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Proposed Tax Reform Bills Not Against The North -Presidency

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2 years ago

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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.

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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.

 

 

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President Tinubu Clinches APC Presidential Ticket with 10.9m Votes

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May 24, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has emerged as the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate for the 2027 general election after securing nearly 11 million votes in the party’s nationwide primary election.

The results, drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, showed President Tinubu in a commanding lead over fellow aspirant Stanley Osifo, cementing his dominance within the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle.

President Bola Tinubu secured 10.99 million votes to defeat his sole rival, who polled 16,504 votes, in the All Progressives Congress presidential primary election held across 8,809 wards nationwide.

The figures were announced during the ongoing national collation of results at the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

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Governors of 31 states, alongside other senior party figures serving as state coordinators and collation officers, presented the outcomes of the direct primaries to the Presidential Primary Election Committee chaired by former Senate President Pius Anyim.

In the South-West, Tinubu recorded commanding victories in key states considered strongholds of the party. He polled 814,988 votes in Lagos, 322,485 in Ogun, 181,996 in Ondo, 142,754 in Oyo, 100,888 in Osun, and 85,340 votes in Ekiti. Osifo managed only marginal figures in the zone, including 1,186 votes in Lagos and 929 votes in Oyo, while recording zero votes in several states.

The North-West also delivered overwhelming support for the President. Kaduna produced one of the highest figures with 618,914 votes for Tinubu, while Kano returned 500,852 votes. Katsina gave him 467,003 votes, Gombe recorded 450,517, Kebbi delivered 292,972, Sokoto returned 301,000, and Zamfara added 321,579 votes. Osifo’s performance remained weak across the region, with only scattered votes recorded in a few states.

In the North-Central region, Tinubu maintained a wide lead with 310,990 votes in Kwara, 285,436 in Nasarawa, 241,720 in Plateau, 197,370 in Kogi, 175,487 in Niger, and 374,787 votes in Benue. The Federal Capital Territory also delivered 36,103 votes to the President, while Osifo failed to secure any vote there.

The South-East and South-South zones equally produced impressive numbers for Tinubu.

He secured 582,960 votes in Imo, 383,382 in Enugu, 207,579 in Ebonyi, 161,005 in Abia, and 43,034 in Anambra. In the South-South, Tinubu polled 407,646 votes in Delta, 389,197 in Akwa Ibom, 280,082 in Rivers, and 227,192 in Bayelsa. Osifo recorded modest figures in a handful of states, including 1,007 votes in Abia and 384 votes in Anambra.

At the end of collation, Tinubu emerged with a total of 10,999,967 votes, while Osifo garnered 16,504 votes nationwide.

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Special Report: Ram Prices Drop But Sales Remain Slow Along Mararaba/Karu Axis

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6 hours ago

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May 24, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Over the weekend, ram dealers along the Mararaba/Karu axis of Abuja lamented low patronage as the Eid-el-Kabir festival approaches.

Alhaji Ibrahim Babangida Umar, one of the dealers who spoke with our correspondent, disclosed that the price range for rams this year has reduced compared to last year’s prices.

“The highest price for the rams here currently is 800,000 naira, which is lower than what we charged last year,” he said.

He also noted that at this same period last year, customers had already started trooping in to purchase three to four rams each.

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“This time last year, our customers had started coming in to patronise us. You would see just one person buying three to four rams to share with his friends and relatives,” Umar said.

However, he stated that they remain hopeful as Eid-el-Kabir draws nearer, citing the tradition of some people buying rams a day before the celebration.

“But we’re hopeful. Maybe from Monday till the Eid day, which is Wednesday, customers will have started coming in to patronise us. You know, some of these customers like buying rams late, and others live in rented apartments where they wouldn’t want to inconvenience their neighbours,” Alhaji Ibrahim explained.

Eid-el-Kabir is an occasion in Islam marked by rituals that include performing Hajj (pilgrimage), fasting on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijja, and slaughtering rams on the tenth day for those at home who did not travel for the pilgrimage.

Amid the daunting economic situation Nigerians are currently facing, Muslims are beginning to doubt the serenity with which this year’s Eid will be celebrated.

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Kano Hajj Medical Team Commended for Commitment to Pilgrims’ Healthcare in Saudi Arabia

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22 hours ago

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May 23, 2026

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By: Lamara Garba

The medical team deployed by the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board for this year’s Hajj exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has continued to receive commendation for its commitment and dedication to the healthcare needs of pilgrims.

The team, headed by Dr. Ibrahim Musa, has established clinics in all the seven major houses accommodating pilgrims from Kano State in Makkah to ensure easy access to medical care throughout the Hajj period.

The Kano medical team operates in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) medical mission, working in synergy with the national healthcare structure put in place for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to reporters in Makkah, Dr. Ibrahim Musa explained that the Kano team remains fully integrated into the broader NAHCON medical framework, which coordinates healthcare services for Nigerian pilgrims and facilitates collaboration with Saudi health authorities.

According to him, the arrangement has enabled the team to provide prompt and efficient healthcare services while ensuring that patients requiring further medical attention are properly referred through the established Saudi healthcare referral system.

He disclosed that most of the cases being attended to involve minor ailments such as joint pains, malaria, catarrh, fatigue, and routine complications among diabetic and hypertensive patients, many of whom require medication adjustments due to the weather and physical demands of the Hajj exercise.

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“We attend to patients promptly, provide necessary treatment, and where additional attention is required, referrals are made seamlessly through the appropriate channels in collaboration with NAHCON and Saudi medical facilities,” he stated.

Dr. Ibrahim Musa further revealed that the Kano State Government procured adequate drugs and medical consumables to cater for the health needs of pilgrims throughout their stay in the holy land.

He noted that beyond the fixed clinics established in the major accommodation centres, the medical team also operates a decentralised and mobile healthcare service to cater for pilgrims residing in a few outlier accommodations located away from the main clusters.

According to him, the mobile arrangement has significantly improved accessibility and ensured that no pilgrim is left unattended regardless of location.

Dr. Ibrahim Musa also expressed profound appreciation to the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, for providing the necessary support and enabling environment for the medical team to function effectively during the Hajj exercise.

He stated that the successes recorded so far were largely due to the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of pilgrims, particularly in the areas of healthcare support, provision of drugs, logistics, and personnel deployment.

Also speaking, one of the medical doctors attached to the team, Dr. Ashiru Muhammad Sumaila, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation made for the medical mission.

He explained that adequate drugs, medical equipment, and personnel were made available to support effective healthcare delivery during the Hajj exercise.

Dr. Ashiru Muhammad Sumaila particularly commended the team leader, Dr. Ibrahim Musa, for providing effective coordination and leadership, which he said has enhanced smooth medical operations across all the accommodation centres.

He added that the strong teamwork among the healthcare personnel, combined with support from NAHCON and Saudi health authorities, has contributed immensely to the smooth handling of medical cases involving the pilgrims.

The medical team also advised pilgrims to continue observing health guidelines by staying hydrated, taking prescribed medications regularly, avoiding unnecessary exposure to extreme heat, and maintaining proper hygiene during the Hajj rites.

Some of the pilgrims who spoke with our correspondent praised the medical team for their accessibility, professionalism, and prompt response to health concerns, describing their presence as reassuring and comforting throughout the spiritual journey.

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