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Tag: Nigerians

  • 3,480 Nigerians deported from Libya in 10 months – commission

    3,480 Nigerians deported from Libya in 10 months – commission

    A total of 3,480 young Nigerians, mostly girls, was deported from Libya in the last 10 months, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI) has said.

    The NCRMI South-West Zonal Director, Mrs Magret Ukegbu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the deportees were received from Feb. 1 to Nov. 6.

    Ukegbu said that the commission had been working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant organisations in receiving the deportees.

    “From February to the first week of this month of November, we have received about 3,480 young Nigerian deportees from Libya.

    “These young Nigerians, mostly girls from age 14, were received in different weeks during the period.

    “We have found out that the IOM, European Union (EU), Dutch and Swiss governments are involved in the deportation of these Nigerians from Libya,’’ she said.

    She said that some of the young people returned with pregnancy.

    According to her, there are more than 12,000 young Nigerians in prisons or stranded in different parts of Libya.

    Ukegbu expressed worry at the situation.

    She said that the commission was working to ensure durable integration of the deportees into the Nigerian society.

    “The commission believes that it is not enough to receive these young Nigerians; it is important that they are urgently given the needed mentoring, training and rehabilitation.

    “My federal commissioner is really working at ensuring that durable solutions are sustained,’’ she said.

  • Fed Govt gets wake-up call on 600 death row Nigerians in Asia

    Fed Govt gets wake-up call on 600 death row Nigerians in Asia

    The Legal Assistance and Defence Projec (LEDAP) has berated the Federal Government for not showing  interest in the plight of over 600 Nigerians on death row in foreign countries.

    The National Coordinator of LEDAP, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, expressed this concern  during a media chat in Lagos on the occasion of the World Day Against the Use of the Death Penalty.

    The theme of this year’s World Day Against the Use of the Death Penalty is “Poverty and the Death penalty”.

    Obiagwu said while there is a growing concern by rights activists over the rising number of Nigerians who are awaiting execution in South-East Asian countries for various offences,  the Nigerian government hasn’t paid any attention to their plight.

    He pointed out that the number of Nigerians, who are facing the death penalty in foreign countries, most of which are for drugs-related offences was startling.

    According to him, “South-East Asia alone, has over 600 Nigerians who have been condemned to death, and are awaiting execution in various prisons”.

    He said: “Why this is a worrisome development that  deserves the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria,   most of the convicts never had the benefit of proper legal representation.They were therefore, subjected to summary trials and convicted and sentenced to death, without being given the benefit of legal counsel”.

    The National Coordinator of  LEDAP contended that  abolition of death penalty in law and practice, should be the desire of the government, “as death penalty is cruel and inhumane treatment, and has no place in modern society”.

    He lamented that the application of the death penalty is discriminatory in the country as it has become a punishment exclusive to the poor in society.

    LEDAP contended that the reason for the discriminatory outlook, is due to the fact that the rich have the resources to settle the police or afford the best lawyers, who ensure that they are not convicted.

    He remarked that because of the firm belief of the group on abolition of death penalty, LEDAP has continually fought legal battles with the federal and state governments, on the need to ensure that fundamental rights of citizens are safe-guarded and the death penalty is abolished.

    He said within the last two years, the group has secured acquittal for 18 death row inmates in different prisons in the country on appeal, a development which he said lend credence to the unreliability of the criminal justice delivery system, on capital offences.

    The group urged state governors not to sign any death warrants, as it constitutes state murder.

    “With the high number of criminal convictions overturned on appeal, continued execution is risky, as innocent people may be wrongfully killed.

    “LEDAP strongly believes that in its practical application, the death penalty is discriminatory, as there is hardly any rich or influential person in society, who is sentenced to death”, he added.

     

     

     

  • Prayer for Nigeria and a piece of advice for Nigerians

    If, in spite of all government at all levels are doing, insecurity still roams the land as it does, in its various manifestations, it is obvious we have to seek the face of  God to heal our land.

    On any given day, open to the CITY BEATS pages of any Nigerian newspaper to see how morally degraded Nigerians have become over time. Read these pages and discover that there is hardly any conceivable criminal act from which you can now safely claim Nigerians are innocent of.  We need not itemise them all out but you won’t go too far before you find several cases of rape, even incest, criminal breach of trust, murder etc.  So virulent, and Pan –Nigerian, has kidnapping become that in THE NIGERIAN KIDNAPPING CONUNDRUM (4 June, 2017) I wrote, inter alia:” … BREAKING:   Patrick Ugbe, a former commissioner for Information in Cross River state has been kidnapped at a burial ceremony. The kidnappers allegedly stormed the burial ceremony and threatened to kill everyone if the identity of the owner of a particular car was not made known.  It’s now over 40 days ( My God, now over a hundred days!) that Mr. Pade Ojoodide  has been held by kidnappers on his way back  from an official assignment in a country that has a government and laws.  Add to the above, the totally incredible kidnap of six students from Lagos State Model College, Igbonla,  in the Ikorodu area of the state.”

