The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to 67 minors, all under the age of 15, involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests. The minors, who face treason charges, were arraigned on Friday.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu ruled that each minor be granted bail in the sum of N10 million, with the requirement of a single surety who must be a civil servant.
Adult protesters involved in the same case are still undergoing arraignment on similar charges.
Further details to follow….
Information gathered by LeadingReporters reveal that barring any last minute changes, the presidency has decided to retract the controversial Tax Reform Bill, with sources indicating that the proposed legislation will be revised and resubmitted to the National Assembly at a later date.
During the 144th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday, which was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, a recommendation was made to withdraw the tax reform bills. This recommendation arose after governors from 19 northern states met in Kaduna on Monday with prominent traditional leaders, where they collectively rejected the Nigeria Tax Reform Bill.
In a communiqué issued after their meeting, the northern governors and monarchs expressed their opposition to the recent Tax Reform Bill, stating that its provisions did not align with the interests of the northern region and other sub-nationals, particularly regarding the proposed changes to the distribution of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
Explaining their decision to reject the Tax Reform Bill, the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, while reading the communiqué of the forum’s meeting said: “This is because companies remit VAT using location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed. In view of the foregoing, the forum unanimously rejects the proposed Tax Amendments and calls on members of National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardise the well-being of our people.
Social media influencer Martins Otse, known online as “VeryDarkMan,” was granted bail on Friday under strict conditions by the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja. Otse faces allegations of impersonating a police officer.
Arraigned in Court 1 under charge no. CR/510/2024, Otse was granted bail at N2 million. The court stipulated that Otse provide two sureties who must meet specific requirements, including residence within Abuja municipal, possession of means of identification, and an affidavit committing to Otse’s presence throughout the trial. Additionally, the sureties are required to deposit their passports and provide verified utility bills to confirm their addresses.
Otse must also sign an affidavit pledging availability for all court proceedings.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed on Friday that Otse’s detention follows a social media post in which he allegedly appeared in police attire without authorization. The FCT Police Command has taken charge of the case, reinforcing the force’s stance on preventing unauthorized use of official symbols.
Otse’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, disclosed that his client was detained on Thursday after responding to a police invitation.
The National Economic Council (NEC) has advised that the Tax Reform Bill, currently in the National Assembly, be withdrawn.
The NEC is led by Vice-President Kashim Shettima and includes state governors as members.
After their meeting on Thursday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed that the NEC decided to withdraw the bill due to disagreements and concerns raised by various groups.
More to follow…
Over 300 Pupils and teachers of the Local Education Agency (LEA), Kpakpatoshi under the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has been in a sorry state due to insecurity, lack of infrastructure and worse of all, inability to answer the call of nature when the need arises.
A recent visit by LEADING REPORTERS to the school recently showed the dilapidated structures, lack of access to portable water and functional toilet an eyesore to portray a primary school of repute in the 21st century, particularly in the federal capital territory.
Meanwhile, leading reporters in an exclusive interview with the headmaster of the School, Mr. Matoh Bawa revealed that Ochacho Estate Idu built one uncompleted toilet for the school after taking over the land that houses an initial toilet built by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board in 2007 for the construction of houses.
Findings revealed that Ochacho construction has fenced the toilet built by the FCT to begin construction with the intention of demolishing it while yet to complete the one built to compensate the school.
Bawa explained that both teachers and pupils for the past years have resorted to going into the bush nearby to answer the call of nature which he described as unhealthy for them such that they can breath in fresh air again, he emphasized that this act has been exacerbated by residents of the community who has taken advantage of the situation to make the school a mess.
In his words, Mr Bawa said:
“My admin officer can’t come to work today because she has stomach trouble and there is no
toilet.
“She has to stay at home, if I’m pressed now, I have to
move somewhere else. If you go there, go and see. Open defecation everywhere.
You can’t breathe fresh air. We have little children. So it is terrible now.
“We are just managing the toilet
because we have female teachers here. We have to manage. But health-wise, the toilet
is not good for humanity.
“We are using detergent because the back there is open. So we are just managing it because
we don’t have any option.”
Mr. Bawa however appeal to Ochacho to complete the toilet built, ensure water is running and provide basic infrastructure for the school which will serve as their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the community.
“They have the capacity to at least do something for this school. Because the village came before the
estate. And it has benefited a lot from this village. And it’s still benefiting. We have students,
people that are coming from the estate to this school.
“They are living in the estate and they are attending this primary school. Our teachers don’t have tables they are using people’s seats they have been vandalized by criminals. So they can do that for us they can supply us with furniture.
“We don’t have potable water, whenever children are thirsty. They have to go home and it’s not good for our educational system, the law says that we should not allow them to go home. We don’t have school premises.
“We need perimeter fence. That is one of the major needs. The school needs renovation.
You can see. The school needs toilets. For both teachers and people.
“Then we need additional classrooms. These are the major problems we have in the
school. In this problem, I have listed it they can pick one and do it for us”. he added.
Meanwhile, a representative of Ochacho who spoke with Leading Reporters claim that the toilet is under construction but does not know when the construction will be done.
