Ondo Speaker, 15 lawmakers endorse Aiyedatiwa’s gov ambition

By

-

March 26, 2024

Ondo Speaker, 15 lawmakers endorse Aiyedatiwa’s gov ambition

No fewer than 15 members of the Ondo House of Assembly have officially declared support for the incumbent governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to clinch the ticket of the All Progressives Congress and win the November 2024 governorship election.

The lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, disclosed that Aiyedatiwa had so far impressed them by continuing with the legacies of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu despite being in office for only a short period.

The endorsement comes one week after some members of the state Assembly passed a vote of no confidence in the Speaker after he openly assured Aiyedatiwa of getting the support of about 18 lawmakers during the governor’s formal declaration to enter the race a few weeks ago.

The aggrieved members, who distanced themselves from the show of partisan politics, included the Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi; Parliamentary Secretary, Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju; Chief Whip, Oluwarotimi Fasonu, Minority Leader, Olajide Oguntodu and Deputy Minority Leader, Raymond Daodu.

Others were Akinsuroju Nelson, Akomolafe Temitope, Ifabiyi Olatunji, Agbulu Akeem, Christopher Ayebusiwa, Atinuke Witherspoon, Biola Oladapo and Afe Felix.

But a defiant Oladiji told newsmen during a visit to the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday that the governor had done more than enough to deserve the endorsement.

The Speaker, who came with a delegation of 15 state lawmakers, said the governor had prioritsed the payment of their salaries, begun the recruitment of about 2,000 health workers and had maintained a cordial relationship with the legislature and the judiciary in the state.

He said, “We are here to tell you that as far as we are concerned, those of us here and our members, who are on their way, are fully in support of the continuity of the APC-led government. We are in support of continuity. We believe it will work out and we are giving them 100 per cent assurance that the primary elections will be peaceful.

“In respect of the letter that few members of the House of Representatives wrote to Mr. President (concerning Aiyedatiwa endorsement), our members here disagree with the letter. That’s also because we are honourable members in our various state constituencies. We have almost 15 of us here present. Do you know what it means? We have 22 APC members in the House of Assembly. We are 13 here now and another two are on their way coming; so that makes 15 of us. And we are telling you that the state under the leadership of Mr. Governor is at peace.

“Maybe I should put the question to my members. Do we have anyone of you who wants to contest against Aiyedatiwa? His achievements, the achievements of the incumbent governor are out there. Presently, he has started the recruitment of 2,000 workers in the academic sector, and at the same time, he has worked at the ODRS (Ondo State Revenue Service). The most important thing is that he did not stop the legacy started by the late governor. He directed all the contractors to go back to the site, which everybody in the state applauded. There is a synergy now between the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature.”

While welcoming the delegation, the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, assured that the ruling party would provide a level playing field for all governorship aspirants ahead of the APC primaries in the state next month.

Ganduje also recalled how he, alongside President Bola Tinubu, was compelled to wade into the political impasse between the lawmakers and Aiyedatiwa shortly before Akeredolu’s death.

He said, “We can’t disconnect legislators from the office of the party here in Abuja because there is always a relationship between you and the office. I call upon you to cooperate with us as we conduct the primary election.

“In this year’s election in Ondo, there are many things that must happen according to our programme, starting with verification of members, screening of aspirants, purchase of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, and the primaries to pick candidates.

“Ondo State is an APC state and will continue to maintain it. We need your cooperation to conduct a free and transparent primary. We believe our members are equal to the task. What we are seeing here is that there would be cooperation, good synergy with state Assembly members. We have planned a well-articulated programme for the primary to produce a candidate.”

FG threatens Gumi with arrest, condemns reckless statements

By

admin

-

March 26, 2024

0

FG threatens Gumi with arrest, condemns reckless statements

The Federal Government, on Monday, said it would not hesitate to make anyone answer for comments it believes to be provocative or “reckless” as “no one is above the law.”

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said this while addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Days after terrorists kidnapped at least 287 pupils from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, had offered to dialogue with abductors.

Gumi advised that to facilitate the release of the abducted schoolchildren, the President should allow him to negotiate.

The Islamic scholar warned against Tinubu repeating the mistake made by his immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to negotiate with bandits.

Reacting to a question about the episodes of controversial comments and intervention by the Kaduna-based cleric, the minister said he was aware that Gumi had had reasons in the past to be a guest of security agents to answer for his comments, adding that the government would go after anyone who it believed had questions to answer.

“What I can tell you is that the government will not stop at anything to get any kind of information that is required to solve our problems. The security agencies are up and doing. Sheikh Gumi, or any other individual for that matter, is not above the law. If you have suggestions that are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take.

