Big Brother Naija 2020 Housemate, Nengi has told Ozo to let her do whatever she wants to do without thinking it is about him.According to Nengi, she always has to answer questions from Ozor and she’s beginning to get upset by his constant questioning of her actions in the House.
President Buhari has raised an alarm over the decline in the country's revenue amid the Coronavirus pandemic. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who delivered President Buhari's remark at the start of the first-year Ministerial performance review retreat holding in Abuja on Monday September 7, said his administration adopted a N2.3 trillion economic sustainability plan to mitigate the effect of the economic slowdown.
A band of thugs invaded the House of Assembly complex in Ondo on Monday, September 7, 2020, as political tension engulfs the southwestern state ahead of a governorship election slated for October 10. Local reports say the thugs stormed the complex in anticipation of the arrival of lawmakers who are loyal to Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.
Father Ejike Mbaka has been spotted in a viral video talking about a female BBNaija housemate during his adoration service. According to the cleric, the female housemate who is beautiful might lose the N85m prize in the reality show due to her cantankerous side which pops up at intervals.
On September 6, 2020, Nigerian singer, Peruzzi took to his Instagram page [@peruzzi_vibes] to post a picture of him and his DMW boss, Davido backing the camera on the opposite sides of a pool table. With Davido wearing a Kwame Nkrumah shirt, Peruzzi wrote that, "Couple Days To Our Albums. Zero Pressure." You might remember that Davido announced his third studio album, A Better Time on May 1, 2020. The album is set to feature acts like Nicki Minaj, Tiwa Savage and more.
Nollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri has taken to Instagram to celebrate her wedding anniversary with her husband Ezerika.
The actress who penned down a romantic wedding anniversary message to her husband, stated that being married to him has been peaceful.
Kadiri wrote;
Being your wife is so peaceful. I love it here. Happy anniversary to us
The first nonbinary state legislator in US history and first Muslim lawmaker in Oklahoma, has been elected into the state House for District 88.
Mauree Turner, 27, defeated Republican candidate Kelly Barlean to represent the district, winning about 71% of the votes, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board unofficial results.
The Democrat victory comes after beating incumbent Rep. Jason Dunnington in the district's Democratic primary election back in June.
Turner identifies as nonbinary, which the National Center for Transgender Equality defines as gender understood as neither male nor female. She uses both they/she as pronouns, according to Turner's Twitter profile.
Asked about the victory, Turner, 27, said: "For me, this means a lot. I have lived my whole life in the margins."
Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that Nigeria is not collecting enough tax returns as it should.
Delivering a keynote address at the 22nd Annual Tax Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Lagos on Thursday November 5, the Kaduna state Governor averred that there is still much potential for growing Value Added Tax (VAT) and independent revenues of the Federal Government than what is being collected presently.
El-Rufai who stressed that the low rate of internal revenue collection depresses public finances, hampers the ability to deliver social goods, services and physical infrastructure, limits competitiveness, shrinks the ability to promote the sort of enabling environment and economic dynamism that can create jobs, expand public revenues and improve public welfare, also noted that there is considerable resistance to the hike in VAT from 5 percent to 7.5 percent even though Nigeria’s rates are still much lower than other neighboring countries.
Pointing out that a minority of Nigerians who pay income tax are mostly those whose taxes are deducted at source (including the formal sector employees, public servants and the like). He listed Lagos and Edo as states that have done relatively well in terms of tax revenue mobilization at the subnational level.
El-Rufai said;
“With national tax revenues (oil and non-oil) still less than 7 percent of GDP, Nigeria is way behind the average of comparator nations of about 20% of GDP. As the world goes green, and crude oil loses its primacy as a leading source of energy, Nigeria must look inwards and compel every adult to pay tax as part of our citizenship obligation.
“In light of the situation that we are, we have very few options other than develop our capacity to collect to broaden the tax net, assess and collect taxes from individuals and companies to levels of our comparator nations – at least 20% of GDP within the shortest possible timeframe. As political leaders and tax professionals, we must put our collective heads together to ensure this national objective is achieved as soon as possible.
