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Reps Move To Increase Budget Of FERMA For Maintenance Of Roads Across Nigeria

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to allocate 20 per cent of the 2025 budget of the Federal Ministry of Works to the Agency to enable it to function effectively.
This resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion on the “Need To Increase the Budgetary Allocation to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency For The Maintenance And Repairs Of Federal Roads Across The Country”, moved by Rep. Aderemi Oseni.
Rep. Oseni noted that the federal government was committed to enhancing economic activities and productivity by ensuring the effective maintenance and repair of Federal Roads throughout the year.
The lawmaker however expressed worries that the majority of the federal roads across the country are in disrepair, dilapidated, and unpassable, causing economic loss to governments and citizens due to continuous neglect.
Rep. Oseni said: “The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is the agency with the mandate to maintain and rehabilitate all Federal roads across the country and has been doing its best with the paltry budgetary allocation it receives annually which cannot make any significant impact due to the large number roads across the country that need urgent repairs and rehabilitation”.
He therefore highlighted that the inadequate funding of FERMA translates to outright neglect in the maintenance of the roads, as an average of N300 billion to N500 billion was required annually to maintain the federal roads.
The lawmaker said that the annual budget of FERMA is a meagre sum of about N25 billion, to N50 billion within the last two years, which is about 10 percent of the required amount.
“Federal Ministry of Works in the 2024 budget has about one trillion Naira, thus a need to allocate 20% (percent) of the Ministry of Works budget to FERMA in the 2025 budget estimates, to enable FERMA to fulfill the purpose of its establishment of maintenance of existing roads.
“There is a need to increase the budgetary allocation of FERMA in 2025 budget estimates to enable it to discharge its responsibility effectively and engender economic growth in the country”, he added.
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WATCH Gov Sanwo-Olu turns conductor at train station

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By Mario Deepromoter

A video clip showing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu conducting activities at the Red Line Train Service.

It’s indeed ‘Eko oni baje’ fully loading in centre of excellence.

Kudos to LASG!

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Watch clip below;

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Tax Reforms: No cause for alarm, FIRS assures Nigerians

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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“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

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Oyedepo Bombs netizns over Abioye, Aremu’s retirement, Says It’s none of your biz

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Source: ibomfocus

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