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Tax Reform Bills: Tinubu moves to gather Northern Support

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President Bola Tinubu has initiated extensive outreach to northern elites and the political class in a bid to garner support for the passage of contentious tax reform bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly.

Overview of the Bills
The tax reform bills,introduced in October 2024, include:

The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024
The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill
The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill

The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill
These proposals aim to reform Nigeria’s tax administration and enhance revenue collection systems. However, they have faced significant resistance, particularly from northern governors who argue that the reforms could disproportionately affect their regions and hinder economic development.

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Tinubu’s Strategy
Presidency insiders revealed that President Tinubu has employed a multifaceted approach to address concerns raised by stakeholders, particularly from the northern political elite. This includes private consultations, strategic dialogue, and discreet “back channel” negotiations.

A senior official, speaking to The Punch anonymously, noted, “The President has been engaging with northern elites both individually and in groups, even prior to the holiday season.”

Another source disclosed that Tinubu is leveraging alternative methods to address objections to the bills, stating, “He is using every available channel to ensure that the contentious aspects of the bills are clarified and resolved.”

Northern Governors Remain Opposed
Despite Tinubu’s outreach efforts, northern governors have maintained their opposition. They insist that the bills should be withdrawn to allow for broader consultation and revisions. The governors argue that the proposed reforms could:

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Increase the tax burden on their states,
Stifle economic growth, and
Exacerbate financial hardship for citizens.

The federal government, however, has defended the reforms as necessary steps to:

Boost Revenue Generation: Diversify income streams and reduce reliance on oil.
Modernize Tax Administration: Streamline revenue collection for efficiency and transparency.
Public Reactions
The proposed reforms have sparked heated debates nationwide. While proponents argue that they are essential for Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability, critics contend that they could lead to increased taxation and worsen the economic struggles of ordinary Nigerians.

As the debate intensifies, President Tinubu’s ability to navigate these challenges and secure buy-in from critical stakeholders will significantly influence the bills’ passage and their broader implications for Nigeria’s economy.

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Governor Oborevwori’s Defection: A Masterstroke That Handcuffs Delta’s Opposition

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Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s lightning‑bolt defection, carrying his entire cabinet, the PDP caucus of the House of Assembly and hundreds of ward executives into the All Progressives Congress (APC) is more than headline drama. It is a textbook power play that neuters every organised threat to his 2027 return bid.

1. He Turned an External Siege into an Internal Majority
For months, aggrieved PDP heavyweights had fled to the APC expressly to build a platform for blocking Oborevwori’s second‑term ticket. By “invading” their new home and arriving with the weight of incumbency, state coffers and legislative numbers, the governor converts an intended siege engine into his personal re‑election vehicle. The opposition can no longer “Stop Sheriff” without sabotaging its own party.

2. He Gains Instant Federal Synergy
Nigeria’s hyper‑centralised federation rewards governors who share a logo with the party at the centre. Oborevwori’s move secures quicker federal releases, security deployments and project approvals advantages which local challengers cannot replicate. Every borehole sunk and kilometre of road paved with Abuja’s blessing between now and 2027 will be branded “APC Delivering Through Your Governor.”

3. He Locks Down Grass‑Roots Structures Ahead of Council Polls
Local‑government elections are the real engine of political mobilisation. By merging state machinery with the APC’s ward‑level canvassers, Oborevwori ensures that councillor and chairmanship tickets are filled with loyalists who owe their ascent to him. That expands his patronage network just as campaign season warms up.

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4. He Forces Former PDP Rivals to Swallow Their Own Strategy
Defectors who hoped to wield the APC ticket as a battering ram now face a choice to back the sitting governor they once opposed or embark on a quixotic third‑force adventure with no structure. Either way, their anti‑Oborevwori coalition is shattered.

5. He Rewrites the Assembly Math Overnight
With 29 legislators marching across the aisle, the House flips from a PDP majority to an APC super‑majority. Budgets, appointments and executive bills will now sail through unimpeded, projecting an image of stability that appeals to investors and swing voters alike.

