The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Northern politicians, and other stakeholders have expressed disagreement with the Tax Reform Bill.

The assertion that the bill suggested consultants collect taxes for the government was one of the points of disagreement.

The majority of the bill’s detractors cited Section 69. In a statement, Oyedele clarified that the portion was misunderstood by critics.

This note provides the facts on the allegation that several tax reform bill provisions aim to implement tax collection by consultants or third parties, continuing our explainer series and providing clarifications on issues pertaining to the bills.

“There is no provision in the tax bills seeking to introduce consultants for tax collection. In fact, section 19(3) of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill specifically prohibits the engagement of consultants for the assessment or collection of taxes on behalf of the tax authority. The section empowers the Revenue Service to appoint and employ consultants, accountants, other professionals or agents where necessary for the performance of its duties provided that such consultants shall not carry out the duties of assessment or collection of tax, tax compliance or enforcement activities, or routine responsibilities of tax officials,” he said.

Oyedele explained that section 69 which states that a relevant tax authority may deploy any technology, including a third-party payment processing platform or computer application to collect or remit taxes was not a new addition.

“This is not a new introduction. The provision currently exists under section 25 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007 as amended by the Finance Act of 2021.

“The tax bills only retain the provision to empower the tax authorities to seamlessly automate tax administration and link up with taxpayers for ease of tax compliance.

“The necessary applications and payment solutions may be developed by the relevant tax authority or procured from third parties.

“In theory, this is no different from how public or private sector organizations, like banks and online retailers, use third party applications for payments, and it is a common practice for tax administration worldwide,” he said.

He underlined that the measure has clauses designed to prevent transparency from being jeopardized by tax authorities’ participation with third parties.

The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill’s First Schedule lays out a governance framework for the tax authority’s operations, including safeguards against conflicts of interest.

Additionally, section 26 mandates that the tax authority provide the finance minister with a report on its operations on a regular basis, including audited financial statements. In turn, the minister is required to present the report to the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly,” Oyedele added.

In these tributes paid to Mr Senate President, at 62, titled: ‘The Trajectory of Senator Godswill Akpabio by, Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity and Official Spokesperson to Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio, he describes him as a leader par excellence and our man Abba-Eku Onyekachi was there. Excerpts.

Qtn: Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has just turned 62, how do you see him as a leader?
Ans: Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio’s foray into politics from his humble beginning as a commissioner in three key ministries in Akwa Ibom State to the president of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) is a narrative characterized by humility and tenacity. Akpabio’s leadership qualities became manifest when he served for two terms, as a governor of Akwa Ibom state between 2007 and 2015.

Qtn: Would you say that he performed well as a governor in your state?
Ans: During his tenure, Akpabio worked assiduously to transform the social and economic landscape of the state. Within this period, Akwa Ibom state witnessed unprecedented improvement in infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, capacity building and education that earned him the name, ‘Uncommon Transformer.’

Qtn: Although you are not expected to speak against your boss, but can you prove your points, by telling us some of his achievements, as a governor in you state, Akwa I om?
Ans: Some of his remarkable achievements as the governor of Akwa Ibom State included: free and compulsory education; free medical/healthcare to children, pregnant women and the elderly; construction of an international airport that has today placed Akwa Ibom on the global aviation map; building of roads and flyovers; payment of the 13th month salary to civil servants popularly called, ‘Akpabiomber’ and; the provision of civil service buses which today are still conveying civil servants from their respective local government areas to the state capital.

Qtn: So just stopped at this, can you make me tion of more if there any?
Ans: Other legacy projects are the Ibom Multi-Specialist Hospital in Uyo, a befitting government house, a five star hotel in Ikot Ekpene and an international stadium in the state capital, fittingly named after him as the Godswill Akpabio International stadium, among other projects.

Qtn: It is one thing to put in place, a stadium, and another for it to be befitting and meet standards. How befitting is the stadium, sir?
Ans: Today, the stadium is the only FIFA-approved stadium in Nigeria for international matches, and it hosts grade A matches involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

A few months ago, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had directed Ghana to secure an alternative venue outside the country for the Matchday three and four ties, involving the Black Stars of Ghana because the African Football Authority had declared all the stadia in Ghana not good enough to continue hosting CAF competitions.

Qtn: How are we sure that Ghana did see what they were looking for in the stadium?
Ans: Consequently, Ghana was already looking the way of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium until the issue was sorted out.

Ghana had considered the Godswill Akpabio Stadium because of its topnotch facilities. Regardless of the aesthetic of the stadium and its facilities, Akwa Ibom State is a modern statement in development architecture and luxurious flora and fauna to complement the uncommon transformation legacies.

According to a one-time British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, ‘The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.’

Senator Godswill Akpabio’s trajectory in engraving his name in gold and leaving legacies that sprawl the sands of time comes handy.

Qtn: To get this clearly, sir, can you tell us more about Mr Senate President and exactly the difference the stadium has made?
Ans: The imposing structure of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo serves as a testament to the visionary leadership and enduring legacy of the former governor, now President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a testament that the Uncommon Transformer School of politics of transformation and good governance is never a ruse.

It is indeed a study in the lexicon of democracy and its derivatives.The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, in particular, has become an iconic symbol of his legacy, showcasing the state’s capacity to foster regional cooperation and promote sports tourism.

Qtn: He was once the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, can speak on his achievements, while he was there?
Ans: Akpabio has also left indelible marks in the sands of time as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. He completed many abandoned projects, despite the challenges of Covid- 19 pandemic and scarcity of funds. Some of the iconic projects he completed were the 20-year old abandoned 13 and eight- storey buildings at Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Headquarters.

It is on records that Akpabio took pro-active steps to address burning issues, including underdevelopment, corruption in the NDDC through forensic audit of the Commission, Ogoni clean-up, insecurity in the region, the East-west road, Foreign Direct Investment and engagement of Public-Private Participation to complete some projects through alternative sources of revenue.

Today, Senator Akpabio is the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Executive Member of the International Parliamentary Union, deploying legislative and diplomatic enablement to help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transform Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“So, I am here saying, Happy Birthday to a Development Czar and Uncommon Transformer at 62.”

… Says no term limit in act establishing agency

BY AKUDORO GLORIA

The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) has affirmed that the reappointment of Fatima Shinkafi as the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) Executive Secretary by the president is in order.

The reappointment, according to the ministry is in accordance with the provisions guiding the establishment of the agency.

Reacting to the controversy in certain quarters over the reappointment approved by President Bola Tinubu, the ministry, in a statement signed by its Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Ekwugha Chinwe, asserted that no part of the SMDF act specifies a term limit for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the agency.

“Our attention has been drawn to the misinformation making the rounds in some quarters on the reappointment of Hajia Fatima Shinkafi as the Executive Secretary of SMDF, as approved by the President. The approval, done weeks ago, followed due process and aligns with the extant laws governing the agency, as well as the Nigeria Minerals And Mining Act (NMMA) 2007.

“Section 35(2) of the NMMA 2007 stipulates that the Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development. No provisions on tenure limit exist in the act governing the agency. The act does not stipulate term limit for the chief executive. Therefore, her reappointment by the president is in order and does not contravene any law.

“SMDF under her stewardship has been reorganized for capital mobilization, leading de-risking of investment tools for the mining sector and enabling targeted exploration to fast track mine development amongst others. Hence, her pivotal role in our efforts to reposition the mining sector is invaluable,” the ministry asserted.

The ministry assured mining stakeholders that it will continue to support the agency to expand access to lines of credit, lead the charge to strengthen partnerships that will unlock financing to drive economic growth, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of making solid minerals a significant contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).