The Nation Newspaper

Tag: el-Rufai

  • El-Rufai signs new tax, pension laws for Kaduna

    El-Rufai signs new tax, pension laws for Kaduna

    • Ends multiple tax collection

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai yesterday signed the new Tax Codification and Pension bills into laws, bringing revenue collection in Kaduna State under one agency.

    With the new Tax Codification Law, investors, business owners and citizens are to stop paying taxes to other agencies, other than Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from first of March.

    Signing the bills into laws at the government house in Kaduna yesterday, Governor El-Rufai said, the tax law enacts a comprehensive, all-in-one tax code for the state, which harmonizes and centralizes the collection of all revenues in a single agency.

    According to the Governor, “The Kaduna State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law is an investor-friendly tax code that consolidates all taxes payable in the state in one law and in one document. The tax law enacts a comprehensive, all-in-one tax code for the state. It harmonizes and centralizes the collection of all revenues in a single agency, the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service. Its objectives include improving the revenue base of the state, making payments easy for the taxpayer and raising the efficiency of tax collection.

    “The law ensures that any investor in Kaduna State can see all state and local government taxes in one document, and be assured that all companies and individuals can pay with ease to only one revenue collector.

    “The new tax code has the advantage of assuring the certainty that businesses treasure. Investors know precisely what taxes are payable, and can arrange prompt settlement of their obligations, secure in the knowledge that they will be dealing with only one agency.

    “It is our expectation that this law will help improve the ease of doing business in the state, attract more investors and create more jobs. It will also protect taxpayers from harassment by multiple revenue-collection agencies.”

     

  • El-Rufai signs new tax, pension bills

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Friday signed the new Tax Codification and Pension bills into law, bringing revenue collection in Kaduna State under one agency.

    With the new laws, investors, business owners and citizens are to stop paying taxes to other agencies, other than Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) from March 1.

    Signing the bills into law at the Government House in Kaduna, Governor El-Rufai said, the tax law enacts a comprehensive, all-in-one tax code for the state, which harmonizes and centralizes the collection of all revenues in a single agency.

    He said, “The Kaduna State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law is an investor-friendly tax code that consolidates all taxes payable in the state in one law and in one document. The tax law enacts a comprehensive, all-in-one tax code for the state. It harmonizes and centralizes the collection of all revenues in a single agency, the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service. Its objectives include improving the revenue base of the state, making payments easy for the taxpayer and raising the efficiency of tax collection.

    “The law ensures that any investor in Kaduna State can see all state and local government taxes in one document, and be assured that all companies and individuals can pay with ease to only one revenue collector.”

     

  • El-Rufai’s panel won’t be fair to us —Shi’ites

    •Say it’s commission of indictment

     The Shiite Islamic movement has kicked against the inauguration by Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the December clash between members of the group and soldiers.

    The group accused El-Rufai of inaugurating a ‘commission of Indictment’ against them, concluding that the commission of inquiry would not be fair to the Shi’ites group.

    The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, in a swift reaction issued after the inauguration of the commission yesterday, said it had earlier written a petition against the commission and its composition, which was not addressed by the state government.

    According to the movement’s spokesman, Ibraheem Musa, “The Islamic Movement believes the commission looks more like a commission of indictment than a “commission of inquiry because of the following indisputable facts:

    “Some identified members of the commission have vested interests against the Movement in particular and the Shi’a in general. Thus, by law, they are automatically disqualified from participating or serving in the commission.

    “Kaduna State Government has demonstrated bias and made pre-matured conclusions against the Movement even before setting up the Commission.

    “The Nigerian Army, ably represented in the Commission too, has vested interests with the level of serious and grievous allegations of massacre, illegal detention, rape, arson and willful destruction of properties against it.

    “The Movement is not represented in the membership of the Commission.

    “The composition of the Commission has no local or international human and humanitarian rights groups.

    “In view of the above, the fairness, independence and impartiality of the Commission as required by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are in doubt.

    “The rules of natural justice require, inter alia, that where likelihood of bias can reasonably be inferred or discovered whether directly or indirectly from the surrounding circumstances, then fair hearing is not observed. This is because justice should not only be done but it must be manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to have been done.

    “Based on the above, we still insist that: The Commission as constituted lacks both legal and moral standing to inquire into the “clashes” that happened between the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria on 12th -14th December, 2014 at Zaria for lack of fairness, independence and impartiality.

    “An independent judicial commission of inquiry with the supervision and observation of international community be set up instead to inquire into the Zaria incident of December 12-14, 2015.

    “The leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky, should be released from custody. Even at the time of writing this statement, neither his family nor lawyers have met him wherever he is being detained.”

