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 Politics › Baba Suwe Gets Conditional Bail by Sunofgod(op): 7:10pm On Nov 01, 2011 |
By Akinwale Akintunde An Ikeja High court Tuesday ordered the release of Nollywood comedian, Mr Babatunde Omidina aka Baba Suwe if by Friday, November 4, he fails to excrete any substance that is in compliance in nature with narcotics as alleged by the National Drug Law Enforcement agency (NDLEA) Justice Yetunde Idowu granted him a conditional bail of N500, 000 after the elapse of the detention order granted the NDLEA by the federal High court in Lagos. Part of the bail condition is one surety in like sum with an order that the surety’s status and address must be verified by the Chief registrar of the court. She also directed that Baba Suwe’s international passport, currently with the NDLEA, must be deposited with the Chief registrar’s office pending the determination of the substantive suit However, while reading her ruling, Justice Idowu reiterated the fact that the liberty of the applicant has been grossly violated. There is no order superior to the constitution. “He is due for immediate release. I am going to grant him bail and if there is a development, you should inform the court,” she said. The applicant was brought by the agency in a white urvan bus with registration number FG 61 T02 and he was wearing a white foil lace and brown palm slippers The case was adjourned till Friday, November 4, 2011 for report of compliance and a date of judgement since there was no report that can clearly indicate how long it will take for the alleged substance to be excreted When the case came up for hearing, Baba Suwe told the court that he had been feeding himself because the agency’s food usually comes late as they give him breakfast by 11.00a.m but added that he has not been harassed in any way and he is allowed to use his medications regularly While addressing the court, Bamidele Aturu, counsel to Baba Suwe, told the court that the applicant’s arrest and continuous detention is illegal and against the constitution of the country, adding that the NDLEA has no solid case and has breached the fundamental rights of his client. “The case of the respondent is that the applicant was arrested at Muritala Muhammed Airport on October 12, 2011 on his way to Paris and some tests prove that he ingested some substances suspected to be narcotics. The law in Nigeria is that anybody is innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. “The law does not allow any agency to arrest people before searching for evidence, this isn’t permissible under the constitution as Sections 35 (1) (c) (4) & (5) are provisions of Constitution to be applied with. “The doctrine of substantial compliance has no place in constitutional law of Fundamental Human Rights application. The rule must be adhered to, the applicant was arrested at Muritala Muhammed Airport which is less than 10km radius of the court and till this morning, he has not been arraigned before a competent court of law “The agency did not proceed to the Federal High court procure a detention order and this is nine days after he was arrested and they have been served with the processes of this court. We submit that the period between October 12 to 21, 2011 when the order was procured is unaccounted for, the court should hold that the continuous detention of the applicant is wanton violation and a flagrant disregard of his fundamental human rights to liberty.” Aturu also added that the court needs to send a strong signal so that such will not happen again and the continuous detention of the applicant on the basis of conflicting and contradicting evidence would amount to a judicial imprimatur, asking the court to award damages as infringement of right has been proved. Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, NDLEA’s counsel in his submission told the court to oppose Baba Suwe’s application adding that he was arrested based on the fact that the machine at the airport indicated that he ingested some narcotic substances and he had been subjected to various scans which confirmed that there were some substances in his stomach He stated that the first scan which is an NCCT evaluation of the abdomen and pelvis reveals that there were multiple hyper dense nodular particles in the upper gastro-intestinal tract, consistent with large amount of drug ingestion but the nature of the drug would be ascertained by relevant laboratory investigations Oloruntoba further stated that the latest scan result shows that the foreign body is now moving down from the upper abdomen and it is a matter of time before it is excreted though he could not give the court a time frame He further submitted that the applicant’s detention was in line with the NDLEA Act, adding that they took advantage of Section 35 (5) (b) of the constitution Baba Suwe had filed an application before the court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights against the NDLEA praying the court for a declaration that his arrest and continued detention since October 12 by the agency is a gross violation of his Fundamental Human Rights He also asked that the court declare that his detention is contrary to Section 4, 5 and 6 of the African charter on human Rights, an order releasing him from detention, a N100, 000, 000 and a public apology in conspicuous pages of two national dailies. https://serving.thisdaylive.com/0bef99d6-acf5-4e2c-9779-8fa02ba3fcd4/assets/0111F03.Baba-Suwe-In-Court.jpg?maxwidth=400&maxheight=540 http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/baba-suwe-gets-conditional-bail/101810/ |
| Business › Re: Between Bankrupt States And Sovereign Wealth by Sunofgod(op): 10:49pm On Oct 31, 2011 |
Beaf:. . . and they seem also to be the ones shouting loudest for a change to the revenue sharing formula. Should 'Bankrupt States' be entitled to more? Or should they be allowed to go broke? And will financially prudent states be penalised or rewarded for their management of debt? Why has the FG not curbed 'Lags' borrowing and impoed 'Austerity Measures' that the state must abide by? |
| Business › Re: Dangote Pledges N2billion To FG by Sunofgod(m): 9:02pm On Oct 31, 2011 |