    “No, this is no attempt to trivialise security issues or mess up with the men and women who keep watch over us, most times exposing themselves to incredible risk. It is also not an attempt  to downplay how far they have  gone protecting our behind, but for Christ’s sake, when you read about the ubiquity of the kidnapper, whether in the North, East or  West  of our country and how he continues to be steps ahead of our security agencies, you will be hard put not to ask what our police men learn in those police colleges or  our military and the  men and women of our 61- year old navy in their various training  and retraining institutions,  as well as during their several training tours  overseas, gulping millions of dollars annually”.

    If, in spite of all government at all levels are doing, insecurity still roams the land as it does, in its various manifestations, it is obvious we have to seek the face of  God to heal our land. Whatever our faith, therefore, I urge us all, to pray this chain prayer by The Ven. Jide Iyiola, for our dear country, Nigeria:

    A PRAYER CHAIN FOR NIGERIA.

    Father, in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ I thank You. I thank You because all power belongs to You. Thank You because You always answer my prayers. I ask for forgiveness on behalf of our land and nation, Nigeria. Forgive us for we have not walked in your ways. I and our Leaders have wandered away from your laws.

    I repent for all wickedness, injustice, nepotism, tribalism, hatred, bloodshed, idolatry, and having not given You Your rightful place in our nation.

    Wherever we have exalted any idol before You, please forgive us, Lord.

    Father, have mercy. Remember mercy, O Lord. I contend for the destiny of country Nigeria, O Lord.

    You say, ask of Me for the nation of Nigeria.  Lord I ask for the land of Nigeria, starting from the North, South, East and West., Remember Your people oh Lord, those tossed about, oppressed and trampled upon by situations, hunger and thirst created by wicked men.

    O Lord, remember mercy and heal our land. Bring the latter rains, O Lord, I pray. Open the flood gates of heaven and let it rain on our perched land.

    I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over this land. Let that Blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel speak peace in Nigeria. Raise leaders like king David, judges like Samuel that are after your own heart, O Lord. Give us leaders chosen by You and let them be vessels to bring this land back to the fear of You, O Lord. Let there be peace and love for one another. Let any power thirsting for the blood of any Nigerian be quenched by the blood of Jesus Christ. I cancel violence in Jesus mighty name. I declare your justice to reign over this land because you will not by any means discharge the guilty. I decree peace that comes with justice, prosperity that comes with your peace and all material and spiritual blessings upon this land.

    Reward trouble to those who trouble this land with wicked deeds. Judge without mercy those who defile our land with idols, who shed innocent blood without a cause.

    Let peace be upon Nigeria let peace be upon the four corners of this land where you have planted us. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour I pray.

    Amen.

    And, since prevention is better than cure, I would like us to read, and internalise, the lessons of this short story:

    “‘At the point of death, a man, Tom Smith, called his children and advised them to follow his footsteps so that they can have peace of mind in all that they do..

    His daughter, Sara, said, “Daddy, it’s unfortunate you are dying without a penny in your bank.

    Other fathers’ that you tag as being corrupt, thieves of public funds, left houses and properties for their children; even this house we live in is a rented apartment..

    Sorry, I can’t emulate you, just go, let’s chart our own course.

    Few moments later, their father gave up the spirit.

    Three years later, Sara went for an interview in a multinational company.

    At interview the Chairman of the committee asked,”Which Smith are you?”

    Sara replied, “I am Sara Smith. My Dad Tom Smith is now late.”

    Chairman cuts in,”O my God, you are Tom Smith’s daughter?”

    He turned to other members and said, “This Smith was the one who signed my membership form into the Institute of Administrators and his recommendation earned me where I am today. He did all these free. I didn’t even know his address, he never knew me. He just did it for me.”

    He turned to Sara, “I have no questions for you, consider yourself as having gotten this job, come tomorrow, your letter will be waiting for you.”

    Sara Smith became the Corporate Affairs Manager of the company with two cars with drivers, a duplex attached to the office, and a salary of ÂŁ1,000,000 per month excluding allowances.

