The Kano Young Intellectual Forum (KAYIF) has expressed it commendation to the Senate for the smooth screening of Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdallahi Ata as the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development.

In a statement released on Thursday signed by Ibrahim Isah Fagge , KAYIF praised Ata’s dedication to public service and his exceptional leadership qualities.

“Ata is a dedicated member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). We have had the privilege of witnessing his exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to public service when he was the House Majority Leader in the fourth legislative setting and his position as Speaker of the State Assembly,” the statement read.

Ibrahim Isah Fagge said Yusuf Abdullahi Ata’s impressive track record includes serving as Federal Commissioner at the Public Complaints Commission, three terms as a legislator in the Kano State House of Assembly, and Principal Planning Officer in the Kano State Ministry of Housing. These roles have earned him widespread recognition and respect.

“Yusuf Abdullahi is an inspirational leader, known for his integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the greater good. His exceptional communication skills, strategic thinking, and collaborative approach have earned him the respect and admiration of the good people of Kano State and APC stakeholders in particular,” KAYIF stated.

Ibrahim Isah said the forum firmly believes that Abdullahi would bring invaluable expertise, passion, and dedication to his ministerial position. “His appointment would be a significant asset to the government and the nation in general,” the statement added.

They said On behalf of the members of Kano State, KAYIF expressed its heartfelt appreciation to the APC National Party Chairman, the Deputy Senate President, the Senate President, and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for their unwavering support and commitment to the people of Kano State.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the Federal Government is exploring alternative power sources to serve as backups and to avoid future occurrence in collapse of the National Grid.

The Minister made this known during a stakeholders meeting with the management of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) held at its headquarters in Kano.

He said the federal government is determined to boost electricity supply with a view to reviving industrial revolution and enhancing the nations economy.

Adelabu added that his mission is to engage with critical stakeholders to identify and tackle obstacles hindering optimal performance emphasizing the need to revamp the transmission architecture which currently relies heavily on Shiroro and Jos channels.

This radial system leaves the northern region vulnerable to electricity disruptions whenever issues arise with these lines.”

To mitigate this, Adelabu advocated for establishing independent power sources within state metropolises to support the national grid explaining that exploring alternative power sources to serve as backups to the National Grid has become necessary with a view to curtail future occurrences of collapse of the National Grid.

The minister said there should be proactive approach aims to ensure that the region is prepared for any eventuality, including vandalism or national grid collapse.”

He said State Governments should ensure effective implementation of providing alternative electricity sources and Discos should also ensure reliable distribution services while consumers should utilize electricity efficiently.”

Governors of 19 Northern States of Nigeria, under the platform of the Northern Governors’ Forum, at their meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024, expressed their opposition to the new derivation-based model for Value-Added Tax (VAT) distribution in the new tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, read the communiqué.

The Northern Governors’ Forum meeting also had traditional rulers from the region, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, in attendance.

While we commend the Governors and traditional rulers for supporting President Bola Tinubu over the success recorded in addressing the country’s security challenges, we consider it necessary to address the misunderstandings and misgivings around the tax reform already embarked upon by the administration.

President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council recently endorsed new policy initiatives aimed at streamlining Nigeria’s tax administration processes, enhancing efficiency and eliminating redundancies across the nation’s tax operations.

These reforms emerged after an extensive review of existing tax laws. The National Assembly is considering four executive bills designed to transform and modernise Nigeria’s tax landscape.

First is the Nigeria Tax Bill, which aims to eliminate unintended multiple taxation and make Nigeria’s economy more competitive by simplifying tax obligations for businesses and individuals nationwide.

Second, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) proposes new rules governing the administration of all taxes in the country. Its objective is to harmonise tax administrative processes across federal, state and local jurisdictions for ease of compliance for taxpayers in all parts of the country.

Third, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill seeks to rename the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to better reflect the mandate of the Service as the revenue agency for the entire federation, not just the Federal Government.

Fourth, the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill proposes the creation of a Joint Revenue Board to replace the Joint Tax Board, covering federal and all states’ tax authorities.

The fourth bill also suggests establishing the Office of Tax Ombudsman under the Joint Revenue Board, which would serve as a complaint resolution body for taxpayers.

It is instructive to note that these proposed laws will not increase the number of taxes currently in operation. Instead, they are designed to optimise and simplify existing tax frameworks.

The tax rates or percentages will remain the same under these reforms, as they focus on ensuring a more equitable distribution of tax obligations without adding to the burden on Nigerians.

The reforms will not lead to job losses. On the contrary, they are structured to stimulate new avenues for job creation by supporting a dynamic, growth-oriented economy.

Importantly, these laws will not absorb or eliminate the duties of any existing department, agency, or ministry. Instead, they aim to harmonise revenue collection and administration across the federation to ensure efficiency and cooperation.

At the moment, tax administration lacks coordination among federal, state, and local tax authorities, often resulting in overlapping responsibilities, confusion, and inefficiency. Without reform, this inefficiency will persist.

The proposed laws aim to coordinate efforts between different tiers of government, resulting in better tax resource management and greater clarity for taxpayers.

Under existing laws, taxes like Company Income Tax (CIT), Personal Income Tax (PIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT), Tertiary Education Tax (TET), Value-Added Tax (VAT), and other taxing provisions in numerous laws are administered separately, with individual legislative frameworks.

The proposed reforms seek to consolidate these multiple taxes, integrating CIT, PIT, CGT, VAT, PPT, and excise duties into a unified structure to reduce administrative fragmentation.

On the proposed derivation-based VAT distribution model, which the Northern Governors oppose, it must be stressed that the new proposal, as enunciated in the Bill, is designed to create a fairer system.

The current model for distributing VAT is based on where the tax is remitted rather than where goods and services are supplied or consumed. The ongoing tax reform seeks to correct the inherent inequity in the current derivation model as a basis for distributing VAT revenue.

The new proposal before the National Assembly outlines a different form of derivation which considers the place of supply or consumption for relevant goods and services. This means that states in the Northern region that produce the food we eat should not lose out just because their products are VAT-exempt or consumed in other states.

In a statement by the special adviser to the President on Information and strategy Bayo Onanuga said the reforms are critical to improving the lives of Nigerians and were not put forward by President Tinubu to undermine any part of the country. There is no better time than now for the National Assembly to give due consideration to these bills that will overhaul our tax systems and create the revenue all the tiers of government require to fund the development our country and people urgently need.