How much does this dude pay in tax? Is he tax exempt? The combination of Dangote / GEJ bring back memories of 'Fascism'. His monopolies need to be disbanded before he has the power to control the whole Nigerian market and economy. |
| Business › Re: Between Bankrupt States And Sovereign Wealth by Sunofgod(op): 8:54pm On Oct 31, 2011 |
Beaf:Thanks for that . . . . . but you have not worked out all the percentages for us -  |
| Politics › Fuel Subsidy Windfall And Jonathan's 'Credible Citizens' by Sunofgod(op): 6:59pm On Oct 31, 2011 |
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke told the international community in Australia last week that President Goodluck Jonathan has received a list of 'credible Nigerians' who would monitor and advice the administration on the use of the funds that would accrue from prospective withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products, starting sometime next year. She also said no specific date had been fixed for the commencement of the withdrawal and that consultations with Nigerians would be undertaken by before implementation of the decision. She assured the international community that withdrawing the subsidy was 'in the best interest' of Nigerians, because it would bring an end to waste and inefficiency, and channel resources instead into areas of need to accelerate development. Mrs Alison-Madueke's extensive rationalization at the Commonwealth Business Forum was clearly intended to influence international opinion over a Nigerian issue which, in the next few weeks, will capture the world's attention. It is difficult to judge whether world opinion will be swayed by the arguments of the Federal government; but in Nigeria, the effort has merely drawn more fire from organized labour. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Abdulwaheed Omar, immediately dismissed the entire content of the Minister's briefing as rationalization of criminality. He said the President's letter to the National Assembly clearly stated that the decision on removal of the subsidy would commence in January 2012. Therefore, the Minister's claim that no date had been fixed for its commencement was a ploy to demobilize the gathering campaign against it. Omar drew attention to the huge amount the Federal Government is spending on media campaigns and other manoeuvres to influence public opinion. Labour's response to the claim that the rule of law limits governments capacity to deal with fraud and corruption around the subsidy, and, ultimately, that the solution is to allow the market to determine the cost of the product is that government was rationalising criminality. Labour says it does not take military government to deal with criminality, as the Minister seemed clearly to suggest. It insists that the democratic process is quite capable of dealing with the criminality which is hinted at existing around the subsidy policy. The resort to options other than exposing and eliminating crime around the policy is therefore an admission that government is incapable of tackling deep-seated corruption. There is indeed a major link between the decision to remove subsidy and the repeated chorus that the subsidy amounts to stolen assets of the public. If the federal government is aware of large-scale fraud around the subsidy, then surely it must expose and prosecute those who are milking Nigerians of hundreds of billions in the name of the subsidy. If the problem is one of absence of sufficient transparency, no one else should be responsible for improving it than the same government which now chooses to remove the subsidy altogether instead. The bottom line is that the government's case is being poorly put, to the extent that it is built on issues it has exclusive responsibilities to deal with. Nigerians may appreciate the fact that more than 70% of them buy petroleum products at great cost; which makes nonsense of the subsidy. Many may even support its removal if they are convinced that the stolen subsidy will be better utilised for them. Many will also appreciate the fine points of an argument that while petrol, kerosene and diesel may cost more, their roads will be better, they will have more power, better hospitals and schools, and improved security of life and property. The problem is that Nigerians do not believe or trust the government. The government knows this; which is why it says it is fishing for 'credible' people outside mainstream governance to monitor what it does with the removed subsidy funds. Perhaps the Minister missed the point that the government has shot itself in the foot with this announcement. First of all, it is clearly an admission that government itself is incapable of operating with the required standards of transparency and accountability to retain the trust and faith of Nigerians. Some Nigerians will say this is the same reason why it is abolishing the subsidy policy because it has no capacity to deal with crime and other forms of corruption. Secondly, why should Nigerians trust a group of Nigerians appointed by a government which itself cannot exercise its full mandate to curb corruption and waste? The raging and unending tug-of-war between the legislature and some agencies of government such as NNPC, CBN, FIRS and Customs over revenues raised, remitted and spent will be used to question whether any agent of the federal government can operate at the required standards of openness and accountability. Thirdly, to put huge resources at the disposal of a group of Nigerians to monitor and advice on use of the funds, will create parallel structures, or redundant bureaucracies which merely drain resources and create the false impression that are they doing real work http://allafrica.com/stories/201110311203.html |
| Business › Between Bankrupt States And Sovereign Wealth by Sunofgod(op): 6:57pm On Oct 31, 2011 |
