South East Governors have stated their support for the Air Peace boss, Allen Onyema, following his indictment by the United States Department of Justice for allegedly laundering $20m.
Onyema was accused by the US authorities for allegedly laundering over $20 million from Nigeria through United States bank accounts in a scheme involving false documents for the purchase of airplanes
In a statement signed by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, of Enugu, Willie Obiano of Anambra, Emeka Ihedioha of Imo, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, they reiterated that though the Governors’ forum may not have full details of the matter, that there are innuendos that it will not accept.
The forum frowned at insinuations that some government officials are against the Air Peace boss, and as such, want to pull him down, stating that such statement only breeds hatred and disunity.
They pointed out that even Onyema has on different occasions commended President Buhari for assisting him to get up to five international licenses.
The forum pleaded with president Buhari to support and protect the Air Peace boss to enable Onyema sort the matter peaceful so that his business will not suffer.
“We have read a lot of comments by different individuals and interest groups on the matter and want to point out that the insinuations that some Nigerians or government officials are against Onyema and want to pull him down by all means is a ploy to instigate hatred against him.
“He has remained in Aviation industry which is highly challenging in our country when many people could not cope.
“Onyema is at peace with the federal government and has on various occasions commended President Buhari for assisting him to get up to five international licenses. Many officials of Buhari’s administration had stood for him many times in promoting and encouraging Air Peace operations in and outside Nigeria.
“Air Peace is a business and most businesses usually have one issue or the other to settle and this one is not an exception. We plead with Buhari to please continue to give Onyema all the necessary support and protection to enable him sort out this matter peacefully.
“Onyema has highly assisted the aviation industry in Nigeria and we must all stand to defend this business. The governors of the South East will do everything within the law to support Onyema overcome this issue so as to continue to offer more excellent services to Nigeria.
“We request the US Ambassador to Nigeria to please step into the matter so as to peacefully resolve the issue without destroying Onyema’s reputation. We also urge Onyema to engage experienced and external financial managers to work with the US government in resolving and rectifying his business tax matter if any”, according to the statement.
Evidence of tax payment will be a condition for operating a bank account from January, 2020 according to the Financial bill passed by the National Assembly.
The Bill, submitted to the lawmakers with Budget 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari, is designed to improve financial operations of the country and streamline the tax regime.
It is expected to be signed with the budget before end of the month, to actualise the return to the January – December budget cycle.
According to a section of the Bill, banks will require anybody opening an account to provide his Tax Identification Number (TIN)
Those who already have accounts with banks will also be required to provide their TIN.
There are 30 million Bank Verification Numbers (BVN)-linked accounts.
The intention is to make sure that more people are captured into the tax net.
According to the Joint Tax Board, the tax identification number (TIN) is a unique identifier for an individual or a company for tax remittance.
The TIN is prepared by the tax office and issued for proper identification and verification.
Applying for TIN is free. The TIN generation process is real-time and should not exceed 48 hours after a request is submitted.
Another major feature of the Financial Bill is the hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) to 7.5 per cent from the extant five per cent.
Also in the bill, emails will be accepted by the tax authorities as a formal channel of correspondence with taxpayers. The bill will also strategically “promote fiscal equity by mitigating instances of regressive taxation; reform domestic tax laws to align with global best practices; introduce tax incentives for investments in infrastructure and capital markets; support small businesses in line with the ongoing Ease of Doing Business Reforms; and raise revenues for the Government by various fiscal measures.”
Under the proposed Personal Income Tax Act: the bill will state that pension contributions no longer require the approval of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) to be tax-deductible.
The bill when signed into law, will remove the tax exemption on withdrawals from pension schemes except the prescribed conditions are met.
The bill will come up with a penalty for failure to deduct tax by agents appointed for tax deduction. This penalty is 10 per cent of the tax not deducted, plus interest at the prevailing monetary policy rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The conditions attached to tax exemption on gratuities will be removed by the bill, meaning that gratuities are unconditionally tax exempt. The duties currently performed by the Joint Tax Board (JTB) as it relates to administering the Personal Income Tax Act, will now be performed by the FIRS. Another penalty that will come into effect when the bill becomes law will be the penalty for late filing of the Value Added Tax (VAT) returns.
The penalty for failure to register for VAT will be reviewed upwards to N50,000 for the first month of default and N25,000 for each subsequent month of default.