    After two years in the company, the Managing Director came from the U.S to announce his intention to resign and needed a replacement. A personality with high integrity was sought after, and the company’s consultant nominated Sara Smith.

    In an interview, she was asked the secret of her success.

    With tears, she replied, “My father paved these ways for me. It was after he died that I knew that though he was financially poor, he was strikingly rich in integrity, discipline and honesty.”

    She was asked again, why she is weeping, and she replied: “At the point of death, I insulted my dad for being an honest man of integrity. I hope he will forgive me in his grave now. I didn’t work for all these; he did it for me to just walk in”.

    Finally she was asked, “Will you follow in your father’s footsteps, as he requested?”

    And her simple answer was, “l now adore my father, I have a big picture of him in my living room and at the entrance to my house. He deserves whatever I have, after God”.

    Are you like Tom Smith?

    It pays to build a name, the reward doesn’t come quickly, but it will come however long it may take, and it lasts longer.

    Integrity, discipline, self control and fear of God makes a man wealthy, not the fat bank account.

    Leave a good heritage for your children.”

    As I pleaded earlier, have we Nigerians acted like the Tom Smith of this story, our country would not be what it is today. And there would have been no finger pointing, name calling and all those abusing those old enough to be their father would have given their lives to doing better things. It certainly is not too late for you and I to change for the better. Nigeria, posterity, even God, will remember us for good. Beat a retreat, today, from all evil.

  • No prisoner transfer agreement between Nigeria, China — Dabiri-Erewa

    No prisoner transfer agreement between Nigeria, China — Dabiri-Erewa

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Abike Dabiri-Erewa has urged Nigerian citizens in China to abide by the laws of that country.

    Dabiri-Erewa made the call on the side line of an international seminar on Nigeria-China relations in Abuja on Thursday.

    She said that there were about 500 Nigerians in Chinese prisons detained for various offences and also explained that there was no prisoner transfer agreement between both countries.

    She also refuted claims that there were thousands of Nigerians detained in Chinese prisons.

    “You hear 2000 but that is exaggerated.  I think we have less than 500 Nigerians in Chinese prisons.

    “Until we sign a treaty; there is no treaty between both countries for prisoners’ transfer, when that exists the transfer of prisoners would be possible.

    “We get a lot of appeals and some prisoners say they want to move from one prison there to another, it is not going to happen.

    “We have been talking to them but their law is their law.  My appeal to Nigerians is to obey the laws of that country because it is getting tougher; they have sanctions and they follow through.”

    She also said that Nigerian businesses were thriving in China

    Dabiri-Erewa further urged Nigerians to learn from the Chinese culture of discipline and persistence in promoting national development.

    “Discipline and leadership are what we should learn from China; they have a plan for the next 20 years, even the young ones in schools are being groomed for that plan.

    “ They also have the we can do spirit, it is working for them.

    She also called for continuous support for the current administration’s effort in the fight against corruption. (NAN)

  • VAIDS collects data on 5m Nigerians

    The Value Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) has collected data of over five million corporate organisations and individuals. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the VAIDS office in the Federal Ministry of Finance.

    According to the statement, data collected will be subjected to further analysis to ensure that all unpaid taxes are tracked and collected. The VAIDS office also disclosed that the second phase of its data mining initiative, which starts this month, is aimed at obtaining data from all other government revenue-generating agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

  • ABDULRASHEED MAINA, REGULAR NIGERIANS AND THE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

    By objective logic, anyone familiar with Nigeria and its recent history will affirm that this populous African nation is gradually transforming into a theatre of sorts, as with each passing day there is one new and absurd distraction for good governance under the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari. Simply put, Nigeria is now like an episodic soap opera or a series movie. Unfortunately, the media which ought to play the role of watch dog appears to be the ready vehicle to use in constantly diverting Nigerians from their gory and turgid existence under the economic recession of the Buhari administration, a foundation which was apparently laid by the previous administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

    From stories of alleged billions of stolen naira under the former President Jonathan’s administration by his wife, Patience and cohorts to the supposed millions of dollars stashed away by the then Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison Madueke and her associates, it has been an endless narrative of looting without real solutions of recovery. Aside, the many negatives of the economy, there exist stories of dare-devilry kidnapping escapades of Chukwudumeme Onwuamdike “Evans”, to the blood thirsty visitations of the ethnic twins; Boko-Haram and Fulani Herdsmen, the pathetic separatism of IPOB, the almost comical emergence and heroic metamorphosis of Nnamdi Kanu, the contrasting comparisons of Rochas and Jacob Zuma. Of course, the unfolding drama in Nigeria cannot be complete without due mention of the numerous twisty actions of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a.k.a EFCC and its tainted outcomes on corruption fight. In all, there has never been a dull moment for the reading public in Nigeria since May 29, 2015.