“But if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded. There is nobody that is above the law in this regard. And I’m aware, let me put it here, that I’m aware that he has also been a guest of the security agencies to answer questions.

“When you make remarks, especially remarks that border on national security, it is incumbent on the security agencies to dig further into that, and they are doing just that. No one is above the law in this direction,” he said.

All efforts to speak with the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Gumi, were futile as his mobile phone rang out on Monday. He had also yet to reply to messages sent to the same mobile phone as of the time this report was filed.

Meanwhile, Idris stated that no ransom was paid for the release of 137 pupils kidnapped from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State as well as the 17 Islamic school pupils kidnapped in Sokoto who were released last Saturday.

According to the minister, the president appreciates the role of the security services in the safe return of the abductees, vowing that all those involved in the kidnapping would be fished out and punished.

On March 6, terrorists on motorcycles stormed the school in Kuriga, whisking the pupils away in an operation that drew an outrage from the Presidency and the global community, including UNICEF.

However, a statement issued Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said 137 pupils were rescued, contrary to reports of 287.

According to Buba, the pupils were rescued through a joint effort of the military and local authorities in Zamfara State in the early hours of Sunday.

On the release of the abductees in Kaduna and Sokoto, Idris said the council and the President had expressed their appreciation to the National Security Adviser, the security chiefs and others who participated in the process that ensured their freedom.

The minister further assured Nigerians that those currently feasting on the gaps in the nation’s security situation and perpetrating criminal activities would soon be fished out and be made to face the law.

Continued on www.punchng.com

He said, “Mr President and members of council were happy to note that, as promised by Mr. President, these children were reunited or have been rescued from the captors and as usual and in keeping with the commitment of Mr. President, no ransom was paid.

“The Federal Executive Council and Mr. President are very grateful to especially the National Security Adviser, the service chiefs and all security agents who participated diligently in ensuring that these kidnapped children are reunited with their families.”

Idris said the government was determined to “ensure that the lives and property of all Nigerians are protected at all time. Therefore, he (the President) has charged security agencies to ensure that these kidnappings are brought to a halt finally in this country.”

“Indeed, all those who are participating in this criminal act will be fished out by the security agencies and will never go unpunished,” he vowed.

Fielding questions on the exact number of children kidnapped from Kuriga, Idris argued that the number of those kidnapped was the exact number that were recovered as none died or remained in captivity.

“What I can tell you is that there is no report that any of these kidnap victims either died or has been withheld. So, all those that were taken have been brought back in safety to their families. I can tell you that,” he said.

Trabzon brawl: My teammates suffered cuts, bruises, says Osayi-Samuel

By

admin

-

March 26, 2024

0

Trabzon brawl: My teammates suffered cuts, bruises, says Osayi-Samuel

Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, has spoken for the first time about the drama that ensued during a Turkish Super Lig game involving Fenerbache and Trabzonspor last Sunday, The According reports.

Osayi-Samuel was seen in a video fighting back following an attack by angry Trabzonspor fans after their team’s 3-2 home loss to Fenerbahce

In the footage, Nigeria international was seen to have knocked down a pitch invader while protecting his teammate from the invading supporters after they charged at the visiting players.

“The fans attacked the team, some had weapons on them, I had to defend my team, it was in self-defence, that’s what happened,” Osayi-Samuel was quoted as saying by Score Nigeria.

“My teammates suffered cuts and bruises, some were scared, several others also joined me to try to defend the team.”

He also said the victory over Trabzonspor was the most satisfying for him.

“We found a way to win and avenge our only loss in the league to the same team after they beat us at our home in the first round,” he said.

Fenerbache now have 79 points, two points behind leaders Galatasaray with eight rounds of matches to the end of the season.

Osayi-Samuel is expected to keep his place in Nigeria’s starting lineup when they take on Mali in an international friendly on Tuesday in Marrakech,
Morocco.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]

Tinubu okays infrastructure devt fund, FG eyes $25bn annually

By

admin

-

March 26, 2024

0

Tinubu okays infrastructure devt fund, FG eyes $25bn annually

President Bola Tinubu on Monday approved the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund to bridge the country’s $25bn per annum infrastructure funding gap.

The new initiative will be domiciled in the Presidency, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told journalists after Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Idris said the fund became necessary given Nigeria’s current infrastructure gap, requiring $878bn to bridge between 2016 and 2040.

“Now, there is a study that was made that said Nigeria will require about $878bn between 2016 and 2040 to bridge its infrastructural deficit.

“What that means is that from 2016 to 2040, about $25bn will be required annually to bridge that infrastructure deficit.

