NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

It’s another edition of NRTC WEEKLY Roundup —in this week’s edition, we are focusing on five trending stories across the country.

As usual, the stories will cut across the top five beats in our media organization, NRTC [your one-stop hub for rich and reliable content covering entertainment, sports, politics, metro, and leading stories].

As we all know, a day can’t pass without trending stories and we have tracked many of them for you this week. Why not scroll down and treat yourself?

^{Leading stories: PEPC judgement, politics: Tinubu 100 days in office; sport: Osimhem, Oshoala makes Ballon d’Or nomination, entertainment, Burna Boy makes the 18th annual BET Hip Hop Awards nomination and business: NLC protest amidst palliatives distribution are the stories to discuss on this week NRTC WEEKLY.} 

Politics: Tinubu 100 days in office, what do Nigerians lose or gain?

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has marked his hundred (100) days in office as the 16th and current president of Nigeria, having assumed office on 29 May 2023.

President Tinubu who took over from former President Muhammadu Buhari announced the immediate removal of fuel subsidy, with Nigerians optimistic of better governance.

The announcement took most Nigerians by surprise, considering the usual way of the country’s presidents waiting to settle down with the appointment of his cabinet members.

The optimism of Nigerians could have been born after having experienced hardship, insecurity, bad economy among others under the administration of Buhari who spent eight years as President. 

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

Nigerians expected a stable economy, and perfect commodities price among others under Tinubu’s led administration but their expectation was hit with a hike in petrol price, resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy. 

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the 100 days in office of the President could be described as hardship for Nigerians who couldn’t afford to feed themselves and their families as the price of commodities soared higher. 

Findings further disclosed that many Nigerians who have vehicles could not use them, while many commercial drivers have turned to farmers, and vulcanizers to provide for their families.

NRTC WEEKLY confirmed that a few months into the removal of the petrol subsidy, Tinubu says Nigeria has been able to save over N1 trillion from the removal of petrol subsidy, pleading with citizens to have faith in our ability to deliver and in his administration concern for their well-being.

President Tinubu also assured to get the nation out of economic turbulence through the measures his administration has taken so far, attended to healthcare, and education, and made the naira stable.

Meanwhile, to celebrate 100 days in office, the Federal Government (FG) disclosed that Tinubu began the journey to rebuild the country’s battered economy in a difficult situation.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris in an achievements statement obtained by NRTC WEEKLY said the country’s public debts – both local and foreign have experienced a new turnaround.

He said the President took a step “to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions which had created a loophole in public finance.

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

He said Tinubu also took further steps to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets, saying the President has never failed in his appeal to Nigerians to see the current inconveniences as a price we must all pay to save our country from disappearing.

He added that considering the people’s pains, the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms, which include working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments to enable them to cater to the most vulnerable among us, providing fertilizers to farmers, grains to households, cash transfers to people with low incomes.

NRTC WEEKLY further gathered that the Minister said there are plans to roll out over 11,000 CNG buses for affordable public transportation to reduce the impact of the high cost of living on the citizens.

“In the last 100 days, the government set up a Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee that is fully at work to deepen the ongoing reforms and reposition the national economy for long-term sustainability. A renowned Tax and Fiscal Policy expert is leading this committee.

“Part of the committee’s mandate, working with the state governments, is to simplify our complicated tax system, eliminate multiple taxes, streamline regulations that negate the ease of doing business, and close the over 20 trillion annual tax gap.

“To ensure that Nigerians and businesses are not burdened with new taxes, the administration will promote efficiency in revenue collection.

“Within the last 100 days, President Tinubu has worked to promote political stability in Nigeria because he understands that there cannot be any meaningful progress and development without peace.

“The administration has stabilized the polity and reduced tensions associated with ethnic and religious agitations by better managing our diversity.

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

“Tinubu ensured balance in all the appointments into key government positions including that of service chiefs from diverse parts of the country.

“In the last 100 days, President Tinubu has offered purposeful leadership and set the administration’s tone, texture, and character.”

Sport: Osimhem, Oshoala makes Ballon d’Or nomination 

Nigerian football fans erupted with joy and pride when Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala were nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2023. NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the news sent shockwaves through the nation, as it marked a significant moment in Nigerian football history. 

The Internet went buzzing as fans and lovers of the players who had been performing exceptionally well on the international stage took to their handles to shower praises on them as well as described it as well-deserved recognition of their talent and hard work.

