The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has announced that the Forum will collaborate closely with the National Assembly to strengthen engagement on the proposed Tax Reform Bills.
Uzodimma disclosed this while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with progressive governors in Abuja on Wednesday.
He reiterated the Forum’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s reform initiatives, particularly the proposed Tax Reform Bills, which aim to improve Nigeria’s taxation system and administration.
The bills under consideration include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
Addressing security concerns in parts of the North-West, Uzodimma noted that security agencies are actively tackling the situation and assured the Forum’s continued support to enhance national safety.
He added that the governors discussed key national issues, including measures to back the Federal Government’s reforms and create additional palliative programmes to mitigate their effects on citizens.
Uzodimma stressed the importance of unity among the governors to support President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in driving national prosperity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
A former Labour Party (LP) Chieftain, Dr Doyin Okupe, has described President Bola Tinubu administration’s reform agenda as the most credible compared to those of other presidential candidates in the 2023 presidential election.
Okupe, also a former Spokesman to former President Goodluck Johnathan, stated this while assessing Tinubu administration’s reform agenda.
“Though I never supported Tinubu ahead of the election; he is not my friend and we were not in the same party, in retrospect however, his reform agenda is the most credible.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda he (Tinubu) brought is one that can address, and is addressing, the country’s current challenges,” he said.
According to him, the renewed hope agenda is being meticulously applied by the president.
“Tinubu has a better policy document than any of his two rivals during the 2023 presidential election.
“Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is an experienced, knowledgeable and thorough-bred politician.
“I know that for a fact that he also came with a testament that would have been binding on him and Nigerians.
“But when you put the testament side-by-side the current reality on ground, it is not applicable,” the politician said.
He stated that Atiku’s testament, documents and preparations were hinged on some loans which he thought he could use to sort out some things if elected, stressing they were all theoretical.
This, Okupe said, was especially so, because by the time President Muhammadu Buhari was leaving office, no international financial institution was ready to borrow Nigeria money again.
Okupe said that if such institutions were ready to borrow Nigeria money, Buhari wouldn’t have gone to print money just at the tail end of his administration.
“So the premise Atiku placed his testament on was sinking and it can’t work.
“As for Peter Obi of Labour Party, he did not given any document to Nigerians that he was going to work on.
“In Labour Party, we didn’t have a document that we could adopt as a policy document for what was going on.
“All we were saying was that we wanted to take Nigeria from consumption to production; good rethorics, but it was not grounded either in policy development or principle application,” he said.
Okupe noted that the announcement of fuel subsidy removal by Tinubu on his inauguration day was a mere confirmation of an event that had happened under Buhari’s administration.
“Upon assumption of office, Tinubu addressed the issues in the country’s foreign exchange where some people were feeding fat on our foreign exchange earnings, using their contacts in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” he said.
Okupe also noted that Tinubu implemented the student loan and consumer protection programmes, providing loans to low income earners in a systematic manner.
He recalled that the president paid off some debts that were going to cripple the country’s economy.
“Two months after getting into government, he put up a committee to look into tax reform which was in his agenda.
“This man (Tinubu) has a systematic, reliable, focused and applicable agenda that can take Nigeria to enviable heights,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has pledged the commitment of the house to passing appropriate legislation that will foster digital learning and technical education in the country.
Abbas gave the pledge at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education in Abuja on Monday.
The hearing was on four bills seeking to establish the National Vocational Centre; Federal Artificial Intelligence Institute, Aliade, Benue; Federal College of Science and Technology, Askira-Uba, Borno and National Institute for Technical and Vocational Education, Wamba, Nasarawa State.
Represented by Rep. Auwalu Gwalabe (APC-Bauchi), Abbas said that the initiative required a strong collaboration on the side of the government and all stakeholders.
He said that polytechnic education would continue to be relevant to the Nigerian economy for the much-needed industrial development.
According to him, there has been an increasing recognition of the important role that science, technical and vocational education plays in national development.
Abbas said with the emergence of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, it was no longer sufficient for educational institutions to merely impact theoretical knowledge.
He said that youths must be equipped with practical skills that would enable them to thrive in an ever-evolving technologically-driven job market.
“We are hoping that the eventual establishment of these proposed science and technical institutions will provide access to quality technical education.
“We are also hoping that it will address the skills gap by equipping our graduates with employable skills, promote innovation and entrepreneurship as well as support the current efforts of government to diversify the economy.
“These proposed institutions will serve as beacons of excellence – providing qualitative education that meets international standard, while also being tailored to meet local needs.
“Therefore, today’s hearing aligns seamlessly with our legislative agenda as mentioned earlier, aimed at enhancing the educational framework within Nigeria.
“We recognise that in an increasingly competitive global environment, it is imperative that our youths have the relevant skills and knowledge,” he said.
The speaker expressed the committed of the house to ensuring access to quality education as well as improving educational infrastructure and teacher quality.
Abbas said that the public hearing was a reflection of the desire and commitment of the house to prioritise technical and vocational education as part of the ongoing social sector reform and development of the present administration.
He said that reforming and modernising science and technical education were critical steps toward promoting skill acquisition and empowering youths to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth and development of the country.
According to the speaker, the ongoing fight against insecurity must, as a matter of necessity, consider the provision of functional education for students and youths to ensure that they are gainfully engaged.
Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Fuad Laguda (APC-Lagos), said that the bills were designed to improve Nigeria’s educational development and promote sustainable human capital development necessary for a self-reliant society.
Laguda said there was the need to prioritise the advantages of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in driving economic growth.
The lawmaker said that the passage of the bills would ensure that the workforce was technologically empowered.
According to him, it will be used to tackle the issues of unemployment, wealth creation, poverty reduction and insecurity, while it will also as a veritable tool in curbing youth restiveness.
“The main objective of establishment of vocational, entrepreneurship and technical skills acquisition institutions in Nigeria is to train technicians and middle-level personnel who will act as catalysts for rapid industrialisation and development of the real sector of the economy.
“There is the need for all stakeholders here present to be dedicated and committed to purposeful deliberations as well as make positive inputs and opinions on all the contending issues of the bills, to further enrich the content and intendment of the proposed laws.
“The contributions of all the stakeholders are important for the success of these bills which seek to address contingent economic issues in Nigeria,” Laguda said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State which returned Gov. Lucky Aiyeditawa.
In his reaction to the outcome of the election, the former president said the voters had spoken lucidly and loudly about the confidence they have in the party and the governor.
Buhari said in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Sunday that the voters had expressed their wish through the ballot box, adding that this should be respected by other stakeholders.
The former president said the election’s outcome had shown that democracy remained strong and could not be easily overturned in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
He, however, challenged the governor-elect to put in place policies that engender economic growth, tame high unemployment and inflation while pursuing welfare programmes to make life better for the people.
Buhari also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in reducing observed shortcomings in previous elections.
He wished Aiyeditawa and his team a successful tenure in office. (NAN)
Former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has called for the establishment of an African Defence Force.
Chambas made the call in Awka while speaking at the 13th Zik Lecture Series.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture is in honour of the late elder statesman, Nnamdi Azikiwe, who died on May 11, 1996.
This year’s edition had as theme: “Zik Legacies and Rising Social Movements in Africa: Rethinking Regional Integration in Africa.”
Chambas, who is the Chairman of the African Union High-Level Panel on Sudan, said a unified African Defence Force would improve the continent’s ability to address security challenges.
” Terrorism and insurgency have plagued regions such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and Central Africa.
” These issues are beyond the capacity of any single African country to tackle alone,” he said.
Chambas said Africa with its own standby force could efficiently deploy resources and personnel to conflict zones, supporting peacekeeping operations and stabilising at-risk areas.
“This collective approach would allow African states to share intelligence, strategise collectively and neutralise threats before they escalate.
“Furthermore, a unified defence force could secure Africa’s borders and natural resources from external exploitation.
“As Zik emphasised, a stable Africa would be less susceptible to the interference of foreign powers who seek access to its vast resources.