“Therefore, Mr President, in his wisdom and with the approval of the Federal Executive Council, today, approved the setting up of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund to be domiciled in the Presidency,” he announced.

Giving further details about the new development, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, said the fund would focus on road, rail, agriculture, ports and aviation.

He explained that the fund will be launched only after the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, prepares a supplementary budget to accommodate the new spending.

“Our key strategic focus, for now, will be on road infrastructure, rail infrastructure, agricultural infrastructure, port revitalisation and aviation enhancement.

“We believe this vehicle will be a major outside-the-box solution to our infrastructure gap. And we believe, hopefully, by the special grace of Almighty God, that Mr President will launch this fund after the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning has done the supplementary budget to take care of all these critical projects.

“So, we look forward to the next few months when the fund will be launched. And then it will be domiciled in the Presidency,” said Adedeji.

Meanwhile, the Presidency had highlighted four objectives of the RHIDF.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated the fund would be invested in critical national projects that would, among other things, promote growth, enhance local value-addition, create employment opportunities, and stimulate technological innovation and exports.

The statement titled ‘President Tinubu approves renewed hope infrastructure development fund’, noted, “Establish an innovative infrastructure investment vehicle to attract and consolidate capital, serving as a dynamic driver for economic advancement.

“Execute strategic and meticulously chosen national infrastructure projects across several key sectors, including road, rail, agriculture (irrigation, storage, logistics & cold chain), ports, and aviation, among others.

“Efficiently utilise and aggregate accessible low-interest loans such as concessionary loans and Eurobonds, supplemented by the procurement of other favourable financing options, in addition to budgetary allocations.”

It is also designed to “guarantee Nigeria secures the most advantageous arrangements for financing, construction, and subsequently, operation and maintenance of the identified projects, ensuring optimal long-term outcomes for the nation”.

According to the Presidency, the fund will also identify appropriate approaches in its investment strategy, such as direct project financing through budgetary allocations and SPVs, co-financing (public-private partnerships) with key institutions, multilateral development institutions, as well as equity investments.

On agricultural infrastructure and food security, the Presidency said the emphasis would be on the development of robust agricultural infrastructure networks.

“This encompasses the establishment of national food storage facilities, integrated irrigation systems, ranching for animal husbandry, and the enhancement of agricultural logistics and distribution,” it noted.

On port revitalisation, the strategic thrust revolves around the rejuvenation of port facilities and associated infrastructure to streamline operations and enhance the ease of doing business.

According to the Presidency, by modernising port facilities and implementing advanced monitoring systems, the goal is to optimise efficiency, attract investments and bolster Nigeria’s position as a regional trade hub.

id

a

Kaduna hosts freed pupils, 28 kidnapped in fresh attack

By

admin

-

March 26, 2024

0

Kaduna hosts freed pupils, 28 kidnapped in fresh attack

The Kaduna State Government, on Monday, received the 137 rescued abducted students of the Government Secondary School, Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

The schoolchildren, who were rescued in Zamfara State on Sunday, arrived in Kaduna on Monday.

At exactly, 2:08 pm, the rescued schoolchildren arrived at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House amidst tight security.

Newsmen were barred from speaking to the children just as the parents of the 131 schoolchildren presented to the governor by the General Officer Commanding 1 Div, were conspicuously absent during the brief ceremony.

Thereafter, the children were driven with security escorts to the Women and Children Shelter, for psychosocial therapy before being reunited with their respective parents.

Six of the students were immediately hospitalised at the Army medical facility, Dallet Barracks, Kawo, Kaduna.

The General Officer Commanding 1, Maj. Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, made this known while presenting the rescued schoolchildren to Governor Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, in the state capital on Monday.

The GOC said one male student and five female pupils were at the Army hospital receiving treatment, adding that they would be handed over to the state government as soon as they were certified to be medically fit.

In his remarks, Governor Sani cautioned those he described as “merchants of conflicts” over the wrong permutation on how the 137 schoolchildren were rescued by the Army.

The governor, who was visibly angry, also warned against politicising issues of security, noting that doing so would endanger the lives and property of citizens.

Speaking further, the GOC insisted that in all, 137 students and staff were abducted by the bloodthirsty terrorists on March 7, 2024, bringing the total number of those abducted to 138 while regretting that the staff died in captivity.

While maintaining that no ransom was paid for the release of the students, the GOC attributed the release to “the sustained and coordinated application of both kinetic and non-kinetic efforts” by the security agencies under the strategic guidance of President Bola Tinubu through the Office of the National Security Adviser, the abducted Kuriga school children, were rescued in the early hours of Sunday after spending about 16 days in captivity.

