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AMAC Chairman promises judicious use of revenue

Revenue

By Ruth Oketunde

New Nyanya (Nasarawa State ), Dec. 29, 2022 (NAN) The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, says his administration would justify every revenue collected by providing infrastructure in the area council.

The chairman made the commitment at a retreat for members of the AMAC Press Corps on Thursday in New Nyanya, Nasarawa State.

Maikalangu was represented by Mr Emmanuel Inyang, Supervisory Councilor, Special Duties in the council.

He said that since assumption of office in June, he has met with his campaign promises and made life easier for taxpayers and people at the grassroots.

The chairman said that in fulfillment of his mandate to the people, he had told taxpayers to desist from making cash payments to anyone who parades himself as the council’s revenue collector.

He said that to block revenue leakages, members of the public are encouraged to pay monies due to AMAC to its statutory accounts in designated banks or face the risk of paying twice.

The chairman said that daily collection of stipends on motorists daily ticketing as well as revenues from regular and community markets are exempted.

He said that based on its proposed 2023 budget tagged “The Peoples Budget”, his administration would focus on the well-being and welfare of its citizens.

In a remark,  Dr Austin Maho, a guest speaker, urged journalists to imbibe the ethics of developmental journalism as they carry out their duties.

“Our duty is to protect national interest and national security; as such we should avoid anything that would undermine the security, peace and orderliness of the country and the area council in particular.

“Let us always seek truth, serve, avoid sensationalisation of news and remain factual in your reportage,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Wisdom Acka, Chairman of the AMAC Press Corps, members of the corps to carry out their duties with all sense of responsibilities.

He appreciated the chairman and the council for organising the retreat.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MRO/JPE

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(Edited by Joseph Edeh)

Yuletide: NEMA trains executive volunteers on disaster management

Volunteer

By Ruth Oketunde

Abuja, Dec. 23, 2022 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Abuja Operations Office has trained no fewer than 40 executive volunteers to mitigate disasters during the yuletide season.

Mr Justin Uwazuruonye, Head, NEMA, Abuja Operations Office, said the trainees were being coopted into emergency management as part of its strategy to ensure swift response during disasters.

“This training and interactive session is for the executive volunteers to get acquainted with the basic use of our equipments and get them ready as we kick start our annual Operation Eagle Eye.

“We will be taking them through on the use of the Incidence Response Van and its equipments and they will also familiarize themselves with other search and rescue equipments.

“Practical safety tips at workplace and the application of basic first aid is part of what the volunteers would be taken on.

“This training is necessary because at this time of the year when we usually experience large movement of people, support from other agencies and volunteers is very necessary.

“They will also be trained to assist us in ensuring that there is free flow of traffic,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training had in attendance, volunteers from the medical profession and government agencies, among others.

In a related development, NEMA Abuja Operations Office, has deployed its personnel to man the roads leading in and out of the nation’s capital.

Mr Justin Uwazuruonye, Head, NEMA, Abuja Operations Office, said that the exercise is being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Civil Defence, Police, VIO, NURTW, FEMA, among others.

“The personnel have been deployed to Giri-Gwagwalada axis, Airport road, Nyanya-Kugbo-Mararaba axis.

“This is being done to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the festive celebrations and to also complement the efforts of the FRSC.

“This programme will continue during the new year celebrations.

“We have already deployed mobile intensive care unit ambulances for life support, rapid response van with extricating equipment and experienced personnel through out the exercise,” he added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MRO/KAY

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Tax

By Ruth Oketunde

Abuja, Dec. 16, 2022 (NAN) The FCT Tax Practitioners Association has called on Nigerians to contribute to the development of the country by paying their taxes.

Mr Oduwa Joseph, the chairman of the association, made the call at the association’s Tax Enlightenment Programme and end of the year celebration in Abuja.

He said that it was important for citizens to be responsible in their duties, as it would assist the government with funds to execute its activities and developmental projects.

According to him, the provision of health, education, infrastructure among others, are important to achieving a functional society, as such the cost of running the services should not be left to the government alone.

“This awareness is in preparation of the forthcoming annual returns, which is now compulsory as the Acting Chairman of the FCT Internal Revenue Service emphasised the penalty of N5 million on persons that default to file annual returns.