The penalty for failure to notify FIRS of change in company address will be reviewed upwards to N50,000 for the first month of default and N25,000 for each subsequent month of default. This penalty also covers failure to notify FIRS of permanent cessation of trade or business.
Similar to the VAT amendment, the bill is also introducing Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption on Group reorganisations, subject to the following conditions being met.
They are;
Assets are sold to a Nigerian company and is for the better organisation of the trade or business;
The entities involved are within a recognised group 365 days before the transaction, and the relevant assets are not disposed earlier than 365 days after the transaction.
The current practice is that companies send an approval request letter under CITA S29(9) to the FIRS, and include a CGT exemption request. Currently, the CGT Act imposes CGT on compensation for loss of employment above N10,000.
The bill seeks to expand the coverage of this provision by renaming it “compensation for loss” and increase the minimum threshold from N10,000 to N10 million.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened not to participate in future elections if the Electoral Act is not amended to ensure that electronic voting is adopted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At a meeting with the INEC yesterday, the main opposition party also asked the electoral umpire to clarify whether Nigeria is still practising the United States’ presidential democracy or the Egyptian model, where the military participates and supervises elections.
Also, PDP told INEC to ensure that the Electoral Act is amended to enthrone electronic voting, or the party might not participate in subsequent elections.
The position of PDP was made known by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, when the National Working Committee (NWC) met the INEC Election Party Monitoring Department led by the commission’s Deputy Director, Mr. Musa Husule.
Secondus, who berated INEC for conducting one of the worst elections in 2019, told the visiting INEC team that history would hold them responsible for their actions.
Secondus told INEC to clarify the form of democracy that Nigeria was practising and wondered whether it was still the American model of democracy or the Egyptian model of democracy where the military were allowed to participate and supervise elections.
He stated that it was necessary for INEC to clarify this position, so as to include it in the electoral reform on conduct of free, fair and credible election.
“Such legal framework should address the issue of security, electronic voting and collation of results and punishment for electoral offenders,” he explained. Speaking on party rules, Secondus told the INEC officials that the operation of PDP was basically as enshrined in the party’s constitution as amended in 2016, saying, “We are a party guided by the rule of law and we religiously follow the dictates of democracy, anchoring our strength on the Nigerian people in line with our slogan-power to the people.”
He said PDP had played great roles to sustain democracy in Nigeria since 1999.
According to him, the PDP has since 1999 nurtured democracy for 16 years, during which the party carried out an extensive electoral reform that culminated in its loss of power and the entry of the opposition since 2015.
“That seamless transition of power from ruling party to opposition remains the finest time for our democracy and INEC. The global democracy stood in salute for us as a nation. Unfortunately, both INEC and the government in power have been unable to replicate or grow on that fine foundation” he said.
Secondus described 2015 as the finest hour of Nigeria’s democracy, even though PDP was ousted as the ruling party, adding that on the contrary the 2019 general election was the height of electoral impunity that set the nation backwards.
On INEC and its duties, Secondus said PDP had been attacking the commission because it compromised its integrity.
“We are standing vindicated in the eyes of many electoral watchers as all our fears and apprehensions ahead of election came to fruition in the general election of February and March this year, the preceding governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States earlier and the latest being the November 16, 2019 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa and Kogi States,” he added.
He told INEC that the survival and sustenance of democracy rested squarely on the integrity of the commission, which would derive from the character and the impartiality of its operatives.
He said: “The effect of bad elections in our polity has been far reaching, stagnating political and economic development, and permanently foisting on the people unpopular and incompetent leaders. The tension and uncertainty in the country today is clearly fallout of election mishap in February.
“Free, fair and credible election is exactly what PDP and indeed global democracy demand and expect from INEC.”
Responding, Husule said their visit to PDP was part of the regulatory body’s monitoring of political parties to supervise their finance, check on names of member of the party, supervision of the party headquarters, physical check on members of the NWC and the names of the NEC, as well as sighting of the party constitution, among others.
The minister of state for labour Festus Keyamo (SAN) said that nobody should be punished for insulting public officers or criticizing government.
He said that when he was making clarification on an earlier comment he made on social media bill. In an earlier post on his Twitter account @fkeyamo, the minister said that, those so called overnight social media ‘activists’ who oppose the social media bill should first stop blocking those who irritate them with insults, he said that they should unblock those they have blocked and apologize to them,
He said “you can’t be intolerant and ask others to practice what you preach. However, some Nigerians disagreed with Keyamo they argued that there was no correlation between blocking someone on social media handles and locking someone up in prison over opposing views and insults.
