Mohammed Shosanya

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has constituted a committee on Sustainable Action For Economic Recovery (SAfER).

The Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, explained that the committee is in accordance with the governor’s promise made during a statewide address to the people of Oyo state.

He said in a statement that the Committee is saddled with the implementation of various palliatives for the citizens of Oyo State, in the light of the hardship caused by the subsidy removal.

The 15-man committee is headed by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, while the Secretary is the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde.

Other members include the Commissioner of Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo; Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bar. Olasunkanmi Olaleye; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Mr Segun Olayiwola.

Also in the Committee are the Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade; the Special Adviser, Labour Matters, Comrade Bayo Titilola-Sodo; Senior Executive Assistant, General Duties, Chief Bayo Lawal; the Executive Assistant, Finance, Budget Economic planning, Alh. Kolawole Gafar.

Other members of the committee are Commissioner of Police, Sunday Odukoya (rtd); Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties, Miss Ololade Ajibola.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Muslim community are represented by Bishop Daniel Oluwajimade and Alh. Muniru Ogundipe.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Ademola Babalola represents the union, while Mr. Jide Bamgbose represents Civil Society Organizations.

The governor advised the committee to let the sufferings of the masses propel their loyalty and admonished them to move with speed and efficiency.

Mohammed Shosanya

Executive Chairman,Federal Inland Revenue Service,FIRS,Muhammad NAMI,says for Nigeria to attain optimum tax revenue collection capacity across the Federal, States and Local Government tax authorities, the country must make hard but necessary reforms that would yield long term benefits.

He spoke at the 153rd meeting of the Board which held on Monday in Abuja with the theme: “Harmonization and codification of taxes at the National and Sub-national levels: Key to achieving a tax friendly environment in Nigeria.”

Mr. Nami,while delivering his address to the Board stated that for progress to be made in taxation, tax authorities must continue to explore and adopt measures and innovative initiatives that will lead to the optimisation of tax revenue for all levels of government.

“As the new administrations attempt to address the many socioeconomic challenges facing the nation on many fronts, it becomes imperative for all the levers of State to shake-off any lethargic antecedents and focus on the goal of a national resurgence.

“The unique and privileged offices we occupy as drivers of the nation’s tax administration processes presents us with a rare opportunity to take hard, but necessary decisions that are expected to yield long term benefits and add immense value to our collective prosperity as a nation.

“In recent years, especially since the dawn of our current democratic dispensation, the importance of taxation has continued to be reiterated and reinforced by all, and the critical role that tax-revenue plays in funding government and governance cannot be over-emphasized.

“However, as we continue to make progress in our unique model of taxation, it is appropriate that we continue to explore and adopt measures and innovative initiatives that will lead to the optimization of tax revenue for all the levels of government, in more efficient, more effective, more inclusive, and more sustainable ways.

“It is only by achieving this, that our efforts as tax administrators can trigger the manner of activity required in the productive sectors of our economy, towards achieving the immense economic potentials that we are capable of,” Mr. Nami said.

Nami,who is also the Chairman of the Joint Tax Board further assured Executive Chairmen of State Revenue Authorities present that given the thrust of the current administration’s tax policy direction, the country was on the pathway to eradicating multiplicity of taxes as a core of its overall economic regeneration objectives.

Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms Committee,while delivering a presentation on the theme of the meeting highlighted that multiple taxation was causing low tax morale in the country, as well as discouraging investments, while creating room for corruption and making doing business difficult.

The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee Chairman further noted that the solution to the country’s revenue challenges is not to introduce more taxes, but to focus on the few taxes that are high yielding, noting that with these, tax authorities would be able to collect far more than is currently being collected.

He stated that for the government to raise more revenue, it needed to get to a point where the total number of taxes collected at the Federal, State and Local government levels would be at a single digit.

“We also need to clarify on taxing rights. We need to integrate tax collection functions—that is, all revenues that are to be collected must be collected by a single revenue agency. Government must also do well to fund our tax agencies well. We also need to harmonise revenue administration and simplify our approach to tax compliance,” Mr. Taiwo stated.

He advocated the need for the country’s tax authorities to use more technology, review the country’s constitution and tax laws, as well revisit Nigeria’s concept of fiscal federalism.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Enugu Government has banned the collection of levies and tolls on highways and roads in the State under any guise.

The secretary to the state government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia,disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

He said,the government views with displeasure the activities of those who constitute nuisance on our roads and deploy all manner of crude tactics to extort monies from vehicles transporting goods, farm produce and livestock in our state, in the name of collection of levies and tolls on behalf of government.

He also said such anti-business activities of syndicates operating on our highways and roads are contrary to the current government’s determination to dismantle obstacles to the ease of doing business in the state.

According to him,the current administration will not pay lip service to its stated commitment to expand the Enugu economy sevenfold by promoting economic activities, enabling private sector investments, offering incentives to boost the productive sectors such as agricultural and agro-allied activities in the state.

He said,those willing to engage in lawful economic and business activities in our state shall be encouraged to do so as they are beneficial to the state.

He added:”Government is also taking steps to eliminate multiple and illegal taxation in the state, including collection of taxes and revenues by individuals via cash payments, manual issuance of receipts, and paper tickets. Government is convinced that tax and revenue collection must be convenient and friendly via technology while addressing leakages.

“In view of the foregoing, the Enugu State Government hereby bans the collection of levies and tolls along highways and roads in the state by individuals or groups of individuals purportedly acting on behalf of government. They have been, by this announcement, put on notice to quit all highways and roads within the state as failure to comply will attract severe consequences.

