Dons EzeFG TO RECRUIT 74,OOO TEACHERS NATIONWIDE
FG TO RECRUIT 74,000 TEACHERS NATIONWIDE The Federal Government has said that it is considering the employment of 2,000 teachers per state annually to address shortage of teachers in the country. This sums to 74,000 teachers in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. According to the Ministry of Education, the government was considering December 2024 as deadline for the implementation of the policy. This was disclosed on Friday in a roadmap of the Ministry It was observed that 18 states of the federation had failed to recruit teachers in five years. This comes amidst the outcry over the shortage of teachers across the country. The Universal Basic Education Commission has also lamented the shortage of teachers in public schools. To combat the shortage, the Ministry of Education’s roadmap stated, “states to recruit minimum of 2,000 qualified teachers and certified by the TRCN annually; the Minister of State for Education to meet with the state governors and get their buy in.” The ministry set December 2024 as the deadline for implementation of first phase.
NIGERIANS GROAN OVER HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS
NIGERIANS GROAN OVER HIGH ELECTRICITY BILLS When the Federal Government announced in September that it would start paying the proposed minimum wage of N70, 000, with a promise to pay civil servants the areas from July and August, not many Nigerians were excited about the news.And the reasons were obvious, one of them being the recent hike in electricity bill.A recent report quoting the FIJ calculation clearly indicated that average minimum wage earners spend at least 57.3 percent of their salaries on electricity bills if they use only seven appliances for a month.The FIJ report noted that while the wage increase was a good development for workers, the cost of living has rendered the wage increase almost insignificant.The report spotlights the cost of electricity alone and its impact on workers’ wages.According to a National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission (NISWC) document, civil servants under the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure would earn N930,000 per annum. This means that a minimum wage earner would go home with a salary of about N77, 500. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced a 300 percent increase in electricity tariff for those in the B and A service category in April.According to the Vice Chairman of the NERC, Musliu Oseni, the tariff hike meant that customers who formerly paid N66 per kilowatt per hour would now pay N225 for the same unit of electricity.In the announcement, the NERC also said that only users in the band A service category, about 15 percent of the entire customer population, would be affected.Surprisingly, a few months after the announcement, Nigerians were faced with flagrant and unsolicited transfer to Band A service category without prior notice.Some people protested the move, while others took to social media to vent their anger and frustrations.Decrying the move on his X handle, a financial expert, Joe Abah wrote: “I have confirmation that @aedcelectricity has now put me in Band A with no notice at all. So, N100,000 electricity top-up now lasts just seven days. I have been paying. Who has a gadget that can help me monitor whether I am getting a minimum of 20 hours of light a day, please?”A small scale business owner, Chidi Adum equally lamented, saying, “How can you want to squeeze us to pay such (a) ridiculous tariff? And switch us to Band A without notice?”According to Ayodele Dipo, a civil servant with the Lagos State Government, who lives around Amuwo Odofin area of the state, he was taken to Band A without notice and ever since that development, almost all his earnings have been consumed by electricity bills.He said: “Before this latest development, if I buy N5000 credit, I will use it for two to three months. But since I was taken to Band A, the N5000 doesn’t last for one week.“At least in the last 20 days, I have bought N5000 credit thrice. You can imagine the effect on my income.“In fact, it has made a mess of the new minimum wage. The government should do something about this. When you include the cost of fuel to that, you will understand the plight of low income earners like us.”Kenneth Enobong, a security guard with one of the security firms in Lagos, also lamented that the new minimum wage of N70,000 has not impacted on him in any positive way, instead things seem to have worsened.“It is like these electric distribution companies were waiting for the new minimum wage because with this recent hike in electricity bill, the minimum wage doesn’t take us anywhere.“Some of us have chosen to remain in darkness most of the days because our salary cannot cope with the electricity bills and other bills.“We need to feed our families, take care of the health needs…