In his reply, Keyamo further said, “if you’re so intolerable of opposing views and insults on social media to the extent of blocking people, if you have the power you will lock them up.
“That’s the point, some mischievous ones are trying to teach us that there is no correlation between blocking and locking, there is.
“Mischief makers are twisting the issues let me be clear, nobody should be punished for insulting public officers or criticizing government
“But if you post false stories that can turn citizens against one another or led to an uprising, YOU MUST BE PUNISHED!
The Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has decried the terrible condition of the Nkaliki Hatchery Road.
Nwifuru called on the Ebonyi State Road Maintenance Agency to intervene on the road which is in Abakaliki Local Government Area.
He made the call on Monday during the house plenary while reacting to a motion moved by the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs and Member Representing Abakaliki North Constituency, Hon. Mrs. Franca C. Okpo, concerning the deplorable nature of the road.
Mrs. Okpo stated in her motion that, “Ebonyi State has become the fastest growing State in Nigeria because of the good road network, but to say that this road is in a bad shape is to be mild. This particular road leads to Ebonyi State House of Assembly complex here, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, (FETHA II), Abakaliki Local Government Headquarter, Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC), Ebonyi State Hatchery and other important places in the State.”
In his reaction, Speaker Nwifuru stated: “The issue of the dilapidated nature of hatchery road is very known to all of us but we’re already building so many projects that need attention.
“I think we have a Road Maintenance Agency and we ask them to move to that road and repair areas that need to be repaired. If we continue building new roads, we may have many uncompleted projects. We must be very conscious of taking in new projects. So the Chairman House Committee on Infrastructure and Concession, Hon. Joseph Ununu, should as a matter of urgency inform the Agency of the need to repair that road.”
However, the motion was seconded by Hon. Mazi Oliver Osi, Member representing Ivo constituency and Chairman House Committee on Health.
Federal Government has reacted over the delay in the payment of N-Power beneficiaries.
In her reaction, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs disaster management and social development, reportedly said the delay was as a result of handing and taking over process of the programme.
She further noted that the delay was also connected to lack of proper exit plan for beneficiaries that enrolled in 2016, adding that the ministry was making efforts to develop an exit plan which was not in existence.
However, Farouq, assured N-Power beneficiaries that the money owed them would be paid upon conclusion of the handing over and taking over process.
She reiterated that the Federal Government will continue to fund its Social Investment Programmes and ensure that it touches lives positively.
Recall that N-Power is part of the government National Social Intervention Programme (NSIP) which commenced in 2015 with the initial 200,000 graduates and another 300,000 volunteers were also added in 2017, giving a total of 500,000 beneficiaries.
…Gives Millers 14 days ultimatum to register their cooperatives or…
Hon. Nwakpu addressing mill and property owners
Ebonyi state government has made it crystal clear that it is not interested in taking over Abakaliki Ricemill as government moves to modernize the industry.
The Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Okechukwu Nwakpu, stated this during a meeting with mill owners, property owners and landlords at the Abakaliki Ricemill Conference Hall, on Tuesday November 26.
He noted that after his last visit to Ricemill on October 16, there have been rumours that the state government wants to take over Abakaliki Ricemill, and that it’s the reason government wants to redesign it and bring in modern equipments.
Nwakpu maintained that the state government has enough ricemills which are working effectively with up to date modern equipments. He declared that the state governments interest was to encourage millers and to boost their business and for the Abakaliki Ricemill to receive a facelift so that anyone coming from outside the state will appreciate what is on ground.
“People have been so much worried over the state governments involvement in the ricemill. I want to state categorically, that the state government is not interested to acquire and own this mill. Governor David Umahi, has nothing to do with Abakaliki Ricemill as an individual or as a state government.
”His interest is to make sure that this mill receives a facelift such that anybody coming from outside the state to the mill will know that actually, this is Abakaliki Ricemill that produces the rice that feeds the country, not with this analog machines, but modern machines,” he stated
The Deputy Chief of Staff, also pointed out that the state government was not interested in removing Abakaliki Ricemill from its present location, stating that Ebonyi State government has enough mills and is still building more.
Adding that everyone should not be clamouring for political appointments or white collar jobs, stressing that modernizing the mill will create more job opportunities.
“I have heard from some of you that why you are afraid is that state government wants to take over the mill”.
“Everybody must not get political appointments, white collar job or be on the streets. Here, you will be in a comfortable environment, a conducive atmosphere and do your business, that is the interest of governor, not to acquire your property”, he said.