  • El-Rufai launches feeding for 1.8m pupils

    El-Rufai launches feeding for 1.8m pupils

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai yesterday launched a free feeding programme for 1.8 million primary school pupils.

    The programme, according to him, was the beginning of  the government’s project to expand access to education.

    El-Rufai said at the Aliyu Makama Road Primary School, Barnawa, Kaduna, venue of the event, that the programme, to serve as an intervention in health, would also promote education and nutrition.

    He said the initial problems associated with it would be addressed.

    The governor noted that in executing the policy, perfection must not be a restraint, adding that during the process, the programme would be refined.

    He said. “Every school day from yesterday, the Kaduna State government will provide a meal for 1.8 million primary school pupils.

    “It is an unprecedented undertaking in this state, but one that we solemnly pledged to do when we were campaigning.

    “It is a challenge in terms of its scale, cost and the logistics required to deliver the meals everyday. But our children deserve this, and more.

    “We are conscious that it will save parents break-time money, empower women in the community, who have been selected as vendors and expand market for farm produce.

    “In fact, the school-feeding programme will create 17,000 jobs for vendors, each of who will need to employ workers to deliver.

    “There is something for everyone in the school-feeding programme. In seeking to take care of our children, we are creating jobs, boosting demand and exposing our people to new skills and hygiene standards as well as providing extra income.

    “I urge everyone involved in the programme to discharge his responsibilities with the utmost sense of commitment, transparency and accountability. The monitoring mechanism must be rigorous, and we invite the school-based management committees and Parent-Teacher associations to review and provide us their observations on the programme.

    “We will not be surprised to hear about teething problems, but we expect them to be addressed.

    “As pragmatic people, we understand that in executing policies we must not let the perfect be a restraint on the do-able. It is in the process of feeding our pupils that we can refine and perfect the programme.

    “As I noted earlier, school feeding is a separate plan of our initiative to expand access to education, ensure that children can have nine years of free, decent basic education, no matter the income level of their parents. Parents have responded with enthusiasm, and at the beginning of this session, enrolment in public schools rose by 64 per cent.

    “We began our education programme with the recruitment of teachers for core subjects, conducted a needs-assessment to identify how we can strengthen the capacity of teachers and announced the removal of bureaucratic impediments to the career advancement and sense of fulfilment of teachers in the public school system. We made it clear that a teacher can rise to Grade Level 17, without having to stop being a teacher.

    “Having taken steps to raise the morale and capacity of teachers as frontline workers in delivering quality education, the government began addressing the question of the physical condition of the theatre in which they work: the schools.

    “We inherited a baleful legacy of dilapidated schools, inadequate classrooms and no furniture for 50 per cent of the pupils. The schools also lacked water and toilet facilities.

    “The APC government in Kaduna State responded by launching a school rehabilitation programme. It is a massive commitment to fix more than 4,000 public primary schools and transform them into conducive places for the delivery of quality education. We will strive to complete the rehabilitation within our term of office.

    “Permit me to express our gratitude to the House of Assembly for supporting our vision and passing the 2016 budget swiftly with such massive provision for education and the social sector.

    “We are grateful to the Federal Government which has, through the Office of the Vice-President, provided technical support and has committed to reimburse the Kaduna State government up to 60 per cent of the cost of the school-feeding programme.

    “There is still so much work ahead. I assure you that we shall never be lacking in the commitment, determination and courage to do as we promised. We will appreciate your feedback and suggestions so that we can do better in serving you, the people of Kaduna State.”

     

     

  • El-Rufai approves Level 17 for teachers

    El-Rufai approves Level 17 for teachers

    Kaduna State government has approved career enhancement for teachers to rise to Grade Level 17.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai said his administration would build six science secondary schools.

    Commissioner for Education Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu said the approval of teachers’ career progression followed a promise by Governor El-Rufai to ensure that they rise to the highest grade without stopping teaching.

    He said teachers who rise to Grade Level 17 will be addressed as director-tutors, adding that such teachers will be made to use their knowledge and experience to teach specific subjects.

  • We won’t accept attempts to rewrite Nigeria’s history, say Emir, governors

    We won’t accept attempts to rewrite Nigeria’s history, say Emir, governors

    Northern leaders on Thursday said they will not accept any attempts to rewrite the history of the country and discredit their leaders killed in the 1966 coup.

    Northern governors and traditional rulers said attempt at ascribing the problems that led to the 1966 coup to Sir Ahmadu Bello and other northern leaders killed in the coup will not be accepted, saying “as long as we are alive, we will defend their honor.”