Mni — 'States are not bankrupt, but , have no money!' And that is official! So, declared the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Chairman Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, during the week. It is left for your imagination to discern between non-bankruptcy and running out of cash. Bankruptcy is a concept often associated with money, capital and industrial markets, not necessarily governance. Governor Amaechi may therefore be excused for making bankruptcy and lack of money as issues that are mutually exclusive. But that does not deny what bankruptcy is or what is not. For record purpose bankruptcy is an exit device for debtors who fail to meet debts obligations because of lack of money. One visible feature of bankruptcy is obviously lack of money. Many states may not be under receiverships or bankrupt but they are actually trillions of naira in debt; both domestic and external debts. And until there was a rule of deductions at source of federal allocations, scores of states were literarily bankrupt awaiting receiverships if they were corporate enterprises. According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owed about $2.22billion (N333.05billion) in external debts as at June, 2011, almost half of national debt building up so soon after the much celebrated debt exit of 2003. The debt stock is party-blind. Indeed it is a kind of bi-partisan indebtedness. Lagos leads with external debt of $460.742million, representing 8.54 percent of the nation's external debt; Kaduna State owes $175.433million, representing 3.25 percent, Cross River, owes $124.022million, representing 2.30percent of the nation's external debt, and third leading debtor state. The debt profile of some other states are as follows; Abia State, $34.048million, Adamawa State; $29.45million, Akwa Ibom ($70.56million); Anambra ($23.722million); Bauchi ($58.8million); Bayelsa ($28.77million); Benue ($25.016million); Borno ($14.036million); Delta ($17.63million); Ebonyi ($42.149million); Edo ($46.92million); Ekiti ($36.201million); Enugu ($41.66million); Gombe ($27.96million); Imo ($52.32million). In the period under review, Jigawa State's external debt was $29.120million; Kano ($63.94million); Katsina ($78.75million); Kebbi ($51.644million); Kogi ($36.203million); Kwara ($48.557million); Nassarawa ($41.35million); Niger ($27.438million); Ogun ($91.902million); Ondo ($60.794million); Osun ($65.332million); Oyo ($93.990million); Plateau ($26.974million); Rivers ($36.501million); Sokoto ($41.206million); Taraba ($21.111million); Yobe ($31.690million); Zamfara ($27.186million) and FCT ($37.664million). DMO added that; "These figures exclude arrears that only become obvious by the end of the year". Again if we weigh the debt burden of the states with their monthly Federal allocations, your guess is as good as mine as to if the states are bankrupt or not. Whatever the case might be, the truth may very well be in what Governor Ameachi did not say. He certainly did not say the states are viable or prosperous. Many thanks to Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who, during the weekend, improved on the narrative on the states. According to Sanusi, "the present political structures of Nigeria are too cumbersome and economically wasteful to guarantee rapid development of the country". On the occasion of the presentation of Professor Adamu Baike's book, "Against All Odds" in Kaduna he reportedly and pointedly too asked the critical question; "do we need 36 States? That must be one singular question against all odds. Answer to Sanusi's critical question must come from all the communities that are still clamouring for creation of more states. Or better still we must ask the scores of candidates lining up for gubernatorial elections due next year in Bayesa, Kogi and Adamawa states. Desperate candidates for debtor-states that "have no money"? It is time we thought aloud outside the box of the narrative on the state as promoted by the state chieftains themselves. Governor Ameachi has eloquently made a case for a review of revenue formula in favour of the states. And that is the real problem. The impression is that the problem of the states is more money and that this money must come from revenue allocation (read; oil money). Of course the states need more monies and legitimately too from oil sovereign money. But there must also be full disclosures about the existing pattern of state resource allocations before we know what is bankrupting them, or why the governors have ", no money". The CBN governor said states spend as much as 70 per cent paying salaries. What then about that? Workers pay taxes as they earn and the remaining sums are spent in the states on rents and food and diesel debts (since the pay does not meet basic needs anyway?) It is wrong to add the pay of thousands of non- value adding political appointees as over heads costs. What other projects do governors spend on that fuel the current indebtedness and possibly bankrupt them? Rivers State Government was just reported to have concluded plans to "buy a helicopter at the cost of thirty million US dollars which is equivalent to about four billion, eight hundred million naira". If Rivers state is one of the states that "have no money" but could buy a "helicopter" that "has a camera" at 4 billion Naira, ostensibly to catch armed robbers, pray what would Rivers with money buy; launch satellites for aerial security surveillance across the state? Also in similar vein, Plateau State Government had reportedly "signed a N4.4billion contract for the construction of a new government house". With billions of Naira casually thrown at non-critical mass of needs of impoverished peoples of the sates who on earth can disagree with Governor Amaechi that the states are not bankrupt but they "have no money"? Yours truly supports the governors in their protestation against what they dubbed 'illegal deductions' from the Federation Account by the Federal government. But have some of the governors for once pondered over the legality and above all, the morality and class character of some of their resource allocations? http://allafrica.com/stories/201110311419.html |
| Politics › Re: Seun (Nairaland) Overdue For A National Honour by Sunofgod(m): 5:33pm On Oct 31, 2011 |
Funkymallam:Nonsense . . . . Nairalanders are the ones that are responsible for the success of NL - not Seun. I dare him to challenge me on this statement -  |
| Politics › Re: Thief Obasanjo - he wrecked Nigeria and stole $200bn by Sunofgod(m): 5:17pm On Oct 31, 2011 |
Stop the teasing - Hurry up and tell us . . . . . Was it OBJ? or IBB? |
