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NDUME THE PETREL AND TINUBUS TAX REFORMS OF TROUBLE.By: Inuwa Bwala
NDUME THE PETREL AND TINUBUS TAX REFORMS OF TROUBLE.By: Inuwa Bwala
Intrigues, intimidation, blacknail,bribes, and lobbying were said to be part of the strategies used in the moves to get the 4 Tax Reform Bills presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu passed.
Unconfirmed reports had it that, Senators were offered N50m each, while N30m was dangled before each member of the House of Representatives.
Recalcitrant Senators and members were either threatened or blackmailed, even as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s foot soldiers employed lobbying tactics to get the bills passed.
But like the infamous Third Term Bill of the Olusegun Obasanjo era, the bills seem to be heading for the dustbin. Nigerians, especially Northerners, have never been so united in opposing a particular government policy, as they did over the obvious ill-fated tax reform bill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In what could be described as a courageous stance against their own government, members of the rulling All Progressives Congress, APC, were in the vanguard of campaigning against the bill and may eventually shoot it down.
Both Senators and members of the House of Representatives, seem to tow the lines of the Northern Governors Forum, the Arewa Consultative Forum and the National Economic Council: all of whom advocated for the withdrawal of the bills, to allow for wider consultations and Public sensitization.
To them, the tax reform bills are delicate and require a deeper reflection on the mood and socio-economic realities of the country, before presentation, and passage.
In the face of attempts by their leadership to have the bills sail through, the lawmakers were vehement in opposing the passage of the bills, arguing that the mood of the country and the socio- economic realities in Nigeria cannot accommodate the assumed bebefits.
The petrel in the red chambers, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume: who represents Borno South Senatorial District, seem to have spoken the minds of other Nigerians, in the crusade against the tax bills.
To him, the benefits of the bill were only apparent to the President and his tax reform experts, but the generality of Nigerians are bound to suffer in the long run, if the bills are allowed.
Ndume, during plenary and in an interview with Channels Televission insists that the seeming desperation on the part of the leadership of National Assembly smacks of a plot to further deprive Nigerians of the dividends of democracy.
Ndume’s position was re-echoed in the House of Representative, where members shouted down attempts by the Speaker, Honorable Abbas, to get a soft landing for the bills.
While the Senate President, Godswill Akpadio seem to have had his way with the bills, using the gavel: referring all four bills to the Finance Committee, the story with the House of Representatives is a different ball game.
Debates on the bill have been differed for Tuesday in the House of Representatives apparently buying time to further lobby. But most vocal memberst of the house: names with held told me in confidence that, since the law requires the passage of the bills by both chambers of the National Assembly, any action taken by the Senate will be an exercise in futility, as the House of Representative is determined to shoot the bills down.
Whatever becomes the fate of the President’s four tax reform bills, it is clear that, the Executive and the leadership of the National Assembly may have their ways but as Senator Ndume said, the lawmakers will have their says.
NDUME THE PETREL AND TINUBUS TAX REFORMS OF TROUBLE.By: Inuwa Bwala
Army troops recover more arms, neutralise IEDs in sambisa forest offensive
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recovered more arms and ammunition and detonated several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) during the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity V offensive in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno.
Zagazola report that the operation was carried out at about 9:00 a.m. on Dec. 29 by troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, in conjunction with volunteer forces.
According to the sources, the troops advanced from their harbour area and cleared several deserted terrorist enclaves around the Dure axis before proceeding to Century Wolf area, south of Dure.
The sources stated that the general area was characterised by thick vegetation, adding that no significant items of interest were found during the initial phase of the operation.
The sources said the troops later advanced to the Sabil Huda enclave, which was assessed to be highly active but had been abandoned by the terrorists before the arrival of troops.
The sources added that Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams commenced scanning of the enclave to enable exploitation by troops.
During the exploitation, the report said the troops recovered three AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, 37 rounds of 7.62x54mm ammunition, 38 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition, 33 rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition and two hand grenades.
The sources said that life-support structures within the enclave were destroyed, while four additional IEDs discovered in the area were safely detonated.
Army troops recover more arms, neutralise IEDs in sambisa forest offensive
Troops recover drone after clash with ISWAP in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have recovered a drone after engaging suspected ISWAP terrorists during a fighting patrol in Izge area of Borno.
Zagazola learnt thar the encounter occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 30 in the Pridang general area.
The sources stated that troops deployed at Forward Operating Base Izge, were on a patrol in conjunction with volunteer forces when they came in contact with an unconfirmed number of terrorists on a surveillance mission.
According to the sources, the terrorists were suspected to be planning to deploy an ultra-light drone to monitor the activities of troops and local residents in the area.
The sources said the troops engaged the terrorists with overwhelming firepower, forcing them to abandon the drone and flee in disarray, possibly with gunshot wounds.
The sources added that the troops conducted exploitation of the area and recovered one drone along with its complete accessories.
End
PAN Workers Cry Out for Their Severances
By: Balami Lazarus
There had been an outcry recently by retired workers of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Kaduna on their entitlements that are yet to be settled.
However, PAN is working towards the payments of their severances to enable the company to move forward and face other corporate challenges.
The Managing Director, Mrs. Taiwo Oluleye, has made it clear that the company is making efforts to pay all entitlements of her retired workers as soon as possible.
Speaking recently with Barr. Adekemi Adebayo by phone, the company secretary/legal advisor, who said that PAN as a private company is faced with corporate challenges due to the current economic situation, “We are concerned with the plights of those who retired from the company.” The management is making efforts on the payments of their severances. Adekemi informed NEWSng that PAN recently paid some retired staff their entitlements.
In her capacity as Secretary/Legal Adviser, Adebayo further said, “There is hope for the automobile industry in Nigeria.
Likewise our workers, including those that left,” she emphasized.
A worker who pleaded for anonymity said that he left the company in 2024 but has not been paid. “We are in tight financial difficulties. Our expectations are becoming a nightmare,” he said.
NEWSng investigations revealed that the automobile industry in Nigeria is faced with challenges of lack of government support and laws to give her proper protection to operate in the economy.
End
Troops neutralise terrorist in ambush operation in Borno
Troops arrest suspected insurgents’ logistics supplier in Borno
Army troops recover more arms, neutralise IEDs in sambisa forest offensive
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