National
FG committed to independence of auditor-general’s office-Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has expressed the committment of the Federal Government to enhance the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) for effective service delivery.
Tinubu, who was represented by Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the public presentation of the OAuGF Strategic Plan 2024 -2028.
The president said that one of his administration’s goals was to enhance the independence of the OAuGF and empower it to perform its mandate seamlessly, towards deterring and detecting corruption in public institutions.
“Nigeria must win the fight against corruption. It is an existential problem that requires that all hands are on deck, in collaboration to ensure success.
“This is to ensure that the resources of the nation are deployed for the well-being of the present generation without hindering the aspirations of future generations of Nigerians,” he said.
He commended the OAuGF for developing a five-year strategic plan to promote public accountability and transparency in federal ministries, departments and agencies.
“The strategic plan has taken cognizance of the National Anti-Corruption strategy 2022 to 2026 action plan, which will ensure that endemic corruption is tackled head on.
“I am aware of the administrative and financial constraints faced by the OAuGF.
“I want to assure you that all necessary legislative processes will soon be concluded on the Federal Audit Service Bill, which is now before the Senate.
“I will not hesitate to sign it into law. This will underscore my determination to ensure the independence of this institution,” he said.
The AuGF, Mr Shaakaa Chira, said that the strategic plan was designed to contribute to the Federal Government’s agenda to stem the tide of corruption.
Chira said that it would also help to reduce waste and revenue leakages to the barest minimum, as well as guard against diversion of public resources.
“It will help to improve governance by holding public office holders accountable without fear or favour, through the delivery of high quality and timely audit report,” he said.
Chira said that the plan would achieve an enhanced independence and mandate of the OAuGF, and reduce mismanagement of public funds through stronger follow-up of audit recommendations.
He said that the strategic plan would also help to improve financial reporting in the public sector and present the OAuGF as a model institution.
“Let me assure you that OAuGF will ensure full implementation of the goals encapsulated in the strategic plan.
“We will put in place measures that will ensure a cultural shift and a new orientation in the way the management and staff of the OAuGF perform their roles, ” he said.
He called for a truly independent OAuGF and an enhanced budgetary allocation to the office.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives, Rep. Bamidele Salam, commended the OAuGF for putting the strategic plan together.
Salam said that the office, which was vacant for about one year, had started living up to expectations.
” The office of OAuGF was vacant for more than one year, and there are deficits in the submission of annual reports.
“We were dealing with the 2019 report in 2024, but he has now submitted the 2020 report and part of the 2021 report.
“Audit work is one of the most difficult works anyone can be called upon to do in Nigeria because there is a lot of resistance,” he said.
Salam said that the OAuGF should always ensure that scarce resources are put to the best of use.
“We are operating a budget where we use 75 per cent of our revenue to service debt.
” The question is, to what extent has the debt impacted in the quality of life of the average Nigerian?
“The government is asking ordinary Nigerians to make sacrifices. What are the political elite doing to also shed some of their weights?
“The only way to ensure that is through an effective audit system. Both the pre-expenditure and post-expenditure audit are important, ” he said.
He called for a truly independent Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation. (NAN
The Nigerian Army has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia as the Acting Director, Army Public Relations — the first woman to hold the position.
Anele, a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Her appointment takes effect from April 22, 2025.
Before this elevation, Lt. Col. Anele completed a six-month strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and was subsequently posted to the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
She has previously served as Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff. Until her new role, she was with the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the Tax Reform Bill would curb poverty and empower ordinary Nigerians.
Oyedele made this known at the Spokespersons’ Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja.
He expressed strong optimism about the sweeping changes the bill would bring, especially for the low-income earners and small businesses across the country.
The chairman said that key highlights of the reform included the exemption of low-income earners from paying the Personal Income Tax (PAYE) and the removal of VAT from basic essentials such as food, education, and healthcare.
Oyedele added that it included a zero per cent Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate for small businesses, adding that the bill had great benefits, especially for the masses, although it was welcomed with misconceptions and attacks.
He said, “This is because the issues of tax and taxation are not the most attractive to the ordinary persons because it is hard to part with your money.
“It is even harder when you part with your money and you cannot tell what exactly government is using it for that benefits you.”
Oyedele said the approach for the reform was to try and understand what the issues were and where the problems were coming from.
He added, “Then we will use data to engage with the people and design a solution for Nigeria that is made by Nigerians for the Nigerian people.
“That is exactly what we have done with the tax reform bill which is now nearing passage for the President to sign.”
According to Oyedele, the government is positive that as soon as implementation begins, Nigerians will see the real positive impact on their day-to-day living including low income earners being exempted from taxes.
“This is because, we want Nigerians to be able to create wealth and become successful, when they make it big time, then they will pay taxes, not the other way round.
“So, we believe that this message is resonating with the Nigerian people, it is still a long way to go but we are happy to continue with the journey,” he said.
Oyedele commended NIPR for putting the summit together and for discussing issues of government policies for the clearer understanding of Nigerians.
The President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the communication ecosystem should always be considered when formulating any government policy.
Neliaku said this was because the communicators have the gift of communicating even the most difficult policies to the people.
He added that they would look at such policies and guide strategic communication, adding, “which is the when,what,how where which it answers all those questions.
“So, when you say this is what we want to do,how best should we do it?it is the work of the experts and not quacks, those trained to come up with the strategies to communicate that.
“The tax reform is what this nation needs at this point but it was essentially misunderstood because of the way it was introduced and the mischief makers took advantage of that to do what they want.”
Neliaku said that was why NIPR and its partners in the communication ecosystem had promised to work with the government to develop a tax communication framework.
He said that it was also being done in the areas of climate action, Science communication and across many sectors to communicate reforms so that the child is not killed even before it is birthed.
He encouraged spokespersons to acquire knowledge, understand trends and issues in order to be effective and to speak well and informed.
Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogu, a Fellow of NIPR, said that there was need to view taxation with the gender lens, adding that there was need to make exemptions for women.
Ali-Balogun said that most women were bread winners these days as well as single mothers should enjoy tax exemption to empower them to provide for their families.
She commended NIPR for organising the summit, adding that it had broadened her horizon on national issues.(NAN)
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has further reduced the ex-gantry price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to N835 per litre.
According to sources at the refinery, the plant dropped the price of the petrol sold to oil marketers to N835 per litre, six days after the refinery reduced it to N865 per litre.
“The refinery reduced the price of the petrol to N835 per litre,” a source told TheCable.
The reduction in Dangote petrol price followed an announcement by the federal government on April 9, that the naira-for-crude oil deal will continue after the first phase ended on March 31.
“The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s continued commitment to the full implementation of this strategic initiative, as directed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC),” the finance ministry said.
“Thus, the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary or time-bound intervention, but a key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining, bolster energy security, and reduce reliance on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.”
On April 15, Farouk Ahmed, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said the estimated pump price of petrol in Nigeria is less than that of neighbouring countries in West Africa.
Ahmed also said Nigeria’s petrol importation reduced by 29.9 million litres in eight months due to increased contributions from local refineries.