“The force would be a deterrent against neocolonialism, allowing Africa to establish policies that prioritise its own interests over those of external actors.
” For instance, an African Navy could safeguard the continent’s coastal areas, particularly against illegal fishing and piracy, which have become significant issues in regions like the Gulf of Guinea” he said.
Chambas also said a common defence strategy would protect the rights of African citizens and ensure that governments uphold human rights and democratic principles.
This, he said, would further stabilise the region and bolster Zik’s vision of dignity and self governance.(NAN)
Toluwani Ojo-Lanre, an indigene of Ekiti, has emerged Overall Best Fellow in the 2024 cohort of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellows (EPLF) in Nigeria.
EPLF was founded by Sen. Liyel Imoke, a former Governor of Cross River, as a non-partisan academy dedicated to nurturing visionary young leaders, who are committed to public service and governance in Nigeria.
This is according to a statement by Ojo-Lanre, on Thursday.
Imoke, while presenting the award to her during the 2024 EPLF Graduation and Mentoring Dinner in Abuja, on Wednesday, highlighted her dedication, diligence, and commitment to political leadership and public governance.
He said this had positioned her as a promising beacon for Nigeria’s future.
Ojo-Lanre’s hard work was further celebrated with the conferment of an Advanced Certificate in Political Leadership and Public Governance, awarded by Hon. Chukwuemeka Ihedioha, a former Governor of Imo.
In addition, she received an award of Recognition for her diligence and an Award of Excellence presented by Sen. Biodun Olujimi.
Olujimi expressed heartfelt pride in Ojo-Lanre’s accomplishments, acknowledging her as an inspiring representative of Ekiti’s best values in governance and leadership.
She said: “Toluwani’s achievements are a source of pride for Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole. Her commitment and expertise in leadership embody hope for the future of this nation.”
Commenting, Ojo-Lanre said her remarkable achievements served as an inspiration, embodying the spirit of service, resilience, and dedication that defines Nigeria’s future leaders.
She promised to continue to break new grounds to inspire many young Nigerians to pursue impactful leadership roles and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s growth and progress.
The event brought together a distinguished audience, including Amin Tambuwal, a former Governor of Sokoto State; Sen. Gabriel Suswan, Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation; Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe; Sen. Stella Oduah; Sen. John Enoh, among others.
These prominent leaders, along with the award presenters, lauded Ojo-Lanre’s dedication to governance and public service, describing her as a symbol of hope for Nigeria’s emerging leaders. (NAN) (nannews.ng)
The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund is considering repealing the Act establishing the National Board for Technical Education(NBTE) to realise its objectives.
Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Muntari Dandutse said this when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit to the Board’s office in Abuja on Thursday.
While noting the importance of the board to the technological development of Nigeria, Dandutse said that the Senate would look into amending the obsolete laws governing NBTE.
“We will look at repealing the laws that will make them realise the objectives of innovation in a modern set up.
“We are going to look into the challenges and address them. We want to partner with you. We need to address young Nigerians to be self employed.
“It’s only through these polytechnics we can have technical students who can achieve a very robust innovation in making Nigeria great in terms of engineering”.
The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof Idris Bugaje, said that the Board was established in 1977 adding that it supervises, accredits and regulates over 700 institutions, 156 polytechnics and 145 monotechnics.
He disclosed that Sokoto state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were the only states yet to have federal polytechnics.
“Sokoto is the only state in Nigeria without a federal polytechnic. We appreciate it so that Sokoto will also have a federal polytechnic.
“We are proposing that FCT has a federal polytechnic in Gwarinpa. A draft has already been given to the minister and it will soon go to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and from there to the Senate.”
He also noted that the struggle to upgrade NBTE to a national polytechnic commission has started.
“We look forward to support from this Senate Committee,” Bugaje said.(NAN)
The Kukah Centre, a policy research institute, has organised a development workshop for political parties to enhance pluralism, internal democracy and equal opportunity in Nigeria’s political party system.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kukah Centre is one of the organisations implementing six components of the European Union’s flagship governance programme known as the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN).