| Politics › Re: Describe Nigeria In Two Words by Sunofgod(m): 12:04pm On Oct 30, 2011 |
A Disgrace |
| Politics › Re: Describe Nigeria In Two Words by Sunofgod(m): 12:03pm On Oct 30, 2011 |
Fcuke.d-Up |
| Politics › Re: Fuel Subsidy Removal: Resign Now! NLC Tells Jonathan by Sunofgod(op): 11:41am On Oct 30, 2011 |
GEJ, Please resign . . . |
| Politics › Fuel Subsidy Removal: Resign Now! NLC Tells Jonathan by Sunofgod(op): 11:40am On Oct 30, 2011 |
The disagreement between the Federal Government and Labour over the planned removal of subsidy on petrol has deepened as Labour insisted on mass action against the policy even as it advised President Goodluck Jonathan to resign from office. The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, made the call for Jonathan’s resignation against the backdrop of government’s disclosure last week that it was in the process of instituting a body of eminent and trusted Nigerians to manage the funds that would accrue from the removal of the subsidy on petrol. The position was in response to Labour’s opposition to the fuel removal bid. Labour’s position, made available to Sunday Vanguard, yesterday, is that “once the Jonathan administration has openly admitted that it can not be trusted to effectively manage the funds that would accrue from the proceeds of the subsidy removal, the economy and government should be handed over to the eminent Nigerians”. NLC acting General Secretary, Owei Lakemfa, who spoke on the position of government to get a body of eminent Nigerians to manage the funds, said “the position of the NLC is that government is not serious. “If government is telling Nigerians that it cannot be trusted, that it can not effectively administer the funds when they are realized, then it had better hand over the reins of power to those eminent Nigerians. “The NLC has not even said it is in agreement with such a proposal from government. Government’s position on the eminent Nigerians is premised on the assumption that we have agreed that the subsidy should be removed. I’m sorry, we have not agreed. “What government is doing is not different from a farmer who is supposed to have the capacity to utilize his farm produce for production of a variety of foodstuffs but willfully sells all his farm produce and then goes to a five-star hotel to pay a five-star price for food and turns around to say the difference is subsidy. “The first problem of this administration like the ones before it is that it sells 100% of our crude oil leaving nothing for local consumption and then it goes abroad to buy petroleum products at exorbitant prices; it then adds the cost of insurance and freight, adds the cost of discharging the products into smaller vessels as well as the cost of distributing the products to marketers and it calls that subsidy, when in fact if we refine crude oil in Nigeria, we stand to benefit much more because of the derivatives we would get”. According to him, there are about 114 additives that can be derived from the local refining of crude oil. Continuing, Lakemfa declared that Labour’s position is that for so long as some of the conditions in the agreement reached between the Federal Government and Labour are not met, then there should be no subsidy removal. “Government is talking about deregulation which is import-based; a deregulation that is anchored on finished petroleum products rather than one that encourages local refining. “In any case, this issue of eminent Nigerians is not new and it is just a throw-back to military mentality. During the days of Ibrahim Babangida, the Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure, DFRRI, was established to manage the funds; during Sani Abacha’s era, it was the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF – these bodies were decreed into existence. “What President Jonathan plans to do is create that body which is not known to Nigeria’s constitution and saddle it with the responsibility of administering funds meant for the consolidated accounts. “NLC is not falling for that! “Our fear is that all the conditions that led to the crises in the Arab world are present here in Nigeria, so anything can happen”. Earlier, yesterday, speaking on the statement by Allison-Madueke, Petroleum Resources Minister, that the government was yet to take a decision on the subsidy removal, President of the NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, in a statement, advised Nigerians not to be hoodwinked by the government antics. Omar said the government antics and statements were calculated to mislead the international community and to lure Nigerians away from the on-going mobilization against “the anti-people policy”. According to him, “The truth is that President Goodluck Jonathan in his letter to the National Assembly on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework of his administration stated categorically that the government has decided to remove fuel subsidy and that the take off date is January 2012. Also the president on his way to the Commonwealth Summit in Perth, Australia, to which the Petroleum Minister accompanied him, had told the country that fuel subsidy must be removed as the alternative is the collapse of the economy. So Mrs. Allison-Madueke is not forthright on this matter and the NLC urges Nigerians not to relent in their patriotic mobilization to resist this policy that will further impoverish the citizenry.” http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/fuel-subsidy-removal-hand-over-power-to-eminent-nigerians-labour-tells-jonathan/ |
| Politics › 67 Million Youths Unemployed -minister by Sunofgod(op): 8:46pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
