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Experts Condemn 21 Governors’ Bid to Abolish National Lottery Commission

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The International Institute of Experts on Political Economy and Administration, has condemned the efforts of 21 state governors seeking the dissolution of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the Nigeria Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF). These governors have taken the matter to the Supreme Court, challenging the Federal Government’s management of the gaming and betting industry.
Executive Vice President for Africa Affairs at the Institute, Professor Tunji John Asaolu while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, criticized the governors for attempting to undermine a crucial federal revenue stream, noting that the lottery sector is a significant contributor to the country’s economy. He emphasized that the revenues generated by these agencies are shared across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on a monthly basis, benefitting the entire nation.
In contrast, 16 states have expressed their support for the federal government to continue collecting and distributing these funds.

“These federal agencies employ over 20,000 people and play a critical role in regulating the gaming industry,” Asaolu stated. “The National Assembly empowered the NLRC to ensure compliance in the sector, while the NLTF collects and allocates revenue for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

Asaolu further revealed that some lottery operators, many of whom are foreign-owned, have deliberately avoided paying their full dues to the government.
This he said prompted the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce reforms aimed at automating the lottery revenue system to boost transparency and increase national income.

“Operators like BetNaija, owned by Russian entities, Ghana Games, and Baba Ijebu, owned by Australian interests, have failed to fully remit their revenues to the government,” Asaolu noted.
“The President’s push for automation will help curb these abuses and ensure that the sector contributes its fair share to the economy.”

Asaolu also raised concerns about reports that lottery operators have amassed 200 billion naira, allegedly stationed in Rwanda, in an attempt to influence the upcoming Supreme Court judgment.
However, he expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to resist any corrupt influence.

“The Supreme Court justices are people of high integrity who will not bow to any illicit pressure,” Asaolu said.
“We also recognize that these lottery operators are behind the 21 states’ legal action because they fear greater federal oversight and increased scrutiny from agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

In addition to the push to scrap the lottery agencies, Asaolu pointed out that Kogi State and other states are also advocating for the dissolution of the EFCC, which has played a pivotal role in recovering billions of naira for the government.
He affirmed the institute’s trust in the Nigerian judiciary to rule fairly and in the public’s best interest.

“Just like oil revenues and VAT, lottery revenues should continue to be managed at the federal level for the benefit of all states,”
Asaolu concluded, while praising President Tinubu for his efforts in fighting corruption in the lottery sector through automation. “We stand firmly behind the President’s initiatives and are committed to supporting his administration to achieve the desired results for the nation.”

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FCT News

Harmonisation of FCT Revenue will end Multiple Taxation, FCT-IRS Boss declares

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Mr. Michael Ango

The Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr. Michael Ango, has declared that the ongoing harmonisation of revenue collection and administration will effectively address the issue of multiple taxation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Appearing on Channels Television’s Dateline Abuja, Ango revealed that the FCT-IRS is working closely with government agencies and the six area councils to ensure the seamless implementation of the initiative.
He commended FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike for his directive and support in streamlining the tax system to make it more efficient for taxpayers while boosting revenue.

“The minister has tasked us to ensure the issue of multiple taxes is resolved swiftly. To achieve this, we aligned with the Federal Government’s Tax Reform Committee, where I served before my appointment. The FCT has now been adopted as a pilot for tax harmonisation, and the process is already underway,” Ango stated.

He explained that under the new system, taxpayers will no longer need to interact with multiple agencies. Taxes and levies for bodies such as AGIS, Development Control, Water Board, Abuja Environmental Protection Agency, and area councils can now be paid through FCT-IRS, which will handle collection and remittance.

“For instance, if you have 30 houses, you don’t need three agents to manage your rent collection. With this harmonisation, all taxes and levies will be centrally collected and properly distributed to the relevant agencies,” he explained.

Ango also emphasized the importance of voluntary compliance, urging taxpayers to view paying taxes as a civic duty. He highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects and services across the FCT as evidence of the effective use of tax revenues, encouraging residents to support development by fulfilling their tax obligations.

The harmonisation initiative is expected to streamline tax processes, eliminate redundancies, and provide a more transparent and efficient system for revenue collection in the FCT.

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FCT News

Timi Frank tells Tinubu to halt Wike’s demolition of FCT residents’ homes

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Bola Tinubu

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately intervene and stop the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from demolishing the homes of economically vulnerable residents in Abuja.

In a statement from Abuja, Frank accused Wike of using demolitions as a ploy for land grabbing, alleging that Wike allocates revoked plots to his associates and personally benefits from this practice.
Frank expressed concern that the minister’s actions damage the reputation of Tinubu’s administration, branding Wike’s demolitions as “ill-timed” and self-serving.
Frank further alleged that Wike has taken more aggressive action than any past FCT minister, reportedly revoking land to distribute it to close allies and influential figures.
He claimed Wike advised affected residents to pursue legal action, while allegedly having influence over the judiciary.
Additionally, Frank asserted that Wike is using land sales to fund political conflicts outside the FCT, including with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Frank warned Tinubu that failure to address Wike’s actions could damage the administration’s credibility and urged the President to act decisively by relieving Wike of his role.
He noted that Wike’s methods, similar to those used in Rivers State, are unwelcome in the FCT and called for swift action to prevent further harm to the government’s image and FCT residents.

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FCT Minister describes NYSC scheme as cornerstone to national integration

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Mariya Mahmoud

FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as a cornerstone of national integration and development since its inception in 1973.

Mahmoud spoke during the NYSC pre-mobilization workshop held in the nation’s capital, Abuja, stressing that the programme was designed to foster unity among young Nigerians.

Special Advisa on Media the Minister, Austine Elemue in a statement on Tuesday quoted the minister, who was the Chief Host of the event to have noted that the theme of the workshop, “Strengthening the NYSC mobilization process for effective service delivery” resonates deeply with the aspirations of the national vision.

Mahmoud charged stakeholders to play critical role in shaping the experiences of young Nigerian graduates, ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and mindset to contribute positively to the society.
“We are in a dynamic world where the needs of our communities are evolving rapidly.

“Therefore, our prospective corps members must be prepared to meet these challenges with creativity, resilience, and spirit of innovation.

“This workshop is an opportunity to share best practices, explore new ideas, and collaborate on strategies that will enhance the effectiveness of the NYSC programme”.

The minister used the occasion to commend the leadership of the NYSC for their unwavering commitment to improving the quality of service rendered by corps members.

“Your dedication to training and preparing our youth for the responsibilities they will undertake is commendable. By investing in their development, we are investing in the future of Nigeria,” she stressed.

While welcoming participants to the occasion, the NYSC Director General, Brig Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, noted that over the years, the NYSC programme has been the vanguard of nation building, fostering unity among the different nationalities as well as playing critical role in national development.

According to him, “the imprints of the scheme is all over the landscape of our nation from the mega cities to the very rural communities of Nigeria.”

Ahmed emphasised that the mobilization process is a very critical component of the service year that deserved all seriousness, adding that the place of effective service delivery in a successful mobilization process cannot be overemphasized.

The Director General, pledged that the management remains committed in ensuring that the right things are done at all times from the beginning to the end of the mobilization process 

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