The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Court declines request to stop Buhari from inaugurating ministers

    Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the request to restrain President Muhammadu Buhari from inaugurating the ministerial nominees recently cleared by the Senate.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a ruling on Monday, dismissed an ex-parte application file by a lawyer, Musa Baba-panya.

    Justice Taiwo said he will prefer to hear the substantive suit and give a formal judgment rather than granting interim restraining orders as sought by the plaintiff.

    The judge ordered the plaintiff to effect personal service of the originating and other processes so far filed in the case on the defendants and return for a date for hearing.

    The plaintiff’s contention is to the effect that the President’s non-nomination of an Abuja indigene as a ministerial nominee was a disobedience of a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal.

    Read Also: Buhari’s incoming cabinet concludes day one of Presidential Retreat

    Baba-Panya claimed that the Court of Appeal, in the judgment delivered on March 15, 2018 in Abuja, held among others, that Abuja possesses the status of a state and should be so treated.

    To the plaintiff, since the Constitution stipulates that every state of the federation should produce a minister, Abuja deserves to also be considered.

    President Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) are listed as defendants in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/878/19.

    Baba-panya, who said he is an indigene of Karu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  argued that the subsisting decision of the Court of Appeal contains a compelling order.

    He said the Court of Appeal has been  served on the President through the AGF, who did not take steps to appeal it.

    The plaintiff, in the substantive suit, wants the court to, among others, that ”the 43 confirmed ministerial appointees now awaiting swearing-in or inauguration as the Federal Executive Council is incomplete, illegal, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

    He is also praying the court to declare the 1st defendant (the President) stands in contempt of law and court for his brazen refusal to comply with the tenor of the Abuja Division of Court of Appeal’s judgment, compelling him to the immediate and forthwith appointment off an indigene of FCT, Abuja as minister of the federation.”

  • Nigeria’s population explosion frightening, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday described the country’s burgeoning population as “frightening.”

    He urged ministers-designates to join hands in finding solution to the worrisome trend.

    Speaking at the commencement of a two-day retreat for ministers-designate in Abuja yesterday, the president said: “By average estimates, our population is close to 200 million today. By 2050, UN (United Nations) estimates show that Nigeria will be third globally, behind only India and China with a projected population of 411 million.

    “This is a frightening prospect but only if we sit idly by and expect handouts from so-called development partners. The solution to our problems lies within us.”

    The 43-ministers-designate who will assume office tomorrow were also told by the president to chart a course for the country in the foreseeable future.

    At the session attended by permanent secretaries, the President urged the incoming Federal Executive Council members to reflect on the country’s position, comparing it to where it was in 2015.

    He gave a pass mark to his administration.

    Buhari said during the first term, his administration identified security of the country, improvement of the economy and anti-corruption fight as three areas for close attention and action.

    He added: “None but the most partisan will dispute that we have made headway in all three areas. First, we have rolled back the frontiers of terrorism; we are actively addressing other challenges such as kidnappings, farmer-herder violence, improving the safety of our roads, railways, air traffic and fire control capacities.

    “Second, we are steadily turning the economy round through investment in agriculture and manufacturing, shoring up our foreign reserves, curbing inflation and improving the country’s infrastructure.

    “Third, we have recovered hundreds of billions of stolen assets and are actively pursuing control measures to tackle leakages in public resources. We will not let up in fighting corruption.’’

    Read Also: Stakeholders urge Buhari to be guided in appointment of Health minister

    He told the ministers-in-waiting that he would rely on them, his advisers and Nigerians willing and able to contribute to the administration’s policies, programmes and projects to lift the bulk of the citizens out of poverty and set them on the road to prosperity.

    According to him, his administration would have laid the ground to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years at the expiration of his eight-year tenure in 2023.

    “This outcome will fundamentally shift Nigeria’s trajectory and place us among the world’s great nations,’’ he said.

    He told them that as ministers, they would be responsible for the development and implementation of policies, programmes and projects in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in line with government priorities.

    Buhari said that the ministers must also ensure that agencies under their ministries are effective, efficient and accountable in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    He said: “Honourable Ministers-designate, we must work as a team. Although you have been chosen to represent your states as a constitutional imperative, it is vital for all of you to work as Nigerians.