“The ban takes effect immediately. A taskforce has been constituted to enforce the ban. Henceforth, anyone caught in the illegal act shall be prosecuted”.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) air strikes have destroyed boats carrying stolen crude oil in Rivers State

The operations occurred on Saturday 5 August 2023 at about 4 Nautical Miles South-East of Bille, a riverine area located west of Bonny Island and South of Port Harcourt, in Rivers State,according to a press statement made available to journalists on Monday by
Edward Gabkwet, Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force.

It noted that the air strikes became necessary after three boats were sighted tapping crude oil from a pipeline. Consequently, the boats were engaged and destroyed by the aircraft. Flying towards Port Harcourt.

The statement said the crew also observed an active illegal refining site with tanks and reservoirs loaded with suspected illegal refined products, about 4 miles South-east of Idama in Rivers State.

The site was subsequently attacked and destroyed,it said.

“Air strikes against these economic saboteurs will be sustained until they desist from their acts of thievery and economic sabotage.

“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has since directed all air component commanders nationwide to ensure they team up with other security agencies as they sustain air strikes on all criminal elements in the country. According to him, “The days of treating criminal elements in our country with kids’ gloves is over. We must continue on this trajectory until we bring all of them to their knees,”the statement

Mohammed Shosanya

Mr Haruna Kolo, the former Integrated payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS) desk officer, Federal Character Commission,who was accused of collecting monies from people to offer them jobs,Monday admitted to have collected monies totalling over 75 million from persons on the directives of Farida Dankaka, FCC Chairman.

Kolo disclosed that Mrs Farida Dankaka was the the one that instructed him to collect the monies to his personal bank account number which is Eco bank, and pay to her in cash which he did at several meetings at her house, where they meet.

He revealed this at the ongoing investigative hearing by the House of Representative ad-Hoc committee investigating federal ministries, department and agencies, parastatals and tertiary institutions on mismanagement of the Integrated payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS).

According to him,he resigned from FCC on the 2nd of November 2022 to begin work at Asset Management Cooperation of Nigeria but salary was still paid to his account from FCC on two occasion which he said he reported to the FCC Human Resource officer but was told it was not an issue and that it would be handled carefully.

He explained that when Farida Dankaka came to Federal Character as the executive Chairman, Dankaka appointed him as a protocol officer which he carried out his duty diligently.

On the allegations of job racketeering,he said the FCC Chairman instructed him to liaise with one Mr Shehu who is a personal driver and PA to the Taraba state commissioner. As a desk officer, and Mr Kolo admitted that he was responsible taking whoever that was employed to IPPIS for capturing, no one had access going there without a letter from the Chairman or Human Resource officer of FCC.

He added: “When she came, she wrote a letter to the Accountant General instructing that no letter from FCC should be honored except she signs the letter. So when ever there were new employment, she signs, give to me and I take to the Accountant General’s office for capturing.

“Shehu is the one that brought those who paid monies to my account for job, some paid 1million others 1.5 million all to my personal account, my Eco bank account. She asked me to give cash to her which I did through POS so there is not evidence of transfer or anything.

“On the allegation of working at 7 places, I was never at anytime involved in 7jobs, they are making the allegation based on assumption.

“The second allegation on my subsequent employment to AMCOM, that was as a result of her personal favour to me, we were 4 in number, she gave the appointment letter to myself Kadijah, Olushola, we all proceeded for interview at AMCON headquarters Abuja after which we were called upon for training on the 16th January 2023, after the training, I and Olushola were called to lagos. Unfortunately, Kadijah who is the Chairman’s biological sister was rejected, The Chairman accused me of been responsible for her rejection.

“I see no reason why the Chairperson will make allegations of such magnitude to my humble self. I have been threatened even at gun point and had to leave Abuja”.

He said: “Mr Chairman, I want this committee to know that after this sitting if anything happens to me the FCC chairperson should be held responsible.I have received threats so many times, even at gun point, to an extent I ran away, out of Abuja inorder to be safe”

Responding to various submissions by Haruna Kolo and the Chairperson FCC, the chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi said the committee will leave no stone unturned to get the truth out for Nigerians to See, and for Kolo’s safety, it’s guaranteed.

“This committee will not sit down and watch taxpayers money being embezzled but this committee too will be very careful in indicting futures of people just as Osun was talking. I said in the speech I read I didn’t see relationship between selling this and selling that. I was very clear. I know why we were asking Kolo to give us evidence and we know why we were deferring this sitting for other witnesses that are alleged to have had financial dealings with Federal Character.

“Federal Character thank you for coming, Kolo appear here tomorrow. We are calling the other witnesses. We will allow you to do your work. Whosever that is found wanting will answer his father’s name, including Kolo Haruna.

“See Haruna Kolo, I am not saying anything will happen to you but by law you are not supposed to leave here without being arrested. For a civil servants that has thirty something million in his account that admitted publicly that you are serving as a front to aid corruption. So I am quiet, I think and I don’t want to take you up on that because we don’t want to be seen to be sentimental. We want to as much possible protect you to get evidence against you and against others.

“God will save you and God will save us all. Nothing will happen to you because anybody that wants to harm you knows that if they harm you we have suspect. So nothing is going to harm you.

Hon. Gagdi thanked the Federal Character, and begged that nothing should happen to Kolo, that Kolo is the committee’s ruling.