The centre’s project is tagged “Component III-Support to Political Parties”.
Speaking at the end of the three-day event on Thursday in Lagos, Ms Inimfon Etuk, a Public Relation and Strategic Communications professional, said that political parties’ capacity must be built to develop purpose.
Etuk said that political parties in their campaigns, must discover ways to use interactive technology to encourage public participation.
She spoke on the topic; “Developing Enhanced Political Party Communication”.
“In the past, political campaigns were all about face-to-face interactions. Candidates would converge, shake hands and give speeches.
“In today’s evolving digital age, more and more campaigning is done online. Political communication is evolving, and some trends are here to stay.
“Effective political communication typically involves understanding the needs and wants of the audience and then tailoring the message to fit those needs,” she said.
According to Etuk, since the early 1990s, the most important change to the political communication process has occurred through the rise of the internet.
Etuk added, “The World Wide Web facilitates a virtually unlimited choice of information and communication one-to-one with a minimal role for gatekeepers or government censors.”
She noted that internet messages had the capacity to flow further, faster, and with fewer intermediaries.
Etuk said that in the political landscape, AI had already transformed how politicians and governments communicate and interact with their citizens.
“By processing extensive data and studying voter behaviour, AI can craft messages that appeal specifically to different groups of voters,” she said.
Etuk urged political parties to wage on the internet.
“Political campaigns will model after commercial marketing strategies focusing on visuals and political communication will be primarily through cyberspace, which will become the new public space for political action,” she said.
Mr Esrom Ajanya, Head of Programmes, The Kukah Centre, said that the purpose of the workshop was to engage various political parties on certain priorities that had been identified through a Needs Assessment.
“On the 5th of December 2023, The Kukah Centre held a public presentation of the Needs Assessment of political parties in Nigeria.
“The assessment sought to understand the challenges faced by political parties.
“Based on the findings of this exercise, The Kukah Centre held a high-level meeting with the National Leadership of political parties on the 16th of July, 2024, where Political Parties were tasked with setting up Technical Working Groups (TWGs) to facilitate party-specific interactions for tailored support towards strengthening their management and operations.”
Ajanya said that issues highlighted by the report as priority areas for intervention included: exploring and clarifying the fundamental value systems, organisational structure and membership profile.
Others are active and well-established knowledge structures for political discourse and compliance with legal and institutional frameworks and political communications.
In his remarks, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, the National Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), an umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, commended the organisers for commitment to deepen democracy.
Dantalle said the only vehicle for contesting elections or assuming any elective office in Nigeria remained political parties, hence the need to strengthen them.
“This programme is about building capacity for the managers of political parties and the management of political parties.
“This will catalyse into a better democratic atmosphere for the country if we have better managers of political parties. This is a wonderful and welcome development.
“We thank the European Union in partnership with the Kukah Foundation for this initiative,” Dantalle, the National Chairman of Allied People’s Movement (APM), said.
Stating that the initiative was in line with IPAC’s motor of deepening democracy in Nigeria, he described the workshop as a propelling force for building democracy. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Rep. Donatus Mathew (LP-Kaduna) has installed solar-powered streetlights in rural communities in Kaura Local Government Area of the state to address energy poverty in furtherance of his constituency projects.
Mathew told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, that rural electricity, though very critical, has always been in short supply for both households and small businesses in remote communities.
According to the lawmaker representing Kaura Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, power is very critical to improving the quality of lives of the rural population.
“Most times, particularly during the rainy season, electricity from the national grid is always off, and people are than left in the dark.
“This is making it very difficult for people to carry out their commercial and everyday activities.
“The epileptic supply of electricity in rural areas also allows criminal elements to carry out their evil in the dark unabated.
“It is also challenging for people to carry their sick ones to the hospital at night because it is usually dark everywhere due to the lack of constant supply of electricity,” he said.
The lawmaker told NAN that to address the challenge, he has provided solar panels and accessories for installation in strategic locations.
He added that streetlights were being installed across all the political wards in the local government area to ensure that no community is left out.
“So far, we have installed more than 200 solar streetlights, and more are coming until we saturate most communities in my constituency.
