Connect with us

News

We’ve no reason to impeach Akpabio – Senate Leader

Published

on

Senate passes 2024 budget, raises appropriation by N1.2tn
Spread the love

*** Says Orji Kalu was quoted out of context

The Senate has said that there were no moves anywhere to impeach the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, saying that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission, SEDC, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, APC, Abia North, was quoted out of context.

Recall that during an interview with journalists on Tuesday at the National Assembly, when asked about initial moves to impeach the Senate President, Senator Kalu dismissed the tension as a “family misunderstanding”, insisting that lawmakers remain united in supporting the leadership and the national agenda.

“There were attempts, but we didn’t allow that to happen. We are one big family, and it’s not going to happen,” he assured.

Denying the report on the planned sack of Akpabio, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, said, “Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate by one of our colleagues, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and Your Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, sitting as President of the Senate, called my attention to this, and one of us tried to speak with His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and he eventually returned the call. And from my discussions with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, it was obvious to me that it was quoted out of context.

“And the reason I’m standing up to make this clarification is that there was no attempt by any of our colleagues here; there was, in fact, no discussion around the possibility or otherwise of the removal of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate.

Maduka College Advert

“We are not taking this misinformation for granted because we know that at this time it’s not only that we are all united behind the leadership of His Excellency Senator Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate, but we are also developing a zero level of tolerance to distraction because there are very urgent issues of public importance that we need to attend to in this Senate, and we are trying to ensure that we prevent any form of distraction, and such a report like that was aimed at also causing distraction and also trying to create confusion in the minds of members of the public.

“We are totally united in this Senate, and there is no tension in this Senate, and as far as we are concerned, you know there is no reason for us to begin to contemplate the removal of any of our presiding officers.

“So I just wanted to state this for the record, Mr President.”

Responding, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North, who presided, said, “Thank you, our capacity leader, for this clarification. All and sundry should please take note.”

News

FG slashes interest rate on late tax payment

Published

on

Spread the love

The Federal Government (FG) has reduced the penalty interest rate for late settlement of tax liabilities, with the new regime taking effect from October 1, 2026.

Under the new arrangement, interest on tax liabilities payable in naira will be pegged to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) plus one percentage point, down from the previous five-percentage-point penalty.

The measure is contained in the Nigeria Tax Administration (Interest on Late Payment of Tax) Order, 2026, issued yesterday by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, pursuant to Section 65 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.

According to the minister, the new Order will apply uniformly to taxpayers dealing with federal, state and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) tax authorities.

However, the applicable interest rate on naira-denominated tax liabilities will not fall below the yield on 364-day Treasury Bills, reflecting the Federal Government’s cost of borrowing when tax payments are delayed.

Maduka College Advert

For tax liabilities payable in foreign currencies, interest will be charged at the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus six percentage points.

The Order further provides that where SOFR is discontinued, its officially designated successor rate will apply.

Explaining the rationale for the new regime, Oyedele said the objective was to align the cost of late tax payments more closely with prevailing market conditions while providing taxpayers with greater certainty about their obligations.

“Tax that is due belongs to the public. When it is paid late, Government may have to borrow to fill the gap, and the cost falls on everyone.

“This Order ties the cost of late payment to real market rates, so that delaying tax does not become a cheaper form of credit than the market itself,” he stated.

Continue Reading

News

APC wins all Chairmanship, Councillorship seats in Enugu

Published

on

Spread the love

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all chairmanship and Councillorship seats contested in the Sept. 26 Local Government Election in Enugu State.

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) conducted election into the 17 Chairmanship and 260 Ward Councillorship positions in the state on Saturday.

Declaring the election results at the ENSIEC headquarters in Enugu on Sunday, the Chairman of the Commission, Prof Christian Ngwu, said that the election was free and fair.

Ngwu said that the election was conducted according to rules guiding the Commission, and “subsequently, we are issuing the winners with certificate of returns.”

Speaking after collecting his certificate of return, Chairman of Enugu South Local Government Area, Chief Caleb Ani, attributed the landslide victory of the candidates of APC to the massive developmental works of Gov. Peter Mbah.

Maduka College Advert

Ani urged the residents of the state to vote for Mbah en masse in the forthcoming 2027 General Election to continue the good works.

“Gov. Mbah has done well in all ramifications, this is partly while the APC candidates won overwhelmingly.

“I urge the people to vote for him, come 2027 General Elections so that he will continue with his good works and do more,” he said.

Reacting, the APC Chairman in Enugu State, Dr Martin Chukwunweike, said that the resounding victory at the polls indicated the dominance of the national ruling party, APC, in the state.

“We will not rest as we push the developmental efforts of President Bola Tinubu and our amiable governor, His Excellency Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for the world to see.

“Tinubu, Mbah and all the APC candidates will be reelected in 2027 as they have performed exceptionally well in the past three years,” he said.

In the numerical figures of the results pronounced, APC chairmanship candidates won with margins while the opposition parties trailed behind with minimal votes.

For instance, in Udenu, Igbo-Eze North and Igbo-Eze South local Government Areas respectively, the APC chairmen elect secured virtually the whole votes cast.

Continue Reading

News

‘Where is Nigeria’s president?’, Peter Obi questions Tinubu’s absence from UNGA

Published

on

Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu
Spread the love

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, contrasting it with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama’s participation in the global gathering.

Obi raised the question in a post on his Facebook page while commenting on Mahama’s address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Mahama attended the UNGA and delivered Ghana’s national statement, where he addressed issues including global governance, Africa’s representation in international institutions and Ghana’s economic recovery.

Obi described the Ghanaian president’s address as “remarkable,” saying it demonstrated what leadership could achieve when competence, capacity, compassion, commitment and character were brought together in the service of a nation.

He subsequently asked why the president of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, was not personally present at the gathering.

Maduka College Advert

“Where is the President of Africa’s most populous nation, a country of more than 200 million people – more than Ghana – whose leader has been absent from the global stage for three consecutive UNGAs?” Obi asked.

The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s president ought to be representing the country and providing leadership for Africa at the international level, particularly at a time he said the country was facing significant domestic and international challenges.

Although Vice President Kashim Shettima is representing Nigeria at the 81st UNGA and leading the country’s delegation, Obi said his presence did not answer the question of the president’s absence.

“Although our Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was present, the question remains: Where is the President?” he wrote.

The Federal Government has said President Tinubu mandated Shettima to represent him at the UNGA and lead Nigeria’s delegation, with the Vice President authorised to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements.

Shettima’s participation included meetings and engagements focused on Nigeria’s priorities and strengthening the country’s role in multilateral cooperation.

Obi, however, urged Nigerians to continue praying for the President’s return and for his leadership in addressing the challenges confronting the country.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert