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Barau: Five stages Tax Reform Bills must pass through before passage

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By Ismail Mudashir

For bills, including the contentious Tax Reform Bills, to be passed at the National Assembly, they must pass through the following stages:

A bill is a draft of a proposed law presented before the Senate and House of Representatives for deliberation. Such a bill can be given by the executive or members of the National Assembly (Senators or House of Representatives).

The four Tax Reform Bills are executive bills from the executive arm of government.

1: First Reading:

The Tax Reform Bills, like all other executive bills, scaled through the first reading when the letter by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to that effect, was read on the floor of both chambers of the National Assembly ( Senate and House of Representatives).

At the first reading, the bills are introduced to senators and members of the House of Representatives.

2: Second Reading:

In the second reading, the general principles of the bills are discussed at the chambers. The bill’s sponsors will present their lead debate; other lawmakers will be allowed to speak on it afterwards.

Since the tax reform bills are from the executive branch, the Senate Leader, Michael Opayemi Bamidele, presented the lead debate last Thursday during the plenary presided over by the president of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON.

When a bill scales through a second reading, it is referred to relevant committees for further legislative actions.

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The Tax Reform Bills were on Thursday referred to the Senate Committee on Finance chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger State). It has six weeks to scrutinise the bills with stakeholders.

3: Committee Level

At this level, the bill would be subjected to thorough legislative scrutiny, and stakeholders would be given opportunities to contribute to shaping the draft laws.

The committee will organise a public hearing where all stakeholders, ulamas, pastors, socio-cultural, political, religious groups, experts, technocrats and other stakeholders would make input to the bills.

Before the public hearing, advertisements would be placed in newspapers while commercials would be aired on radio and television stations, requesting the submission of memoranda by stakeholders.

The committee Secretariat would aggregate the input of the stakeholders during the public hearing in addition to the memoranda submitted. This will form the committee’s report.

The input of the stakeholders is always the fulcrum of the committee’s report.
This is the level at which the Tax Reform Bills are now.

4: Third Reading.

At this point, the committee’s report would be presented and considered during the plenary in the chamber.

The chairman of the committee would present or lay the report. The chairman would read it.

After the reading, the clause-by-clause analysis of the bills will be done by a committee of the whole. All senators would vote on each clause of the bills.

If most senators vote in support of the bills, it would be passed for a third reading. If it is the other way around, it would be rejected.

The Tax Reform bills can be killed if the lawmakers vote against them.

But if the bill is passed, it would be sent to the Senate or House for concurrence, depending on its origin.

5 a: Signing of the Bill

After the bill is passed, the clerk will print and sign a final copy. The bill is issued after the appropriate presiding officer appends his signature.

5 b: President’s Assent/Signature

The final copy, as approved by both chambers, is presented to the president for his signature. The president’s signature is required to convert a bill into law, and section 58(4) of the Constitution requires the president to append his signature to the bill within 30 days of receipt.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, only presided over the plenary on Wednesday, during which the tax experts were allowed to educate the senators and indeed all Nigerians on tax reform bills.

During the sitting, Senator Barau neither supported nor kicked against the bill; instead, he emphasised an urgent need for all to be educated on the proposed laws. Nothing more.

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Kano Government Attributes Muhuyi’s Arrest to Handling of High-Profile Corruption Cases Involving Politically Exposed Persons

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The Kano State Government has expressed deep concern over the arrest and subsequent transfer to Abuja of the former Chairman of the Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Mr. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, by heavily armed operatives of the Nigeria Police Force. The development was disclosed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Maude (SAN), while addressing journalists in Kano on Friday evening, with the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, standing in support.

According to Maude, credible information available to the state government revealed that Mr. Rimin Gado was arrested at about 5:30 p.m. at his law office along Zaria Road, Kano, without the presentation of any warrant of arrest or disclosed court process. He was first taken to the Police Headquarters at Bompai, Kano, before being whisked away to Abuja later that same evening. The Attorney General stressed that the incident raises serious constitutional and legal concerns, citing Sections 35, 36, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which guarantee personal liberty, fair hearing, and the right to enforce fundamental rights.

While acknowledging the powers of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate crimes, Maude emphasized that such powers must be exercised strictly within the confines of due process and constitutional safeguards. He noted that the arrest of a former head of a major anti-corruption agency without prior engagement with the state’s justice system undermines federalism and inter-governmental cooperation. “Although prior notification may not be a strict constitutional requirement, professionalism and respect for institutional courtesy demand it, especially in actions capable of affecting public peace and political stability,” Maude said.

