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The National Assembly lawmakers from Abia state yesterday met with the Governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti in Abuja. The meeting, according to Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, was aimed at consolidating what could be described as a bipartisan relationship that commenced shortly after the inauguration of the Governor and the Lawmakers respectively over a month ago. The meeting saw all the three Senators and eight House of Representatives members from Abia state in attendance. The lawmakers collectively emphasised the need for collaboration that would see to the speedy development of the state.…

Companies that were unable to file their Companies Income Tax returns for the 2023 year of assessment (YOA) that fell due on the 30th of June 2023 have been given up to 31st August, 2023 to submit their returns to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The FIRS in a Public Notice signed by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, and issued today stated that it had received numerous calls from companies requesting for the extension of time to submit their Companies Income Tax (CIT) returns as they were unable to meet up with the deadline due on 30th June…

The immediate past Deputy Chief of Staff, DCOS office of the Deputy Governor, Chief Don Ubani is in trouble as a one time Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Abia State, Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN Monday dragged him to an Abuja Federal High Court over allegation of defamation of character. In the suit number FCT/HC/CV/6777/2023, had approached the court to compel Chief Ubani to make an apology in a full page of Sun Newspaper and This day Newspaper, retracting the defamatory statements contained in a Press Statement titled, “What a Demeaning Unprofessional Conduct By Chief Umeh Kalu, SAN”. Chief…

A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) after grilling him for days. A source closed to the former Zamfara State Governor who pleaded not to be named, disclosed this on Sunday morning. “His Excellency has been released by DSS after about days of detention by the DSS,” the source said. Peoples Gazette, an online publication, had earlier reported that Yari was arrested by the secret police after receiving a call from the director-general, Yusuf Bichi, to report at the DSS headquarters for an urgent discussion. When our correspondent tried…

To address the business-unfriendly fiscal policies and multiple taxes in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu signed some executive orders on Thursday. The orders largely alter and reverse some policies of the last administration. How will this affect Nigerians? FIJ looks at the implications of this move that has generated different opinions on social media. CHANGES IN FINANCE ACT TAKE EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Finance Act (FA) on May 28, 2023, the eve of his departure from office, to take effect on May 1, 2023. This date variation negates the provision of the 2017 National Tax…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Taiwo Oyedele, a tax expert, who recently criticised his proof of ownership policy, as chairman of the Presidential Tax Reforms Committee. Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, disclosed the president’s approval of the appointment in a press statement he signed on Friday. Oyedele is a fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a global tax consulting firm with presence in Nigeria. In its statement, the government said it aimed “to transform the tax system to support sustainable development and achieve a minimum of 18% Tax…

Prof Monica Ironkwe – Agriculture Kingsely Anoribe- Budget and Planning Prof Eme Uche – Education Philemon Asonye Ogbonna – Environment Mike Akpara – Finance Ngozi Okoronkwo – Health Okey Kanu – Information Ikechukwu Uwanna – Justice and Attorney General Chaka Chukwumereije – Lands & Survey Uzo Nwachukwu – Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Prof Joel Friday Ogbonna – Petroleum and Minera Resources Chima Emmanuel Oriaku – Science and Technology Nwaobilor Nwadimma Ananaba- Sports Dr Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu -Trade Commerce and Industry Ngozi Blessing Felix – Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Engr Don Otumchere Oti – Works Comrade Sunny Okebugwu Onwuma…

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogar, has lamented the rampant cases of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in his federal constituency of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi, Abia State. Briefing journalists Thursday after presenting a motion on the development at plenary, Ogar said kidnapping had been rampant and was “becoming like akara business”, as people’s homes were being invaded to pick persons in demand for ransom as low as N30,000. He noted that the primary purpose of governance is the security of lives of the people. “Today, I moved a motion over incessant attacks on my people (constituents). Kidnapping…

The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu will release the list of his ministerial nominees when he is ready. In line with the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, which mandates presidents and governors to submit the names of their ministerial and commissioner-nominees within 60 days of taking the oath of office, Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, has less than one month to unveil his cabinet. However, there have been reports on some persons that will make the list. In stories by different national dailies, some names have been mentioned as those being considered by Tinubu. Tokubo Abiru,…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has admitted the former Head of the Rapid Response Team, Abba Kyari, to a N50 million bail in a charge filed against him and two others by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The NDLEA had filed the 24-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022 against Kyari and two of his siblings – Mohammed Baba Kyari and Ali Kyari – in respect of which they were arraigned last month. Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Thursday, July 6, 2023, granted conditional bail to Abba Kyari at the sum of N50 million with two sureties…