1. In 2010, our law firm handled the case of Hon Dino Melaye & 10 other legislators who were suspended for accusing the Dimeji Bankole-led House of Representative of wallowing in corruption The Federal High Court declared the suspension of the legislators illegal and unconstitutional and ordered the payment of their withheld salaries and allowances.

2. In 2012, our law firm also handled the case of Honourable Rifkatu Danna, the only female member of the 31-member Bauchi State House of Assembly. Danna was suspended in June 2012 for allegedly making uncomplimentary remarks when she challenged the lawmakers’ decision to approve the relocation of the headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. But the Bauchi State High Court declared her suspension illegal and ordered the Bauchi State House of Assembly to reinstate her and pay her withheld salaries and allowances.

3. In 2017, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal filed against the judgment of the Bauchi State High Court in respect of the illegal suspension of Honourable Rifkatu Danna. The Court upheld our submission to the effect that the suspension of the legislator constituted a breach of the right of the Bogoro Constutuency to be representated by her in the state house of assembly. The Court equally held that the decision of the House to withhold the salaries and allowances of the legislator was illegal as she was not an employee but an elected member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

4. In 2018, our law firm equally handled the case of Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives who was suspended for 180 days for accusing the Yakubu Dogara-led House of padding the 2016 national budget. The Federal High Court nullified the suspension and ordered the payment of the withheld salaries and allowances of the legislator.

5. Based on the case of the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly v Honourable Honourable Rifkatu Danna (2017) 49 WRN 82 which is the locus classicus on the subject matter, the 2017 suspension of Senator Ali Ndume by the Bukola Saraki-led Senate was annulled by the Federal High Court. The case filed on behalf of the Senator his lawyer, Marcel Oru Esq.

6. In the same vein, the 2020 suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the Federal High Court. The case was filed on behalf of the Senator by Edward Omaga Esq.

7. Sometime in 2020, the Jigawa State House of Assembly suspended a lawmaker, Hon. Sani Iyaku, over alleged criticism of the state governor, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Badaru who was on a visit to Hadejia town for a wedding ceremony. Honourable Iyaku challenged his suspension in the Jigawa State High Court. The trial Judge, Justice Ahmed ruled that the action of the Assembly did not comply with order 15 rule 74 (2)(c) and (3) a, b of the state House of Assembly standing orders 2017 and therefore declared the suspension illegal, inappropriate, null and void. The court also directed that the defendant be paid his three months allowances withheld to the tune of N3 million.

8. On November 18, 2020, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, Ondo State dismissed the motion for stay of execution filed by the state House of Assembly against the judgment of the High court reinstating the three suspended members of the state assembly. The Presiding Judge, Justice Folayemi Omoleye, queried the appellants for bringing a frivolous appeal before the court, directing that the lawmakers should be reinstated immediately to resume their legislative duties.

9. On August 13, 2024, the same court reinstated Hon. Iroju Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly. In a unanimous ruling, Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho, and Yusuf Alhaji Bashir affirmed the decision made by Justice Akintan Osadebey, which reinstated the two-term legislator representing the Odigbo state constituency.

10. In the past five years, the High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, and the National Industrial Court nullified the illegal suspension of members of the Houses of Assembly of Kogi and Edo State respectively.

11. In March 2024, the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate suspended Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP; Bauchi) for three months for alleging that Nigeria's 2024 budget was padded. The Senator instructed our law firm to challenge the suspension in the Federal High Court. We wrote to the leadership of the Senate to review the suspension in view of the illegality of the action. As we were preparing to challenge the suspension in the Federal High Court, the Senate recalled Senator Ningi and paid his withheld salaries and allowances.

12. In view of the definitive pronouncements of the several High Court and the Court of Appeal on the illegality of the suspension of elected members of legislative houses in Nigeria, the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is the height of legislative recklessness. The illegal suspension should be lifted without any further delay. Since the Federal High Court had restrained the Senate Ethics Committee from hearing the complaint against the embattled Senator pending the determination of the motion on notice the Senate ought to have stayed action in accordance with the rule of law.

13. Finally, the official impunity of suspending legislators at the whims and caprices of leaders of the federal and state legislative houses must not be allowed to continue in Nigeria.

Femi Falana SAN

Canada has announced its plan to accept up to 10,000 complete visa applications for sponsorship under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2025.

This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency.

To be eligible, sponsors must be at least 18 years old, meet the required income threshold, and sign an undertaking to support their parents or grandparents financially.

 
 

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) oversees the program, which provides an opportunity for family reunification.

Super Visa: an alternative for extended family visits


For those who want to reunite with their parents and grandparents for extended stays without permanent residency, the Super Visa remains an option.

The Super Visa allows multiple entries to Canada over a 10-year period, with each visit lasting up to five years. IRCC has recently made the Super Visa more accessible by revising health insurance requirements.

Super Visa applicants must apply from outside Canada and meet temporary residence requirements. They also need to provide proof of valid health insurance from an approved provider. If coverage expires before departure, visa holders may need to renew their insurance to maintain eligibility.

Canada Parents Visa: Processing Times and Provincial Variations


As of February 5, 2025, processing times for PGP applications are approximately 24 months for applicants outside Quebec. Due to Quebec’s family class admission targets, processing times for those settling in the province are estimated at 48 months.

Super Visa applicants must have private health coverage, as they are not eligible for provincial or territorial health care plans. Previously, proof of health insurance was only accepted from Canadian providers, but IRCC now permits applicants to purchase policies from international insurance companies.

For those planning shorter stays of six months or less, a visitor visa remains an alternative option.

The family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has formally responded to claims made by former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently released memoir, A Journey in Service.

Babangida alleged that Abacha was responsible for annulling the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

 

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Mohammed Abacha, son of the former Head of State, criticized the memoir for what he described as a failure to present a truthful and objective account of historical events.

As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author,” Mohammed remarked.

 

He argued that as Nigeria’s “military president” at the time, Babangida wielded absolute power and must take full responsibility for the decision to annul the election.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to recent claims made by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in his newly launched book, A Journey in Service, where he alleged that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of the late General Sani Abacha. These claims have sparked widespread controversy and necessitate a clear response from the immediate family of General Sani Abacha and the entire Abacha clan in the interest of historical accuracy and justice.

“It is important to state unequivocally that General Sani Abacha was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief at the time the June 12 election was annulled. The decision to annul the election was made under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, who, as the then Head of State, held absolute executive powers and was solely responsible for the actions of his government. Any attempt to shift this blame onto General Sani Abacha, who was a very senior military officer within the regime, is a deliberate distortion of historical facts.”

Mohammed Abacha further condemned efforts to revise history, insisting that his father should not be scapegoated for decisions made under Babangida’s leadership.

He said: “For years, various actors have attempted to rewrite the history of that critical period in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. However, the facts remain unchanged. We urge Nigerians to be wary of revisionist narratives that seek to manipulate public perception for personal or political reasons. The memory of our late father and leader, General Sani Abacha, must not be tarnished by baseless accusations meant to absolve those who were truly responsible.”

The statement also emphasized that despite the allegations, Abacha remained loyal to Babangida throughout his life, even ensuring his safety during moments of political crisis.

He said: “Despite this unfortunate attempt to shift blame, General Sani Abacha remained a true and loyal friend to General Ibrahim Babangida up to the time of his death. He was a man of unwavering commitment to his comrades. We also find it necessary to state that at the time General Babangida’s life was under threat, it was General Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his safety.”

 

Mohammed Abacha also expressed gratitude to Nigerians who have spoken out in defense of his father, vowing to uphold historical accuracy.

We take this opportunity to express our heartfelt appreciation to the many Nigerians who have risen in defense of General Sani Abacha in an effort to set the record straight. Your unwavering commitment to truth and historical accuracy is deeply appreciated, and we acknowledge the outpouring of support from those who refuse to allow history to be distorted,” Mohammed said.

He acknowledged Abacha’s contributions to Nigeria’s development and criticized Babangida’s memoir for missing an opportunity to present an honest account of history.

He said: “As we reflect on Nigeria’s history, we acknowledge General Sani Abacha’s time in leadership and the role he played in the nation’s development. His contributions, like those of past leaders, remain part of our country’s history. We believe that history is best judged with fairness and objectivity.

“We regret that A Journey in Service missed the opportunity and failed to make history as a truthful and objective account of past events. As one public commentator aptly put it, honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.”

Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu has revealed that he was foolishly loyal to former Governor Godwin Obaseki just to make the administration succeed.

Speaking in an interview with Sunday Sun, Shaibu, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said all the actions he took while in office were based on principles rather than materialistic position.

 

The former House of Representatives member pointed out that even when his relationship with Obaseki was not so cordial, he continued to play a fool.

He stated that despite being denied benefits of his office, he still backed Obaseki’s re-election bid.

