The Senate has suspended action on the tax reform bills currently before it.

It further instructed the Committee on Finance to stay action on the public hearing pending the time the agitation in the public space is addressed.

The Senate further constituted a special committee to meet with the executive branch and work with the Federal Government to resolve the issues surrounding the tax reform bills.

This was made known by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided during the plenary on Wednesday.

There have been a lot of controversies surrounding the Tax Reform Bills since its introduction to the National Assembly.

The bills are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024.

Northern governors have rejected the bills, describing them as anti-democracy.

Following this, the National Economic Council requested that the tax reforms bill be withdrawn from the NASS for more consultations.

Amidst the controversy, Senator Shehu Buba (APC, Bauchi South) in an interview with British Broadcasting Service, Hausa Service said Northern Senators agreed to recall the Tax Reforms Bills.

He said, “These bills are complex and require thorough review by tax policy experts.”

He claimed that northern lawmakers strongly oppose the proposed “derivation” formula in the value-added tax (VAT) distribution system, arguing that northern states would be unfairly impacted.

Also, on Tuesday, the president instructed the Ministry of Justice to liaise with the judiciary.

Speaking about these controversies, the Deputy Senate president noted that the delegation will meet on Thursday at the National Assembly to resolve all the issues that have been the cause of the uproar.

Barau said, “On the tax reform bills currently before us, we acknowledge that the Senate remains the highest legislative assembly in this country.

“The Senate comprises men and women of wisdom and experience, entrusted to legislate for the peace, stability, and development of the nation.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, like similar bodies globally, serves as a stabilising force in times of difficulty or disagreement. Through dialogue and consensus, the Senate has consistently provided solutions to national challenges since 1999.”

He added, “In this regard, we have decided to set aside politics, ethnicity, and regionalism to work together on resolving the issues surrounding the tax reform bills.

“In collaboration with the Executive Arm of Government, we agreed to establish a forum to identify and address contentious areas to ensure national unity and progress.

“Before the introduction of these bills, we faced numerous challenges, including insecurity and economic issues.

“The President has been working to address these problems, and we are committed to supporting these efforts while tackling global economic challenges. We also agreed that no other issues should aggravate the country’s current difficulties.

“It has been mutually decided between the Executive and the Senate to engage the Judiciary to sort out these matters.

“the Attorney General of the Federation will be involved in discussions to identify and resolve areas of disagreement for the nation’s benefit.

“Tomorrow, the committee established by the Senate, along with its leadership, will meet with the Attorney General to address these issues.”

Barau further instructed, “Consequently, the Senate Committee on Finance has been directed to pause further actions on public hearings and other matters related to the tax reform bills until the issues are resolved.”

Members of the committee are all the leadership of the Senate including other members,  Adamu Ailero (PDP, Kebbi Central), Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa  West) Titus Zam (Benue South), Abdullahi Yahaya (Kebbi), Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West), Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) and Adetokunbo Abiru (APC, Lagos East).

[Punch]

An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate court on Wednesday remanded a Lagos based human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi over an alleged case of defamation against Aare Afe Babalola SAN the founder of Afe Babalola University.

Farotimi, who was arrested at his chamber in Lagos on Tuesday by officers from Ekiti State Police Command, was arraigned for allegedly publishing a book “Nigeria and it’s Criminal Justice System where he alleged that Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the supreme court there by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage his hard earn career.

The suspect Dele Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen count charge.

Police prosecutor, Samson Osun called for the remand of the suspect in prison custody pending further investigation and it’s outcome for the maintenance of security in the country.

Counsel to the defendant, Dayo Akeredolu opposed the remand call and pleaded with the court to admit the defendant to bail on very liberal terms and on self recognisance because the case at hand is bailable and the suspect is a known figure who is not constituting any threat .

He said the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned hearing till December 10.

[Vaguard]

Six months ago a friend I go on daily runs with took ill on a Monday evening. It was sudden and by the time I saw him hours later at the hospital, he was lying there very sick, very frail and hooked up to machines.

The diagnosis was sepsis and we were all surprised. The morning before he took ill, we had gone on a 6km run. That was 2km more than our usual but there was a reason. We had gone to a party on Saturday and some “damage” had been done. So that Monday morning we had agreed to run the “foolishness” out of our system.

Sepsis is a major killer in the UK and is described as “a life-threatening condition by  The UK Sepsis Trust which says it “can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and even death if not recognised and treated promptly.”

Statistics from the NHS are more sobering. Sepsis“kills five people every hour and accounts for about 50,000 deaths per year in the UK alone.”

So, my friend was lucky to have “listened” to his body and gone to the A&E where he wasprescribed a cocktail of drugs that included powerful antibiotics as well as hydrocortisone, vitamin C, thiamine and lots of intravenous fluids.

