Following an increase in the tariff of electricity consumer under Band A, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have directed their members to picket offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Monday.
NLC also directed its members to picket electricity distribution companies, DisCoS across Nigeria.
The directive followed a meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC) on April 30.
“We write to inform you of the picketing action scheduled to take place in the offices of the NERC and Electricity Distribution companies (DISCOS) in all states, including the FCT.
“The action will jointly take place on Monday, 13th of May, 2024 nationwide simultaneously. Therefore, the two Labour centres are directed to work together to carry out this important action. While counting on your usual cooperation, kindly accept the assurances of our goodwill and highest regards” a statement signed by NLC Acting Secretary-General, Chris Uyot and his TUC counterpart Anka Hassan said.
READ ALSO:NLC laments non-remittance of over N75bn pensions contributions in Kano
It would be recalled that the organised labour had written a protest letter to NERC and gave the commission a May 12 ultimatum to reverse the hike of electricity tariff or face mass action.
The unions cited the hardship the increase would push the masses into as a reason for the call for reversal.
They stated that the tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples on the rights of Nigerians.
Following the backlash that trailed the hike in tariff, the House of Representatives last week asked NERC to suspend the implementation of the tariff hike.
This has not been complied with at the time of filing this report.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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Organised labour to picket DisCos, NERC offices, demands reversal of tariff hike
Nigerian gov to exempt companies earning N25m per annum from CIT, VAT, others
In a bid to help their businesses thrive, and lessen their tax burden, the Federal Government has initiated a plan that would exempt operators earning N25 million a year or less from the various taxes hindering their progress over time.
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, stated this at the closing session of the committee hearing on Sunday in Abuja.
He noted that the government was working on a system that would provide tax relief to 95 percent for the informal sector.
Oyedele said: ‘’So, we think that 95 percent of the informal sector should be legally exempted from all taxes; withholding tax, company income tax, even payee on their staff.
‘’We’re using data to inform our decisions. Currently, if you earn N25 million a year or less, you don’t have to pay company income tax, you don’t have to worry about VAT.
‘’We think that the informal sector are people who are trying to earn legitimate living, we should allow them to be and support them to grow to a point where they can then have the ability to pay taxes.”
READ ALSO:Oyedele tax reform committee‘s 20 recommendations at a glance
He said the new reforms being proposed would focus on the top five percent of that sector, the middle class, and the elite for taxes.
The tax expert said the committee is drafting the laws to effect the necessary changes in the fiscal policy and tax reform ecosystem of the country.
The new laws, according to him, will ensure that reviews become sustained by all governments coming in, adding that “we don’t want this whole effort to go down the drain, after one or two years”.
On compliance, the committee chairman urged all stakeholders to fully cooperate with the government in implementing a new fiscal and tax policy that would be used for the general good of the citizens.
“We think that the days of being above the law in paying taxes are over. The same thing we’re saying to our leaders, whether they are elected or appointed.
“We think they have to lead by example by showing that they have paid the taxes, not only on time, but correctly to the lawful authorities as contained in the various laws, ” he added.
By: Babajide Okeowo
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Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Monday, May 13, 2024
Here are the top 10 stories making headlines across the country.
1. LP alleges Enugu govt awarded N100b contract to 4-day-old company
The Enugu State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has alleged that the Enugu State Government awarded a contract worth N100 billion to a 40-year-old company.Read more
2. It’s wrong to impose cybersecurity levy on Nigerians without increase in income – Ndume
Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume has criticised the proposed cybersecurity levy imposed on Nigerians by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).Read more
3. SERAP, BudgIT, 136 Nigerians head to court to fight ‘imposition of cybersecurity levy on Nigerians’
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT and 136 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over what they describe as “its failure to withdraw the patently unlawful ‘Circular’ directing all banks and other financial institutions to deduct from customers’ account a ‘cybersecurity levy’.”Read more
4. Police declare Lagos socialite wanted for murder, cyber-stalking
The Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, declared a Lagos socialite and blogger, Dorcas Adeyinka, wanted for alleged cyber-stalking, abduction and murder, among others.Read more
5. Rivers: Lawmakers loyal to Fubara to screen Commissioner-nominee on Monday
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and led by factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, have invited a Commissioner-nominee, Danagogo Iboroma, for screening and confirmation as a member of the state executive.Read more
READ ALSO:Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Sunday, May 12, 2024
6. Kogi govt claims some abducted varsity students have been rescued
Kogi State government says some of the students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Okene, who were kidnapped by bandits on Friday have been rescued.Read more
7. ‘I made a big mistake with Fubara, but I will correct it at the right time’ —Wike
Minister of the Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has confessed to making a grave mistake by supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara to become his successor, with a vow to correct the mistake at the appropriate time.Read more
8. Police in Ogun arrests woman for trafficking 16-year-old to Libya for prostitution
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a middle-aged woman, Abike Olonade, for allegedly trafficking a 16-year-old secondary school student to Libya for the purpose of prostitution.Read more
9. Yet to be identified truck driver crushes five-year-old girl in Lagos
The Lagos State Police Command, on Sunday, confirmed that a yet to be identified truck driver crushed a five-year-old girl, simply identified as Bosede, to death while crossing the Iganmu-Apapa Expressway with her mother.Read more
10. Arsenal beat Man Utd to keep title race alive
Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.Read more
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Yet to be identified truck driver crushes five-year-old girl in Lagos
The Lagos State Police Command, on Sunday, confirmed that a yet to be identified truck driver crushed a five-year-old girl, simply identified as Bosede, to death while crossing the Iganmu-Apapa Expressway with her mother.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the newsmen on Sunday.