    Specifically, since the officious personnel of the EFCC, EFCC regurgitated the seemingly unending vendetta to demolish the image and reputation of many instead of fighting corruption, it has been an era of avalanche of denials, clarifications, intrigues and the deployment of oppressive and dictatorial fiat. The case of the former Chairman of the Pensions Reforms Trust Fund, Alhaji Abdullahi Andulrasheed Maina and the EFCC’s dealing with the man, has been unparallel.

    Central to all the happenings so far, is the fact that the singular purpose of the EFCC to ‘capture’ Mr. Maina and subsequently incarcerate him and then commence a convoluted legal prosecution process, the way some other high profile victims have been treated, has so far failed woefully as the former Pension Fund Tzar has remained illusive, elusive and almost magically intractable and untraceable.

    Maina has lost his job, his houses have been sealed, a manhunt has been declared for him by the EFCC yet with no indictment. The frightening prospect herein is that the action of the EFCC on a man like man that fought pension thieves with success of billions of recovery is obvious. First, Maina’s many enemies from the pension fund fraud cabal may now be embolden again to even circulate his name to some hired assassins as a prime target for assassination as reported done in 2013 when his car was riddled with bullet holes when an attempt was made on his life by presumably the same pension thieves he fought for the benefit of the Government.

    Consequent to the above, despite media induced blast on Maina’s alleged smuggled return to the Federal civil service despite allegations of corruption, let us at this juncture visit common good by sparing a thought for Mr. Maina as the forces of power battle themselves and further escalate the trauma the man is going through. Indeed, despite the media instigations and conjectures, what ordinary and objective Nigerians ought to place on their minds for deconstruction are many unanswered questions on the real issues that confront us on Maina especially in a recessed economy and the attendant consequences than slanted moral conclusions that are largely unsustainable.

    First, will the leadership of the EFCC claim ignorance of the fact that in all the said time of about one year which Maina was in Nigeria from self exile, they were not aware he was in the country?

    Secondly, now that the family has claimed that the Government encouraged Maina to return to the country, can we not now conclusively infer that his desired and facilitated return was for the defined purpose of assisting Nigeria to recover outstanding stolen pension funds for a government that has been seeking avenues to borrow money or was he recalled for tea party?

    Thirdly, has Maina not been conducting the services for which he was invited including providing key information to the government to justify his return, then why the protection from two highly reputable security agencies?

    Fourth, if Maina’s presence was not of huge value to the government, why should all these top ranking agencies and officials of the government collaborate on his issue?

    Fifth, let us recall that this same Maina had claimed that he has the capacity to recover an amount in excess of N3 trillion in addition to the said N280 billion cash he had earlier recovered and the N1.3 trillion he assisted the security agencies to collect from pension thieves. With all these, why shouldn’t Maina have many enemies who would easily instigate the media to simulate public opinion against him?
    By the way, has anyone actually wondered what it would have been if any whistle blower had stumbled on Maina’s peculiar information and how much commission on such an amount the whistle blower would get at the 5% blower’s commission or finder’s fee? This is something Maina did for almost free. Put in a different perspective, 5% of that sum of N280 billion is worth about N14 billion cool cash just for blowing a cash whistle. Then, what about the amazing N150 billion to be paid to a whistle blower for a possible recovery of N3 trillion, yet all would have just been borne from a regular salary of an acting Director in the Federal Civil service, like Maina. So, why has common sense eluded in this whole Maina’s recall, if not for illogical reasoning advanced by the pension thieves through the media?

    Sixth, in a functional democracy, is it appropriate for the President to sack a civil servant without any element of indictment, either legal or administrative, but merely on the basis of hearsay? The worst Maina would have gotten from the Presidency through the Head of service, is a suspension given the existing civil service rules and probably a directive to the EFCC to do what is considered legal. So, is the President’s sacking of Maina before investigation appropriate?

    Seventh, So to the average suffering Nigeria, which is more beneficial, the N3 trillion Maina has promised to recover or addressing the bogus allegations of N2 billion that might take years without end to get a court indictment? When has Nigeria become such a moralistic society with such appropriate judicial system whereas there are many cases of allegations of multiple billions against serving senators and ex governors that are still pending in the law courts?

    Eight, in a recessed economy, like what we are experiencing right now in the country what will work best on Maina, in terms of engaging him further? Will it be reason or skewed sentiments? These are the real questions begging for answers.

