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Federal Government’s Income Tax Bill Against Northern Interest – NSGF
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Northern States Governor’s Forum (NSGF) has vehemently rejected Federal Government’s proposed income tax bill sent to the National Assembly.
In a communique signed on Monday by its Chairman, Alh. Inuwa Yahaya, issued to Journalists in Kaduna, maintained that the proposed income tax bill was against the region’s progress.
The Forum noted with dismay that the contents of the bill were against the interest of the North and other sub-nationals, especially the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Derivation-based Model.
The Governors highlights that this was because companies remit VAT using the location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed, stressing given the foregoing, the Forum unanimously rejects the proposed Tax Amendments and calls on members of the National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardize the well-being of their people.
” For the avoidance of doubt, the Northern Governor’s Forum is not averse to any policies or programs that will ensure the growth and development of the Country.
” We call for equity and fairness in the implementation of all national policies and programs to ensure that no geopolitical zone is short-changed or marginalized.” The Forum stated.
While commenting on the outage that has crippled businesses in the North, the Northern Governor’s Forum calls on the Federal Government and relevant Agencies to urgently address the current electricity power blackout affecting most of the Northern States due to the vandalization of electricity transmission infrastructure.
“This matter not only underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure but also the need to build additional transmission lines and diversify our energy supply to better connect our region and improve our energy resilience.
They further agree that Northern Nigeria holds immense agricultural potential, which, if fully harnessed, can significantly alleviate hunger and boost economic growth. To achieve this, we resolved to provide adequate support to our farmers, including access to financing, modern farming techniques, and infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems.
On Insecurity, the Forum acknowledges the recent gains made against criminals, especially the elimination of bandits and terror leaders, while commending the Federal Government and security agencies for their commitment to ensuring that their communities are safe and secure.
The Forum particularly commends the untiring commitment of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, whose professionalism and innovative approach have made a difference in the security architecture of the Country at large, noting more needs to be done to address pockets of challenges that abound in the Northern Region.
” We resolved to sustain these gains to ensure lasting peace and stability in the sub-region.
” Agriculture should not only be seen as a means to feed our people but also as a catalyst for industrialization and job creation across the region, saying that can be achieved through re-industrialization of the North, especially by reviving the textile value chain and development of other agro-allied industries.
On the present economic hardship affecting the Country, the Forum appealed to all citizens to remain calm, as the states and Federal Government are working hard to implement measures that will cushion the effects of the hardship.
Aides, Allies Disown Him, Say You’re a Traitor, We’re not Leaving PDP
Barely two weeks after his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), crisis has enveloped the political camp of a member of the House of Representatives for Obokun/Oriade federal constituency in Osun State, Oluwole Oke.
Indeed, these are not the best of times for him as his defection to the APC is eliciting rejection from his close circles and constituency.
His key allies who he groomed into politics and government positions have rejected his calls on them to join him to defect to the APC.
A source said that in the last few days, key aides and allies of the lawmaker have rejected his movement to the APC, describing it as a political tragedy.
“With the way he betrayed PDP, Oluwole Oke is like the proverbial Leopard that can never change the spots on its body. He will also betray the APC. We are staying back in PDP while severing political links with him”, one of his allies, Bamidele Johnson said.
Some of his allies were said to have openly declared that the defection marks a political waterloo for the 6th term legislator.
For instance, some of Oke’s allies in his Local Government scorned his move as “a decision borne out of greed and selfishness.”
One of them described him as “an ingrate who betrayed a party on whose platform he got married in life as a lawmaker and on whose platform he gained all his material riches.”
The Northern Youths Consultative Forum for Justice (NYCJ) has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, citing a complete breakdown of governance, law, and order.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kano, NYCJ President Dr Sanusi Rano described the situation in Zamfara as “organised abandonment of duty” by elected officials.
“What we are witnessing in Zamfara is not governance. It is betrayal of the people,” Rano said, pointing to the absence of a functional state House of Assembly and allegations linking officials to criminal activities.
The group highlighted the suspension of 10 lawmakers who spoke out against the deteriorating security situation, arguing that their removal has left Zamfara without a legally recognised legislative body.
“This is a dictatorship of silence,” said Rano, adding that the lack of checks and balances has deepened the state’s crisis.
“The same hands that should protect Zamfara are profiting from its destruction,” Rano stated.
Calling for decisive action, the group demanded the appointment of a non-partisan administrator to rebuild the state’s institutions.
“If this is not done now, Zamfara risks becoming a permanent state of anarchy, which threatens our democracy,” Rano warned.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday, sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Nwachukwu was found guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased ( his wife) on April 8, 2022.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022 by the Office of Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge .
The charge was on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively.
The prosecution also tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing, the defendant, counsel , Reginald Nwali, in his allocutus pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment.
Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment in Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7 respectively. (NAN)