According to Hundeyin, the information about the accident was received by the Iponri Police Division on Saturday at about 11.30 a.m.
Read also: ‘Only selfless leadership can change Nigeria’s situation’ —Obasanjo
He added that the accident happened at Iganmu under the bridge, inward Apapa, involving a truck driven by yet to be identified driver.
He further stated that the girl and her mother were crossing the expressway when the truck hit and crushed her head, killing her on the spot.
Hundeyin said the police traffic officers from the division visited the scene and removed the corpse for burial by the family.
He, however, said that an investigation is ongoing for the possible arrest of the fleeing driver.
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Electricity tariff hike: NLC to picket DISCOs, NERC offices on Monday
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has directed its members to picket offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, on Monday.
NLC said its members will also picket electricity distribution companies, DISCOs, across Nigeria.
The directive followed a meeting of the Central Working Committee, CWC, on April 30, 2024.
A statement signed by NLC Acting Secretary-General, Chris Uyot, said: “The nationwide picketing is slated for Monday, 13 May, 2024.”
The organised labour had written a protest letter to NERC headquarters in which it gave a 12 May 2024 ultimatum within which NERC should reverse the hike of electricity tariff or face mass action.
The unions cited the hard condition that NERC action is going to push the masses into as a reason for the call for reversal.
They stated that the announced tariff hike not only defies the established procedure mandated by law but also tramples upon the rights of Nigerian citizens.
Electricity tariff hike: NLC to picket DISCOs, NERC offices on Monday
Police declare Lagos socialite wanted for murder, cyber-stalking
The Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, declared a Lagos socialite and blogger, Dorcas Adeyinka, wanted for alleged cyber-stalking, abduction and murder, among others.
The police urged members of the public to “arrest and hand over the suspect to the nearest police station or the office of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja.”
The police further described Adeyinka as a married female Yoruba blogger from Ekiti State and Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
She is said to be approximately 1.64m tall with an oval face, tribal marks, pointed nose, wide mouth, full and white dentition, and light-skinned with black eyes.
The police added that she lives in the United Kingdom, and frequently visits Ikeja, Ogudu and Fagba in Lagos State, as well as Otta and Sango in Ogun State.
It will be recalled that a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, summoned two social media users for defaming Adeyinka by allegedly sharing her nude photo online.
Read also: LP alleges Enugu govt awarded N100b contract to 4-day-old company
In the court summons dated Thursday, May 9, 2024, Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna ordered the two defendants – Tolulope Adeoye aka Abike Jagaban, and Tolulope Odegbami aka Olowosibi – to appear in persons before the court on June 4, 2024, to answer the charges levelled against them by the complainant.
The summons followed a criminal complaint filed by the complainant’s lawyers led by Pelumi Olajengbesi of an Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor.
The socialite accused the defendants of sharing her nude photo on social media and ridiculing her.
The application partly read: “On March 5, 2022, Abike Jagaban shared the complainant’s nude pictures on YouTube, directing her followers to different online platforms where the complainant’s pictures were/are shared and ridiculed the complainant in the process.
“The video was captioned, ‘Abike Jagaban on Dorcas Adeyinka, aka TMS Blog.’ These actions have exposed the complainant to contempt, hatred and detestation as some people can be seen making disparaging remarks against the person of the complainant in the comment section of the above-referenced post. Abike Jagaban has also bullied the complainant in another video titled, ‘How Abike Jagaban bullied Dorcas Adeyinka,” among others.”
The complainant further told the court that the alleged actions of the defendants constituted criminal defamation and contravened Section 391 of the Penal Code.
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Drug Abuse: Delta first dady, NDLEA call for emergency action
The wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has called on relevant stakeholders to put in concerted efforts towards nipping the menace of drug abuse in the state.