Social media platforms were flooded with messages of support and congratulations for Osimhen and Oshoala. Nigerians from all walks of life, from football enthusiasts to celebrities and politicians, expressed their excitement and pride. 

NRTC WEEKLY learned that many Nigerians saw this as an opportunity to showcase their love for football and their unwavering support for their homegrown talents— as well as a source of inspiration for the younger generation of footballers, who now had two shining examples to look up to and aspire towards.

It was a moment of unity and national pride that transcended the usual divides in the country. Oshoala was on the list last year while Osimhem joined the likes of Kanu Nwankwo after pulling a wonderful performance in the last season with the Italian Napoli club.

Although Oshoala, the Barcelona FC forward or Nigerian men who had made the in the past won the Ballon d’Or that year, their nominations alone were a victory for Nigerian football. 

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

‘It showcased the potential and talent that Nigeria had to offer to the world of football and served as a reminder that dreams could come true with hard work and determination.’

Entertainment, Burna Boy makes the 18th annual BET Hip Hop Awards nomination

When the news broke that Burna Boy had been nominated for the 18th Annual BET Hip Hop Awards, his fans couldn’t contain their excitement and pride because the singer had already made a significant impact on the global music scene, but this nomination was a testament to his growing influence in the hip-hop genre.

NRTC WEEKLY observed that the social media platforms buzzed with congratulatory messages and posts celebrating Odogwu’s achievement, which reflected the immense support and love from fans across Nigeria and beyond.

Burna Boy’s nomination was seen as a milestone for Nigerian and African music as a whole and highlighted the continent’s rich musical diversity and the global recognition that African artists were finally receiving, NRTC WEEKLY confirmed.

According to some Netizens,  this was not just a nomination but a representation of the entire African music industry’s rise to prominence, as fellow musicians, actors, athletes, and politicians, joined in the celebration. 

They lauded Burna Boy’s talent, hard work, and dedication, emphasizing how he had become an ambassador for Nigerian music on the global stage.

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

NRTC WEEKLY gathered from comments on social media that as the awards ceremony approached, Nigerians were eager to see if Burna Boy would take home the coveted award.

Leading stories: PEPC judgement

The internet went buzzing on Wednesday after the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal upheld the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dismissing that of People Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The Tribunal led by Justice Abba Bello Mohammed said the petitions filed by Obi, Atiku and lacked credibility, NRTC WEEKLY gathered.

We (NRTC WEEKLY) found out that in the early hour of Wednesday Nigerians were eager to hear who’ll win with the sun hung low in the sky over the country, with a collective breath in anticipation of a pivotal moment in its history— the atmosphere was charged with a mix of excitement, tension, and uncertainty.

Citizens from all walks of life gathered around radios and television sets, eager to witness the outcome that would determine the course of their nation’s future, NRTC WEEKLY confirmed.

Some hours later, Tinubu won, resulting in Atiku and Obi rejecting the verdict. NRTC WEEKLY gathered that former President Muhammadu Buhari and some political figures in the country have congratulated Tinubu.

Our findings further revealed that Atiku and Obi had directed their lawyers to appeal the case to the Supreme Court during a press conference held to address newsmen yesterday. 

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

Netizens who took to their social media handles to react to the appeal movement urged the two presidential candidates to accept defeat and congratulate Tinubu — and joined hands with him to move the country forward and to her promised land.

NLC protests amidst palliatives distribution are the

The Internet went agog for two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) with mixed reactions when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) went on warning protests amidst palliative distribution. 

NRTC WEEKLY gathered that the NLC, representing the interests of Nigerian workers, has a long history of advocating for better labor conditions and workers’ rights. Their decision to protest during palliative distribution raised a complex set of emotions and opinions among the citizens.

Some Nigerians were supportive of the NLC’s protests, viewing them as necessary to address systemic issues related to workers’ rights and welfare, NRTC WEEKLY confirmed, believing that even during times of crisis, such as the distribution of palliatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important to hold the government accountable and ensure that workers’ rights were not neglected. 

These individuals felt that the protests were a way to bring attention to the plight of workers and push for better conditions, but many Nigerians felt that the timing of the protests was ill-suited.

ALSO READ: NRTC WEEKLY: Top 5 trending stories across the country this week

NLC argued that the fuel subsidy removal should either be returned or the government should increase salaries.

Here, the cotton of this week’s episode of NRTC WEEKLY will drop. Join us for another edition next week as we take you around the trending stories in Nigeria.