The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has issued a three-week ultimatum to companies and organisations with foreign nationals working in the Territory to turn in details of expatriates to for proper documentation.
This is in continuation of its ongoing drive to harmonize and enhance the Internally Generated Revenue of Abuja.
The administration said, such concerned organisations are strongly advised to comply promptly not later than the end of May 2023. Head, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila, made this known in a statement which was made available to newsmen on Sunday.
The statement reads: “The request, is part of the resolution reached in a meeting between Mr. Agboola Lukman Dabiri, Secretary, of Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and PPP in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and the Acting Executive Chairman, FCT-IRS, Mr. Haruna Abdullahi.
“This exercise is compulsory and should be taken with utmost importance by firms and organisations with expatriates working under them within the Federal Capital Territory.
“Concerned organisations are strongly advised to comply promptly not later than the end of May 2023”, the statement affirmed.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has announced its decision to paralyse aviation sector in Imo State over the disruption of May Day celebrations in the State.
It added that, its Lagos State Council has been ordered to begin immediate mobilisation of its affiliate unions in aviation sector in order to prevent any flight from leaving Lagos State for Owerri, Imo State capital.
The General-Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, who disclosed this in an official letter to Lagos branch of the Congress, directed that the action begins tomorrow (Wednesday) by 12 midnight.
It could be recalled that Nigerian workers across the country joined it’s counterparts all over the world to celebrate workers’ day also known as May Day.
But there was a violent disruption of celebrations in Owerri, the Imo State over a yet-to-be-resolved issue that arose from election of NLC in April where the State governor, Hope Uzodinma, was accused of interfering in the Congress affairs.
Speaking on Monday development, Ugboaja said an emergency meeting of Central Working Committee of the NLC was immediately summoned shortly after the May Day celebrations was disrupted.
His letter partly read, “As a result of the violent disruption of our May Day celebrations in Imo state yesterday by the Imo state Governor, an emergency CWC meeting of the NLC and TUC was held yesterday at the National Headquarters.
“It was resolved that we embark on a comprehensive industrial action against the State Government beginning from Wednesday the 3th day of May, 2023
“Consequently, as part of our effort to enforce compliance, you are kindly requested to work with the TUC and other affiliates especially those in the aviation sector to ensure that no flight leaves the Lagos Airport to Owerri, Imo state starting from 12 Midnight today.
“Ensure that you put all effort to achieve full compliance. Do remain assured of the commitment of the leadership of the congress towards the protection of workers in all parts of this country.”
As Nigerian workers joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2023 workers’ day, the Federal Government has called on the incoming administration to respect workers’ rights by adhering to the international Labour law standards, for the promotion of decent work and social dialogue for a consensus building and maintaining a sound National Industrial Relations System.
Speaking at Eagle Square Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said that Nigeria as a viable member State of the ILO and a connoisseur of workers’ rights had ratified all the core conventions of the ILO guarding the promoting rights at work.
Also Speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige, who numerated the achievements of the outgoing administration, in terms of workers’ issues, admitted that a lot still needs to be done for the Nigerian workers.
In a joint address, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Joe Ajaero and President of Trade Union Congress, Comrade FESTUS Osifo, that workers’ welfare is central to the achievement of socioeconomic justice which inturn is the the key to national and global sustainability.
According to them, poor wages, increased decent work deficit, abuse of workplace rights and privileges, unpaid salaries and violation of rules of engagement are some of the issues that must be addressed by the government.
May 1st every year is set aside all over the world to commemorate workers’ day.
The day was set aside by the United Nations to commemorate the struggle of workers in achieving the eight-hour work per day.
The theme for this year’s workers’ day is “Equity, fairness and justice underpin the survival of societies and create resilience for Nations amid upheavals and turbulence.“
As Nigerian workers join their counterparts all over the world to commemorate the 2023 workers’ day, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has congratulated the aviation workers in their contributions to the development of the industry.
According to the Minister, the lofty achievements recorded in a the nation’s aviation sector wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment and personal sacrifices of employees in the different segments of the industry.
This was contained in a statement signed by Dr.James Odaudu, Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation and made available to journalists.
He particularly ascribes the near total achievement of the aviation roadmap to the understanding and cooperation of the workers and hopes that the remaining parts will be achieved within the short period before the handover to the incoming administration.
He restates the commitment of the Buhari administration to the continued improvement of the welfare of aviation workers through regular trainings, enhanced pay packages, provision of working tools and conducive work environments.
He further assures workers of his commitment to ensuring the implementation of the respective Conditions of Service of the agencies under the Ministry’s supervision and payment of the minimum wages as agreed with the Labour unions.
Sirika however expresses concern over the frequency of workers strikes in the industry which, more often than not, disrupt operations at the nation’s airports and which send wrong signals to the outside world about the safety of Nigeria’s airspace.