She made the call following increasing reports of cases of drug abuse in the state while playing host to officers of the Delta State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), in Asaba, lamenting that parents are gradually losing their children to this menace.
The First Lady noted that drug abuse had been on the rise at a very alarming rate, pointing out the adverse effects it has had on youth.
“The level of drug abuse we are experiencing in society is worrisome and it is gradually but steadily destroying lives.
“It is even more alarming to learn that a great number of women are involved in drug and substance abuse as a means of escaping pressure and emotional stress.
“Irrespective of whatever reason people engage in it, the truth is that drug abuse is a silent killer and we all need to come together to raise awareness of the realities on ground as well as find ways to combat its spread.
“We are gradually losing our children to this menace. You see them on the streets and just at a glance, you can tell that something is wrong, and if we don’t do something about it now, we will have greater challenges to contend with in the near future.
“As a state, we will do all we can to see that this is achieved and we are counting on relevant agencies as well as individuals, especially mothers, to rise to the occasion,” she said.
Mrs Oborevwori promised to collaborate with the agency in every way possible to see that issues of drug abuse are reduced to the barest minimum in the state.
In his address, the leader of the delegation, Commander of Narcotics and the state commander of the agency, Abubakar Wada, pointed out some of the things that have led to an increase in the level of drug abuse.
“We have discovered that the availability of these drugs has made them easy to abuse, and as an agency, we have done well to reduce the circulation of these drugs. Between January and April, we recorded 261 pending cases, had 96 records of conviction and pressed 62 charges,” he said.
He noted that unemployment stands tall among the causes of drug abuse among young people.
Drug Abuse: Delta first dady, NDLEA call for emergency action
Hospitality at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ second to none – Prince Harry
Treated to a lunch by eminent Nigerians at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ Sunday afternoon, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry expressed satisfaction noting that “hospitality at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ is second to none.”
On her part, while complimenting the Duke, the Duchess, Meghan also acknowledged that “attention to details at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ is empirical”.
The couple who expressed enthusiasm for their visit, said they could not wait to experience Nigeria’s culture.
Harry said: “We are delighted to explore the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.”
Meghan, on her part, added: “It is a privilege to engage with the vibrant Nigerian community.”
They were received to an energetic cultural display at the hotel to their admiration.
Harry and Meghan, on Saturday, met with Nigerian businessman and owner of ‘The Delborough Lagos’, Dr Uzochukwu Stanley in Abuja.
The couple is in Nigeria on a three-day visit to promote Invictus Games, where Prince Harry played a seated volleyball match with Nigerian Army veterans, mostly wounded in battle against the country’s Islamist insurgency, on Saturday.
At an Officer’s Mess complex in Abuja, Harry’s team dressed in yellow played off in an exhibition against a team led by Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, Gen. Christopher Musa.
The Duke and the Duchess, visiting the West African nation, Nigeria, for the first time on the invitation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, began their three-day visit by going to the Lightway Academy, which receives support from their Archewell Foundation to train young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria, before going on to meet with the nation’s military officers.
At the Abuja school where they kicked off an inaugural mental health summit organised by a local non-profit GEANCO, which partners with their Foundation, the couple was received by a dancing troupe and a crowd of excited students and teachers.
“We’ve got to acknowledge those amazing dance moves!” Meghan said. “My husband was excited to jump up!”
They then went into the classrooms to interact with the students, who showed robot cars they had built.
They spoke to the students about mental health, and about their own children, Archie and Lilibet.
“In some cases around the world … there is a stigma when it comes to mental health. Too many people don’t want to talk about it,” Harry said. “So will you promise to us that after today, no more being scared, no more being unsure of mental health?”
Hospitality at ‘The Delborough Lagos’ second to none – Prince Harry
LP alleges Enugu govt awarded N100b contract to 4-day-old company
The Enugu State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has alleged that the Enugu State Government awarded a contract worth N100 billion to a 40-year-old company.
The party, in a statement on Sunday,, called on Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to investigate the agriculture partnership agreement recently signed between the Enugu State Government and Pragmatic Farms Limited, alleging that the transaction might be a conduit to siphon the resources of the state.
Enugu LP Chairman, Comrade Casmir Uchenna Agbo, and Publicity Secretary, Onuora Odo, who jointly signed the statement, questioned the propriety of the transaction, pointing out that the company in question was allegedly registered only four days before it signed the agreement with the Enugu government.
The Enugu State Government recently issued a statement, claiming the partnership with Pragmatic Farms Limited was in line with the objectives of the Governor Peter Mbah Administration to revive and convert Enugu State’s dormant assets to productive assets, as part of plans to grow the state’s economy exponentially from $4.4 billion to $30 billion per annum.
the Labour Party, however, in its statement accused the government of planning to use the newly registered company as a conduit to siphon the resources of the state, saying that there was no indication that the company has the track record and capacity to manage the enterprise.