That incident came to mind as I read the Keynote Address delivered by Olayemi Cardoso, Governorof the Central Bank of Nigeria at the 59th Annual Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on November 29, 2024.

Nineteen pages long, it was expansive, insightful, comprehensive, wide-ranging, bold and visionary in acknowledging the myriad of issues they met on ground, the challenges encountered so far in fixing them and strategy for the future. It was like a Job Description and a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) rolled into one.

Reading through, the image that loomed before me was of my friend on that hospital bed. When we met in the morning, he was bubbly and rearing to go with none of us the wiser about the bacteria ravaging his system. By evening the bacteria had won and it would have been a different story if doctors had not given him that cocktail of medicines.

The financial system Yemi Cardoso and team met on ground was being ravaged by an unseen bacteria and leading to a system collapse. The prognosis was bad – high inflation, multiple exchange rates, unchecked subsidy and rampant arbitrage, lack of access to international capital markets, poor investor confidence, waning foreign portfolio inflows, declining exchange reserves and decreasing diaspora remittances, a huge FX backlog, excessive money supply growth at 13% annually, fiscal crisis from unprecedented Ways and Means advances to the FG of N22.7 trillion and many more.

Yemi Cardoso was like a doctor who came to the quick realization that urgent action was required to stem the tide and steer the financial ship to a safe port.

What he did, he told the CIBN, was attack with a cocktail of “targeted policies, transparent market operations, effective coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities, and a commitment to rebuild trust.”

What did he think success would look like after this cocktail of policies has been implemented? Cardoso told his audience that what the CBNexpects in 2025 and beyond is a regime that will see the CBN “stabilize the exchange rate, curb inflation, strengthen banks’ capital buffers, and foster an environment conducive to the success of both businesses and individuals.”

These are already happening and OlayemiCardoso was not shy in pointing out areas where progress has been made.

External reserves which fell to $33.22bn in December 2023 have grown back to $40bn the highest level in 3 years and “the equivalent of eight months’ import cover.”

That is a reflection of rising investor confidence evident in the 72% growth in foreign portfolio inflows and increase in diaspora remittances from a monthly average of $300m to $600m with a monthly target of $1bn set by the CBN.

This is being buoyed by the integration of the Nigerian diaspora into our financial system by initiatives like the introduction of the non-resident BVN registration. At the time of writingthis piece, news of an oversubscribed Eurobond issue of $2.2bn filtered out from the Debt Management Office (DMO).

The fiscal crisis from excessive Ways and Means which was the equivalent of almost 11% of our GDP in 2023 before Cardoso and team took over at the CBN has been ended with the backlog of over $7 billion in unfulfilled commitments cleared.

The FX market has been stabilized with a tightening contraction in the gap between the official and parallel markets and more sanity is expected with the take-off on December 2, 2024 of the electronic FX matching system. Analysts are already forecasting that the naira will end the year low.

A regime of transparency has led to regular andimproved financial stability reports, balance of payments data, and FX market updates, datasharing, the launch of a new website and technology driven innovations intended to “strengthen the CBN’s credibility and public trust in our policies.”

Speaking at that dinner, Cardoso summarized his ultimate destination as “price and exchange rate stability, catalyze sustainable economic growth, and protect the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.”

While all these are cause for cheer, challenges remain. The naira is still taking a beating something Cardoso has attributed to buyer’s desperation and a distorted view of the value of the naira relative to the greenback. This will hopefully be solved in 2025 and beyond by “the introduction of the electronic matching system” which “will correct these distortions by enhancing the price discovery process.”

Inflation remains a thorny issue at 33.88% despite efforts to “contain inflation and restore stability” by “raising the Monetary Policy Rate by 875 basis points to 27.5%”. The inflation target of 21.4% is yet to be achieved.

But Cardoso is upbeat: “Our tight monetary policy stance has altered the previous dire trajectory, and we expect a downward trend in 2025. Inflation remains unacceptably high, but the signs are encouraging, particularly given that the full effects of monetary policy typically take 6-9 months to impact the consumer sector.”

To conclude one must ask whether Cardoso and his team have factored in the coming of Donald Trump into their plans for 2025. As Cardoso noted in his keynote, the pandemic, global geopolitical tensions and inflation have had a deleterious effect on emerging markets in the form of “withdrawal of capital flows” thus “creating new challenges for economies like ours.”

Speaking further he noted that “Major central banks are gradually easing their monetary conditions and this shift is slowly reopening access to international capital markets for emerging economies.”

But for how long? Recent comments from Donald Trump in reaction to plans for de–dollarisation by the BRICS nations deserve attention from the CBN as the apex bank looks to the future.

This is important because in October this year, Nigeria formalized its romance with the BRICS bloc by becoming a partner as reported by The Punch. “BRICS has officially expanded its alliance, adding 13 new nations as partner countries, though not as full members…The countries are Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.”