The Minister wishes all workers in the aviation sector a wonderful celebration.
Mr. Haruna Abdullahi, the acting executive chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), reaffirmed the commitment of the Service to prioritize technology to drive its processes for greater performance and to also simplify the processes for taxpayers to access services.
When delivering a message of goodwill at the International Technology and Communication Expo (ITEC Expo 2023) in Abuja, Abdullahi made this known.
The FCT-IRS’s Mustapha Sumaila, Head of Corporate Communications in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja stated that the head of the FCT-IRS emphasized the significance of taxation as the backbone of the economy and the necessity of leveraging and optimizing technology utilization to increase revenue generation at both the national and subnational levels.
The statement reads: “In FCT-IRS, we have built our platforms to be technology driven.Technology is now driving all our processes, from Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN), to registration, verification, payment and issuance of Tax Clearance Certificate among others.
“The Service under my watch is open to innovation and new technology to further enhance our collection and simplify the processes for our taxpayers in the FCT.
“As we explore the vast landscape of modern technology, let us also consider the essential role that taxation plays in supporting and sustaining these advancements” he stated.
Abdullahi explained that taxes are the lifeblood of any economy because they provide the funding necessary for public services, infrastructure, and social programmes that form the backbone of the society noting that a strong tax-paying culture is vital in enabling the government invest in the technologies and industries of the future.
The Chief Executive however noted that FCT-IRS was deeply committed to fostering a vibrant ecosystem where technology and communications could thrive.
He said the Service having recognised the transformative impact of these advancements on all human endeavours, is dedicated to providing a conducive environment for entrepreneurs, innovators and stakeholders to flourish and contribute to the progress of the society.
The chairman noted that the Service is focused at adapting and evolving in order to meet the challenges of the digital age considering the importance of leveraging technology to simplify and streamline tax compliance as well as making it easier for businesses and individuals to meet their obligations.
Young couples expecting twins have two times the delight of having a child. Eyo Etim Okon, a 39-year-old principal, is an exception. His wife had complications giving birth to twin boys, and eight days later she passed away. As a result, baby Asher, one of the twins, was in dire need of oxygen to treat his respiratory distress.
His breathing got difficult. I was concerned because I wondered what would happen to him if the oxygen ran out. All I can say is how happy I am that Calabar’s University Teaching Hospital has oxygen, added Eyo.
According to Dr. Glory Bassey, the Consultant Pediatrician at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, “The availability of oxygen itself is important first. Oxygen is life. The availability of oxygen itself is a challenge presently in this center. Parents buy oxygen but thank God for the intervention that is ongoing with the construction of the oxygen plant in this hospital. It is a welcome development.
Medical oxygen is a necessary and life-saving drug. It is essential for the treatment of critical respiratory and life-threatening illnesses such as severe pneumonia, severe malaria, sepsis (caused by bacteria and viruses), COVID-19, trauma, and difficulties during childbirth or pregnancy. It can be utilized at all levels of the healthcare system, and safe surgical, emergency, and critical care services must be provided.
The management of pneumonia and hypoxemia was taught to a few health professionals in Cross River to enhance the skills required for oxygen therapy in young children, especially newborns. The workshop aimed to scale back training in pediatric hypoxemia care and inpatient management of community-acquired pneumonia.
One of the health professionals who benefited from the step-down training was Esther Ese Onah, a pediatric nurse in charge of the Neonatal unit and the nurse in charge of baby Asher. According to Esther, the training has enabled her to successfully manage newborns who are experiencing respiratory distress. “The training has assisted me in detecting early a baby needing oxygen therapy, and I’m able to initiate treatment promptly utilizing an oxygen concentrator to help the child to breathe.”
“From the onset of admission, the baby (Asher) was monitored hourly, then every two hours. At this stage, we are happy with his respiratory rate. We check him every four hours. Hopefully, he will be discharged next week as his breathing improves,” added Esther.
Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, the Cross Rivers State Commissioner for Health, asserts that the significance of oxygen cannot be overstated. “You will agree with me that the high mortality rate globally or even in Nigeria is a result of poor oxygen or non-availability of oxygen. I tell you most of the deaths would have been prevented if all facilities had oxygen,” she said.
“We are happy to have a newly constructed oxygen plant in Cross Rivers. It will serve all the primary and secondary facilities in the state. We are committed to ensuring we have the human resources needed and electricity to keep the plant functioning,” Dr. Ekpenyong added.
Increases in oxygen access and supply can only be achieved by a large and well-coordinated effort. As a result, UNICEF, the Government of Canada, and IHS Nigeria have come together to construct an oxygen plant in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, in the southern part of Nigeria, in an effort to find adequate, long-term solutions.
While the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions to essential health service delivery, it also highlighted weaknesses in access to medical oxygen and provided opportunities for governments and health system actors to address these gaps. However, strengthening the medical oxygen system is relatively new for program managers, which is why it is critical for UNICEF to continue to strengthen capacity and provide tools such as the Oxygen System Planning Tool to promote a systematic approach to planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring progress. This will ensure that adequate and sustainable oxygen supply is available to health facilities, particularly in low-resource settings, to improve patient outcomes and reduce mortality rates associated with critical respiratory and life-threatening illnesses.
In response to the large increase in diphtheria cases documented in Nigeria since the beginning of 2023, the European Union has provided €150,000 (N75 million) in humanitarian funds to halt the disease’s spread and support the most afflicted communities in Kano, Katsina, Lagos, and Osun.
This EU funding will allow the Nigerian Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to affected and at-risk communities by reducing the impact of diphtheria through risk communication, outbreak control activities, surveillance, patient referral and hygiene promotion, and early case detection in affected areas.
Humanitarian assistance will be provided directly and indirectly to about 1,585,080 persons, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable people at risk of diphtheria, those living in sheltered communities or hard-to-reach locations.
This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
On 20 January 2023, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) officially declared an outbreak of diphtheria in Kano and Lagos states after several suspected cases appeared a month earlier. The disease then spread rapidly to other states. From 136 cases in the first week of 2023, the country now records a total of 733 suspected cases,and deplores89 fatalities.
The outbreak is described as one of the most serious occurrences in Nigeria in recent years. Children aged between 5 and 18 years are the most vulnerable group.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection transmitted between humans. It causes an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which can lead to breathing difficulties and suffocation. Those most at risk are children and people who have not been fully vaccinated against the disease.
Background
The European Union, together with its Member States, is the leading donor of humanitarian aid in the world. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent, and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.
The European Union through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. Through its headquarters in Brussels and its global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people based on humanitarian need alone. The European Commission has signed a €3 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to support the Federation’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to ‘small-scale’ disasters, those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.
The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) was established in 1985 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (within its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €3 million.
The National Population Commission’s (NPC) Nasir Isa Kwarra has urged social media influencers and bloggers to mobilize the youth population in order to encourage them to actively participate in the population and housing census in 2023.
In Abuja on Saturday, Kwarra made this statement during a one-day interactive workshop for social media influencers and bloggers that was organized by the National Population Commission in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in order to get ready for the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
The youth are avid internet and social media users, according to Kwarra, who was speaking on behalf of the group through Alhaji Husaini Isiyaku, Senior Special Assistant to the Chairman of NPC.
According to him: “The estimation that over 60% of Nigeria’s population is under 30 and a good part of this under-16 demographic has never been captured in a census exercise.
“Moreover, that demographic constitutes the greater part of Nigerian citizens who are active internet and social media users.
“It therefore follows that, for the forthcoming 2023 National Population and Housing Census to succeed in covering the youth population, there must be clear, deliberate and effective sensitisation and mobilisation strategies designed to reach that important youth segment of our society.
“Such strategy should, of necessity, mainstream and robustly engage the social media and its influencers towards achieving youth inclusiveness in the census figures.
“The foregoing underscores the need for an assemblage of bloggers and social media influencers to help them appreciate the important roles they could play in mobilising the youth population to participate in the 2023 census.
“This bloggers and social media influencers’ conference is proposed on the premise that the buy-in of such strategic persons would manifest in their promotion of the census on their various platforms and ultimately translate into massive youth participation in the census.”
Commenting on the preparations made so far by the Commission to ensure accurate and reliable census, the NPC boss, said the Commission had made significant progress in preparation for the Census.
He further stated that, “We have successfully completed Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD), conducted two pre-tests and Trial census, trained facilitators for the census and other preparatory activities are presently going as we speak.
“These efforts have laid the groundwork to ensure that the census succeeds and is implemented according to best practices.
“In addition, the Commission has developed a Census Strategic Plan and Implementation Strategy detailing a whole range of activities to be carried out in the pre-census, actual census, and post census stages.
“Our vision of the 2023 census is to produce accurate, reliable and acceptable census with an all inclusive user-friendly data.”
In his remarks, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, underscored the importance of population and housing census, saying that the exercise would help Nigeria to plan and achieve sustainable development.
Abari represented by Mrs. Theresa Maduekwe, a director in NOA, said the Agency was irrevocably committed to carry out sensitisation and mobilisation campaigns across the length and breadth of the country.
He therefore, tasked all Nigerians to join hands with the Commission to make 2023 census exercise a resounding success.
Responding to questions from participants, Dr. Isiaka Yahaya, Director of Public Affairs Department in NPC, affirmed that insecurity plaguing some parts of the country would not prevent NPC personnel from carrying out the census exercise.
Yahaya observed that in spite of the insecurity plaguing the country, that the NPC through its dogged determination and unwavering commitment was able to carry out Enumeration Area Demarcation and pre-census trials across the country.