    “Also, working as a team demands that we know what the next person is doing. You must open communications with your colleagues. Lack of communication leads to lack of cooperation and sub-optimal performance.

    “Finally, although this is called a retreat, I would like to think this is a preparation for an advance to the next level.”

    Buhari said: “I congratulate all the new-comers who the country has chosen above others to join the first-term ministers whose performance has been outstanding. All of you are appointed to assist and advise the president in running the affairs of our country.

    “At the end of the retreat, it is hoped that all of you will be in tune with the roles and responsibilities of positions you will occupy in government. Many national issues require unified decisions.

    “It is a great privilege for you to be called upon to serve in these great offices of the state and you must grasp the chance with two hands and put in your best efforts as Nigeria today needs top managers to handle our numerous challenges.

    “There will be long hours and you must be prepared to live laborious days if we are to serve our people optimally.’’

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said the presidential retreat was meant to be in sync with the policy direction of government, and contribute to the attainment of the next level goals.

    Mustapha said: “The objective of this retreat is to prepare the new cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second tenure, having been chosen to drive and coordinate the affairs and activities of the various socio-economic and political spheres of our nation.”

  • ‘FIRS boss not under probe’

    Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Babatunde Fowler is not under probe, the Presidency said on Monday.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu in a statement said: “Following reports making the rounds in some media outlets, it is necessary to state categorically that the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, is not under any investigation.

    “The letter from the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, on which the purported rumour of an investigation is based, merely raises concerns over the negative run of the tax revenue collection in recent times.”

    Read Also: FIRS: PDP accuses APC, Presidency of complicity

    Shehu also added that “Taking a cue from today’s (Monday) presentation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Retreat for Ministers-Designate, Federal Permanent Secretaries and Top Government Functionaries, which dwelt on an ‘Overview of the Policies , Programmes and Project Audit Committee,’ a body he chaired,  projected revenue of government  falls behind recurrent expenditure even without having factored in capital expenditure.

    “Consequently, it would appear that the country might be heading for a fiscal crisis if urgent steps are not taken to halt the negative trends in target setting and target realisation in tax revenue.

    “Anyone conversant with Federal Executive Council deliberations would have observed that issues bordering on revenue form the number one concern of what Nigeria faces today, and therefore, often take a prime place in discussions of the body.” he said

    He said it was noteworthy and highly commendable that the number of taxable adults has increased from 10 million to 20 million under Buhari’s administration.

    He said concerted efforts are still on-going to bring a lot more into the tax net.

  • More items to be blocked from forex, says CBN governor

    Importers of more items are to be denied access to foreign exchange (forex) from government institutions and banking industry, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, said on Monday.

    According to him, the apex bank will not go back on President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to block food importers form having access to forex on regulated platforms.

    Speaking with State House reporters at the retreat for ministers-designate at the Presidential Villa, Emefiele said also Nigeria would move to get stay of action against the $9 billion judgement.

    A British court had ruled on Friday that an engineering and project management company, Process and Industrial Developments Ltd., has the right to seize $9 billion in Nigerian assets.

    The ruling by Justice Butcher bordered on a 2010 contract Nigeria signed with P&ID, to the intent that the latter would build a state-of-the-art gas processing plant to refine natural gas (“wet gas”) into “lean gas” that Nigeria would receive free of charge to power its national electric grid.

    Emefiele said: “Let me say this, Mr. President’s comment on the issuing of forex to people who import food items into the country, is in the logic of CBN’s management foreign exchange policies that we started since 2016.

    “If you recall, we started with about 41 items (food and non-food items), because we believe that those items can be produced in the country. As we stand today, there are about 43 items on that list and I will say substantially most of them are food items.

    “We are basically saying, if we have a food item that can be produced in the country. Why should we waste scarce foreign exchange importing those items into the country, when those can be produced in the country?

    Read Also: CBN’s report: AMCON N3.8tr Bonds mature 2023

    “It is important for me to say that, the attempt to misrepresent the comments of Mr. President is very unfair and unfortunate. But, what we will say from the CBN is that Mr. President has made this comment purely to strengthen the position of the CBN, to say that he believes in what the CBN has been doing since 2016 and there is need for us to reinforce that going forward.

    “I will say that to be honest, we would aggressively go more into the list of items that are being imported into the country, items that can be produced in Nigeria.

    “I will like to stress that we would ensure that more of these items will get on the list of items that are going to be restricted from accessing foreign exchange in Nigerian banking industry not just from the CBN source.

    “Because, I have heard some comments that maybe it’s about the CBN’s source, it is not the CBN’s source, we are saying you will not be able to access foreign exchange from the Nigerian banking industry because it is important for us to produce these items in Nigeria and we will follow through on them.”

    Stressing that there would be no amendment to this policy, he said: “There will never be an amendment because the issue is this, why should we be exporting jobs to other countries? Today we are complaining that there is a high rate of unemployment, leading to some extent the level of insecurity in the country, why should we allow people to import food that can be produced in the country?

    “We need to improve wealth in our rural communities and I am saying we will not change course, we will even be more aggressive on this programme.”

    Asked if the President’s directive would not affect the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA ) agreement Nigeria just subscribed to, he said: “It will not affect the content of the AfCFTA. In any case, the AfCFTA is an agreement that is ongoing; the terms of engagement are still being discussed and negotiated.

    “The important thing is that Nigeria needs to stand as the largest economy in Africa and the largest populated countries in Africa, we need to stand and dictate the terms under which we want to be in it and this is what we are staying.  But what I am saying is that it is wrong, it is inappropriate that an item that can be produced in Nigeria should be imported into Nigeria.

    “When we get into the AfCFTA issues we will also look at the details of it, but at this time we are saying we need to create jobs for our country, for the youths and we need to create jobs, we yearn for growth and the only way we can really accelerate growth in a Nigeria between now and next four years is to see to it that items that can be produced in Nigeria are indeed produced in Nigeria rather than being imported into the country.”

    On the $9 billion judgement on debt, the apex bank chief said: “I am not scared at all and I think it is also important that this question has come up. Since the news about the judgement broke out late on Friday, we have been discussing with our counsels, and they have advised that there are sufficient and strong grounds on the basis of which we could file a stay of execution and also an appeal against that judgement.

    “There are certain anomalies in the process leading to the award of that contract which is currently being looked into by the EFCC and I believe that the EFCC themselves have their own investigation reports about that.

    “So, we will follow through and aggressively too on ensuring that the execution of that judgement is stayed and that the appeal succeeds at every level both within Nigeria and abroad.

    “It is important for me to use this opportunity to assure our friends, local and foreign investors who called to express solidarity with us, not to express concern but to say that there is no need for anybody to worry. We know that the implication of that judgement has some impact on monetary policy and that is why the CBN is going to step forward and very strongly too to ensure that we defend the country and defend the reserves of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    Asked why he was at the retreat for ministers, he said “Yes, I am not one of the ministers but as one of the senior government officials in the area of policy making, we have also been invited to come and join the ministers designate in listening to Mr. President about the policy trust for the next four years.

    “I think this is a very brilliant initiative because what it will do is that it will set the focus, everybody will know what the assignments and responsibilities will be in specific terms between now and the next four years.

    “I am here because as a member of the monetary policy authority, it is part of the attempts for collaboration between the monetary and fiscal authorities in Nigeria.”

    On the impact he would make at the event, Emefiele said: “Mine is just to listen and see who what we are doing at the CBN’s monetary policy side, is in tandem with what the fiscal authorities are also coming up with. But I know certainly there are because all we are saying is that Nigeria yearns for growth, for improved level of employment in this country and I know at the end of this programme, everybody will be on board to say we must reduce the level of unemployment in Nigeria, we must grow this country and must increase productivity and output in Nigeria.”

  • Oyo-Ita absent at presidential retreat

    The embattled Head of Service of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, was absent at the opening of the 2019 Presidential Retreat for ministers-designate and top government officials.

    She was expected to lead the permanent secretaries who were at the retreat. It was declared open by President Muhammed Buhari.