FG MOVES TO GROUND 60 PRIVATE JETS
FG MOVES TO GROUND 60 PRIVATE JETS As a last resort to recover billions of naira in unpaid import duties, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), is set to ground over 60 private jets owned by high-profile individuals and companies across the country. The NCS has written to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to deny flight clearances until duties are paid. The enforcement exercise, commencing today, follows a thorough verification process conducted between June and July this year. The NCS has identified private jets that have evaded paying import duties, exploiting loopholes in the regulation. The one-month verification exercise aimed to identify improperly imported private aircraft without documentation and ensure maximum revenue collection. The exercise revealed that most private jets in the country have not paid import duties. Documents reveal that private jets belonging to prominent business moguls, bank chairmen, and executives are among those to be grounded. The majority of affected planes are foreign-registered private jets owned by Nigerians. Some of the luxury aircraft on the list include Bombardier Challenger 604 CL-600-2B16, Bombardier Challenger 3500, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6000, Bombardier BD-700 Global 6500, Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500. Each of the Bombardier BD-700 Global 7500 jets costs over $70 million, while the Global 6500 and 6000 versions cost over $50 million. Eleven private jet owners have received notification of the grounding, while 55 others will receive their letters today. Meanwhile, it is understood that some operators have lobbied the Presidency, although they have refused to interfere. This has led some operators to begin settling the import duty. The enforcement exercise is expected to generate a good amount of revenue for the government, with estimates suggesting over N260 billion.
ALLOW THE DEAD TO REST IN PEACE, SHEHU SANI SPEAKS ON ENUGU MORTUARY TAX
ALLOW THE DEAD TO REST IN PEACE, SHEHU SANI SPEAKS ENUGU MORTUARY TAX Former Senator, Shehu Sani has voiced his disapproval of the Enugu State government’s decision to impose a mortuary tax on corpses, humorously suggesting that this policy means “people can no longer rest in peace.” Sani made this remark in a post on the X platform (formerly Twitter) using his handle @ShehuSani on Sunday, while reacting to the recent announcement by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS). According to the state’s revenue agency, a sum of N40 is to be charged as mortuary tax for every day a corpse remains unburied beyond 24 hours. Sani’s post read, “Taxing dead bodies in Enugu finally means people can no longer rest in peace.”
PDP BLASTS FUBARA, SAYS HE REJECTED OFFER TO CONTROL PARTY STRUCTURE
PDP BLASTS FUBARA, SAYS HE REJECTED OFFER TO CONTROL PARTY STRUCTUREContrary to the widespread impression that he was denied control of the structures of the party in Rivers State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blasted Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, accusing him of whining after initially rejecting an offer to control the party machinery.The party maintained on Sunday that it had done everything possible for the governor but he had failed to mobilize his co-governors and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for support.The acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdulahi, who revealed this on Sunday to Tribune Online, recalled that when a vacancy existed for the post of the Rivers State chapter chairman of the party, the NWC requested Fubara to forward a nominee but he turned down the chance on the grounds that the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, should provide the nominee.The party spokesman wondered at what point the Rivers governor realized that he had to take control of the party structure in the state.He denied that the national leadership of the party had taken the side of the former Rivers State governor against the incumbent.Asked why the PDP could not support Governor Fubara in his struggle with Wike for the control of Rivers PDP, he explained: “It’s a very, very long story that we will not be able to make sense of now. The kind of opportunity given to Fubara by this party is the sort that you never imagine exist from any political party to any of its members, not a governor, not a president.