₦airaland Forum

As part of measures to plug leakages in the federal civil service and reduce overhead, government is considering staff reduction across the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed dropped the hint in Abuja, yesterday, while fielding questions from stakeholders during a public presentation of the 2022 federal government’s budget proposal.

On ways the government plans to reduce rising overheads and personnel cost across MDAs, Ahmed said that a committee was working on the proposal.

She observed that reducing the size of government has become necessary in view of the bloated size of the recurrent expenditure annually.

Emphatically, she said, staff of the federal government will lose their jobs when government merges their agencies with others.

According to her, the mode of reducing the workforce will not entirely align with the Stephen Oronsanya’s report but would be based on the committee’s recommendation.

Already, government, she said, is working on an “exit package” to be paid to those that will be affected.

“There is a special committee led by the SGF that is working on the review of agencies with a view to collapsing them partly using the Oransanya report. At the end of it what we want to do is to reduce the size of government and also to reduce the size of personnel cost and part of it will be designing the exit packages that are realistic”.

“We are revenue challenged. So, everything we do we can’t put an exit package if you are not willing to cash it immediately. So, when you are asking people to exit by choice you must be able to give them that package as they’re exiting.

“There are so many things that are happening. These are not easy decisions to make because they affect people and families. So, you have to make sure that whatever we commit to we are actually going to deliver on it” she said.

She noted that President Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 2021 signed N17.1 trillion 2022 budget despite what he called worrisome changes (insertion of about 6,000 new projects) effected in the budget by the National Assembly.

The minister said 2022 Budget seeks to continue the reflationary policies of the 2020 and 2021 budgets, which helped put the economy back on the path of
recovery and growth.

“The 2022 Budget was prepared taking into consideration the
policies/strategies contained in the 2022–2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP). The Budget was prepared using the Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) approach and in line with the government’s development priorities, as articulated in
the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025. Allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were guided
by the core objectives of the NDP 2021 – 25”, she said.

Giving an overview of federal government’s aggravated expenditure which is (inclusive of government-owned enterprises (GOEs) and project-tied loans)
projected at N17.13 trillion, she said that the figure is 18 per cent higher than the 2021 Budget .

It has recurrent (non-debt) spending of N6.91trillon, which is 40 per cent of total expenditure and 20 per cent higher than the 2021 Budget. It has aggregate capital expenditure of N5.96trillion , refecting 35 per cent of total expenditure.

The provision is inclusive of capital component of statutory transfers, GOEs Capital and Project-tied loans expenditures.

At N3.61trillion, debt service is 21% of total expenditure, and 34% of total revenues. There is provision to retire maturing bonds to local contractors / suppliers of N270.71 billion is 1.6% of total expenditure.

“This provision is in line with the FGN’s commitment to
offset accumulated arrears of contractual obligations dating back over a decade.

“2022 Budget has overall budget deficit of N6.39 trillion. This represents 3.46% of GDP. Budget deficit is to be financed mainly by borrowings: domestic sources: N2.57 trillion, foreign sources N2.57 trillion;
multi-lateral /bi-lateral loan drawdown, N1.16 trillion and privatisation proceeds N90.7 billion.

Ahmed justified government’s borrowing which she was necessitated by the revenue challenges adding that the borrowings were within the threshold limit.

“This is to restate that the debt level of the Federal Government is still within sustainable limits. Borrowings are essentially for capital expenditure and human
development, as specified in Section 41(1)a of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

Having witnessed two economic recessions we have had to spend our way out of recession, which contributed significantly to the growth in the public debt. It is unlikely that our recovery from each of the two recessions would have been as fast without the sustained government expenditure funded partly by debt”, she said.

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Following the botched attempt by some unruly inmates at the Ile-Ife Custodial Centre to breach the security of the facility, the Federal Government has again disclosed of its readiness to use maximum force to resist such attacks.

It said as the last organ of government in the line of justice administration in Nigeria, the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS has the mandate to ensure that crime suspects and hardened criminals are not inappropriately released into the society.

“Nababa noted with satisfaction, the manner in which the attempted jailbreak was promptly controlled thus preventing what would have resulted in the escape of hardened criminals to further complicate the security situation in the society.