    Mrs. Oyo-Ita was grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last week Tuesday over alleged N3b fraud.

    Read Also: EFCC gets more facts on Oyo-Ita N3billion ‘fraud’

    The HoCSF was listed in the programme of the retreat as one of the resource persons.

    She was billed to sit with the President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno.

    Also on the high table were Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Idris Wase and All Progressives Congress Chairman (APC) Adams Oshiomhole.

    Mrs. Oyo-Ita is scheduled to speak by 11.10am today on “Consolidating ongoing reforms in the public service”.

  • 18 years after soldier’s invasion, Fed Govt to pay Benue communities N8b

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Federal Government to pay Tiv communities in Benue State N8billion compensation over an invasion by soldiers in 2001.

    It directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to deduct the money from Nigerian Army’s accounts and pay the affected communities for their losses.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, made absolute an earlier garnishee nisi granted in the communities’ favour.

    They had initiated garnishee proceedings to enforce a consent judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal in Enugu on February 2, 2015.

    A garnishee proceeding is one in which a creditor asks the court to order a third party (such as a bank) to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor’s monies held by the third party.

    The communities are spread across Logo, Ukum, Kwande and Katsina-Ala local government areas.

    Justice Ekwo declared that nothing was standing as impediment to the payment of the N8billion since the respondents consented to it at the Court of Appeal.

    Justice Ekwo noted that there “was a clear and unambiguous expression and readiness of the judgment-debtors to pay the sum agreed therein to the ganishors”.

    Read Also: Federal Government eyes 45million tax net

    He added: “Upon studying the averments in the six-paragraph affidavit to show cause deposed to on March 28, 2017 by one Huseini Sani Kagai, and three-paragraph further affidavit showing cause deposed to on May 8, 2017, by the same Huseini Sani Kagai, I am unable to see any contrary issue or impediment established by the garnishee that would constitute a cause shown by the garnishee why the order nisi ought not to be made absolute and I so hold.”

    Dr. Alexander Gaadi, Peter Orngu, Terfa Akaagba, Anongo Unishigh, Ngunengen Adula, Demelu Adula, Zaki Mazan, Mbakesen Ayatse, Mbayemen Maswuan, Anande Agashia, Azenda Igo, Elizabeth Aoughakaa and Andrew Juntu filed the suit on the communities’ behalf.

    They initially filed two suits at the Federal High Court in Markurdi, which were consolidated and transferred to the court’s Enugu division.

    Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Minister of Defence, Chief of Army Staff and the Attorney-General of the Federation were the respondents.

    The plaintiffs claimed that the Army was used against the Tiv race under the pretext of settling communal conflicts.

    They prayed the court to declare the invasion as genocidal, and the soldiers’ continued occupation of their communities as unconstitutional.

    In one of the suits, the plaintiffs sought N60billion damages against the defendants for “brutally” “terminating the lives” of their parents, daughters and brothers.

    They said the defendants “permanently deprived” some of them of their body parts and subjected them “to mental and psychological pains and anguish.”

    In the second suit, they demanded about N32billion as damages, a public apology, among other reliefs.

    Justice A. L. Allagoa delivered judgment on July 5, 2007 and awarded N10billion to the plaintiffs.

    The respondents, who did not file a defence, appealed, but later agreed to a reduced award of N8billion, which was entered as consent judgment.

  • Ekweremadu: I’ve forgiven my attackers

    Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on Monday said he has forgiven those who attacked him in Germany.

    Speaking with journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on arrival, he said those who attacked him were drunk.

    “I had a feeling that they were under the influence of alcohol and drugs. They did not represent the feelings of our people. I have forgiven them and I have moved on,” the Senator said.

    He added, however, that the German government was free “to do whatever they want to do about the case.”

    Read Also: Anger over IPOB’s attack on Ekweremadu

    Ekweremadu said his attackers wanted answers on his role in the military operation (Operation Python Dance) in the Southeast, which was launched to quell secessionist protests by Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) members.

    He said he went to greet people at the venue when he was approached.

