Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Wednesday morning

1. Prof. Attahiru Jega yesterday bowed out of office
as the INEC Chairman following the expiration of his
tenure. Jega, during his close door handover
ceremony expressed hope that INEC will continue to
conduct credible elections in the country.
2. Following the official exit of Prof. Jega as INEC
boss, President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed
Mrs Amina Bala Zakari as the Acting Chairman of
the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), pending the appointment of a substantial
Chairman.
3. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has extended
the deadline for the registration for Bank Verification
Number, BVN, to October 31. Nigerians are by the
notice directed to comfortably complete their
registration in order to avoid last minutes rush. CBN
Director, Banking and Payment System Department,
Mr Dipo Fatokun, while disclosing this said the
extension will also enable bank customers in the
Diaspora to complete their registration.
4. Former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala
has denied allegation by some governors that she
spent $2.1 billion out of the Excess Crude Account
without authorization, saying the allegation is false,
malicious and totally without foundation. The former
Minister said that no authorized money was spent
from the ECA under her watch, cautioning the
governor to avoid character assasination even as
they make effort to bail out their states from
financial crisis.
5. Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has said that
despite been on recess, the Senate would screen
without delay ministerial nominees that would be
sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari. He
disclosed this while receiving the French
Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gaver in his
office on Tuesday.
6. The Osun State government has commenced
payment of workers’ salaries in the state. Report
says workers in the state have started receiving
alerts of both November and December 2014
salaries. However, it is not clear yet whether the
payment will continue in that order. Meanwhile,
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun
State, Mr. Jacob Adekomi, said the Union will not
suspend its strike until reasonable payment is
effected.

7. Following the official exit of fomer INEC Chairman,
Jega, the PDP has commended President Jonathan
over Jega’s successful tenure, saying the former
President was behind his success. This was
contained in a statement issued by the party
through its Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh.
8. The senator representing Abia North senatorial
district, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa has said that except
the Senators who elected Ekweremadu move for
his impeachment, plot by the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC, to remove the Deputy Senate
President would fail.
9. The horse trading between the PDP and the APC
continued yesterday as the National Publicity
Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, responded to a statement
credited to Chief Olisa Metuh, insisting that the
performance of President Muhammadu Buhari in
tackling insecurity outweighs that of the five years
effort by former President, Goodluck Jonathan.