    For now, as the Abdulrasheed Maina saga continues to unfold in the days ahead, the conclusion at present is that victory has been thrust to the pension thieves as they still have the nation’s N3 trillion in their personal treasury whilst the real victims are a large section of Nigerians that are suffering because the Government has not found wisdom to use Maina to recover the N3 trillion he claims to have located as stolen pension funds which can be used to fund the 2017 budget deficits. For, a thinking Government, rather than go borrowing to fund the budget, it would make great sense engaging Maina than entertaining the public by making Maina a sacrificial lamb over N2 billion bogus allegations, that a fresh law school graduate can easily make a judge quash or extend litigation to endless years the EFCC will have capacity to sustain interest in such a case with likelihood of fading witnesses and irregular political interests.
    Azuka Ofodile,
    A public affairs analyst, is based in Abuja

  • Killing Nigerians with semantics

    Killing Nigerians with semantics

    More than any other country, Nigeria lives true to the idiomatic expression, “The devil is in the detail”. Things are not always what they seem, nor do words in these parts mean exactly what many presume them to mean. Two recent very public examples typify this peculiarly Nigerian culture, a culture that distorts semantic, the meaning of words. In the first example, one that Nigerians can connect with, albeit bewilderingly, is the $5.5bn loan the federal government has indicated to the National Assembly it plans to take. Astounded by public outcry suggesting that the country’s debt profile was beginning to rise unmanageably to the crisis level it was before ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo extricated the country from it, the Finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, has explained that a part of the debt is actually not a debt. Great.

    She is testing not only the people’s knowledge of simple economics, she is trying their patience as well. Hear her: “Let me explain the $5.5 billion borrowing because there have been some misrepresentations in the media in the last few weeks. The first component of $2.5 billion represents new external borrowing provided for in the 2017 Appropriation Act to part finance the deficit in that budget. The borrowing will enable the country to bridge the gap in the 2017 Budget currently facing liquidity problem to finance some capital projects. For the second component, we are refinancing existing domestic debt with the $3 billion external borrowing. This is purely a portfolio restructuring activity that will not result in an increase in the public debt. What we are simply doing is moving that debt from owing naira to owing dollars, but because it’s an external borrowing, we have to go back to the National Assembly for approval. We are not actually asking for $5.5 billion of new money. It’s $2.5 billion, which is in the 2017 Budget. The $3 billion is to refinance the debt that we inherited.”

    The minister does not say the entire $5.5bn does not constitute borrowing, only that the country’s debt stock would not rise as a result of it. She thinks the misrepresentation in the media has to do with their conviction that the debt stock, on which the people are worryingly fixated, would rise to intolerable, unmanageable level. However, according to her, what will change is not the debt stock but the identity of the country’s creditors. A full $3bn of the loan would move from being naira-denominated to being dollar-denominated. The reason for this shuffling, according her, is that domestic debt carries a higher interest cost. In any case, Mrs Adeosun concluded, Nigeria’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a healthy and even beguiling 17.8 percent compared with the United Kingdom’s 89.3 percent and Germany’s 68.3 percent.

    Regardless of the semantic of the debt, it is still a debt, whether portfolio restructured or not. And, by the way, do Nigerians not even prefer and have reconciled themselves with domestic debt than they have done with external debt of which they live in mortal dread? In all her explanations, Mrs Adesoun never stopped describing the $3bn as a loan, even if she muffles the horror the people felt about the remaining $2.5bn loan component. When she is through with her semantic flip-flop, and can successfully gloss over the $2.5bn component of the loan and glide over the $3bn portfolio restructured component, she should still attempt a further explanation to convince Nigerian nitwits why it was necessary in the first instance for Chief Obasanjo to help the country exit the Paris Club of creditors to national acclaim.

    The Finance minister is hopeful that the cognoscenti in the National Assembly, not given to the hysteria that befuddles the mob on the streets and the halfwits in the media, would do what is right and accent to the loan request. Perhaps they will, probably after arm-twisting the executive to part with a few concessions. But whether they do or not, whether the government gets its loan lollypops or not, it will not be the last time the Buhari presidency will hanker after loans. The government has a one-track mind that is seemingly fed by shortcuts, and it is in a hurry to deliver some tangible and impactful infrastructural projects before the next polls. Until it is forced to develop an original developmental paradigm, the Buhari presidency will not be deterred by what his enthusiastic aides consider as the unenlightened protestations of the people.

    Given its deftness for indulging in semantic boondoggles, it is not surprising, alleges Isa Misau, a senator from Bauchi,  that the same APC government, has become embroiled in another confusing terminological inexactitude in the donation of two vehicles by the police to the president’s wife’s convoy. While Mrs Buhari insists she still uses her own private vehicles, but without denying the existence of the ‘donations’, the police said the donations were to help transport the police security men attached to her convoy. The vehicles, alas, exist, and they are attached to the president’s wife’s entourage. So, where is the confusion? Ah, possibly in insinuations that she was the direct beneficiary. Well, this government works in mysterious ways.

    Had the president simply acknowledged the existence of the first lady office and allocated a fair amount of vehicles to her convoy for her safety and comfort, her security detail would not need to solicit for vehicle donations. But, of course, the times are a-changing now. Meanwhile, to cure everyone of the semantic fustian unleashed by the police, let the two jeeps be returned to the police. If the president cannot transport his wife’s security detail, let them walk.

  • Should Nigerians expect more taxes?

    Should Nigerians expect more taxes?

    The statement credited to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the country may be operating one of the weakest tax regimes within sub Sahara Africa and beyond has sparked off a controversy of some sort with most Nigerians expressing fears that further reforms might translate to more taxes. Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf in this report examines the issues

    At a period when sizeable population of Nigerians are being compelled to pay or let’s say are grudgingly paying their taxes, the received wisdom out there is that the country’s tax system leaves absolutely nothing to cheer about.

    The foregoing was the submission made by Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director, African Department, International Monetary Fund, albeit impliedly.

    Selassie who spoke during a press conference at the Fund’s headquarters in Washington DC, United States, last weekend, said the federal government and the National Assembly must work together to review the country’s tax policies.

    The IMF boss said there was a need for tax policies that would help the country to generate more revenue in order to close the huge infrastructure gap in the country.

    He said, “The decision on the tax policy changes would be the government’s and the parliament’s but we would be providing a lot of support on policy advice.

    “I cannot stress again that the key remains for Nigeria needs to do a lot more investments in human capital investment. In terms of designing tax policies changes, there is a way to do it; we advise countries and provide technical assistance in a way that is progressive so that taxes are collected by people of the richer segment of the society; so there is a lot of technical work that needs to be done. “

    Expectedly, Selassie said the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had outlined plans to make the country’s tax administration system better such that more revenue could be generated.

    As a result, he said the IMF would support her in order to generate more revenue to close the infrastructure gap in the country.

    It is however instructive to note that in the past the main policies recommended by the IMF have had mixed results. The reduction in tariffs has been successful, as increased imports have so far more than compensated for the reduction in tariffs and resulted in an increase in trade tax revenue. However, the impact of domestic tax reforms has been less impressive. Most importantly, revenue collected from VAT and direct taxation has not increased as hoped, economic pundits have argued.

    Fears over tax increase

    Worryingly experts have warned that the pressure to both meet domestic expectations and display fiscal responsibility may be leading Nigerian government to exaggerate estimated future tax revenues. This allows the government to fulfil its expensive election promises and present balanced books to the donor community, but will ultimately lead to future budget cuts unless donors agree to cover the short fall in the near future, experts have further argued.

    Comparative analysis

    The World Bank estimates that Nigeria has the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios in the world, with 6.1 per cent compared to other African countries, such as South Africa (26.9), Egypt (15.8) and Botswana (35.2).

    According to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), of the country’s 70 million taxable adults, only 14 million pay income tax, with 96 per cent of them on the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system.

    A 2015 Knight Frank wealth report listed Nigeria as home to an estimated 770 billionaires (in naira terms) out of whom only 214 pay income taxe of N20 million and above.

    A similar nine-month tax amnesty initiative implemented in Indonesia this year earned the country $10 billion, attracted 970,000 new taxpayers and an additional $330 billion worth of assets to the tax net.

    A case for effective tax reforms

    Speaking at a public forum recently, Prof. Abiola Sanni, while noting that taxation was of fundamental importance to nation building, said matter-of-factly that: “Nigeria has one of the lowest and poorest GDP tax ratios in the world. Well, we are six per cent, during Baba’s (Obasanjo) time we move from under one per cent to about five per cent, which is a 500 per cent improvement.

    “When you compare six per cent tax GDP ratio to 20 per cent in Ghana, 15 per cent in Benin, 18 per cent in Cameroun, 27 per cent in South Africa, 24 per cent in UK, 29 per cent in USA and I think Germany is over 40% you can then understand the serious economic and physical implication for Nigeria. With the number I have seen, the amount of tax we collect is just about sufficient to cover our debt service obligations.”

