Multiple Taxation: FG partners ALGON, others to curb inflation, illegalities on Nigerian roads

The Federal Government through some ministries has concluded plan to partner with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Organized Private Sector Operators to commence the National Anti-Multiple Taxation Scheme (NAMTAXS) and National Transit Insurance Scheme (NATIS) for road users nationwide to provide safety, surveillance, Logistic support and emergency rescue on Nigerian ROADS, News Proofs has learned reliably. 

The Federal Ministries of Agriculture & Rural Development, Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Affairs, Transportation, Petroleum Resources are major ministries at the forefront of the new initiative champion by ALGON and other private organizations. 

According to ALGON in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, NEC Committee

NAMTAXS/NATIS, Hon. Yusuf Garuba Alkalari and the Secretary Ad-hoc Committee NAMTAXS/NATIS, Salawu Nuhu Ozigi (FCA), the scheme is in line with the constitutional responsibility of Nigerian Local Governments as enshrined in the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (As amended).

What was being said:

“This is in line with the constitutional responsibility of Nigerian Local Governments as enshrined in the 4th Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (As amended)."

“It is aimed at supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria’s economic sustainability Programme (ESP) thereby providing the enabling environment for ease of doing business." 

“In compliance with the Presidential Approval through the FMA&RD conveying the ban on illegal collection of taxes, levies and fees on agricultural produce, agro-allied products and general goods on Nigerian roads, ALGON in partnership with other stakeholders through the NAMTAXS and NATIS Programme has shown a practical demonstration of support of the Nigeria Local Governments and Area Councils for food security, free movement of goods and services by ensuring that all illegal road blocks in the country are permanently dismantled, withdrawn and removed, to reduce high cost of goods caused by illegal taxes, fees and levies on haulage."

“NAMTAXS is structured to permanently eradicate the killings of road users by hoodlums, establish and sustain a reliable security, safety and emergency rescue measures for drivers, farmers, traders, transporters, dealers, manufacturers miners, Markets, Motor Parks, Terminals, Warehouses, Business Centers and Infrastructures etc as well as bringing in modern technologies while ensuring seamless movement of Cargo, Goods and Services on the Roads."

“NATIS covers all categories of goods in transit on Nigeria roads, Railways, Waterways, and Air transportation, provided they are valued at Fifty Thousand Naira (N50, 000), and above." 

“In this regards, ALGON is in partnership with Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), and Cornerstone Insurance Plc for the Insurance cover in respect of Agricultural Produce and Agro-Allied Products; and General Goods as well as Petroleum Products respectively."

“ALGON therefore seek the corporation of the organized private sectors, NACCIMA, MAN, NAAPD, IMAN, MAN2, NURTW, NILODA, NARTO, LUBOAN, NANTS, Amalgamated Trade Unions and Associations Nationwide in the above regard to make it a success." 

“By this all important scheme, the end users are hereby advised to procure their Safety and Emergency Rescue Stickers from ALGON National Headquarters, no 10 Zambezi Crescent, off Adekule Fajiyu Road, near INEC Headquarters from Monday 9th August 2021 to enable them access the required services and make use of our Short Code ‘7744’ from all the Mobile network providers nationwide”, ALGON stated."

ANTI-KIDNAPPING BILL: Waive make Case for common Nigerian, By Williams Ode

By Williams Ode

The Honourable member House of Representatives representing Ughelli North,South and Udu Federal constituency, RT.Rev.Hon.Francis Ejireoghene Waive has said the unbearable and insecurity in our immediate environment today is a huge threatening to Nigeria.

 Waive who  make this declaration at at Abuja during his presentation of the Anti- Kidnapping Bill at the green chamber, said

" As part of my contribution to solving the myriad of security problems bedeviling our country, my Bill to expressly criminalize and discourage kidnapping passed first reading yesterday at plenary." He said, "The Bill provides for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment for the act of kidnapping and hostage taking."

Expressed that,"another of my Bills providing amendment to The Coastal and Inland Shipping (CABOTAGE) Act 2003 to include oil rigs as a vessel under the definition of the word vessel according to the Act also passed first reading on the floor of the House of Representatives". Adding, Thus, this will increase revenue generation to Government. He stated.

2023: Atiku soothe S'south with VP, Petroleum Minister, as PDP anoints Oyinlola as Secondus' replacement

By Dansu Peter 

The 2023 may be said to be far, but but political gladiators in the country have begun the master game as a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has reportedly promised to either pick his running mate or concede the Petroleum Minister slot to the oil-rich geopolitical zone of Nigeria, the Southsouth. 

A top-level source, according THEWILL Newspaper confided that the former Vice-President schemed this as part of his strategies to to canvas support of the zone ahead of the Presidential election by 2023. 

Our source said it was not clear whether he was deferring to the Wike group that has become too assertive for comfort in the party or playing brinkmanship, following the hazy political signals coming from the South-East where the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to fish for defectors from the PDP amid crises fueled by separatists and secessionists.

The PDP, Nigeria's strongest opposition party is believed to have resolved to zone its party Presidential candidate to the North. 

The PDP, Nigeria's strongest opposition party is believed to have resolved to zone its party Presidential candidate to the North. 

Meanwhile, Our source, THEWILL has also reported that the PDP has resolved and unanimously settled for a former Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman, ahead of the main opposition’s October 30 National Convention.

According to the report, Oyinlola was chosen after key interest groups in the party, including state governors agreed to sink their differences, following negotiations and the politician’s national appeal. His emergence came on the heels of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC} of the party held in Abuja last Thursday, which effectively sealed the fate of the embattled Secondus.

Recall that six days earlier, a High Court in Kebbi State had vacated an earlier relief granted Secondus, which had reinstated him as party chairman.

The judge, Nusirat Umar, said the counsel to Secondus intentionally hid crucial facts on the matter, which led her to grant the exparte order in a suit marked KB/AC/M.170/2021 that restored him as party chairman.

In cancelling her earlier ruling, she said, “I also agree that the claimants’/ respondents’ counsel failed to disclose to the court the true subject matter of this matter, namely the suspension of the first defendant, Prince Uche Secondus, from the membership of the second defendant (Peoples Democratic Party) by Ward 5, Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers state.”

While that ward suspension order is still a subject of litigation, party stakeholders agreed to anoint Oyinlola in order to end the two-month long crisis that had pitched Secondus against a powerful group backed by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Oyinlola, a staunch ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was chosen by the PDP Governors to lead the party into the 2023 general elections.

Having found his way back to the party after a standoff, during which he publicly tore his registration card in a fit of temper in the heat of the anti-President Goodluck Jonathan campaign in 2015 and tried without success to form a Pan-Nigerian political group in 2018 before burying his quarrel with his erstwhile deputy, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and supported his 2019 presidential bid, Obasanjo, with Oyinlola’s emergence, will become even more powerful within the party. Atiku, who is still eyeing the 2023 presidency, cherishes his reconciliation with his former boss and for that reason, readily supported Oyinlola’s candidacy.

Oyinlola, a retired Brigadier-General, also enjoys the support of former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and Lieutenant-General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, a former military top brass, as well as former President of the Senate, David Mark.

According to sources in the party, Oyinlola’s wide support base would make it hard for any one group within the party to control him. This consensus of support has put him ahead of other aspirants for the position of national chairman, namely a former governorship candidate of the party in the recent Ondo State governorship election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN and a former military governor of old Ondo State, Chief Bode George. “Oyinlola is the candidate to beat for the position of national chairman, come October 30,”said a competent party source.

Credit: THEWILL