FEATURES
The Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Kalu, has revealed that the Federal Government made a mistake not to have carried the National Executive Council (NEC), Nigeria Governor’s Forum, and the Council of State along in its tax reform bills.
Orji Kalu who spoke on Monday in an interview with Arise Television opened up on the controversial tax reform bills, saying the bills are very progressive and would bring back fiscal federalism in Nigeria.
New Telegraph recalls that Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, the Northern Governor’s Forum, the National Economic Council, and others have openly opposed the tax reforms.
The Senator representing Abia North, had faulted the initiators of bills for not carrying key stakeholders along saying, “As I told you before, the bill is very progressive. It will bring back fiscal federalism.
“Many senators have not been briefed. I think the federal government made a mistake. The initiators of the bills would have briefed the National Economic Council, Governors’ forum”.
Recall tax reform bills, including the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, were sent to the National Assembly for passage since October 2024.
The bills gained momentum last week when they secured second-reading passage at the Senate.
This comes after the Northern Governor’s Forum and National Economic Council called for the bill’s withdrawal.
[newtelegraphng]
The Humanity Development and Empowerment Organisation (HDEO) has asked the federal government to pay back N12 billion borrowed by civil servants.
Speaking at the weekend in Abuja, Osita Nebolisa, outgoing national president of HEDO, also known as the Lenders Association, said the government had deducted the loans from the workers, but had failed to remit to the creditors.
Nebolisa, founder of Visa Microfinance Bank, said Dele Apanisile, the incoming president of the association, and his team should work towards resolving the issue with the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OAGF).
“One of our most pressing challenges remains the recovery of over N12 billion,” the outgoing president said as he handed over to the new executive council.
“The incoming leadership, consisting largely of experienced members from the current team, brings valuable continuity to this effort.
“To those few who may have reservations, I appeal for unified support of their strategies to retrieve these funds and prevent future losses through the IPPIS deduction system.”
Nebolisa said under his leadership, the association – made up of commercial, microfinance banks, and finance companies – provided more than N6 billion in loans to over 2,000 civil servants.
He added that a service level agreement (SLA) was signed in 2023 with the OAGF to provide a framework for further equitable access to credit and protect stakeholders’ interests.
Grammy-nominated singer Davido has shared how his father’s teachings on faith have profoundly influenced his life and resilience.
Speaking on a recent Rollingout podcast, Davido opened up about growing up in a Christian home where his father, a prominent businessman and church elder, instilled strong values of trust in God.
According to him, among the lessons he learnt from his father, one stood out: never question God’s plans.
He revealed that this advice has been a cornerstone in helping him navigate life’s challenges, including the heartbreaking loss of his son, Ifeanyi.
Davido credited his father’s wisdom for providing him the strength to endure difficult times.
The singer reflected on how his father’s words initially didn’t make sense to him, but after experiencing a series of blessings, including the birth of twins, a successful album, and Grammy nominations, he began to understand the power of faith.
Davido emphasised that his father’s lessons have taught him to trust in God’s plan, even in the face of adversity.
He encouraged others to adopt a similar mindset, reminding them that God is always working in their favor.
He said: “My dad is very successful, but he’s an elder in the church. I grew up as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I attended a Christian college.
“I overcame a lot of challenges because of my dad. Initially, I did not understand, but now I’ve come to the realization. I was angry. Sometimes, I was like, ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’ And my dad told me that you can’t question God.
“I was like, ‘What do you mean you can’t question God?’ And then a year later [after the death of my son, Ifeanyi], we had twins, the biggest album of my career came, and my first Grammy nominations came. Then it started to make sense. People go through different challenges, but just know that God has your back,” he said.
[TheNation]
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing the Edo North senatorial district, has expressed strong support for the financial autonomy of local governments in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole’s comments came in response to the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court ruling that upheld the financial autonomy of local governments.
Speaking at a forum on local government autonomy organized by the House of Representatives on Monday, the former Governor of Edo State emphasized the importance of character in governance and accountability.
He highlighted the significant responsibilities of local government chairmen, given their proximity to the people, and advised them to allocate resources wisely for essential infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, and other public services.
On a lighter note, Oshiomhole remarked, “It’s better to have 774 local government chairmen who are thieves than one big thief,” adding that with this every local government in Nigeria will produce one or two billionaires, rather than having just one billionaire in the state.
[Vanguard]
Princess Chineke, a Nollywood actress has joined the U.S. Army.
The former beauty queen who represented her state in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, MBGN, pageant has traded her crown for a soldier’s uniform, making a surprising career shift.
The Nation reports that this makes her the first Nollywood actress to join the U.S. Army.
Princess once modelled for several television commercials, billboards and runways.