High on the agenda of the BRICS nations and their partners is to establish “a unified currency or bolster bilateral trade agreements that bypass the dollar. These efforts aim to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollars…” reports Global Financial Digest

Trump has reacted to this by threatening 100% tariffs on imports from the BRICS nations. As President, Donald Trump’s plans to entrench his America First doctrine and the dollar’s hegemony will hobble plans for de-dollarisation of economies in the BRIC bloc as well as the emerging markets of the global south which remain vulnerable to tectonic shifts in the larger global economy.

This is something that could have repercussions for the Nigerian economy described by Cardoso as a “resource-intensive” country.

Kan is a PR/crisis management expert and financial analyst.

Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on tax policy and fiscal reforms, says efforts are being made to protect the interests of states opposed to the proposed tax reform bills.

Oyedele spoke on ‘The Morning Show,’ an Arise Television programme, on Wednesday.

There have been criticisms against the tax reform bills since President Bola Tinubu dispatched them to the national assembly.

The tax bills have elicited mixed reactions, with some stakeholders from the north opposed to their passage.

Oyedele said the federal government believed the resistance would come from Lagos and Rivers states.

The chairman expressed disappointment over the rejection of tax reform bills, adding that the pushback was not expected from those opposing it.

“We had not envisaged that there was going to be pushback from the other states; we thought the pushback would come from Lagos mostly, maybe a little from Rivers,” Oyedele said.

“It’s almost like we ended up with, the people we are fighting for, are now fighting us.”

Oyedele noted that value-added tax (VAT) derivation is sensitive for states due to its difference from oil and gas derivation based on production.

‘TAX BILLS ALIGN WITH CONSTITUTION’

Oyedele said the federal government’s proposal aligns with the provision of the constitution.

“VAT derivation I think that word is sensitive because people think about where it’s based on production. If they’re not producing crude oil, you don’t get any part of that derivation,” he said.

“Whereas for VAT, every state consumes. If you share anything based on VAT derivation, everyone gets something from it.

“The Constitution with respect to stamp duty it actually says under Section 163 says stamp duty should be shared based on derivation.

“So what we are proposing is not strange to our constitution, when it comes to matters of tax generation we must recognise where they’re being generated otherwise we end up in a situation where one state will get a supreme court judgement.”

On October 3, Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass the bills.

The legislations comprise the Nigeria tax bill, Nigeria tax administration bill, Nigeria Revenue Service establishment bill, and the Joint Revenue Board establishment bill.

Tinubu is also seeking to repeal the law establishing the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and replace it with the Nigeria Revenue Service.

The leader of the Labour Party and the 2023 Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has called for transparency in the proposed tax reform of the federal Government.

Obi, writing on X handle on Monday, said that carrying out tax reform is not bad but must be done carrying the populace along and should not be done with the government as the sole beneficiary.
'Tax reform is a critical issue, and there is nothing wrong with pursuing it. However, such reforms must be subject to robust public debate.
"A public hearing on tax reform is essential, allowing Nigerians from all walks of life to engage meaningfully. This is how we build public trust and ensure inclusivity in policymaking.

"Matters of this magnitude require extensive deliberation and careful consideration—they should never be rushed. Public hearings must be conducted to allow for diverse opinions and inputs.

"When considering tax reforms and similar issues, it is insufficient to focus solely on the benefits to the government, particularly in terms of increasing revenue collection. We must also take into account the overall impact on the nation and the sustainability of all its regions.

"Furthermore, the government must sensitize the people and secure their buy-in for any policy changes. Trust and legitimacy are the foundation of effective governance, and without them, even the best-intended reforms may fail.

"Let us prioritize transparency, deliberation, and public engagement in charting the path forward. This is how we build a truly participatory democracy.
A new Nigeria is possible!

Ibrahim Umar
POMR SPOKESMAN

A lecturer at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) by the name of Dr. Anthony Agbegbedia is in the eye of the storm of an outrageous sexual harassment scandal not just because of the damning consistency of his preying on female students like a ravening, sex-starved wolf but also because the institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, appears intent to shelter him and grant him free rein to continue to terrorize more vulnerable female students.

Agbegbedia, a lecturer in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, has spent years using his position not to educate but to extort, not to mentor students but to disturb the peace of, and inspire conflict in, female students under his tutelage. 

His name has become a byword for abuse, entitlement, and unchecked power at FUOYE. He uses his position to raven female students by dangling their academic futures as leverage.

With remarkably irrefutable evidentiary facts, such as the record of his WhatsApp chats with female students, Sahara Reporters and the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) have meticulously documented and exposed his consistent demand for sexual favors from female students in exchange for grades.

 Yet, the university’s response to Agbegbedia’s  widening and deepening dossier of accusations has ranged from tepid warnings to a promotion. Yes, a promotion! If irony could be weaponized, this would be an airstrike.

