No Tax Clearance Certificate, No Transaction, Wike Tells FCT Residents

 The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the verification of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) as a pre-condition for business transactions in the FCT.

According to Chinedum Elechi, the Mandate Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership Secretariat, FCT Administration (FCTA), made this known at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

“I am here today to announce that the Minister of the FCT has approved the implementation of Section 85 of Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) and Section 31 of the FCT Internal Revenue Service Act, 2015.

“Both sections provide for demand and verification of TCC by the Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); Commercial banks; and FCT Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs).

“Implementation of these laws is intended to ensure that all eligible taxpayers in the FCT comply with their tax obligations.

“This will ensure that the FCT Administration gets the required resources it needs to provide essential services to FCT residents,” he said.

“Section 85 of PITA also provides that for purposes of obtaining a TCC, any person who gives incorrect information or obtains a TCC through misrepresentation, forgery or falsification is guilty of an offence.

“Such a person is liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000, plus twice the tax payable by him or her, or to imprisonment for three years or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“Similarly, a person, be it a government organisation or corporate entity to whom Section 85 applies, who fails to demand for, or verify a TCC, is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million, or to imprisonment for three years or both fine and imprisonment,” he said.

Other affected transactions include: registration of a limited partnership, application for market stalls, and appointment or election into public office among others.

“Consequently, all MDAs, commercial banks and SDAs were required to demand and verify TCC from all taxpayers before providing them with any services.

“On behalf of the FCT Administration, we urge all individuals, corporations, corporation-soles, trustees, or executors to ensure that they pay their taxes, obtain their TCCs and present them whenever required,” Elechi said

Suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari To Face Arraignment On November 6

 

Hudu Yunusa-Ari

The Adamawa State High Court of Justice has officially scheduled the arraignment of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Hudu Ari Yunusa, for November 6, 2023.

This comes in the wake of the controversial declaration of Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship poll in Adamawa State before the collation process had concluded.

At the time, official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated that Dahiru, the APC candidate, was trailing Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), with a margin of 31,249 votes.

Yunusa now faces a series of charges, including announcing false electoral results, breaching his oath of neutrality, disorderly conduct during elections, inciting disturbance, and impersonating a public servant.

The arraignment, originally slated for July 27, was postponed multiple times due to the REC’s failure to appear in court.

This led the judge, Benjamin Manji Lawan, to adjourn the case for the third time.

Student Loan Scheme Will Take Off January 2024 — Tinubu

 

Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday declared that the era of industrial actions in the nation’s academic environment has come to an end as Students Loan Scheme will commence in January 2024.

The President made the declaration in an address at the 29th edition of the annual Nigerian Economic Summit, anchored by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

“By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students we’re saying no more strikes.

“There must be a Consumer Credit Scheme which will have to come to effect as soon as possible.

“We cannot talk about anti-corruption when you have to look for cash to buy a car, when there’s no mortgage for homeownership,” he said.

On his part, Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, said the student loan would be administered by the Central Bank of Nigeria through the loan board.

When asked shortly before the start of Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, Mamman said: “The scheme is being facilitated by the CBN and some agencies under my ministry with the office of the Chief of Staff to the President (Femi Gbajabiamila).”

Each student, he said, would get the earlier announced N500,000. The exact number of beneficiaries is not known.

Mamman said, “They (applicants) will be treated based on the number of those who registered.”

Akeredolu Won’t Return To Ondo Over PDP’s Threat – APC Youths Insist

 The youths wing representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest region have insisted that the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, will not bow to the threats of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to return to the state.

Recall that the opposition party in the state has been demanding for physical appearance of the governor, ever since he returned from Germany’s medical trip.

Ondo PDP has accused Akeredolu of governing the state while he resides in Ibadan, the Oyo state’s capital.

Meanwhile, the leader of the APC Southwest youths, Lawal Kolade while addressing the media in Akure, on Thursday, emphasised that Akeredolu’s choice to prioritise rest and adjust his regular work schedule for a complete recovery exemplifies his human nature.

The Southwest APC youths acknowledged that it was important for the Governor to rest, stressing there is no governance gap in the State.

Kolade further stated that the state had witnessed remarkable progress in various projects, adding that Akeredolu is fast recuperating and will join the state soon.

He said: “We are not saying the Governor will not come. He will join us in a few days’ time but not in line with the threat of the opposition parties. The Ondo state government does not owe a dime of salary. The Governor is in Ibadan. It is important for him to rest.

“Activities of governance are ongoing. He is fast recuperating. He had Zoom meetings with Obas and other groups. He has been talking to people.

