The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • States jack up IGR by 300bn

    State governments generated N1.16 trillion in 2018 from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS) has disclosed.

    A statement from the FIRS on Thursday said the Chairman, Joint Tax Board, (JTB) and Executive Chairman of FIRS Tunde Fowler made the disclosure in Ilorin at the North Regional launching of the New Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Registration System and consolidated national tax database programme.

    According to him “The states have recorded a leap in their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N800 billion in 2016 to N1.16 trillion in 2018 some 46.11 percent under four years.”

    The statement also said that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Internal Revenue Services (IRS), in its first full year of autonomous operations, is comfortably placed as the fourth highest sub-national revenue generating agency in 2018 behind Lagos, Rivers and Ogun States.

    It was also stated that “Nigeria’s tax database has increased from 10 million to 20 million, with a target of 45 million taxpayers nationwide by December 2016.

    Fowler noted that the new system adopted by the tax authorities provides immense benefits to the taxpayers.”

    According to Fowler: “The consolidated database apart from providing a unique identity to the taxpayer also facilitates ease of compliance.

    “It limits the incidence of double taxation and is a prerequisite for a number of transactions such as sale and purchase of immovable property, registration of vehicles, applications for plot of land, import and export licence, registration as a contractor, entry visas among others. Ultimately, the system promotes the ease of doing business for both individuals and corporate bodies.”

    Read Also: NASS queries decrease in FIRS’ 2019 proposed non-oil revenue tax collection

    Fowler noted that the JTB under him is not doing badly at the level of promoting the nation’s business and financial health.

    Fowler listed the achievements of the JTB under his tenure to include the following:

    # The expansion of the tax base from 10 million to 20 million taxpayers with the potential for an increase of up to 45 million before the end of the third quarter of 2019; A growth in the IGR of States by over 46.11% from N800.02 billion in 2016 to N1.16 trillion in 2018; A growth of FIRS collections by 53.81% from N3.30 trillion in 2016 to N5.32 trillion in 2018; with the 2018 total collection of N5.32 trillion being the highest collection ever in the history of the FIRS, while Non-Oil Revenue, with a collection of N2.85 trillion accounted for 53.63% of total revenue collection;

    # Payment by the Federal Government of the total sum of N135.8 billion representing all outstanding PAYE tax liabilities owed by Federal MDAs to States from 2002 to 2016; with a total of N31.08 billion paid to the States in the North-Central Geopolitical Zone. We are confident that this gesture by the Federal Government will encourage State Governments to also reciprocate and promptly remit all Withholding Taxes and VAT due to the Federation Account;

    #. A positive movement during the same period by Nigeria up 25 points in the Tax Administration Section of World Bank ‘Ease of Doing Business’. This positive progression is also reinforced by the recent listing of Nigeria as one of the ‘top 20 improvers in Doing Business for the year 2020’ by the World Bank. We expect that more positive country reports will be released by the time the full report by the World Bank is released in October 24th, 2019.

    In the case of Kwara state, Fowler noted that “having achieved a 221% increase in its collection, from N7.1 billion in 2015 at the time of attaining its autonomous status, to N23 billion in 2018, Kwara State IRS has come to be a benchmark for revenue authorities, not just within the North Central region, but nationwide as well. It is also worthy of note that KWIRS is also the only State Revenue Agency in the country to have been ISO certified, with the ISO 9001 for Quality Management System and ISO/IEC 22301 for Business Continuity Management System.”

    The New TIN Registration System is geared towards reinforcing the laudable efforts of government towards building a robust tax-revenue administration system for the country and it aims to improve the ease of tax compliance while ensuring a sustainable and inclusive economy for all Nigerians.

  • FG to monitor activities of NGOs in North/East

    The federal government will henceforth monitor and evaluate activities of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the North/East to ensure compliance among them.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq declared this during a media parley in respect of the suspension of activities of two humanitarian organisations, Action Against Hunger and Mercy Call in the North East by the Army.