 Agbegbedia’s alleged modus operandi is chillingly straightforward: advance sexually, fail students if they repel, repeat. Several students have recounted to Sahara Reporters and FIJ stories of intimidation, academic sabotage, and relentless pursuit after rebuffing his sexual overtures. 

The case of a final-year student by the name of Ramota Olahanloye was what brought Agbegbedia’s unconscionable predation of female students to the forefront of national attention.  

He failed the student and delayed her graduation for refusing his advances. She got a passing grade in his courses and eventually qualified to graduate only after her script was remarked by a neutral party in response to her father’s impassioned intervention and righteous rage.

 This was not an isolated whisper. It’s only a small, visible part of a disturbing pattern of Agbegbedia’s excesses, which FUOYE has inexplicably ignored.

In the aftermath of being found guilty of sexual harassment by an FUOYE panel, the university administration’s remedy was a mere “warning” for “unethical behavior,” which smacks of both bureaucratic doublespeak and complicity. 

Worse still, Agbegbedia was promoted to the rank of Reader (equivalent to associate professor in the American system) amidst this turmoil. One can only wonder what message this sends to other would-be sexual predators. 

I won’t mince my words. The university’s decision to elevate him, despite the weight of these allegations, sends the message that academic predators will not only be tolerated but rewarded, as long as they know which strings to pull and know how to be protected by the invisible armor of patronage.

This protection isn’t accidental. Agbegbedia’s impunity stems, at least in part, from his cozy ties to the upper reaches of the institution’s administrative hierarchy, insiders say, and a system rigged to silence victims. 

The institution’s claim that it “takes sexual harassment seriously” is belied by its actions. 

It is a damning indictment of our system when a man with multiple accusations — bolstered by chats, student testimonies, and even confirmed tampering with examination results — is treated not as a pariah but as a prince.

FUOYE’s regulations unequivocally classify sexual harassment as gross misconduct. According to Section 8.3 of the university's "Revised Regulations for Senior Staff," gross misconduct is defined as "a specific act of very serious wrongdoing and improper behaviour which is inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated and, if proven, may lead to dismissal." Sexual harassment is explicitly listed as one such act under this section.

The prescribed penalties for gross misconduct, including sexual harassment, are either dismissal or termination of appointment. There is no provision for a warning in such cases.

 This aligns with precedent within the same university, where Dr. Desen Mbachaga, a lecturer in the Theatre Arts department, was accused and found guilty of similar misconduct in 2021, which caused his appointment to be terminated.

 Agbegbedia's previous record, including a formal warning for embezzling departmental dues belonging to students during his tenure as Head of Department, further underlines the need for strict disciplinary action, as repeated misconduct indicates a pattern of behavior detrimental to the university's integrity.

Moreover, consistent enforcement of disciplinary standards is critical to maintaining the university's credibility. Other Nigerian universities have set strong examples. The dismissal and imprisonment of a professor at Obafemi Awolowo University for sexual harassment, among many other examples, demonstrate the severity with which such offenses are treated nationwide. 

This is a challenge for Senator Ndoma-Egba, the incoming Pro-Chancellor of FUOYE, who is known for his strict stance on such matters. I hope he will uphold the integrity of the disciplinary process at Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, as he did at Federal University, Lokoja, where three lecturers were dismissed for similar offenses.

Sexual predation in academia thrives on silence and inertia. Each time a predator like Agbegbedia gets away with his crimes, a precedent is set, which emboldens others to follow suit. 

The university, rather than being a sanctuary of learning, becomes a hunting ground for ravenous sexual wolves like him. The repercussions are profound. Students lose faith in their institutions, potential whistleblowers are silenced, and predators grow bolder. They prowl the campus and pounce down on female students with impunity.

FUOYE’s leaders must confront this festering crisis with urgency and integrity. Agbegbedia must be fired—not merely for the sake of the women he has tormented but as a warning to every would-be predator lurking in academia. Anything less than termination is complicity. 

The stakes here extend beyond FUOYE. Across Nigeria, lecturers who exploit their power are emboldened by a culture of silence and weak enforcement. For every Agbegbedia exposed, countless others operate in shadows, their crimes obscured by shame, fear, and institutional inertia.

 FUOYE has an opportunity—and an obligation—to set an example. Justice for these students isn’t merely about punishing one man; it’s about reclaiming academia as a haven for learning, not a site for sexual predation.

 Agbegbedia must be dismissed—not warned, not transferred, not gently reprimanded, but fired. His firing should be accompanied by a public acknowledgment of his misconduct and a transparent account of the investigation’s findings. 

To the university’s administrators, I offer this: your reputations are on trial as much as Agbegbedia’s. If you fail to act decisively, history will record your inaction as betrayal. Do not let the ivory tower crumble under the weight of your cowardice.