The Attorney General further warned that the manner, timing, and militarized nature of the arrest could provoke fear, public tension, and political misinterpretation within Kano State. He alleged that certain political elements outside the state may be attempting to exploit federal institutions to destabilize Kano and disrupt its prevailing atmosphere of peace and good governance. “The government is deeply worried about the political undertones of this operation,” he added.

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Maude also revealed that the arrest may be linked to several high-profile criminal investigations and ongoing prosecutions involving politically exposed persons from Kano State. He explained that Mr. Rimin Gado is believed to possess critical, firsthand evidence in those cases, raising fears that his arrest was calculated to obstruct or compromise the integrity of sensitive investigations. “This action poses a serious threat to the administration of criminal justice,” the Attorney General declared.

Even more troubling, Maude noted, is the existence of a subsisting order of the High Court of Justice restraining the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies from arresting or harassing Mr. Rimin Gado. He condemned the police for disregarding the lawful order and deploying over forty heavily armed officers for the arrest. “At a time when the nation is grappling with serious security challenges, the deployment of such massive force for a civilian arrest is shocking and raises concerns about misplaced priorities and abuse of power,” he said.

The Attorney General stressed that Kano State remains peaceful and governed by the rule of law, warning that any action capable of provoking disorder or politicizing law enforcement must be firmly rejected. He outlined the government’s position, demanding strict compliance with constitutional provisions, calling on the police to clarify the legal basis of the arrest, reaffirming commitment to the rule of law, and cautioning against the misuse of federal security apparatus for political objectives.

In his closing remarks, Maude assured the public that the Kano State Government remains committed to cooperating with lawful security agencies but will not hesitate to take constitutional steps to protect its citizens and preserve public peace. He urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding as the government continues to monitor the situation closely. “We will act decisively in the overall interest of justice, peace, and constitutional order,” he concluded.

 

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Kano Online Chapel Remains Committed to Ethics, Condemns Blackmail Journalism-Dangambo

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The Chairman of Kano Online Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Abubakar Abdulqadir Dangambo has called on his members to remain committed to ethical Journalism.

He stated this in a chat with newsmen in Kano on Friday.

Dangambo further described the act by some Online newspapers editors in blackmailing people and institutions by using pseudonym as blackmailing and against the ethics of Journalism.

“There is balancing in Journalism, you can’t just report one side in a conflicting story to avoid being described as bias but it is unfortunate that some people are hiding under the name of Kano to be reporting what is blackmailing and unethical in the discharge of their work.

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Journalism remains one of the symbol of development, when Journalists remain ethical by doing their job with all sincerity I believe this is the beginning of development.

I’m calling on such journalists who refused to register with us for reasons best known to them to do so as we will not fold our arms seeing Online Journalists misbehaving and their misconduct will be seen like we are all the same.

These Online newspapers know themselves, they should do so as soon as possible as we are now working in publishing the name of our members”. He said

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President Tinubu Approves New Governing Boards for BOA, UBEC, NADF

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

 

President Tinubu has approved the constitution and reconstitution of the governing boards of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Bank of Agriculture (BOA), and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Below is the full list of appointed chairmen, executive directors, and members:

UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION COMMISSION (UBEC) BOARD
– Chairman: Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (retained)

– South East Representative: Uchendu Ikechi Mbaegbulem

– South South Representative: Gift Ngo

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– South West Representative: Mrs Ibiwunmi Akinnola

– North East Representative: Dr Meiro Mandara

– North West Representative: Dr Abdu Imam Saulawa

– North Central Representative: Professor Paul Ibukun-Olu Bolorunduro

(Term: 4 years in the first instance)

BANK OF AGRICULTURE (BOA)

– Chairman: Muhammad Babangida

– Managing Director/CEO: Ayo Sotinrin

Executive Directors
– Fatima Garba (Sokoto) – Executive Director, Corporate Services

– Ka’amuna Ibrahim Khadi (Borno) – Executive Director, Risk Management & Strategy

– Hakeem Oluwatosin Salami (Kwara) – Executive Director, Operations

Non-Executive Directors
– Aminu Malami Mohammed – North East
– Charles Amuchienwa – South East
– Oladejo Odunuga – South West
– Rabiu Idris Funtua – North West
– Kochi Donald Iorgyer – North Central

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (NADF) BOARD
– Executive Secretary/CEO (previously appointed): Muhammad Abu Ibrahim

– Chairman: Mallam Bello Maccido (North West)

Members
– Dr Nelson Henry Essien – South South (Akwa Ibom)
– Amina Ahmed Habib – North West (Jigawa)
– Engr. Akinyinka Olufela Akinnola – South West (Ondo)
– Hassan Tanimu Musa Usman – North East (Borno)
– Lufer Samson Orkar – North Central (Benue)
– Felix Achibiri – South East (Imo)

The appointments, as announced and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), on Friday. take immediate effect.

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