    According to the Minister: “The suspension which is temporary is to enable the government carry out a review with a view to delivering better services to the IDPs. Much as their humanitarian engagements are cherished by the government they must be at the same time streamlined to be in line with our security needs and requirements.

    Read Also: UNDP releases $30m to Nigeria for humanitarian crisis in North East

    “The Nigerian Army has in the last couple of years contributed significantly to securing and maintaining peace in the North Eastern Region of Nigeria, this service to the nation has often times come with great sacrifice to the military including officers and men paying the ultimate price to ensure the peace and unity of Nigeria.

    “Humanitarian actors have in the last couple of years worked with the Nigerian government in providing nutrition, health, food, security and livelihood programmes in Borno, Yobe and Jigawa states. The government and people of Nigeria are grateful for the many interventions which have gone a long way to alleviate the suffering of victims of disaster and humanitarian emergencies in the North East”.
    Sadiya said it is heart-warming to note the Army’s recognition of the contribution of the two NGOs, stating they are key drivers of activities that promote social and political change on a broad scale.

  • Buhari greets Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade at 80

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to former Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade, on his 80th birthday.

    He saluted his steadfastness, courage and unwavering patriotism to serve the country.
    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined family members, friends and all professional colleagues in celebrating the gallant military officer who steadily grew in his career, reaching the peak at a young age and consistently projected virtues that endeared him to many at local and international levels.

    Read Also: Buhari mourns former SGF, Ufot Ekaette

    The President affirmed that Lt. Gen. Akinrinade rose to the occasion at crucial moments in the nation’s history by accepting to serve after retirement as Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development, Minister of Industries and Minister of Transport, leaving behind strong legacies of visionary leadership.

    Buhari extolled the courage and forthrightness of the former minister in standing for the truth at all times and putting the interest of the nation first, which saw him fighting for return to democracy with the National Democratic Coalition as well as working with governments and institutions to entrench democratic culture and values.

    As the former minister and elder statesman turns 80, the President acknowledged his contribution to his initial constituency, military, and the nation, praying that the almighty God will grant him longer life and good health to keep sharing his experience and wisdom.

  • We’re working hard to rescue abducted school girls – Kaduna govt

    Kaduna State Government has assured that every effort was being exerted to free the six abducted students and staff of Engravers College, Kakau Daji in Chikun Local Government Area of the State.

    Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, gave the assurance in a statement on Thursday.

    He said the state government condemned the action he described as despicable and most unfortunate intrusion of crime into the life of young students and the staff teaching them.

    Read Also: Oyo, Lagos, Kaduna top 2.2m qualified teachers’ list

    According to him: “Governor Nasir El-Rufai has despatched a government delegation to sympathies with the school community and assure them that security agencies are working to rescue the abducted persons.

    “The state government delegation was led by Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs.

    “Accompanied by security agencies, the commissioner spoke to parents and staff of the school and assured them that every effort will be exerted to free the abductees and punish this brazen crime.

    “The school management and the parents of the students will be given updates as appropriate.”

  • Estimated billing, biggest fraud ever, says Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said on Thursday that Nigeria remain the only country in the world where electricity consumers are made to pay bills through estimated billing, a situation he described as shameful.

    The Speaker said the process of estimated billing being used by electricity distribution companies in the country was the biggest fraud ever in the history of the country.

    The Speaker was leading the debate at the sitting of the committee of the whole on a bill to amend the electricity power sector reform act 2005 to prohibit and criminalise estimated billing by electricity distribution companies and provide for compulsory installation o pre-paid meters to al power consumers in the country.

    The bill, he said was first introduced during the 8th assembly which passed it unanimously, but was not signed into law, adding that a situation where electricity distribution companies willfully allocate bills to consumers should not be condoned.

    He said that the estimated billing system was not supported by any scientific or arithmetic calculation but whimsically done by the companies to suit their own purpose at the expense of the Nigerian people.

    According to him, many Nigerians have constantly complain of activities of distribution companies in allocating figure to them in the name of estimated billings, adding that this action affects all categories of Nigerians irrespective of status or social standing in the country.

