Four governors of South-West states, on Tuesday, met with their ailing Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, in his Jericho private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The governors, who visited Akeredolu were Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) while Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, was absent.

Akeredolu, who recently returned from Germany after months of medical treatment, had remained in Ibadan, a development that has generated criticisms from Ondo people, particularly the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The governors earlier had a closed-door meeting at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, before proceeding to Akeredolu’s residence.

Journalists were not given access to the meeting.

As of press time, details of the meeting remained unknown, but unconfirmed reports said it might be connected with the affairs of the South-West region, particularly since Akeredolu is the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum.

The meeting also comes amid a crisis between Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is facing the threat of impeachment by the Ondo State House of Assembly.

Akeredolu’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, told The PUNCH that his principal expressed his appreciation to his colleague governors for their solidarity and harped on the need for continued collaboration among the South West states.

According to the CPS, Makinde told Akeredolu that the South-West governors were praying for his full recovery.

Panel okays 10 levies, says 200 taxes burdensome, lobbies N’Assembly, states

President endorses tax reforms, panel to address FEC, FIRS pledges implementation

In a move to eliminate multiple taxation, the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms has proposed the stoppage of 190 taxes choking businesses in the country.

The panel presented its ‘Quick Win Report’ to President Bola Tinubu, who endorsed its far-reaching recommendations on tax and fiscal policies during a brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The Organised Private Sector, which backed the proposal of the committees blamed states for multiple taxation in the country.

The OPS lamented that multiple taxes had compounded the rising production costs, leading to reduced profit margins, supply chain disruptions, and a reduction in consumer spending.

Specifically, the telecommunication operators complained that the sector was one of the most taxed in the country with over 40 taxes directed at telecom firms.

The Head of Operations, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, Gbolahan Awonuga, said the problem of multiple taxes was caused by the state governments.

In response to the toxic business environment, the President inaugurated the fiscal policy and tax reforms in August which was tasked with improving the nation’s revenue profile and business environment.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, while presenting his report to the President said the panel suggested the merger of over 200 taxes being paid by Nigerian businesses into 10.

In his prayers to the President, Oyedele, among others, called for an emergency economic intervention bill (Executive Bill) and the issuance of Presidential Executive Orders to address the duplication of functions across the public service, and to ensure prudent public financial management in a bid to optimize value from government assets and natural resources.

Responding to the committee’s presentation, the President commended their work and assured them of his support for the review and implementation of key recommendations.

‘’I have listened attentively to your report. Charting the critical path forward for Nigeria’s economic recovery is crucial to all of us. I want to say thank you to your delegation,’’ he said.

Tinubu granted the request of the committee to address a meeting of the Federal Executive Council and apprise cabinet members of their work and the expected outcomes to facilitate economic growth.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed that the President directed his Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, to coordinate with the relevant government officials for the session.

FIRS pledges implementation

In his remarks, the acting Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Zacch Adedeji, pledged to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the committee, as they may apply, pending the approval of the President.

Adedeji declared that beyond supporting the fiscal and tax reforms, the FIRS would explore opportunities to diversify the nation’s revenue sources, as the historical over-reliance on oil has made the economy vulnerable.

He noted, ‘’Nigeria’s fiscal policy serves as the foundation of economic stability. It dictates how the government collects, manages, and allocates resources for the betterment of our people. A well-developed fiscal policy is crucial for the provision of infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social services to our growing population. Tax reforms are an integral part of a robust fiscal policy.’’

Addressing State House correspondents at a briefing attended by Adedeji and Ngelale, Oyedele argued that multiple taxation had shrunk the Federal Government’s internally generated revenue pool as opposed to increasing it.

“We have over 60 taxes and levies, officially collectible by federal, state and local governments. Unofficially, those taxes are over 200, making life difficult for our people. So the taxes at all levels of government combined, we think, should be less than 10,” he stated.

Giving a rundown of the committee’s activities in the past two months, he explained, “We have been speaking to the various policymakers from the central bank leadership, to the finance minister who is also the coordinating Minister for the Economy, the FIRS and the Joint Task Board, and even to state governors.

“We also had sessions with the Senate. So, we have been actively engaging with various key stakeholders, trying to put the framework in place for implementing our recommendations.