Ilorin — Minister of Youth Development Bolaji Abdullahi has said that about 67 million youths in Nigeria, representing 42 percent of their population, are unemployed. The minister, who said this yesterday in Ilorin, Kwara State Capital, while speaking at the launching of the North-central zone of the YouWin Enterprise Competition, noted that the Federal Government was mapping out strategies to reverse the trend. "80 percent of our youths do not have more than Secondary School Certificate. The Federal Government alone cannot create jobs no matter how well intentioned or level of resources at its disposal. There is the need for the private sector to support the government in job creation and youth empowerment", he added. According to the minister, part of the strategy to address the situation is to encourage the private sector and other agencies to employ more youths. According to him, the YouWin Enterprise Competition is a programme initiated by the Federal Government to create jobs for Nigerian youths through series of business plan competitions. In his address, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed described the competition as timely, adding that "Across the land, we are confronted with massive youth unemployment and restiveness. However, we have a choice. We can either fold our arms and bemoan our fate or take the bull by the horns through appropriate support programmes such as YouWin" http://allafrica.com/stories/201110280520.html |
| Business › Re: FG Imposes Fuel Levy On Federal Roads - From Jan 2012 by Sunofgod(op): 7:57pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
. . So after the fuel subsidy removal the price is to increase to N140. And then add another 5% brings it to around N147 per litre. So in the blink of an eye Nigeria has gone from subsidising fuel to taxing fuel. |
| Politics › Re: Indirect Taxation Will Make Nigerians Comply With Tax Payments! by Sunofgod(op): 7:22pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
Utter nonsense In civilised countries where taxes are taken the govts have to provide such things as healthcare, education, welfare in exchange for taxing people. What on earth do Nigerian politicians provide apart from 'lessons in looting'? GEJ is the biggest 419 artists Nigeria has ever seen - when he was campaigning for president he never mentioned all these things. Within 1 year he wants to see all Nigerians in the 'Gutter'. Now Nigerians are faced with at least another 3 1/2 years of relentless extortion. I hope he is taken out very soon - Let it be MEND, BOKO or even SAMBO - and then let some 'Northerner' return to the 'Hot Seat'. |
| Politics › Nation's 'Debt Now N6.02 Trillion' (US $5.398 billion) by Sunofgod(op): 6:54pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
Abuja — Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Ehigie Uzamere (ACN, Edo), said yesterday that the country's total debt now stands at US$39.72 billion (N6.02 trillion), of which external and domestic debts are US$5.398 billion and N5.210 trillion, respectively. He said during the inauguration of the committee that "this amount is unsettling and called for concern." This is even as the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, berated past administrations in the country for taking foreign loans for specific projects, which were later abandoned. In his opening remarks at the committee's inauguration, Uzamere urged governments at various levels to "focus more on borrowing for projects with self-repaying capacity and job generation rather than borrowing to finance gaps in budgets that are largely recurrent". He noted that while the total debt of N6.02 trillion was more than the Federal Government's annual budget, its external component translated to 2.76 per cent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its domestic component translated to 17.53 per cent of GDP. He further explained that with the 20.29 per cent of GDP that the total debt constitutes in Nigeria's economy compared to "global limit of 40 per cent, the country was on safe ground" but noted that "more hard work and a serious approach" was needed "to translate our debt into asset to accelerate our infrastructural development and boost the economy." He was, however, not comfortable with the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) supplied by the Debt Management Bureau, asserting, ", there are other Debt Sustainability Indices (DSI) that are more realistic and revealing than the Debt/GDP ratio." "Do we have the capacity to repay this money considering our yearly revenue profile? What is the future value of the total debt in 10 years' time?" Ehigie asked rhetorically, and promised engaging the executive to generate good quality data for its DSA. "Needless to say that proper DSA reveals a country's susceptibility to debt distress; the committee will align its energy with the executive to review the country's debt policy and thereto, redefine its debt strategy," he continued. Uzamere, however, enjoined the government to wholly embrace Public Private Partnership (PPP) through adequate legal framework to safeguard workability of the scheme as it is a sure way to hasten the provision of infrastructure with less financial burden to the government. "Unfortunately, due to inadequate information the provision for PPP in the Debt Management Office (amendment) Bill was rejected", bemoaned, "National Assembly needs to revisit this issue and many others that were rejected in the Bill so that we will be seen as giving the necessary backing to effective debt management". "It is our firm belief that no matter how effective our debt management is, without fiscal discipline, no meaningful success can be achieved; I therefore call on all tiers of government to be prudent, accountable and transparent in the management of our lean finances. The committee will do everything within its mandate to encourage institutional capacity; we will therefore initiate advocacy campaign for States to establish and develop their Debt Management Departments; we are mindful of the fact that a slack in one state alone can affect the entire country; after all, we have only one economy", Uzamere added http://allafrica.com/stories/201110281479.html |
| Business › Re: FG Imposes Fuel Levy On Federal Roads - From Jan 2012 by Sunofgod(op): 6:52pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
The worst Govt Nigeria has ever had - by far!! |
| Business › FG Imposes Fuel Levy On Federal Roads - From Jan 2012 by Sunofgod(op): 6:51pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
