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LG chairmen kick against Sanwo-Olu’s 75-25 VAT sharing formula, demand 50-50

The conference 57 secretary demanded a 50-50 sharing formula, contrary to the 75-25 proposed in the bill in favour of the state government.

The Conference of 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos has requested equal sharing formula with the state in the proposed value-added tax (VAT) bill now before the Lagos House of Assembly.

The secretary of the Conference 57 and chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Abdulrasak Ajala, made the request at a one-day public hearing on the bill organised by the Lagos Assembly on Wednesday.

The parliament is considering a tax bill titled ‘A Bill for a Law to impose and charge Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain foods and services, provided for the administration of the tax and for related matters’, following Rivers’ example.

Mr Ajala explained that for the councils to pursue meaningful development, they required a better sharing formula for its members in the proposed VAT law.

The conference 57 secretary demanded a 50-50 sharing formula, contrary to the 75-25 proposed in the bill in favour of the state government.

Being the closest to the grassroots, Mr Ajala explained that the councils, which also host companies, should benefit from a better share than the 25 per cent in the bill.

The council chairman commended the legislators for the bill, as well as the synergy between the executive and the legislature.

“On the distribution of revenue, you will agree with me value-added tax is on consumption and production, and all these economic activities are domiciled in our respective communities. In addition, local governments, being the closest to the grassroots, need more revenues given the enormity of the responsibilities the Constitution confers on us,” he noted. “Hence, the 25 per cent in the bill is grossly inadequate for local governments to execute all the promises we made to our people; and of course all our electoral promises.”

Mr Ajala further stated, “This is the reason we are making a passionate appeal, on behalf of Conference 57, that we should raise the bar higher, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.”

Contributing, Michael Ade, representing the Lagos Tax Justice and Governance, commended the lawmakers and the state government for having the political will to imitate Rivers’ government and parliament.

Also commenting, the attorney general and commissioner for justice, Moyosere Onigbanjo, declared that the judgment on the VAT law was not valid only in Rivers, but any state in the country stood to benefit from the judgment.

According to the attorney-general, the National Assembly does not have powers on VAT.

The House Committee on Finance chairman Rotimi Olowo, insisted that it would make no sense if all monies accruable to Lagos was taken by the federal government.

Mr Olowo argued that given the pressures on the state governments in terms of infrastructure development, the proposed law on VAT in the state would bring about development.

The Speaker of the parliament, Mudashiru Obasa, assured stakeholders at the public hearing that their contribution were as vital as the bill and would be included in the proposed bill before its passage.

Akeredolu dares Miyetti Allah, says No Going Back On anti-open grazing law

Following the move by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to nullify the anti-open grazing law being adopted by southern states, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state maintained his position on the law, stating that he will never back down on his decision.

Akeredolu, the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum and the Coordinator of the Southern Governors’ Forum disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement issued by his aide on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr Doyin Odebowale.

As chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum and the Coordinator of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Akeredolu said the governors would never back down on the law.

The Fulani herdsmen association through its secretary, Saleh Alhassan stated earlier that the anti-open grazing laws would negatively affect the peace and stability currently enjoyed in communities.

Deal of the day
Akeredolu said the move by Miyetti Allah was an indication that the association was unbothered about the crimes perpetrated under the pretence of being herders.

While emphasizing that no bandit would be allowed to operate in the State under “any dubious guise”, he said the government has the “responsibility to implement the law for the benefit of the people of the state and those, who may share in their aspiration for development of their God-given space.”

“They claim to be above the law of any State in the Federation. They warn of the imminent breach of peace and promotion of pervasive anarchy if they are not allowed to ravage the sweat and toil of the long-suffering farmers who, apparently, don’t count for much in the scheme of things in their estimation.

“No part of our land will be given to foreigners who cling to a dubious regional protocol as an instrument validating dispossession. Let him practice his cultural practices on his father’s land. His likes will not be permitted to operate with impunity in Ondo State. We will defend our land.”

Buhari Govt Approves National Policy On 5G Network In Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has approved the National Policy on fifth-generation (5G) networks for the country’s digital economy.

The policy was approved today during the weekly Federal Executive Council presided by President Buhari himself.

Confirming the development a few moments ago in a statement, Femi Adeluyi, technical assistant (on Information Technology) to Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), minister of communications and digital economy, said the country will as a result of the development enjoy advantages which include much lower latency, higher bandwidth, greater device density, longer battery life for nodes and greater network flexibility.

He noted that implementation of the National Policy is with immediate effect.

It will be recalled that 5G network installation in Nigeria has been a subject of debate over the months.

The ministry has, however, said 5G networks “offer significant advantages over the current technologies.”

The statement reads: “The National Policy has been developed over a period of 2 years, due to the need for extensive stakeholder engagement and the need to ensure adequate public awareness and sensitisation,” the statement reads.

“The stakeholder engagement was thorough and multi-sectoral. It also took into account the report of the 3-month 5G trials that commenced on the 25th of November 2019.

“The report critically reviewed and studied the health and security implications of deploying 5G in Nigeria.

“Leading international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an organ of the United Nations, have confirmed that the deployment of 5G networks leave no adverse health effect and are safe.

“Some of its advantages include much lower latency, higher bandwidth, greater device density, longer battery life for nodes and greater network flexibility.

“Several countries have already commenced the deployment of 5G and are enjoying its benefits.”

The ministry further listed countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Korea, South Africa and Lesotho, currently operating on the network.

Sunday Igboho Aides: Armed Robbers Allegedly Steal DSS Case File

Daredevil armed robbers have allegedly stolen the case file of the Department of State Services, DSS, on the trial of Sunday Igboho Aides.

This was made known on Wednesday by the counsel to the DSS, I. Awo at the Federal High Court.

The case file was related to the Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement application filed by the aides to Igboho.

According to Awo, his colleague who was to bring the case file to court had boarded a vehicle belonging to armed robbers commonly known as ‘one chance.’

The DSS lawyer said his belongings including the case file were hijacked by the armed robbers.

Meanwhile, the lawyer to the detained aides of Igboho has berated the DSS for disregarding court orders.

On August 4, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had granted bail to the 12 aides after spending over 60 days in detention.

After meeting their bail conditions, the secret police refused to release the aides alleging that they were helping their boss to stockpile arms to cause chaos in the country.

But after so many outcries, the DSS, last week, released 10 of the 12 aides of Igboho following their arrest since July 1.

But in a letter to the DSS, Igboho’s associates lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, asked the secret agency to immediately release the remaining two aides in their custody.

Olajengbesi advised the secret police to obey court orders and release his remaining clients, Amudat Habibat Babatunde and Jamiu Noah Oyetunji.

He stated that the failure of the DSS to comply with court orders will be damaging Nigeria’s reputation in the community of nations.

We Don’t Give Preferential Cut-off Marks To Northerners – JAMB Replies El-Rufai

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board has dismissed reports by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State accusing the board of giving preferential cut-off marks to students sitting for UTME in the north.

Recall that El-Rufai told Channels TV that the board usually gives a lower cut-off mark to candidates from the northern region for admission to tertiary institutions.

He however stated that for the sake of maintaining standards in the nation’s education sector such practice must stop and all candidates must be treated equally.

According to him, the preferential treatment has been counterproductive as it has made northerners lazy, hence the need for JAMB to stop the act.

Reacting in an interview with PUNCH, JAMB’s Head of Information and Media, Fabian Benjamin, said El-Rufai was wrong in saying that UTME candidates of northern extraction enjoyed special privileges or lower cut-off marks.

According to the JAMB spokesperson, it was not the duty of the examination body to set the minimum scores for admission into schools.

Fabian said: “We don’t give preferential or differential cut-off marks to candidates. Candidates are admitted on the scores as defined by institutions. As for the UTME, they sit for the examination and it is what they obtain that is the basis for their selection after the policy meeting has authorised the commencement of admission.

“There are no preferential cut-off marks for anybody. What people refer to as the cut-off mark is the minimum score and each institution sets its own minimum score; it is a function of performance in the UTME for the year, subscription to programmes and institutions that is how many candidates have applied to the institutions or for the programmes. These are what push the minimum score either up or down for institutions or programmes.

“The determining factor is the subscription to a particular programme or school. If the subscription is very low, technically, it will affect the minimum score for the programme.”

Nothing Good Can Come Out Of Him, He Is A Drunkard – Miyetti Allah Attacks Gov Masari

The Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, on Tuesday, described the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, as a drunkard for saying most bandits are of the Fulani stock.

Masari, who featured in a Channels Television’s programme, “Politics Today” on Monday, alleged many of the bandits causing havoc in Katsina and other parts of Northern Nigeria are Fulani indigenes whose main occupation is rearing cattle.

He said: “They are the same people like me, who speak the same language as me, who profess the same religious beliefs as me.

“So, what we have here on ground are bandits. They are not aliens, they are people we know. They are people that have been living with us for 100 years.

“The infiltration we have from some West African countries and North African countries are also people of the Fulani extraction.

“Majority of those involved in this banditry are Fulanis whether it is palatable or it is not but that is the truth.

“I am not saying 100 percent of them are Fulani but a majority of them are, and these are people who live in the forest and their main occupation is rearing of cattle.”

However, in its reaction to Masari’s remarks, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Alhassan, asked Nigerians to ignore the governor.

He told journalists that nothing good can come out of Masari because he was a drunkard.

He said: “No one should take that drunkard seriously. Nigerians should just ignore that man as he has nothing to offer.

