Top news items in major Nigerian media outlets

The following are highlights of leading Nigerian media outlets on Monday.

-- There are strong indications that the National Assembly is insisting on meeting President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the grey areas in the 2016 budget.

The PUNCH reliably gathered on Sunday that the lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly had deferred further actions on the budget until the meeting takes place this week. (The Punch)

-- President Muhammadu Buhari late Sunday appealed to Nigerians to bear with him over the difficulties in the land, saying Nigerians were seeing the darkest days before dawn.

While appealing to Nigerians who he said were known for their inner strength to soldier on, he said the change which they voted for was at the corner and about to rock every nook and cranny of the country. (Vanguard)

-- Despite a massive bailout by the Federal Government last year, dozens of states still cannot pay their workers for many months.

Daily Trust investigations in the past week have shown that majority of Nigeria's 36 states owe workers between one to nine months in unpaid salaries. (Daily Trust)

-- The current scarcity of foreign exchange confronting the country has been described as a good development for the Nigerian economy as local production of various essential goods is now being given top priority with positive outcomes.

The Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who reiterated the assertion during the assessment tour of the farmlands cultivated under its anchor borrowers programme in Kebbi State at the weekend, said that agriculture is the bedrock of genuine economic growth of any nation and that Nigeria could not be an exception. (The Guardian) Endit