    Speaking during the 50th anniversary of the death of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first and only Premier of the Northern region, Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II said although Nigerians have moved on, history should not be rewritten.

    Sanusi, who said he does not want to be misunderstood, however said while the north was interested in peace, unity and development of the nation, it will insist on being respected by all Nigerians.

    He said: Friday marks exactly 50 years of the incident in the history of this country in which a number of leaders were killed. Sir Ahmadu Bello was one, Sir Tafawa Balewa was another, Chief Akintola, Chief Okotie Eboh and a number of generals that hailed from this part of the country as well as the Western part of this country.

    “These have happened, though sad, we have forgotten about them and moved on as a nation. But 50 years later, before our very eyes, this history is being rewritten and those who killed are claiming to be the victims.

    “It is important that we keep history truthful and even if we forgive and forget, we must never allow history to be rewritten because what is happening in Nigeria today is a new narrative.

    “Sardauna was not a victim, Tafawa Balewa was not a victim and neither were they the cause of the problem. We cannot accept this. We do not want people to reopen old wounds because everyone has been hurt, everyone has been offended, everyone has lost people, everyone has been marginalized, everyone has tasted power, everyone has produced good and corrupt leaders.

    “No one has monopoly of power or corruption or oppression. So, why don’t we, as one country learn from our history because history cannot be forgotten.”

    Speaking on behalf of the Northern Governors, Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, said the governors were in alliance with the sentiments expressed by the Emir of Kano, saying they will not accept any attempt to discredit those whose legacies they enjoy.

    He said “The governors agree fully with the sentiment and statement expressed by the Emir of Kano. As northern governors, we want peace in Nigeria, we want unity in our diversity and we want development in Nigeria.”

  • El-Rufai to understudy Al-Makura

    El-Rufai to understudy Al-Makura

    A 28-man team of professionals in land management and administration from Kaduna State is understudying the computerised land system executed by Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who pioneered the Geographic Information System (GIS) as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, is interested in executing the project in Kaduna State.

    A team of management and personnel from the Kaduna GIS (KAGIS) visited NAGIS executed by the Nasarawa State government, to understudy the project and replicate it.

    Nasarawa State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development Sonny Agassi, who received the delegation, hailed El-Rufai’s passion and commitment for land reform, recalling that the governor was sought when Al-Makura initiated NAGIS.

    He said when the NAGIS service centre in Mararaba, at the gateway to Abuja, was presented in May 2013, El-Rufai was sought to honour the ceremony because he emerged as the “architect of modern GIS execution in Nigeria.”

    He hailed the initiation by the Kaduna State governor, explaining that while Nasarawa competed with Abuja and emerged as the country’s leader in computerised land management, Kaduna would raise the level of competition as the third state to have GIS.

    The Kaduna team, led by Director-General of KAGIS Ibrahim Garba Hussaini and Project Manager Mrs. Altine Jibrin were taken through the technology in the production of land documents, including maps and titles, just as they were conducted round the NAGIS service centre to see the equipment.

  • El-Rufai, Sani and the future of Kaduna APC

    El-Rufai, Sani and the future of Kaduna APC

    The alleged plan by the Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to suspend Senator Shehu Sani may have widened the gulf between the lawmaker and Governor Nasir El-Rufai, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and Senator representing the Central Senatorial District of the state, Shehu Sani, appear to have two things in common.

    First, they both are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and second, they are both very outspoken. But that is where the similarities end. On matters of governance, ideology and how to move Kaduna State forward, the two men are glaringly poles apart.

    It all started around July, following the decision of the state government to ban street begging. That move did not go down well with Sani, who berated the governor for betraying the people that voted him into office.

    In a well publicised interview in Kaduna immediately after the ban, the senator said the ban was unnecessary. He added that it was “inhuman” of the governor to displace the beggars without making provision for their rehabilitation. But not unexpectedly, the governor was defiant, insisting that the ban was in line with his developmental agenda for the state.

    No sooner had this altercation between the two APC stalwarts died down that the governor reportedly ordered the demolition of houses built close to Alhuhuda College in Zaria, while giving inhabitants of the properties 21 days ultimatum to vacate the sites. That decision irked Sani to no end. He described the move as “barbaric, anti-people and inhuman.”

    Other APC stakeholders later joined the fray by accusing the governor of allegedly pitching the party against the people of the state.

    A leader of the party in Zaria, Alhaji Zulkifilu Amfani, described the approach to governance by the governor as uncivil and too dictatorial.

    He noted that the area in question has over 1,000 houses already built, asking rhetorically, ”      Now, where do you expect occupants of these houses to go?”