He added that the students were initially received and administered first aid at the Nigerian Army Troops Forward Operating Base Dandadau, in Zamfara State before being subsequently conveyed from there under escort to Kaduna this morning/afternoon.

He said, “We successfully freed 137 but you will discover that six of them are not presently with us here. They are being attended to medically in our facility at Darlet Barracks – one male with five female students who have been hospitalised.

“His Excellency visited them last night and he saw all the students including, those lying on hospital beds. So, those six when eventually discharged, when they get better, will join their 131 colleagues who are here physically present to complete the figure of 137.

“In all, there were 137 children and one staff member, making 138 persons together that were abducted from the co-located schools on the ill-fated day.

Continued on www.punchng.com

“But unfortunately the staff member, Mr Abubakar, is not here with us today because he died while in captivity.

“Consequently, there are here at present, a total of 137 students of the Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools Kuriga in the Chikun LGA of Kaduna State who were successfully rescued from captivity around Dansadau Forest in Zamfara State and safely brought back to Kaduna.

“The breakdown of the figure of the rescued children shows that there are 76 females and 61 males making the total of 137 together (less the teacher that died while in captivity).”

The governor, while receiving the abducted schoolchildren, without parents, decried the way and manner issues of security were being politicised in the country.

He also praised the efforts of President Tinubu, who, according to him, stood firmly by the state government from day one when the incident happened.

While cautioning “merchants of conflicts,” the governor said what was important to the state government “is that the abducted school children were rescued unhurt.”

The governor strongly warned the so-called merchants of conflicts as well as the media to desist from passing wrong insinuations on how the schoolchildren were rescued.

Rather, the governor said “merchants of conflicts,” should rejoice with the government and the good people of the state following the successful rescue of the abducted schoolchildren who spent no fewer than 16 days in the terrorists’ den.

According to him, under his administration, security will be given top priority because “security is the number one agenda of our government.”

The governor said with the rescue(release) of the 137 children, he would now sleep profoundly, saying that for the past 16 days when the incident occurred, he had had “sleepless nights”.

He said, “I want to appreciate our children who are here with us and are in high spirits. I want to make it very clear to all of us that from the very day that our children were unfortunately abducted from their school in the Kuriga community, President Bola Tinubu has been with us from day one.

“He ensures that the security should return our children home safely. I want to thank the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for his able leadership and all the Service Chiefs and all security agencies for their respective contributions and organised efforts.

“I want to appreciate many Nigerians who prayed day and night for the release of the children, and today God has answered our prayers.

“I also want to caution insecurity merchants and conflict merchants in Nigeria to be cautious with their utterances because, before the release of our children, a lot of people have been coming with a lot of permutations about how these children were released and what happened.

“The important thing for us in Kaduna is that the children are here with us. This is more important. As a Government, it is to protect the life and property of our citizens.

“And under my government, the Kaduna State will continue to prioritise our security because security is the number one agenda of our government.

“We should not politicise the issue of insecurity in Nigeria. It is not good to undermine the efforts of security agencies in Nigeria.

“I want to caution the media and some elements in the society about the permutation of the school children, in my own opinion it is just to celebrate their release.

“We are all happy because we had 16 days of sleepless nights, but today we are happy the children are back and I want to emphasise that we will continue to make security efforts so that all our Local Government Areas(LGAs) and Communities are saved.”

Four killed, 58 kidnapped in fresh attack

Meanwhile, four persons have been reportedly killed while 28 were on Sunday night, as terrorists launched a fresh attack in Ungwan Saidu, Magajin Gari Ward II in Birnin- Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A resident of the community, Idris Khalid, confirmed the incident to one of our correspondents on Monday in Kaduna.

Khalid said the terrorists invaded the village from about 11:30 pm to 12 midnight on Sunday night killing four persons, and injuring two while 58 persons were abducted.

According to him, 30 people escaped and he can authoritatively confirm that 28 are still hostage.

Kajuru, Chikun and Birnin-Gwari LGs had in recent weeks become the hotbed of kidnappings, causing national outrage.

He explained that no contact had been established yet, saying, ”Normally the terrorists usually call back after two or three days for any negotiation.”

He said efforts by local vigilantes who engaged the bandits in a gun battle curtailed the number of victims that would have been abducted.

“This is the first time the community was being attacked but only pockets of kidnapping by locals who took the risk to go to their farm,” Khalid stated.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan and the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to them by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.

