News
Nigerian celebrities to pay 25 percent tax – Oyedele
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has said that wealthy Nigerians earning N100m and above monthly will face a 25 per cent personal income tax rate if a new tax bill is passed by the National Assembly.
He stated that 90 per cent of the current taxpayers are people who should not be taxed while advocating for a more streamlined and equitable tax system in the country.
This revelation was made during a breakout session at the ongoing 30th Nigeria Economic Summit organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning on Monday in Abuja.
Oyedele emphasised the need to strike a balance between easing the tax burden for lower-income earners and ensuring the wealthy contribute more to government revenue.
“If you earn N100m a month, we are taking up to 25 per cent from the rich people. That’s because we need to balance the books,” Oyedele stated.
The fiscal policy expert said the government is prepared and determined to ensure that the right individuals pay taxes, noting that his committee is actively working to achieve the goal.
He added that the proposed changes are expected to take effect from January 2025, based on the passage of the bill by lawmakers.
For middle-income earners making N1.5m or less per month, Oyedele disclosed that their personal income tax obligations would decrease while those earning higher amounts would see incremental increases in their tax rates, eventually reaching 25 percent. Lower-income earners would be fully exempt from personal income tax.
The reforms also aim to ease the tax burden on businesses.
Oyedele noted: “Today, whatever VAT you (businesses) pay on assets—whether you’re building a factory, buying a laptop, or vehicles—you bear it. This increases your cost, and therefore, your pricing will go up. Once our reforms are implemented, you get the credit back 100 percent on services and assets.”
“People will pay tax once we decide that they have to pay. What we realize is that almost 90 per cent of people who are paying taxes are those who should not have been paying in the first place,” he said.
“So that’s where we came up with the data that 97 per cent of the informal sector should be formally exempted from taxes. People do not understand where we are coming from. They’re not the ones to pay taxes. They’re just trying to survive.”
Regarding how his committee is working to ensure the right individuals pay taxes, Oyedele said the team would utilise primary data identification channels to accurately bring the appropriate group of taxpayers into the tax bracket.
Additionally, the corporate income tax rate is set to drop from 30 per cent to 25 per cent which Oyedele described as “huge” for businesses. Other significant tax adjustments include a reduction or elimination of VAT on essential goods and services such as food, health, education, accommodation, and transportation.
These essential services make up a large portion of household expenditure for the lower-income population, and the proposed reforms aim to lessen their financial burden.
However, Oyedele acknowledged that not all sectors would benefit from reduced tax rates. For other goods and services, the VAT rate would increase to ensure the government’s revenue book balance.
He also pointed out that inflation had already acted as a “disorderly” tax on the population, eroding the value of their money without the need for legislation.
In addressing concerns over tax incentives and waivers, Oyedele argued that indiscriminate incentives harm the economy and that removing unnecessary incentives could relieve the business sector without costing the government revenue.
“We cannot give all the incentives you are asking for. We think the biggest low-hanging fruit is removing these incentives, and that’s exactly what we are doing,” Oyedele concluded.
News
Impeachment Plot: Akpabio Cautions Nigerians To Disregard Media Report
By Gloria Ikibah
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has admonished Nigerians to disregard stories of his planned impeachment, even as he described it as an illusion.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that an online publication, (Name withheld on Wednesday, published a story titled “DSS Takes Over National Assembly Amid Impeachment Speculations Against Senate President Akpabio”, which has since been republished by other media outlets.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of Senate, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh in a statement on Wednesday said the report was a figment of the reporters imagination.
He said: “Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wishes to state without equivocation that the speculation and misinformation circulating about an alleged impeachment plot against him is the handiwork of fifth columnists who are perpetual merchants of misinformation and purveyors of mischief.
“As a Head of one of the Arms of government, the President of the Senate categorically denies these baseless claims and reaffirms his commitment to transformational leadership of the Senate particularly and effectively collaborates with the other arms of government. There is no crack in the Upper Chamber and no Senator or Caucus is plotting any impeachment against the President of the Senate. Every Senator is focused on raising the bar of Legislative Agenda and Nation building.
“The allegations are nothing but a desperate attempt to create division and discord among the esteemed senators. It’s unfortunate that some individuals would resort to spreading falsehoods to promote the invidious reins of their blackmail enterprise.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains focused on the implementation of the 10th Senate’s Legislative Agenda and working tirelessly to address the pressing National issues of growth and prosperity.
“The Senate President will not be distracted by these unfounded rumours and wants to assure the public that his commitment to Nigeria’s progress remains unwavering.
“We therefore urge the public to disregard these baseless claims and instead focus on the meaningful work being done by the Senate to improve the lives of all Nigerians”.
News
BREAKING! FG delegation in meeting with NLC, TUC
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Federal government delegation is currently meeting with the leaders of organised labour at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting is centred on the state of the nation, especially the petrol pricing system.
The meeting is taking place at the Secretary to the Office of the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume.
At the meeting are Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Labour Minister; and Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
Others are the Information Minister, Petroleum Minister, State Minister of Gas, and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Limited.
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