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FIRS Announces Over 100% Performance As 2021 Collections Hit N6.405trn, Exceeds Target

By
Mosali Edunosa
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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced that it achieved over a hundred percent of its collection target for the year 2021, N6.405 trillion in both oil (N2.008 trillion and non-oil (N4.396 trillion) revenues as against a target of N6.401 trillion.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Media & Communication, Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, noted that the feat was achieved in spite of the global economic challenges occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as the disruption of business activities in 2020 by nationwide protests,

“Notwithstanding the limitations faced in 2020/2021, the Service achieved over a hundred percent of its collection target,” Executive Chairman, Muhammad Nami stated in the FIRS 2021 Performance Update signed by him.

“The FIRS, in the year 2021 collected a total of N6.405 trillion in both oil (N2.008 trillion) and non-oil (N4.396 trillion) revenues as against a target of N6.401 trillion. Companies Income Tax amounted to N1.896 trillion; Petroleum Profits Tax amounted to N2 trillion; Value Added Tax amounted to N2.07 trillion; Electronic Money Transfer Levy amounted to N114 billion; Earmarked Taxes amounted to N208.8 billion; among others.

“Non-oil sector contributed 68.64% of the total collection in the year, while oil sector’s contribution was 31.36% of total collection.

“The Service issued certificates for the sum of N147.8 billion tax credit to private investors and NNPC for road infrastructure under the Road Infrastructure Development Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme created by Executive Order No. 007 of 2019.”

According to the agency’s Spokesman, the report explained that “in line with the law, 2021 income tax revenue is a function of the outcome of business activities in 2020.

“In that year, the country entered into a second economic recession within 5 years. The recession was occasioned by 5-months of lockdown caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. To compound the economic challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, business activities were disrupted by the End-SARS protests.”

It further stated that the deployment of technological tools was a game-changer for the Service.

“Upon the coming into office of the current management, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) began strategic administrative and operational reforms; and the implementation of new policies that would improve its capacity towards the fulfilment of its mandate.

“The deployment of a new automated tax administration system, the “TaxPro Max” in June 2021 was a game-changer. With the solution, taxpayers experienced ease of registration, reporting, payment and issuance of Tax Clearance Certificates while the Service experienced greater efficiency in the deployment of resources thereby leading to improved revenue collection.”

The FIRS stated that strong opposition to its statutory mandates by certain interests posed a major setback in the full implementation of its reforms.

Shortage Of Dead Bodies Not Affecting Anatomy Study In Nigeria — Prof Ajao

By
Toyin Adebayo
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Prof Moyosore Salihu Ajao, a professor of Anatomy at the University of Ilorin has revealed that limited number of cadavers for study in most medical schools in the country has been identified as hobbling the study of anatomy and achievements of its attendant gains.

He made the observation while delivering the 214th Inaugural Lecture at the university, titled, ‘The Belly, the Brain and the Environmental Toxins: Balancing the Conflicts Between Necessity and Cost’.

The scholar observed that a unique thing about the study of Anatomy in most schools is the non-availability of “Raw materials” needed for its practical classes.

According to him,”They are never sold in the market in any part of the world,” he said, referring to the availability of dead bodies for study.

“Since human anatomy is the science that is concerned with the structures of the human body, these structures cannot be fully understood from written descriptions to dimensional pictures or plastic models.

“The dissection of human body (cadavers) is the basis for understanding the structure and functions of the human body for several centuries.

“In other words, to fully understand the importance of cadavers to man is far and beyond what we should overlook.

“The first major challenge I noticed on my assumption of office as a young lecturer in the department of anatomy was the chronic shortages of cadavers in the department and after a quick check on other universities, I discovered that we are not alone in the struggle to get bodies fit enough for dissection,” he stated.

Citing one of his studies, Prof Ajao observed that there are different causes of the lack in the Nigerian varsities which reflected a poor ratio of students to cadaver during study in medical schools in Nigeria.

“This finding is consistent with the earlier report from China, where about 12 to 15 students used a body against International Standard that recommend maximum of six students to one body.

“The National Universities Commission recommends an average of eight students per body in Nigeria.

