Ekiti to get new tax law to shore up economic restoration – TheNigerialawyer

A new law guiding tax policy and revenue generation will soon be
in operation in Ekiti State sequel to the passage of the Board of
Internal Revenue Service bill 2019 into law by the state House of
Assembly.

The Assembly had during its plenary last week adopted as a
working document, the report of the Committee on Finance and
Appropriation, with respect to the operation of the state revenue
board.

The committee chairman and the lawmaker representing Emure
constituency, Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, had during the submission of
the report on Monday reeled out the recommendations, saying the new
law would engender collaborative efforts among stakeholders through
effective tax-control system and formation of better policy for
revenue generation in the state.

Passing the bill into law through a voice vote, the speaker,
Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, praised the committee for doing a great job,
saying Ekiti needed to look inwards at this challenging time and
generate more money in view of the dwindling revenues from the
Federal government.

The committee chairman, Adelugba, had said, the new law as
contained in the committee’s report would engender collaborative
efforts among stakeholders through effective tax payment for more
revenue that will be in the overall interest of the residents.

“It is high time the state enhanced its economic growth to
realise the agenda of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration by
opening up the state to economic activities and investments through
robust tax policy for more revenues.

“The proposed law would have direct and indirect impacts on the
citizens and make individuals live above poverty. It would also
serve as a veritable tool to making government more committed to
human capital development.”

Adelugba, who is also the Chief Whip, also called the attention
of the House to flooding being experienced in some towns,
especially in Emure community since the commencement of the raining
season.

The lawmaker called on the government to find an urgent and
lasting solution to the threat, which has been affecting the
security of lives and property as well as the economic activities
of the people.

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Civil Society condemns attacks, clampdown, arbitrary
arrest, detention

Since return of democracy in 1999 and particularly following the
2019 general elections, the citizens were very hopefully of renewed
vigor in addressing the myriad of problems bedeviling the country
ranging from intensification of insecurity, the deepening of
corruption, growing poverty and unemployment as well as flagrant
and frequent disrespect of the rule of law.

Nigerians believed that the Administration which received the
mandate of Nigerians for another four-year term would reciprocate
the people’s goodwill and trust; and commit itself to expand the
civic space and facilitating citizen’s engagement in an expanding
democratic space.
We, the undersigned civil society organisations have observed with
great concern and indeed, alarm, massive violation of the rights of
citizens, including the right to protest, concerted attacks of
media organisations, press freedom and civil society
organisations:

1. Media harassment and intimidation

The Nigerian mass media has become a regular focus of illegal
attacks by the security agencies. Unlawful arrest and detention of
journalists have become a growing phenomenon, and our great
tradition of a free press and freedom of expression is under severe
stress.

2. Constant Harassment of Human Rights and Anti-corruption Civil
Society Organisations

The Nigeria state is currently engaged in continuous attacks on
human rights and anti-corruption civil society organisations and
activists in the country. An instance is the unfair attack on
Amnesty International Nigeria by some security agencies and
unscrupulous agents using hoodlums and miscreants threatening
Amnesty International Nigeria to vacate the country. Trying to
force a legal organisation that has all Nigeria citizens to vacate
and leave the country without an attempt by security agencies to
protect their rights is unacceptable.

3. The Unlawful ban on protest

We are gravely concerned over the unlawful statement issued by
the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force threatening to
prosecute the organisers of the peaceful rallies in Nigeria. There
are existing provisions of law and judicial authorities recognising
the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to non-violently
convene and participate in rallies, demonstration and protest
marches. Fundamentally, the provision of the 1999 constitution of
Nigeria as amended that “Every person shall be entitled to assemble
freely and associate with other persons…” is sacrosanct and must be
protected.

We therefore, call for restrained of arbitrary misuse of power
against the citizens for a non-violent protest, demonstration to
express their views.

We demand immediate release of all activists who are in
detention for exercising their fundamental rights.

We call on security agencies and government officials to ensure
total compliance to the rule of law as provided for in our legal
system.

We also call on government to respect and allow the flourishing
of civil space for meaningful contribution to democratic governance
in Nigeria.

We further call on government to be more accountable and
responsive to the citizenry they were elected to serve for good
governance.

Signed:

SIGNED BY:

1. Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
2. Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT)
3. Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)
4. Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource
Centre)
5. Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL)
6. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
7. Partners for West Africa – Nigeria
8. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
9. Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP)
10. Falana Falana Chambers
11. CLEEN Foundation
12. International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI)
13. Zero-Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
14. Accountability Maternal New-born and Child Health in Nigeria
(AMHiN)
15. Partners on Electoral Reform
16. State of the Union (SOTU)
17. African Centre for Media and Information Literacy
(AFRICMIL)
18. National Procurement Watch Platform
19. Say NO Campaign—Nigeria
20. Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civil Education
(CHRICED)
21. Social Action
22. International Press Centre
23. WANGONET
24. Community Action for Popular Participation
25. Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)
26. Global Rights
27. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC}
28. Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
29. Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE)
30. Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement
(YIAGA)
31 Tax Justice Nigeria
32. Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria
33. Women In Nigeria
34. African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development
(Centre LSD)
35. Centre for Social Justice
36. HURIDAC
37. Protest to Power
38. Network on Police Reform in Nigeria(NOPRIN Foundation)
39. Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre(RULAAC)
40. Women Advocate Research And Documentation Centre
41. Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection
Alternative(WRAPA)
42. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
43. Sesor Empowerment Foundation
44. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
45. Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives (ECOWA)
46. Hadis Foundation
47. Education As a Vaccine Against Women
48.Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
49.Nigerian Feminist Forum
50.Alliances for Africa
51. Space for Change