Finally, the Vice-Chancellor must reflect on his role in this debacle. Leadership is not a refuge for neutrality. If Professor Fasina cannot bring himself to expel a man whose actions have caused untold harm, then perhaps he too is unfit for the position he holds.

South Africans have expressed mixed reactions following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of simplified visa processes for Nigerians.

The new measures include five-year multiple-entry visas and the option for Nigerian tourists to apply for visas without submitting their passports.

The announcement was made during the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town on Tuesday, where President Bola Tinubu was also present.

“Our efforts to create a favourable environment included simplifying the visa process for Nigerian business people travelling to South Africa. Qualifying Nigerian business people were granted a five-year multiple-entry visa,” Ramaphosa said at the event.

Although the initiative seeks to strengthen business and tourism connections, some South Africans have taken to social media to express their disapproval, criticizing President Ramaphosa for the decision.

@maggyvalen wrote, “This man hates South Africans,you cant tell me otherwise,he is now gaslighting us because he knows how we feel about Nigeria.”

@Packer_an noted, “Why Nigeria of all countries.”

@Lebona_cabonena said, “The whole of Nigeria is gonna come to South Africa.”

@nkulipp noted, “This president knows very well how we feel about Nigerians, but no, he wants to pass us off even more. Let’s start in 2026 let’s punish ANC.”

@Bongani_Wale wrote, “Yeah @CyrilRamaphosa is a traitor. If it’s not foreign shop owners then it’s Nigerians. Why would South Africa opt to ease visa rules with Nigeria whilst others countries are considering canceling them because of the delinquent behaviors of these people.”

“A 5-year visa deal? More like a 5-year disaster for South Africa. Ramaphosa is compromising our economy, safety, and sovereignty. Who gave him the right to gamble with our future for his personal benefit?.” @visse_ss noted,

[OpinionNigeria]

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise” - Victor Hugo (in "Le Hus Miserables").

Is Biafra an idea whose time has come? Victor Hugo (26 February, 1802 - 22 May, 1885) says “Nothing else in the world… not all the armies… is so powerful as an idea whose time has come”. Another variant of the same quotation says: “There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come” (Hugo in "The Future of Man").

How does this work? An idea whose time has come is a “historical moment where the idea or concept (which takes on a spirit of its own) is perfectly received by a cultural movement that surrenders to its utility as dictated by historical necessity” Note that a cultural movement is more powerful, more encompassing and more demanding than a political movement, although it encompasses the latter. An example is Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China.

When Hugo made his statement, he did not have Biafra in mind. In fact, he was talking of Literature and not even of politics, nationalism or war. He said the time had come to abandon the conventional approach to literature, which he reasoned left it mangled and mutilated. But, today, that statement is more famous with those trying to upturn the existing social order in pursuit of nationalist goals.

Is the resurgence of a sovereign State of Biafra such an idea? I got sufficiently puzzled to ask this question because of recent developments. Everyone who thought the arrest and detention of Simon Ekpa in Finland signalled the end of resurgent Biafra’s deadly activities must have a re-think. The same way it was thought that the rendition of Nnamdi Kanu and his incarceration would silence Biafra - but it did not. Instead, a more vicious Simon Ekpa filled the void.

Now, one lady has come forward to claim to fill the void created by Ekpa. I watched her blab and blurt out gibberish - and they said she was a Dr.! Is it a medical doctorate, an academic Ph. D. or honoris causa? That, however, is a topic for another day but whichever, she did not demonstrate intelligence. She seemed more intent on displaying masculinity or macho than intelligence; and more brawn than brain. But that is not even my worry here today.

My worries include: Who are those behind the push or agitation for the sovereign state of Biafra? Assuming they get Biafra today, will they be willing to leave their investments in Nigeria behind and retreat to what former President Muhammadu Buhari once derogatively described as a tiny dot in the middle of nowhere? Have they counted the cost (Luke 14:28)? Or they think they will still be allowed to roam about and loom large all over Nigeria they would have exited?

They should ask Britain after BREXIT! When they draw the map of their imaginary Biafra Republic, they include people who have been vociferous in denouncing them and their Biafra project. How do they intend to handle that? A clearly defined boundary is one of the indispensable criteria for statehood.

It is necessary to begin to cross the t’s and dot the i’s of the likelihood of an independent Republic of Biafra if they are not to cause monumental havoc to themselves and their immediate neighbours. How will a sovereign State of Biafra respond to neighbours not willing to submit to their authority? Apply diplomacy? Or pacify them by levying war? Which of these two do you think is in Biafra’s DNA?