    A source close to the governor, however, defended the state government’s action, saying, “It is not ideal for anyone to build on a school or hospital premises. These places are public property and anybody who trespasses should have the belief that one day, government will retrieve its property.”

    The politics of largesse to religious leaders

    As part of his resolve to cut the cost of governance, El-Rufai had a few days before the last Eid el Kabir, announced that the state government would not sponsor people for holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and Israel respectively, in addition to the cancellation of free rams and foodstuffs to religious leaders during festive periods.

    Though mum was the word from the camp of religious leaders who are considered very influential in the state, they however kept their dissatisfaction close to their chests. They later got listening ears from Sani, who, according to sources, donated rams, camels and other items to mark the celebration.

    In several newspaper and television interviews, the senator seized every opportunity to lampoon the governor for his style of administration.

    Disagreement over cabinet

    Another source of friction that pulled the two men further apart was the composition of the state executive council, it was learnt.

    Apart from his inner circle of aides, whom the governor allegedly consulted before making his list of commissioners and special advisers public, he allegedly failed to carry other stakeholders of the party along in arriving at his choice of aides.

    Sani alluded to this in an interview, saying “I fundamentally differ with him on that issue. He decided on his own not to appoint people who identify with me in anyway and who are also seen to be from my camp.”

    Accusing the governor for alienating other party leaders that worked for the success of the party in the state and displaying a “know it all” posturing, Sani alleged further, “He believes he knows it all; he believes he is the most intelligent man with the biggest brain in Nigeria.

    “If you are a leader, you need to listen to the people, carry them along.”

    Some weeks back, the activist-turned-politician fired more salvos at the governor over the latter’s comment at a town hall meeting with people from Kaduna Central that whoever was angry with the appointment he had made thus far should go fall from the Kufena Mountain.

    In his reaction, Sani, while receiving a youth group from Southern Kaduna Zone of the state, led by their chairman, Friday Jangado, who paid him a courtesy visit in his Kaduna office, said, “It is an irresponsible statement for the governor to have called on people who voted us into power to climb such a hill, fall and to die.”

    An ego war or what?

    Not a few concerned stakeholders in the state describe the senator’s feud with the governor as nothing but simply an ego war.

    The lawmaker did not help matters by alluding to this claim thus: “He is a governor, I’m also a Senator. He is not bigger than me, neither am I bigger than him. So, as far as I’m concerned, whether El-Rufai is a governor or whatever, anything which he does that does not tally with what is supposed to be done, I will certainly tell him.”

    Calculations for 2019

    There are unconfirmed speculations that Sani’s antagonism of the governor is not unconnected to his alleged ambition to rule the state come 2019.

    In response to a call by some of his supporters to contest for the governorship in 2019, Sani said while he has no control over what people say about him, he is “delighted that they are wishing him well.”

    Suspension axe dangles

    The governor, quite uncharacteristically of him, has refrained from engaging in war of words with the senator.

    However, his silence, according to sources, is that responding to Sani’s criticisms could be to the lawmaker’s advantage both in the short and long term.

    The state chapter of APC has predictably taken the matter up with its planned move to suspend Sani from the party. A few days ago, it wrote a query to the Senator, but the letter was not acknowledged by the lawmaker’s office.

    The senator, through one of his aides, Salisu Tanko Wusono, said the letter was rejected on the grounds that his boss neither knows the person who signed the letter nor the office address.

    As the ding dong continues, it remains to be seen who blinks first between the governor and the senator.

  • Zaria clash: Police release 83 detainees

    Zaria clash: Police release 83 detainees

    Some 83 persons comprising 34 children and 49 women that were arrested and detained during the Zaria clash between the Nigerian Army and the Shi’ite movement have been released by Police in Kaduna.

    A yet unclear number of Shi’ite sect members were killed and hundreds more injured in at least two of the sect’s worship sites, witnesses and a hospital source have said.

    About 191 suspects were held for varying offences, including obstruction of highways, possession of weapons and attacking security agents.

    The suspects were arrested pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations which might lead to charges being filed at the State High Court or the Federal High court.

    According to statement by Special Assistant on Media to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan, the State Security Council, resolved to ensure adequate security measures would be put in place across the state ahead of Maulud, Christmas and New Year festivities in the State to guide against any likely breach of peace.

    Aruwan said citizens were also advised to be law-abiding and report to security agencies, traditional and religious leaders and the government any threat to peace and stability of the state.

     

  • El-Rufai sees us as enemies -Shi’ite sect

    El-Rufai sees us as enemies -Shi’ite sect

    Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as the Shi’ite sect, has described the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai as their enemy and anti-Shi’ite governor.