Fg Imposes Fuel Levy On Federal Roads - From Jan 2012 AS part of efforts to complement its yearly budgetary allocations for road construction and rehabilitation nationwide, the Federal Government has concluded plans for the collection of a five per cent fuel levy from January 2012. The Minister of Works, Arch. Mike Oziegbe Onolememen, disclosed this yesterday in a keynote address at a meeting between the ministry and states commissioners for works held in Abuja. The meeting, organised by the ministry, brought together stakeholders in the road sub-sector with the aim of charting a way forward for the sector. According to the minister, the FERMA Act provides for fuel levy to be used for the maintenance of the national road network. Under this arrangement, FERMA is entitled to 40 per cent of the funds collected through this levy while 60 per cent is to be shared by the various states road maintenance agencies. Onolememen, however, stated that only state governments with road maintenance agencies would be entitled to draw from the fund, adding that some state governments have already established these agencies while others are yet to do so. He urged states that are yet to establish road maintenance agencies to quickly do so as this would enable them to take advantage of the fund when it becomes operational. The minister stressed that it had become necessary for the Federal Government to begin the collection of the levy as this was the only way it could raise funds to maintain roads adequately. He said, 'In view of the paucity of funds for road rehabilitation and maintenance, the Federal Government can only reimburse states from annual budgetary provisions within its envelope.' The minister also informed the commissioners on the guidelines that could qualify them for refund on federal roads already repaired by them. According to him, request for rehabilitation and subsequent reimbursements must be on the federal road network and duly gazetted with a route number. He also said that state governments must obtain the prior approval of the president through the ministry to carry out rehabilitation works on federal roads adding that the road must be designed and must comply with the Federal Highway's specifications and standards. Other guidelines, the minister explained, include the procurement process which must comply strictly with the 2007 Procurement Act. He therefore charged the state commissioners of works to work together with his ministry to re-position Nigerian roads so that the major national roads could be motorable at all times. He said: 'We must all put our hands on deck to ensure government gets value for money while generality of Nigerians enjoy the government's transformation agenda'. Earlier, the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashiru, said he was optimistic that the meeting would impact on the performances of the commissioners as they go back to their states http://allafrica.com/stories/201110280564.html |
| Politics › Indirect Taxation Will Make Nigerians Comply With Tax Payments! by Sunofgod(op): 6:46pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
The President, West African Union of Tax Institutes, Kunle Quadri, argues that one of the ways to make Nigerians comply with the payment of taxes is to employ the indirect method of taxation. He spoke to Okechukwu Nnodim Why is it that many Nigerians always try to avoid paying taxes? I think the issue is that there is a very low level of education on tax issues in Nigeria, and there is also less than the required level of tax awareness within the system. And when the government has not really sensitised the system by making the people know the importance as to why they are expected to pay tax, where they should pay it to, and how they should go about the payment of their tax, we’re still going to be having that low level of income generated from the payment of tax. And not just that, the number of people who comply with the payment will still be at a low level following the low awareness in the country. But then, the main issue is moving away from direct taxation into indirect taxation, for that is just the best way you can catch all those who are avoiding tax payment. Would you mind explaining how indirect taxation works? In this sense, it means a lot of people will be paying by consumption. This means that more people will be paying their taxes by consumption. If you go to other civilised countries, you will find Value Added Tax rate, excise rate going high and personal income tax rate and company income tax rate going low because they want people to be actually charged with the right tax. You cannot expect people who fill tax forms to fill in the right data, especially when you don’t have the right means to check if they are truly complying with the tax laws as regards those data. So, you need to devise a way of bringing them to the tax paying net, otherwise we will still continue to have a low level of tax compliance in this country. The moment we move away from direct to indirect taxation, I think the government is going to reap the huge benefits from the payment of taxes. It is important to mention that taxation remains the only way we can have the much anticipated development that we need in this country. But another fact is that people will always ask questions about what their money has been used for and that is why accountability as pertaining the taxes paid already is vital. How can the masses hold the government responsible when it fails to use the taxes paid judiciously? I think this depends on which government and which state you are talking about; for some governments are really trying. And in actual sense, they have been using some of the revenues collected, not just tax, to work for their masses. But then, this still depends on the citizens themselves. You cannot remain docile and expect development to come. If you approach, or if possible, confront your government on the best direction that you want them to go, then one way or the other, the government will have to respond to you, especially when you prove to them that you are serious and your requests are genuine. People complain of being over-taxed by both the federal and state governments, what would you say about this? Let me just say there are a lot of misrepresentations as pertaining the constituted tradition, and this is because quite a lot of people are not really enlightened on what