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Abia State has been ranked 35th in Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue generation among Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to figures released for August 2024 by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The state recorded a total VAT collection of N663.42 million, placing it near the bottom of the list. At the top of the chart, Lagos State maintained its dominant position with a staggering N249.77 billion, followed by Rivers State with N70.54 billion. Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Delta completed the top five, generating N20.11 billion, N18.17 billion, and N13.09 billion, respectively.…

Member of the House of Representatives for Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa, has condemned the tragic killing of a police officer and the wounding of another following an attack on police personnel at Ugwu Abba, en route to Asaga Ohafia, Ohafia Local Government Area. In a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident, Rep. Osonwa described the attack as both a grave concern and deeply unsettling, particularly as it targets those who serve to protect the community. “It is with a heavy heart that I share this tragic news. The loss of a dedicated police officer and the…

A former Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Doyin Okupe, has described President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s reform agenda as the most credible compared to other presidential candidates in the 2023 presidential election. Mr Okupe, a former spokesman for President Goodluck Johnathan, stated this while assessing Mr Tinubu’s administration’s reform agenda. Mr Okupe said that even though he did not support Mr Tinubu before the 2023 general election or belong to the ruling party, the president’s “reform agenda is the most credible.” “The Renewed Hope Agenda he (Tinubu) brought is one that can address, and is addressing, the country’s current challenges,” Mr Okupe…

A devout Muslim and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Alhaji Ahmed Raji, has replaced an 80-year-old Church building of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo at St John Baptist Catholic Church, Isalu, Iseyin, with a modern 400-capacity Assembly Hall. The SAN commended the Church for not discriminating against people of other faiths. The modern 400-seater Assembly Hall, built to replace the former 80-year-old edifice which collapsed due to age, was named after Archbishop Gabriel ‘Leke Abegurin, the Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese and Metropolitan of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province. According to The Guardian, Archbishop Gabriel Abegunrin was the chief celebrant of the…

Daniel Bwala had barely announced himself as the new presidential spokesman when Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, issued a statement saying there was no “presidential spokesman” in that sense. To boot, Onanuga announced the re-designation of Bwala as special adviser on policy communication to the president — a position that means the latest addition to President Bola Tinubu’s media team will now operate away from the presidential villa. It all happened in a day’s job — on Monday, November 18. Bwala was announced as the special adviser to media and public communication on November…

The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume has appealed to the upper chamber to support the widow of late Ifeanyi Ubah to replace her husband as the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District. Mr Ndume made the appeal on Tuesday during the valedictory session organised by the Senate in honour of the late senator. Mr Ubah, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died at the age of 52 in a London hospital after a brief illness in July. He defected to the APC from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in October…

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve a fresh $2.209bn external loan incorporated into the 2024 budget. The president’s request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary on Tuesday. In the letter, Mr Tinubu explained that the external loan would be part of the funds that will be used to finance the N28.7 trillion 2024 Appropriation. President Tinubu noted that his request was in accordance with the provisions of Sections 21 (1) and 27 (1) of the Debt Management Office and the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). “In…

Members of the House of Representatives from the northern part of the country have raised fresh concerns over the four tax reform bills currently under consideration in the National Assembly. They spoke at an interactive session organised by the House of Representatives with the members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms on Monday. The bills, particularly the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, have sparked widespread debate. The bills are: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country; and the Tax…

The Chairman of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, Eric Odo, has appointed a Senior Special Assistant on Garden Egg and Pepper. Odo also appointed a Senior Special Assistant Yam and Pepper. While Ezeugwu Frederick Ogbonna was appointed an assistant on Yam and Pepper, Nwodo Everestus Ugonna was appointed to advise the Chairman on Garden Egg and Pepper. According to their letter of appointment dated November 1, both Nwodo and Ezeugwu have been directed to report to the office of the executive chairman Igbo Etiti LGA, Ogbede, for briefing and deployment. “I am pleased to inform you…

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, has said two of the agency’s staff members were recently dismissed over allegation of corruption. Olukoyede disclosed this during the opening of the 6th Annual Criminal Law Review Conference organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 5-day event is titled: “Optimising the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria: How to Navigate Emerging and Systemic Challenges of Insecurity and Economic Hardship.” The EFCC chairman, who said the two officials were dismissed two week ago, said besides dismissal,…