Princess Chineke’s decision to enlist has shocked many of her fans, who remember her for her captivating performances on screen.
Some of her works include; Battleground, Forever in Me, Last Flight to Abuja, Super Story, Papa Ajasco, Tales of Eve, Ada Mbano, To Love a Sister, Amaonyebuoneye, Give it Up, Masters at War, Give it Up, 2broken, Airline Bases, Mmeso, Royal Maid, Professor Johnbull, Ay show Skit etc.
However, the actress who was also a former Miss UNIBEN has expressed her passion for serving her adopted country.
“I love the prestige that comes with the American military,” Princess Chineke said. “As a citizen of this great country that has done so much for me, I feel it’s my turn to give back. God bless America.”
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, has described the conduct of local government elections in the country as “disgraceful”.
Abbas spoke in Abuja on Monday at the national dialogue on local government and constitution amendment.
Represented by Benjamin Kalu, his deputy, Abbas said local governments, being the closest to the people, have a vital role in delivering services, promoting community development, and ensuring citizens’ voices are heard at all levels of governance.
Abbas said for local governments to function effectively, they must have a certain level of autonomy that enables them to respond promptly and appropriately to the specific needs of their communities.
“One of the most pressing issues we must deal with is the poor quality of elections into local government councils across our states,” he said.
“This situation not only undermines the very essence of democracy but also raises serious concerns about the integrity and functionality of our local governance structures.
“When elections are characterised by a lack of competitiveness — wherein the ruling party sweeps all positions — it becomes evident that we are witnessing a mockery of democratic principles.
“This scenario is not merely an embarrassment, it poses a significant threat to our democracy. It fosters an environment where undesirable elements infiltrate these councils, often lacking the necessary capacity and vision to govern effectively.
“Consequently, local governments have become mere appendages of state governments or pawns in the hands of so-called godfathers who manipulate political outcomes for their gain.
“The recent supreme court judgment mandating the conduct of elections into the councils and direct disbursement of funds to them has provided a significant legal framework that supports the autonomy and functionality of local governments across the country.
“This landmark decision is a testament to our collective commitment to uphold democratic principles at all levels of governance.
“However, while we celebrate these advancements, we must also acknowledge that the need for comprehensive reform has never been more urgent as some of the nagging issues persist.
“Importantly, we must confront the disgraceful and poor conduct elections into the councils. We must find a way of instilling transparency, fairness and openness in the conduct of elections in local governments. Doing this would require the understanding and collaborative efforts of the State governors and houses of assembly.
“We must find a way of convincing them that a strengthened local government system would relieve the States of unnecessary burdens and lead to grassroots development.”
Abbas said constitutional reforms are essential to addressing the challenges facing the local governments.
The speaker said the advocacy for “greater financial autonomy” for local governments must continue to ensure that they get adequate funding directly from federal allocations without excessive state control.
He said inadequate funding remains one of the most significant obstacles to local government administration, noting that they operate on budgets that are “insufficient to meet their responsibilities”.
“This financial constraint limits their ability to deliver essential services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and sanitation. As a result, many communities continue to suffer from poor living conditions and lack access to basic amenities,” he said.
Abbas said more mechanisms must be explored to empower local governments with decision-making authority over their affairs.
Over the years, the conduct of local government elections by various state independent electoral commissions (SIECs) has been fraught with controversies, as ruling parties in the states often dominate the polls, winning almost all available seats.
In 2020, Mike Igini, resident electoral commissioner of Akwa Ibom state at the time, said local government elections in Nigeria are “nothing but organised crime”.
“Local government elections are nothing but organised crime. They should not be calling them elections at all. They are nothing but coronation ceremonies that we have across Nigeria,” he said.
In March, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, proposed that SIECs should be scrapped.
Fagbemi recommended that the powers of SIECs should be transferred to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
[TheCable]
Popular Nigerian content creator, Egungun of Lagos’s private video has surfaced on social media.
The viral video was reportedly leaked by a lady Egungun of Lagos was having a secret affair with.
The tape captured the content creator opening his boxers to show off his private organ, while on a video call with the lady.
The lady also on the other end showed her privates.
Reacting to the development on X, Egungun’s wife accused the unidentified lady of trying to blackmail her husband.
The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has lamented the arrest of one of the church’s pastors abroad.
He said the pastor was arrested for addressing those in attendance at a programme “Ladies and gentlemen.”
According to him, the statement was considered discriminatory because it did not capture all of the genders identified by their culture.
The pastor made this known during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service at the RCCG’s Throne of Grace in Lagos State on Sunday.
His sermon, which was broadcast to all parishes of the church, was titled “My father’s house.”
“The end is nearer than you think. Things are getting worse, and this is a wake-up call. One of my pastors abroad was arrested for simply addressing a gathering as ‘ladies and gentlemen.’