“All we need to do is to formally present the report to Mr. President, but I will say that once we get the nod from Mr. President, it will be like this switching on the tap and then the implementation starts immediately.”

The tax expert cited instances where his team discovered that sachet water sellers were paying seven taxes daily.

“Why should someone who is just trying to hawk pure water to keep body and soul together have to pay seven taxes on a daily basis?” he queried.

“It doesn’t make a lot of sense to us. So, now we are in that phase of rewriting our laws. We spent time with the Senate and we would also do the same with the House of Representatives.

The former Africa Tax Leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers said his committee would continue public consultation and stakeholder engagement till November 15, saying, “We have received input from every single state in Nigeria and we’re just starting.”

He said such efforts are crucial to the reform process, whose end results would increase Nigerians’ employability in the global gig economy.

“The most sustainable way for any country to generate revenue is to grow the economy. When businesses succeed, when individuals prosper, they pay taxes. For us, that’s the most fundamental.

“So, we’re looking at how we can remove the impediments to businesses, to trade…think about young Nigerians, many of them very smart and intelligent. But today, we have legal and tax impediments that will not allow global organisations to hire Nigerians in Nigeria to work within the global value system.

“So we’ll remove those impediments so that people can then gain employment, earn dollars while they are here in Nigeria, which not only helps with our foreign exchange management, but shows that people also have prosperity to lift themselves and their families from poverty, and of course, they will pay taxes on their income to the government,” Oyedele further explained.

ALTON backs panel

Commenting on the development by the Federal Government, the Head of Operations, ALTON, Awonuga, said removing multiple taxes would ensure the smooth operation of the telecom sector.

He told The PUNCH, “We don’t know, but we recently submitted a position paper to the Federal Government. Most of these problems of multiple taxes are from the state governments though. However, we believe that the actions of the tax committee will ripple to it and impact us.’’

“Removing the multiple taxes aimed at us will create a free flow of operations and will ensure that we do not implement the variation tariff (different telecom rates across states) we are currently pushing for,” Awonuga explained.

A facilitator with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Dr Ikenna Nwaosu, commended the planned elimination of over-taxation but observed that the committee needed to clarify the details of the taxes it sought to end.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Dr Ayo Teriba, said, “It will be nice to know what the 10 taxes are. It is one thing to say that we are going to reduce the number of taxes and we are going to end up with 10.

“It is good that we do away with the multiplicity of taxes. Ten sounds like it is fewer than 200 but it is a lot still. What are these taxes? What are the rates? And the sum total of their effects? The fact that they have reduced may imply that their burden may be reduced but that it may also not imply that the burden will reduce.

“So, it sounds good that we are going to eliminate these taxes. It will be nice to see the shortlist. Also, is it federal or the federation that you will not pay more than 10 types of taxes across federal, state, and local governments? It will be good news,” Teriba stated.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, on Tuesday, directed staff members of the commission to immediately declare their assets in line with civil service regulations and procedures.

He gave the directive at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja while addressing senior staff of the EFCC, stressing that fighting corruption required those at the vanguard to be above board.

A statement by EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, quoted Olukoyede as assuring the commission’s staff that adherence to the rule of law would be his defining principle of work.

“The EFCC is a creation of the law. We must do our job in line with the dictates of the law. This is standard international practice and we would ensure that it is our established norm.

“All of us are going to declare our assets; from level 17, downwards. I did mine, so there’s no reason for anyone to be afraid to do the same. Even the commission’s secretary did. You all may also have done it in the past, but there’s a need for all of us to do it again.

“We will declare our assets, and we are going to investigate it. We must live above board by setting the pace with good examples. As anti-corruption fighters, our hands must be clean, so we must declare our assets,” the statement said.

He said the EFCC needed to rid the nation of corruption in order to boost investors’ confidence in Nigeria.

Olukoyede said, “Investors must have confidence in the economy and we must help the country to be governed in an accountable and transparent manner. By doing this, it will offer us a new direction to redeem the image of the nation.

“Please, I beg you, let our hands be clean and put our house in order. Some may not like me, but I am going to do the right thing and treat everybody equally, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and region.”

He warned “those compromising their works and position to desist from such conduct, as dire consequences await every unsavoury tendency.”

The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Tuesday, urged the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to decline a request to raise a panel for his (Aiyedatiwa’s) impeachment.