    He describe estimated billing as the biggest fraud ever to be carried out in the country, adding that the excuse of the distribution companies has always been that there are no pre-paid meters for customers.

    The Speaker said “when they undertake to embark on the exercise, you agreed to provide meters. But today, the story is different and Nigerians are suffering from the inefficiency of these distribution companies”.

    He appealed to the House to support the bill and ensure its expeditious passage.

  • Edo, SAP train 1,700 teachers on coding, web programming

    The Edo State Government in partnership German tech giant, SAP and Coder In Africa (Coderina), has commenced training of over 1,700 public school teachers on coding and web programming.

    The training is part of workshops across Africa to mark the Africa Code Week. It is also in line with Edo state government’s efforts to leverage Information Communication Technology (ICT), to boost digital literacy skills for secondary school teachers and students across the state.

    Executive Director, Edo State Information and Communication Technology (ICTA), Yuwa Naps, said the trainers’ course is organised by the state’s Post Primary Education Board.

    Naps added that the over 1700 teachers being trained will transfer the knowledge and skill to about 250,000 students across the state.

    Read Also: Higher education budget panacea for underdevelopment’

    Head of Training Unit, Edo Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Mrs Amen Ajayi, said “the session is aimed at training teachers on Programming Language (Scratch). They will cascade the skills acquired to students across different schools in state.”

    The training programme will hold simultaneously at the Edo ICTA Training Center in Benin City and the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen Computer Based Test Center, in Usen, Ovia South-West Local Government Area.

    Executive Director, Code In Africa, Mr Akinniyi Obaide, said the training will adequately equip students through their teachers with problem-solving skills, adding “the training will enable the children acquire basic coding skills, which they can leverage to build careers in technology in the near future.”

    PHOTO CAPTION:

    Head of Training Unit, Edo State Information and Communication Technology (ICTA), Mrs Amen Ajayi (5th right); Executive Director, Coder In Africa (Coderina), Mr Akinniyi Obaide (6th right), with participants, at the flag-off of the training of over 1,700 teachers on coding and web programming, holding at the Edo ICTA Training Center in Benin City, Edo State.

  • SERAP gets nod to compel CCB to publish asset declarations of President, Governors

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted leave to a the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), to publish asset declarations of successive presidents and state governors since 1999.

    Justice Muslim Hassan made the order after hearing SERAP’s ex parte motion argued by its counsel, Adelanke Aremo.

    Justice Hassan held: “Going through the application filed by SERAP, supported by a 14-paragraph affidavit, with supporting exhibits, statements setting out the facts, verifying affidavits and written address in support, I am satisfied that leave ought to be granted in this case, and I hereby grant the motion for leave.”

    SERAP’s action, designated FHC/L/CS/1019/2019, followed the CCB’s that it could not disclose details of asset declarations submitted to it by successive presidents and state governors since 1999 because doing so “would offend the right to privacy of presidents and state governors.”

    In the suit, SERAP is applying for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus directing and compelling the CCB to disclose details of asset declarations of all presidents and state governors since 1999.

    The suit reads in part: “Asset declarations of presidents and state governors submitted to the CCB are public documents.

    “Public interest in disclosure of the details of asset declarations sought by SERAP clearly outweighs any claim of protection of the privacy of presidents and state governors, as they are public officers entrusted with the duty to manage public funds, among other public functions.

    “A necessary implication of the rule of law is that a public institution like the CCB can only act in accordance with the law, as to do otherwise may enthrone arbitrariness.

    “The CCB does not have reasonable grounds on which to deny SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FOI) request, as it is in the interest of justice, the Nigerian public, transparency and accountability to publish details of asset declarations by presidents and state governors since the return of democracy in 1999.

    “Disclosing details of asset declarations of public officers such as presidents and state governors would improve public trust in the ability of the CCB to effectively discharge its mandate. This would in turn put pressure on public officers like presidents and state governors to make voluntary public declaration of their assets.

