FG is not increasing taxes, Udoma tells National Assembly

The Federal Government does not have any intention of increasing taxes but is working towards increasing its internally generated revenue through the broadening its tax base.

Responding to a comment by Senator Ben Bruce at the public hearing of the Joint Session of the National Assembly on the 2017 Budget, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said “a view has been expressed that we should not increase taxes, that we should broaden tax collection instead, that is precisely what is in the budget.”

Senator Bruce had given the impression that the Federal Government was about to increase taxes, a development he said will further worsen the economic fortunes of individuals and businesses, but the Minister said “there is no increase in VAT, there is no increase in company’s income tax, there is no increase at all in taxes, but people who are not paying taxes must be made to pay. So the idea is to increase revenue by broadening the tax base, not by increasing taxes.”

Democracy Day 2016: - There will be no formal State event, march past, ceremonial parade of any sort - Ogun state

The Ogun state government has ruled out any special or formal State event, march past, ceremonial parade of any sort in this year's Democracy Day.

According to the statement released today by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Taiwo Adeoluwa said Governor of the stste, Senator Ibikule Amosu will be the GUEST of the Civil Society Organizations, Human Right Groups and Democracy Activists in a program tagged : " OGUN CIVIL SOCIETY CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR".

The statement Reads:

NLC, TUC Issued Joint Communique, Orders Buhari To Reverse Pump Price In 3 Days Or Face Indefinite Strike

The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) has ordered the federal government to revert to the original price of petrol by Tuesday next week or face indefinite strike from workers. Addressing the press after it's National Working Committee meeting in Abuja today, NLC leaders also urged and asks Nigerians to stockpile food ahead of the protest against fuel subsidy removal.

JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE EMERGENCY MEETINGS OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCILS OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS, THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS HELD ON FRIDAY MAY 13, 2016

The emergency meeting debated extensively the implications of government's unilateral increase in prices of petroleum products, noting government's disinclination for consultation on issues of public interest and its obsession with protecting product marketers at the expense of the Nigerian public. The meeting expressed concern about government's neo-liberal policies which it considered a betrayal of its electioneering promises and observed as follows:

LONDON ANTICORRUPTION SUMMIT: KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT BUHARI

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

BY

HIS EXCELLENCY

MUHAMMADU BUHARI

PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE COMMONWEALTH EVENT

“TACKLING CORRUPTION TOGETHER: A CONFERENCE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS”

HELD AT THE COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT ,MALBOROUGH HOUSE

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM ON

WEDNESDAY, 11TH MAY 2016

Fellow Heads of State & Government,

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Rt. Honourable Patricia Scotland, QC,

Business Leaders,

Representatives of Civil Society Organizations,

Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen

I am delighted to be invited to this event to exchange views with you my fellow invited guests representing Governments, the Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations. I thank you Your Excellency, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, for asking me to speak at this gathering.