In a letter written on his behalf by his lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), the deputy governor urged the CJ to disregard the Monday letter sent by the Ondo House of Assembly directing the CJ to raise an impeachment panel.

The Assembly had in its letter urged the CJ to raise a panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Aiyedatiwa.

The legislators said a court order barring the CJ from raising the panel had elapsed.

But Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer, in the letter to the CJ, insisted that the court order stopping his client’s impeachment was still in force and urged the Ondo CJ to shun the fresh request by the Ondo Assembly.

Adegboruwa argued that the claim by the Assembly that the restraining order had elapsed was based on “conjectures, misconceptions, inconsistencies, undue desperation and misconstruction of the law.”

He argued that the orders granted by the Federal High Court, Abuja on September 26, 2023 remained valid and subsisting, “contrary to the erroneous conclusion of the Assembly that the said orders have expired by operation of law.”

“In this case, the court directed that the orders granted on September 26, 2023 should last till the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction, which is still pending before the court.

“Contrary to this misconception of law and the facts, the same House of Assembly filed a Motion on Notice dated October 20, 2023, before the Court of Appeal, Abuja in respect of the same orders of the Federal High Court, praying for abridgement of time to hear its appeal against the said orders.

“If it is true that the orders expired by operation of law on October 18, 2023 as being falsely canvassed, why would the same House of Assembly file a fresh application two days later, in pursuit of its desire to set aside the said order that it claimed have expired? While the Assembly is pursuing its appeal to set aside the orders in court, it is deviously asking My Lord (Ondo CJ) to set aside the same orders in chambers, purportedly by operation of law,” Adegboruwa argued.

Gaza’s Hamas-controlled health ministry says 5,791 people, including more than 2,000 children and 1,400 women have been killed in Israel’s air raids on the besieged enclave.

More than 1.4 million people have been displaced within the Gaza Strip since the bombardment began, the United Nations also said.

The fighting which entered its 18th day in the Gaza Strip after Hamas gunmen stormed into Israel on October 7, left the death toll in Israel still at 1,400 with over 200 taken hostages, according to Israeli officials.

AFP reports that diplomatic pressure on Israel to limit civilian casualties is growing, although Western governments remain steadfast in their support for the country.

Humanitarian crisis has worsened in Gaza as fuel and water become scarce, with the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees warning it will be forced to stop working in Gaza unless fuel deliveries are made to the territory by Wednesday.

“Time is running out. We urgently need fuel,” said UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma, according to AFP.

Six Gaza hospitals have already had to shut down because of a lack of fuel, the World Health Organisation said.

A small number of aid trucks have entered Gaza since the weekend, but they are only a fraction of the usual flow across the border.

Mohammad Al Shanti was forced to travel nearly four miles to Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza to fill up plastic bottles with water. It’s only enough for his family’s most basic needs.

“We don’t wash our clothes, we save every little drop,” he told CNN, describing the water situation as “catastrophic.”

Finding clean water is becoming an all-consuming and increasingly difficult challenge for many Gazans.

Gaza bombardment

Hamas said an overnight bombing by Israel killed 140 people in Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry said they are among 5,791 people killed since the war started, 2,360 of them children.

The UN noted that six employees of its agency for Palestinian refugees had been killed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of UNRWA staff killed in the war to 35.

Hamas health ministry also said about 50 people were killed Tuesday in a single hour of increased Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip.

“The Israeli occupation expands its targeting of multiple areas in the Gaza Strip, killing about 50 martyrs during the last hour,” a health ministry spokesperson said in a statement late Tuesday.

UN chief wants ceasefire

UN chief Antonio Guterres called at the Security Council for an immediate ceasefire and alleged international law was being breached in Gaza.

Guterres sparked fury from the Israeli delegation when he said the Hamas attacks “did not happen in a vacuum” and criticised Israel’s “suffocating” occupation.

Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, responded by saying: “Mr Secretary-General, in what world do you live?”

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and became the first Western leader to visit Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the occupied West Bank since the conflict erupted on October 7.

In a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Macron said the release of all hostages held by Hamas was the “first objective” of the military campaign.

At a news conference with Netanyahu, Macron called for a “decisive relaunch” of the long-stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

Macron later met Abbas in Ramallah, telling him the Hamas attacks were “also a catastrophe for the Palestinians”. Abbas told Macron that the international community must stop Israel’s “aggression” as it battles Hamas in Gaza.

