Featured
My Desire Is To Take Military Sports To Enviable Standard In Africa-Brig-Gen. Abdullahi

…As Nigeria Govt. endorses his bid For OSMA President
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria’s Aspirant for the forthcoming election into the post of the President of Organization of Military Sports in Africa OMSA and Vice President of the International Military Sports Council, CIMS respectively, Brigadier General Maikano Abdullahi has pledged to take military sports to enviable standard in the continent and across the globe.
To this end, the federal government has endorsed the candidacy of Brig-Gen. Abdullahi for OSMA President and Vice President of CIMS.
He gave this assurance on Tuesday, in Abuja, during a press briefing when he officially declared his intention to run for the position of President and Vice President of the Associations.
The Association’s election is scheduled to take place on the 7th October 2020 via video conferencing.
Brig-Gen. Abdullahi, who has contributed immensely to the development of military sports in Africa and beyond, has, however, assured that if elected, no stone will be left unturned to promote sports and encourage good sporting the relationship among the 51 African Countries and beyond.
According to him, I humbly welcome you to the formal presentation of my humble self, Brigadier General Maikano Abdullahi as an Aspirant for the Post of President of the Organization of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) and the Vice President of the International Military Sports Council.
“Let me use this medium to intimate you that the International Military Sports Council is also known as Consiel International Du SPORT Militarie (CISM) is a Global military sporting organization second to International Olympic Committee (IOC). CISM is concerned with organizing and coordinating Military Sports in the World.
“Nigeria has been a member of CISM which has 136 member Countries since 1972. It will interest you to note that our Country, Nigeria is also one of the strong Pillar of CISM and the Founding Father of OSMA.
“The Organization of Military Sports in Africa which was founded in 1994 by Nigerian, Major General Ishola Williams (Rtd), it became fully operational in 2008 with the Headquarters in Yaoundé Cameroun. There are 51 African Countries currently as members of OSMA; it is second to COJA in terms of Organizing of Sporting activities in Africa.
“To become a President of OSMA, a General Assembly must hold, once you emerge, President, you are automatically the CISM Vice President for Africa.
“As a Senior Officer in Defence Headquarters Abuja and Deputy Director Sports, if given the mandate, I will project the good image of Nigeria better in both CISM and OSMA, promote Military Sports in Nigeria and Africa. I will also ensure that our Continent is adequately represented in all CISM sporting events and World General Assemblies and it will also give me the opportunity to promote sports and encourage good sporting relationship among the 51 African Countries.” He pledged.
Nevertheless, having a look at Brig-Gen. Abdullahi’s background reveals a wholesome and rich antecedent that reflects that this renowned son of Africa does qualify for this post and has what it takes to effectively represent Nigeria, the African continent, and the world.
“Let me state here that my vast experience in Sports, Fitness and Training coupled with my participation in both National and International Military and Civil Sporting activities enhanced my nomination for this post.
“I am a fellow member of the National Association of Physical and Health Education Recreation Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD). I have won several National and International Awards in Cameroun, CISM Headquarters Belgium, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the Republic of Guinea to mention but few.”
When asked if he has the backing the federal government? He replied, “I have 100% of supports from Government and the Chief of Defence Staff.”
He, however, applauded the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, for nominating him to vie for the post of OSMA President and CISM Vice President for Africa as well as their wonderful achievements in Sports and physical training from 2015 – date.
Brigadier General Maikano Abdullahi sought the support of member countries in taking up this challenge to recreate a new image for the Military Sports and reposition its developmental influence and possibilities across the globe.
Other contestants are from Kenya, Algeria, and Guinea Conakry.
Business
Tax Reform Bills: The Verdict of Nigerians

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.
-
Featured6 years ago
Lampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured5 years ago
FG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured6 years ago
NYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years ago
Children Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured3 years ago
Transfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Sports2 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News3 months ago
Zulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
-
Featured5 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones