Speaking on the ‘Ounje Eko’ initiative, where food items are sold at discounted prices, the governor said, “We created 59 makeshift markets outside of the regular markets out of our 57 local government and local council development areas and made it Sunday-Sunday market.”
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Public service recognition a morale booster for us — NAMI
The Executive Chairman of the FIRS Nigeria, Nami Muhammad, has stated that his recognition by the Leadership Nigeria Awards as the Newspaper’s Public Service Person of the Year 2022 is a morale booster for the Service to do more.
Mr. Nami stated this while speaking to journalists after receiving the LEADERSHIP Public Service Person of the Year 2022 Award at the 14th Edition of the LEADERSHIP Annual Conference and Awards, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
“We feel honoured to receive this award, and in fact feel more indebted to Nigerians to do better in the years to come,” he noted.
“We are grateful to the media, and most especially Leadership Newspaper for finding us worthy of this honour.
“Permit me to dedicate this Award to the FIRS family, & rename it as ‘the LEADERSHIP Public Institution of the Year Award 2022’-not Muhammad Nami’s.
“This Award is the result of a collective effort. It is because of team work that we have been able to achieve what we have done at the FIRS.”
The FIRS boss stated that the Award was a recognition for the reforms that the Service had carried out, and their consequent results.
“We have carried out so many reforms that have brought us to this proud moment.We have rebuilt the institutional structure of the Service; we have ensured we carry our taxpayers along; we have created an environment for ease of tax payment;we have deployed big data in our operations; we have taken our stakeholders-including the media, seriously; among many others.
“When we came on board, we met a Service that was collecting tax revenue within the region of 5 trillion for a period of nine years. In 2021 we broke that jinx, and crossed over the 6-trillion naira mark.
“We did not rest on our oars, in 2022, by sheer determination and collective effort we raked in N10.1 trillion in tax revenue the highest sum in our nation’s history.”
Speaking on the prospects for the year 2023, Mr. Muhammad Nami stated that the FIRS would do everything within its means to ensure that government does not lack the needed resources to cater for the needs of the Nigerian people.
“It is not easy to collect taxes. I believe that after the issue of tackling insecurity, the second most difficult task for our government is to collect taxes.
“But we will continue to appeal to Nigerians to pay their taxes, and help them understand that without taxes, salaries cannot be paid; without taxes, roads cannot be built; without taxes our lives and properties cannot be secured.
“I want to assure Nigerians that we would do everything within our means to ensure that the governments at the three tiers are funded to provide these services and needs to the Nigerian people.
“We have already commenced the journey to do better, well before the new year.
“We have appointed telecommunication companies and deposit money banks to act as agents of VAT collection for us. They would deduct VAT at source from their Contractors and, or Service providers, and remit same to us.
“Also, we are extending our collaboration further, beyond local stakeholders and engaging with the international community to ensure that we have seamless flow of information required for tax administration.
“We would also work tirelessly to ensure that we improve our automation so that we are able to serve our taxpayers better than previous years,” Mr. Nami stated.
For his bold & unprecedented reform of Nigeria’s tax administration, including the deployment of technology, data & strategic intelligence leading to the highest ever tax revenue collection in a year (2021), Muhammad Nami is the LEADERSHIP Public Service Person of the Year 2022.
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Rep tasks military to use technology to tackle security challenge
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Rep. Abdullahi Mamudu, has urged the military to use modern technology to tackle security challenges facing the country.
Mamudu said this when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit at the Headquartres of the Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri on Thursday.
He lauded the military for the effort in securing the country, saying that it would have been difficult for Nigerians to go about their normal businesses without the military.
He said it was the National Assembly’s responsibility to provide budget that would enable the military carry out its constitutional duties.
He lauded the military personnel for their sacrifices, especially those who lost their lives in the course of duty.
Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, the theatre commander, North East OPHK, lauded the committee said for the visit, describing it as timely.
Shuaibu said that the North East had been the nation’s focal point of battle against terrorism, saying that the OPHK was launched to address the challenge.
He added that OPHK had over the years discharged its duty of restoring law and order in the Northeast in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s philosophy.
“To transform the NA into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force toward achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a Joint environment.”
The commander added that OPHK had recorded successes lately, especially in the area of neutralising terrorists, capturing equipment and rescue of hostages.
He reiterated that the theatre was determined to end the insurgency, through reviewed strategies to address emerging security challenges.
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Lagos workers now earn minimum of N70,000 since January – Sanwo-Olu
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that workers have been enjoying an additional N35,000 wage allowance since January.
This is as he revealed the state government will soon roll out a new minimum wage scheme.
The governor stated that those who are currently earning a minimum wage of N35,000 or more now take home a salary of N70,000 or above since the beginning of the year.
“The civil servant and all public officers in Lagos know that since January, we have continued to pay the wage allowance of a minimum of N35,000 over and above what they were earning before.
“What this means is that people that are earning a minimum of N35,000 or more before are now earning over N70,00. That is what they have been enjoying since January.
“So it is important for people to know that we make these things very clear that this government has doubled up to ensure that at this difficult time, it has not left the citizens on their own,” Sanwo-Olu said at a state function on Thursday.
The governor while giving an update on the intervention the state embarked on to ameliorate the current economic hardship, said his administration will distribute food items to 500,000 households in the state through unions and local governments.
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AGF warns treasury managers against corruption, fraud
Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) has advised treasury managers to guard against corruption, fraud and financial mismanagement by implementing strong internal control mechanisms.
Madein said this at the training programme organised by the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (CITM) in Abuja on Thursday.
The AGF, who was represented by Alhaji Muhammed Aliyu, Director, Special Duty, said that there was a need to safeguard public funds and protect the interest of government and the public.
“We must remain watchful against the threats of corruption, fraud and financial mismanagement by implementing a strong internal control system and promoting a culture of compliance.”
This, according to her, is in a bid to achieve the virtues and behaviours necessary to curtail corruption in the polity.
She said: “training and professional development are essential in equipping the practitioners with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct the activities of Treasury Management Ethically.”
“Let us seize this opportunity to expand our understanding of ethical principles and best practices, so as to strengthen our ability to serve the public well.”
She urged the participants to uphold the highest ethical standards in their work and actions as treasury professionals.
According to her, together, we shall strive to build a future where transparency, integrity and accountability will be the focus in management of public finances.
“As professionals, we must resist the temptation of personal interest or undue influence in our decision-making processes.
“We must always prioritise the public interest above all other interests, even in the face of unpleasant situations or pressure from the public.” she said.
She said ethical conduct in treasury management entailed an extremely large number of principles, which includes transparency, honesty, accountability, and fairness.
“We must adhere to these principles seriously, not only to maintain public trust but also to imbibe a culture of integrity and transparency within our organisations.”
She said that as custodian of public funds, treasury managers bear a tremendous responsibility to uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity in our profession.
Also speaking, the Registrar, CITM, Mr Olumide Adedoyin, said to curtail financial crime, there must be deterrent, adding that enlightenment is also key.
“Once you create awareness, you must empower professional associations particularly associations like CITM, ANAN, ICAN, because where we are going is an evolving journey.
“And along the line, there are gaps that needed to be filled and that is why treasury management becomes important , if you don’t involve treasury management in your financial flow you are going to lose it”, he said.
He said that sound treasury management would help to safeguard the nation’s financial system by fortifying financial inflow and reducing corruption in the system.
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