Author: Joy Gyakyor

The House of Representatives has commended the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Dr. Zacch Adedeji and his management team for effectively and efficiently running the nation’s top tax agency. Chairman House Committee on Finance, James Faleke gave the commendation when he led his members on an oversight function to the ongoing construction work of the headquarters of the FIRS in the Central Business District of Abuja. NewsQuest reports that the FIRS exceeded its 2023 revenue target of ₦11.55trillion, collecting ₦12.36 trillion. The agency in the first quarter of 2024 alone, achieved ₦3.94trillion representing a 56 percent increase…

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has has approved a total of N33.24 billion for the construction of projects across different sectors pin Abuja. Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike presided over the Executive Committee meeting of the administration where the approvals including the improvements in transportation access, fuel supply for essential facilities, and significant upgrades to airport infrastructure and educational staff housing were made. The projects are expected to be completed over the coming year. Chief of Staff to the Minister, Mr. Chidi Amadi, while briefing journalists said that the administration’s dedication to delivering key services to FCT residents…

The Federal Government is seeking major reforms of the nation’s tax system and hopes to strengthen fiscal institutions including a name change for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and there are fears of the possible slamming of new taxes on Nigerians. But the government should be given the benefit of the doubt, writes Joy Gyakyor. It was Benjamin Franklin, an American leading writer and scientist, known as the founding Father of the United States who once said; When you are finished changing, you are finished. Indeed, striving to move beyond the fear of uncertainty and making change works for…

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Professor Joseph Utsev has said that the interministerial committee set up by President Bola Tinubu to critically evaluate the condition of dams in Nigeria will also work to ensure the establishment of a disaster relief fund and review measures to avert future flood disasters. The committee met for the first time in Abuja to set in motion modalities for the monitoring and maintenance of the physical condition of dams across the country. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 23rd September resolved to set up a disaster relief fund to assist in situations of national…

A former presidential aspirant in the 2023 general election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Moses Ayom has commended President Bola Tinubu for his appointment of Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Director-General and Global Liaison on Nigeria-China renewed strategic partnership. Nigeria and China during President Tinubu’s State visit to Beijing in early September, signed several agreements for a mutually comprehensive bilateral relationship of economic and development interest to both countries. Ayom who holds an Honourary Ambassadorial title of ‘Outstanding Advocate’ – Nigeria, conferred on him by the Chinese government said that Tegbe, a 1988 first-class…

National Honours Award to deserving Nigerians and friends of the country who have contributed to the development of the nation. Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo stated this on Tuesday at a meeting with management staff of the ministry in Abuja. Jisalo said that the Federal Government would also honour Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavours. The minister explained that the forms and processes leading to the award of national honours were free of charge, adding that people should desist from paying for national honuours. “By this information, the public is to…

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has conducted a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) workshop on fodder production for government extension workers and FAO implementing partners in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba states as a strategic step to strengthen livestock sustainability in northeast part of Nigeria. FAO in a statement in Abuja said the workshop held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital also aims to enhance participants’ capacity in alternative fodder production techniques. According to the statement, the training was funded by the Government of Norway and is an initiative of the FAO that equips farmers with the skills…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited  (NNPCL) and its Joint Venture (JV) partner, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), have concluded the conversion of five of its JV assets into the PIA terms in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 provisions of transiting assets from the Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) into PIA terms. Under the new PIA regime, all existing Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPLs) and Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) would be automatically converted to Petroleum Prospecting Licenses (PPLs) and Petroleum Mining Leases (PMLs) upon their expiration. Chief Group Communication Officer of the NNPCL Olufemi Soneye in a statement said that…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies for the upgrading of electricity supply in Abuja using solar power systems. Wike signed the deal with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China’s capital where both parties agreed to undertake an electricity project within the city and water supply projects especially in rural areas of the city. According to statement by the Director of press in the Minister’s office Anthony Ogunleye, the FCT Minister was…

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani is among President Bola Tinubu’s official delegation at the 2024 Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. He speaks about an agreement signed between his government and Huawei for the development of a smart city in Kaduna and its impact on good governance. NewsQuest was there and brings the excerpts: Q: You signed an MoU with Huawei. Can you shed light on it? The Kaduna State government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei on Kaduna smart city project. The project is a very important one, for the fact that the State…