FEEDBACK

RE: Abike Dabiri versus Kemi Badenoch

"Tan’fe-ani" is the bane of the critics of Kemi Badenoch! Hopefully, Nigeria shall, one day, experience an "accidental leader" who will address her endemic corrupt tendencies - a major factor that propels the “Japa” syndrome in her youths. I pray and hope that Kemi Badenoch succeeds in becoming the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in her bid! -Taiwo Lasisi, President, Ta'awun Political Forum, Lagos.

If corruption is the reason for "japa", then, some of the people involved are even more corrupt because they were still collecting salaries that they did not work for! Also, money stolen from Nigeria is wharehoused overseas! So, those foreign leaders don't have the moral right to call Nigerians fantastically corrupt. I would rather describe the Nigerians as corrupt but the Whites as fantastically corrupt! - Kola Oloye.

I knew Prof. Femi Badejo and his friend, the late Dr. Remi Anifowose, at UNILAG. He has every right as a Nigerian and as an intellectual to his opinion. I am afraid, however, that he is in the minority on this matter. The truth is that there are many Nigerians who are doing far better in all spheres of human endeavor than Kemi. They have not disgraced Nigeria as Kemi has done. It is on record that she grew up in Surulere, Lagos; attended Staff School at UNILAG, and her father was an upper middle class person; so, where was Kemi fetching water from the stream and firewood from the bush? Abike did not just go to the press; it was the press that asked if she had reached out to Kemi. As for Nigeria being fantastically corrupt, all the monies stolen in Nigeria are warehoused in London and other Western countries! - Kayode Abegunde.

Abike Dabiri lamenting that Kemi Badenoch did not give her audience lacks diplomatic competence. She should not see Kemi Badenoch as a Nigerian, even though she has Nigerian roots. Otherwise, she would not have been elected as the leader of the Conservative Party. She has so many things to grapple with and top notch in her political agenda now (is not) giving audience to a low-level Nigerian government official. Doesn’t Dabiri realise that Kemi Badenoch is today the opposition leader in the British parliament and, thus, a potential British Prime Minister if her political permutation goes well? Coming to Fani-Kayode, he can not claim, and neither can his roots claim, to love the Yoruba. He was a child during the “Opreation Wet-ẹ̀” in the Western Region to know that his father, wearing a short knicker with a jerry can of petrol in his hand, was the master-mind of “Wet-ẹ̀”, which gave birth to political thuggery in Yoruba land, an evil that has refused to vacate our political space till date. Neither he nor Abike Dabiri can measure up to the political status of Kemi Badenoch. - Pst. Jube Olawole.

This is not complicated at all! Some people evidently underrated Kemi! I am quite certain, and I think it is now obvious, that Kemi has it all worked out in her mind - she has to be a brilliant thinker to be a computer engineer! To boot, and in support of those credentials, she is now Leader of The Opposition and Shadow Prime Minister in Britain, and the first Black African to lead a major party in the United Kingdom. Anyone who thinks she is stupid or irresolute should blame themselves for not being smart! From all the indicators which Kemi is setting off, she is, and she considers herself Yorùbá, like her father, but she is also British and refuses to be 'Nigerian', unlike her father! She has said that for the umpteenth time - and we are all aware of it - that she does not want Britain to become like 'Nigeria'! Is that not clear enough? And what can be bad with that? As a matter of fact, we the indigenous nations who are grossly unfortunate to be roped into the monumental scam known as 'Nigeria' can turn that against the British, its infamous inventors, and ask them to cooperate in the dissolution of the misfortune known as 'Nigeria'. As the official Leader of The British Opposition, even Kemi Badenoch says it! Her mother, who knows her better than anyone else, says she is a chip off the old block in her father, Dr. Femi Adegoke! - Demola Akintoye.

Why do we celebrate excellence in the Diaspora but prefer mediocrity at home? - Emmanuel Chiadi.

Kemi Badenoch was right in her response to Abike Dabiri-Erewa and the others. Could it be the ‘pull her down ’ syndrome or what exactly was the problem with those attacking her? Could they be using her to gain relevance and cheap favour from the government of the day? Why are we making a parody of our existential failure? We are living in sad times! - Ezekiel Odeyemi.

Please take time to help your readers know that whatever name they call the apparatus that Abike Dabiri has carved out for herself is unconstitutional and only possible in a corrupt country called Nigeria. She can use her “good offices” to bag an ambassadorial position to any country of her choice but she should please stop using that aberration organization of hers that has consistently undermined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Anyone with proper self-esteem and (who is) knowledgeable about proper governance will distance themselves from the misnomer arrangement she has put together. - Adewunmi Alabi.

The Senate last Thursday passed the tax reform bills for second reading amid tension despite a one hour close-door session to calm frayed nerves so that the federal lawmakers csn have a smooth debate on the general principles of the fiscal legislations.

The proposed landmark bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill; the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, read the lead debate when the close session ended.