“Some people reported him for discrimination, asking, ‘What about those who are neither ladies nor gentlemen?’” he stated.
The clergyman also recounted another disturbing story of a woman who referred to her dog as her husband.
He shared how, when asked about her spouse, the woman claimed, “I took him to the vet before coming. He doesn’t talk,” describing her “husband” as a dog.
Adeboye expressed concern about the erosion of moral values worldwide, viewing these incidents as signs of the end times.
“Those of you already in Christ, take this matter seriously. Do not let anyone weaken your stand. God is holy. Those still playing church—singing, clapping, and enjoying things without genuine commitment—remember, Jesus is coming back. The devil wants to harvest you, but you must not give him the opportunity. I want to see you in my Father’s house,” he noted.
Adeboye, known for talking about national issues and the dealings of the church especially about incorporating alien cultures into its branches across the world recently faulted men with braided hair and women sporting false eyelashes and heavy makeup.
Expressing his discontent with the trend among church workers, Adeboye made it clear that such styles will no longer be tolerated on RCCG altars.
In an address at the church’s 72nd annual convention held in August, his comments highlighted his disbelief at the rising trend of these fashion choices among church members.
Pastor Daniel Olukoya, the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM, has stated that Nigeria needs divine intervention to overcome its challenges.
The clergyman said that prayer is the only weapon that can be used to resolve the problems in Nigeria.
The MFM leader who was at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, during its 34th and 35th convocation ceremonies said;
''There is only one weapon that can kill any problem, and it is prayer. No matter how strong the problem is, prayer can dismantle it.
“What we need in Nigeria is divine intervention. Let God intervene in what we are doing. Divine intervention is greater than human intellect.
“From what is happening in the world, you can see that God is showing mankind that they are helpless.”
Olukoya also attributed the high school fees and the cost of energy required to run these institutions.
“It is not the fault of those proprietors. I am one of them. I am always supportive of the poor because I know how difficult it was for me to get to the university. My parents didn’t have the money.
But the current situation is that if you cannot pay good money to lecturers or professors, you won’t get good teachers.
And if you run a private university and are paying less than federal universities, you will not get good professors.”
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Jesutega Onokpasa, has expressed his disappointment with President Bola Tinubu over the current state of the nation under his leadership.
The politician described the hunger crisis in Nigeria under Tinubu’s administration as embarrassing, especially since the former Governor of Lagos State had promised to eliminate hunger if elected.
Onokpasa, while appearing live on the Arise News programme on Monday, recalled that Tinubu had assured Nigerians that his government would produce food massively.
“What Asiwaju promised us is that if we help him get to power he is going to produce food massively to feed Nigerians.
“We didn’t envisage this bizarre level of comfortability with prices just skyrocketing out of control”, he said.
Onokpasa added: “I don’t know what happened to Asiwaju, in fact I’m a catholic and I will book masses for him. Whatever is happening let God deliver him from it.
“How can you be a president and prices of food are skyrocketing? if we can’t reduce the price of fuel can’t we feed people?
“Why is Asiwaju so reluctant to invest in Agriculture, he asked.
“Nigerians are hungry and it is shameful that President Tinubu seems detached from the reality of the people”.
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The Executive Director of Patriots for Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has declared total support for the tax reforms proposed by President Bola Tinubu.
He submitted that most Governors who are opposed to the tax reforms are lazy and unwilling to work to build the internally generated revenue of their states.
Shinkafi made the submission on Monday while speaking as a guest on Arise News.
He argued that most of those against the bill have not studied it, nor do they understand the content.
He further dismissed claims that the tax reforms are anti-north, clarifying that the new revenue-sharing formula prioritises performance-based allocation.
“Because of how the monies are going to be shared based on your performance, based on your contribution, that is why they are complaining. Most of these states are lazy, most of them are not ready to develop the state to generate the revenue, that is why they are complaining,” he said.
In defending the bills which are before the National Assembly, Shinkafi also defended the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the legislative session in which the bill was debated by the lawmakers.
He submitted that opposition to the bill is politically motivated and based on misinformation.
“The attack by the Northern Youth Assembly is uncalled for.
“All the attacks, blackmail, [and] mischief-making are politically motivated against the Deputy Senate President,” Shinkafi stated.
Shinkafi further submitted that Northern Governors who are against the bill do not understand its content.
“If they have gone deeply into it, the governors will not be crying foul… These governors are responsible for the economic failure, insecurity, chronic unemployment, acute poverty, and educational backwardness in the northern region,” he argued.
He listed some of the benefits of the tax reform bills and why all stakeholders should embrace it.