“We are optimistic that he will soon make a complete recovery and physically join us. Recent days have witnessed remarkable progress in various projects overseen by the administration, affirming unequivocally that governance in Ondo State is robust and resolute.”

Anti-Graft War Should Start From National Assembly – EFCC Chair

 The newly appointed Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede has suggested that the fight against corruption should commence from the National Assembly. 

Olukoyede let this out while addressing the lawmakers, during his screening on Wednesday.

He said: “Let the fight against corruption begin from this hallowed chamber.

“If you are fighting corruption, you become the enemy of everybody.”

“Enforcement is a very strong tool in our hands and we are going to apply it very seriously.

“Without downplaying the importance of enforcement, there is what we call a transactional credit system. If we continue to allow Nigerians to buy houses, cars and other luxurious properties by cash because we don’t have an effective credit system, one thousand anti-corruption agencies will not do us any good and that is the reality.

“We must create an atmosphere to make sure that people have choices. If I don’t steal money, can I afford to train my children in school with good standards? If I don’t steal money, can I buy a car after I have worked for five years? If I don’t steal money, can I put a three-room bungalow in place after I have worked for 20 years?

“An average Nigerian does not own a home, when he has the opportunity, he would steal. Even if he does not have the opportunity he would create one.”

The new EFCC chairman also called on the judiciary to place substantive justice above technicalities when dealing with corruption cases.

He said: “We must encourage our criminal justice system to adjudicate in such a way that it will not drag for a very long time.

“Prosecution should not be allowed to last for a maximum of five years from the court of first instance to the Supreme Court. The Senate can work on that very seriously. If we make the administration of the criminal justice system really work, you will see the great work the anti-corruption agencies are doing.”

He said there was a connection between the low standard of living in the country and the rise of corruption.

“The savings of an average civil servant in Nigeria all through his service years cannot build the type of houses they are building and cars they are riding.

“The problem we have is just like the proverbial monkey that was locked up in a cage with a bunch of ripe bananas. The owner stood outside with a cane. The monkey would either eat the bananas, get beaten and be alive, or allow the bananas to get rotten and die of hunger.

“I will do more in the areas of blocking the leakages. We spend more money fighting corruption when we could have spent less to prevent it.” Olukoyede added.

The EFCC chairman noted that Nigeria lost a total of N2.9tn to procurement fraud in three years.

According to him, he did a survey between 2018 and 2020 on 50 entities in Nigeria; both human and corporate entities.

He said: “I picked just one scheme, one species of fraud, which is called contract and procurement fraud. I discovered that within the three years, Nigeria lost N2.9tn.

“When I put my figures together, I discovered that if the country had prevented the money from being stolen, it would have given us 1,000 kilometres of road, it would have built close to 200 standard tertiary institutions; it would have also educated about 6,000 children from primary to tertiary levels at N16m per child.

“It would have also delivered more than 20,000 units of three-bedroom houses across the country. It would have given us a world-class teaching hospital in each of the 36 states of the country and the federal capital territory.”

Supreme Court Constitutes Seven-Member Panel For Atiku, Obi’s Appeal Against Tinubu

 

The Supreme Court has formed a seven-member panel of justices to hear the appeals in the petitions filed by three presidential candidates challenging the outcome of the February 25 election.

The notices for the hearing were served on the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Chichi Ojei.

The court notices signed by Zainab M. Garba in the office of the registrar, said by the Order 2 Rule 1 (2) of the Supreme Court’s Rules 1985 as amended, the notice is deemed as sufficiently served on the parties.

The list of panel members includes Justices Adamu Jauro, Uwani Musa Abba Aji, Lawal Garba, Helen M. Ogunwumiju, I.N. Saulawa, Tijjani Abubakar, and Emmanuel Agim.

Atiku’s appeal argues that the Presidential Election Petitions Court erred in dismissing his petition and failing to prove allegations of irregularities in the presidential election.

Atiku had pleaded with the Supreme Court to scrap technicality and grant his application for leave to tender fresh and additional evidence to support his claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted a forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the February 25 presidential election.

Atiku predicated his plea because presenting forged documents by any candidate, especially by a candidate for the highest office in the land, is a grave constitutional issue that must not be encouraged.

Peter Obi challenges the tribunal’s refusal to admit 18,088 polling units’ blurred results.

Ojei contends that Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, were disqualified due to invalid office nominations.

In response, Tinubu requested the court to hold that Atiku’s petition was an abuse of the court process and lacked merit, while he described Obi’s petition as a festival and lacking in merit.

Recall that the Court fixed Monday, October 23, 2023, for hearing of the appeal filed by Atiku.

