APC, PDP Clash Over $1b Cash To Fight Boko Haram And Other Newspaper Headlines Today

The row over the $1 billion anti-Boko Haram battle fund to be withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) grew yesterday, with the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) throwing darts at each other. According to The Nation, the APC described the allegation by the PDP that the government planned to pump the money into its reelection as ‘ludicrous and baseless’.

Senators Uncover Budget Padding shows as the headlines for Daily Sun revealing that the Senate Committee on Power has queried the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Mustapha Baba Shehuri and the Permanent Secretary, Mr Loius Edozien, over alleged duplication of items in the 2018 budget estimates of the Power ministry. In the details of the ministry’s next year’s budget, which were made available during yesterday’s budget defence, N120 million, N480 million and N288 million, respectively, were allocated for purchase of utility vehicles by the Power ministry.

Nigerian Tribune buttresses on the fuel scarcity and PENGASSAN strike of yesterday stating; Fuel Scarcity: No Respite Yet As PENGASSAN Suspend Strike. Despite the suspension on Monday of the industrial action embarked upon by members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), there were long queues at many filling stations across the country as fuel scarcity bit harder, a development that resulted in the return of black market sale of petrol in Lagos and Borno States.

2019: Amosun, Tinubu Battle For Control Of South-West heads the Independent today. According to the news outlet, there are feelers that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State are currently engaged in a supremecy battle over control of the South-West geopolitical ahead of the 2019 elections. There have been recent allegations between the loyalists of the duo over recent developments in the party, especially in respect of the party’s preparations for the 2019 presidential election.

Former Senate President has been exposed in The Punch this morning, stating that David Mark Illegally Acquired Senate President’s Official Residence- FG. In details the Federal Government has accused a former Senate President, David Mark, of Illegally acquiring his then official residence as his private property. In September this year, the government, through the special presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, which is chaired by Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, gave the former Senate President a 21-day notice to quit the mansion.

Moving away from the exposure of David Mark, President Buhari Extends Tenure Of CDS, Service Chiefs. According to The Guardian President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the tenure of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin and the service chiefs; the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Iboke-Ete Ibas.

Finally the Vanguard reveals; Test Nigerian Leaders For Drug Abuse- Emir Sanusi. The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has called for a law to compel Nigerian political and religious leaders, including lawmakers, governors and traditional rulers, to undertake drug test.