“Small businesses with turnover not exceeding ₦50 million are exempted from paying annual taxes. Pharmaceutical products, food items, educational materials, agricultural equipment, and export goods are also exempted from VAT,” Shinkafi stated.
He added that the reduction of income tax for small businesses from 30% to 25% is a significant advantage.
Shinkafi also dismissed speculations that the tax reforms are skewed in favour of Lagos State, and attributed such narratives to misinformation.
“People are being misinformed on the new tax bill against the presidency… The most important thing is for you to be upright in your decision and very transparent and accountable,” he said.
As a solution to the controversies surrounding the bill, Shinkafi called for public hearings to enlighten the public on the contents and merits of the bill.
“The issue of attribution and derivation is clear. With public hearings, all these would have been avoidable,” he noted.
Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have launched a strike just three days before the completion of terminal exams, protesting the failure of area councils to implement the new minimum wage of ₦70,000.
As a result of the industrial action, students who showed up on Monday to continue their first-term exams were sent home.
The strike has disrupted the education of primary school pupils in the FCT, who have already experienced multiple work stoppages by their teachers this term.
The latest strike follows a similar one on September 18, which lasted for 14 days before being called off on October 7, leaving students at home for almost three weeks.
Comrade Ameh Baba, Chairman of the Nigeria Teachers’ Union (NUT) in the Kubwa chapter of the FCT, explained that the strike was prompted by the continued non-payment of arrears by the area council chairmen.
He stated, “And now the ultimatum of December 1st deadline given by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for any state to comply with the minimum wage of ₦70,000 has come into effect. Hence, we don’t have any option but to comply.”
Baba noted that while the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had approved the minimum wage and arranged for the first payment with the November salary, teachers under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had not received this adjustment.
He added that primary school teachers in the FCT are also still waiting for the ₦40,000 peculiar allowance and ₦35,000 wage award that have been owed to them for up to a year, leading them to continue their strike until the issues are addressed.
Nigeria’s inaugural private television station, Desmims Broadcast Nigeria and Alheri Radio (DITV) has declared a halt to its operations due to challenging economic conditions.
Naija News reports that the oldest private radio station in Northern Nigeria announced this development in a statement released over the weekend in Kaduna.
The Acting General Manager and Chairman of the Management Committee, Idris Mustapha, noted in the statement that the surging operational expenses, especially the rising costs of electricity, have rendered it unfeasible for the station to operate effectively.
This announcement represents a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s media sector, particularly for the Hausa-speaking audience, which has consistently supported DITV and Alheri Radio throughout the years.
“The escalating cost of power has made it impossible to operate the station effectively,” the management announced, expressing its regret over the development and assuring the public that standard transmission would resume as soon as the financial situation improves.
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience this may cause our millions of viewers and listeners,” the statement added.
Mustapha elaborated that the financial challenges were intensified by the failure of numerous businesses that had previously advertised on the television station to fulfil their financial commitments, which had a considerable impact on revenue generation.
The federal government has commenced N50 electronic levy deductions from transactions of N10,000 and above made by users of financial technology (Fintech) companies, including Opay, Moniepoint, Kuda, and others.
The levy, called Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), introduced under the Finance Act 2020, places a singular and one-off levy of N50 on the recipient of any electronic receipt or transfer of N10,000 or above, and was earlier announced to take effect from September 9, Tribune Online reported.
The introduction of the EMTL was, however, met with opposition from Nigerians, with various groups including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) calling on the federal government to reverse its position on the implementation of the levy.
Meanwhile, in a notice sent to customers earlier in September, Opay explained that the levy was imposed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), stating however that it did not benefit from it.
“Please be informed that starting September 9, 2024, a one-time of N50 will be applied to electronic transfers of N10,000 and above paid into your personal or business account in compliance with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) regulations.
“It is important to note that Opay does not benefit from this charge in any way as it is directed entirely by the federal government,” Opay explained in its earlier notice.
In a recent development, the fintech companies have again notified their customers that the implementation of the N50 EMTL deduction has commenced from December 1, 2024.
Opay, in a message sent to its users on Saturday (also shared via its app), explained that the electronic levy deduction begins on December 1.
“Dear Customer, in line with the FIRS, the EMTL applies starting from December 1st, 2024,” the message reads.
Likewise, Moniepoint in a notice sent to its customers on Saturday, explained that it has commenced implementation of the EMTL charges, clarifying however that the levy will be remitted to the FIRS.
“Dear customer, you will be charged stamp duty of N%) on inflows of N10,000 and above. Moniepoint collects and remits this on behalf and to FIRS,” Moniepoint says.
Meanwhile, our correspondent also gathered that the EMTL implementation has officially taken effect with Fintechs already deducting N50 for the federal government on transactions of N10,000 and above.
[Tribune]