‘We Know Where Our Shoe Pinches, Nigeria’s Destiny Not In World Bank’s Hands’ — Akpabio

 

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the World Bank does not understand the country’s challenges, hence, Nigeria’s destiny is not in its hands.

For years, Nigeria has been a recipient of the bank’s programmes and loans.

Akpabio who spoke in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday at a retreat on fiscal policy and tax reforms organised by the Senate for lawmakers said, “I believe that our destiny is not in the hands of or the fine print of the World Bank. The bank may mean well and can be of help to us, but they have not worn our shoes and they do not know where it pinches.

“It is our walk not their own, so while they talk, let us walk the walk. We wear the shoes and we know where it pinches.

“Every major national development was based on a road map designed by citizens of the respective countries.”

He added that the Senate would not welcome people who “whine” and do not believe that the country would progress.

“The senate has no place for people who whine or do not believe in the greatness of our country.

“The hallowed chambers of the senate are for those who believe that every setback in our country is a setup for a comeback.

“Today more than ever before we must come together in optimism to toe the road map of Mr President and where we consider that changes may be appropriate, work with the executive to perfect the document,” Akpabio said.

Enrol Your Children In Schools Or Go To Jail – Senate Warns Parents

 The 10th Senate, under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio has passed for the first reading of a bill that will provide a fine of N50,000 to parents who default in providing their children with primary and secondary school education.

However, the bill proposed by Senator Orji Kalu titled: ‘Compulsory free Universal Basic Education Act 2004, Section 2’ states that every government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.”

The act further states that “Every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attends and completes his primary school education and junior secondary school education by endeavoring to send the child to primary and junior secondary schools.”

“The Act further states that stakeholders in education in a local government area shall ensure that every parent or person who has the care and custody of a child performs the duty imposed on him under section 2(2) of this Act.”

“On a second conviction, a fine of N2,000 or imprisonment for a term of one month or both; and on subsequent conviction, to a fine of N5,000 or imprisonment for a term of two months or to both.”

The Senate, however, in its amendment, proposed N50,000 fines, instead of the N5,000 previously stated in the Act.

The amendment states: “Section (4) (b) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N2,000 and inserting N20,000. Section (4) (c) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N5,000 and inserting N50,000.”

It added: “Section 3(2) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N10,000 and inserting N100,000.”

It stated: “A person who receives or obtains any fee contrary to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N10,000 or imprisonment for a term of three months or to both.

“Every parent shall ensure that his child receives full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude by regular attendance at schools.”

However, the Senate proposes, N100,000 in replacement of the N10,000.

The Senate proposed: “Section 3(2) of the Principal Act is amended by deleting N10,000 and inserting N100,000.”

Organized Labour Gives Govs Ultimatum To Effect N35,000 Minimum Wage

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday issued a two-week deadline for Governors to commence negotiations on the N35,000 wage award for workers in their states.

The Organised Labour unions are making the demands in line with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Federal Government (FG).

Recall that the national leadership of the NLC and TUC on October 1 reached an agreement with the FG to pay N35,000 to all federal workers beginning from September, pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

The resolution provided that the wage award would be paid to the federal workers for six months while states were encouraged to extend the same benefit to their workers.

Labour had cancelled its nationwide strike scheduled for the 3rd of October, 2023 with the promise that the wage awards would be implemented.

Meanwhile, the State chapters of NLC and TUC disclosed that they have written to Governors to fast-track the necessary protocols and implement the award meant to assuage the subsidy removal pains.

According to the unions, the deadline for payment of the wage award would expire in the next two weeks.

The Kano State NLC Chairman, Kabiru Inuwa speaking with Punch revealed he had written to the state government to demand the immediate implementation of the N35,000 wage award in the state.

Inuwa said, “We have written to the government requesting for the payment of the wage award to workers in the state and we are still waiting for the government to respond.”

He noted that the deadline given by the NLC to the federal and state governments to implement the wage award and other welfare packages for the workers would soon expire.

He expressed the hope that the state government would pay the wage award before the expiration of the deadline.

Inuwa added, “The ultimatum given to both state and federal governments will expire by the end of this month, so we hope the government will start the payment before the end of the deadline.”

Ibrahim Fika, Gombe State NLC Secretary, on his part, said the 30-day ultimatum, which is now remaining two weeks, applied to workers in state governments.

“The ultimatum says the state councils should negotiate with the state government. So it applies to us,” he said.

The Rivers state TUC Chairman, Ikechukwu Onyefuru, said it would fully comply and implement the ultimatum given to FG

He stated, “State unions are subject to national directives and the 30-day ultimatum was issued by the national body to the Federal Government and directed all state chapters to also issue demands to their respective state governments and implement the same.

