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Committee Chair Suggests Training Area Boys for Tax Collection Roles
Chairman of Presidential Tax and Fiscal Policy Reform, Taiwo Oyedele, Advocates Training Area Boys for Tax Collection Roles to Enhance Revenue Collection…..COUNTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Chairman of the Presidential Tax and Fiscal Policy Reform, Taiwo Oyedele, recently discussed ongoing efforts to streamline and reduce multiple taxes at the state and local government levels. In an interview with Channels TV, Oyedele emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders, including the “Area Boys,” to prevent potential crises resulting from the suspension of multiple taxes.
He suggested that training programs could be initiated for area boys, equipping them with the necessary skills for tax collection roles while providing them with salaries. Oyedele highlighted the potential benefits of this approach, such as minimizing disruptions to livelihoods and avoiding crises that may arise from abruptly halting various income streams.
“We’re also thinking about how to bring all stakeholders on board because, at the end of the day, if you stop the livelihood of anyone, whether they are earning it legitimately or not, you can create crises that would be difficult to manage. But once you bring everybody in, maybe we need to train those area boys and touts, give them uniforms, and then they’ll be the ones to ask you to show evidence on your phone, right? And then they get paid a decent salary,” Oyedele explained.
He further emphasized the importance of presenting a comprehensive strategy that aligns the interests of all stakeholders, including the government, to achieve a common goal of enhancing revenue collection and overall economic development.
Regarding updates on the recommendations submitted by the Tax Reform Committee, Oyedele acknowledged that fiscal policy matters may take time for full implementation. He highlighted the submission of over 20 recommendations in October, with progress made on about three of them so far. Oyedele identified the Emergency Economic Intervention Bill as a crucial instrument for implementing these recommendations, aiming to amend multiple laws and introduce changes to promote price stability, relieve impacted individuals and businesses, and address foreign exchange concerns.
“In fairness to the lawmakers, we haven’t presented the bills to them yet. And that was also because, once they had the budget for 2024, it became their priority. Now that that’s out of the way, we want to try and prioritize this and send the bill to them for them to pass it as a matter of urgency,” Oyedele added.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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