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Category: Governance

  • FG Unveils 180-Day Emergency Plan to Tackle Rising Food Prices

    FG Unveils 180-Day Emergency Plan to Tackle Rising Food Prices

    In a bid to address the escalating food prices in Nigeria, the Federal Government has rolled out a series of immediate measures aimed at stabilizing the cost of food commodities across the country.

    The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who outlined the government’s strategy on his official X account.

    A key aspect of the plan is the introduction of a 150-day duty-free import window for critical food commodities, including maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.

    This initiative will suspend tariffs, duties, and taxes on these imports, easing the cost burden on both consumers and traders.

    Kyari emphasized that the government is committed to tackling high food prices over the next 180 days through a combination of importation and local production strategies.

    As part of the plan, 250,000 metric tons of both wheat and maize will be imported, with these goods to be distributed to small-scale processors and millers to boost local supply.

    To ensure affordability, the minister confirmed that the imported food will be subject to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP), aiming to prevent price gouging.

    Kyari reassured the public that despite concerns over the quality of imported goods, stringent quality controls will be maintained to guarantee food safety.

    In addition to these immediate actions, the government plans to ramp up local agricultural production by strengthening support for smallholder farmers.

    The ongoing wet season farming will be bolstered through existing government initiatives, and efforts will be made to accelerate dry-season farming.

    The government will also prioritize agricultural mechanization to reduce production costs and increase overall productivity.

    Kyari further mentioned the government’s engagement with relevant stakeholders to set a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for surplus food commodities and replenish the National Strategic Food Reserve.

    This comprehensive approach seeks to stabilize food prices, support farmers, and enhance the nation’s agricultural capacity in the coming months.

  • Tinubu Tax Reform Bills: Buba Galadima Opens a Can of Warms

    Tinubu Tax Reform Bills: Buba Galadima Opens a Can of Warms

    • Says none of 36 state governors made input to the bills except Gov Sannwo-Olu of Lagos State and the Chairman of the Reform Committee, Taiwo Oyedele;
    • Both gentlemen drafted the Reform Bills;
    • Bills deliberately designed to favour Lagos and Ogun states;
    • Some members of the Committee have disowned the Bills.

    Engr. Galadima, an Elder statesman and stalwart of the NNPP says the Bills, in their present format have to be rejected because the process leading to its formulation lacks transparency.

    He said the bill is a contraption of Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairman of the tax reform committee and Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor, contending, the two of them practically wrote the bills before handing them over to President Tinubu.

    Engr. Galadima said that in fact, all members of the committee from other parts of the country have already disowned the bills because they discovered that the final bill did not reflect the contributions submitted by the various sub-committees.

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    Engr. Galadima who spoke as a guest of This Day Live, a programme on Arise TV. chided Dr. Reuben Abati whom he accused of deploying divisive narratives that had the tendency to pit regions of the country against each other.

    Galadima also stressed that the bills will never be allowed to scale through in their present format because of the approach of President Tinubu and his recent statement of ‘no going back.”

    He also accused the committee and President Tinubu of over reaching themselves by veering into the subject of derivation or revenue sharing, which is a constitutional issue.

    Contributing to the subject, Professor David Aworawo of the University of Lagos disagreed with the committee on several aspects of the Bill.

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    He referred to a provision in the Bill which stated that by 2030 funding to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) shall cease and be diverted to the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying that provision alone goes to show that the committee lacked adequate knowledge of contemporary Nigeria.

    Contending, Prof Aworawo explained that most modern physical structures in tertiary institutions in Nigeria are funded by TETFUND, asking, “If you phase out TETFUND and utilise the money as loans to students, where will they stay to receive the lectures?”

    Reacting to the position of Mr. Galadima, Taiwo Oyedele confirmed that members of the committee only met with the Governor of Lagos, who ended being the only governor that made input to the bills.

    He said even though the committee met with Mr. Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna state, they did not succeed in discussing the subject matter of the tax reform bills.

    He said that the committee did not succeed in having any engagement with the remaining 35 state governors.

    Mr. Oyedele said that at inception, the committee had planned to meet with a governor from each of the six geo-political zones of the country but succeeded in meeting with the Lagos state governor alone.

  • 1000 CBN Staff Resigned Voluntarily – CBN

    1000 CBN Staff Resigned Voluntarily – CBN

    In December 2024, around 1000 staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) voluntarily left their positions, as confirmed by Governor Olayemi Cardoso.

     Contrary to claims that the departures were forced, the CBN emphasized that the exits were initiated by the staff themselves.

    During a recent hearing by the House of Representatives Committee, Bala Bello, the CBN’s Deputy Director of Corporate Services, clarified that the decision to leave was part of a restructuring process aimed at improving operational efficiency.

     The voluntary exits allowed the bank to realign its workforce to better meet its current needs, especially in light of the global shift toward digitization.

