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IWD 2021: A’Ibom Gov’s Wife Frowns At Rise In Gender Based Violence

Published

4 years ago

March 8, 2021

…calls for more women inclusion in governance

Rampant cases of gender based violence in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large have been described as a “huge gap” in Nigeria’s progress on women’s rights and empowerment.

Wife of Akwa Ibom State governor, Dr. Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, made the observation today Monday March 8th at the Grand Finale celebration marking the 2021 International Women’s Day celebration held at the Ibom Hall Grounds, Uyo.

She said that legislation plays an important role in the fight against gender based violence and the empowerment of women, noting that the domestication of Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in the state has helped to reduce the spate of violence against women in the state.

She also noted that Akwa Ibom State had made considerable progress in empowering women and girls through legislations such as the Child Rights Act which has reduced gender gap in school enrolment, Widows’ Protection Act which criminalizes obnoxious traditional practices against widows, but however added that a lot more needs to be done to give women equality.

Speaking on the theme of the year’s celebration, “Women In Leadership: Achieving An Equal Future In A Covid-19 World,” the governor’s wife averred that it seeks to celebrate the tremendous efforts of women and girls around the world who are shaping a more equal future.

“Today, there is more acceptance than ever before that women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table, and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all. This is why we must make good use of this year’s theme to advocate on the importance of advancing women’s leadership and participation in decision-making,” Emmanuel remarked.

In Akwa Ibom state, she added that though a lot has been achieved by the womenfolk who now occupy top positions in government, she maintained that like Oliver twist, they would still demand for more.

“I thank and commend my dear husband and leader, His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel for believing in women and for graciously giving women opportunities in his administration, but like Oliver twist, we would keep asking for more opportunities,” the First Lady said.

While calling on women to shun divisive tendencies which are capable of truncating the efforts so far gained, she said on her part she would continue to amplify their voices. A hundred women were empowered as part of activities of the day by the governor’s wife while also celebrating special women who have made a mark in their chosen fields.

Also speaking, Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel who was ably represented by his Chief of Staff, said that women’s equality was not about women fighting against men but it was about providing equal opportunities for both women and men in the society.

While wishing Akwa Ibom women a happy celebration, he added that while women have risen to positions of authority world over, he was also glad to have given women opportunities to excel in his government.

Also at the event was the deputy governor of the state, Mr. Moses Ekpo who in his goodwill message described women as the bastion of hope, stating that their contributions to humanity can never be downplayed.

In a keynote address, Professor Dorathy Sam Umotan, a professor of Law at the University of Uyo while speaking on the 2021 theme said women must change their mindset, embrace education to the fullest, support themselves and be creative if they her to achieve equality.

The event which was preceded by a thanksgiving service featured March-past from women from the 31local government areas and women groups, food and arts exhibitions, ballad and song competitions while prizes were given out to deserving individuals and groups

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Business

Tax Reform Bills: The Verdict of Nigerians

Published

2 weeks ago

March 6, 2025

The Gleamer

Ismaila Ahmad Abdullahi Ph.D

The public hearings conducted recently by the two Chambers of the National Assembly have elicited positive responses from a broad spectrum of Nigerians, cutting across regional interest groups, government agencies, civil society groups, concerned individuals, the academia, and Labour Unions, among diverse others. Contrary to a few dissensions hitherto expressed in the media, almost all the stakeholders who spoke during the week-long sessions were unanimous in their declaration that the hallowed Chambers should pass the tax reform bills after a clean-up of the grey areas.

The public hearings were auspicious for all Nigerians desirous of economic growth and fiscal responsibility. They were also a watershed moment for the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which had been upbeat about the tax reforms. Indeed, the public hearings had rekindled hope in the tenets of democracy that guarantee freedom of expression and equitable space for cross-fertilisation of ideas. Without gainsaying the fact, the tax reform bills have been unarguably about the most thought-provoking issues in Nigeria today, drawing variegated perspectives and commentaries from even unlikely quarters such as the faith-based leaders, student bodies, and trade unions, which speaks much about the importance of the bills.

In the build-up to the public hearings, not many people believed that the bills would make it to the second reading, much less the public hearings. Even the Northern stakeholders who seemed unlikely to support the passage of the bills have softened their stance and have given valuable suggestions that would enrich the substance of the bills. The Arewa Consultative Forum came to the public hearings well-prepared with a printed booklet that addressed their concerns. It concluded with an advisory that the bills should be “Well planned, properly communicated, strategically implemented and ample dialogue and political consensus allowed for the reforms to be accepted.”

The concerns of ACF ranged from the composition of the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Board as contained in Part 111, Section 7 of the bill, the unlimited Presidential power to exempt/wave tax payment as proposed in Section 75(1) of the bill, the family income or inheritance tax as contained in Part 1, Section 4(3) of the bill, to the issues around development levy and VAT. On the development levy, the ACF stated that unless the Federal Government is considering budgetary funding for TETFUND, NASENI and NITDA, it does not see the “wisdom behind the plan to replace (them) with NELFUND”.

The position of the North was equally reinforced by the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Northern Elders Forum, Kano State Government, Professor Auwalu Yadudu, and the FCT Imams. Like the ACF, these stakeholders lent their respective voices to the Section on the Inheritance Tax in Part 1 of the bill and the use of the term ‘ecclesiastical’, which, in their views, undermines certain religious rights and beliefs. The Kano State Government, represented by Mahmud Sagagi, affirmed that “we support tax modernisation” but cautioned that “we must ensure that this process does not come at the expense of states’ constitutional rights and economic stability”. Professor Auwalu Yadudu, a constitutional law professor, drew attention to the use of the ‘supremacy clause’ and cautioned that the repeated use of “notwithstanding” in the bills would undermine the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution if passed as such.

Other stakeholders that made contributions at the sessions included the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, and a host of others. While most of their concerns bordered on technical issues requiring fine-tuning, they were unanimous in their support for the bills. They aligned with the position of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, Ph.D. and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, which is that the extant tax laws and fiscal regulations are obsolete necessitating reforms aimed at creating a fair and equitable tax and fiscal space to grow Nigeria’s economy.

In one of the sessions, Dr Zaach Adedeji expounded on the criss-cross of trade activities in the Free Trade Zone whereby companies misuse tax waivers as exporters to sell their goods or services in the Customs Area at an amount usually less than the price the operators in the Customs Area who pay VAT and other taxes sell theirs thereby disrupting business transactions. This way, the operators in the Free Trade Zone shortchange the government in paying their due taxes by circumventing extant regulations, which are inimical to the economy’s growth.

Overall, the presentations were forthright, foresighted, and helpful in elucidating the issues contained in the bills. According to the statistics read out at the end of the hearings at the Senate, 75 stakeholders were invited, 65 made submissions, and 61 made presentations. At the House of Representatives 53 stakeholders made presentations. By all means, this is a fair representation. Given the presentations, it is evident that the National Assembly has gathered enough materials to guide its deliberations on the bills. As we look forward to the passage of the bills, we commend the leadership of the National Assembly for their unwavering commitment to making the bills see the light of the day.

Abdullahi is the Director of the Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS.

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