Trending headlines in Nigerian Newspapers Today Wednesday, 20th March, 2019 – This is the summary of top 10 Nigerian Newspapers headlines today, Wednesday, March 20 2019.

1) Tempers rise as INEC gets set for makeup elections

Tempers rose yesterday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reversed itself on the stalled governorship election in Bauchi State.

It said the supplementary election, which it cancelled last week, will hold on Saturday in areas not affected by yesterday’s court ruling.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the electoral umpire to pull the brakes on its planned resumption of collation of results for Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.

2) Saraki, PDP ploting to hijack Ninth National Assembly, Nabena alleges

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yekini Nabena has revealed plots by Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to hijack the leadership of the 9th session of the National Assembly by influencing who emerges leaders of both chambers.

Nabena said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must move fast to nip such moves in the bud by coming out with a zoning formular for the emergence of leaders of the legislature.

3) INEC ad hoc workers protest unpaid allowances

Ad hocworkers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the general elections in Anambra State have protested their unpaid allowances weeks after the elections.

The protesters, who stormed the commission’s office in Awka to demand for their entitlements and allowances, were however denied access to the premises by security operatives.

Their spokesperson, Ikechukwu Mike, said they had complained to the officer in charge of payment who directed them to compile their names and bank details.

4) Senate passes N30,000 minimum wage bill

Workers won yesterday a major victory in their battle for  N30,000 minimum wage.

The Senate passed the National Minimum Wage Bill, which the President is expected to sign into law.

The approval of N30, 000 contrary to the N27, 000 recommended by the Federal Government in a Bill it sent to the National Assembly in January.

The lawmakers urged the Federal Government to initiate immediately the review of the revenue sharing formula to ensure seamless implementation of the minimum wage at the state and local government levels.

5) Govt mulls VAT increase

NIGERIANS were yesterday told to brace for a possible increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT).

VAT, now five per cent, is undergoing review, after which it may attract between 35 and 50 per cent increase, it was learnt.

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, broke the news yesterday.

He told the Senate Committee on Finance on the Medium Term Expenditure and Fiscal Strategy Framework (MTEF) that the need to increase VAT was informed by the necessity to raise more revenue for the government to meet its obligations.

6) Senate may pass budget 2019 in April

The Senate yesterday resumed the consideration of the general principles of the 2019 Appropriation Bill with more knocks on the budget.

The upper chamber slated the passage of the N8.83 trillion budget estimates for next month.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, after the conclusion of the debate of the general principles of the fiscal document, gave the Appropriation Committee where the budget proposal was referred to, two weeks to turn in its report for consideration and passage.

The upper chamber resolved to ignore heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), who may fail to appear before the sub-committees to defend their budget proposals.

7) CBN extends MFBs recapitalisation deadline to 2021

The Central Bank of Nigeria has extended the deadline for the recapitalisation of micro-finance banks to 2021.

Last year, the CBN raised the capital base for MFBs, with a 2020 deadline.

It had increased the minimum capital base for national MFBs to N5 billion from N2billion while that of state was increased to N1 billion from N100m.

This latest move will ensure continuous operations of micro finance banks in the rural, unbanked and underbanked areas of the economy.

8) Supplementary Election: It’s a lie, Tinubu is not in Kano – Media Office

The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has put a lie to the rumour going round that he is at present in Kano and meddling in the Kano elections.                  “ Asiwaju is not in Kano and has not been in Kano at any point during the conduct of these elections. The picture that these liars are circulating of Asiwaju and Governor Ganduje is one that was taken last year when the governor visited Lagos,” his Media Adviser, Tunde Rahman, said in a statement last night.

He said those peddling the rumour know the picture is not true, but “they still use it because their relationship to the truth is an adversarial one.”

9) #LagosBuildingCollapse: Ministry of Physical Planning sets up 5-man committee

The Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has inaugurated a five-man committee of experts, to look into the collapsed building at Ita Faji.

Correspondent Adedoja Salam-Adeniyi reports that aside from investigating the Ita Faji building collapse, the 5 man committee would also

examine the level of negligence from owners and building developers and make resolutions within two weeks.

149 distressed buildings have been identified across the state by the ministry of physical planning. 40 have gone down in the first phase of demolitions, 51 will be brought down this year.

10) Buhari meets Service chiefs behind closed doors

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday received briefings from the security chiefs on matters involving security across the country, at the weekly National Security Council meeting.

State House Correspondent, Mariah Olasehinde reports that the service Chiefs declined comments after the meeting.

The meeting which started at about 11am had in attendance the Minister of Defence, Brig-General Mansur Dan Ali, Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen T.Y Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm.Ibok Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, Boss Mustapha Secreatary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Saliu Usman and other support staff.

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