Author: Editor Francis

President Bola Tinubu has submitted four key tax reform bills to the House of Representatives for consideration and expedited approval. In a letter read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on Thursday, Tinubu explained that the bills align with the administration’s objectives of strengthening fiscal institutions and streamlining tax administration in Nigeria. The proposed bills include: – Nigeria Tax Bill 2024: Aims to provide a comprehensive fiscal framework for taxation. – Tax Administration Bill: Seeks to establish a clear legal framework for all taxes, reducing disputes. – Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill: Repeals the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act to create the…

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The National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet per adult a day stood at N1,255 in August 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics has said. The NBS revealed this in its CoHD report for August 2024, released on Thursday in Abuja. The Bureau said that the CoHD in August decreased by 0.8 per cent compared to the N1,265 recorded in July. The NBS said the CoHD was the least expensive combination of locally available items that met globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines. It said it was used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets. “This is…

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A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, in the sum of N150 million over an alleged N27 billion fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Sylvanus Oriji, in his ruling on Thursday, granted Ishaku bail with two sureties in the same amount. One of the sureties must be a federal government employee of director level, and both must reside in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with their addresses verified by the Court Registrar. The court also restricted Ishaku and his co-defendant, Bello…

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said its operatives in Kaduna seized 1,045.93kgs of various illicit substances and arrested 420 suspects in the third quarter of the year. NDLEA commander in the state, Samaila Danmalam, disclosed this on Thursday in Kaduna. Mr Danmalam said, “The command had, within the period under review, arrested a total of 420 suspects, comprising 404 males and 16 females. The figure represents both drug dealers, drug users, and traffickers.” He said, “The illicit substances included cocaine, cannabis sativa, Rohypnol, tramadol, methamphetamine, and other psychotropic substances grossly weighing 1,045.93kg. “The command seized a total of 1,393…

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application by Dr. Bright Echefu, the Managing Director and CEO of Telcom Satellite Television Service (TSTV), seeking to stop the Inspector General of Police (IGP) from investigating him over an alleged N2 billion fraud. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his ruling on Wednesday, described the application as frivolous and without merit, stating that the police have the authority to investigate under Section 4 of the Police Act. The court found it inappropriate for Echefu to seek legal protection from being investigated for allegations of stealing and misappropriating N2 billion in investment funds…

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced a shift in its approach to reducing Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) in Nigeria, introducing community-based initiatives in place of traditional motor park rallies.  Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM) Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Corps’ Public Education Officer, made the announcement in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja. Ogungbemide emphasised the FRSC’s concern over the diminishing impact of motor park rallies, a long-standing method for engaging drivers and the public on road safety. In response, the FRSC has adopted alternative strategies, including town hall meetings and press conferences, while maintaining motor park rallies in certain…

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Petroleum marketers in Nigeria have raised concerns about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) shutting down its portal, which is used for purchasing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol. According to Chinedu Ukadike, spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), the closure has left over 2,000 pending purchase tickets for 45,000 litres of petrol each, which could lead to fuel scarcity across the country. Ukadike expressed concern about the potential nationwide impact, noting that the total volume of petrol involved amounts to millions of litres. The price of a 45,000-liter truckload is approximately ₦39.5 million, which…

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On Wednesday, the Senate stood down a bill seeking to establish standards and licensing conditions for the operation of private investigators in Nigeria. The bill, sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West), was met with opposition from a majority of lawmakers during the debate in the Senate. Senator Ngwu, the Senate Minority Whip, introduced the bill with the aim of creating a legal framework for the licencing and regulation of private investigators in the country, modelled after similar systems in the UK, US, Australia, and Canada. He emphasised the need for professional standards in the industry, stating that many…

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of over ₦13 billion in diverted public funds during September 2024. The Chairman of the Commission, Adamu Aliyu, made this disclosure while launching the ICPC’s 2024-2028 strategic action plan in Abuja on Tuesday. Aliyu did not specify the individuals or sectors involved but emphasised that the ICPC has been working tirelessly to fulfil its mandate. “Over the past year, the ICPC has made significant progress in discharging its mandate. For example, we recovered over ₦13 billion in diverted public funds in September 2024 alone,” Aliyu stated.…

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The Yola zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the federal government to stop delaying the implementation of agreed-upon terms, urging immediate action to avoid further disruption in Nigeria’s higher education system. In a statement released on Wednesday, October 2, ASUU’s Yola Zone emphasised the need for the government to fully implement the agreements reached in 2022, which led to the suspension of a previous strike. The statement comes just a week before the expiration of a new two-week ultimatum issued by ASUU’s national leadership. The Yola Zone, which comprises six branches—Modibbo Adama University Yola,…

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Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held phone discussions with European counterparts immediately after Iran’s missile attack on Israel, according to state media reports on Wednesday. The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that Araghchi communicated with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, as well as ministers in the UK, France, and other nations following the missile strike. Araghchi informed them that the attack had been completed but warned that any retaliatory action from Israel would prompt an even stronger response. Araghchi emphasised that Iran does not seek further escalation but does not fear war. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that…

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In celebration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred national honours on several prominent figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau. In his October 1st nationwide broadcast, Tinubu announced that Senate President Akpabio and Chief Justice Kekere-Ekun have been awarded the title of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). Deputy Senate President Barau and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, received the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour, while Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu was bestowed…

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