Ajao said that pressure to produce more doctors in the country keeps mounting every year and so the students’ population continued to rise while provisions of facilities including cadavers supply are limited.

Drug Peddling: FCTA Seals Park

By
Toyin Adebayo
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…Vows To Rid Parks Off Drugs , Criminality

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed off a park at Wuse Zone 5 for allegedly playing host to drugs peddlers.

This is as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided the said park located at Peb 04 plaza where six persons were arrested for peddling drugs.

Umar Shuaibu, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), who led his team to the seal up exercise brief newsmen that all activities at the park are to cease and all illegal structures inside the park will be removed as soon as possible.

The AMMC Coordinator, “The reason why we are here is because of the information we heard about sale of drugs here. It prompted us to dig out history of how the park came to being. Yes, we gave approval for extension, to the owner of PEB 04 Plaza that sort for extension of the building and it was granted. But any extension we grant is specifically for green areas not for any activities or commercialization, anytime we give extension of a building it is for green areas”.

“Even the structures and activities that were not approved by us are taking place here.

“This matter is very weighty,
we sealed off the place pending further investigation on the matter. Already we have called on all park operators in FCT for a meeting in order to ensure that whatever they are doing is in line with the laws and we mentioned specifically the issue of illegal activities like those selling drugs and noise pollution all these we spelt out.

“And this will serve as deterent to others and anyone that is caught violating our laws we will prosecute. NDLEA has raided this park and they caught them with drugs. So it is already established that they were peddling drugs here .

“We have already serve them the enforcement notice and whatever is illegal we are going to remove it as soon as possible .
The demolition will be as soon as possible”, he explained.

Shuaib hinted on possible revocation of the extension, he said, “Definitely, whatever is required and then we are going to have ensure we follow legal processes and ensure due process is followed.

“There are dos and don’t for whatever approval of land that is allocated, normally extensions are for greening of the area but as you can see, it has already been violated”.

Meanwhile, the Director of Development Control Tpl Muktar Galadima, said, FCT administration is in collaboration with NDLEA,
“This is just an eye opener, we are not going to wait and allow another park to be identified, we are working on collaboration with NDLEA, we also want to urge them to spread their tentacle further to other parks. And then we will take necessary action”.

It would be recalled that operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided Peb 04 plaza park on January, 19 and arrested six persons for selling drug cookies and noodles.

Rachael Famiyesun, 29, was arrested along with her sales girl, Stella Sunday, 20, for dealing in drug cookies.

They were also caught selling bottles of ‘Zobo’ drink prepared with cannabis.

Another business operator in the garden, Moses Obi was also arrested with his sales girl, Aisha Abdulrahman, 19, for selling indomien noodles prepared with cannabis.

A bar man, Ahonye Jonah, 31, who worked with the garden owner, was equally arrested while one of their customers, 38-year-old Ngozi Justina Emelogu, was also picked during the raid.

School Census: FCTA To Shut Non-cooperative Schools

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has threatened to shut down any school that fails to provide the necessary information required in building a credible data base required in assessing the health status of the education system.

Mr. Olusade Adesola, the FCTA Permanent Secretary sounded the warning during the official flaging-off the 2020/2021 FCT Annual School Census for all basic and post basic schools in the Six Area Councils of the Territory.

The Permanent Secretary who was represented at the event by the Director of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Mrs Lanre Emeje, also threatened to sanction school proprietors and administrators who default in the data collation process.

He stated that the continuous influx of people into the nation’s capital puts enormous pressure on infrastructure, including educational facilities.

He said, this population growth, has resulted in increased enrolment in schools and the need for additional schools and expansion infrastructure in existing ones.

According to him, “I wish to also commend the private sector participation in the provision of education services to the residence of FCT. You have keyed into the slogan “Education for all is

The responsibility of all”. However, in as much as we appreciate your contributions, we need to know the status, level and quality of the education you are providing. Participation in the Annual School Census is one of the means of providing us with the data on such information which in turn will pave way for any intervention.

“I enjoin all stake holders to take the conduct of the 2020/2021 ASC seriously through diligent participation by providing accurate, reliable and timely data required. Appropriate sanctions including shutting down of any school will be enforced for any school that fails to comply. School heads, Principals and Proprietors will be held accountable for failure to participate.”