“The total internally generated revenues by states are currently less than one percent of GDP, despite the fact that Nigeria’s current fiscal federalism framework allows states (and local governments) to collect many taxes, levies and fees as in the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act, LFN CAP T02.
“We were determined from 2015 to assess and collect enough tax revenues to cover at least our personnel costs, and in the medium term, our entire recurrent budget such that we don’t need to wait for the monthly FAAC ‘handouts’ to keep our governmental operations running.
“To underscore our commitment to this, the then Deputy Governor and I resolved to donate 50 percent of our salaries and allowances to the state treasury until we are able to achieve the first benchmark.We did so in 2019!
“The positive effects of tax revenue depend on prudence. For instance, efficient infrastructure enable firms to be competitive, and inefficient infrastructure harms competitiveness. Excessive taxation can be an added business burden that also adversely affects competitiveness. For example, multiple and high levels of taxation affect supply and output prices, firm revenues, and profits.
“The pace of national development, especially in developing and emerging economies such as Africa critically depends on the role government plays in providing both the traditional services that are her exclusive reserve such as law and order, defense, etc. and non-traditional services such as justifiable economic and social interventions in infrastructure, education and basic healthcare. Recent literature and country experiences suggest that ‘developmental states’ – that often intervene significantly in social and economic sectors – are better able to achieve faster economic growth and diversification than the regulatory states promoted by the now-discredited Washington Consensus which pushed for lesser government involvement in the economic arena.
“From the foregoing, it is clear that four key points have emerged as the guiding principles for achieving development with taxation:
“Forming and running efficient and effective governments with strong policies, institutions and executive capacity;
“Performance-based budgeting to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the utilization of government revenues;
“Prioritizing expenditure to intervene in sectors that accelerate national economic growth and performance;
“Building autonomous institutions that reduce uncertainties and transaction costs, influence socially responsible choices, and compel rational actions.
“Taxation, Development and Competitiveness:
“Competitiveness is determined by an environment that promotes investment and innovation by businesses, which enables them to compete globally and in return attract investment from international companies.
“It is therefore obvious that many factors besides tax policy determine where a company locates its investment.
“These factors include availability of strong institutions, product/service markets, good infrastructure, educated and skilled labor and a robust financial system, amongst many others.
“Organizations appear to be more competitive when the tax burden on them is reduced. The reduction of the corporate tax rate from 30% to 20% and 0% for companies with turnover of N100M and N25m, respectively, was expected to boost the competitiveness of Nigeria’s economy.
"This incentive is expected to encourage businesses to innovate, expand their productive base, increase employment of skilled and unskilled labour, improve supply chain efficiencies, and attract foreign direct investment.
“Tax policy is one of the veritable tools available to countries to improve and promote national competitiveness. No wonder in recent times, many countries have focused on reducing their corporate income taxes in order to attract investment and businesses, and create jobs and wider tax net.
“In Europe, for instance, Belgium considered reducing its corporate tax rate from 33.99% to 25%, Luxembourg cut its corporate income tax rate from 26% to 20%, while the overall EU tax rate fell from 45% to 24%. The US also considered reducing corporate taxes from 35% to 21% to enhance its competitiveness globally.
“What We are Doing about Tax in Kaduna State:
“There has been steady rise in revenue collection in Kaduna State within the last four years. We have increased our revenues from N23bn in 2016 to N44.9b in 2019, an increase of N21.9bn.
“To appreciate this journey, it is important to recall that revenue collection in 2015 was N13.55bn. Our government had nearly doubled this by 2017, prior to the great leap forward in 2019, all this without hiking tax rates.
“This achievement was made possible through the deliberate implementation of a carefully designed plan. The main focus has been on critical reforms, broadening the tax net and automation of processes to support our ease of doing business charter.
“One of such reforms was the enactment of the Kaduna State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law in 2016.
