The Federal Government has collected over ₦600 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) from major global digital service providers including Facebook, Amazon, and Netflix, according to Mr. Mathew Osanekwu, Special Adviser on Tax Policy to the Chairman of the Tax Reforms Committee. Speaking at a media workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, Osanekwu explained that amendments to Nigeria’s VAT Act empowered the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to bring non-resident companies into the tax net. “These are not Nigerian entities, but they are now paying VAT under Section 10 of the VAT Act. They are registered in Nigeria and also appointed…
Author: National Update
Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has urged journalists to uphold truth and accuracy in reporting development issues, warning that sensationalism and inflammatory content could undermine public trust and threaten peace. Buni gave the charge on Wednesday in Kano during the closing ceremony of a three-day training workshop for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). Represented by Secretary to the State Government Baba Malam Wali, the governor stressed the importance of responsible journalism in an era of rapidly evolving information technology and media innovation. “Journalists must guard and wield their pens and devices with a deep sense of…
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has provided emergency relief to over 500 households in Darajamal, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, following a Boko Haram attack that left 63 people dead, including eight soldiers, and razed 28 homes. Darajamal, a border community with Cameroon, was assaulted on September 5, just months after residents had been resettled by the state government. Distributing 10 tons of food and other essential materials on Thursday, NEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Alkali said the intervention was aimed at easing the devastating impact of the assault. “Today’s event marks our emergency…
Public hospitals across Nigeria were thrown into disarray on Friday as members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on a five-day warning strike, leaving millions of patients stranded. NARD Secretary-General, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku, confirmed the industrial action in a statement released via the association’s X (formerly Twitter) handle, following the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on September 10. “The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors hereby notifies all members that the five-day warning strike has commenced today, in line with our NEC decision,” Odunbaku said. “We urge every member across all centres to comply…
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has called on Border Patrol Commanders across Nigeria to strengthen their operations as the country’s first line of defense against external security threats. Addressing the commanders during a conference at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Egbetokun emphasized their critical role in safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty, preventing bloodshed, and protecting the nation’s identity. He acknowledged the vast and challenging nature of Nigeria’s borders, including long maritime corridors linking the country to the Gulf of Guinea, and praised the Force Border Patrol Unit for its efforts in tackling evolving border crimes. “The Nigeria Police Force cannot…
Labour Party’s Peter Obi has renewed pressure on President Bola Tinubu over Nigeria’s ongoing electricity failures, invoking the President’s 2022 campaign pledge: “If I don’t give you constant electricity in the next four years, don’t vote for me for a second term.” Obi criticized the worsening power outages that continue to cripple homes, businesses, and factories. “For a nation with the world’s largest population living without electricity, that promise wasn’t just political—it was meant to be transformational,” he said. Despite billions spent on the sector, national electricity output has barely increased from 4,500MW to 5,000MW, lagging behind peers like Vietnam…
The legal team of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has issued a blistering demand for her immediate reinstatement to the Senate, warning that continued obstruction by the National Assembly could trigger serious legal consequences. In a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Michael Jonathan Numa, SAN, described the refusal to allow Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume duties after her fixed six-month suspension as unconstitutional and unlawful. The counsel criticized the Clerk for misapplying the sub judice rule to block the implementation of court judgments in her favor. The letter underscores the Federal High Court’s March ruling and Justice Binta Nyako’s July judgment,…
The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has reiterated the FCT Administration’s determination to enhance paediatric surgical care, pledging stronger collaboration with professional bodies to expand access and improve the quality of services for children. Speaking at the opening of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria (Abuja Chapter), Dr. Mahmoud highlighted the vital role of paediatric surgeons in safeguarding children’s health, describing their work as a blend of compassion, precision, and resilience essential to national well-being. SA Media to Minister, Austine Elemue in a statement quoted the…
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, have congratulated the 13th Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, on his 73rd birthday and 22nd anniversary on the throne. Governor Bago described the royal father as a selfless, peaceful, and visionary leader whose reign has brought stability and unity to the Nupe Kingdom and the entire state. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor praised the Etsu Nupe’s fatherly guidance, dedication to cultural preservation, and support for…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a sharp rebuke to the Senate over its continued refusal to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling the move a “brazen assault on democracy” that threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s representative system. In a statement on Thursday, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, accused the upper chamber, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, of abandoning democratic norms for political expediency. He said suspending a duly elected senator and silencing her constituents was “already a travesty,” but to ignore a court ruling voiding that suspension and continue the exclusion after its six-month term expired was “a…