Nwakpu also gave the millers 14 days ultimatum to register their cooperative societies or their shops will be closed down pending when they register.
He noted that while government was expected to assist them, they should also play their own part by coperating with the state government, stating that the state government has not requested any money from the millers but to form themselves into cooperatives and register it.
He frowned that after visiting with the SA on Small Enterprise, to educate them on the importance and steps in registering cooperatives, that nothing has been done by the millers.
Nwakpu reiterated that in their record, there are over 130 mill owners, not to mention rice dealers, landlords that require cooperatives, but only about 14 cooperatives were registered.
“We came to inform you that from today we are given you one week ultimatum, if you don’t have your registered cooperatives we shut down your mill, you are not qualified to do your business here, whether as a mill owner or as a rice dealer or as a landlord.
“Our reason is this, government will soon bring in some expertise that will go round the mill to ascertain the type of building that will fit into the modern mill. If we need to destroy the old buildings, we will do so and rebuild it, if it needs to be renovated, we will do so, but we cannot do these things when you don’t have your cooperative societies
“Government is ready to go to anywhere and borrow money for you people and will still sign as your guarantor and your surety, you don’t have to do anything concerning that, your own is to answer the owner and agree on the mode of repayment of the loan which will just be 5% interest annually since its agric based industry”, he stated.
He also noted that having observed indiscriminating packing by drivers at the mill, they approached the chairman of the Ricemill, Hon. Ogodo Samuel, to provide a place where government can build a parking lot, though not permanent, so that any defaulter will be sanctioned.
“If you make use of cooperatives, you will benefit more than the state government. Last time I came with the Branch Manager of NIRSAL Bank which is a baby bank of the CBN made to promote Agribusiness, who said they are here for you, I don’t know how many of you that have visited that bank.
“Their major purpose of coming into the state through the governor is for the bank to help our business men and women, especially, those of you who their businesses are mainly anchored in agriculture, it is for agric based industry.
“When you register your cooperatives, take the certificate, go to that bank and open an account. When you deposit and withdraw your money, the more you are doing it, you favour yourself, by the time you need money to do your business, you stand a better opportunity of getting loan more than individuals who have an account there. Interestingly, the loan is five digit interest for one year, while other commercial banks are five digit interest for one month. So these are provisions made by Gov. Umahi to help us”, he noted.
He reiterated that those who have properties in the Ricemill that were not developed should also register them free of charge, adding that what is needed for the registration is the property documents, including survey plan if the property has been surveyed, C of O or ordinary agreement, whatever document that proves that such building belongs to the person.
“Don’t give anybody money, the governor has not asked anybody to collect money, just go and register the property for your own good. Submit the photocopies of your documents.
“The essence of this is that, assuming the government finally takes decision to destroy these buildings and put up new structures, it’s those who registered with us that we will submit their names as those who have buildings here.
“We will not create room for anybody to jump in and say I want to have building when you don’t have land and building here. So the earlier you do this, the better for you. We don’t want anyone to lose his property. Help us to also inform those who have buildings here but are no longer in Abakaliki”, he urged.
He further announced that the contract to wall Abakaliki Ricemill has been given by the state government for security purposes.
In his reaction, Mr. Tony Mouneke, former Chairman of Abakaliki Ricemill, pleaded with the government to give them 14 days instead of 7 days, stating that ember months are the only periods they have surge of buyers and as such, has been one of the reasons why the cooperatives have not been registered.
The plea was considered by the Deputy Chief of Staff, who extended the deadline for cooperatives registration to 14 days.
On his part, Chairman of Abakaliki Ricemill, Hon. Ogodo, urged his colleagues to do the needful so as to benefit from the state governments packages.
He assured that his office will set up measures to get the millers to register their cooperatives.
Governor David Nweze Umahi, has told Ebonyi workers to get their Bank Verification Number (BVN) or forfeit their salaries henceforth.
Umahi stated this on Wednesday Nov. 27, during a presentation by Adayi Chris Onah, Central Bank of Nigeria’s Branch Controller, at the executive Chambers, Government House Abakaliki.
The governor was reacting to CBN’s data which shows that Ebonyi was the least state in bank account opening in the south east zone.