“The law established the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), in place of the defunct Kaduna State Board of Internal Revenue (KDBIR), in order to holistically turn around the institution into a more efficient, service delivery agency, with a private sector, business-like orientation.
“The main thrust of the law is to eliminate multiple taxation, provide a clearer understanding of taxes and reduce the cost of compliance.
“Other important features of the Tax Code include the following:
“Empowering KADIRS as the sole revenue collection agency in the State
Prohibiting cash collection which helped to block revenue leakages.“Providing multiple payment channels to ease compliance encumbrances.
Reducing the number of levies, fees and other charges, especially at the local government level.“Established a tax information and complaint office in all MDAs
Simplifying tax assessment for the informal sector“To implement the provisions of the law effectively, the organisation had to be restructured. KADIRS has a flat structure, with functions-based departments, for easier co-ordination and synergy. We have prioritised the expansion of the tax net to increase the number of taxpayers and potential taxpayers, and we are scaling up advocacy and public private dialogue”.
“From 2015, we reformed or created new institutions to anchor the execution of our governance agenda. Amongst other measures, we enacted legislation to establish a new revenue agency, and a new body to digitize the land registry and to manage land administration in the state.
“We created a one-stop shop for investors and passed laws to reform the management of public finances, including a Fiscal Responsibility Commission. We enacted a Contributory Pension Law and made the scheme effective from 1st January 2017. This mix of legislation and new agencies provide the platform for a coherent approach to supporting private investment and business growth.
“Within the limited scope of the taxing powers available to a sub-national government, the Kaduna State Government supports new business start-ups and investors with tax holidays to help them set up and stabilize. We waive some of the taxes, levies and fees payable to the state government to make our state more attractive to investors”.
A 20-year-old suspected ritual killer, Festus Simon who was accused of killing a 12-year-old boy in Ibadan the Oyo state capital, has been arrested by the Ogun state police command.
The suspect was spotted on Wednesday November 4 after he fled his Iyana Church, Iwo Road, Ibadan residence to Sagamu, and was arrested following information received by the police at the Sotubo Divisional Headquarters in Sagamu.
Ogun police spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi said;
“The suspect, who killed his victim on the October 31, 2020, fled his residence at Iyana Church area of Iwo Road, Ibadan, to the Simawa area of Ogun Sstate under the pretext of looking for a job in order to evade police arrest.
“Information further revealed that the suspect had been on the wanted list of the Oyo State Police Command in connection with the killing of an innocent 12-year-old boy and his accomplice has since been arrested.
“Upon the information, the DPO, Sotubo Division, SP Samuel Adefolalu, quickly led his detectives to his hiding place, where he was promptly arrested.”
Oyeyemi said the Oyo state police command has been contacted for onwards transfer of the suspect who has made a useful statement. He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun has also warned that Ogun State would never be a safe haven for criminals.
Donald Trump's defence secretary, Mark Esper has reportedly prepared his letter of resignation as America awaits the results of its presidential elections.
NBC News reports that Esper prepared the letter "because he is one of the Cabinet officials long expected to be pushed out after the election."
The defense secretary has long been at odds with President Donald Trump over several issues including over Trump's use of the National Guard to quell protests this summer.
The report said Esper was currently helping members of Congress draft legislation to remove the names of Confederate leaders from military bases.
According to the officials, this week, Esper provided a written framework to Pentagon leaders for renaming installations and possibly even ships and street names on bases that honor Confederate generals or leaders.
The move could put Esper further at odds with the president, the report said.
NBC cited multiple current and former officials who confirmed the development, but a spokesman for Mr. Esper told the network he is not resigning.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman called the NBC News report "inaccurate and misleading in many ways," saying Esper is not planning to resign and was not asked to submit a resignation letter.
"He continues to serve the nation as the Secretary of Defense at the pleasure of the President and is working on the irreversible implementation of the National Defense Strategy," Hoffman said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Americans are still waiting for the results of elections that will decide who will become the country’s 46th president.
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