October 2020 Nigeria Office Nigeria Press Review 2.10. – 9.10.2020 Welcome to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Nigeria Weekly Press Review The weekly press review seeks to explore and keep you informed on selected issues relating to politics, business and economy, insecurity, infrastructure and development, health related issues, new trends and matters bothering on COVID-19 and the situation in Nigeria. Content Covid-19: Schools to Resume October 12 as ASUU Insists on Strike, Report Reveals Rise in Poverty and Food Insecurity President Buhari Presents 2021 National Budget to NASS as Analysts Express Concern over Nigeria’s Economic Outlook, PIB Controversy Continues Presidency Reacts to Agitations for Restructuring of the Nation Tension Mounts as Ondo State Governorship Election Nears Insecurity: Outrage as Citizens Protest #EndSARS Violation, IGP Bans SARS Operations, NASS Investigates Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office October 2020 2 Covid-19: Schools to Resume October 12 as highest rate among the 5 countries in the poverty ASUU Insists on Strike, Report Reveals Rise in projection with the Northern Region having the Poverty and Food Insecurity highest rating. Femi Asu, Punch News (8th Octo- ber) explains. On a similar note, a report by the The federal government has announced the reo- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), also revealed pening of schools with effect from October 12. that 68% of households experienced food insecu- Disclosing this, the Minister of Education, Adamu rity in August due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It Adamu, said that all schools resuming would also showed that many households have taken have to comply with the Covid-19 guidelines as loans and about 1 in 4 households are in debt directed by the Presidential Task Force (PTF). prior to the pandemic. Nike Popoola, Punch News Adamu stated that the decision was made after (6th October) explains. consultation with stakeholders and the recent re- ports which showed a fall in the Covid-19 infec- tion rate. He also said that schools defaulting on President Buhari Presents 2021 National the Covid-19 guidelines for reopening will be Budget to NASS as Analysts Express Concern sanctioned. Azeezat Adedigba, Premium Times over Nigeria’s Economic Outlook, PIB Contro- (2nd October) explains. versy Continues Also speaking on this, the representative of the President Buhari presented the 2021 National Minister of Education, Ben Goong, said the Fed- Budget to the joint session of the National As- eral Ministry of Education (FME), wrote to the Na- sembly (NASS). Buhari made reference to the tional Universities Commission (NUC), the Na- 2020 budget performance, the recent economic tional Commission for Colleges of Education crisis with regards to crude oil price and the (NCCE), and the National Board for Technical Edu- COVID-19 pandemic, among others. See full de- cation (NBTE) to work out modalities and decide tails of the budget speech by Abiola Odutola, Nai- when they intend to open. Reacting to the an- rametrics News (8th October). President Buhari nouncement of resumption, the Academic Staff had earlier called for cooperation from the legis- Union of universities (ASUU) is insisting on the lature in achieving his administration 9 points de- strike saying that “lecturers would not resume on velopment agenda. He stated this at the Joint Ex- an empty stomach”. In an interview, the National ecutive-Legislative Retreat held at the State President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, added that House Conference Centre, Aso Villa. President the federal government is not committed to ne- Buhari asked that the legislative agenda be made gotiating with ASUU and faulted the Accountant to fall in line with that of the executive. Lawrence General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris for Olaloye, New Telegraph News (6th October) de- allegedly withholding the salaries of lecturers. Fri- tails. Still on the budget speech, President Buhari day Olokor et al, Punch News (6th October) write also revealed that the country may slip back into and Vanguard News (8th October) details. another recession towards the end of the year. He however, assured of the federal government’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had lamented that commitment in resolving the crisis and lifting 100 millions of citizens are living below the poverty million citizens out of poverty. Timileyin Omilana, line. Osinbajo who made this call at a “2-day re- Guardian News (8th October) and Leadership treat, which reviewed the challenges of the rela- News (9th October) detail. tionship and interdependence between the exec- utive and legislative arms of government” added On the economy, the President of the Nigerian that the Corona Virus has also worsened the un- Economic Society (NES), Sarah Anyanwu, has employment and poverty rate in the country. He raised concerns over the governance of the econ- called