Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan says Nigeria
cannot afford to fail in 2021.
In his New Year message to Nigerians, Ex-President Jonathan said
the new year is the beginning of a new journey, a new chapter, a
fresh opportunity to start and recover from the losses of 2020.
The former president stated that “as a nation, we cannot
afford to fail this New Year; ignoring the existing gaps and
contradictions that have continued to threaten our peace, unity,
and progress”.
He said “going forward, we should retool our disposition to
imbibe new ways and embrace new traditions. Cultures that
would correct the faultiness in our nation and promote peace,
guarantee security, and hope to all our people.
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According to him, the nation must prioritise such
habits that entrench accountability, justice, and peace in its
systems.
Dr Jonathan stated further that no matter the present realities
today – “whether good, bad or ugly, sweet, sour or bitter, we
must continue to hope and strive for greater honour and glory for
ourselves and our nation in this new year and beyond”
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He was of the opinion that the recent happenings in our world,
specifically in Nigeria, should teach Nigerians new lessons,
including lessons on faith, solidarity, justice, hope, and
peace.
“We must aggregate these lessons, challenges, gains as well
as losses of this period and harness them towards national rebirth
and reconciliation,” Dr. Jonathan stated.
He commiserated with families who lost loved ones to COVID- 19
and other illnesses and circumstances in the year 2020.
The former president also commended all Nigerians for their
patriotism and courage amidst daunting challenges.
“I salute the sacrifices of all those in the frontline working
tirelessly to ensure our safety and those who have remained
committed to protecting our lives and defending our unity,” Dr
Jonathan stated.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2021/01/02/as-a-nation-we-cannot-afford-to-fail-this-new-year-gej/
Britain on Friday became the latest country to abolish the
so-called “tampon tax,” eliminating sales taxes on women’s sanitary
products.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The move was widely praised by women’s rights advocates as well
as proponents of the country’s departure from the European
Union.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
Treasury chief Rishi Sunak had committed to ending the widely
unpopular tax on tampons and sanitary pads in his budget in March
but the change could only take effect Friday after Britain had
finally left the economic orbit of the European Union.
Under EU law, nations cannot reduce the rate of value-added tax
on menstrual products below 5% as they are deemed to be luxury
items and not essentials. Ireland is the only EU country that does
not charge a levy on sanitary products as its zero tax rate was in
place before the EU set its floor.
“Sanitary products are essential, so it’s right that we do not
charge VAT,” said Sunak. “We have already rolled out free sanitary
products in schools, colleges and hospitals and this commitment
takes us another step closer to making them available and
affordable for all women.”
Britain officially left the bloc’s vast single market for
people, goods and services at 11 p.m. London time on Thursday,
giving it greater scope to set its own laws. A new U.K.-EU trade
deal will bring new restrictions and red tape, but for British
Brexit supporters, it means reclaiming national independence from
the EU and its rules. They pointed to the abolition of the tampon
tax as an early positive change from Brexit.
Britain’s treasury has previously estimated the move will save
the average woman nearly 40 pounds ($55) over her lifetime,
“It’s been a long road to reach this point, but at last, the
sexist tax that saw sanitary products classed as nonessential,
luxury items can be consigned to the history books,” said Felicia
Willow, chief of the Fawcett Society, a women’s rights charity.
Many other countries have also eliminated the tampon tax,
including Australia, Canada and India. In the United States,
several states including New York and Florida have also nixed the
tax.
[Associated Press]