According to him, the set of four legislative proposals will increase Value Added Tax (VAT) distributable to the subnational governments to 55% while reducing the federal government’s share to 10%.

Bamidele said the new legislative regimes also proposed zero VAT on exports and essential consumptions by the masses and grant of input VAT credit on assets and services in addition to goods consumed by businesses to lower the cost of production

He  reeled out far-reaching proposals contained in the Tax Reform Bills, which, according to him, aims at simplifying the tax landscape, reducing the burden on small business and streamlining how taxes are collected.

When the floor was yielded to Senators who wanted to contribute, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, urged his colleagues to give the bills chance to pass through normal legislative process while those who have dissenting voices should do so constructively.

Similarly, the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, commended the executive for coming up with the landmark tax reform bills.

He said the fiscal legislation would entrench fiscal federalism in Nigeria if passed into  law.

The former Bayelsa state governor noted that Nigerians were paying tax and the government at various levels have been using it to execute developmental projects since the colonial era.

He said the situation changed when oil was discovered and the sub regional government started relying on the federal government for federal allocation.

He noted that some stakeholders objected to the bill because there was no proper consultation.

According to Dickson, “The position of the Nigerian Governors Forum is legitimate. The executive should carry out more enlightenment on the bills. As a federalist, which I’ve been all my adult life, I see these bills as a move towards entrenching fiscal federalism in Nigeria, which I fully support.

“I use this opportunity to call on all my colleagues to agree that these bills, all four of them, should be passed for second reading to enable our committee and the experts and the general public engage in accordance with our rules. The tax reform bills when passed to law, will entrench fiscal federalism in Nigeria”.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary thereafter invited former Senate Leader,  Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South), to make his remarks on the bills.

Rather than contributing to the debate on the general principles of the bills, Ndume said the timing for the bills introduction was wrong and advised that they should be withdrawn for proper consultation in order to get the buy-in of the critical stakeholders who are opposed to it.

He urged the Senate to consider the sensitivities of the moment, by adopting a more strategic approach to avoid backlash.

Ndume then advocated that the bills be temporarily withdrawn to allow for more consultation with state governors, the National Economic Council (NEC), and traditional rulers.

He emphasised that the reforms would be more effective if they had the buy-in of the critical stakeholders, suggesting that swift passage could occur after such consultations.

Ndume said, “Let it be on record that my problem with the bills is the timing. Number two is the issue of derivation. The issue of derivation made the reform contagious, contaminated, and contradictory in some cases. This is because the constitution has to be amended in order for some of these proposals to be effective. I’m glad we are doing a constitutional review. So even if it means reviewing the constitution.

“I agree that we should not throw away the baby with the bathwater. I would have preferred we remove the baby and throw away the water first. And that is to go with what the governors and NEC proposed. The bills should be withdrawn and re presented to the National Assembly again after getting the buy-in of the governors and NEC and even our traditional rulers.

“Let’s be honest with ourselves. If we sit down here, work on these bills, assuming as it is now, there may be a backlash. This is because the governors have not come out publicly to change their position, the traditional rulers have not sat down publicly to change their position. NEC have not sat down to change their position.

“As for me. I looked at the bill which contains so many good things, but these two things, derivation and VAT. Even though you say it will be addressed at the public session, it’s not something that many of us will agree to.

“You started by saying, we are going to negotiate, which is good, and it’s coming from you. Why don’t we negotiate first before we come out to take a position?

“The people through the governors and the traditional rulers say the bills should be withdrawn, make some necessary amendments and  then bring it back and we can pass it in 24 hours. That is my position.”

Ndume’s position was instantly countered by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, who disagreed with the position of Ndume.

He said the views of the stakeholders who are opposed to the bills could be taken at the public hearing after the legislation had passed second reading.

Monguno, who took over from Ndume as both the Chief Whip and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, following his removal, said in the course of public hearing, the governors and traditional rulers are free to ventilate their opinions.

He said Ndume’s position was strange to legislative process but could only pass for a mere academic exercise.

Monguno, former Chairman of Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, expressed serious concerns that Ndume, who was  minority leader in the House of Reps, a leader in the Senate, and immediate Chief Whip of the Senate with all the cognate experiences of lawmaking,  came up with such arguments.

His words, “I disagree with you (Ndume), that this bill should be withdrawn first and consultation should be held with the Nigerian Governors Forum and traditional rulers.

“We have a procedure which is clearly and umambiguously stated in our rulebook for the process of lawmaking. The Constitution, in a very clear and unambiguous manner, gave us the power to regulate our proceedings.

“Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, gave us power to make these rules for ourselves in order to guide our proceedings. The process of lawmaking is very clear and unambiguous as per this book. That after the second reading of a bill, it will be transmitted to the Committee for Public Hearing.