    He urged Nigerians to emulate other countries where taxation grows to fund the provision of public goods and services, which every Nigerian should enjoy.

    Echoing similar sentiments, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said that every responsible citizen must pay tax, as it is a major source of revenue to drive the economy. He however said if the people are faithful with the payment of tax, responsible government should spend the tax revenue judiciously.

    Obasanjo spoke at the public presentation of a book, A Review of Tax System in Nigeria written by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Lagos.

    While noting that one of the major challenges of Nigeria is because it has not been able to determine the amount of tax revenue it loses annually, he was however quick to add that the country is not alone as the African Union reported that it loses $50billion per year from tax revenue.

    The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) has also raised hope about the ongoing tax reforms in the country and its positive effects on the economy sooner.

    President of ANAN, Alhaji Shehu Ladan, who commended the efforts of government in steering the economy amid recession lauded the unfolding gains of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), inauguration of the Nigerian Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council.

    He advised government that as a matter of policy, there should be a provision to ensure that all registered companies submit audited accounts in efforts to drive revenue, adding, “More individuals will be employed and that shall mean more taxes from Pay As You Earn.”

    According to him, the revenue of companies can be verified by auditors and taxes from such revenue can be more accurate and this will shore up government’s revenue in the pursuit of development plans.

    For Mr. Rotimi Balogun, Principal Consultant, Rotimi Balogun & Associates, a firm of chartered accountants, the nation’s tax receipts need to be greatly improved upon in order to grow the economy.

    “It is true that the country may not be generating much revenue from tax collection. If you look at the report released by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun recently analysing the tax performance of the country, you could see that all seems not to be well with our tax system,” he said.

    Pressed further, he said: “From official information, it is not everybody that is eligible to pay tax that is paying, including corporate entities and individuals. A lot of them are still not captured in the tax net.”

    Balogun who is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) further emphasised that one of the issues being tackled by professionals is the issue of multiple taxation.

    “Our contention is that those who are already in the tax bracket are paying too much and that is why we have advised that there should be a collection strategy which will help find a way of capturing those not already in the tax net. We favour a situation where there will be efficiency in terms of collection and management,” he noted.

    VAIDS to the rescue

    It may be recalled that the federal government in its quest to turn the tide as far as tax compliance is concerned had come up with the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

    The initiative which was formally launched in Nigeria with the signing of the Executive Order by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, 29th June, 2017, gives the needed regulatory approval for the Scheme.

    Since its initial proposition by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2010, more than 47 countries in the world have implemented the program in one form or the other, including South Africa, India, Indonesia, and Turkey, among others etc. Nigeria expects to rake in US$1 billion from the scheme.

    The VAIDS is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with tax authorities in Nigeria (both at the federal and state levels) to give a time limited opportunity to taxpayers to regularize their tax status relating to past periods, in terms of registration, returns filing, tax assessment and

    Thus, the scheme offers companies and entrepreneurs, whose tax affairs are out of joint, a window to make amends between 1 July 2017 to 31 March 2018. While the window remains open, taxpayers will have the opportunity to voluntarily declare all previously undisclosed assets and income, thereby straightening out their tax affairs over a period of three years.

    VAIDS applies to all tax-paying individuals, companies, executors and trusts and covers all taxes collectible by federal and state tax authorities. These include Company Income Tax (CIT), Personal Income Tax (PIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Value Added Tax (VAT) and stamp duty.

    Through VAIDS, the federal government desires to raise the percentage of non-oil tax revenue from the current 6 per cent to 15 per cent by 2020, improve tax collection and encourage voluntary tax compliance. In addition to raising revenue, VAIDS will boost investment and economic activities and create job opportunities, including 7,500 employment places for tax liaison officers by at the Federal Ministry of Finance, under the N-Power Scheme. The community tax liaison officers will be trained to educate on and sensitise Nigerians to the importance of paying tax and the country’s tax system.

    Many other experts also believe that diligent deployment of information obtained via the AEOI Standard will complement the VAIDS by assisting to uncover previously concealed assets and revenue sources. Tax experts have equally pointed out that the agreement to share bank information, under Common Reporting Standard (CRS), with countries such as Argentina, Indonesia and Italy, which operate programmes similar to VAIDS, will help in tracking Nigeria’s taxes taken abroad.

    But will the government be compelled to further review the tax system judging by the suggestions made by the IMF?

    Time will tell.

