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NNPC, RMFAC, Arewa Think Thank, others support Tax Reform Bills

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A cross section of stakeholders, on Monday, at a Public Hearing on the four Tax Reform Bills expressed their support for the bills.

The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Sen. Sani Musa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four bills include “The Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024; The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) 2024; The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill (NRSEB) 2024 and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill (JRBEB) 2024.

The agencies that made their submissions include the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) among others.

In his submission, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, said that the entire oil and gas industry was happy with the bills.

“We are the happiest people to see this tax law coming into place, bringing every education in one basket.

“And bringing in a significant number of reforms that will bring simplicity to the tax system and the tax laws in our county.

” And I want to tell you, you know, making our business more profitable, we have a plan to keep our industry as strong as possible, multiple tax systems, multiple tax rules.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), Dr Mohammed Shehu, said that the commission was in support of the bills 100 per cent, adding that the bills would enhance stability in the economy.

He urged the Senate Committee on Finance to address the area of bad distribution to sub-nationals.

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“I hope that this bill will address the issue of endless reconciliation with NNPC”.

On his part, the Convener, Arewa Think Thank, Muhammad Yakubu, said that the group was one of the groups that saw the benefits of the bills.

“We analysed the benefits of the bills and made our position known and we have submitted same.

“The perception that the North is against the bill is not true. And please, some of these views that are very very important to the country should not be put aside,” he said.

The representative of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Ahmad Dogarawa, said that it was the view of the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria that the Nigerian tax system was indeed in need of reform.

“We therefore commend the government for its genuine efforts to reform our tax system.

“However, the Council wishes to bring the attention of the National Assembly to the following concerns of the specific sections of particularly the Nigerian tax bill and the Nigerian tax administration bill.

“We have suggested that the Value Added Tax (VAT) be reviewed to five per cent or to maintain the present 7.5 per cent.”.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Sani Musa, said that Nigeria was becoming more united with the tax reform bills.

He said: “Where there are some differences or disagreements, we will agree and come to where we can all agree.

“We are going to give Nigeria the desired law, legislation that will guide our tax collection, distribution and enhance prosperity in line with the new rule of the President.

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“The President has a very good intention. I was with him two weeks ago and he said, Chairman, go and do the needful for me.

“Give me a law that is working. We will want to present a legislation that tomorrow, there will be no a lot of lawsuits.”(NAN)

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Anambra Sanctions School For Selling Prefect Post

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The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.

This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.

Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”

According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.

She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.

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Atiku Blasts EFCC Over Kazaure’s Detention

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Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and continued detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure, describing it as a violation of due process.

In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku said Kazaure’s detention reflects a brazen disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-graft agency of operating beyond the limits of the Nigerian Constitution.

Atiku alleged that the EFCC is increasingly becoming a tool for political repression, citing what he called a troubling pattern of lawlessness under the current administration.

 

He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.”

Atiku also referenced the recent arrest of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, whose release followed intense public pressure. He suggested that Kazaure’s case fits into a broader trend of state institutions being used to silence dissenting voices.

“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure.

“Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.

“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.

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“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law. The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency.

“It’s deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.

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Suspended Sen Natasha Trends Over ‘Omo Ologo’ TikTok Amid Akpabio Feud

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Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has ignited social media buzz after posting a 15-second TikTok video set to the trending song Omo Ologo — a track closely linked with President Bola Tinubu.

The video, shared on her TikTok page on May 8, shows the embattled lawmaker smiling and playfully interacting with the camera. Captioned, “Just for fun, song choked,” the post has drawn mixed reactions online, with some interpreting it as a light-hearted moment, while others suspect a deeper political undertone.

The video comes just days after the song Omo Ologo was performed live by Kano-based singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara during a dinner in Katsina State held in honour of President Tinubu, who was on a two-day working visit to assess security in the region.

The song, which blends Hausa and Yoruba, praises Tinubu as a victorious leader who has outlasted his critics.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s TikTok post follows a series of dramatic exchanges between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The senator was suspended from the upper legislative chamber in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment — an allegation that triggered heated debate in the National Assembly.

In what appeared to be a bold response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan recently posted a sarcastic apology video to Akpabio on Facebook, in which she claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”

The post was accompanied by a short video, further fueling controversy.

Akpabio’s legal team has since approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the senator to delete the post from her social media pages.

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In a counter-affidavit filed by her lawyer, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp described the motion as an attempt to silence and intimidate her.

The court is expected to rule on the matter on May 12.

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