“Just looking at him, one would see he is tired. Do you take him serious? Records should come from security operatives, not a confused human being.

“He knows them now, is he not a Fulani man? All of them talking are stealing security votes. They should find solutions, create ranches for these herders and accommodate them.

“Which people do you find along the Sahel Sahara desert? They are many tribes. Is it by a physique that you now identify a Fulani man?

“The bandits are criminals, why should you attach tribe to it? That’s why we are not happy. You don’t need to attach a tribe because it will affect an innocent person.

“Forget that man, that man is the worst governor Katsina has had; we are just praying for his time to lapse.”

BREAKING: I Only meet Dangerous bandits ‘For The Sake of Nigerians, Not For Political Gains’ – Sheikh Gumi [VIDEO]

Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, says he meets “dangerous” bandits in the forest for the sake of Nigerians.

In a video from his recent lecture at Ahmad Bello University (ABU) Zaria, posted on his known Facebook page on Tuesday night, Gumi stated that he is not visiting bandits in their camps for political gains.

“We went into the forest to meet repentant bandits with the then-police commissioner. From the South of the forest, you’ll see amulets all deserted. So one of the bandits, when he was speaking, he told the police commissioner, ‘if not because of this Sheikh, you will not come here’,” Gumi said.

“What I’m trying to emphasize here is that it is dangerous to go and meet armed bandits.

“When they (politicians) leave the seat, they (hailers) will vacate and leave them. It means they are following them for money. So if nobody follows a politician except for his interest, why should Ahmad Gumi put his life at stake for a politician? You people don’t die for a politician, and you think I will die for a politician?

“So I’m not doing it for a politician. I’m doing it for me and for you.

“And we cannot allow the politicians to mess up our country.

“The first time I was going, even my own students came to me [and told me], ‘don’t go to the bush; it’s dangerous’.

“I said ‘yes, I know it is dangerous. If you are coming, come along, if you don’t want to come, stay’.

“So, we’re doing it for ourselves. There’s no political intonation.”

Watch the video here.

Qatar 2022: Resilient Eagles came from behind to Defeat Cape Verde 2-1

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, on Tuesday, came from a goal down to defeat Cape Verde 2-1 in a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier. And they did it without the core of the players that prosecuted last week’s 2-0 win over Liberia.

The Nigerian team left Lagos without eight of the players that featured in the 2-0 defeat of Liberia on Friday. They were Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Peter Etebo, Joe Aribo, Wilfred Ndidi, Ola Aina, Leon Balogun and Kelechi Iheanacho, who are all based in Britain.

Cape Verde is among countries in Britain’s COVID-19 red zone and players for clubs in the United Kingdom are barred from travelling to such countries.

But their absence only prevented the Super Eagles from securing a more comfortable win on the uneven artificial playing surface in Cape Verde that made the game much closer than it should have been.

It even appeared too close for comfort for the Super Eagles after Dylan Tavares put the Blue Sharks ahead after 20 minutes from what television replays showed ought to have been offside. The Moroccan match officials failed to spot it though.

However, the Super Eagles shrugged off the disappointment of conceding their first goal of the qualifiers to pull level 10 minutes later through Victor Osimhen, following a goal mouth scramble.

A sensational Rocha Santos own-goal – a lofted ball from just inside the Cape Verde half that sailed over the Sharks goalkeeper – 15 minutes from the end however sealed all three points for the Super Eagles.

The win in Cape Verde means Gernot Rohr’s side remain top of Group C, on six points, three points ahead of second-placed Liberia after two rounds of matches.

The Sharks of Cape Verde lie in third spot with a solitary point, same as Central African Republic from the same number of games.

I Ran To Benin Republic After Discovering Buhari’s Administration Might Kill Me – Banji Akintoye Opens Up

The Yoruba Nation arrowhead, Prof Banji Akintoye, has revealed that the reason he left Nigeria about four months ago was because he received so many reports that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari might kill him.

The leader of the self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua, said this in an interview with BBC News Yoruba published on Facebook on Tuesday.

The 86-year-old professor of history was clarifying the real reason he left Nigeria for Benin Republic.

“Many people had reached out to me to express their concern that the government might arrest me too. I have done nothing wrong, I speak my mind as a Nigerian. So long I do not instigate violence. I wrote a book on how Yoruba can achieve sovereignty — without shedding blood. We only have a strong conviction that Nigeria is not for us, Yorubas. Nigeria is a declining country, because there is no orderly purpose for Nigeria anymore.

“Intelligence reports I constantly get indicates that although they will not arrest me; they can assassinate me. ‘They can storm your place in night to kill you’, people warn me about this.

“To avoid getting killed was the reason why some Yoruba elders held a meeting and advised myself and Prof. Wale Adeniran to leave Nigeria.”

Akintoye and embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho had been seen holding press conferences and rallies to champion the cause for the secession of Yoruba Nation.