Meanwhile, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Education Secretary, Sani Dahir El-Katuzu, said aside providing reliable and timely data of all schools to ensure proper planning, the Annual School Census will also provide an opportunity to evaluate the performance of the school system towards effective management of education in FCT and in Nigeria at large.

He lamented that accurate data for education planning and decision making has been a major concern of the government and this has also created difficulties for development partners to make interventions in certain areas.

He regretted that some principals and head teachers of public and private schools have shown care-free attitude to data collection with many failing to make timely remittance of returns.

According to him, “This problem of data quality is even worsened by the increasing number of schools that may not be included in government figures such as unregistered private schools and religious schools that may be teaching some secular subjects, thus resulting in large figures of out of school children as recorded for Nigeria by International Development Partners (IDPs).”

He therefore advised that all hands must be on deck in the conduct of the 2020/2021 ASC in ICT to ensure that credible, reliable and usable data is provided for effective planning,
research purposes and sound decision making.

Bello Tasks Civil Servants To Devise Policies To Strengthen Governance

By
Toyin Adebayo
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Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister on Thursday enjoined civil servants to come up with policies that would reposition and strengthen good governance in Nigeria.

Bello made this known while declaring open the 43rd meeting of the National Council on Establishments (NCE) on Thursday, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

He noted that as the custodian of institutional memory, civil servants are in the best position to reposition the service with a view to impacting positively on the quality of governance.

While describing it as honour to be selected to host the 43rd NCE, Bello hinted that the Civil Service of the Federation was a bastion of stability and solidity upon which successive governments relied on for formulation and implementation of policies, as well as extant rules.

Bello also commended Civil Servants particularly those from the nation’s capital for working tirelessly in the last three decades in beautifying and building the Capital City of the dream of the founding fathers.

He charged participants to use the opportunity of the interaction to boost their knowledge.

Bello also commended the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan for bringing revolutionary changes in the Service and urged all Civil Servants to do their best in implementing the tremendous changes.

The minister called on the Heads of Civil Service of States to also introduce positive changes in their respective states to improve the life of Nigerians.

Earlier, the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan, said the meeting is an annual event aimed at brainstorming on matters affecting governance at all levels.

She also reiterated commitment to earlier resolutions that only academic qualifications should be used for appointment into civil service.

The Head of Service encouraged Civil Servants to engage in information Communication and Technology, ICT and Agricultural value Chain.

Mrs Yemi Esan further hinted that the office of the Head of Service is Committed in partnering with all the Head of Service across the thirty six states of the Federation to enable them key into new policies of government.

Other past resolutions of the meeting according to the Head of Service of the Federation included provision that five percent of employment opportunities in the federal civil service should be reserved for physically challenged persons.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on establishment and Public Service, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, charged civil servants to remain committed to exemplary conduct.

The further revealed that all Civil Service across the thirty six states of the Federation are the engine room of any successive government.

FCT-ARDS To Overhaul Dei Dei Livestock Market

By
Toyin Adebayo
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… Issues Ultimatum To Erring Operators On Service Improvement

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has hinted that plans are under way to overhaul the Deidei livestock market to standards befitting the status of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim made this known during an unscheduled visit to the market to assess the level of compliance of the operators to standards and regulations set by the Administration for the conduct of business at the market.

The Secretary in a statement by Deputy Director Information, (ARDS) Zakari Aliyu expressed dissatisfaction on the situation he met at the market as it relates to poor hygienic practices and proliferation of illegal structures warned that the Secretariat will not hesitate to take drastic measured on erring operators whose activates constitutes a risk to residents.

The statement reads; ” what is happening at the Deidei livestock market is indeed very sad . The poor sanitary conditions of the market as well as the springing up of structures without approval is not acceptable to us. I have given the operators an ultimatum to take immediate measures to improve or be forced to close their operations.

The Secretariat is looking into the possibility of remodelling the market to make it more organised and easy for management by our officals”

The Secretariat he further revealed has concluded arrangements to hold an urgent meeting with stakeholders towards finding ways to address all the contentious issues.

The Deidei livestok market which is one of the largest in Nigeria was set up in 2001 as a facility for cattle goat and sheep trading as well as a Veterinary clinic abattoirs and meat processing structures.