“The CG charged the officers of the Command not to relent in ensuring that peace and calm in all custodial centres in the state are not compromised”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Corrections boss has ordered detailed investigation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the disturbance.

He also thanked officers and men of sister security agencies for their prompt response in giving backup to the personnel on guard duty.

“While expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost dear lives in the unfortunate incident, he wishes to once again remind the public that the Nigerian Correctional Service remains the last organ of government in the line of justice administration in Nigeria.

“Therefore, it is determined to resist any attempt, whether internally generated or externally motivated to compromise the sanctity of custodial centres in the Country and this will be carried out with maximum force where necessary.

“The public is assured of the continuous care and support for the reformation and general welfare of inmates which is a core mandate of the Service”, the statement added.

The federal government says non-resident companies (NRC) are mandated to remit 6% of turnover from digital services provided to Nigerian customers.

An NRC is a company not registered or incorporated in Nigeria but makes profits or income from Nigeria. They include Amazon, AliExpress, Twitter, Zoom Inc. and others.

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, said this on Wednesday during the public presentation of the 2022 approved budget held in Abuja.

TheCable had reported that the Finance Act empowers the FIRS to assess and charge on the turnover of the digital companies transmitting or operating in the country.

The minister said that the new tax is stated in the Finance Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 2021.

The minister said that section 4 of the Act made provisions for the taxation of e-commerce businesses by non-resident companies on a fair and reasonable turnover basis, set at 6% of turnover.

“This provision empowers FIRS to access non-resident firms to tax on Fair and Reasonable Turnover Tax Basis on turnover earned from digital services provided to Nigerian customers,” she said.

According to Ahmed, digital services include those provided through apps, trading platforms, online ads etc.

“Let me just note that such digital services include apps, high-frequency trading, electronic data storage, online advertising and several others,” she added.

“The rationale for this is to modernise the taxation of ICT and digital economy in line with current realities, and this is in conformity with the provisions of the national development plan of 2021.”

The minister said that digital NRCs are obliged, in the Finance Act, to collect VAT from their Nigerian customers and remit to the FIRS.

“At section 30 of the Finance Act, designed to amend section 10 of VAT as well as section 31 and 14 of VAT, is in relation to VAT obligations of digital non-resident companies,” she said.

“The mechanism that will be used is to restrict VAT obligations mainly to digital non-resident companies who supply individuals in Nigeria, who cannot themselves self-account for VAT.

“If you visit Amazon, we are expecting Amazon to add a VAT charge to whatever transaction you are paying.

“I am using Amazon as an example. We are going to be working with Amazon to agree to be registered as a tax agent for the FIRS.

“So Amazon will now collect this payment and remit to FIRS, and this is in line with global best practice.

“We have been missing out on these revenue streams.”

She said the Finance Act also considers reducing tax compliance orders on non-resident taxpayers who are not required to register for VAT in Nigeria.

“So they don’t really have to come and be registered companies in Nigeria.

“All they need is that arrangement with FIRS where they collect VAT on behalf of FIRS and remit to FIRS.

“And also, to clarify, that FIRS may appoint persons including non-resident companies for the purpose of VAT collection and to clarify again that appointed persons may collect and remit taxes to FIRS, pursuant to the relevant tax laws.

“The core rationale for this is to modernise the taxation of ICT and digital economy in line with the National Development Plan 2021-2025, to enhance administrative modalities for the taxation of non-resident taxpayers and also to reduce incompliance by non-resident payers to reduce the compliance burden.”


Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has described the birth of the Amotekun Corps in the state as timely, stressing that the move has made the state to be adjudged the most peaceful state in the country.

According to the governor, no state can be termed as healthy if the security of lives and property of the citizens is prioritised.

While emphasising that one of the parameters to measure a healthiness of a state is it security situation, Akeredolu said the Amotekun Corps has performed creditably well.

The governor stated this on Tuesday at the Annual General Prayer Meeting with public servants for the first working day in the year 2022, held at the Governor’s Office premises, Akure, the state capital.

While commending other security agencies in the state for their efforts at sustaining peace in the state, he said Amotekun Corps was been put in place to complement their efforts.

“We salute the military, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and other paramilitary agencies for their efforts in sustaining the peace in our State. Let me reiterate for the umpteenth time that the Amotekun Corps has been put in place to complement their efforts.