    “The right to receive information without any interference or distortion should be based on the principle of maximum disclosure, and a presumption that all information is accessible subject only to a narrow system of exceptions.

    Read Also: 116,623 cases pending in Federal High Courts, says CJ

    “It is a settled principle of law that details such as asset declarations of presidents and governors should be disclosed if there is an overriding public interest in having access to such information, which is clearly so in this matter.”

    The rights group argued that democracy cannot flourish “if governments operate in secrecy, no matter how much open discussion and debate is allowed.

    “The very nature and quality of public discussion would be significantly impoverished without the nourishment of information from public authorities such as the CCB, and to guarantee freedom of expression without including the right to know would be a formal exercise.”

    It further averred that the CCB has “an obligation to proactively keep, organize and maintain all information or records about their operations, personnel, activities and other relevant or related information or records in a manner that facilitates public access to such information or record.

    “Given that many public officers being tried for or convicted of corruption are found to have made a false declaration of their assets, the CCB should no longer allow politicians to undermine the sanctity and integrity of the asset declaration provisions of the Constitution by allowing them to continue to exploit legal gaps for illicit enrichment.

    “While elected public officers may not be constitutionally obliged to publicly declare their assets, the Freedom of Information Act 2011 has now provided the mechanism for the CCB to improve transparency and accountability of asset declarations by elected public officers.

    “Allegation of false or anticipated declarations by public officers apparently to steal or mismanage public funds is a contributory factor to Nigeria’s underdevelopment and poverty level. All efforts to get details of asset declarations by presidents and state governors have proved abortive.

    “The right to information and truth allows Nigerians to gain access to information essential to the fight against corruption, institutionalise good governance and improve citizens’ confidence in public institutions.”

  • We are not witch-hunting Saraki, says Kwara Assembly

    Kwara state House of Assembly Thursday denied witch-hunting former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    The House added that its directive on the revocation of a chalet house as a gift to former Senator Saraki by former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed belongs to the state government, adding that “there is no evidence that the politician paid for it.”

    In a statement, media aide of the Speaker of the House of Assembly Yakubu Danladi, Ibrahim Sherif, said the allocation of the posh property to Saraki was in “violent violation” of the Kwara state former Governor’s Pension Law 2010 which had already taken care of him
    within the provisions of the law.

    The legislators are responding to a report in a daily (not THE NATION) accusing the state government of witch-hunting the Sarakis.

    The report had also claimed that the House’s resolution directing the government to reclaim the land on which the late Olusola Saraki erected his political headquarters, known as Ile Arugbo, was contrary to the promise of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of not witch-hunting
    anyone.

    Mr. Danladi said the Ile Arugbo had been erected on a land originally meant for the expansion of the Civil Service Clinic and Phase II of the State Government Secretariat without any evidence that anyone paid a dime to the government for the land.

    Read Also: Bukola Saraki’s empire must collapse, Tinubu tells Kwarans

    He said the noise about the affected properties was politically motivated as other public properties unlawfully taken over were also being looked into.

    The statement reads: “We dare say that allowing impunity to stand, no matter who is affected and how long ago it had taken place, is a disservice to the state and its people. It would be a signal to those coming that impunity pays and would be allowed to stand. The two developments upon which the article is based reek of impunity of the concerned party which the newspaper is apparently trying to protect for reasons not connected to the interest of Kwara and its people.

    “Apart from the fact that the purported sale of the Alimi Chalet did not conform to the Kwara State former Governors’ Pension Law 2010, as amended, which incidentally was the brainchild of Senator Bukola Saraki, we contend that there is no record anywhere that Senator
    Saraki paid a dime to have the property transferred to him. The transfer only fits into what the late Fela Anikulapo called ‘paddy-paddy’ arrangement. Unfortunately, despite expositions made in the findings of the House Committee on Land Housing and Urban Development about the illegal acquisition of the Alimi Chalet, the publication only relied on comments by Senator Saraki’s sympathizers to form opinion of acclaimed due process in acquisition of the property.