FCT Resettlement : FEC Approves N5.4 Billion Mpape To Shere-Galuwyi Road

By
Toyin Adebayo
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In order to facilitate the movement and resettlement of some indigenous communities within the Abuja City Centre to their new locations, the Federal Executive Council (FCE) on Wednesday approved N5.4 billion contract for the construction of access road from Mpape to Shere-Galuwyi Resettlement Housing Scheme in Bwari Area Council of the nation’s capital.

Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, FCT Minister gave this hint in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary Anthony Ogunlelye which a copy was made available to newsmen in Abuja.

The statement reads: ” The absence of access road to the Resettlement Site and other infrastructure has hitherto prevented the movement of the designated communities as planned.

“The Galuwyi Shere Resettlement Site is located on a 900-hectares of land in Bwari Area Council. Sixteen Communities are to be moved in two Phases: Phase I consists of most of the Communities in Phase II of the Abuja Federal Capital City (FCC) and include seven communities namely: Utako, Maje, Mabushi, Jabi Samuel, Jabi Yakubu, Kpaadna, Zhilu”.

“Phase II comprises of nine Communities: Gwarimpa, Galadima, Jahi I, Jahi II, Kado Bimiko, Kado Kuchi, Lungu, Gishiri, Daki Biu”.

“Some complimentary facilities like Primary School, Secondary School, Police Post, Overhead water tanks have also been provided at the site.

“If this road is not constructed, it will lead to further decay of the development at the Resettlement site, heighten security concerns and thereby amounting to colossal loss of financial resources as well as constituting a clog in the developmental strides of government”, the statement stated.

The Minister further hinted that the movement of the Communities will open up development along that axis and also free up land for the orderly development of the City in line with the Abuja Master Plan.

The contract for the 14.15 KM road was awarded to Messrs Vipan Global Investment Resources Limited and is expected to be completed within eighteen months.

Presidency Unveils 2020/2021 National Merit Award Winners

By
Grace Itodu
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The Governing Board, Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), an agency of the a Presidency, on Friday unveiled the winners of the 2020/2021 Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chairman, Governing Board, NNMA, Professor Shekarau Yakubu Aku, who announced this at a press conference in Abuja, said the Board got approval from President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, to honour three Nigerians with the award of Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM).

Our correspondent reports that the NNOM
is an academic award conferred on distinguished academicians and intellectuals who have made outstanding contributions to the academic, growth and development of Nigeria.

The awardees include Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, NNOM in Medicine (2020), Professor Godwin Samuel Ekhaguere, NNOM in Science (2021), and Professor Charles Ejike Chidume, who is to be honoured post-humously with NNOM in Science (2020), having passed before the award.

Prof. Aku, the Board Chairman, explained that Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye is an outstanding worldrenowned surgeon and scientist who is widely celebrated for having performed in-utero surgery on fetuses with large tumors while still in their mother’s womb.

His recognition as the first African and indeed the first Nigerian to perform this feat has reverberated all the world and brought immense prominence to Nigeria.

Aku, Professor Charles Ejike Chidume, who won NNOM in Science was a professor of Mathematics at African University of Science and technology, Abuja.

Chidume’s works encompasses several fields, including Nonliner Functional of Fixed Point. Analysis, Nonlinear Operator theory and differential Equations, Nonlinear Optimization in particular, his research focuses on the area of Fixed Point. Furthermore, he introduced a new and powerful iterative algorithm, which is the only one in the literature that does not involve the resolvent, for approximating a zero of maximal monotone map.

Also, Professor Godwin O, Samuel Ekhaguere, NNOM in Science (2021) is a Mathematician, with research interest and activities Principally in Mathematical Physics, Noncommutative Stochastic Analysis, Topologicay Partial -Algebras and Financial Mathematics.

Ekhaguere’s research activities jp Mathematics Physics, a discipline that straddles mathematics and physics
involve innovatively creating new directions in Mathematics and deploying the outcomes to solve outstanding problems in branch of Mathematica! Physics called Axiomatic Quantum Field Theory.

The Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) was established by ACT No. 53 of the 1979 and was amended by Act No. 96 of the 1992 now LFN 122 of 2004. The Award is named Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) and is a separate Order of Dignity in the Highest Honors category in the fields of Science, Medicine, Engineering/Technology, and Humanities including Arts ‘and Culture.

Nigerian scholars have tended to carry out their researches in their order of personal interest irrespective of whether they are relevant to the needs and aspirations of the nation, except perhaps in the areas of politics.

The NNMA as an Agency is charged with selecting all intellectual and creative contributions in all areas of human endeavor, and rewarding unique contributions by the award of the NNOM.

Defection: APC Loses Reps Member To PDP

By
Roland Edet
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The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday gained one member on the floor of the House of Representatives following the defection of Rep Yahaya Fatuba (Gombe), from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the lawmaker said he decided to defect from the APC in view of the crisis that has bedevilled the APC in recent times.

He said, the APC has not been able to conduct credible primaries in Gombe state, adding that he decided to join the PDP after painstakingly consulting with his family and constituents.

He said he believe that the PDP will afford him the opportunity to continue to deliver on his mandate to those who elected him.

Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu welcome the development, while commending the Speaker for having the courage to read out the letter of defection.

Elumelu said the defection is a clear sign many more lawmakers are on their way to “where they belong” because the APC is factionalised and have factional chairmen across the States.

He described the Speaker as a great man for reading the letter of defection.

The Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila said he has an obligation to read any letter that comes to the House irrespective of where it is coming from.

He expressed surprise that the Minority Leader who is always quoting constitutional order anytime there is a defection would welcome the defection and not quote the constitutional order to try to stop the defection.

Subsidy: Reps Set To Probe Daily Fuel Consumption Volume In Nigeria

By
Roland Edet
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The House of Representatives had set up an adhoc committee to investigate the actual volume of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as fuel or petrol consumed on daily basis to determine the level of subsidy being paid by the government.

The House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila who announced the composition of the panel also set up another adhoc committee to investigate the actual state of refineries to ascertain what it will cost to bring the refineries back to life again.

Speaking at the plenary, Gbajabiamila stated that the time has come for the lawmakers to intervene in the issue, saying that it is only when this investigation is painstakingly carried out that the nation can determine the actual volume of fuel that is consumed daily in the country and the amount of subsidy being paid by the government.

He said membership of the Committee on fuel consumption, will be headed by Hon. Abdullahi Ningi (APC, Bauchi), with Hon. Ahmed Satomi, Hon. Prof Julius Ihonvbere, Hon. Usman Zanna, Hon. Leke Abejide, Hon. Uzoma Abonta, Hon. Chinda, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, Hon. Ibrahim Obanikoro, Hon. Akin Alabi , Hon. Dachung Bagos, Hon. Maki Yalleman, Hon. Dike Chisom and Hon. Prince Obi as members.

For the state of refineries, Hon. Hon. Ganiyu Johnson (APC, Lagos) is the head the panel, with Hon. Yusuf Buba, Hon. Fred Obua, Hon. Akinfolarin Mayowa, Hon. Haruna Dederi , Hon. Ibrahim Ishiaka, Hon. Ezenwankwo Okwudili, Hon. Wale Raji , Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Mansur Soro, Hon. Stanley Olajide, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, Hon. Olododo Cook Abdulganiyu, Hon. Comrade Aminu Suleiman and Hon. Johnson Oguma as members respectively.

The Speaker tasked members of the committees to speak to various stakeholders, and not rely on just figures being paraded around.

According to Gbajabiamlia : “We will be setting up two adhoc committees, to address the issue of fuel subsidy. One will look into how much fuel we consume as a nation on a daily basis. We have had figures bandied here and there without any authenticity, before we can even begin to talk subsidy like I said , we need to know how much we are consuming. The second is to look into refineries and state of repair and determine what will be needed to bring our refineries back to life again.”

“The committees has 4 weeks to present its report. In doing their work they should not restrict themselves to NNPC figures, as NNPC being an interested party of course. They should go far and wide, talk to experts, talk to labour, talk to national and international experts and those who will know. Talk to the motor vehicles registration centres, we just need to determine how much petrol we consume, talk to the transport companies, deal with facts and figures”.

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