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JUST IN: Reps Propose Tax Exemption For Military Personnel

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  The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has proposed tax exemption on the personal income of military personnel in Nigeria. The Chairman of the Committee, Abiodun Faleke, disclosed this on Thursday during the clause-by-clause consideration of the four tax bills transmitted to the parliament by President Bola Tinubu in October, 2024. Speaking at the event, Faleke said, “Mr Speaker, honourable colleagues, the committee proposed that personal income of military personnel should be exempted from tax. This is because of the critical nature of their assignment.” The proposal was unanimously endorsed. Details later…  

JUST IN: Senate Committee Recommends Six-Month Suspension For Natasha

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  The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions has recommended a six-month suspension for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central. This decision follows her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. During an ongoing plenary session on Thursday, the committee advises that her salary and security details be withdrawn. The Committee’s chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, who presented the panel’s report at plenary, said Natasha was guilty of all allegations against her as she failed to submit herself to the legislative Committee for the review of her conduct. Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan is expected to issue a formal apology to the Senate for actions deemed disrespectful. The controversy ignited earlier this year when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office. She claimed that her motions, particularly concerning the Ajaokuta Steel Company, were deliberately obstructed. Furthermore, she alleged that Akpabio referred to her as a “night club girl” on the Senate floor, a remark he later apologized for. These allegations were formalized in a petition she resubmitted to the Senate. In response, Akpabio has consistently denied all allegations, emphasizing his respect for women and refuting claims of any misconduct. He expressed disappointment over the committee’s recommendation, labelling the accusations as unfounded. The Senate is scheduled to debate the committee’s report, with discussions focusing on potential amendments before a final decision is reached. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s absence during the committee’s probe has raised further concerns, as she failed to appear despite prior notifications. As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on the Senate’s forthcoming deliberations, which will determine the final outcome of the committee’s recommendations. Asuquo Ekpenyong of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the current senator representing the Cross River South senatorial district at the Nigerian senate. Senator Steve Karimi from Kogi West (APC) also spoke to issues afterwards apologising to Akpabio for backing her for a leadership role. Meanwhile, minority leader, Senator Abba Moro from Benue South (PDP) urged that the suspension be reduced to three months which he believes is more than enough to put things in order. Punch

JUST IN: Ex-Lagos PDP Gov Candidate, Jandor, Dumps Party

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  A former Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2023 general election, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has dumped the party. Jandor announced his resignation at a press briefing held at Liberty Place, Ikeja, in Lagos on Monday. According to him, his reasons for leaving the party are not unconnected to indiscipline and anti-party activities, which have become the norm in his erstwhile party. The ex-PDP governorship candidate, who a large group of supporters accompanied, revealed that the decision to part ways with the PDP stemmed from actions taken by some of the party’s leaders, including the former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George. According to Jandor, these leaders actively worked against the PDP in the 2023 elections. “We will consult widely with everybody and then take the decision to collapse our structure to another platform. What is majority on the ground now is that we have left the Peoples Democratic Party,” Jandor stated. Details later…

JUST IN: FG To Review Electricity Tariff For Band B, C Customers

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  The Federal Government has announced plans to regularise electricity tariffs in a bid to address disparities in the current billing system as well as encourage investment in the power sector. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known at the ongoing public presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Nigeria Integrated Resource Plan on Thursday in Abuja. He said the government is considering this option over the slow pace of migration to Band A customers, which he attributed to the reluctance of Distribution Companies to make the necessary investments. Under the current structure, customers in Band B, who enjoy 18 to 17 hours of electricity supply, pay N63 per kilowatt-hour, while those in Band A, with only two hours more of supply, are charged N209 per kilowatt-hour. Adelabu described this as “unfair” and stressed the need for a regularisation of the tariffs to create a more balanced and equitable pricing system. The minister said, “We will look at the tariff again. I am not saying that we’re going to increase the tariff before I am misquoted. “We are going to look at it and see how we can improve upon our modest achievement of last year, not only to ensure that we grow the sector that we need but also to ensure that we can invest more in revamping all these dilapidated infrastructures.” “The migration to Band A should have been faster, but we found out that the DisCos refuse to invest. They have refused to invest in this sector. “A lot of investment is required for us to achieve an accelerated migration of lower-band customers into Band A. It is taking a lot of time.” In response to this, the government is considering restructuring the tariff bands, reducing the current wide gap between them. A new system, proposed to encompass Bands A, B, and C, would address these inequalities. “The gap between the Band A tariffs and Bands B, C, D, and E is just too wide,” he said. “We believe it’s not fair. It is not just, and we must be able to carry out some level of regularization.” According to him, the government is committed to reviewing the existing tariff structure, although he was quick to clarify that the review does not imply an imminent increase in rates. Punch  