should be regarded as tax, apart from the fact that the union has to take decisions as part of what is happening in tax. This is with respect as to what should be referred to as a charge, or as a fee because some people nowadays even when they are being given a fine, they refer to it as tax. So, these are issues that people at times tend to call tax or say that they are being taxed unreasonably and they say we don’t have affordable taxation system. We should try to look at what constitutes a charge; when a government is requesting for your tax, then they are going to provide you with the specific amount required, and after that, it is an obligation to pay based on your income. Talking about multiple taxation, I think it stems from the fact that a lot of governments want to make money very fast from taxes. But what we are telling them in this situation is that in the long run they will fail, because they will be discouraging the investors and sending them away. We have been advising the investors or the taxpayers that they should go ahead and take up tax consultants and commissioners, who would advise them on how to go about their tax payments. How would you rate the recently appointed executive the members of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria in terms of ability to deliver? They (CITN executives) have been able to come up with some of the programmes that they will implement and I think in the next one year, we should be able to witness a reform in the right direction as far as they have promised. How do you support governments of member nations on tax issues? This union was formed by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Ghana, in collaboration with revenue agencies in the West African region, in order to have a forum for technical and educational development, information sharing and enhancement of tax practice and administration. Our objectives include the development and enhancement of taxation profession in West Africa, as well as promoting the development of common technical and educational guidelines, professional ethics and standards in member-bodies. We also act as a centre for the development and dissemination of information concerning taxation standards and practices in the region. WAUTI provides encouragement for and assistance with the formation and development of national taxation bodies and we cooperate with International Tax Directors’ Forum, as much as possible, in its programme of activities. We collaborate with regional organisations, international bodies and agencies in the development and promotion of the taxation profession within the sub-region and we ensure the provision of adequate forum for the professional development of member-bodies through seminars, symposiums, congresses and interchange of ideas and experiences http://www.punchng.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2759%3Aindirect-taxation-will-make-nigerians-comply-with-tax-payments-president-wafrica-tax-institute&Itemid=543 |
| Politics › Re: ‘States Are Not Bankrupt, But We Have No Money!’ -Amaechi by Sunofgod(m): 6:10pm On Oct 29, 2011 |
He explained that Rivers has repaid N6billion out of the N40 billion it recently accessed from a commercial bank, adding that the government would still push ahead with its plan to raise the sum of N250 billion through bond, as borrowing from banks is no longer attractive due to Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) increment of interest ratewow . . . .he still has 34 billion to pay but wants to borrow another 250 Billion. On top of the federal allocation? Who's to repay this money and how? If anything the fed govt should cut of all funds sent to 'financially inept' governors and states. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Nigeria's Millionaire Preachers [Documentary] - To Be Shown Tonight by Sunofgod(m): 9:14pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
frosbel:Hopefully the poster will enable the embedding facility. This needs to be seen by all . . .  |
| Politics › Re: 27 States Faces Bankruptcy by Sunofgod(m): 8:59pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
Ogetogeo:27 states face bankruptcy •Abia, A’Ibom, Anambra, Jigawa healthy •Senators urge merger of states From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja Friday October 28, 2011 Photo: Sun News Publishing More Stories on This Section From the Senate came the gloomy news yesterday that the financial accounts of 27 states are in the red as some of them have been declared either “distressed” or “gloomy.” Only Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Jigawa states were given a clean bill of health. The six states that are in financial distress are: Kano, Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and Osun. Those deemed critical are: Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Edo, Borno, Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Yobe, Ebonyi, Ondo and Kaduna. In the unhealthy cadre are: Oyo, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Gombe and Rivers while Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Kebbi and Delta were given the ‘tolerable’ tag. The data was sourced from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Labour Policy Report, 2011 as contained in a motion titled: Looming danger of bankruptcy in states: The need for fiscal evaluation, sponsored by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (ACN, Ekiti North). To forestall the looming catastrophe, the Senate advised the Federal Government to expeditiously review the revenue sharing formula in favour of states and local governments. The Upper Legislative Chamber also directed its Committees on Finance, National Planning; States and Local Governments to study the situation and submit remedial measures to avoid total collapse of the economy of the affected states. Senator Adetunmbi had alerted the Senate of the “great fiscal challenge and looming danger of insolvency as well as bankruptcy facing the states as a result of growing wage-bill associated with the implementation of the minimum wage and other recurrent responsibilities of the states. “A recent research by the NGF revealed that 20 states face the prospect of unstable and