BREAKING: House Speaker Abbas declares position on President Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill
BREAKING: House Speaker Abbas declares position on President Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bill
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, says Nigeria’s low tax revenue remains a major constraint to national growth.
Abbas said this at the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, currently at approximately 10.9 per cent for 2024, is among the lowest in Africa, significantly below the continental average of 15.6 per cent.
He said that Nigeria’s VAT collection efficiency at approximately 20 per cent was below the near 70 per cent efficiency achieved by South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, and Zambia.
“In comparison, South Africa’s tax-to-GDP ratio stands at 25.4 per cent, while Rwanda and Ghana, with much smaller populations, report ratios of 15.1 per cent and 14.1 per cent, respectively.”
He said that Nigeria’s fiscal realities warranted critical reflection, adding that in spite of being Africa’s most populous nation with over 220 million people, the 2024 national budget of 36.7 billion dollars remained modest compared to other countries.
This, he said, included South Africa, with a budget of 160 billion dollars for its 60 million citizens; Egypt, with 110 billion dollars for 110 million people; Algeria, with 60 billion dollars for 45 million people.
Others included Morocco, which allocated 50 billion dollars for its 37 million residents.
Abbas said addressing these challenges required urgent and comprehensive tax reforms to broaden our tax base, improve compliance, streamline administration, and reduce reliance on borrowing.
He said the lawmakers would continue to work with the Tinubu administration to ensure that such reforms were equitable, effective, and considerate of the needs of vulnerable populations.
He said the national assembly had engaged stakeholders to address concerns raised on the tax reform bills, fostering trust and cooperation.
“I have personally led numerous high-level meetings and consultations with state governors and other key stakeholders on this issue, achieving positive outcomes.”
He further said that Tinubu’s 2025 budget represented a crucial step toward economic recovery and sustainable development.
The speaker expressed confidence that the President’s reforms would soon deliver tangible benefits for all Nigerians while commending him for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s progress.
He commended the profound sacrifices made by Nigerians over the past year, stating that the removal of fuel subsidies, rising inflation, and adjustments to economic policies had created challenges.
According to him, these sacrifices are necessary for building a stronger, self-reliant, and prosperous nation.
“I urge all Nigerians to remain resilient and united in our collective pursuit of a brighter and better Nigeria.”
He assured the President of the lawmakers’ commitment to support the successful implementation of the 2025 budget.
“This is not merely your budget; it is a national project requiring collaboration across all arms of government.
“We will work to ensure its timely passage, provide legislative support for critical reforms, and conduct robust oversight to guarantee transparency and efficiency in its execution.”
He said there was need to approach 2025 by embracing the realities with determination.
This, according to him, is by stabilising prices, boosting agricultural productivity, expanding infrastructure, and investing in education, healthcare, and security, which remain paramount priorities.
He said that to strengthen national unity and build trust, it remained essential for the government to communicate its achievements effectively Nigerians.(NAN)
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Tinubu mourns Abubakar’s passing, the Imam who shielded over 200 Christians in his mosque during communal riot
Tinubu mourns Abubakar’s passing, the Imam who shielded over 200 Christians in his mosque during communal riot
President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, Chief Imam of Nghar village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau, who passed away at 92.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Abuja.
The late cleric gained national and international recognition in 2018 for sheltering more than 200 Christians during communal violence in Plateau.
Tinubu described Abubakar as an extraordinary religious leader whose life exemplified faith, courage and a deep reverence for the sanctity of human life.
“At such a time when tribal and religious tendencies seemed to overwhelm reason, Imam Abubakar stood firmly on the side of peace, benevolence and conscience.
“Mindless of the enormous risk to his own life, the noble cleric chose humanity over division, love as opposed to hatred and embrace rather than rejection,” the President said.
He said the Imam’s actions embodied the true essence of faith and delivered a powerful message beyond sermons.
The President noted that the cleric’s uncommon bravery earned him local and international honours celebrating peaceful coexistence.
“I urge religious and community leaders to imbibe and preach the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful togetherness as expounded in the life of Imam Abubakar,” Tinubu said.
He prayed that God grants the late Imam eternal rest and rewards him for his courage and good deeds. (NAN)
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Govt. introduces solar installation, garment making, GSM repairs in jss curriculum
Govt. introduces solar installation, garment making, GSM repairs in jss curriculum
The Anambra Government has introduced 15 entrepreneurial subjects into the Junior Secondary School (JSS) curriculum to enhance students’ practical skills and foster an entrepreneurial mindset.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new subjects include solar installation, garment making, GSM repairs, agriculture and processing, plumbing, tiling, POP installation and event management.
Others are bakery, hairstyling, make-up, interior design, CCTV/intercom installation, digital literacy, information technology and robotics.
Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, Chairperson ,Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), while speaking at the occasion in Awka on Friday, said the initiative was aimed at repositioning education to meet contemporary needs.
Ikediugwu noted that in a rapidly changing world, education should go beyond theory and examinations to equip students with practical skills, creativity, innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset.
“The goal of the programme is to prepare learners, not only to seek jobs but to create value, generate employment and contribute meaningfully to the economic development of the state,”she said.
Mr Cyril Nwuche of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, delivered a paper titled “Building Entrepreneurial Secondary Schools: Why Every School Needs an Entrepreneurship Club”.
Nwuche said the introduction of entrepreneurial subjects showed that the government was on the path to transforming the state’s economy.
“Traditional academic instruction alone is no longer sufficient to prepare children for the future.
“There is the need for schools to embrace practical and skill-based learning to enable students to thrive in a dynamic global environment, ” he said. (NAN)
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Two men docked for allegedly defiling underaged girl
Two men docked for allegedly defiling underaged girl
The police in Lagos on Friday, charged two men before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling an 11- year-old girl.
The defendants are: Prince Tomnyie, 40, a businessman, who resides at Agege, and Micheal Adenuga, 24, a furniture maker, who resides at Atere Street in Lekki.
They are standing trial on charges of defilement, and had each pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, ASP Adegoke Ademigbuji told the court that they committed the offence sometimes in December 2024, and September 2025, at Langbasa Ajah and Igbara Lekki, Lagos .
The prosecutor alleged that the victim’s father, had taken his daughter for medical check and it was discovered that the minor had been defiled.
The prosecution alleged that the victim had told her father that his friend, Tomnyie, defiled her sometimes ago.
Ademigbuji alleged that the victim also mentioned the second defendant’s name who lives in their neigbourhood.
The offence contravenes the provisons of section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr L. A Owolabi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of of N600,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case until March 5, for mention. (NAN)
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