    The sect in reaction to the Thursday night state broadcast by the governor on the recent clash between members of the sect and men of the Nigerian army stated categorically that, “It is clear that the governor is more like an extremist anti-Shi’ite governor and not a state governor.”

    Shi’ite in a rejoinder by the President of its media forum, Malam Ibrahim Musa said, “Going by the concept and tone of the state broadcast on the extra-judicial killing of thousands of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria by the Nigerian Army, delivered by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, it is clear that the governor is more like an extremist anti-Shi’ite governor and not a state governor.

    “Although the governor took his time in his speech to elaborate on rights to religion and social association, but he chose to deny only the Shi’ites such rights who he sees as his enemies.

    “Clearly, he spent considerable time collecting propaganda details indicting the movement, which further buttresses the point that the state governor has his hands soiled by the blood spilled in the mass extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the Army.

    “In that circumstance, no justice should be expected from a speech made up with details only provided by the antagonistic culprits without hearing from the other party who are the victims in this case.

    “During the one-sided speech, he brought up a number of allegations that he said they discovered. We will take up these one after the other:

    “He alleged that our centre had no building permit and such other allegations. One wonders why if the Kaduna state government felt the Hussainiyah was wrongly erected or breached planning permits, they did not resort to legal action rather than use of brutal force. Why not get a court order to effect an eviction? Or does the government mean there are no magistrates or Alkali left in Zaria anymore? For Governor El-Rufai to claim that there is no valid paper on the land on which Husainiyya was built as the basis for this military attack, only further proves that the attack was premeditated.

    “We are equally astonished when the Governor in his broadcast claimed that “they had tried to forcibly acquire the property of their neighbours; this is apart from subjecting residents to an illegal curfew.” We challenge the governor to cite one particular case where we forcibly acquired a property, let alone a time when we imposed curfew.

    “The governor also claimed that “There had been tension in parts of Zaria since Thursday, 10 December 2015, when members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were alleged to have attacked Gabari, a community on the outskirts of Zaria, in continuation of a dispute over a mosque.”

    “We would like to ask Mr. Governor how many disputes over mosques have been reported in the 37 years that the IMN have been there in Zaria? The idea that Shiites will go and take over a Salafi mosque is as laughable as the idea that Christian evangelicals will raid a Catholic cathedral and tell the adherents to get out. This big lie cannot stand any scrutiny. What happened in Gabari is not “Mosque snatching” as the governor claims. It was a case of some Salafist bent on attacking the Shiites in the neighbourhood. In the process they killed one person the week before and a further three Shiites on Thursday. The governor cleverly stated this in his speech as if to show that we were not the victims but the assailants.

    “The Governor made mention of the Arbaeen symbolic trek as an instance where we blocked roads for four days when he stated, “In the last two weeks, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria has also illegally occupied federal roads. Over a period of four days, they took over one side of the federal expressway between Kaduna and Zaria, and the roads to Kano and Katsina.” Clearly, this is a deliberate attempt to twist the facts. During the Arbaeen symbolic treks, we block only limited part of the road, and this is to protect persons from traffic accidents, control mass movement and avoid chaos on the roads. The governor here was trying to give the impression of a complete occupation of a lane for four days. That was not the case. Blocks were only from junction to junction on the roads. The public was informed about these little inconveniences with apologies on public radio and television stations throughout the trek. Road users during the period would be surprised by the governor’s statement.

    “How does this compare with similar road blocks by others such as the Military itself that blocks from Jaji to Zaria, and at times from Kaduna to Zaria or within Zaria metropolis during their parades? Citing road block as the reason for this brutal attack is just laughable. Where in the law books is it written that those who block the roads should be massacred without trials?”

    The sect also accused the governor of fiddling with the truth by saying in his broadcast, “In addition, members of the movement are alleged to openly carry and use offensive weapons.” They challenged the governor to mention those weapons they found when security agents razed Husainiyya to the ground or Sheikh Zakzaky’s residence. While the military involved in this operation said in its press conference that they did not find any weapons after all the mass killings they did in Zaria, the governor in his desperate attempt to blacklist the movement, still talked of offensive weapons. From the speech of the governor one can deduce that he did all he can to portray the movement as assailants.

    “After leveling all allegations against the movement, the governor went ahead to talk of setting up a Judicial Board of inquiry. One wonders why he didn’t leave the inquiry to determine who are the assailants and who are the victims. Definitely the scope and mission of the inquiry could be problematic. The army is a federal institution. It would be difficult enough for a state judge to inquire into what they have done when they are not answerable to state officials. How will such a judge now also overturn conclusions already reached by the governor?”