JUST IN: Heavy Security As APC Chieftains Arrive For NEC Meeting

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  The national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress was a beehive of activities on Wednesday morning as governors elected on the platform of the APC and party chieftains trooped in for the long-awaited meeting of the National Executive Committee. Early arrivals at the meeting include members of the National Working Committee, APC State Chairmen, former governor of Zamfara state, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Kebbi state and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Goodwill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas are expected to be in attendance. As early as 8.30am, there was heavy vehicular movement and party supporters blaring music and displaying APC banners around the party headquarters and neighbouring streets. Stern-looking security operatives including agents of the Department of State Security were also manned at the entry and exit point of the venue to provide security. Punch

JUST IN: APC LG Chairmen, Councillors Resume In 14 Osun Councils

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  As of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, chairmen and councillors elected in the October 15, 2022, local government election in Osun State had resumed in about 14 LGA Secretariat in the state. Checks by The PUNCH revealed that the chairmen and councillors, accompanied by many APC members, have resumed at Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade and Obokun local government secretariat. Others where they resumed include Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe local government secretariat. Commenting, ex-Special Adviser to the governor on education, Jamiu Olawumi, said at about 10am, the chairmen and councillors resumed at 14 local government secretariat. Olawumi also said no incidence of violence has been recorded so far. “We have 14 as of 10 am. They are Ila, Ede South, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Boripe, Oriade and Obokun. “Ejigbo, Iwo, Ayedire and Boripe. Security was top-notch. Members of the police tactical team, an armed squad of civil defence, and DSS are all present around the secretariat. We commend Governor Adeleke, but that is not enough. “They should take away thugs they brought here. They have them in town. If you move around, you will see different faces that you have not seen here. They should not encourage those militants and cultists to kill the Osun people. “It is dawn on them that the judgment is enforceable. The governor should make an attempt to see the President, Chief of Staff to the President or the IGP. He should do that much for us so that the vision of developing Osun within his current tenure will be achieved. “Our chairmen and councillors are ready to work with him, though they are different tiers of government,” Olawumi said. Punch

IBEDC Agrees To Restore Power Supply To UCH Within 48 Hours

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  The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has agreed to restore power supply to the University College Hospital, Ibadan within 48 hours. This was the fallout of the tripartite meeting among the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the management of the University College Hospital, Ibadan and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company. It was resolved that the Business outlets including banks and the residential buildings would be disconnected for now.  

Just In: Governor Makinde Loses Brother

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  IBADAN – The death has occurred of Engineer Sunday Makinde, the eldest brother of Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde. He was aged 65 years. He died on Friday, January 24, 2025. Announcing the passing in a message, a brother of the deceased, who is also the Bada Olubadan of Ibadanland and Head of Aigbofa Family of Oja’ba, Ibadan, Chief Olumuyiwa Makinde, wrote, “With a heavy heart, I announce the passage of my older brother, Engr Sunday Makinde, to eternal glory today, Friday 24th of January 2025. “His sudden death occurred in his Ibadan residence at 3.20am today, Friday 24th January 2025. “He is survived by siblings, among whom is the Executive Governor of Oyo state, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, children and grand children.”

JUST IN: Court Grants Farotimi N30m Bail, Bars Media Interviews

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  A magistrates’ court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has granted N30 million bail to embattled lawyer and human rights activist Dele Farotimi. At the hearing of the bail application on Friday, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled in favour of Farotimi’s bail request. The magistrate stipulated that the bail conditions included two responsible sureties and required Farotimi to surrender his international passport to the court. Additionally, he was instructed not to grant media interviews while the case was ongoing. Ekiti Police Command had arraigned Farotimi following a petition from an elder statesman and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, who accused the activist of criminally defaming him in his recently-released book. More details later…

Ex-boxing World Title Holder, Thierry Jacob, Dies Aged 59

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  French former boxing world title holder Thierry Jacob has died at the age of 59, the mayor of his home city Calais announced on Friday. Jacob took the WBC super bantamweight title in 1992, defeating Mexico’s Daniel Zaragoza in front of his local fans in Calais. “We begin this day with sad news. Thierry Jacob died overnight, so young,” Natacha Bouchart, mayor of the northern port city, announced on Facebook. Jacob turned professional in 1984, retiring a decade later with a 39-6 record, losing his WBC title at his first defence against American Tracy Harris Patterson in New York. One of his sons, Romain Jacob, followed him into the ring, claiming the European super featherweight belt in 2014. AFP

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