“It is the sort that you would not believe any member will enjoy, any person no matter his status, whether in former president, because if I start now talking, I’ll dig out what we have been keeping in the cooler, the opportunities, the chances, the repeated chances given to this governor for him to take the leadership and take control of the structure.“He was the first person that came to meet this NWC when they requested for the replacement of the state’s chairman of the PDP. He said no no no no, nobody should call him that they should call oga in Abuja, let oga give the person, anyone oga gives he is comfortable.“This was the beginning of the whole of this problem. He was the one who said he cannot take decisions when Nyesom Wike is still alive. That was before the relationship went sour. So, at what point did you now stop recognizing him as your boss, that you start taking all of those decisions?“See, why we don’t need to delve too much into the back and forth of a River State, what is important is that at the point that we have reached now, the summary of it all is that a governor with a state like Rivers, it was the same state Wike occupied that he was able to give PDP the required opposition it confronted the Buhari-led federal government for eight years.“Fubara is sitting on that same saddle now and yet, cannot be able to rally his colleagues, governors behind him. He cannot be able to hold the National Working Committee to identify with him just because his predecessor is a minister in Abuja.“All of us, we thought he was worthy of the attention, but the more you look the less you understand. You can’t be crying like a baby all the time. You cannot provide leadership, fight it out.“Do you think all the governors are comfortable? Why are they in charge of their respective state except him? Something is missing about this guy. So, please, at the risk of sounding immodest, we have done the best we can…
PETER OBI CONDEMNS FATAL SHOOTING OF SUPERSPORTS CREW, SAYS KILLINGS KIDNAPPINGS HAVE BECOME WORSE
PETER OBI CONDEMNS FATAL SHOOTING OF SUPERSPORTS CREW, SAYS KILLINGS, KIDNAPPINGS HAVE BECOME WORSE The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2024 election, Peter Obi, has condemned the killing of some crew members of Supersports TV in a tragic ambush along the Ihiala-Orlu Road, Anambra State.Naija News reports that a SuperSports crew member and a police officer were fatally shot by unknown gunmen while on their way to cover the Super Eagles 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya. The victims were ambushed on the Ihiala-Orlu Road in Anambra State, on Tuesday, 8th October 2024, while travelling to cover Nigeria vs Libya 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Super Eagles on Friday, October 11. The bandits’ attack on the bus carrying the SuperSport crew members and security personnel resulted in the loss of a cameraman, a police officer, and the bus driver. Reacting in a post on his X handle on Sunday, Peter Obi stated that kidnappings and killings in Nigeria have continued unabated and is getting worse by the day. According to the former Anambra State Governor, Nigerians are gradually losing count of the people who have lost their lives to insecurity. He wrote: “The never-ending incidents of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes across the country have continued to be of concern to many. The situation has continued unabated and is worse by the day. “Non-state actors have continued to inflict pain and sorrow on families whose loved ones are often kidnapped and sometimes killed in gruesome manners. “In particular, I condemn, in totality, the unfortunate killing of some crew members of Supersports TV, who were attacked in a tragic ambush along the Ihiala-Orlu Road, Anambra State, a few days ago. “These media practitioners were on their way to Uyo to perform official duty for their medium and, indeed, the nation when the tragic incident happened, resulting in their death and the kidnap of others. “Two days ago, a few persons were also reportedly killed while some others were injured in a terror attack carried out by criminals in the Agatu local government area of Benue state. “These violent attacks, many of which go unreported, have now continued to define our daily existence in our once-secured nation. “We are gradually losing count of the people who have lost their lives to insecurity in our nation. “How much longer do we allow our people to die before we decide enough is enough? “I condole with the families who have lost dear ones to these recent attacks while praying for eternal rest on the dead and quick recovery for the injured. “We are all in this together as a nation and will continue to demand for the security of lives and property of every Nigerian.”