    “We challenge the affected party to prove the contrary to not just the people of Kwara but to the entire world they are trying to instigate by presenting evidence of payment for the property. The Pension Law took adequate care of the former Governor. The pension law allows ex-governors a five bedroom duplex, as opposed to the Alimi Chalet, which consists of three (3) separate Chalets with 3 boys’ quarters of 3 rooms each, and therefore does not fit into the recommendation of the Pension Law of 2010.

    “Also, aside the 3 houses on over one hectare of land on Alimi Road that was supposedly given to Saraki under the State Pension Law, Senator Saraki also got N250 million under the same Pension Law to build another retirement home for himself. The said Alimi Chalet, which was gifted to him, is the property of the people of Kwara State and was never contemplated as a gift to former governors.”

  • Senate wants integration of ‘Almajiris’ into educational system

    The Senate on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to formulate policy to integrate Almajiris into the educational system to discourage them from street begging.

    The call, followed a motion by by Sen. Sankara Abdullahi and 26 other senators on the menace of street begging and need to rehabilitate street beggars.

    Abdullahi,in his lead debate said begging in Nigeria appears to be intractable and overwhelming as beggars are now found everywhere .

    He said beggars in recent times appears to be a new trend of beggars popularly known as corporate beggars.

    He said street begging does not only affect geographical and social structure of urban areas, it also portrays the country in a bad image to tourist and foreign investors.

    He said street begging, had become a worrisome socio- economic challenge in addition to been a serious menace and liability on the Nigeria populace.

    He said the phenomenon takes a heavy toll on the lives of teenagers, who engage in the act and and are therefore are out of school.

    Read Also: Quest for education abroad costs Nigeria $2b, says Senate

    Senators, who spoke on the motion described street begging as a major challenge.

    The senate therefore called on the federal government to set up vocational training centres to provide beggars with alternative means of livelihood thereby making
    useful to the society.

    Contributing to the motion, Sen Rochas Okorocha (APC-Imo) said beggars in the country should not be neglected, noting that they should be supported and assisted to survive.

    He said there was need to consider their plight given their disadvantage positions in the society.

    He said there were time bomb waiting to explode, if left unattended to,noting that efforts must be made to salvage them especially in education.

    Sen. Sabi Abdullahi ,(APC-Niger) also collaborated the need to salvage the rising sorry state of beggars in the country

    (NAN).

  • Why we raided Frasier Hotel in Abuja – Customs

    The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Thursday explained that its operatives stormed the Frasier hotel Abuja because of an intelligence that some vehicles without customs duty were removed from a car mart at the hotel.

    Custom’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, who made the clarification in a rejoinder issued in Abuja, insisted that the operatives did not go as far as disturbing guests in the hotel rooms.

    Attah said that: “The attention of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been drawn to misinformation making the rounds concerning visit of our operatives to an Abuja Hotel to remove suspected smuggled vehicles Thursday.

    “Our operatives, relying on intelligence that owners of some exotic cars (including bullet proof) without duty payment quickly removed their vehicles from a car mart and took same to Frasier hotel Abuja.

    “On arrival at the hotel, our operatives interacted with the manager and eventually left with 4 vehicles leaving 6 behind, while expecting the manager to provide the keys to the cars left behind.

    However, the manager Thursday morning gave a written undertaking to produce a Customs vehicle duty payment documents to support his claim that the vehicles were not smuggled.

    Read Also:  Nigeria Customs Service: So far, so…

    “We assured him of prompt release of the vehicles as soon as evidence of appropriate duty payments are presented.

    “Unfortunately, we woke up to mischievous misrepresentation of an otherwise professional engagement with the manager that had nothing to do with the guests in the hotel.

    “Some even went as far as saying that the operatives went from room to rooms waking up guests to come out for vehicle verification. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

    “NCS did not do such thing and has no intention to start raiding hotels. Our operatives never infringed on the rights and comfort of guests in the hotel.

    “While advising Nigerians to be wary of social media posts, we urge members of the public to discountenance the fabrication as NCS will continue to work in the interest of Nigerians.”