“We as an association do not want any of our members to fall into this net of penalty payment and the consequences that do follow, that is why we organised this event to prepare them for the future and for them to know what is expected of them.

“It is a win-win situation when Nigerians pay their taxes because when they pay their taxes, they will have the moral justification to challenge the government to explain how their taxes was spent.

“Second, when they pay their taxes, government will have the resources needed to provide the most needed infrastructure for this country.

“If you are a citizen of Nigeria and you are not paying your taxes, then you are not fit to be called a Nigerian because you have defaulted in your civic responsibility,” he said.

The Acting Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, Mr Haruna Abdullahi, said that citizens shuld contribute to the development of the states they reside by paying their taxes.

Abdullahi, who was represented by Mr Malik Tukur, Director of Tax Operations in the service, said that the service was committed to providing taxpayer-centred services as it would not hesitate to take punitive measures against defaulters.

“In the FCT, the provision of light, clean healthy water, waste management is done with tax payers money.

“So if the citizens do not contribute to the purse of the government, they do not have the right to ask what the government is doing with their money.

“So it is that era we want to have a change, whereby people can be accountable for their actions,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Sani Abdulrasheed, Secretary of the Association, urged eligible tax payers to assist the government to develop the country by paying their taxes as at when due.

“I will advise eligible tax payers to try as much as possible to help the government to make money.

“This is because if we have more than 60 per cent of tax payers fulfilling their tax payment, the government will not have any reason to borrow money.

“Presently, the people paying their taxes are less than 10 per cent of the eligible tax payers and if government are making money from this 10 per cent, imagine if we have 60 per cent turn over, there will not be need to borrow money.

“So I want to encourage people to as much as possible help the country to grow,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MRO/KAY

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Donation
By Ruth Oketunde
Abuja, Dec. 15, 2022 (NAN) The Messenger of Hope International Foundation, has inaugurated four blocks of classrooms it renovated at the L.E.A Primary School, Durumi 1, in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation also donated 20 set of desks and chairs, notebooks, schoolbags, uniforms and stationery to the pupils of the school.

Ms Chinwe Ogbujah, the Founder of the foundation, said the project was part of its back to school project tagged: “Transform Education–One Child at a time’.

According to her, a major component to achieving quality education was provision of conducive and enabling learning environment to motivate students to learn adequately.

“There are a lot of public schools that have the structures but these structures are dilapidated and not habitable for the children.

“As a nation, if we have uneducated children, we are not going anywhere.

“So in our foundation, we believe that education is a right and so, we felt to touch the lives of the less privileged, especially as it has to do with early child education.

“Nigeria currently is one of the countries with the highest Out-of-School children, so we want to reduce this figure by bringing them back to school and investing in their future,” she said.

Ogbujah also appealed to the pupils and management of the schools to maintain the projects as it would spur the foundation to do more for them.

Mr Shadrach Akila, the Head of Department, Works, L.E.A. AMAC, appreciated the foundation for the donation, adding that it would encourage the pupils to come to school to learn.

Mrs Augustina Suleiman, the Head Teacher of the school, commended the good gesture of the foundation, while urging other organisations to emulate such act.

A pupil, Miss Euginia Makwe, who appreciated the foundation for the school bag, uniforms and stationery she was given, prayed for God’s blessings on the foundation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
MRO/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

We’ve not relinquished power of revenue collection – AMAC

Revenue

By Ruth Oketunde

Abuja, Dec. 13, 2022 (NAN) The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) says it has not relinquished its power of revenue collection to any individual or corporate bodies.

The Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to AMAC Chairman, Mr Yunusa Ahmadu, said this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

He expressed worry at the activities of some suspected fraudulent individuals  and companies who posed as the AMAC agents, collecting revenues from individuals and organisations within the area council.

According to him, there are several allegations of persons parading themselves as AMAC officials, who have been collecting taxes on mobile adverts and signage.

Yinusa warned that the AMAC authority would not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with individuals or companies parading themselves as revenue collection agents for the council

He, however, urged residents to desist from paying money to any individual or company account, as it was wrong to do so.

“We are standing by the laws that guide the local government authority and the area councils in FCT and we are out to interpret the law.

