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NDUME THE PETREL AND TINUBUS TAX REFORMS OF TROUBLE.By: Inuwa Bwala

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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

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Gunmen kill trader in Kafanchan, kaduna

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Gunmen kill trader in Kafanchan, kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

A 42-year-old man, Shok Musa, has been killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Kafanchan in Kaduna state.

Zagazola gathered from reliable sources that the incident occurred on Sunday night near the victim’s shop at Ungwa Kanikon, Gidan Waya.

Security forces rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call, and found Musa with fatal gunshot injuries on his back.

“He was taken to Anglican Hospital, Gidan Waya, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. His body was later deposited at the Kafanchan General Hospital mortuary,”said the sources.

The sources added that investigation had commenced, and efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the perpetrators.

Gunmen kill trader in Kafanchan, kaduna

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Security forces fortify Kaduna–Abuja rail line, Rigasa station and highway

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Security forces fortify Kaduna–Abuja rail line, Rigasa station and highway

By: Zagazola Makama

Security forces have intensified patrols and security measures along the Abuja–Kaduna railway corridor, Rigasa train station, and the Abuja–Kaduna highway.

Sources said the move was part of efforts to protect critical transport infrastructure and forestall criminal attacks.

The sources stated that area commanders in Jere and Kakuri, as well as divisional police officers along the rail corridor, had been placed on red alert in collaboration with other security agencies.

“Rigasa train main station has been fortified, while patrols along the railway line and sub-stations have been intensified. Patrol vehicles deployed on the Abuja–Kaduna highway are maintaining 24-hour visibility, with hourly situation reports rendered accordingly,”said sources.

Security forces assured the public of its commitment to ensuring safe travel and the protection of lives and property across the state.

Security forces fortify Kaduna–Abuja rail line, Rigasa station and highway

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Two killed as troops repel bandit attack in Katsina

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Two killed as troops repel bandit attack in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

At least two persons were killed following an attack by suspected bandits on villages in Dutsinma Local Government Area of the state.

Sources said the incident occurred on Sunday night when bandits invaded Babangida and Madugu villages.

The sources said that the military troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA in collaboration with the police and local patrol teams, responded swiftly and engaged the attackers in a gun duel, forcing them to abort a planned assault on Sabon Garin Safana village.

“However, two victims, identified as Shamsu Sani, 25, of Makera, and Abdurrashed Rabe, 25, of Tashar Mangwaro, sustained critical injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital, Dutsinma, where they were confirmed dead,” said the sources.

The sources said that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing bandits.

Two killed as troops repel bandit attack in Katsina

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