Here’s a brief update of Latest Nigerian News from Nigerian Newspapers of Wednesday 15th November 2023.
- The Federal Government criticized organized labor for the ongoing nationwide strike triggered by an attack on the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero. Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, expressed this disapproval during an interview on Arise Television, stating that the strike was against the country’s interests.
- The Central Bank of Nigeria has declared its plan to indefinitely extend the validity of the old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes. This decision aims to extend the circulation of old naira notes without any set expiration date. The bank is collaborating with relevant authorities to challenge a standing court ruling on this matter.
- Despite acknowledging human errors, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri asserted that the recently conducted gubernatorial election in the state was free, fair, and transparent. Diri, who emerged victorious in the Saturday election, conveyed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s political programme, ‘Politics Today’ on Tuesday.
- The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb Umar Damagum, expressed concern that Nigeria might plunge into anarchy if justice continues to evade citizens during elections and court proceedings. Damagum made this statement at a press conference held at the party headquarters following the conclusion of off-season elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states, highlighting instances of violence, intimidation, and high-handedness.
- The National Assembly and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) headquarters in Abuja experienced a halt in activities due to the ongoing strike by organized labor. Despite a restraining order from the National Industrial Court, the unions persisted with the strike, insisting that governments at all levels must fulfill their responsibilities.
- Senator Adams Oshiomhole labeled the ongoing nationwide strike by organized labor as a misdirected priority. Oshiomhole stressed that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) should prioritize issues concerning workers’ welfare rather than engaging in activities that might portray them as partisan entities.
- Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar cautioned about the potential emergence of a one-party state in Nigeria. Atiku raised concerns during a meeting with the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC) in Abuja, urging opposition parties to confront the challenges to ensure democratic survival.
- The victory of Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 11th election in Bayelsa State faced opposition from the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Udengs Eradiri. Eradiri, in a press conference on Tuesday, contested the fairness of the election, stating that he and his team were reviewing the results and considering the next course of action.
- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) urged Nigerians to dismiss allegations of voter data manipulation concerning the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used in the recent Kogi State governorship election. Mohammed Kudu Haruna, a National Commissioner and member of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, addressed this in a Tuesday statement.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that repatriating the corpse of Nigerian medical student Chibuikem Emmanuel, murdered in the Philippines, would cost N35 million. Emmanuel’s tragic death allegedly at the hands of some Chinese nationals on October 23, 2023, was reported by Michael Ojuola, a friend who shared the incident on the social networking platform X.