    “A group of young people with IPOB emblem and shirts were also standing there. One of them then accosted me and said that we didn’t do much when the Federal Government declared Operation Python Dance in the South-East.

    “They asked me to address them on the issue right there but I told them that it was part of the issues I would address when I speak during the programme, but they said No! They became agitated and started attacking me immediately.”

  • Anger over IPOB’s attack on Ekweremadu

    More condemnation on Monday trailed the attack on former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu by suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Germany.

    He was to give a keynote address at the Second Annual Igbo Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo in Nuremberg, Germany, on Saturday.

    IPOB claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on Sunday, saying it ordered its members in 100 countries to attack Igbo leaders when they see them.

    Its spokesman Emma Powerful said: “In keeping with the long-standing directive from our leader to hound all instigators of Operation Python Dance, IPOB is glad to report that Ike Ekweremadu was confronted and duly hounded out of a so-called New Yam Festival event in Germany.”

    Reacting to the attack, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to apologise to Nigerians for supporting IPOB.

    APC National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu described PDP’s reaction to the attack as hypocritical.

    The statement reads: “The APC strongly condemns the attack on Senator Ike Ekweremadu…by members of the outlawed IPOB.

    “Those involved in the despicable actions and the organisation they represent are unworthy in character.

    “No Nigerian should be assaulted in the manner Senator Ekweremadu was. It is an indecent action and it is below the acceptable standard of behaviour expected of our citizens, whether in Nigeria or abroad.

    Read Also: Ekweremadu’s Nuremberg trial

    “It is, however, regrettable that some of the people and organisations that had offered these irresponsible elements open support in the past are raising their voices now.

    “It would be recalled that the main opposition party, the PDP and its leaders, chose to play politics over a matter that called for collective patriotic actions when IPOB raised a terror group in the Southeast. It is clear that PDP and its other short-sighted co-travellers who were the main cheerleaders of IPOB owe this country an apology.”

    Southeast Governors’ Forum Chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi said that the problem with the members of the IPOB is illiteracy.

    He said that majority of them were suffering from illiteracy and needed to be enrolled in school.

    Umahi made this known while addressing stakeholders of the state during the flag off/ launch of Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA, that took place at Akanu Ibiam international conference centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital.

    He said: “We have 13.5 percent dropout of school children in Nigeria, this is very dangerous. For me, education is everything. Education is health, education is security.

    “Those that attacked him were not medical doctors or engineers or lawyers or chief executives of parastatals or industries.

    “Even if they were least educated people of IPOB members, they wouldn’t do what they did. And so, it is lack of education.”

    The Senate committee chairman on sports, Senator Obinna Ogba representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial zone, has tasked the German police authorities to prosecute the attackers of Ekweremadu to avert further occurrence.

    “What happened was a serious security threat to Igbo leaders and must not be treated with kid glove.

    “It was a national embarrassment and the miscrants must not be allowed to go unpunised” he said.

    Also, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, Secretary General, Okwu Nnabuike, said its investigation showed that the action of the IPOB members and their pay masters was all about the 2023 elections.

    “It is a slap on our face for anyone to visit such animalistic treatment on him under whatever guise,” he said.

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations Fidelis Soriwei, described the attack as regrettable, uncivilised and unfortunate.

    He said the former Deputy Senate President deserved respect rather than humiliation, adding that the attack was an assault on “our collective ideals”.

    He described Ekweremadu as a leader with great understanding and unflinching commitment to good of the Southeast.

    The statement reads: “The attack…was shocking and condemnable and I join Nigerians of good conscience to condemn it.

    “As a leader, Ekweremadu has shown great understanding of the issues affecting the Southeast and has been consistent in the pursuit of the interest of the Southeast.”

    This is as Ekweremadu’s kinsmen, under the aegis of the Enugu West Peoples Parliament, called for thorough investigation, arrest and prosecution of those who attacked the senator.

    At a briefing, they demanded an explanation by the Festival’s organisers as to why adequate security was not provided for guests.

  • FIRS boss Fowler blames economy for low tax cash

    The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Babatunde Fowler, yesterday said the nation’s tax cash grew from N12, 190.52trillion between 2012 and 2014 to N16, 771.78 trillion from 2016 to 2018.