He reiterated, “Anybody that doesn’t have BVN should not expect salary, no BVN no salary whether it is political or not. The Deputy Governor has BVN and I have BVN. So, any political appointee that doesn’t have BVN, no salary. Any Civil Servant that doesn’t have BVN or have incomplete BVN or intentionally gave out wrong BVN, I have noted that and such a person will not take salary until they have BVN
“Commissioner for Local Government, you have to implement that immediately. No salary for the month of November, December until everybody has got a BVN, this is very important. So, some of you that have not opened account for the first time in your life, you will now open account. They said Ebonyi is the least in bank account opening, it shouldn’t be”.
According to the Branch Controller, “the Financial Access Performance across Geo-political zones, showed that South-East has an average exclusion rate of 29.3% whereas Ebonyi State has 43.6% which is above the national average of 36.8% and the regional average of 29.3%.
“While other states in the zone, are recording an average of between 25.4%-28.7%, Ebonyi State is still very far at 43.6% exclusion rate. Hence, the state has been selected in the south east zone for pilot exercise for account opening week starting from December 2-7, 2019 in all the thirteen local government areas of the state.
He further revealed that the state government has accessed over N12bn through various interventions of the bank while some other persons in the state also accessed over N4bn.
Meanwhile, also Governor Umahi inaugurated committee on Recovering Tax Labilities Arising from Defunct Companies.
Governor David Nweze Umahi, of Ebonyi state, has revealed that the shopping mall undergoing construction in the state will create about 3000 job opportunities for it’s citizens when completed.
Umahi said this on Wednesday Nov. 27, while delivering a lecture titled: “Changing the face of Governance through infrastructural and human capital development : Ebonyi State as a case study”, at Princess Alexandra Auditorium of University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The governor was represented by his Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji.
He reiterated that the shopping mall will attract international trade and investment, stating: “Is constructing the biggest shopping Mall that will be the microcosm of the macrocosm of the Dubai Mall, to create market and stimulate provision of goods and services. This Shopping mall will attract International trade and investment and shall create not less than 3000 jobs and generate thousands of wealth, he stated”
He reiterated that his administration has also constructed 500 km Federal roads especially the major routes some of which are by concrete pavement, whilst 300 km concrete pavement have been constructed in all the Local Government areas with bridges.
“The state government has constructed 300 km concrete pavement in all the Local Government areas with bridges where not already connected. And over 1500 km State roads within the metropolis and the satellite towns.
“12 number fountains, beautiful roundabouts and branded perimeter fencing of Major Streets.
“Built the longest and most aesthetic flyovers in the South east, with 3-number of such having a total of 96 span built in 3-years and has commenced another construction of 8 flyovers in strategic junctions with dual carriage way done in concrete pavement in major highways of the 3 senatorial zones to attract investors.
“Built a President Buhari light Tunnel with 29 spans, with aesthetic lights that shines in the night to make Ebonyi State investment friendly and promote night trading. Renovated the State Stadium with ancillary work and built Guest House for accommodation of athletes and has commenced construction of one of the best Stadia in Nigeria.
The Governor recommended the principles of governance and leadership style that gave rise to the infrastructural and human capital development in Ebonyi State, as a model for the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria.
During the lecture, he noted that going by the desire of the electorates to hold leaders accountable, no leader can afford to disappoint his or her own people while occupying the seat of power.
Stating: “This is because as leaders, we can no longer afford to disappoint our people. The society requires from us security and safety of the citizenry, we need to engage our teaming graduates and youths in dignifying means of livelihood, we need to provide the environment for private sector initiatives, we need to provide the social security required for prosperous and healthy living for our population and the enablement to take our destiny in our hands.”
“Good governance entails initiation and maintenance of rapid socio-economic growth, the establishment and development of a free market growth, establishment of a basic organizational framework to act as a springboard for further development, the creation of an absorptive capacity for capital and other inputs.
“The organization and promotion of private sector investment, the raising of the productivity of the people by improving their skills, enterprise, initiative, adaptability and attitudes, guaranteeing the tenets of democracy and principles of constitutionalism.”
on the condition of the Ebonyi state before 2015, Umahi stated: “Ebonyi State upon creation was faced with developmental challenges ranging from lack of physical, social and economic infrastructure, and also lack of Human Capital Development.
“We had the worst Road infrastructure, Health Care was in a shambles, rural communities were cut off from the urban and that encouraged rural-urban migration and street hawking. Communal conflicts were high, agriculture was still by crude practice, empowerment and security had negative profile.
“We had no confidence in ourselves. This was our situation until the coming on board of the 3rd Civilian Governor of Ebonyi State.”