“We are raising this alarm because the entire project smells of large-scale fraud and as a responsible and responsive political party, we owe it to the people of the state, the duty of drawing their attention to what we see as economic rape and corrupt tendencies. Checks at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) have created a cloud of suspicion around the project, following our discovery that Pragmatic Palms Limited was registered only on May 6, 2024, four days before the partnership agreement was signed with the Enugu State Government on May 10, 2024,” the statement said.
Read also: It’s wrong to impose cybersecurity levy on Nigerians without increase in income – Ndume
The party also demanded that the state, governor, Peter Mba, should tell the people when discussions on this partnership began and how he concluded and signed the deal within four days of incorporating the company.
“It is important to also draw the attention of the people of Enugu State, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the anticorruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to what looks like a grand plan to divert the resources of Enugu State through what looks like a conduit. We say this because further checks reveal that Pragmatic Palms Limited was referenced in the news items as a subsidiary of another company known as Diamond Stripes Limited, a business owned by one Prof George Nwangwu and his wife. How the Enugu State Government decided to trust N100 billion belonging to the over-taxed and deprived people of the state to a glorified sole proprietorship is something that has to be explained.
“Diamond Stripes Limited, it is also worth highlighting, started business in 2013 and has its capacities in the area of hydroelectric generation and port management. Nowhere, on its website was its capacity for agriculture and agro-processing mentioned. More worrisome is the fact that the owner of the company, Prof George Nwangwu has no known track record in agriculture and related areas. We even went further to explore the search engine and the George Nwangwu we were able to find is a professor of Law and has never been involved in anything relating to agriculture before the N100 billion deal he reached with the Government of Enugu State.
“We are worried because a lot of things in the transaction do not appear straightforward. First, by sheer stroke of coincidence, Pragmatic Palms Limited’s registered office located at 5 Kokoma Close, Wuse II, Abuja, appeared in our search to be the same as that of a Law firm, Ratio Legal Practitioners LLP, which also processed the registration of Pragmatic Palms Limited.
“It is also worrisome that although Pragmatic Palms Limited was mentioned in the press release as a subsidiary of Diamond Stripes Limited, there was no indication that Diamond Stripes is a shareholder in Pragmatic Palms Limited. The only shareholder that was returned in the search is a certain George Nwangwu, who curiously owns the entire one million shares of the company.
“We are also worried that while on its website, Diamond Stripes Limited claimed it was in the business of electricity generation, ports services and the building of silos, data on its registration documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission indicated that it was registered “to carry on the business of the manufacturer, importation, exportation, distribution, promotion, sales, supply and marketing of all types of products, materials, agents, reagents and equipment to engage in the business of real estate and property.” The suspicion heightens given that the CAC no longer permits the registration and operation of omnibus businesses in Nigeria.
“We are therefore calling on the good people of Enugu State to be vigilant. We also invite the anticorruption agencies to investigate this transaction with a view to saving the people of Enugu State from what looks like a bogus transaction designed to facilitate the diversion of money belonging to the people”, the party added.
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AMVCA Best Digital Content Creator award: Adeleke celebrates Osogbo-born Layi Wasabi
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Isaac Ayomide Olayiwola, popularly known as Layi Wasabi.
Olayiwola is the latest winner of Best Digital Content Creator at the 2024 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA.
Governor Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, praised the ingenuity of the Osogbo-born lawyer turned skitmaker in carving out a special niche for himself, not minding the limitations of his environment in an industry as competitive and demanding as the entertainment industry.
“I congratulate our dear son and brother, Isaac Ayomide, for winning the AMVCA award. Layi Wasabi, as he is popularly known in the entertainment industry, is a special talent and a great ambassador of Osun State. I am a great fan of his work. He is creative and original. His contents are unique and educational.
“Layi’s rise to fame is a perfect example of the model of the new Osun we are building. The one that excels beyond limitations. From a certified lawyer to becoming an excellent content creator, Layi has shown how passion, commitment, and consistency can lead to excellence.
“He is proud of his identity. He shoots most of his content right from inside the state secretariat here, and I am glad that through his work, he has been able to promote the identity of the state. This is just the beginning of his recognition and accomplishments in the industry,” the governor stated.
Governor Adeleke assures that his administration will provide the needed support and collaboration, not just for Layi Wasabi but for others in the Osun entertainment industry, to succeed and bring glory to the state and her people.
“We will give all necessary support not only to Layi but to everyone passionately driving positive change in the industry from Osun State. Entertainment can be used to promote societal change and reform. This is the model we are working to establish,” the statement concluded.
AMVCA Best Digital Content Creator award: Adeleke celebrates Osogbo-born Layi Wasabi