“In the course of the public hearing, Nigerians from all walks of life, all groups, will come and aggregate, including the governors and traditional rulers. They are free to come and ventilate their opinion.”

“With due respect, what Senator Ndume has suggested is alien to the process of legislation exercise and therefore is fairly academic and should not be considered.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, then put the question as to whether the senators would want the bills passed or not  and the lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in support.

Akpabio thereafter mandated the  committee on Finance,  to organise Public hearing on the bill for inputs from those against the bills like the Governors’s forum, National Economic Council (NEC), Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), etc and report back within six weeks.

Ndume’s antagonist tendencies towards the bills had however started a day earlier when his position and that of the Senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, threw the Senate into a rowdy session.

The development happened following the decision of the Red Chamber’s leadership to admit the Federal Government’s team driving the tax reform bills, to address the Senators.

Trouble started when the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele announced that there were visitors who would be coming to the chamber to brief the Senate on the proposed tax reform bills.

Bamidele at the session, presided over by Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, invoked Order 12 (1) to suspend the Senate Rules, seeking permission for their guests to enter the chamber and address them.

The visitors included the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji; Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, and the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.

Ningi, the Bauchi Central Senator, raised a point of order, drawing the attention of the presiding officer to an error in the decision to admit the guests into the chamber because they were not captured among the categories of people recognized in the rule book.

Ningi cited Order 12 of the Senate rule book to read out the categories of people who should be admitted into the chamber, and argued that the listed visitors were not in such categories.

However, Bamidele clarified that he actually sought the suspension of the order 12 to admit the people.

Barau noted Ningi’s point of order but said the essence of inviting the visitors was to educate Nigerians through the Senate about the controversial tax reform bills to avoid confusion among the citizenry.

Bamidele’s motion to welcome the guests was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, and the Sergeant-at-arms led them into the chamber.

Just as the guests were taking their seats,  Ndume objected strongly, to the decision through a point of order.

He noted that the Tax Reform Bill was not on the Order Paper and that the Senate rules prohibit discussions on matters not listed on the order paper without proper procedural adjustments.

“This is a very important matter, and we must follow the rules,” Ndume stated, warning that circumventing protocol undermines legislative integrity.

He urged the Senate to ensure proper representation of Nigerians’ interests, stressing the bill’s significance in the face of public concerns.

Ndume insisted that the matter was too important to be manipulated and the Senate should not in any way play around the Tax Reform Bills as Nigerians have spoken.

His words,  “This is a very important matter. We should not in any way try to use the position of the Senate to treat it anyhow because the Order Paper is clear. I have no problem about having them come to explain whatsoever but we must follow known procedures. That is if today that has to be taken, then there must a supplementary Order Paper that will reflect this. It is not a matter that you will just come and tell us after we are doing business of the day that some visitors are coming to address us”. 

Ndume, who was intermittently interrupted by Barau, who accused him of hanging on to rhetoric to marshal his point, said, “Mr President, you can have your way, but I will have my say. You can use your gavel and I will use my voice.”

The ranking Senator further said, “The Tax Reform Bill is very sensitive, our people have been dominated by this matter. When you say, it is a matter of urgent national importance, yes, but even those matters normally referred to another legislative day if there are so inconvenient.

“Please I beg you in the name of God this matter if very important to not only us, but Nigerians that we represent and we swear by Bible and Holy Quran that we will represent the interest of the people. Nigerians have spoken, the Governors, the National Economic Council”.

Despite Ndume’s objections, Barau defended the decision, and insisted that the Senate acted within the rules, and dismissed the argument as an unnecessary rhetoric.

His remarks ignited tensions, causing the session to become chaotic.

Ndume then came up with another point of order claiming that Barau used unparliamentary words against him which should be withdrawn.

Barau eventually restored order by saying his use of the word, ‘rhetoric’ was not meant to ridicule Ndume but referring to his arguments which had been taking care with the suspension of the rule book with a motion.

He insisted that whatever the Senate was doing was within its rules, adding that the “Chamber has no time for rhetoric.”

Barau said, “You have made your point now we are not here for rhetoric. We are here for facts “ At this point the Chamber went rowdy while the Deputy Senate President tried to restore order.

Ndume was eventually ruled out of order and the visitors were allowed into the hallowed Chamber to speak on the proposed Tax Reform Bills.

The team told the Senators that tax reform bills are four different legislations that seek to bring everything about taxation and administration of tax in Nigeria under four different pieces of legislation.

They explained that the bills contain all major taxes imposed on individuals and companies and that it is just like a compendium of taxes charged in Nigeria.

Keen watchers of developments over the landmark tax reform bills are however of the opinion that the trouble which was managed at the Senate plenary might get out of hand at the public hearing with the current opposition to the bills, especially on the issue of VAT derivation by some groups and opinion leaders from the northern part of the country.

[Thisday]