  • 1549 Nigerians deported from Libya, UK, South Africa, others

    1549 Nigerians deported from Libya, UK, South Africa, others

    Lucy George, a development economist  and former staff of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, has advised Nigerians to remain in Nigeria and contribute to its national and economic development

    George gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

    She said Nigerians should pay attention to the overwhelming number of Nigerians that had been deported from various countries while escaping the poor economic level of development in Nigeria.

    “We as Nigerians have a problem that should be tackled and that is the development of Nigeria.

    “We can’t sit down and expect the Federal Government to do everything because developing a country requires the people in it to be productive strengthening the private sector.

    “All the developed countries in the world are dominated by the private sector which creates massive employment opportunities and  eliminates poverty,” she said..

    George said that she was surprised that a large number of Nigerians had been sent back, especially from Libya.

    “We have had an overwhelming number of Nigerians deported or voluntarily returned this year which is embarrassing.

    “The largest number of Nigerian deportees for this year comes from Cameroon which deported about 100,000 Nigerians who escaped the Boko Haram disasters and sought refuge in Cameroon.

    “That was seen to be an illegal deportation which still is being denied by some Cameroonian officials however, we are not including that in the embarrassing statistics.

    “I am surprised by the number of Nigerians that have been deported and have volunteered to return to Nigeria from Libya just this week as 161 people arrived on Thursday and 257 people did same on Tuesday.

    “There were also 164 people deported in May, 171 in March and another 171 in February.

    “In February and May, South Africa had deported 97 and 90 Nigerians respectively in midst of the xenophobic attacks.

    “We saw it to be a discriminatory at first but later realised they actually did commit immigration related offences causing them to be deported by the South African authorities,” she said.

    She added that Nigerians should remain in the country to develop it so that they won’t lose out when Nigeria becomes better.

    “If everyone is leaving the county for greener pastures, who is expected to remain in Nigeria to develop it; anyone who doesn’t grow in the system will lose out when the country becomes better.

    “Imagine a scenario where a young man graduates from the university then leaves Nigeria in search of greener pastures but after arriving, fails to succeed in the new land.

    “He realises that things are not as fabulous as portrayed in movies as these countries have tougher systems, especially because he doesn’t meet the requirements for career jobs in their country.

    “He spends time being too embarrassed and broke to return to Nigeria but finally gets deported after many years.

    “In that time, he has lost the opportunity to put his education to practice, develop productive skills and has lost contact with friends who would have helped him develop himself or place him in a prominent position.

    “Nigerians should learn to be hardworking and patient to see their hard work reap its benefits because riches don’t come overnight.

    “The countries they are running to didn’t develop overnight so you can’t expect to comfortably reap what you didn’t sew thinking the roads are paved with gold.

    “In summary, I will emphasise on the fact that there is no place like home so I hope Nigerians learn from these numerous Nigerians that have been brought back home.

    NAN reports that there has been a minimum of 1549 Nigerians sent back to Nigeria with exemption of the controversial 100,000 sent from Cameroon.

    Figures show there was a minimum of 23 Nigerians deported from Spain,187 from South Africa, 924 from Libya, 110 from Italy, 41 from the U.S, 146 from the UK and 118 from six other European countries.

    The countries include Austria, Germany, Hungry, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark.(NAN)

  • Adesina hails Nigerians for prayers, goodwill to Buhari

    Adesina hails Nigerians for prayers, goodwill to Buhari

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Thursday commended Nigerians for the outpouring of prayers and show of goodwill to President Muhammadu Buhari since he returned to the country.

    He made the remark while receiving a delegation of well-wishers to the President, led by Amb. Eze N. Ebere, at the State House, Abuja.

    Adesina, in a statement by the Deputy Director (Information), State House, Attah Esa, said President Buhari deeply appreciated the prayers during his ill health, and after his recovery, from both the Christian and Muslim communities.

    The Special Adviser also said the positive reviews on the President’s handling of conflicts in various parts of the country had been most encouraging for the administration, noting that the President remains focused in serving Nigerians, and ensuring an improvement in the lives of all.

    “The President really appreciates all the prayers, and will like to say a big thank you for your support for his leadership style and handling of the conflicts,’’ he said.

    Adesina assured the delegation of the President’s commitment and transparent leadership style, promising to deliver a letter brought by the group.

    In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, who is also the National Patron of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said the association remains thankful to God for restoring the health of the President.

    “We are here to commend the President over his leadership style, especially the way he handled the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) issue, and others, by ensuring that peace is restored across Nigeria,’’ Ebere said.

    He pledged the association’s continued support for President Buhari’s administration.

    The Justice of the Peace, an association, gave Adesina a special recognition as a “Peace Conservator’’.