    READ ALSO: CBN TO SACK 1,000 WORKERS, OFFERS N50BN INCENTIVE PACKAGE

    The programme was not a response to internal pressure but rather an opportunity for staff members who had reached a career plateau to pursue other ventures.

     Some individuals leaving the bank have plans to start their own financial institutions. 

    The process was opened to all levels, a first in the bank’s history, and those who chose to stay continue their roles without coercion.

    READ ALSO: Nigeria Inflation Rate Surges Higher, Hits 34.6%

    The CBN also addressed concerns about the N50 billion in severance benefits for the departing employees, stressing that these payments were part of the regular process for voluntary departures.

     The bank has previously carried out similar exercises, though this was the first time the initiative was extended to such a large group.

    The House committee has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

    It would be recalled however, that late in 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria had offered a N50billion incentive targeted at 1000 staff of all cadres.

    Insider sources revealed however that those targeted were given deadlines to take the offer or get whatever comes their way, meaning they could be sacked.

  • NULGE Express Frustration Over Delay In LGA Financial Autonomy

    NULGE Express Frustration Over Delay In LGA Financial Autonomy

    The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has expressed frustration over the six-month delay in implementing financial autonomy for local governments, despite a Supreme Court ruling that directed direct disbursement of funds.

     The July 2024 judgment invalidated the practice of governors controlling local government finances, ordering that funds be paid directly to local government accounts. 

    However, despite the ruling, governors have continued to handle the allocations, disregarding the court’s decision. 

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    NULGE National President, Hakeem Ambali, has called for immediate action from President Bola Tinubu to enforce the ruling, noting that the situation should have been resolved by October.

    Ambali also addressed recent promises that direct allocation would begin by the end of January 2025, citing the Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s visit to the President during the festive period.

     He urged the government to follow through on its commitment to end the practice of routing local government funds through state-level intermediaries.

    Furthermore, Ambali criticized governors such as Charles Soludo of Anambra and Alex Otti of Abia for attempting to pass laws counteracting the court’s decision, warning that such laws are illegal and cannot override the court’s verdict. 

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    In response to these challenges, a technical committee has proposed measures to improve transparency in the allocation process, including publishing monthly allocations in newspapers and creating oversight bodies.

     Ambali emphasized that local governments must control their finances directly, warning that any attempt to undermine this process would not succeed.

  • New Tax Bill Will Ease Burden on Workers  – FG Replied NLC 

    New Tax Bill Will Ease Burden on Workers  – FG Replied NLC 

    The Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms has assured Nigerian workers of favorable provisions in the proposed tax reform bills. 

    Despite concerns raised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which called for more consultations on the bills, the committee highlighted that the reforms prioritize the welfare of employees, particularly those in low-income brackets.  

    According to the committee, individuals earning less than ₦1 million annually will be exempted from personal income tax, benefiting about one-third of workers across the public and private sectors.

     Workers with annual earnings up to ₦20 million will also see reduced tax rates, extending relief to an additional 60% of the workforce.  

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    Special exemptions have been outlined for members of the armed forces engaged in combating insecurity, reflecting targeted relief measures in the reforms.  

    The committee encouraged the NLC to engage in discussions for further refinement of the bills, emphasizing the potential of the reforms to bring tangible benefits to Nigerian workers if implemented effectively.

    Analysts have however, observed that what the lower income earners gain in the form of tax exemption may be expended on the higher cost of goods and services due to the transfer of burden by goods and service providers who shall be paying higher taxes.

  • Nigeria Must Diversify to Avoid Economic Vulnerability, Says Speaker

    Nigeria Must Diversify to Avoid Economic Vulnerability, Says Speaker

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, warned that Nigeria’s continued dependence on oil threatens the country’s economic stability and exacerbates issues like poverty and unemployment. 

    Speaking at the 14th convocation of Al-Hikmah University in Ilorin, Abbas called for a shift away from oil by tapping into the nation’s vast resources and human capital to drive economic diversification.

    Abbas stressed that with declining oil revenues and a global pivot to renewable energy, Nigeria must focus on sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, technology, and the creative industries to create jobs and foster long-term growth. 

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    He pointed to countries like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and the UAE as examples of successful diversification through strategic policies and investments.

    He also emphasized the need for targeted reforms and investments in infrastructure, education, and technology, urging both government and private sector involvement to create a more resilient economy.

    Universities, Abbas added, should play a central role in research and fostering innovation to support this transformation, while encouraging youth to embrace opportunities in entrepreneurship and emerging sectors.

  • Police Intensify Crackdown on Kidnapping and Robbery, Rescue 13 Victims

    Police Intensify Crackdown on Kidnapping and Robbery, Rescue 13 Victims

    The Nigeria Police Force has reinforced its operations against kidnapping, armed robbery, and related crimes, yielding notable results in recent days. 