Philip Shaibu said: “What people see outside is different from what is inside. You see, it is like a marriage. It is either the wife makes it work or the husband makes it work. One has to be a fool for a relationship to be able to flourish. So, in Obaseki’s government, I was the fool. I made myself a fool in his government to make the thing work. Because immediately Comrade told me during that budget saga that I don’t have a say, I am subject to what Obaseki says, at that level, I told myself, okay, no problem, I will be a fool for this man. But I will come out not to be a fool at the end of the day. So, I started planning myself from that day. I said, well, I will make sure loyalty will be 100 per cent, I will be foolishly loyal. I told myself that I will be foolishly loyal. And truly, I was foolishly loyal because of what was said from day one. So, at the end of the day, everybody said ah, Philip is loyal, Philip is loyal. I was actually loyal, foolishly loyal. And when I say loyal, loyal, and I mean it.

 

“This is my house. There is no one thing in eight years that I bought extra in this house. No one thing that I would say is a new thing that I bought in this house since I became deputy governor. That was how foolish I was. I was limited to my overhead and salaries, nothing more. And that is why the committee of the new governor has completed their assignment. You won’t see my name in any transaction in government or my proxy in any transaction in government. I purposely stayed away from any financial transaction apart from my overhead and salary in government. That was how foolish I was to the extent that even my official vehicle, I didn’t have an official vehicle. The car I used for three years, first three years as deputy governor, was the car that I bought with my car loan as a member of House of Reps. The Land Cruiser that had the flag with the crest of deputy governor was the one I bought when I was a member of House of Reps. I bought an armoured Land Cruiser because I had to be travelling by road to my constituency from there. That car was just six months old when I became deputy governor. So, when the government was not buying vehicles and everything, I had to ask them to take the car from Abuja here to Benin and they put the flag and put the… nobody knew. Then the car my security was using, it was the car that both Imasuen and Odubu’s wives used. The lady mechanic is alive, I had to go and tow them, she came to the Deputy Governor’s lodge and towed those vehicles to her workshop and fixed them. Some of them, we had to change engine and gear box; some of them, we had to cut the head and put another head. She was able to use her skill to bring them back to life, to keep the convoy of the Deputy Governor. And that was how the Hiluxes I used, two of them, the ones I already abandoned that I used as a Majority Leader, we had to go and buy engine for two of them, fix them, then the one I was using in the House of Reps, I bought another one when we were campaigning. Those four were the Hilux vehicles I used in my first term as the Deputy Governor of Edo State.

“So, in the midst of that, I still supported him to come back because for me, I believe he was entitled to second term. And I didn’t want anything to distort the flow – Edo North just got eight years, a Benin man coming would now want to…, so on principle, I did what I did. If it was based on materialism, I should have been on Oshiomhole’s side to have my pound of flesh for not even allowing me to access my entitlements.

 

“In my eight years, I never accessed medical allowance. I never accessed furniture allowance, I never accessed even the 22 days or 28 days they call it, first term and second term, I never enjoyed it. In eight years, both my family and I, none of us. Thank God for good health. None of us accessed any medical… And these are constitutional rights, it is not privilege. It is supposed to be part of my earnings, but I told you, I was living in my house, I was not living in Government House. In Benin, I stayed in my house for eight years.”

Concerns are mounting over the safety of high-caliber weapons and explosives stored at the Lagos Air Force Base, following the facility’s continued disconnection from electricity by the distribution company responsible for the area.

The presence of these munitions near the densely populated Ikeja area of Lagos has heightened public anxiety, especially as the base has been without power for over 16 days. Efforts to resolve the reported ₦4 billion debt allegedly owed to Ikeja Electric Company by the Nigerian Air Force have so far failed.

 

Tensions escalated when armed military personnel reportedly stormed and vandalized the corporate headquarters and Oshodi office of Ikeja Electric. The personnel allegedly held staff, visitors, and journalists hostage for hours, subjected them to torture, and seized their personal belongings. It was further gathered that some staff members were taken away, while about 40 official vehicles belonging to the company were forcefully moved to the Air Force base.

 

By Friday, top officials of the power company had met with senior Air Force officers and Lagos State government officials at Alausa, where key resolutions were made to restore normalcy and address the outstanding issues. However, as of yesterday, power had yet to be restored to the base, further intensifying fears of a possible explosion involving the stored weapons.

A military source speaking to Sunday Vanguard warned that continued darkness could have catastrophic consequences.

The source said: “We have been managing solar and generators since the blackout started, but they are not enough to power the cooling systems in the warehouse where the bombs and missiles are stored. Worse still, the cost of running generators is taking a toll, and if the heat becomes unbearable, there must be an explosion.