“Any tax payer who pays to the wrong channel or pay to any account that does not bear AMAC account details will have to pay twice.

“AMAC must appear on the demand notice; therefore, it is criminal and fraudulent for anyone to say that they represent AMAC.

“We have not relinquished our power of revenue collection to anyone to assist us, we are capable, we have the technical know-how, we have the manpower and we are ready to work for the people that voted for us.

“The Chairman, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, is grateful to all residents of AMAC and we encourage you to pay your tax and ask us for good governance,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MRO/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Violence

By Ruth Oketunde

Abuja, Dec. 11, 2022 (NAN) The Association of Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers has called on young school girls to speak out whenever they encounter any form of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The group gave the advice at a sensitisation campaign organised for students at the Model Girls Junior Secondary School, AMAC Estate, Akko in Abuja.

The event, organised in collaboration with Broad Sustainable Women Economic Empowerment and Peace Initiative, was part of activities to commemorate this year’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.

Hajiya Gimbiya Usman, wife of the Chief of Garki, said the sensitisation campaign was organised to equip the students with knowledge of gender-based violence and how to handle such cases.

“We have been going round various communities to sensitise these children on sexual and gender-based violence and for them to speak out when they encounter such.

“They should not feel that they will be stigmatised, they should speak out as we are ready to take it up from there.

“We cannot fold our hands as mothers and watch these menace eat deep into our society, that is why we want to empower the children with adequate knowledge on what to do when they encounter such.

“As traditional rulers wives, we are closer to the people at the grassroots and as such, we will not relent at making sure that our community is rid of gender-based violence,” she said.

Mrs Titilayo Yahaya, the principal of the school, appreciated the organisations for bringing the sensitisation to the school.

“This is a good time to sensitise them because it is good we catch them young and the advocacy of the association is in the right direction.

“On our part, the school will not relent in its efforts to support the students and follow up on any case of sexual and gender-based violence,” she said.

Miss Fatima Mohammed, Head Girl of the school, also appreciated the organisations for the sensitisation, adding that it had given them the confidence to speak out when molested.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which featured debate competition on the subject matter, had the winners awarded with various prices.

NAN also reports that the event has the support of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education and MacArthur Foundation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MRO/KAY

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

GBV: NGO unveils “BoysAsAllies” campaign, takes advocacy to schools

Advocacy

By Ruth Oketunde

Abuja, Dec. 10, 2022 (NAN) A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Salma Attah Foundation for Women and Girls Support (SAFWGS), on Saturday unveiled its “BoysAsAllies” campaign, in its efforts to tackle sexual and gender-based violence in the country.

Ms Amrah Aliyu, Team Lead of the Foundation, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the organisation, on Saturday in Abuja.

She said the campaign which was part of its activities to commemorate this year’s 16 Days of Activism, had no fewer than 500 boys drawn from 10 different schools sensitised on the effects of gender-based violence.

According to her, the selected schools which were in Niger State and the FCT, had the students enlightened on various forms of GBV, importance of consent, how to report and the role of boys in ending the menace.

“In compliance with the theme for 2022 16 Days of Activism, which says Unite! Activism to end Violence against women and girls, the foundation found a need to embark on a mission of educating not only young girls but fully educating and involving young boys too.

“This step is part of our effort at making them allies in bringing an end to all forms of violence.

“We want them to be better equipped, frown at sexist jokes, entitlements and ensure that they become champions that fight gender-based violence.

“Researches have shown that one in three women around the world have been subjected to either physical or sexual violence by age 15, while one in five women have been sexually abused as children.

“So we carefully planned these activities to sensitise the boys and not only the girls on the negative effects of gender-based violence, because it is important we catch them young,” she said.

Aliyu added that the foundation also embarked on another campaign tagged “Orangetheschools” to raise more awareness about the menace.

“For this particular campaign, we visited 16 schools within the 16 Days of Activism, in Niger, Kano and FCT, all in our bid to enlighten school girls on the need to speak out once they are molested.

“Overall, the objective was to promote behavioral change by emphasizing positive masculinity and promoting gender equality norms in school environment,” she added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence is an international campaign to raise awareness and generate action to end violence against women and girls in communities around the world.

