News
Reps propose tax exemption for military service members
The house of representatives has exempted military service members from paying personal income tax (PIT).
The decision was reached on Thursday following the adoption of a report on tax reform bills, which also provides exemptions for certain agricultural businesses and other categories of income.
Personal income tax is imposed by the government on an individual’s earnings, including salaries, wages, bonuses, dividends, and other forms of income.
Section 164 of the Nigeria tax bill outlines the categories of individuals exempted from personal income tax.
While presenting the motion for the report’s consideration, James Faleke, chairman of the finance committee, said certain agricultural businesses are also exempted from personal income tax for the first five years of operation.
“In addition, wages and salaries of military officers have been proposed to be exempt from income tax,” he said.
The report also excludes several categories of individuals and entities from personal income tax.
According to the report, profits or gains from asset disposals are exempted for statutory or registered friendly societies, provided the income is not derived from trade or business.
Similarly, the committee said registered cooperative societies will enjoy tax exemptions if their earnings do not come from commercial activities.
It also said entities engaged in educational, religious, or charitable activities of public interest are also excluded, as long as their profits are not generated from business ventures.
Compensating payments that qualify as dividends or interest in regulated securities lending transactions are exempt, the report said.
The panel also said consular fees collected on behalf of a foreign state, along with the employment income of consular officers, are not taxable unless such earnings come from trade, business, or additional employment in Nigeria.
Income exemptions also extend to funds covered under the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act and pension funds and assets established under the Pension Reform Act.
The report said death gratuities, compensation for injuries, and redundancy lump sum payments or other capital compensation for loss of employment are not taxable, adding that income from bonds issued by the federal or state government of Nigeria is also exempt.
The lawmaker also individuals earning the national minimum wage or less are not required to pay personal income tax.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo, has said President Bola Tinubu will be defeated in the 2027 elections.
The SDP chieftain also claimed that his party will produce the next Nigerian President.
Adewale stated this on Friday while appearing on Arise Television’s The Morning Show.
“Tinubu is going to be removed from power, that one is sure, and there would be an SDP president,” he said.
Speaking further, Adebayo vowed to run for the number seat in the country in the 2027 elections.
He expressed confidence that he would be the party’s presidential candidate in 2027 regardless of the political stature of politicians defecting to the party.
The politician said he is not afraid or threatened by the defectors, adding that every party member knows he will contest again.
He said, “Let us understand something. I don’t worry about that; everybody who is coming in knows I will run in 2027.
“Any coward who will feel threatened by people coming to his party can not be president.”
Adewole’s comment follows the defection of the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to the party on Monday.
Following his defection, El-Rufai has been making political moves to woo some politicians to the SDP.
Adebayo also described El-Rufai as a hard-working and patriotic Nigerian, adding that the ex-governor is very effective in an area where there are no effective people in government.
He said, “The reason why I welcome El-Rufai to my party is that I see him as a patriotic Nigerian, hard working, very effective in an area where we don’t have effective people in government, that’s all.”
Protesters under the platform of Women for Change Vanguard took the lingering face-off between Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Kogi lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to the United Nations office in Abuja on Friday.
Chanting solidarity songs and displaying several banners that read ‘We believe in actual victims of sexual harassment, not people who weaponise it’ and ‘The burden of proof lies with the accuser”, the protesters challenged Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide evidence of the alleged sexual harassment she accused Akpabio of
The protest comes barely 24 hours after the Kogi Central senator filed a contempt charge against Akpabio and others over her six-month suspension without pay from the Senate.
Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan had escalated her dispute with Akpabio, presenting her case at a United Nations forum, International Parliamentary Union, alleging political victimisation.
She was suspended on March 6 after a heated confrontation with the Senate leadership over a new seating arrangement, which she claimed was designed to undermine her.
Tensions intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan, on national television, accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting his alleged s3xual advances.
Addressing the representatives of the United Nations in Abuja, the leader of the protesters, Irene Umoh, explained that the women’s group decided to petition the UN on Friday following the manner in which Akpoti-Uduaghan has been trying to play the victim on the international stage.
Umoh also charged the global organisation to ask the suspended legislator to provide the world with credible evidence of the alleged s3xual harassment.
She said, “This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.
“As mothers and members of the Women for Change Vanguard, we are acutely aware of the implications of false accusations. Such claims not only harm the accused but also diminish the experiences of genuine survivors.
Umoh also charged the global organisation to ask the suspended legislator to provide the world with credible evidence of the alleged s3xual harassment.
She said, “This is not the first time Senator Natasha has made serious allegations against a prominent figure. Such actions risk becoming a weapon she wields against men in power, undermining the core principles of our fight against sexual violence.
“As mothers and members of the Women for Change Vanguard, we are acutely aware of the implications of false accusations. Such claims not only harm the accused but also diminish the experiences of genuine survivors.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has endorsed three new bills aimed at shaping the state’s governance structure.
The bills were passed during the Assembly’s 136th Legislative Sitting on Friday and will be sent to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for approval.
The approved bills include the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, 2025, and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025.
The Powers and Privileges Bill seeks to give the Assembly certain rights and protections to carry out its duties without interference.
The RSIEC Bill will replace the 2018 electoral law and set new guidelines for the state’s electoral body in line with the 2022 Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The Local Government Bill will replace previous laws from 2018, 2023, and 2024, introducing a new framework for managing local government councils.
Speaker Martin Chike Amaewhule explained that the House was adopting parts of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act of 2017, which grants lawmakers certain authorities in carrying out their duties.
He also noted the need for the RSIEC Bill to align with national electoral laws, while the Local Government Bill was crafted to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions.
After discussions, members of the Assembly agreed on the importance of the bills and gave their approval.
Rivers Assembly Adjourns Plenary Indefinitely
The fresh budget presentation scheduled for Wednesday March 19 may have suffered a setback as the Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its plenary indefinitely.
This decision, made during a session held at the assembly quarters in Port Harcourt on Friday, has raised concerns about the fate of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara had earlier written to the Assembly, requesting a new date for the budget presentation after his initial attempt on March 12 was unsuccessful.
He and his entourage were reportedly locked out of the Assembly Complex, despite prior notice of his visit.
In his latest letter, dated March 13, the governor proposed presenting the budget on March 19 or any other convenient date within the month.
He reminded the lawmakers that the Supreme Court, in a ruling on February 28, had directed the presentation of the budget to the Assembly.
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