“There are 150, 200, 250, and 500 kg highly explosive bombs stored in the base. If an explosion occurs, the destruction would be worse than the last bomb explosion in Ikeja years ago, with devastating effects across Lagos and neighboring states.

The source further revealed that the base houses a Beloga bomb, which contains 151 bomblets, each capable of being propelled up to 500 kilometers, with the potential to destroy houses and properties within a 1,000-kilometer radius.

Additionally, the base reportedly holds 250 Pre-Frag bombs, which, if launched up to 250 kilometers, could cause destruction within a 500-kilometer radius with a shattering effect. The 250 low-drag incendiary bomb, if propelled to 500 kilometers, could also cause massive destruction within the same range, with the added effect of fire.

Regarding the alleged debt, the source clarified that the Air Force has been making regular payments.

That ₦4 billion debt dates back to the base’s inception on April 14, 1964. We have been paying ₦60 million every month through meter account number 100069855. ₦4,200 is deducted from the salaries of Flight officers monthly to cover electricity bills, while payments for junior officers are deducted directly.

 

“We have done our best, but the outstanding debt has accumulated over the years. The issue should be resolved by the appropriate authorities, rather than making those who have consistently paid bear the brunt,” the source said.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that some military personnel, aware of the potential risks posed by the prolonged blackout, are considering relocating their families outside Lagos.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Nigerian Air Force were unsuccessful. However, a source claimed that the issue had been resolved following the meeting in Alausa, but warned that as long as the power outage continues, the risk of a disaster remains high.

The attack on Ikeja Electric’s facilities on Thursday has further fueled tensions, with some sources suggesting that the action may have had official backing.

[NaijaNews]

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has warned preachers against using loudspeakers in public spaces, particularly markets, accusing them of causing noise pollution and disturbing residents.

Soludo stated that anyone caught violating the noise pollution order would face a N500,000 fine.

A viral video circulating on social media on Saturday showed the governor warning an unidentified roadside preacher at a market to stop disrupting traders with his preaching.

He advised the preacher to either preach in a church or rent an open field, adding that those interested in listening would seek him out there.

Addressing traders at a market, the governor said, “If you want to preach the word of God, go to your church. You are causing noise pollution here. You cannot come to a marketplace and disturb everyone.

“If you want to preach, go to a church. Those who want to listen will come to you; you cannot force people in the market to hear your message.

“This is a marketplace, not a church. You are violating the law. You cannot take over a public space and turn it into a church. Otherwise, you will be charged for using this space.

“You will pay ?500,000 because we cannot allow this. We have banned loudspeakers in markets due to noise pollution, which affects people’s eardrums. You cannot force people to listen to your preaching. We are cracking down on fake pastors and prophets in Anambra.”

[DailyTrust]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has said that his country is “fully committed” to having a constructive dialogue with US representatives in Saudi Arabia.

The meeting is scheduled to hold next week as countries seek ways to end the war with Russia.

Zelenskyy said on Saturday that “Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. Realistic proposals are on the table.”

“The key is to move quickly and effectively,” the Ukrainian president wrote on X.

Zelenskyy said he was going to Saudi Arabia next week, adding that after his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, his country’s diplomatic and military representatives would stay for a meeting on Tuesday with the US team.

He added, “On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps.”

Foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and the defence minister, Rustem Umerov, will lead Ukrainian delegation to the high profile meeting.

DAILY POST reported that President Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump and US Vice president, JD Vance at the Oval Office a week ago.

However, the meeting did not end on a good note as both parties confirmed. Since then, the Ukrainian leader has been seeking ways to mend things with the US.

[DailyPost]

The chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS), Dr. Jim Pam Wayas, said the state raked in N31.14 billion in 2024, the first in the history of the state.

Pam said this is in contrast to the N25.8 billion made in 2023.

Speaking to reporters in his office on Friday, Pam said the service has also received a tall order from Governor Caleb Mutfwang to increase the revenue to N52 billion 2025.

He said the service is however starting on a good footing, as it already collected N3.3 billion in January compared to N1.6 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Pam said the service was able to achieve this through improved revenue collection by bringing more tax payers into the tax net and blocking leakages in the revenue system.

 
 

He said, “In 2023, we were able to jack the revenue to N25.8 billion from somewhere around N15.8 billion in the preceding year. But as at close of business last year, the revenue closed at N31.14 billion.