The campaign runs every year from Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to Dec. 10, Human Rights DaY.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MRO/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

We’ll not accept double taxation in AMAC – Official

Taxation
By Ruth Oketunde
Abuja, Dec. 9, 2022 (NAN) The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) says it will not accept double taxation of business owners in the council, describing the development as “worrisome and unconstitutional’’.

Mr Yusuf Ahmadu, the Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to AMAC Chairman, said this while briefing newsmen on allegations of double taxation going round in the council.

According to him, it has been alleged that the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) in the FCTA, has been collecting mobile advert in AMAC without the knowledge of the officials in charge of tax collection.

Ahmadu said that the development, which had become worrisome, was against the law, adding that “it is the area council that has the sole right to collect tax of this nature.’’

“Based on a recent Supreme Court ruling, no body or establishment has the power to transfer the authority of the area council or power to collect revenue to a third party.

“We therefore call on AMAC residents, especially, mobile advert customers not to pay any money to FCTA Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage, or else they will pay two times.

“The council has constituted a committee that will be going round to check the activities of individuals sabotaging revenue generation,” he said.

He said that the chairman of the council was not taking the issue lightly as strategic stakeholders had been constituted to boost revenue collection in the council. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
MRO/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Perm. Sec. Mr Adesola Olusade presents an award at a ceremony to reward high performers,

organised by the FCT Education Resource Centre. Right is Hajiya Neemat Abdulrahim, Director of the centre.

FCTA ready to implement National Language Policy – Perm Sec.

By Ruth Oketunde

Policy

Abuja, Dec. 7, 2022 (NAN) Mr Adesola Olusade, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says that the FCT is ready to implement the new National Language Policy, introduced by the Federal Government.

Olusade made the announcement at an end-of-year and award ceremony, organised by the FCT Education Resource Centre (ERC) on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the national policy, recently approved by the Federal Government, makes the mother tongue a compulsory medium of instruction from primary one to primary six.

He said that once the modalities were set out, the FCT would kick-start the programme, to ensure that indigenous languages of the people would not go into extinction.

“FCT is part of the Federal Government, therefore, when a programme is initiated by the Federal Government, what we look forward to is to domestic and implement it.

“The Education Resource Centre will also pilot the implementation of this policy and for us it is a welcome development and we will implement it to the best of our ability.

“We want to see our young ones speak our dialects and whatever it means for us to support that effort, we will give in to it.”

The permanent secretary added that the FCT Administration in its efforts at promoting quality education and conducive learning environment, would be renovating 100 schools in 100 days.

“The FCT is also implementing a programme called 100 by 100, we want to renovate 100 schools in 100 days.

“However, we might be constrained by limited resources but the first phase of the programme will certainly take off before the end of the year.

“We believe a conducive atmosphere will promote learning and the FCT is committed to improving learning environment in the schools,” said Olusade.

Also speaking, Hajiya Neemat Abdulrahim, Director of the ERC, said the award ceremony was organised to appreciate dedication and commitment to hard work by the centre’s staff and partners.

“This year we feel that there are certain individuals and corporate bodies that have been adding value to what we are doing.

“Reward is motivating because when you give reward you motivate them to do more of what they are doing.

“We also want others who did not receive award this year to work harder to get rewards next year. It is a mind booster for my staff, corporate bodies and the individuals we have recognised.

“We have also extended this year’s award to schools, both public and private schools because without them, our work cannot be complete as they have been adding value to our work in the ERC,” Abdulrahim said.

An award winner, Mr Elijah Olarenwaju, Chief Executive Officer of Access Solutions Ltd., applauded the centre for the recognition, saying that it would spur his company to embark on more corporate social responsibility initiatives.

“We are involved in a lot of corporate social responsibility initiatives and in the education sector, we plan to see how to expand what the government is doing in the education sector.

“We will be making sure that broadband access to schools is made available. It is one of our initiatives and we want to see how we can give back to the society in that area.

“We want to expound the scope of education, so that children everywhere can have access to basic connectivity,” he said.

The NAN Education correspondent reports that the event featured cultural displays by various schools in the FCT.

Awards were presented to no fewer than 60 outstanding members of staff of the ERC, public and private schools, corporate bodies as well as individuals.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MRO/SN

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Edited by Silas Nwoha