NEWS
Tax Bills Debate Heats Up: Tinubu Orders Review To Address Concerns
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly to address concerns raised over the proposed Tax Reform Bills.
The bills, which aim to reshape Nigeria’s fiscal policies, have faced criticism from various quarters, particularly northern governors who claim the reforms could harm their region.
The reforms have been described by some critics as potentially impoverishing Nigerians and targeting the northern region.
However, the presidency has dismissed these allegations as unfounded.
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Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, assured Nigerians that the government is committed to transparency and fairness.
“The government has nothing sinister to warrant the suggestion that the process is being rushed. In line with the established legislative procedure, the Federal Government welcomes meaningful inputs that can address whatever grey areas there may be in the bills,” Idris said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that President Tinubu has mandated the Justice Ministry and relevant officials to work closely with the National Assembly to resolve any concerns before the bills are passed into law.
Idris lauded the public engagement on the issue, describing the debates as “commendable” and in line with democratic principles.
“It is very inspiring to see Nigerians from all walks of life coming out to express their views and opinions on these matters of critical national importance.
“In the spirit of democratic engagement, there should be no room for name-calling or the injection of unnecessary ethnic and regional slurs into this important national conversation.”
Addressing allegations that the bills are anti-north, Idris dismissed the claims as “fake news” and “misinformation.” He emphasized that the reforms are designed to benefit all Nigerians and would not marginalize any region.
“These fiscal reforms will not impoverish any state or region of the country, neither will they lead to the scrapping or weakening of any federal agencies,” he said.
The Tax Reform Bills were the focus of a recent town hall event hosted by Channels Television, where experts weighed in on the controversy.
Among the panelists were Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee; Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives; and Governor Sule Abdullahi of Nasarawa State.
Oyedele defended the bills, highlighting their potential to transform the country’s fiscal system.
“These bills have more than 200 transformative provisions to fix our country and set us on the right path to prosperity,” he said.
“We should not allow one or two provisions that we can easily discuss and agree on to become the pain or the bottleneck.”
Dogara urged critics, particularly from the northern region, to avoid politicizing the issue. “I want to talk to my brothers in the North. I don’t think this is the time for us to begin to condemn the president and to begin to say that on account of these bills, he is anti-north,” he said.
Despite calls for the bills to be withdrawn, the Senate has already passed them through a second reading.
Stakeholders hope that Tinubu’s directive for a review will ensure that all concerns are addressed and the final legislation promotes equitable economic reforms.
In a promising development for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, the Director General of the NYSC, announced that corps members will soon begin receiving an increased monthly allowance of N77,000.
The announcement was made during the commissioning of a new staff bus donated by Capital Express Insurance Company in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Ahmed stated, “Arrangements for the increased allowance have been finalised,” confirming that the new allowance would be rolled out by 2025.
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He reassured corps members that their welfare and security remain a top priority, emphasizing that they will receive all the benefits they deserve.
“By 2025, we will ensure that corps members enjoy all the benefits due to them,” Ahmed said.
This announcement comes as a response to concerns raised over the current monthly allowance of N33,000, which corps members have been receiving despite the signing of the new national minimum wage bill by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024.
The increase is expected to provide relief to many corps members who have been advocating for better compensation.
During the event, Ahmed also addressed the transportation challenges faced by both NYSC staff and corps members, noting the difficulties in commuting to and from their offices.
To ease these challenges, Capital Express Insurance Company donated a new staff bus to the NYSC.
Matthew Ogwezhi, CEO of Capital Express Insurance, highlighted the longstanding partnership between the company and the NYSC.
“This donation is part of our commitment to support the scheme, especially in light of the rising fuel and transportation costs in Abuja,” Ogwezhi said.
The new bus aims to alleviate some of the commuting difficulties faced by staff, ensuring smoother operations for the NYSC.
A tragic multiple-vehicle collision on Otedola Bridge in Lagos has claimed the life of one man and left three others injured.
The incident occurred on Tuesday during an operation by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to recover a fallen 40-foot container.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed the fatality, stating that two of the injured victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
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The accident involved four articulated trucks laden with containers, which collided on the bridge due to reckless driving.
The force of the crash caused the trucks to become wedged together.
“Upon arrival at the scene, we discovered that a multiple truck accident had occurred. One adult male was extricated from beneath the first truck, but he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The LASEMA chief revealed that the accident victims, three adult males, sustained varying degrees of injury.
Two of the seriously injured were administered on-the-spot medical care before being transported to the Accident and Emergency Centre.
The recovered body was handed over to the Federal Road Safety Corps for further action.
Oke-Osanyintolu assured the public that safety measures were implemented to prevent further incidents in the area, and the affected trucks were safely removed from the scene.
The road was subsequently cleared for traffic flow.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the cause of the collision.
The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has denied the bail applications of Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The court adjourned Naomi’s case until next week for further hearing.
The denial comes in connection with the tragic stampede that occurred during a children’s festive party at Islamic High School in December 2024. The incident claimed the lives of at least 35 children.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN, led the prosecution team, pleading for additional time to complete investigations. “The court did not grant the bail application of Naomi and the school principal because the Attorney General pleaded that the state should be given more time to investigate,” a source in the courtroom revealed.
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The hearing for the bail application of Oriyomi Hamzat, proprietor of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, who is also implicated in the case, has been scheduled for Tuesday.
Governor Seyi Makinde has insisted that those responsible for the stampede must face trial. However, he clarified that he is not opposed to the suspects being granted bail, stating, “The case must be heard regardless of the status of those involved.”
The case has drawn significant public attention, with some questioning why similar incidents in Abuja and Anambra did not lead to prosecutions. Despite the controversy, heavy security was deployed at the court to ensure proceedings went smoothly.
The trial, held in Court 8 at Ring Road, Ibadan, was presided over by Justice Olawoyin, with all lawyers from the Oyo State Ministry of Justice present to support the prosecution. The outcome of the case is eagerly awaited by millions of Nigerians.
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