News
Speedy treatment of Tax reform bills is very suspicious’ – Ndume cries out
The Senator representing Borno South at the senate, Ali Ndume, has frowned at the rushed passage of the tax reform bills, saying that the hurry by the presidency and some lawmakers to pass the bills looks suspicious.
The tax reform bills which passed for second reading at the Senate on Thursday have triggered controversies since it was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, with Ndume maintaining strongest opposition against the bills.
The National Economic Council also advised President Tinubu to withdraw the bills, but the President said he preferred that they go through the processes.
The lawmaker, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, maintained his position and insisted that it is better for the Presidency to take the advice of the National Economic Council to withdraw the bill.
“It is not that I am totally saying that we should throw away the baby with the bath water, but since the governors who are our leaders, the National Economic Council and many individuals have said that it is not that we should throw away the bills, no.
“Withdraw the bill, do more consultations and then bring the bill again. Why are they in a hurry,” Ndume queried.
Backing up his claim that there is a rush to pass the tax reform bills, Ndume gave an instance of the Petrol Industry Bill which he said is more important than the tax bill, adding that it took years before it was passed.
He recalled that the PIB was introduced to the National Assembly when he was in the House of Representatives, but wasn’t passed until years later when he had moved to the Senate.
The Senator said one of his grouses with the tax reform bills is the timing, noting that such bills shouldn’t be introduced when Nigerians are struggling to survive.
According to him, the opposition to the bills by him and some others is not because people do not want to pay taxes, but the wrong timing.
“I disagree with the timing because Nigerians are struggling to survive. Our forefathers were paying tax, in the North we pay taxes.
“So, it is not like we are running away from tax, we pay taxes, every responsible Nigerian will want to pay tax, but the timing is wrong,” he said.
Ndume, who said the best time to present the bills is when there is no hunger, likened the bills to giving someone something with a right hand and taking it back with the left hand.
He added that his opposition of the bills is because he does not want Tinubu to fail contrary to some insinuations that it is to hurt the President.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
An explosion suspected to be a bomb has rocked an Islamiyyah school in the Kuchibiyu Community of Bwari Area Council, Abuja, killing one student and injuring four others.
A report by Premium Times said the incident occurred around noon on Monday, January 6, 2025.
The deafening explosion reportedly sent shockwaves through the quiet community located approximately 42 kilometres from Abuja’s city centre.
Emergency response teams, including the police bomb disposal squad, promptly arrived at the scene, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care.
The report quoted a security source to have disclosed that the deceased student, whose identity had yet to be confirmed as of press time, was reportedly carrying a substance suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) when it detonated.
The explosion caused injuries to other students and widespread panic in and around the school premises.
Authorities at the school were unavailable for comment, and the Federal Capital Territory Police Command had yet to issue an official statement as of press time.
Repeated calls to the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, did not connect.
The affected students were said to have resumed school just three days ago, on January 3.
A fire outbreak in Sokoto metropolis has caused the death of four persons, a daughter to Secretary to the State Government of Sokoto, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, and her three children.
The deceased mother was also the wife of the Permanent Secretary of the Sokoto State Ministry of Sports and Youths Development, Muhammadu Yusuf Bello.
Only the husband survived the fire which affected the entire 6-bedroom flat while family was sleeping.
Personnel of the state fire service were unable to put out the fire as it had already consumed the house before their arrival.
The remains of the 4 deceased members of the family are slated for burial at Sheikh Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo Mosque, Sifawa, the family home of the Sokoto State SSG.
The state deputy governor, Idris Mohammed Gobir, members of the state executive council, APC stalwarts, friends and well-wishers have been trooping to Sifawa for burial rites and condolence.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Aba Power, an electricity distribution company in Nigeria, has announced a significant increase in electricity tariffs for its customers in Abia State, with rates rising by over 50%. The adjustment, which took effect on January 1, 2025, has been approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Gists9ja reports that the revised tariff structure was shared with customers through a notice posted on the company’s official X account. Under the new rates, customers in Band A feeders will now be charged between ₦219.70 and ₦241.45 per kilowatt-hour, a substantial increase from the previous rate of ₦99/kWh.
Customers in Band B will face rates ranging from ₦180.77 to ₦203/kWh, while those in Band C will pay between ₦145 and ₦205/kWh.
Aba DisCo explained that this tariff increase is necessary to address the challenges posed by the prevailing macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria.
In a statement, the company noted, “This adjustment will enable us to cushion the effects of recent macroeconomic developments on our ability to continue delivering high-quality service to our customers, in compliance with regulatory standards.”
The new tariff structure is part of ongoing efforts to maintain the company’s operations and ensure continued service delivery despite economic challenges.
Sad !Explosion rocks Abuja school
SAD ! Sokoto SSG loses daughter, three grandchildren to fire outbreak
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