The Federal Government says the proposed tax reform bills are not targeted at scrapping any agency of government.

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this statement at the flag-off of the National Sensitisation Campaign on the World HIV Day, Security Awareness, Discouraging Get Rich Quick Syndrome, World Human Rights Day and the Tax Reform Bills held in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.

Represented by the Director of Special Duties and State Operations, Mr David Akoji, the DG said that the agencies would be made to produce budgetary provisions of their activities.


According to him, the tax reform bills comprised four different components: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.

He said that the four bills, when passed, would eradicate double taxation, provide support for low income earners as businesses and earnings below N1 million would be tax free.

Issa-Onilu noted that the new reforms would put in place visible impact, pointing out that tax proceeds would be used to improve services like schools, hospitals and infrastructure across the country, urging Nigerians to understand details of the policy.

The director general stated further that NOA had deployed its machinery to reach out to all the local government areas across the country.

He said that HIV/Aids was among the areas to carry out sensitisation campaign to the people at the grass roots, explaining that the agency in collaboration with health authorities would carry out the assignment.

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has called on Nigerians to allow the courts to do justice in determining the criminal defamation charges brought against a legal practitioner by the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

The charges followed the complaint lodged at the Ekiti Police Command by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and elder statesman, Chief Afe Babalola, alleging that the content of the 104-page book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice’ authored by Farotimi defamed him.

Recall that while the petitioner lives in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, the author, Farotimi, lives in Lagos where he was arrested and immediately moved to Ekiti.

The petitioner is of the view that the book which recently went viral can be read anywhere in the world, including Ekiti State where he resides, therefore, damaging his reputation.

Farotimi, a popular Nigerian activist was on Monday, arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.

The presiding judge, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun declined his bail request and remanded him in prison custody until December 10.

A cross section of Nigerians have concluded plans to stage a mega protest in Lagos State, the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti State on December 10 to demand his immediate release.

However, according to the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, “the legal system provides an opportunity for parties in a dispute to prove their cases.”

Afenifere was of the strong opinion that the interests of both parties and the general public “must be protected and justice dispensed fairly.”

Ajayi, in a statement, added that “the court is in the best position to determine how these interests are protected, and to ensure that the prosecution is conducted in a manner that better serves the interest of justice.”

Afenifere enjoined all parties to avoid statements and actions that may lead to a breach of peace, while calling on the government to ensure a total observance of the rule of law.

Afenifere was of the view that the appropriate forum to determine whose rights had been breached and how was the court of law as established by the Nigerian constitution.

“We enjoin all parties to conduct themselves in total submission to and respect for the rule of law”, the spokesman added.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President-elect John Dramani Mahama on his victory in the December 7 general election in Ghana, following his opponent’s concession speech.

In a telephone call to Mahama, President Tinubu hoped that Mahama’s ascension to power for the second time would further bring stability to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which President Tinubu is the chairman.

President Tinubu commended the people of Ghana for their commitment to democracy, which was demonstrated through the peaceful and successful conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

He applauded Ghanaians for demonstrating again to the world that democracy is the preferred path to achieving political stability, economic development, social justice, and transparent governance in Africa.

He affirmed that Nigeria’s and the region’s belief in the principles of the people’s right to choose their leaders freely will remain a source of pride.

The Nigerian leader applauded the candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, for conceding defeat before the official announcement by Ghana’s Electoral Commission.

President Tinubu said Bawumia’s stance reinforced Ghana’s democratic ethos.

President Tinubu noted that President-elect Mahama’s return to Jubilee House, having served as President from 2012 to 2017, reflects the Ghanaian people’s trust in his stewardship and vision to take the country to greater heights.

Mahama served as Vice President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012, Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2009, and held deputy and ministerial roles between 1998 and 2001.

President Tinubu renews his steadfast support for deepening the fraternal bonds between Nigeria and Ghana, underpinned by shared history, cultural ties, mutual support and cooperation, Pan-African goals, democracy, the rule of law, and economic integration.

The Nigerian leader thanks President Nana Akufo-Addo for his exemplary leadership and numerous contributions to Ghana’s progress and regional peace and stability.

The President looks forward to working with President Mahama’s incoming administration to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors and build a brighter future in the West Africa region