Today's National Newspaper Headlines/News - 20/05/2015

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PUNCH

*Niger Lawmakers Get N17m Each, Stop Gov’s Removal

The impeachment plot against the Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida, may have been stalled as the members of the state House of Assembly pushing for the governor’s removal have been paid N17m each.

Punch correspondent gathered that the lawmakers after receiving the N17m each were also promised by the state government that their other demands would soon be met.

Consequently, the lawmakers have decided to stop the impeachment move against the governor.

Though the Speaker, state House of Assembly, Isah Kawu, refused to comment on the issue when Punch correspondent sought his reaction to the development, sources at the assembly complex including lawmakers, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development.

But one of the lawmakers confirmed this.

He said, “It was not as if the governor bribed us, it is our legal entitlements and we have a right to ask for it before the expiration of our tenure. We have been paid and calm has returned to the assembly complex.”

Asked whether it was true that the lawmakers had dropped the impeachment plot against the governor, the lawmaker said, “there is no need for it again.”

***Anxiety As Jonathan, Ministers Hold Last FEC Meeting

the Federal Executive Council under the Goodluck Jonathan administration scheduled to hold on Wednesday (today).

The apprehension was triggered by a report (not by The PUNCH) credited to the Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, that President Goodluck Jonathan would dissolve his cabinet during a “valedictory session” of the FECon Wednesday(today).

But Akwashiki on Tuesady refuted the report and urged the general public to disregard it as “false and malicious.”

The minister, in a statement by her Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah, said at no time did she speak to journalists on the dissolution of the FEC by the President.

Akwashiki said she was surprised that a news report, which initially quoted an unnamed minister from the South- West, ended up crediting her as having made the “tendentious comment.”

The FEC   is the highest decision-making body of the Federal Government and it consists of the President, the Vice President, all ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the National Security Adviser, the Head of Service of the Federation and some top presidential aides.

The council members meet every Wednesday to take decisions on national issues

****Okonjo-Iweala, Govs Clash Over $20bn ECA Funds

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Tuesday demanded an explanation from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on how $20bn that allegedly accrued to the Excess Crude Account   was disbursed.

The forum, in a statement issued at the end of a four-hour meeting of the NGF which ended in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja, said the sum was paid into the ECA between June 2013 and April 2015.

“In the light of the fact that funds in the ECA were last disbursed in May 2013, there is a need for the minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, to provide explanations for accruals to this account from June 2013 to April 2015 which is estimated at over $20bn,” the NGF said.

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who read the statement, also announced that the NGF had reconciled and reunited as a single umbrella association of the 36 state governors   regardless of region.

But reacting to the statement, Okonjo-Iweala, described the NGF’s claim that $20bn accrued to the ECA in less than two years   as baseless.

She said in a statement by her Special Adviser, Communications,   Paul Nwabuikwu, that   the demand was “totally strange” because issues relating to the management of the ECA were usually discussed by the state commissioners for finance   at their monthly Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meetings.

She said since the commissioners were representatives of their respective governors at the meetings, there was no basis for the demand.

***Police Arrest Graduate For Car Snatching

A computer science and information technology graduate from a university in Cotonou, Anidi Reginald, has landed in police net for car snatching in Enugu.

Anidi, 27 years old, is said to have graduated from the university in 2013.

The suspect, from Enugwu Eke in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, was arrested by officers of the Ogui Division after he and members of his gang snatched a Honda Pilot car, with registration number AAA 598 CH, from the owner at gunpoint.

The incident occurred at Ozalla, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, by 11.00am.

It was gathered that the suspect and members of his gang, who are currently at large, had, after snatching the vehicle from the owner, headed towards Enugu metropolis. But, unknown to them, the victim had already alerted the police, who chased the vehicle down to Presidential Road, where a gun battle ensued between the policemen and the gang.

Anidi was eventually apprehended, while other members of the gang escaped, after the police overpowered the hoodlums in the gun battle.

The suspect reportedly blamed his action on peer influence and unemployment.

*FG asks Bayelsa CJ to inaugurate Wike May 29

*APC won’t use zoning to pick senate president – Akande

*Suicide bomber kills nine in Adamawa,

*B’Haram attacks Magadali

*N5bn fraud: Nnamani’s co-accused plead guilty

*N1.5bn fraud: Adoke is persecuting me, says Omatseye

*We need $20m to resettle B’Haram’s victims –Shettima

*‘Senate’ll back Buhari to fight corruption’

*A’Ibom tribunal warns against frivolous applications

*N2.7bn SURE-P fund: APC asks EFCC to probe Yero

*‘Chibok girls may be held in bunkers’

*Buhari’s election altered Nigeria’s negative perception –Gemade

*Bamidele leads other Ekiti LP members to APC

*Power generation drops to 2,000MW —FG

*Mu’azu must go for PDP to survive –Fani-Kayode

*Jonathan is Nigeria’s worst President ever – Akande

THIS DAY

*In Renewed Offensives, Boko Haram Kills 22 Persons, Injures Many in Adamawa

*Govs, Okonjo-Iweala Disagree on Excess Crude Account

*Buhari Appoints Femi Adesina Special Adviser on Media and Publicity

*Okonjo-Iweala Bags Yale Varsity's Honorary Doctoral Degree

*Over $20 million Needed to Resettle IDPs, Says Borno Government

*Labour Party Tasks Jonathan, Buhari on Unpaid Workers’ Salaries

*Court Dismisses Amaechi’s Suit against Wike’s Inauguration

THE NATIONS

*Okonjo-Iweala gets query on $20b oil cash spending

*Eight kidnap suspects arraigned in Awe

*Health workers begin indefinite strike

*CBN harmonises CRR at 31%

*What 31% harmonised CRR means for banks

*Rivers crisis: AGF drafts Bayelsa Chief Judge to swear-in Wike

*Akande: APC won’t zone Senate President, Speaker

*OML 42: NPDC’s stand on Neconde’s operatorship ‘selfish’

*Alleged N1.5b fraud: Omatseye accuses Adoke of persecution

*Govt unveils result of 2013 national survey on MSMEs

*‘APC should zone Senate President to Northeast’

*Orya elected Honourary President of G-NEXID

*Nigeria and Turkey’s forthcoming elections

*SON urges synergy among African standards organisations

*Firm accuses foreign partners of economic sabotage

*Chris Aire dazzles celebrities, socialites with new watches

*Ekpenyong: We expect justice at the tribunal

*Barthez: Goalkeeping hasn’t evolved enough

VANGUARD

*Online tracking of buildings begins in Abuja

Will Adesiyan Keep His Promise?

*S-South group urges Buhari to sign new agreement with oil firms

*Presidential PoLL: ECOWAS leaders hail Jonathan

*Chibok girls living in bunkers  — Gov Shettima

*Lagos lawyer threatens Buhari with suit over change of title

*Pinnick seeks understanding, constructive criticisms

*NGF: Money reunites our govs again

*Buhari has no excuse not to perform —Salami, LP chairman

*Speakership tussle: APC Reps ‘ll checkmate PDP’s antics — Oladele, Reps-elect

*Buhari should step in now to stop zoning controversy — Grp Capt Latinwo (rtd)

*Kaduna: Doubts about Debts

With Buhari, hard work ‘ll now pay — Cally Ikpe

*Dangote Cement reaps dividend of continental expansion, posts N74.7bn profit