for reinforced effort in tackling the issue. omy by President Buhari describing it as direc- Seun Opejobi, Daily Post News (6th October) re- tionless and unstable. She criticized the Buhari ports. In a similar vein, the World Bank (WB) has administration on the exclusion of economists revealed a 2018 report stated that about 79 mil- from its economic management team. Anyanwu lion Nigerians are living in extreme poverty. The noted the practice of the past administration that WB who stated this in its “Poverty and Shared included a member of the NES as part of the eco- Prosperity Report” noting that the impact of the nomic team to advise on economic matter, saying Covid-19 would further push the rate higher as that the non-inclusion in the Buhari administra- the country already accounts for 20% of the pov- tion has further plunged the economy. She called erty rate in Sub-Sahara Africa. Nigeria has the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. N igeria Office October 2020 3 for the swift passage of the bill that NES submit- current petroleum production by about 40%”. He ted to NASS. Reacting, the Senior Special Assis- noted concerns by Deji Olatoye over “moral haz- tant to the President on Media and Publicity, ard” and called for an improvement in govern- Garba Shehu, stated that the Presidential Eco- ance. He mentioned some obstacles that may nomic Advisory Council “consists of the best 11 mar the implementation of the bill and stressed economists in the country”. He mentioned some that “Raising money through a sale of stakes in of the team members and gave a brief profile NNPC will at best be a short-term fix unless Nige- about them. He added that Anyanwu may have ria’s institutions are strengthened”. been referring to the past administration in her statement. Punch News (7th October) explains. Presidency Reacts to Agitations for Restruc- On another note, analysts at Afrinvest Security turing of the Nation criticized the revised Nigerian Economic Outlook by Fitch Ratings stating that “there were still se- The Presidency has reacted to the call from citi- vere foreign exchange and fiscal risks that show zens on the immediate restructuring of the coun- less optimistic view of the economy”. They try stating that “the Buhari administration will not pointed to the citation by Fitch Ratings on stable succumb to threats and undue pressure over the oil prices and the impact of the feared second matter”. Contained in a statement, the Senior wave of the Corona Virus on global oil demand Special Assistant to the President on Media and which may have implications on the prices of oil. Publicity, Garba Shehu described the mounting According to analysts at Afrinvest, there would agitation as “unpatriotic” and added that any also be a drop in foreign investment and remit- hasty decision would affect the welfare of 200 tance which would affect external reserve as million Nigerians. He also said that any form of there was a 15.5% drop this year. They further restructuring would follow due process. Guardian analysed the depreciation of the naira and the News (5th October) details. forex market. They opined that Fitch Ratings downplayed the implications of the measures Governors of the 36 states have joined other adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and stakeholders on the call for restructuring the na- “would not be enough to significantly close the tion. The governors called for more delegated fiscal funding gap”. Taofik Salako, The Nation powers and funds to address rising complaints News (7th October) explains. from residents in their states stating that the na- tion’s structure is unstable and on the verge of Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum collapse. The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Fo- Resources, Timipre Sylva, has denied the rumour rum, (NGF), and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode that the NASS is suspending the Petroleum Indus- Fayemi, made the call at a press briefing stating try Bill (PIB) stating that deliberations on the bill that “if we do not re-jig the polity to meet the have been moved to 2021. Slyva stated this at the yearnings of all, it will consume us all because ‘re- Joint Executive - Legislative Retreat hosted at the source constraint is a challenge for every state”. State House Conference Centre, Aso Villa. He Cliford Ndujihe et al, Vanguard News (5th Octo- stated that the National Assembly would need ber) and Friday Olokor et al, Punch News (4th Oc- more time to deliberate on the bill. Nnomdim tober) report. On the same note, Governor Sam- Okechukwu, Punch News (7th October) details. On uel Ortom of Benue state has advised the federal the same note, the Senate has reiterated its com- government to heed to calls for the nation’s re- mitment in ensuring the swift passage on the bill. structuring. Ortom who said this through his Naomi Sharang, Herald News (9th October) re- Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Terver Akase made ports.