Opinion

STRATEGIES OF SHEHU DIKKO IN SPORTS

Published

5 months ago

January 17, 2025

Felly Mammah

Chairman, National Sports Commission Alh. Shehu Dikkos says that everybodys positive impute in sports will place the sector in an enviable platform that will make it a reference point globally more so, as the country has energetic and vibrant boys that are the dream of most African countries and the admiration of the world.

The scripture asked a rhetorical question that “can two work together accept they agree”? This question seems to have been answered by the body language and gestures of both the Chairman of the Sports Commission Alh.Shehu Dikko and the Director General Mr Bukola Olapade. The subtle smile on their faces in every gathering shows compatibility expected to put same smiles on faces of Nigerians who have long desired workable transformation in the sports sector. The ease in the gesture of these sports administrators speaks volume that with togetherness a goal can be scored either through penalty shootout, from corner, from free kick or directly.

Their visit to President Bola Tinubu led by the Chairman recently, eulogizes the truth that the President maintains his stand and commitment for Alh Shehu Dikko to saddle the mantle of leadership in the sports sector. Pictures taken during their visit to the President captured a right choice made by him to have selected Shehu Dikko to manage Sports Commission going by his statement ‘Shehu, I am happy with u and see u on the Television’. This statement further explains his expectation for making the right choice and choosing the right persons with like minds to effect changes in sports sector.

Both the Chairman and the Director General have verse experience in sports as an added advantage that will enable them manage their shortcomings. Part of the reason for their presidential visit led by the Chairman, was to present both their strategical and action Road map plan to the President, which includes the plan to create a sports economy, infrastructure development and the National Sports Festival.

Among their desirous plea was for the President to respectfully, declare Sports as a National assets to be backed by necessary legislative frame work for proper development.
Alh. Dikko explained that part of his major challenge as expected by Nigerians is to turn sports around completely from what it use to be, to new world of competition likend to global expectation. He also, wants to xtray the possibility of achieving three Rs which includes resetting peoples thinking, refocus and redirect ideas for sports to be seen not only as medication to highblood pressure and entertainment industry, but now a money making industry that will be profitale to both the government, athletes, viewers and the business entreprenuers.

Shehu Dikkos active participation in sporting activities lives him with a drawn plan on how the minds of viewers particularly the management will be drifted from sports qualifications, participation and summer tourism to sports development and production to ensure that the eco system works accordingly.

This visit to the President since their assumption of duty, was a grate opportunity for them to let Nigerians understand their defined vision of what the sector should offer the general sports world. Serious focus according to the Chairman, will also, be to have very close synergy and as well, merge the experiences of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Major Stakeholders and strictly select credible coaches, serving and experienced retired sports administrators that will help change the face of sporting activities.

The Chairman Shehu Dikko was promising as he has assured Nigerians befor the President that the remaining 6 matches to be played for qualification for the World Cup and other significant matches that involve both male and female will be strictly monitored befor March 2025. The different sports fedrations especially the NFF according to him, will be more promising and as well, regain its lost wide audience.

However, The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Exco members led by their Abuja Chairman, Mr Chidoka and his National Secretary Mr Ikenna Okonkwo shortly visited the Sports Commission Chairman to pledge their commitment in di- eminating sports news in a manner that will not paint the country with a negative image. The SWAN chairman on behalf of others was emphatic as he assured Shehu Dikko that it is observed that negative representation through thier coverages is tantamount to presenting the image of sports in the country to a liken stage of deformation. Chidoka said that the country has both deligent and intelligent correspondence that can be reckoned with.

Surprisingly, Shehu Dikko himself is a writer with pedigree and have published books that are educative. He is seen as a man with vast knowledge possibly the reason he is flexible in communication and public relation. Some people no doubt have qualifications in criticism but this natural gift of thiers can be converted to workable eco system in line with Shehu Dikkos idea to raise the GDP of our country. Shehu Dikko has opened his doors to dialouges for better understanding of his three Rs to the general public especially those with goodwill of motivations

Felly Mammah
Press Officer.

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Featured

Tax Reform Bill Passage: New Tax Laws, Better Nigeria

Published

4 weeks ago

May 9, 2025

The Gleamer

By Arabinrin Aderonke

Nigeria must work; this is the vision we have held onto for so long. When the news came that the Senate had passed all four tax reform bills, it was one of those moments you stop and ask yourself, is this really happening? For years, Nigeria’s tax system has been a source of frustration, something we all got used to criticizing. Truthfully, it was not just tax. From electricity to education to healthcare, we have long complained about the failure of government systems.

On top of that, Nigeria remained tied to the unstable global oil market, leaving us with unpredictable revenue and a shrinking ability to fund our future. That is exactly why we must keep believing in the idea of a new Nigeria. And this time, it is not just another round of promises, this is action.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understood that to truly rebuild Nigeria, we needed a tax system that would create sustainable revenue, spread the burden fairly, and give every Nigerian, rich or poor, north or south, a reason to trust government again. That is what led to the introduction of the tax reform bills in 2024. It has taken months of serious policy work, consultation, and courage. Now, with the National Assembly passing all four bills, the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Nigeria Tax Administration (Procedure) Bill 2024, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024, and the Joint Tax Board (Establishment) Bill 2024, we are seeing decisions that could finally loosen Nigeria’s dependence on oil and give states the resources they need to grow.

One of the features is the new VAT sharing formula. Under the proposed structure, 50 percent of Value Added Tax revenue will be shared equally among all states, 20 percent will be distributed based on population, and 30 percent will be distributed according to actual consumption. It is a formula designed to balance fairness with performance, giving each state a stake while also encouraging economic activity and good governance.

The Senate also made it known that the VAT rate will remain at 7.5 percent, resisting pressure to increase it. For Nigerians, that means no new burden added to goods and services. But more importantly, the bills approved also provided for the continued funding of development agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). These are the institutions that support learning, research, and innovation across the country, and their survival is necessary for the future of the Nigeria we all want.

Another part of the bill is the plan to turn the Federal Inland Revenue Service into the Nigeria Revenue Service (Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill). But this is not just a name change. It is a coordinated effort to build a system that supports states, strengthens local government revenue, and makes tax collection more transparent.

Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of FIRS, has led the redesign of the agency and introduced many measures aimed at improving tax collection across the country, and even these Tax Reform Bills are one. If anyone has earned respect in this space, it is him. His work shows that reforms are possible when people in charge are ready to do better.

As it stands, all four tax reform bills have been passed, and these laws are now in place. This means Nigeria has completed what many consider the most needed tax reform in years.

The process now moves to the harmonization stage, where both the Senate and House of Representatives will come together to resolve any differences in their versions of the bills. Once they reach an agreement, the bills will be sent to the President for his final approval. After the President signs them into law, they will be published in the official gazette, making them official. From there, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which will be renamed the Nigeria Revenue Service, will take the lead in implementation. With the capable Tax Boss, Dr. Zacch, we can be sure that the results will exceed expectations.

This is the Renewed Hope Nigerians have been waiting for. The changes are here, these reforms give us the chance to do things right!

Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service

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