unfavourable financial standing, given the high percentage of their wage-bills to the total revenue accruable to them. Armed with the data, Adetunmbi noted that in most states, the private sector is weak and unable to generate economic growth and jobs that are required, thereby making the states and local governments the largest employers of labour with attendant fiscal imbalance. “The bulk of the revenue of these states is currently financing payroll of the civil service which constitutes less than 4% of the total population in all states; if this trend continues, many of the states would become financially insolvent and increasingly handicapped to finance real sectors and drive economic growth, job and improved livelihoods,” he said. He told the Senate that “most state governments now rush to the capital market to raise long-term bonds to finance development projects”, which if misused, would spell doom for their future and the financial quagmire of states. Some of the state governments that have taken this route of funding between 2002 and 2011 are: Lagos (series 1-N50bn; series II-N57.5bn), Imo (N18.5bn); Kwara (N17bn); Niger (N6bn); Bayelsa (N50bn); Kaduna (N8.5bn); Ebonyi (N16.5bn); Ogun (N50bn); Delta (N5bn) in 2007); Kebbi (N3.5bn) in 2006; Lagos (N15bn) in 2002 and Yobe (N2.5bn) in 2002. Adetunmbi called for urgency in the review of the revenue sharing structure among the federal states and local governments in view of the “financial quagmire” of affected states. Contributing, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, canvassed a merger of states and slammed the practice of state governments going cap in hand to Abuja for revenue, adding that, “there is federalism more in name than in practice.” Also, Chairman of the Niger Delta Committee, Senator James Manager, re-echoed the call for merger of states and asserted that “all the states are distressed. Something has to be done. So many states are not supposed to be states because they have nothing to offer, they are burdens on Nigeria. Those not viable should be merged with the viable ones, hence, the imperativeness of fiscal federalism.” Minority Whip Ganiyu Solomon noted that the revenue formula is long overdue for review, adding that there was too much concentration of power at the centre. Corroborating Solomon, Senator Ahmed Lawan submitted that the states were not getting their own fair share of the revenue, stressing, “it is totally unfair that the Federal Government should continue to get 53 per cent; it is not justifiable”. Senator Sola Adeyeye queried the rationale for having “a Federal Ministry of Agriculture when there are no federal farms; communication, aviation, industry and housing when all the properties have been sold to the private sector.” Thereafter, senators canvassed a review of the sharing formula from the Federation Account to further enrich the states and local governments as well as compelling the Federal Government to transfer some of its responsibilities to the lower tiers of government. |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Nigeria's Millionaire Preachers [Documentary] - To Be Shown Tonight by Sunofgod(m): 8:57pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
frosbel:[flash=400,400] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hQoQIMqJoQ&feature=sh_e_top&list=SL[/flash] |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Nigeria's Millionaire Preachers [Documentary] - To Be Shown Tonight by Sunofgod(m): 8:22pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
Anybody know the fee to raise somebody from the dead? I want to put the money aside now for when I quench - Nigerians bad ohh. . . . . we no dey fear the 'Creator' again. |
| Business › Re: Nigeria Signs Bilateral Trade Pact At CHOGM by Sunofgod(m): 8:02pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
Who knows whether or not these ba.stards have sold our ancestoral land. , . . . .they've been touting Nigeria. Time will tell what further damege they've done. People in my town have been warned that if they discover any minerals or natural resources they are to keep their mouths shut! |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Nigeria's Millionaire Preachers [Documentary] - To Be Shown Tonight by Sunofgod(m): 7:54pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
lol, Nigerians dumb ohh, . . . . . Chai, |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Nigeria's Millionaire Preachers [Documentary] - To Be Shown Tonight by Sunofgod(m): 7:52pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
The 'devil' has taken over Nigeria ohh. . . . Hear the man - Jesus was rich, had an accountant who's name was Judas - |
| Christianity Etc › Re: Nigeria's Millionaire Preachers [Documentary] - To Be Shown Tonight by Sunofgod(m): 7:50pm On Oct 28, 2011 |
ada24:He's being very honest - |
| Politics › Re: Nigerian States Are All Broke by Sunofgod(m): 8:10pm On Oct 27, 2011 |
I'm sure the rest of 'Africa' will come to our aid and bail us out. Otherwise the good old IMF/World Bank will come to our aid. |
| Politics › Re: Describe Nigeria's Biggest Problem In One Word! by Sunofgod(m): 7:03pm On Oct 27, 2011 |
Okonjo-iweala |
| Politics › Re: Corruption In Nigeria Is Cultural And Not Political by Sunofgod(m): 4:31pm On Oct 27, 2011 |
. . . . infact, corruption in Nigeria may have now become a genetic trait. Its been around for quite a few generations and now may have become encoded into our DNA. |
| Politics › Re: Corruption In Nigeria Is Cultural And Not Political by Sunofgod(m): 4:06pm On Oct 27, 2011 |
. . . . I've seen 2/3 year old children who are already very corrupt. But its what they are taught and what the pick up from the environment they are in. Must, if not all of us were brought up and either saw or participated in corruption. For example, the paying of bribes is a way of life in Nigeria. But we like to point at anothers corruption - and ignore our own. If we start today teaching our children how not to be corrupt, maybe in 50-100 years time Nigeria will be free of it. But that's only if we collectively agree and commit to it - something that will never happn. (until i take over - ) |
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