His words: “It is under construction sir, I don’t know, I don’t know when it will be constructed sir”.
Ten bodies have been recovered from the rubble of a collapsed storey building in the Jegede area of Olunloyo, Ibadan, Oyo State. The incident occurred on Thursday, resulting in several injuries among those trapped.
Yemi Akinyinka, General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, reported that the agency received a distress call at approximately 2 a.m. from residents alerting them to the collapse. “As of now, 10 persons have been recovered from the debris, while seven others were rescued alive. Rescue operations are still ongoing,” Akinyinka stated.
The police have also confirmed the situation, indicating that adequate security measures have been implemented in the area to prevent any criminal activity and to protect the lives and property of nearby residents.
“Investigation is ongoing to determine the possible circumstances that led to the incident,” the police said in a statement.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced a new security initiative mandating that all commercial buses in Abuja undergo profiling by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS). The measure, set to take effect in January 2025, aims to enhance passenger safety and reduce criminal activity, including kidnappings and “one-chance” robberies.
Wike revealed the initiative on Thursday at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in Garki, Abuja, where he also distributed 80 new cars for beneficiaries to operate as taxis. The initiative, according to Wike, is part of a broader effort to improve transportation standards and reduce costs for residents of the nation’s capital.
“These new taxis are provided to beneficiaries at no charge, with the government’s aim to help families sustain themselves and make transportation more affordable,” Wike said. He encouraged the new taxi drivers to embrace their roles, pointing out that many Nigerians readily accept similar jobs abroad.
The minister outlined specific regulations that will be enforced starting January, including strict approval and profiling of all commercial drivers and mandatory use of Abuja’s official color scheme for taxis and buses. Wike also noted that profiling would apply to tricycles and motorcycles, which he said are often used by criminal informants.
“By January next year, no one will be allowed to operate as a taxi or bus driver in Abuja without prior security approval, proper profiling, and use of the designated Abuja colors,” Wike emphasized. “We’ll record vehicle numbers and driver details, ensuring passengers feel safer knowing that each vehicle is registered and monitored.”
This new initiative is part of the government’s wider goal to position Abuja as a model city, with the minister stating that the changes are aimed at creating a safer and more orderly transportation system.
The Nigerian government has unveiled a £17.9 million off-grid electricity project funded by the European Union and the German government to address the country’s power shortage.
Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, made the announcement during the 3rd Phase of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme in Abuja on Thursday.
The event was organized by the Nigerian Government in collaboration with the EU and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Mamman emphasized that the project is intended to reduce the gap for approximately 100 million Nigerians who currently lack access to electricity, focusing on renewable energy to serve underserved rural communities.
In her remarks, Inga Stefanowicz, Head of Section Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria, said the project will impact at least five million Nigerians and add an additional 400 megawatts to Nigeria’s electricity supply.
She noted that solar installations for healthcare facilities are among the planned initiatives, with EU financing set at £15 million for the first phase, £30 million for the second, and £9 million for the third phase.
Governor Uba Sani has approved a new minimum wage of N72,000 for civil servants in Kaduna State, effective November 2024. The announcement was made in a statement by Malam Ibraheem Musa, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
The statement noted that this decision reflects Governor Sani’s commitment to improving the welfare of workers and enhancing living conditions for the vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State. The governor has consistently advocated for the promotion and protection of workers’ rights and welfare.
Governor Sani also announced a Free Transportation Scheme for civil servants, which will launch with 100 CNG buses to provide transportation to and from work. The scheme aims to reduce transportation costs for workers and improve productivity.
A Joint Management Committee, including representatives from organized labor (NLC and TUC) and the state government, will oversee the Free Transportation Scheme.
The statement added that the Kaduna State Government would continue to implement policies focused on social welfare, with the governor expressing a commitment to making the state a model for social interventions.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has clarified that the proposed tax reform bills are designed to benefit all states, addressing concerns raised by Northern governors. The statement was made on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
At a recent meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024, the Northern Governors’ Forum, led by Governor Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, expressed opposition to a new derivation-based model for Value-Added Tax (VAT) distribution, as outlined in the proposed tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly. The meeting also included prominent traditional rulers from the North, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.
In response, Onanuga clarified that the Tinubu administration’s tax reforms aim to streamline Nigeria’s tax administration, boost efficiency, and reduce redundancies. The reforms are part of four bills under review by the National Assembly, which were crafted following an extensive evaluation of existing tax laws.
The bills include:
Onanuga emphasized that these reforms would not increase tax rates but are intended to optimize existing frameworks and reduce the administrative burden. The reforms, he added, would not lead to job losses but could stimulate job creation by fostering economic growth.
Addressing the contentious derivation-based VAT distribution model, Onanuga explained that the proposal aims for a fairer system. Under the current model, VAT distribution is based on where the tax is remitted, rather than where goods and services are consumed. The new proposal would base VAT revenue distribution on the location of supply or consumption, ensuring states, particularly in the North, receive fair returns on VAT-exempt products consumed outside their borders.
The administration highlighted that these reforms are critical for modernizing Nigeria’s tax system, promoting equitable revenue distribution, and supporting national development.