Conclusion:
In one audacious evening, Sheriff Oborevwori transformed defensive politics into aggressive dominance. By hauling Delta’s power apparatus into the APC, he steals the opposition’s rallying cry, secures federal favour, and tightens his grip on every rung of the state’s political ladder. It is a move his opponents must now describe, however grudgingly, as nothing short of brilliant.

C. C. Uwakina Esq, a Lawyer and Political Strategist writes from Asaba.

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JUST IN: Rivers Sole Administrator Ibas Shun Reps Panel

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BBy Gloria Ikibah
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), has snubbed the House of Representatives by his refusal to appear before the panel constituted  by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to oversee the state.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that the Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight, had invited the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to appear before it for a comprehensive interactive session Thursday, April 17, 2025, which he failed to honour.
The meeting, which followed the formal inauguration of the Committee by the Speaker Tajudee Abbas, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, was to provide a platform for Members to deliberate on preliminary reports and developments emerging from Rivers State since the Sole Administrator assumed office.
But Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas again failed to appear before the Committee despite the fact that he was in Abuja fornthe weekly Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Naijablitznews.com recalled6 that the Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the state oversight, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, had fixed another meeting slated for Thursday 24th April, 2024, with the Ibas but he failed to honour the invitation without any communication.
The committee had initially fixed a meeting last week week Thursday but the Rivers Sole Administrator could not appear but requested for another date.
It was not stated if a formal letter of invitation was sent to Ibas and if he respo ded as the Ihonvbere-led Committee was silent on the details.
The Committee Chairman, Rep. Ihonvbere and other lawmakers were seen walking out of the committee room 301 of the House of Representatives Complex without even addressing the media on what was going on.
When asked by journalists on why the Sole Administrator of Rivers State did not honour the Committee’s invitation, the Chairman said, “No Comment”
The meeting between House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), sole administrator of the state has been postponed indefinitely.
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FCT Flags Off One-Week Free Holiday Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training

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In a move to foster skills acquisition and promote economic empowerment, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat through the Department of Mass Education has flagged off a one-week free holiday vocational and entrepreneurship training program.

The program is a collaborative initiative of the FCT Department of Mass Education, The Potter’s Wheel Foundation, and the Nigerian Non-Governmental Association for Literacy Support Services (NOGALSS).

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo emphasized the Importance of skills acquisition and entrepreneurship in today’s world describing it as imperative to be self reliant , empowered and resourceful.

He highlighted the Wike- led FCT Administration’s commitment to championing the Renewed Hope Agenda adding that the initiative is a critical strategy for reducing unemployment and building resilience among Abuja residents through practical skill acquisition and entrepreneurship training.

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He commended the Department on the synergy between the government and non-governmental organizations noting that it will further empower the people of the FCT with skills and knowledge that lead to viable income-generating opportunities.

He urged the participants to fully utilize the opportunity, network actively and apply themselves diligently to the various training sessions.

In her welcome address,Dr. Favour Edem -Nse,the Director, FCT Department of Mass Education said,the training aligns with Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) and contributes significantly to reducing the number of out- of- school children, unskilled youths and unemployed women in the Federal Capital Territory.

She added that, the Department goal is not just to train but to guide participants towards becoming self – sufficient and successful entrepreneurs .

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She noted that the one week free training program is a manifestation of the Department ‘s broader vision of literacy and lifelong learning.

She revealed that the Department in collaboration with The Potter’s Wheel Foundation and the Nigerian Non- Governmental Association for Literacy Support Services( NOGALSS) will train them hands on session in production of laundry soap,bleach , liquid soap, toilet and car wash , disinfectant,air freshener,snack among others as well as key entrepreneurship modules on Bookkeeping and financial management, marketing and branding with social media management.

She expressed her gratitude to the Mandate Secretary for Education and the Management for the massive support of the life changing opportunity program targeted at women,youths, children and other community residents to equip them with tools for economic self reliance .

The well attended program which drew partner organizations, staff of the Department of Mass Education and enthusiastic participants will run throughout the week with facilitators providing continued support beyond the training period.

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