnected From People

Senator Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to rejig his cabinet as some of his Ministers have lost touch with their localities and Nigerians.

Speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri, Borno State, Ndume, Chairman Senate Committee on Army, accused ministers of failing to help Buhari address public concerns.

According to the lawmaker, some ministers are not known in their local government and should be discarded by President Buhari.

7. FG To Revoke Visas Of Foreigners Without COVID-19 Certificate

The federal government on Tuesday warned that foreigners without valid COVID-19 test certificates on arrival in Nigeria will have their visas revoked.

The warning was given by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, when speaking at the weekly briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He disclosed that Nigeria’s Immigration Act gives him the power to revoke visas and confiscate passports of offenders.

8. Alleged Sexual Assault: Nobody Can Stop Probe Of Ogun Commissioner – Police

The Ogun State Police Command has vowed to continue with the probe of sexual harassment levelled against the state Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun.

Naija News reports that a 16-year-old girl, Melojuekun Barakat, had alleged that the commissioner sexually harassed her during a meeting with him recently. But the commissioner denied the allegation, saying that the girl is being used to tarnish his image.

Consequently, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, suspended Abudu-Balogun from office pending the conclusion of the case.

9. NERC Denies Approving 50% Increase In Electricity Tariffs

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Tuesday afternoon dismissed reports that it approved a 50% increase in electricity tariffs.

Naija News had reported that power consumers across the country will now pay higher than the usual in 2021. The development was revealed by the NERC, in its December 2020 minor review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order and Minimum Remittance Order made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

According to the NERC in the report, the increase which varies, based on different consumer classes kicked off from January 1, 2021.

But some news platforms (not Naija News) had claimed that the new tariff was a 50% increase from the previous one.

Clarifying the reports in a fresh statement, the NERC stated that customers on service bands D & E (customers being served less than an average of 12hrs of supply per day over a period of one month) remain frozen and subsidized.

The regulatory commission said the rates were adjusted by N2.00 to N4.00 per kWhr to reflect the partial impact of inflation and movement in foreign exchange.

10. NCDC Records 1354 New Cases Of COVID-19 In Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 1354 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nigeria.

Naija News reports that the new cases were reported in a post on the disease control agency’s Twitter handle on Tuesday night, January 05, 2021.

The newly reported cases bring the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria to 92,705 which includes 76,396 discharged cases and 1,319 deaths.