NASS WANTS MORE SUFFERINGS FOR NIGERIANS, CONSIDERS BILL TO INCREASE VAT FROM 7.5% TO 10%
NASS WANTS MORE SUFFERINGS FOR NIGERIANS, CONSIDERS BILL TO INCREASE VAT FROM 7.5% TO 10% IN 2025 The national assembly is considering a bill proposing an increase in the value-added tax (VAT) from 7.5 percent to 10 percent. VAT refers to a consumption tax on goods and services levied at each stage of the supply chain where value is added. In the executive bill seen by TheCable on Sunday, the national assembly is seeking to raise the tax rate to 10 percent by 2025. The legislature also intends to increase the VAT to 12.5 percent by 2026 through 2029, according to the document. “VAT shall be charged on the value of all taxable supplies at the following rates (a) 2025 year of assessment 10%; (b) 2026, 2027 2028 and 2029 years of assessment 12.5% (c) 2030 year of assessment and thereafter 15%,” the document reads. On May 8, Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, had said the VAT rate needs to be increased. Reacting to the recommendation on September 8, Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president criticised the proposed VAT hike, describing it as a “regressive and punitive policy”. However, Wale Edun, minister of finance, on September 9, said the VAT rate has not been unchanged. In February 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had advised the federal government to raise the VAT rate to at least 10 percent by 2022. Meanwhile, the bill also proposes a reduction in the corporate income tax (CIT) to 27.5 percent by 2025 — down from 30 percent — and a further cut to 25 percent by 2026. Companies with less than N20 million turnover are exempted from paying the CIT, according to the bill. “Tax shall be levied, for each year of assessment in respect of total profits of every company, in the case of; (a) a small company, at zero percent; and (b) any other company, at the rate of-(i) 27.5% in 2025 year of assessment, and(ii) 25% from 2026 year of assessment,” the document added. “Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or any other enactment, where, in any year of assessment, the effective tax rate of a company is less than 15%, such company shall recompute and pay an additional tax that makes its effective tax rate equal to 15%. “The provisions of this section shall apply to (a) a company that is a constituent entity of an MNE group; and (b) any other company with an aggregate turnover of N20,000,000,000.00 and above in the relevant year of assessment. “The companies covered under this section and the determination of the additional tax payable shall be in accordance with regulations issued by the Service.” On June 4, Oyedele had said the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms proposed a reduction of the CIT by 5 percent. He said the tax rate should drop from 30 percent to 25 percent to encourage businesses and investors. Earlier this month, the federal government released the gazetted withholding tax regulations expected to take effect from January 1, 2025.
ENUGU GOVT PLANS TO RESETTLE RESIDENTS OF TWO URBAN SLUMS
ENUGU GOVT PLANS TO RESETTLE RESIDENTS OF TWO URBAN SLUMS The Enugu State Government has approved the resettlement of people living in Agu-Owa and Ugbo-Lawrence parts of the state. The decision is premised on government’s categorisation of the two areas as ‘urban slums.’ A statement from the governor’s media office on Sunday, disclosed that the relocation was to enable the administration develop the areas into modern dwellings. The statement quoted the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Gerald Otiji, as making known government’s decision after an exco meeting, at the weekend, presided over by Governor Peter Mbah. The affected residents are to be moved to Akpuoga Nike Estate, which government said has necessary facilities for livelihood as well as a secure environment. Each of the relocated families are to get a two-bedroom flat and a Certificate-of-Occupancy to the property. The statement read, “The Exco today approved the urban renewal and relocation of urban slums. We have identified 25 urban slums in Enugu metropolis. We are starting with two pilot schemes and will be relocating the residents and families of those two slums. “The pilot scheme will start with Agu-Owa at Trans-Ekulu and Ugbo-Lawrence at Independence Layout. “Exco also deliberated on facilities that will be in the relocation site. It will all have paved roads, electricity, two-bedroom flat apartments, sports amenities, and other facilities. Smart School will be centered there and Certificates of Occupancy will be issued to the occupants and families that will be relocated. So, nobody is going to be left behind. “The two pilot schemes are Agu-Owa and Ugbo Lawrence, which will be relocated to Akpuoga Nike Estate. It’s an enclosed estate with security and all amenities. “This pilot scheme is going to be a new model and we ask our brothers and sisters that live in those areas to cooperate with the government to get the full benefits of these well thought out plans.” At the briefing, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment, and Industry, Adaora Chukwu, was quoted to have announced government’s approval for the development of a property in Abuja, which has been dormant and underdeveloped for the past 10 years. “Exco gave approval for a real estate development firm called Tout Moi Nigeria Limited, an indigenous real estate development company with a niche for luxury eco-friendly smart homes, to develop a piece of property that we have owned for the past 10 years in the Wuye District of Abuja. “This is in line with the governor’s development agenda, which aims to optimise the value of unutillised moribund or unoperational assets. This will probably give the state a return on investment of about 300 per cent. “The proposed development model is to build luxury housing units, a total of 43 housing units, which will include high-rise apartments, terrace buildings and semi-detached buildings. “It is also going to include a club house, a recreational centre, which, apart from selling the housing units, will create additional revenue for the state government as well,” she said. On his part, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development counterpart, Lloyd Ekweremadu, discussed the ongoing upgrade of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as well as raising the Enugu Marathon 2025 to a truly international event. “We had discussions about 2025 marathon in Enugu State. The focus this time is to bring the marathon in line with international standards, working towards potentially getting it accredited by the World Athletics Federation and putting it on the annual calendar,” he stated. Commissioners for Lands and Urban Development, Chimaobi Okorie, updated newsmen on the digitalisation and digitisation of land management in the state, noting that the Enugu State Geographic Information Service would be up very soon.
