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Dare Gives Back to Society Through Journalism, as Gov. Makinde Commissions Omoluabi 87.7 FM Radio Station

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It was a momentous day in Oyo State as His Excellency, Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde officially commissioned Omoluabi 87.7 FM Radio Station in Ibadan, on Thursday afternoon.

The radio station is the brainchild of Chief Sunday Dare CON FNIS, a veteran journalist with a remarkable 30-year career spanning prints, television, and radio broadcasting. Omoluabi 87.7 FM, also known as ‘The Voice of Integrity,’ represents a significant addition to Oyo State.

In his congratulatory message, Governor Makinde expressed his support for this groundbreaking initiative, emphasizing its importance for the growth and development of Oyo State. He stated, “I’m glad to be here, to support my brother. It’s all about Oyo State. We’ll continue to create the right atmosphere for the state to grow.”

Governor Makinde acknowledged the heavy investment made by Chief Sunday Dare and pledged additional support, including the installation of solar lights in the vicinity and an extension of the patrol network by the security outfit of Amotekun.

Chief Sunday Dare highlighted the significance of the event as the realization of his commitment to investing in the media sector, particularly in radio. He emphasized that the choice of Ibadan as the headquarters is aimed at directing attention and socio-economic benefits to Oyo State.

During the event, the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for supporting the Presidential candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also thanked the Governor for taking the time to commission the radio station.

The ceremony witnessed the presence of dignitaries from various sectors, including government officials, senators, former First Lady of Oyo State, Chief Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, and other distinguished guests.

The inaugural event was attended by a distinguished array of personalities, including the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, the Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, and the immediate past Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Chief Sunday Dare, along with his wife Yeye Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland, Yeye Kemi Dare, Miss Tobi Dare. Other notable figures include Honourable Commissioner of Information and Civic Orientation Prince Dotun Oyelade, Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Hon. Segun Olyiwola, Senator representing Oyo North Senatorial District, Senator Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari, Senator Representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Akintunde Yunus, Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District Senator Sharafadeen Alli, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State Chief Adeyemo Alake.

The event also saw the presence of the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adeyemo Alake, former First Lady, Chief Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (represented by former SSG Mrs. Bolanle Allí), former Speakers of Oyo State House of Assembly Chief Akin Onigbinde SAN and Hon. Asimiyu Alarape, and other prominent figures graced the occasion include former SAA Diaspora to Osun State Governor Mrs. Titilọpẹ Ajayi, former Executive Media Aide to the Minister of youth and Sports Development Kola Daniel, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Minister of youth and Sports development Arc Biodun Owoborode, CEO of Afrikings home and property Mr. Kingsley Awodi, former National Deputy Youth Leader Hon. Afeez Bolaji Rẹpẹtẹ, former ALGON Chairman Hon. Abass Alesinloye, Dr. Ayandele Eruobodo, director of finance Ministry of sports Development Mr. Olusegun Olufeyinti, Alhaji Bashir Akatapa, former Special Adviser to Governor Bisi Akande Mr. Ayo Afolabi, NYSC Oyo State Coordinator Comrade Odoba Abel Oche, represented by Mr Kayode Folayan, CEO of ICE Cream University Mr Tunji Olaniyi, former Vice Chairman of Ogbomoso Central Chief Olawale Ademola Agba Demo and other former Local Government Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Oyo State.

Omoluabi 87.7 FM Radio Station looks forward to serving the community with integrity and dedication, providing a platform for informed discourse, entertainment, and community building.

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Tax Reform Bills: The Verdict of Nigerians

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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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