Failure to file annual tax return, criminal offence – LIRS director

By

admin

-

March 26, 2024

0

Failure to file annual tax return, criminal offence – LIRS director

The Director of Legal Services of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Seyi Alade, speaks on the legal implications of non-compliance with the filing of Annual Tax Returns rule by individuals and firms in the state, in this interview with ANOZIE EGOLE

Are there any specific legal provisions or statutes governing the filing of Annual Tax Returns by Individuals in Lagos State?

There are legal provisions governing the filing of Annual Returns, the chief amongst them is our grundnorm, which is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. It makes filing of returns a constitutional duty for Nigerian citizens. Section 24 (1) (f) provides that, it shall be the duty of every citizen to declare his income honestly to appropriate and lawful agencies and pay his tax promptly. Also, Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as Amended) stated that a taxable shall without notice or demand, file a return of income from every source of the preceding year and within 90 days from the commencement of every year of assessment (before 31st March) to the relevant tax authorities.

What legal consequences may individuals face for failing to file their Annual Tax Returns in Lagos State?

An individual who fails to file tax returns will face multiple jeopardies for this failure as stipulated by the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 as amended. These jeopardies include both pecuniary fines and custodial punishments. Furthermore, the individual is liable to be assessed on a best of Judgment basis under extant provisions of the act. We have various instances of prosecuting individuals for failure to file and pay assessed taxes. Just recently the agency instituted criminal actions against a very popular individual in Lagos State for this offence. Upon his failure to attend to his criminal summons, the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest, and he was subsequently remanded at the Kirikiri Prison for jumping bail. This underscores the seriousness of this offense.

What legal rights do individuals have regarding the confidentiality of their tax information when filing Annual Tax Returns in Lagos State?

Individuals have legal rights to confidentiality regarding their tax information. This right is protected by extant provisions of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 as amended. This provision prohibits tax authorities from disclosing taxpayer information to third parties except in circumstances strictly provided by the Act. This confidentiality provision ensures that taxpayer’s sensitive financial information remains secure and is only accessed by authorized personnel for legitimate purposes such as tax assessment and enforcement. Any breach of this confidentiality provision can result in legal consequences for the tax authority.

Can individuals legally challenge or appeal any decisions or assessments made by LIRS regarding their Annual Tax Returns?

Yes, an individual possesses the legal authority by section 58 of PITA to formally object to an assessment issued on him within 30 days stating the ground of objection to the assessment. This ensures fairness and accountability of tax assessment.

Are there any legal implications for individuals who knowingly provide false or inaccurate information on their Annual Tax Returns in Lagos State?

The law seriously frowns against giving false information in a tax return, and the consequences can be serious. Anyone who engages in this can be charged with an offense of rendering false statements and returns. Upon conviction, the individual may be subjected to a fine of N50,000 or imprisonment for not more than six months.

What legal recourse do individuals have if they believe they have been unfairly penalized or treated by LIRS about their Annual Tax Returns in Lagos State?

The first step to resolve any issue on assessment is to object within 30 days of receiving an assessment. If the taxpayer is still displeased with the decision of the agency, he can readily approach the Tax Appeal Tribunal for redress.

Are there any legal requirements or obligations for individuals to keep records of documentation related to their Annual Tax Returns in Lagos State?

The keeping of books of accounts is a legal obligation and it is very germane to the ability to file correct tax returns. It becomes prima facie evidence to support the accuracy of the returns filed and it helps to expedite reconciliation of assessment should there be a dispute. As a legal obligation, the failure to keep books of accounts is an offense under the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 as amended, it is punishable by a payment of N50,000 fine upon conviction.

How does LIRS encourage compliance with legal requirements for filing Annual Tax Returns among individuals in the state?

Even though the filing of returns is a constitutional and statutory one, which does not require LIRS to give notice or make a demand on taxpayers to file, the agency nonetheless still employs the combination of public notices on the various media platforms and by direct notifications in writing to inform individuals of their duties to file their returns. As earlier pointed out, the failure of Individuals to file their returns has dire consequences for the taxpayers. It should be noted most seriously that the consequential effects of failure to file or filing of false returns is a criminal charge before appropriate courts and this is akin to a strict liability offense and all the penalties are made upon conviction. Nobody should want to become a convict with all its attendant negative connotations on account of failing to perform an exercise that has been made extremely simple through the e-filing process.

Are there any legal distinctions or implications for individuals filing Annual Tax Returns based on their residency status in Lagos State?

The residency rule is both important for filing tax returns and payment of taxes. A taxpayer who resides within the geographical territory of Lagos State must file and pay his taxes to the LIRS.

In seeking technical assistance, what support channels are available to taxpayers?

The agency maintains a dedicated call center, a dedicated helpdesk, a chat option on the e-Tax platform and the LIRS official website, and very robust engagements on various social media platforms.