“This sustainable renewable energy will brighten various communities and villages at night,” Mathew added.
He described rural energy poverty as a complex and multi-dimensional issue that must be addressed to give rural dwellers a sense of belonging.
This, he said, would have a significant impact on residents’ quality of life and health, individual income and welfare.
“If we light up our rural communities, economic activities will flourish, people will move around easily in the dark and quality of life would improve.
“What we are doing may seem small but the impact is beyond measure,” he said.
The lawmaker reiterated his commitment to sustaining the implementation of people-oriented projects that would impact lives. (NAN)
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has advised media organisations and practitioners not to allow themselves to be cowed or silenced while he lying to foster democracy and development in Nigeria.
Makinde, represented by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, gave the advice during a retreat in Ibadan on Thursday for journalists covering the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat has “The Role of the Media in Fostering Transparency and Development in a Multi-party Democracy” as its theme.
Makinde said: “The media, as the society’s mirror and watchdog, must always speak truth to the power, hold government accountable, and keep the political class and other members of the society on their toes.
“The media must ensure that its platforms are not controlled only by those in power or those who have the wherewithal.
“Just like the public office is held in trust, the public space which the media controls is also held in trust for the people by media practitioners.
“Just as the public office-holders should not abuse the trust, media practitioners should not also abuse or misuse the trust.
“Development is a consequence of the pursuit of public interest. When all sectors of the society pursue public interest, there will be development.”
The governor added that for a multi-party democracy to thrive, the media owed the society the responsibility of keeping watch on the ruling party.
He said this was necessary to prevent the ruling party from using its power to stifle democracy by crippling opposition.
“Remember the French judge, Baron De Montesquieu, who warned that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
“It is, therefore, a key function of the media and a task that must be done that you prevent the absolutism of the ruling party or the majority party,” Makinde said.
He stated that the Oyo State Government had put in place measures to promote transparency, by regularly monitoring and addressing citizens’ concerns.
“My administration established the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYSACA), which has the mandate to investigate cases of corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
“We also established the Project Monitoring Agency, which is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the state gets value for its money.
“All of these are targeted at ensuring that as much as it is practicable, we run a transparent administration,” the governor said.
Members of the PDP Press Corps with the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, during a retreat in Ibadan on Thursday
The event’s guest speaker, Prof. Adebusuyi Adeniran, a Senior Researcher at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, urged journalists to uphold the country’s democracy by being objective in their reports.
Adeniran advised the media to continue to uphold their constitutional role of holding government and leaders accountable for the development of the country.
In his remarks, Chairman of PDP Press Corps, Mr Samuel Ogidan, said the retreat would enhance the journalists’ skills.
“This is in the face of rising demands and complexities of reporting, as well as the evolving world of politics.”
Ogidan said the goal of the retreat was for the participants to be better equipped to navigate the challenges of journalism.
“This is to enable them continue upholding the values of integrity, accuracy and objectivity in their reports, especially in the digital age.
“As journalists covering politics, we serve as watchdogs of democracy. Our responsibility is immense, and so are the pressures and obstacles we face.
“The fast pace of political events, the complexity of governance and the shifting nature of public opinion demand that we stay sharp, informed and adaptable.
“This retreat provides the much-needed pause from our daily grind, giving us the space to reflect on our craft, sharpen our skills and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of journalism in Nigeria,” he said.
Ogidan, who said investigative journalism remained a cornerstone of political reporting, tasked participants to dig deeper and uncover the truth often buried beneath layers of bureaucracy and deception.
He commended Makinde for hosting the retreat, given his understanding of the role of free and responsible journalism in strengthening democracy, fostering transparency and empowering citizens.
The Press Corps Chairman described Makinde as a visionary leader with a passion for transformational governance, who has consistently raised the bar with distinctive innovations and inclusive approach.
“From infrastructural improvements to educational reforms, his leadership capacity has brought remarkable progress and growth to the people of the state,” he said.
Ogidan added that Makinde had also made significant contributions to PDP’s growth on the national stage.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)
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