News
House softens stance on Tax Reform Bills
The House of Representatives has softened its stance on the Tax Reform Bills.
Yesterday, after a three-hour generally positive debate by members, the Bills scaled second reading and passed for public hearing.
This is unlike the situation when the Bills were sent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Green Chamber in October.
Following opposition from a section of the ruling class, the House exploded in uproar over the Bills, forcing Speaker Abbas Tajudeen to dissolve the House into and Executive session after which all issues on the Bills were kept in ambiance to allow for consultations.
But at the Senate, the Bills were quickly debated and moved to the public hearing stage.
The Bills are the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
The bills were consolidated into one at the House for a seamless debate.
The proposed laws were read for the first time on October 8 but debate by the House was put on hold due to disagreement on the content of the bill, especially by Northern leaders and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Although the House engaged government officials on the benefits of the bills, Speaker Tajudeen asked members to engage in wide consultations with their constituents to pave the way for a robust debate.
Apart from some observations on certain areas of the bills that appeared not in tandem with some sections of the 1999 Constitution and a few other clauses, members unanimously okayed the bills for a second reading.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda said while opposition members supported the spirit behind the bills, some had issues with certain aspects.
Chinda noted that the bills seek to rejig the nation’s tax system for effective revenue generation. He pointed out that for every law, there must be the spirit of the letters.
He said: “We have all agreed that the spirit behind the four bills is good.‘’
But we have issues with some of the letters of the bills. Why we oppose some letters of the bills, we support the spirit and want to assure Nigerians that we will watch those letters and at the appropriate time, we will ensure that the letters are corrected in the interest of Nigerians.
“He advocated a reduction in the Value Added Tax(VAT), saying ‘’It is possible to reduce tax, while efforts should be made to tidy up all areas of conflicts..’’
House Leader Julius Ihonvbere thereafter set the tone for the debate by explaining that the bills were intended to overhaul the country’s outdated tax laws.
Ihonvbere reassured the public that the reforms would benefit ordinary Nigerians without imposing tax burdens on the poor.
While appreciating those who hold opposing views to the bills, he said their views helped strengthen the bills.
The House leader charged members to “be part of history in reforming the tax system to promote revenue growth, increase employment and better the life of ordinary Nigerians.
Minority Whip, Ali Isa commended Speaker Abass for creating an opportunity for members to engage and consult widely on the contentious parts of the bills.
Isa however expressed concern about clause 146 which encourages a gradual increase in VAT from 7.5 percent to 10 percent and later 15 percent.
News
PFIPC: Adeyemi should be prosecuted – ICPC chairman
President Tinubu had on July 7, mandated the ICPC to investigate the matter and submit its report within 30 days.
• State House Photo:The Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, submit an interim report of its investigation on PFIPC, to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, August 6,2026
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged the Federal Government to prosecute the Director -General of the fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
The Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, made the call on Thursday when he submitted an interim report of its investigation into the controversy surrounding the existence of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) .
As part of the recommendations, the ICPC boss said Mr Adeyemi should be prosecuted, while administrative sanctions should be imposed on public officers “whose acts of omissions, negligence, facilitated the illegal operation of the council because our investigation found that some public officers failed to do due diligence.”
President Tinubu had on July 7, mandated the ICPC to investigate the matter and submit its report within 30 days.
Submitting the report, the ICPC chairman said that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council “was never established by any law or executive order or other instrument of government, and the appointment letter presented by Adeyemi Matthew was completely forged alongside similar documents used to perpetuate the illegal activities of the fake agency.”
“What we discovered was that the office used by the fake agency was broken into. The lock was broken, and he had access to the office. That was how he was able to get inside that office, and also the false widespread impersonation and wide range of illegal activities were perpetrated by the fake DG or the fake agency, Adeyemi.”
He emphasised that public officers should also be sanctioned, because “They failed to adhere with the standard procedures that are supposed to be complied with in their ministries and departments, and that gave Adeyemi Matthew the opportunity to conduct this illegal act.
“Then institutional reform has also been recommended that there is need for institutional reform so that the internal control of the MDAs can be strengthened to block this kind of illegal activity.”
News
PSC hands over 50,000 newly recruited constables to police for training
Receiving the recruits on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, DIG Isyaku Mohammed, who oversees the Force Training and Development Department, commended the commission for conducting what he described as a transparent recruitment exercise.
• IGP Tunji Disu
The Police Service Commission on Thursday formally handed over 50,000 newly recruited police constables to the Nigeria Police Force for training.
A statement issued on Thursday by the commission’s spokesperson, Torty Kalu, said the handover was presided over by retired Justice Paul Galumje, Commissioner I.
The statement said the recruitment exercise was conducted in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu and relevant statutory provisions.
Galumje thanked the President for his support of the recruitment process and formally presented the successful candidates to the Nigeria Police Force for training at designated police colleges and other approved institutions.
He also handed over the detailed list of successful candidates, contained in a flash drive, to the police authorities.
Receiving the recruits on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, DIG Isyaku Mohammed, who oversees the Force Training and Development Department, commended the commission for conducting what he described as a transparent recruitment exercise.
News
Kogi vigilantes clash leaves eight dead
Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed the incident, clarifying that the violence was not a bandit attack on the affected communities.
• One of the dead victims / Ohibaba image
At least eight people have been killed following a violent clash between local vigilante members and Fulani vigilantes in the villages of Abugi, Mikugi, and Gudanchi, all located in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The violence which erupted on Thursday, has thrown residents of Abugi and surrounding communities into panic.
Sources said the crisis began after a confrontation between a member of the local vigilante group and his counterparts from the Fulani vigilante group.
The disagreement reportedly escalated when one of the men allegedly opened fire, killing the other instantly.
The killing triggered a series of reprisal attacks, with the death toll rising to at least eight as of the time of this report.
The exact number of those injured is yet to be confirmed.
Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed the incident, clarifying that the violence was not a bandit attack on the affected communities.
The council chairman said security agencies had been briefed and promised to provide further details as investigations progress.
PFIPC: Adeyemi should be prosecuted – ICPC chairman
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