“It goes without saying that the successes and comportment of the Corps have demonstrated that the State Government had made no mistake in setting it up. It has equally helped to take several of our employable youths off the unemployment market.”

DubaiLandLord:
Where is your evidence

Anigreat:



Stupid woman.

I don't know what give this women the impunity to do all these? Your husband cheat and so?

What if he choose to man the woman he cheated on, what will you do?

Real African men do not settled with one woman. We sample different kinds of pussy before going to the grave.


Even Solomon with his abundance wisdom, kept several wives and concubines for sexual pleasure, so why shouldn't I.

Dem never born that wife were go this in my car yet.

The rift between Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is likely to affect the “rumoured” presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said this in a statement Monday by his director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.

He said the rift had become a major embarrassment to Muslim leaders in the South West while Muslim youths were also entertaining fears over it.

Akintola asked the governor and the minister to resolve their misunderstanding within seven days.

He said MURIC decided to wade into the squabble because Muslims in the South West would be the worst hit if the rift was allowed to continue ad infinitum.

He said the face-off “is likely to affect the fortunes of both Aregbesola and Oyetola in the coming gubernatorial election in Osun State this year although they may not acknowledge this fact now as both gladiators are still grandstanding.

“It is also likely to ricochet on the rumoured presidential ambition of their principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A divided camp cannot fight on one front. Neither can it speak with one voice.”

He called the Aregbesola and Oyetola’s attention to the hadith of Prophet Muhammad that two Muslims should not engage in a quarrel beyond three days. “The one who first extends greetings to the other is the better Muslim.”

99thEnemy:
InterSexsherry na hermaphrodite S-he will not disappoint you.

Omooba77:
We are not only fantastically corrupt, we are hypocritical un repentant and defenders of evil.....

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has met with Southsouth leaders coordinating his alleged return to the Presidency in 2023.

It was gathered that the meeting was held on December 27, 2021, at Aridolf Hotels and Spars in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

A source, whose political associate attended the gathering, said it was shortly after Dr. Jonathan visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja last Thursday.

The Nation had reported last year that some Northern All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were plotting Jonathan’s return to the Presidency to assuage the South and enable the North to return to power after four years.

Jonathan’s political associate, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, formed the South-South Presidency 2023 and had held consultative meetings with stakeholders.

Though the activities of the group ebbed following lack of funding, a source said they would soon resume their campaigns.

Our source, said the governors of two Northwest states are championing the plot. He added that the scheme was part of the reasons a minister from the Southsouth spoke recently against the then administration of Jonathan.

He said: “The coordinators of the group plotting for Jonathan to return to Aso Rock in 2023 met recently with Jonathan at his wife’s Aridolf Hotels and Spars.

“The chairman of the group, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, and other Southsouth coordinators were present at the meeting. Jonathan indicated an interest in their campaign and asked them to return to their different states to continue with their campaign.

“This plot has been kept active by two governors from the Northwest, who are plotting for a strong APC Northern governor to become Jonathan’s running mate.

“There is also a plan to reconcile Jonathan with the Southsouth minister.

Governor Hope Uzodimma will use the occasion of the sixth edition of Imo stakeholders forum scheduled to hold on Tuesday to name those who are sponsors and financiers of insecurity in the state.

Imo Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, stated this in a statement on Sunday.

Emelumba said the Imo government is in possession of evidence of the involvement of those responsible for the carnage in the state in recent times.

The Commissioner added that Governor Uzodimma will also use the forum to update the people of the state on his performance in the last two years.

According to him, the stakeholders meeting/luncheon will hold on Tuesday at the Government House at noon at the Ahiajoku Convention Centre, Owerri.

Emelumba who said the meeting, the sixth in the series, is very crucial because of the weighty issues up for discussion and all those invited should be punctual.

Kyase:
omo Onitsha fine oooo, i remember when i visit one short devil for there, menh where i go burst my head, i no fit remember the name again sef

beebeeooh when you go invite us come na

NOETHNICITY:
Can you say this to the face of a police officer

Kyase:
lol because sport no favour again ba

me sha na sports section make sense pass, i don go break for politics, i no want any negative vibe this year

Kyase:
comrade i no see you for sport section, hope you are good
abi you still never learn english finish