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Tinubu: No going back on tax reforms

Published

1 year ago

December 24, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

Media free to access single-digit loan - Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu has said there is no going back on the tax reforms bills.

Tinubu, who stated this during a media chat in Lagos on Monday, said the tax reforms were necessitated by the need to eliminate colonial-based assumptions in the nation’s tax environment.

The Presidential Media Chat, Tinubu’s first, was aired on the Nigerian Television Authority and other television channels Monday night.

The tax reforms have sparked controversy across the country, forcing the House of Representatives to suspend indefinitely the debate on the bills earlier fixed for December 3 following mounting pressure from the 19 northern states governors.

The planned debate was called off after 73 northern lawmakers kicked against the bills.

However, while the reforms have garnered support in the South as steps toward equitable resource distribution, stakeholders says resistance from the North reflects fears of marginalisation and economic disadvantage.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, was quoted in an interview with BBC as saying, “Why the rush? The Petroleum Industry Bill took almost 20 years before it was finally passed. But this tax reform bill is being transmitted and receiving legislative attention within a week. It should be treated carefully and with caution so that even after our exit, our children will reap its benefits.

“We condemn these bills sent to the National Assembly. They will drag the North backwards and also affect the South East, South West, and some South-Western states like Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo.”

President Tinubu had on September 3, 2024 transmitted four tax reforms bills to the National Assembly for consideration following the recommendations of the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms.

The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which aims to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.

Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, expected to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service as well as the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.

On October 29, 2024, the Northern Governors Forum, the umbrella body comprising the 19 governors of the region, kicked against the bill, particularly the Value Added Tax-sharing template.

At a gathering in Kaduna, the governors directed federal lawmakers from their respective states to vote against the bills when they came up for debate in both chambers of the National Assembly.

Two days later, the National Economic Council presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima advised the Federal Government to withdraw the bills to create room for broader consultations among critical stakeholders, a counsel turned down by the President in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

But the President during the media chat held at his Bourdillon residence in the highbrow Ikoyi area of Lagos, stressed that tax reforms was pro-poor and aimed at widening the tax net, noting that it was typical for tax reforms to be accompanied by outcries.

He said, “Tax reform is here to say. We cannot just continue to do what we were doing yesteryears in today’s economy. We cannot retool this economy with the old broken tools. The essence of the tax reform is to eliminate colonial-based assumptions in our tax environment. Every tax situation without outcry is not a tax.

“You cannot satisfy uniformly the larger community of tax evaders. This tax reform is pro-poor; the vulnerable are not to pay taxes. All we are asking for is to widen the tax net and bake the cake larger so that we can share a larger meal.

“They will still ask for this consultation no matter how long I delay it. The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it has to be done. That is my philosophy.”

The President added that he was not ready to shrink his cabinet, saying all his appointees were adding value.

Declaring that Nigeria was a large country that needed a lot of hands, he said his appointees had specific assignments and what was imperative was efficiency and effectiveness.

Tinubu said his plan in the 2025 budget proposal to reduce inflation from 34 per cent to 15 per cent would be realised by boosting local production and reducing imports.

“If one produces more for consumption locally, stop imports, give a reasonable level of funding and assistance, the low interest rate to farmers, improve the security as you see in the budget so that they can return to their farms and produce more food, encourage the procurement and manufacturing of drugs in Nigeria, we have what it takes.

“Talk to Professor (Ali) Pate, he is doing an excellent job trying to encourage. All I need to do is put the incentive in place in order for them to harness what is possible in Nigeria. It is about time we do all of those. Bring the cost of governance down,” he explained.

On the recent stampedes, Tinubu blamed organisers of the various events in Ibadan, Abuja and Okija, where a total of 67 people, including 35 children, died in their rush for palliatives.

His comments follow a wave of stampedes as people scampered for food items made available by charitable groups and individuals.

In Okija, Anambra State, what was meant to be a Christmas palliative distribution on Saturday turned tragic when 22 persons lost their lives, with several others injured, during an early morning stampede.