BIZZARE! REVEREND FATHER SET TO WED REVEREND SISTER IN CATHOLIC CHURCH
BIZZARE! REVEREND FATHER SET TO WED REVEREND SISTER.IN CATHOLIC CHURCH In a strange matrimonial union, a Catholic Reverend Father and a Catholic Reverend Sister are set to tie the nuptial nut in a Catholic Church. Reverend Father Michael Ogochukwu Ezeh from Enugu and Reverend Sister Claire Chioma from Afikpo in Ebonyi State are about to get married. The couple have fixed their wedding for October 26, 2024 at St Philip Catholic Church in Port Harcourt. Their decision has stirred up controversy within and beyond the Catholic Community. It has also divided the Church with majority criticizing the decision, and also asking why the Catholic Church should accept to wed the ‘dissidents.’ Rev. Fr Michael a long time servant of the Catholic Church reflected on the priesthood journey and said that, “the path of faith is not solely about serving others but also about finding inner peace.” This suggests the depth of reflections the couple must have passed through before choosing to abandon their callings for marriage. Sister Claire, known for her dedication to service has received a wide range of support from friends and colleagues. A close friend noted, “Claire’s decision to leave the Convent is a brave one, showing her commitment to staying true to herself and her beliefs.” While the Catholic Church maintains its stance on celibacy for priests and nuns, there has been acknowledgement of personal journeys that sometimes divert from tradition. Rev Fr Anthony Njoku a theologian from the University of Port Harcourt says “it’s crucial to approach such decisions with understanding and compassion rather than judgement
SENATE THREATENS UMAHI, DABRI-EREWA, OTHERS WITH WARRANT OF ARREST
SENATE THREATENS UMAHI, DABRI-EREWA, OTHERS WITH WARRANT OF ARREST The Senate has threatened the Minister of Works, David Umahi; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack; Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa; and others with the issuance of a warrant of arrest against them for failing to appear before its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. Other chief executives who also risked the warrant of arrest are those of Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company and Sally Best Properties Limited. The Senate’s resolution was sequel to the complaint of its chairman of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), about the refusal of the chief executives to honour invitations sent to them on petitions against them. Senator Imasuen, in a motion, moved through Order 42 of the Senate’s Standing Rules, lamented that several invitations sent to heads of the affected agencies to appear before his committee for explanations or defence on petitions filed against them by aggrieved Nigerians or corporate bodies were ignored. He then requested the Senate to mandate his committee to issue a warrant of arrest against the recalcitrant chief executives. Responding to the request, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said: “You already have the power as provided for by Section 89 of the 1999 Constitution. Please use it by issuing warrant of arrest against any head of agency refusing to appear before the public petition committee. “Appearances of the invited people before the committee are very important for justice and fairness on issues raised against them in the petitions before the Senate through the Public Petitions Committee.” After securing the mandate of the Senate on the issuance of warrants of arrest against heads of the affected agencies, Senator Imasuen told journalists that a list of the affected agencies would be released at the appropriate time, which he did on Sunday through a statement. In the statement, he said: “Fresh letters of invitations have been sent to heads of the affected agencies, upon which warrant of arrest would be issued if any one of them fails to appear.” He added that aside from the warrant of arrest to be issued against heads of the affected agencies, his committee would, this week, expeditiously treat a petition filed by Mr Onyebuchi Obioha on withholding of her daughter’s result by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, based on an alleged vindictive report written against her by the examination supervisor.