The PUNCH: The organised labour has knocked the Federal Government for releasing a N180bn palliative package to states to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal. The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress insisted that the governors could not be trusted, noting that politicians and not the poor would benefit from the N5bn largess given to each state government for disbursement to the citizens.
The Guardian: The toxic politics of godfatherism is taking roots in several states nationwide. Despite institutionalising hefty pension cuts for their lifelong hubris, the ex-governors-turned-kingmakers are not letting go of levers of control cum power, and a reason sitting governors are steadily looking over their shoulders. While the godfathers are feeding fat or fighting for the same under the guise of ‘loyalty’, often caught in the ‘you-chop-I-chop’ democracy are the people that expect so much of good governance but are grossly underserved.
The Nation: States got more cash yesterday to cushion the pain of subsidy removal. The National Economic Council (NEC) approved the release of N5 billion each to the 36 states.
Daily Trust: Officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have said that troops are ready to participate in a standby force that could intervene in Niger. At a meeting in Accra, Ghana capital, on Thursday, the Defence Chiefs said they were prepared to restore civil rule in Niger.