The Senate has raised an ad hoc committee to investigate all the contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of all state-owned refineries said to have gulped N11.35tn in 13 years.

It also mandated the panel to interrogate the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Bureau of Public Enterprises on the best approach to commercialise state-owned refineries.

The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, named Senator Isah Jibrin Echocho as the chairman of the committee.

Other members are chairmen of the committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream, Upstream and Gas), Finance, Appropriation, and Public Accounts.

The committee was given four weeks to submit its report.

The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Sunday Karimi during Tuesday’s plenary.

Nigeria’s four refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt had become moribund for years despite a series of repairs executed under various turnaround maintenance contracts that have gulped huge amounts.

Karimi, in his motion, expressed concern that the state-owned refineries had been a drain pipe of public finance, depriving the citizens of the benefits of being an oil-producing nation.

He said from 2010 to date, Nigeria had spent about N11.35tn, excluding other costs in foreign currencies, such as $592, 976, 050.00; £4, 877, 068.47 and €3, 455, 656.93, on the renovation of refineries, yet the refineries remained unproductive.

He said despite the moribund state of the four refineries, their operating costs between 2010 and 2020 is estimated at N4.8tn.

Senators, in their various contributions, said the country could not continue to spend money on an unproductive venture and urged the relevant authorities to ensure that those responsible for the state of the refineries were sanctioned.

In his contribution, Senator Adams Oshiomhole said, “The amount so far spent on the refineries can build brand new ones. Senators must take the issues with all seriousness it deserves.”

The Deputy Senate President stressed that “It is very important that a thorough investigation should be done to make sure that everything that we need to know is brought open to us. ”

“Who are those who are sabotaging the efforts of government? Anybody who has a hand, sabotaging the efforts of the government to bring these refineries into operation and those who have taken money that is meant to turn around these refineries must be brought to book. We must know them and decisive actions must be taken,” he said.

Sen. Sunday Karimi (APC–Kogi) says there is nothing wrong with the purchase of 360 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for senators of the 10th National Assembly.

Karimi, also the Chairman, of the Committee on Senate Services, said this when he spoke with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that Nigerians should also raise questions about Ministers having four official vehicles.

“Somebody that is a Minister has more than three land cruisers, Prado, and other vehicles and you are not asking them questions, why us?

“These vehicles that you see, go to Nigeria road. Today, if I go home once, to my senatorial district, I come back spending a lot on my vehicles because our roads are bad. Am I talking to somebody?

“I said the decision that we took on using land cruiser is the cost and durability.

“Before they came up with this. It is not the decisions of the senators alone, we did an analysis before arriving at land cruisers,” he said.
He added: “It was based on comparative analysis of the cost of technical issues and durability on Nigeria roads, are you getting me?

“We want something that we can maintain for another four years and the issue of buying vehicles for national assembly, you know it is a reoccurring issue, it occurs every assembly, it will always come up.

“If you got to state houses of assembly today, check out, most of them before they were even inaugurated, the governor would have bought vehicles waiting for them even local government chairmen.

“I drove the vehicle my local government chairman uses, so why the National Assembly.”

Karimi said that part of the money paid to the contractor was for the settlement of about N16 billion in liabilities.

“The cost, let me tell you, listen to me, you know I am the chairman, senate service. When I came into the senate, when they gave me their liabilities, they had liabilities of over 16 billion that was made up of different vehicles of the 7th assembly 8th and 9th assembly.

“If you are a businessman and you supply vehicles for somebody in 2014 or 2015 or so and up till now they owed you.

“I am not trying to defend anybody, if you see them selling land cruisers in the market let’s say it is A cost, you don’t expect somebody that will supply it to supply it at the price they are selling it in the market.

“It has to leave a margin. And the civil service for supply, allowed for a 25 percent margin plus that and VAT and I think that VAT is 7.5. Out of that 25% margin, they will still remove 5% tax from it.

“You are telling someone to supply and he may even not end up making payment for three years and you want him to supply at the price they are selling in the market, it is not possible,” Karimi said.(NAN)

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said the nation’s electoral body must examine the causes of failure to upload results of the presidential poll to the INEC results viewing portal (IReV).

In an interview with ARISE Television, the former INEC chairman said he could relate with many of the challenges faced during the general election but that of uploading of results should be looked into.

“And if you are so confident with the planning process, and at the end of it all, there is a failure somewhere, you will take the blame because you are the leader,” Jega said.

“But it does not mean you are the one who has deliberately done it because you are compromised. We need to be fair in our assessment.”

The former INEC chairman said the assessment of the success and failure rate of the card reader was implemented before he left the commission.

He said, “The card reader failed in five percent of places of deployment which is 95 percent success. But the pressmen and politicians were just focused on where it failed. But it can never be perfect,” Jega said.

“I can tell you that the BVAS that was developed to replace the card reader is of significant value to the electoral process. The major failure experienced during the polls relates to the upload to the IREV as promised by the chairman.

“I think we need to interrogate why the uploading, specifically with regards to the presidential election, failed.

“This needs to be done, not just in-house by INEC, but in a very transparent manner. I think there will be a lot of revelations with regards to what happened in order to properly apportion blame to who is responsible for what happened.”

In the ever-evolving realm of public service, the true measure of leadership lies not in words but in actions. It is indeed a rarity to find an individual whose tenure at the helm of an institution leaves an indelible mark, one that turns it into a powerhouse of growth and development. Sir Joseph Ntung Ari is one such extraordinary leader, whose remarkable journey as the Director General of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has been marked by colossal achievements and an unwavering commitment to national development.

Taking the reins of ITF in 2016, Sir Joseph Ari embarked on a path of transformative leadership that has set him apart as an exemplary public servant and a source of inspiration for future leaders. His tenure has been a testament to the power of visionary leadership, and a closer look at his accomplishments reveals the exceptional qualities that have defined his legacy.

Empowering Through Staff Capacity Building: Central to Sir Joseph Ari’s extraordinary journey has been his unwavering dedication to staff capacity building. He recognized that a knowledgeable and skilled workforce is the bedrock of any organization, and he championed numerous training programs within ITF to enhance the competencies of its employees. His commitment to the professional development of ITF’s workforce is a hallmark of his visionary leadership.

Fueling Innovation: Under Sir Joseph Ari’s leadership, ITF has witnessed a surge of innovative solutions. He embraced technology as a potent tool for efficient service delivery. Initiatives such as the ITF Mobile App have made training opportunities and resources more accessible to the public. Furthermore, his emphasis on Research and Development at ITF has opened new horizons for Nigeria’s industrial growth.

Harmonizing Labor Relations: Sir Joseph Ari’s tenure has brought about significant improvements in labor harmony. His exceptional ability to foster an environment of mutual respect and understanding has led to a reduction in industrial disputes, benefiting not only the organization but the entire nation.

Nationwide Impact: Beyond the confines of ITF, Sir Joseph Ari’s influence on the nation’s workforce development is immeasurable. His tenure has played a pivotal role in equipping numerous Nigerians with the critical skills necessary to excel in various industries. This has significantly contributed to the reduction of unemployment and the empowerment of countless individuals and communities.

The Personal Touch: Sir Joseph Ari’s exceptional success as the Director General of ITF is not only attributable to his strategic vision but also to his exceptional personal qualities. Renowned for his unwavering integrity, humility, and unwavering dedication to service, he has fostered an open-door policy that has made him accessible to both staff and stakeholders. This approach has cultivated an atmosphere of trust and unity.

As Sir Joseph Ari moves, it is only natural to reflect on the remarkable strides he has achieved. However, this moment should also be an opportunity to contemplate the future and how best to harness his expertise for the nation’s benefit. The Federal Government should proactively identify areas where his knowledge and skills can be effectively utilized to further advance our nation’s interests, ensuring that his wisdom and experience remain within reach.

In conclusion, Sir Joseph Ari’s legacy at the Industrial Training Fund is a resounding testament to the transformative potential of effective leadership, not without its fair share of controversies. However, he came, he saw and indeed he conquered!

His efforts in staff capacity building, innovation, and labor harmony have profoundly reshaped the organization and made a significant contribution to Nigeria’s workforce development. We celebrate his unwavering commitment, applaud his monumental achievements, and eagerly anticipate his continued service to the nation in future endeavors. Sir Joseph Ari is not just a leader; he is an enduring source of inspiration for others to follow in the path of transformative public service.