TheCable

The Punch reports that controversy is trailing the federal government’s palliatives package to the 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT), owing to hitches in distribution. The newspaper says four states in the south-west geopolitical zone — Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo — have declared Monday as a public holiday for the Isese festival celebration.

The Nation reports that a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday arrived in the Niger Republic to dialogue with the military junta in order to prevent the planned military intervention in the country. The newspaper says Olisa Agbakoba, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said the federal government can generate N8 trillion yearly from the marine and blue economy.

Nigerian Tribune says Burkina Faso and Mali have deployed warplanes in the Niger Republic ahead of a potential military intervention by ECOWAS. The newspaper reports that the house of representatives said the committee investigating job racketeering in federal ministries has not indicted Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

THISDAY reports that Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of the Niger junta, said the army will hand over power to a civilian government within the next three years. The newspaper says some members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have rejected the directive of the federal government that the funds given to states as palliatives would be refunded.

The Guardian reports that organised labour says the federal government has not held any discussion with them on the palliatives for petrol subsidy removal. The newspaper says the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Lagos state chapter, has vowed to take to the streets in protest against unpaid pensions and poor welfare.