    He said the growth represented an increase of 37. 58 per cent.

    He also insisted that he had grown the tax returns from the Non-Oil Sector by N1, 304.20trillion (21 per cent) from 2016 and 2018.

    He said the strategies put in place by the FIRS boosted the Value Added Tax (VAT) during the period 2015-2017, which  led to approximately 40 per cent increase over 2012-2014 collections.

    He said the poor shape of the economy accounted for a drop in the nation’s tax revenue.

    He insisted that he had performed well within the mandate given to him by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    It was learnt that there was disquiet in the Presidency over Chief of Staff to President Abba Kyari’s query to Fowler because he was allegedly not directed by the President to do so.

    Fowler made these clarifications in an August 19, 2019 response to the query.

    He said: “I refer to your letter dated 8‘” August, 2019 on the above subject matter and hereby submit a comprehensive variance analysis between budgeted and actual collections for each main tax item for the period 2012-2018 as requested (see appendix 1).

    “Your letter stated that actual collections for a 3-year period were significantly worse than what was collected between 2012 and 2014. Total actual collection for the said period was N14, 527.85 trillion, while total actual collection between 2016 and 2018 was N12, 656.30trillion.

    Read Also: ‘Buhari must fix economy this time’

    “The highlight of these collection figures was that during the period 2012 to 2014, out of the N14, 527.85 trillion, oil revenue accounted for N8, 321.64 trillion or 57.28% while non-oil accounted for N6, 206.22 trillion or 42.72% and during the later period of 2016 to 2018 out of the N12, 656.30 trillion, oil revenue accounted for N5, 145.87 trillion or 40.65% and non-oil revenue accounted N7, 510.42 trillion or 59.35%.

    “FIRS management has control of non-oil revenue collection figures while oil revenue collection figures are subject to more external forces as highlighted below.

    “From the above, the non-oil revenue collection grew by N1, 304 20 trillion or 21% within the period 2016 to 2018. Kindly note that the total budget collection figure during 2012 to 2014 stood at N12, 190 52 trillion compared to N16, 771.78 trillion for the period 2016 to 2018 which represent an increase of 37.58% “

    Fowler gave the details of how the economic recession and drop in oil production accounted for the variance in the budgeted and actual revenue collection.

    He added: “Please note that the variance in the budgeted and actual revenue collection performance of the Service for the period 2016 to 2018 was mainly attributed to the following reasons:

    “The low inflow of oil revenues for the period especially Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) was due to fall in price of crude oil and reduction of crude oil production. Notwithstanding government efforts to diversify the economy, oil revenues remains an important component of total revenues accruable to the Federation.

    “The price of crude oil fell from an average of $113.72, $110.98 and $100.40 per barrel in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to $52.65, $43.80 and $54.08 per barrel in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

    “There was also a reduction in crude oil production from 2.31mbpd, 2.18mbpd and 2.20mbpd in 2012, 2013 and 2014 to 2,12mbpd, 1.81mbpd and 1.88mbpd in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

    “The Nigerian economy also went into recession in the second quarter of 2016 which slowed down general economic activities.  Tax revenue collection (CIT and VAT) being a function of economic activities were negatively affected but actual collection of the above two taxes were still higher in 2016 than in 2012 to 2014.

    “During the years 2012,  2013 and 2014, GDP grew by 4.3%, 5.4% and 6.3% while in 2015, 2016 and 2017, there was  a decline in growth to 2.7%, -1.6% and 1.9% respectively. The tax revenue grew as the economy recovered in the second quarter of 2017.”

    The FIRS chairman said the agency had increased the revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) from  2015 to 2017, which  led to approximately 40%  increase over 2012-2014 collections.

    He said: “It is worthy of note that  strategies and initiatives adopted in collection of VAT during the period 2015-2017 led to approximately 40%  increase over 2012-2014 collections

    “In 2014, the VAT collected was N802billion, compared to N1.1trillion in 2018. The increase is attributable to various initiatives such as ICT innovations, continuous taxpayer education, tax enlightenment, etc. embarked upon by the Service.