The same day in Abuja, another tragedy struck when 10 persons died during an annual Christmas food-sharing event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.

These incidents followed Wednesday’s stampede at the Islamic High School, Basorun, in Ibadan, Oyo State, where several children lost their lives during a holiday funfair celebration, with others rushed to the University College Hospital for medical attention.

“To me, I see this as a very grave error on the part of the organisers,” he said.

“Are we looking at it from the organisers point of view or from the goodwill gesture of the people trying to give what they have as extra?

“Sadly, people are not very well organised, we just have to be more disciplined in our society. Condolences to those who lost family members, but it is good to give. I have been giving out food stuff and commodities, including envelopes in Bourdillion for the past 25 years; I have never experienced this kind of incident because we are organised and prone to discipline.

“If you don’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to give or publicise it. Every society has food banks and hungry people. They are organised; they take tokens to be in line and take turns to collect. It is unfortunate. It is reflected at our bus stops, we don’t want to queue, so we rush to board vehicles. We continue to learn from our mistakes.”

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Tinubu names Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of Foreign Affairs

Published

9 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs

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…Nominates Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs after the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who is reportedly preparing for a political move ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The President also forwarded the name of Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye for appointment as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending approval by the Senate.

The appointments were disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, the reshuffle is aimed at improving Nigeria’s diplomatic strategy and ensuring that the country’s foreign policy supports the administration’s economic agenda more effectively.

“These adjustments are part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships,” the statement read.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who previously served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and has years of diplomatic experience, is expected to oversee Nigeria’s international relations as the government intensifies focus on economic diplomacy, regional peace, and wider global partnerships.

The presidency highlighted her long-standing involvement in global affairs, stating:

“Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu brings decades of diplomatic experience and a deep understanding of Nigeria’s engagement with the global community,” the statement read.

Enikanolaiye, a seasoned career diplomat, had earlier worked as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.

He has represented Nigeria in several cities around the world, including Addis Ababa, London, Ottawa, Belgrade, and New Delhi.

The statement noted that his nomination is expected to strengthen institutional continuity within the foreign service.

“Ambassador Enikanolaiye’s extensive experience across multiple diplomatic missions will support Nigeria’s evolving foreign policy objectives,” the statement added.

President Tinubu congratulated the two diplomats and urged them to place national interest at the forefront while promoting economic diplomacy and improving the welfare of Nigerians living abroad.

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Awka blacksmiths lament neglect by Govt, indigenes

Published

9 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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….Call for establishment of Uzu Oka Centre (Awka Blacksmiths Centre)

For generations, the rhythmic clang of hammers in Awka was the heartbeat of a craft that could mold iron into anything the mind could imagine. But today, that sound is fading into a bitter silenceIn the heart of Anambra State, the legendary Awka blacksmiths, men who once held the secrets of spiritual and technical mastery, feel like relics in their own home. After decades of being used as “local colour” for TV cameras and being bypassed by a government that praises their history but ignores their hunger, the masters of the forge have had enough.

Behind the soot and the charcoal, this isn’t just a story about failing industry; it is about the wounded pride of craftsmen who have watched their legacy being exploited for research and “culture” while they remain in the shadows. From the chairman who started at age nine, to the elders who now charge for their stories to protect what’s left of their dignity, the Uzu Awka are staging a quiet, desperate rebellion to save an ancient art from becoming a ghost

The chairman of Awka Blacksmiths Association, Obiorah Okafor, agreed that they are not encouraged by the government or organisations to better their skills.

Okafor described the blacksmiths’ organisation as a spiritual body, with the members well grounded in tradition, lamented government and their people’s neglect of blacksmith, which Awka is known for.

Okafor said that due to the unfair treatment and neglect, they decided to charge those who seek information about Uzu Awka, (Awka blacksmithing) N50,000. He explained that they took the decision because they have been deceived for too long by people who tapped their knowledge for personal gain.

“I have been here for over 40 years and have been the chairman for over 25 years. Uzu Awka is spiritual, and those involved in it are linked with tradition. There was an attempt to move it from its present location to Umuokpu Awka, but the spirit behind Uzu Awka resisted it. The then local government chairman, who tried to relocate it to create more space for the present Odera market, experienced the danger of his action and was forced to return it to its original place. He thereafter fenced the place, but we had to remove part of the fence so that people would see what we do here,” Okafor said, stressing the link between the craft and tradition.

The association calls on the government of Uzu Oka Center, where everything pertaining to the Awka blacksmiths will be located.

“We now charge anyone who seeks information from us N50,000, whether you are a TV station or a newspaper house, because we believe people are using the information we give them to make money from investors, while we are here suffering. The oldest man in Awka is our member, and those seeking information from us can only speak with him after payment of N50,000.

“If you don’t pay, you don’t get information from us. A television station came here, and when we asked them to pay, they refused and started filming our shops from a distance, only for the camera to crash immediately,” Okafor added.

Reminded that the information they provide could be an advantage to them as investors will become aware of their needs, the chairman said they no longer care.

Essentially, the blacksmiths make metallic musical instruments (gongs), iron pots, and other items, with customers coming from different states to place orders. Okafor’s greatest worry is that prominent people in Awka have not been supporting blacksmiths, but only attach the prefix, Uzu to their names.

According to Okafor, people come to learn blacksmithing, after which they go to other towns to practise. In fact, SEV sighted many youths at the blacksmith center beside the popular Odera market in the heart of the state capital, taking directives from the chairman. A first-time visitor would think that nothing much is happening there, but a lot is, indeed, happening, and money is exchanging hands, despite the unkept nature of the cente

“There are stringent rules governing blacksmith business, the most important being that guns are no longer made there.

It used to be the major product, but was stopped after the Nigerian civil war to control arms circulation in this part of the country”, Okafor explained.

He said that because the government has neglected them, they therefore look at anyone who comes to make inquiries about their trade with suspicion. Blacksmith used to be somewhat exclusive to Awka people, but things have changed as not only Awka people are in it currently.

Many people in the business say they are still in the trade because they could not find an alternative job to do. The place where the blacksmiths occupy in Awka used to be a beehive of activities, and customers used to come from many parts of the country and even beyond to buy short guns that were synonymous with Awka. However, after the Nigerian civil war, production of guns, the most lucrative of all products manufactured by the blacksmiths in Awka, became illegal, such that security operatives were often carrying out raids in the area. Out of fear, many of them withdrew and learnt other trades.

Over the years, however, those who endured adjusted and concentrated on making items other than guns. But gradually, many of them began to lose interest in the job and finally withdrew. When SEV visited the blacksmith center in the heart of Awka in 2019, not more than 20 people were seen, and most of them were men above 60 years old. The only young people among them were apprentices from other parts of Anambra, as well as Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. However, during a recent visit, many youths were seen, with the chairman explaining that many of them have discovered that the blacksmith business is very lucrative.

at the center were the traditional blacksmith tools like tongs, anvils, chisels, a hammer, and charcoal. Even as ramshackle as the center looks, it was gathered that many tertiary institutions use it for their scientific research. Though there is modern-day form of blacksmith, the Awka blacksmiths still use the traditional tools due to a lack of financial support to acquire modern equipment.

Because of what they described as their ugly experiences with some people who pretended to connect them with the government for assistance, the blacksmiths decided to take their destiny into their own hands by registering Awka Blacksmiths Association with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, as a rallying organisation to protect their interests.

As it stands , only the chairman of the association, Mr. Obiorah Okafor, is permitted to speak for the blacksmiths because they have become disenchanted with people coming to ask them questions about the Awka blacksmith.

Okafor, whose late father introduced him into the business at the age of nine, said the most worrisome aspect of their plight was that all those who came in the name of helping them to modernize the business were only there for their personal interests.