Quoting a research conducted by NOA in December 2022, he pointed out that 84 per cent of the respondents across the country were already aware of the forthcoming census.
The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) says the digitization of its system through the e-NSITF will enable it streamline its process for growth, while bringing its abiding benefits to the doorstep of Nigerian workers .
Speaking at the Abuja venue of a fund-wide, two-day training for key staff of the agency on Strategic Re-positioning, the Managing Director of the NSITF, Mrs. Maureen Allagoa, said the project, which is in line with the Federal Government policy on ease of doing business, will increase efficiency, break all barriers to outreach, transparency and accountability while blocking all the loopholes and leakages that badgered the fund over the years.
Represented by the Fund’s Executive Director, Administration, Dr Gabriel Okenwa, Allagoa said digital technology has brought innovations to government and private businesses, which no organization can ignore without great peril.
“Digital technology has brought great changes to businesses and the world of work in such a manner that compels organizations to align with the trend. The NSITF which occupies a cardinal position in the nation’s social security system cannot afford to lag behind .
“The e-NSITF whose first phase has been completed, is a practical platform which leverages on ICT to ease the implementation of Employee Compensation, by modernizing our systems and processes ,while expanding our frontiers in business and social security .
“This innovation is also stakeholder-inclusive, in that it grants our customers who are employers of labour, an unfettered access to our services by exposing them to our digital tools for interaction and business conduct. They will secure satisfaction while the accompanying instant feedback, in turn, optimizes the fund’s quality service in real time.
“ From the comfort of the respective offices of our enrollee-employers , they can register by keying into our platform, make payment which is tracked into a central pool and seamlessly generate compliance certificates. Waiting for period unending will be eliminated.
“ This process will also put securely behind us, every controversy over payment of claims which can now easily be tracked with the identity of the recipient in a public record.”
The Managing Director further urged all staff to key into the reform, meant to equip and adapt them to the digitization. She pledged the commitment of the management to improved staff welfare and other service conditions that assist efficient delivery of services.
At the end of the two-day sensitisation which is taking place simultaneously across the six zones of the country , the select staff-participants are expected to take the training to their respective fifty-six branches of the fund. Apart from boosting the fund’s digital infrastructures and equipping the staff with necessary skills and knowledge, the training will arm them for aggressive enrolment of employers, effective and prompt payment of claims and compensation, as well as active health and safety administration. Over one thousand out of 5000 staff strength of the fund is taking part in the programme.
The International Labour Organization ILO has attributed the recent rise in child labour, force labour, child trafficking and modern slavery to poverty, insecurity and unemployment in the country
Speaking in Abuja, the Director ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS, Venessa Phala, noted that the number of children in child labour has risen to one hundred and sixty million worldwide-an increase of eight point four million children compared with the last report.
Phala, who disclosed this in her welcome remarks during the National Child Labour and Force Labour Survey Validation Workshop said the eradication of child labour and force labour in Nigeria requires the development of monitoring infrastructure to determine and measure its magnitude, distribution, dimensions and characteristics at the national and sub-national levels. Children mostly affected are under the ages of 5 to 17, with most of them working in jobs that deprive them of their childhood, interfere with their education or harm their mental, physical or social development.
Stakeholders in the labour circle have however attributed the recent increase to factors associated with poverty, insecurity and unemployment in the country.
Phala said children have a right to better lives than engaging in forced labour practices just to shore up income on behalf of their parents.
She argued that the practice of engaging under-aged children in eking out a living runs contrary to the ILO Convention on the World of Work.
“We all know that the number of children engaging in child labour has risen to 160million worldwide, which is representing an increase of 8.4million children when compared with the last report.
“In eradicating the scourge of child labour and force labour in Nigeria, concerted efforts are required from all stakeholders, part of which is the development of monitoring infrastructure to determine and measure its magnitude, distribution, dimensions and characteristics at the national and sub-national levels,”Phala stated.
Corroborating the ILO’s position, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, said government is not resting on its oars to see that the fight against child labour and force labour is reduced to the bearest minimum, if not completely eradicated.
She noted that children who are seen as leaders of the future ought not to be exposed to such practices at a tender age but rather shown love and properly catered for, for the general good of the country.
“I will use this opportunity to enjoin Nigerians across the federation to remain steadfast in the fight against the rising child labour, force labour and modern slavery practices so as to eradicate it from our society”.
Also Speaking, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju, who said the country has improved in the fight against child labour and force labour advised that children who are the leaders of tomorrow should be loved and properly trained for the betterment of the nation.
Daju however charged Nigerians across the federation to remain steadfast in the fight against the rising child labour, force labour and modern slavery.
Recall that the ILO recently sealed a partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to unveil a new national survey for child labour in Nigeria with a view to helping the government and key stakeholders in their intervention programmes.