    Through targeted efforts in various states, officers successfully rescued 13 kidnapped individuals and apprehended multiple robbery suspects while recovering a cache of weapons.  

    On December 27, 2024, officers in Kwara State stormed a hideout in Idofin-Igbana, freeing 13 hostages after a confrontation with the kidnappers, who fled with injuries.

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     The following day in Lagos, police intercepted two individuals at Pinnacle Depot, Lekki, discovering firearms, including a double-barrel rifle and 90 cartridges.

     In another operation at Ikeja GRA, three suspected robbers were arrested, and weapons, including a locally made pistol and cutlasses, were seized.  

    The Inspector-General of Police has assured the public of the Force’s continued efforts to curb criminal activities and ensure community safety. Investigations are ongoing, with suspects facing prosecution soon.

  • Bauchi Gov Challenges Tinubu To Rethink Tax Reform Bills

    Bauchi Gov Challenges Tinubu To Rethink Tax Reform Bills

    Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has raised concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed tax reforms, warning that they could worsen economic challenges, particularly in Northern Nigeria. 

    Speaking during a meeting with the Christian community in Bauchi, the governor criticized the approach taken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, calling for policies that align with the needs of the people.  

    He argued that the reforms risk creating financial strain in the region, making it difficult to fund essential projects and pay salaries.

    READ ALSO: Tinubu is a Leader Not Listening

     He urged leaders to be more responsive to public feedback and cautioned against policies perceived as imposing hardship.  

    “We are calling on the presidency and the Federal Government to change their style. Whenever a policy is not popular, they should listen to the people. They should not be arrogant and think that whatever they bring must be. This is not an oligarchy; this is not a military rule; they must listen to the people, and that is what makes a good leader.

    “And we pledge to be loyal to them, but anything they are doing contrary to that, they are calling for anarchy; they are calling for intransigence, and it is unacceptable. There is a lot of wahala; we must work together across party lines and across the tiers of government to provide succour and solace to the Nigerian people,” he said.

    Governor Mohammed also acknowledged the support of the Christian community in Bauchi for his administration, emphasizing the need for unity and fairness in governance across religious and political divides. 

    He pledged continued efforts to address the needs of all residents, irrespective of their backgrounds.

  • Nigerien Leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani accuses France of Funding Insecurity in Northern Nigeria, Says, Tinubu, Rufa’i and Ribadu are Aware

    Nigerien Leader, Abdourahmane Tchiani accuses France of Funding Insecurity in Northern Nigeria, Says, Tinubu, Rufa’i and Ribadu are Aware

    In a trending video, he says the conflagration in Sokoto is aimed at creating an operating base. The League of Northern Democrats (LND) has jumped into the fray and called on President Tinubu and others to clear their names by telling Nigerians their side of the story.

    In the fast trending video, the Nigerien Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani accuses France of funding Boko Haram.

    Abdourahamane Tchiani

    Speaking in Hausa, the Nigerien leader also pointed accusing fingers at President Bola Tinubu as having knowledge of France funding of Boko Haram.

    The Nigerien leader also mentioned Ahmed Rufa’i, the immediate past Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) as not only been aware of France funding of Boko Haram, but involved in militarising the swarth of land currently being occupied by the Lakurawa terrorist group.

    Reacting to the revelations by Tchiani, the League of Northern Democrats (LND) have called on President Tinubu and other officials of the Federal Government implicated to come clean by telling Nigerians all they know about this grievous act of territorial compromise.

    PLEASE SEE: Tchiani Abdourahamani Interview

    The statement, which was signed by Dr. Ladan Salihu, the LND Spokesperson reads in part:

    “The League of Northern Democrats (LND) expresses grave concern over the allegations made by the President of Niger Republic, in a Hausa video clip that has gone viral, accusing France of complicity in funding and equipping Boko Haram and implicating prominent Nigerian officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former NIA DG Ahmed Rufa’i, and the NSA Nuhu Ribadu.

    Notwithstanding the poor diplomatic relations between Niger on the one hand and France and Nigeria on the other, these allegations, made by a sitting president with access to sensitive intelligence and specific information, are too significant to be ignored as mere international politics.

    We therefore respectfully call on the federal government, and Ahmed Rufa’i and Nuhu Ribadu, as esteemed northerners and public servants, to provide the nation – especially the North that is bearing the brunt of the insurgency – with concrete, cogent and verifiable evidence refuting or clarifying these allegations.”

    As the rest of the world celebrate Christmas, parts of Northern Nigeria conflagrated following the convergence of the two extremes of war and terrorism.

    On Christmas day, the Nigerian Air Force bombed two communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto state, killing several residents.

    As this was going on, terrorists attacked a military base in Borno State with, you will not be believe it, armed drones.

    It was reported that five members of the troops were wounded.

    Ten Dead in Sokoto NAF Bombing