“This means that if any state peradventure decides to jettison that directive, such a state is already in breach of the national directive.

“So what I am saying is that it is a national directive, and the respective states have been served and it is expected that they will respond.’’

The Chairmen of the NLC and TUC in Benue State, Terungwa Igbe and Gideon Akaa, disclosed that they had written to the state governor on the wage award for workers.

Igbe said, “The union has written to the state government about the wage award, and we asked for N35,000. But we have yet to receive a response from the government. Well, I cannot say for now what we will do if the government fails to pay; it all depends on their response.’’

But the Niger State NLC chairman, Idrees Lafene, stressed that workers might demand more than N35,000 from the state government given the spike in the cost of living.

He disclosed that discussions had gone far on the wage award implementation, and they were optimistic that the government would yield to their demands.

“Yes, we’re still on the negotiation table and we are asking for more; we’re asking for more than N35,000 and the discussion has gone far,’’ he stated.

Tinubu Needs To Put His Minister In Order, Threat To Sue UN Puts Nigeria In Bad Light — Ex-Diplomat On Kennedy-Ohanenye’s Comment By Ololade

 

Former deputy special representative of the United Nations (UN) secretary-general for Somalia, Babafemi Badejo, says Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the minister of women affairs, should be more coordinated.

The ex-diplomat spoke on Tuesday in reaction to the minister’s threat to sue the United Nations for allegedly mismanaging donor funds meant for Nigeria.

The minister said if the global body does not furnish her ministry with the necessary records on or before November 15, she would take legal action.

She had said: “I stand here as the minister of women affairs to demand from the UN, the account of all the monies they sourced from donors in Nigeria’s name. We want to see the account of what they did.

“If you don’t give us this account, at least let Nigerians see what is going on, then you [UN] apologise to them.

“From 16th of October to November 15, if we don’t get those reports for Nigerians to see, we are heading to court. [They have] from 16th October to November 8.

“They will get our pre-action letter that is to prepare that by 15th we are heading to court and I am promising Nigerians that by 15th you will hear the lawsuit number.”

Reacting, Badejo said while it is “very proper” for the minister to ask for “accountability and transparency”, her approach can “portray Nigeria in a bad light.”

While maintaining that the minister should have been apprised of the importance of diplomatic and functional immunity that the UN and its officials enjoy, he said President Bola 6 Tinubu “needs to have his ministers coordinated and appropriately socialised into their respective duties.”

“Experience shows that some UN officials are corrupt, and some have accordingly been jailed. However, there are laid down arrangements for such requests by a sovereign nation. Not following the laid down procedure and embarking on media grandstanding can only portray Nigeria in a bad light. Nigeria is telling the world that it lacks the requisite leadership and structures for appropriate operation in the community of nations.

“The United Nations system’s counterpart in Nigeria is the ministry of foreign affairs. Even, if the minister of foreign affairs, after exhaustive dialogue within his department of international organisations has decided on the need to request for transparency from the UN, it is expected that he would take the case to the federal executive council (FEC) before articulating, if at all, such a weighty position at a media show.

“In which court is our minister of women affairs intending to embark on her frolic? What would be the charges? What is the expected outcome of such a litigation process?

“The minister of women affairs will do well to address corruption in her ministry by collaborating with the ongoing probe, by at least one of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies,” the statement read.

The former diplomat called on Kennedy-Ohanenye to “make a big difference” in her ministry by building processes to empower women and “reduce national poverty.”

Akpabio Has No Hand In Your Dismissal — Aide Tells Abbo

 

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has refuted allegations that he played a role in Senator Elisha Abbo’s removal from the Senate.

Information Nigeria had reported Abbo claimed that Akpabio was behind his removal from the Senate, asserting that he, along with four other senators, was targeted for removal because they worked against Akpabio’s emergence as Senate President.

Reacting to the claim, Eseme Eyiboh, media aide to Akpabio, said it is uncharitable for Abbo to pour his frustrations on the senate president.

His words: “It is only a diseased and uninformed mind that will not believe that the outcome of any court proceeding is a function of the evaluation of facts and evidence within the province of the rule of law.

“Democracy is founded in the rule of law, so for anybody to accuse one of the strong agents of democracy and governance in the mold of Senator Godswill Akpabio, such an individual must be a monument of self-pity and his swansong a discordant escape from reality.”

Eyiboh added that Akpabio does not harbour any ill will against any of the senators and he has since moved on from the election that brought him into office as Senate President.