By Mario Deepromoter

The chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has allayed the fears of Nigerians on the possible introduction of new taxes through proposed tax reform laws.

Mr Adedeji, during an interactive session with members of the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja on Tuesday, assured Nigerians that the tax reform laws would not entail the introduction of new taxes or an increase in the already existing ones.

“Tax reform will not introduce any tax or increase the percentage of the existing ones, but it will reduce the number of taxes being paid by Nigerians.

“No agency will be merged in the process of carrying out the reform, and no job will be taken from anybody.

“The tax reform basically seeks to increase the simplicity and efficiency of tax administration in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Adedeji said there were four executive bills already forwarded to both chambers of the National Assembly to legalise the reform.

According to him, the bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Act (amendment) bill, Nigeria Revenue Service bill, and Joint Revenue Board (establishment ) bill.

Mr Adedeji said the four bills, when passed, would, among others, help to harmonise the multiple tax laws in the country.

“They will drive efficiency and modernisation, simplify tax laws and ensure synergy among the agencies involved.

“The bills will also increase efficiency and effectiveness in government savings, promote transparency and integrity in revenue collection, align with international standards and broaden Nigeria’s tax base,” he said.

When asked why FIRS, as contained in one of the bills, would be changed to Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Mr Adedeji said the present name of the agency did not cover the scope of its services.

“Like the Value Added Tax (VAT), 85 per cent are remitted to states while the federal government gets the remaining 15 per cent,” he said.

In his remarks, the committee chairman, Sani Musa, said the purpose of the interactive session was for the FIRS to update the committee on what the tax reform bills were aiming at.

He commended the FIRS boss for meeting the revenue targets set in the fiscal year, even as he urged him to go beyond the target.

Source: ibomfocus

By Mario Deepromoter

Founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has blasted those criticizing the church’s decision over change of leadership to mind their business.

Bishop Oyedepo said critics should refrain from questioning the decision to retire some of his assistant pastors.

Nigerians have been criticizing Oyedepo over the retirement of his two Vice Presidents, Bishops Thomas Aremu and David Abioye.

Both clergymen would be retiring after serving three and four decades in the ministry.

Their retirement was said to be in line with the operational guidelines of the church.

However, Oyedepo faulted the criticism that greeted the church’s decision.

Delivering a sermon at the valedictory service for Bishop Aremu at Winners Chapel, Orita Bashorun, on Tuesday, Oyedepo revealed that the church’s Administrative Policy of 1998 was reviewed in 2001, while The Mandate of 2012 was revised in 2024, stressing that the ministry operates by divine order.

He said, “My advice to commentators is to study to be quiet and mind your business. It is wisdom to learn what is working and find out what makes it work. Everything works here.”

Quoting the Bible in Genesis 49:26, Bishop Oyedepo stated that no one has an inheritance in a teacher or pastor.

He encouraged him to maintain a mindset focused on growth, saying, “There’s no such thing as the best today or tomorrow; what matters is your pursuit of God.”

Oyedepo urged Aremu to remain connected for the continued flow of grace, advising him not to be distracted by baseless criticism.

Source: ibomfocus

…hail gov Uzodinma

Hon Ugochinyere Ikenga has swallowed more than he can chew as his constituents move to recall the Abia federal lawmaker.

This move was revealed at a grand ceremony in Umuchima autonomous community of Ideato South, where community and political stakeholders from Ideato Federal Constituency gathered to honor Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

The event was organized to express appreciation for the governor’s intervention in tackling a severe erosion problem that had threatened to isolate the constituency from the rest of the state.

The Ideato South Council of Traditional Rulers, led by their chairman, Eze Ewuzie, welcomed the delegation and conveyed their gratitude on behalf of the community.

Constituents and leaders commended Governor Uzodimma for his swift action in awarding the erosion control project to Craneburg, a reputable construction company, and ensuring that work commenced promptly. They highlighted that despite the constituency having produced a governor, a senator, and various federal lawmakers in the past, it was under Uzodimma’s administration that substantial action was taken to address the long-standing erosion crisis.

In their remarks, stakeholders emphasized the governor’s dedication to the well-being of the people, noting that he has no personal political ambitions as he is not seeking any office at the moment. They viewed his intervention as a demonstration of his commitment to good governance and impartial leadership.

However, the event also served as a forum for the people to voice their dissatisfaction with Hon. Ugochinyere Micheal Ikeagwonu, the current representative of the constituency in the National Assembly. Community leaders accused him of neglecting the constituency’s needs, focusing instead on his personal political agenda and launching unwarranted attacks against the governor.

During the ceremony, a formal motion was introduced for the recall of Hon. Ikeagwonu. Hon. Okechukwu Udenze, the representative for Ideato North in the Imo State House of Assembly, led the motion, which received strong support from the community members and political figures present.

Dignitaries at the event included Hon. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, Southeast chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Hon. Ikechukwu Umeh, Imo APC Organizing Secretary; Hon. Nkechi Ugwu, Commissioner for Women Affairs; and the executive chairmen of Ideato North and South, Hon. Chinonso Okparaeke and Hon. Okechukwu Okwara, along with vice chairmen and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) chairmen of both areas.

The ceremony concluded with a call for greater unity among the people of Ideato Federal Constituency. Leaders urged the community to remain focused on the shared goal of progress and development, working together to rebuild and advance the region.