“And that’s the first time the Plateau State has hit the benchmark of above N30 billion in revenue generation. However, there’s hope that we need to start 2025 on a tall order because even the state government has given us a total revenue target of N52 billion in 2025.

“But we started 2025 on a strong footing. As at January, we collected about N3.3 billion, which is not even the highest that we ever collected in any given month, but I think compared to last year, by January, we did about N1.6 billion.

“That shows significant improvement in revenue generation.

Pam said though the state had witnessed an increase in internally generated revenue, it’s federally allocated revenue had for the past six months come with a minus, owing to foreign debts that the state had incurred in the past and fluctuations in rate of foreign exchange.

[TheNation]

The United States may still have the world’s most powerful navy but it seems to have realised that this is no longer sufficient to reassert US supremacy over the high seas.

If President Donald Trump’s pronouncements on shipbuilding, the Panama Canal and Greenland are anything to go by, he wants to increase US sea power on several fronts – just as China is already doing.

Beijing’s expanding influence on the world’s oceans is a challenge to Washington’s efforts to protect its interests.

While the United States still dominates the seas militarily, it is weaker in other maritime sectors, such as merchant shipping and shipbuilding itself, analysts told AFP.

 

Trump told the US Congress last week that his administration would “resurrect” the country’s nautical construction industry “including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding”.

On China, he has complained that Beijing “controls” the Panama Canal and has refused to rule out military force to wrest control of a vital strategic asset.

The president has been equally blunt about wanting to take over Greenland, a Danish territory whose untapped mineral and oil reserves he covets.

And he wants to tax any Chinese vessel that docks in US ports.

Researcher Sophie Quintin, of Portsmouth University in the UK, said Trump’s approach smacked of a return to “navalism” — a theory stressing the importance of sea power espoused by 19th-century US naval officer Alfred Mahan.

On the other hand, Trump might just be appealing to his populist voter base, the Make America Great Again (MAGA) faithful.

“It’s difficult to know if it’s the fruit of a real strategic reflection,” said Alessio Patalano, a specialist in maritime strategy at King’s College, London.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter. Serving the interests of MAGA voters by restarting naval shipyards or taxing Chinese boats leads to a navalist policy.”

– Chinese sea power –

In any case, China understands the importance of sea power, said Nick Childs of Britain’s International Institute for Strategic Studies.

At a Paris conference last month, Childs pointed to China’s rapid expansion in maritime sectors other than its own navy.

“There are the investments we’ve been hearing about in global ports, global maritime infrastructure and the weaponising of the fishing fleet,” he said.

Washington is concerned by the expansion of Chinese shipping companies, which they see as serving the interests of the Beijing government.

“Beijing’s economic control of port operations at strategic chokepoints across the world — many of which are part of the Maritime Silk Road initiative — pose a threat to the United States and its allies,” opined US think tank the Jamestown Foundation in February.

It cited in particular two state-owned firms, COSCO and China Merchant Ports.

Beijing could also exert “significant influence” on a third, the privately owned Hutchison Port Holdings, which controls two ports on the Panama Canal, it said.

 

But Paul Tourret, of France’s Higher Institute of Maritime Economics (ISEMAR), cautioned against too “simplistic” a reading of China’s maritime policy.

“COSCO, for example, follows a financial logic. It merely delivers to the United States the goods that Americans consume,” he said.

Nevertheless, pressure from Washington seems to have had some effect.

Hutchison announced last week it had agreed to sell its lucrative Panama Canal ports to a US-led consortium, although it insisted this was a “purely commercial” decision.

– Gaps in US presence –

While the United States may have the world’s most powerful navy, its merchant fleet is not in such good shape, said Quintin.

“US shipping companies have significantly declined and what remains of its commercial fleet is ageing,” she said.

“That has repercussions for its strategic fleet,” she added, referring to civilian ships used for military transport.

“Furthermore, the shipbuilding sector is in crisis.”

Tourret agreed: “There’s no way the US can build ships quickly.”

“The problem with US shipbuilding is that they don’t have the know-how of the Japanese and Koreans, and they don’t have the scale of the Chinese, who churn ships out like biscuits,” added Patalano.

“When Europe is one year behind on a military programme, the US is three or four years late,” said a European industry source on condition of anonymity.

Trump’s avowed desire to seize control of Greenland and Canada can also be viewed as a bid to regain US dominance over the seas.

Global heating is melting Arctic ice at an alarming rate, endangering natural ecosystems and contributing to further climate change.

But that melting could also open up the region to vessels – both commercial and military – and to oil and mineral exploration.