    “Furthermore, it is pertinent to note that when this administration came on board in August 2015, the target for the two major non-oil taxes were increased by 52% for VAT and 45% for CIT. Notwithstanding the increase, FIRS has in line with the Federal Government’s revenue base diversification strategy has grown the non-oil tax collection by over N1.304trillion (21%) when the total non-oil tax collection for 2016-2018 is compared to that of 2012-2014.

    “I am confident that our current strategies and initiatives will improve revenue collections and meet the expectations of government.”

    .A source in government said: “The Chief of Staff acted on his own without any directive from the President. If you look at the tone of the query, there was nowhere he said ‘I am directed’. This was why the Presidency came out to clarify that Fowler is not under investigation.

    “The position of the government is that such observations on revenue are not within the purview of Kyari, whose portfolio is unconstitutional. It is the business of the National Assembly to raise such a query.”

  • EFCC gets more facts on Oyo-Ita N3billion ‘fraud’

    More vouchers on the alleged N3 billion contract scam linked to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, have been retrieved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigators.

    There were indications last night that Mrs. Oyo-Ita may face trial along with a former minister and some civil servants linked to some phony contracts.

    It was learnt that she has been under intense pressure to quit through voluntary retirement.

    Although rumours were rife in Abuja yesterday that the embattled HoCSF had opted to retire by serving a notice, the Presidency said it had not received any such letter.

    The only memo sighted by one of our correspondents was Mrs. Oyo-Ita’s notice of days off work from August 14 to August 19.

    Mrs. Oyo-Ita did not report at work on Monday, and was absent at the presidential retreat organised for ministers-designate in Abuja.

    Investigation by The Nation revealed that additional contract papers and payment vouchers were retrieved from two more ministries by EFCC detectives.

    It was also learnt that some permanent secretaries and directors have confirmed their readiness to testify against Mrs. Oyo-Ita.

    Read Also: N3bn fraud allegation: Group gives Oyo-Ita 72 hours to resign or face mass protest

    Preliminary investigations indicated that “if Mrs. Oyo-Ita refuses to appear for further interrogation, there is enough evidence to put her on trial.”

    It was gathered that she might be prosecuted along with a former minister, who had earlier been interrogated by the EFCC and some officials involved in the alleged contract scandal.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Our detectives have received more contract papers and payment vouchers, statements from banks and account profiles.

    “Certainly, we have more questions to ask from Oyo-Ita whose recovery we are monitoring. We need more sessions with her in the light of revelations from some permanent secretaries and directors of finance from some ministries.”

    The source added: “With our investigation in the last eight to 10 months, we have appreciable evidence to put her on trial with a former minister and some top government officials and companies.

    “We hope she will help the cause of justice by returning to the EFCC for further interrogation. She is on administrative bail, but her passports are already seized.”

    It was learnt that Mrs. Oyo-Ita was under pressure to quit office by proceeding on voluntary retirement.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a text message, said the Presidency was not in possession of any letter of intent from the HoCSF to retire from service.

    “Thanks. We have no such letter here, in the event that such a letter exists. This is our position,” he said.

    A top civil servant, however said: “Shehu might be right with his response on Monday but the letter might be undergoing routine bureaucratic procedures.

    “The truth is that she has been advised by her associates, relations and colleagues in the civil service to quit in order to clear her name.

    “Some political bigwigs who have interceded on her behalf also advised her to step aside. I think she might have weighed her options by now. This explains why the speculation of her retirement was rife.”

    The Office of the HoCSF yesterday denied receiving any directive from any permanent secretary on the allegation that Mrs. Oyo-Ita had either retired or resigned.

    The spokesperson for HoCSF, Mrs. Omowumi Ogunmosile, said: “I have not been briefed by any senior officer or received any official information that the HOCSF has resigned. I have been getting calls from the media. When I asked how they got the information, they said through Mrs. Oyo-Ita’s relatives.

    “The only circular I have received from madam’s office is a circular informing the office that she was indisposed and won’t be available in the office from the 14th to 19th of August. That was all. I think by today she should be at the retreat for incoming ministers.”