He said: “Before the civil war, blacksmithing was a thriving business in Awka, and buyers were coming for the popular Awka short gun. But after the war, there was an embargo on the manufacturing of guns, and we concentrated on making other items

“Unfortunately, subsequent governments have not been helping us. Some people would come and claim that they would connect us with the government, not knowing that they were only concerned with their own pockets. It was because of that experience that we decided to register the association. Even after the registration, the help did not come.”

Okafor said that because of blacksmith, Awka was a big market in the old Eastern region because of the products such as gongs, guns, hoes, machetes, keys, pots, among other items, adding that if the right support had been received, blacksmith would have been a big industry in Nigeria. He regretted that many of the items are no longer produced because of a lack of encouragement.

“After the war, government officials started harassing us because they alleged that we were making guns for armed robbers. We then concentrated on making other items, expecting that the government would come to our assistance. Unfortunately, no assistance has come. Now, youths are not interested in learning and continuing this profession, which Awka is known for. After our generation, there will be no one to take over from us.

“At one time, someone promised to assist us, and he suggested that we should mount an exhibition to let the world know what we are doing. We held several meetings with him, and after the exhibition, he didn’t get back to us. We later discovered that his intention was to take over our business and convert all of us to his workers, which we objected to. That is why we have decided not to allow people to come here and ask us questions or to take photographs. We are used to seeing ourselves on television, but that is where it ends.

“Even our traditional ruler is known as Eze Uzu, which is a title derived from blacksmith, but he has not been here to see how blacksmithing works

The other one that holds the title of Uzu Awka is priding himself that he is from Awka, but he has not been here also and has not done anything to encourage us, he stated.”

Okafor said that although he learnt the blacksmith business from his father, who was very proud that his son took over from him, he does not pray that his son will come here because there is no encouragement. But he admitted that there is a ready market for their products, adding that they do not even meet the demands of their customers.

Despite the complaints and difficulties associated with the business, some of the blacksmiths said they cannot fit into any other trade. “As their chairman”, Okafor said, “I started this from my childhood, and I have done it for more than 45 years. It is a lucrative venture. For instance, it is from this blacksmith that I got married, built a three-storey house, bought cars, and trained my children. I have not done any other business in my life.” (Vanguard)

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Supreme Court fixes Thursday for judgement on ADC leadership dispute

Published

10 hours ago

April 29, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

FJSC nominates 22 Justices for Supreme Court Bench

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The Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, April 30, for judgment in the leadership dispute rocking the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).The apex court had reserved judgement in the case, prompting the opposition party to petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) that time was not on its side.

However, on Wednesday, the apex court announced that the judgement would be delivered by 2pm, on Thursday.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, had fixed the matter for judgment after parties adopted their final written addresses.

Mark, who leads a faction of the party, is challenging the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered parties to maintain the status quo in the dispute.

In his appeal, the former Senate President argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction and insisted that the crisis bordered on internal party affairs, which courts lack powers to adjudicate.

The suit was initiated by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership of the party.

Other respondents in the appeal include the ADC, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and a former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Mark is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership other than his faction, pending the determination of the appeal.

However, the respondents urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal, maintaining that the lower court was properly seized of the matter.

In a letter dated April 28, 2026 and signed by Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, ADC counsel, the Mark-led faction said if the judgment of the apex court is not delivered within the next three days, the ADC “stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Election”.

The Mark-led faction said the development would deny the constitutional right of millions of Nigerians to contest the elections under the platform of the party.

“My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court,” the letter reads.

“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously having regard that INEC the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in

“Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment even though the ADC remains a recognized registered political party in Nigeria.

“My Lord, we also respectfully draw Your Lordship’s attention to the INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced.

“Your Lordship’s would find attached copies of the INEC Press Release de-recognizing the leadership of ADC and the Revised INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections.

“My Lord, the ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 General Elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant Appeal.

“Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Elections.

“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.

“My Lord, we are mindful of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this Honourable Court. We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied. The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance.”