Those prospects have not been lost on China, Russia or the United States.

“The Arctic space will become increasingly important for power projection, especially for missile-launching submarines,” said Patalano, who sees these as “an essential component of deterrence”.

Here again, “the United States is lagging behind”, said Quintin.

“While China is capable of deploying three icebreakers, the US Coast Guard struggles to keep its two ageing vessels in service,” she said.

AFP

The Federal Government’s ambitious effort to overhaul the nation’s tax laws has moved a step closer to reality following the submission of over 200 memoranda by diverse stakeholders to the Senate and House of Representatives.

The National Assembly’s public hearings, which saw the participation of various interest groups, marked a pivotal moment in the country’s quest to reform its tax system.

Held to discuss the proposed tax reforms, the public hearing attracted contributions from a broad spectrum of individuals and organizations.

These included government agencies, private sector players, civil society groups, and tax professionals, all offering their perspectives on how to reshape the country’s tax framework.

A primary focus of the discussions was on striking a balance between fostering economic growth, improving revenue generation, and addressing the concerns of citizens and businesses alike.

Diverse Stakeholder Voices

The hearings revealed a range of opinions on the tax reform bills, with many stakeholders providing constructive feedback aimed at improving the proposals. In total, the House of Representatives alone received 54 memoranda, underscoring the wide-reaching interest and varying perspectives on the issue.

The bills, which aim to modernize the country’s tax laws, have sparked both support and opposition.

While government representatives and economists emphasized that the reforms would help reduce the budget deficit, improve tax compliance, and streamline collection processes, critics raised concerns about the potential negative effects on small businesses and middle-class citizens.

The proposed adjustments to the Value Added Tax (VAT) and income tax brackets were particularly contentious, with some arguing that these changes might place undue strain on vulnerable sectors of the economy.

Balancing Act between Growth and Fairness

The hearings spotlighted some key issues, including how to expand the tax base without increasing rates or overburdening individuals and businesses.

Stakeholders such as the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) advocated for a simplified tax system to ease compliance, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

They also called for lower corporate taxes to boost investment and job creation.

Similarly, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) highlighted the need to incentivize local production, urging the government to avoid increasing taxes on raw materials and other inputs, which could lead to higher production costs and stifle local industries.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), representing workers, voiced concerns about the potential impact of the reforms on low-income earners.

It called for a progressive tax system that ensures higher-income individuals and corporations shoulder a larger share of the tax burden, protecting ordinary workers from additional financial strain.

Civil Society and Sector-Specific Interests

Several civil society organizations (CSOs), including Tax Justice Network Africa, underscored the importance of greater transparency and accountability within the tax system.

They also called for stronger measures to combat tax evasion, particularly among multinational corporations, and for the assurance that tax revenues would be channeled into social development programs.

Representatives from the oil and gas sector expressed concerns about the impact of the reforms on their operations, emphasizing the need for stable, predictable tax policies to remain competitive in the global market. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) focused on the importance of clarity in the legal framework surrounding the proposed changes to avoid confusion and potential legal disputes.

Other stakeholders, including the Alumni Association of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative, the Centre for African Policy Research Advisory, and Project Sprint, also made significant contributions.

While the Legislative Mentorship Initiative praised the reforms as a strategic blueprint for the nation’s economic future, it urged policymakers to consider the reforms’ impact on vulnerable populations.

The Centre for African Policy Research Advisory stressed the need for Nigerians to have a say in the implementation process, while Project Sprint raised concerns about the potential impact of the VAT adjustments on economic activity and labor supply.

What Lies Ahead?

As the National Assembly reviews the memoranda and carefully weighs the feedback from various stakeholders, the proposed tax reforms remain a work in progress.

The aim is to pass legislation later this year that will overhaul the country’s tax system to promote economic growth, reduce inequality, and increase government revenue.

Although there is broad consensus on the necessity of tax reforms, the specifics of how these reforms should be implemented remain a source of debate.

Lawmakers are tasked with navigating these differing views and balancing the concerns of multiple groups to create a tax system that is equitable, sustainable, and growth-friendly.

With key decisions still to be made, all eyes are now on the National Assembly as it works to craft tax policies that will shape the country’s economic future. How policymakers choose to reconcile the diverse interests and perspectives will ultimately determine the success of the tax reforms.

In the coming months, as deliberations continue, stakeholders are hopeful that the final reform package will meet the needs of both businesses and individuals, while also positioning Nigeria for greater economic stability and growth.

[Vanguard]