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Tag: Paris Club Refund

  • FG pays $5.4bn Paris Club Refund to states

    FG pays $5.4bn Paris Club Refund to states

    A total of 5.4 billion dollars has so far been paid to states by the Federal Government for settlement of the Paris Club Refund.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, confirmed the release at a news conference on the state of the economy on Monday in Abuja.

    Present at the briefing were the Director-General, Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha; the Acting Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Mary Uduk, and the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Alli (Rtd).

    Others were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Dutse; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Babatunde Fowler and other top officials in the ministry.

    She said that the Paris Club Refund was released to states in phases based on some conditions, which included that salaries and staff related arrears must be paid as a priority.

    Also, there must be commitment by all states to the commencement of the repayment of Budget Support Loans granted in 2016 and clearing of amounts due to the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative.

    Ahmed said that the Federal Government had also settled inherited debts despite the revenue shortfall experienced within the last three years.

    The finance minister said aside the 5.4 billion dollars used to pay states over deductions made from the Paris Club debt, 6.8 billion dollars was used to settle Joint Venture Cash Call obligations.

    She also said that contractors being owed N1.9 trillion under the Export Expansion Grants were on the verge of being settled.

    In addition, she said that about N488 billion spent by state governments on road projects had also been paid.

    Similarly, she said that as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure all pensioners get their entitlements, the ministry had released N54 billion to settle outstanding pension arrears in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

    She noted that the government had settled pension claims up to March 2017.

    Ahmed announced that the federal government had agreed to pay about N571 million as gratuity to 175 retired police officers affected by the Biafra war.

    In the area of expenditure performance, the finance minister said that in 2018, despite the revenue shortfall, the federal government had been able to pay salaries and fully service its debt obligations.

    She said as at Dec. 21, 2019, the ministry had released overhead funding for seven months, while N995 billion had been released for capital projects.

    She expressed optimism that the ministry would perform better during the rest of the budget year by driving up revenue generation to improve the fiscal space for spending.

    To increase revenue, she said the federal government would be implementing more public financial management reforms.

    “We will improve collaboration between our revenue collection agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service and other trade partners, to share information and intelligence that will help improve revenue and make collections more efficient.

    “Under my tenure as the Finance Minister, I intend to continue championing such digitalization transformation initiatives that have proven to be a good way forward for our revenue generation drive,” she said.

    When asked what are some of the taxes that would be affected by the planned increase in tax rate, the minister said that the government would from next year begin the implementation of taxes on luxury items.

    She said: “We are exploring the way to increase taxes as well as reduce taxes in some sectors.

    “For Small and Medium Enterprises, what will happen is to reduce taxes. But there are some special taxes that we will be looking at imposing.

    “For example, luxury taxes. If you have a private jet, we will be taxing you especially for that. If you have a yacht, we will be charging you for that and also in terms of excise duties there are also some new areas where excise duties will be introduced.

    “We haven’t got all the approvals but one of the major areas might be that of carbonated drinks produced in the country,” she said.

    Ahmed also said that the government had also recorded an increase in the number of registered tax payers from 10 million in 2015 to about 19 million in 2018 under the Joint Tax Board.

    On the whistle blower policy, Ahmed said that the Federal Government had recovered over N8.5 billion and 465 million dollars, among others, from 1,051 investigations conducted from tip offs received.

    She also said that through the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme, over N35 billion was recovered while significant increase was also recorded in the country’s tax base.

    In the area of fiscal collaboration with state governments, the finance minister said that the federal government had provided budget support to states with a release of N1.9 trillion.

    This, she noted, was to enable the state governments meet their salary and pension obligations, especially in the face of dwindling oil revenues over the last two years.

    Earlier, Fowler, who also spoke at the briefing, said that out of the 2,000 property of corporate entities identified early this year that were not paying taxes, 561 of them had come forward to make payments.

    He said 116 companies claimed not to own any of these properties, adding that 30 of them had actually written to the FIRS that the property in question do not belong to them.

    Fowler said based on the law, the property would be taken over by the government.

    NAN

  • We’ve shared N1.9trn to states from Paris Club refund – Osinbajo

    The Federal Government said on Tuesday that it had so far shared N1.9 trillion among states as support from the Paris Club Refund.

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, made this known in his address at the ongoing fourth edition of the Ogun Investors’ Forum in Abeokuta.

    The theme of the programme, which is scheduled to end on Wednesday, is “Consolidating Gains and Accelerating Growth.’’

    Osinbajo said that the Muhammadu Buhari -led administration had continued to extend equal and unbiased support to states of the federation regardless of party affiliations.

    He said it would be difficult to point to any government that had been more supportive in the development of the ambitions of states as the present administration.

    The vice president recalled that no fewer than 26 of the 36 states in Nigeria could not pay the salaries of their workers when the present administration assumed power in 2015.

    Osinbajo explained that the federal government, however, came to their rescue by extending funds to them.

    ” We have been sensitive, attentive and responsive to their needs while our programmes and policies have been developed with the states in mind.

    ” The Anchor Borrowers Programme has continued to provide cheap credit to small holders farmers across the nation.

    “The President’s Fertiliser Initiative has ensured that farmers across Nigeria have direct access to fertiliser.

    “We have continued to feed about seven million primary school pupils in 21 states of the country.

    ” The Budget Support Facility to states has gone a long way in cushioning the shock experienced by the federating units which resulted from the sharp drop in prices of crude oil in 2016.

    ” So our support to states has remained unprecedented in the history of administration in Nigeria,” he said.

    Osinbajo explained that the present administration had been able to reverse the trend of corruption that existed in the country when it assumed power in 2015.

    He added that the present administration had also reversed the trend of underfunding of infrastructure with a total of N1.3 trillion allocated to capital projects in 2017, the highest in the country’s history.

    ” We have continued to block leakages and had increased funding of core sectors like agriculture and transportation by as much as 400 per cent.

    “External reserves are in highest level in five years while inflation rate has dropped for 13 consecutive months.

    “We have done all these and more inspite of the fact that we now earn 60 per cent lesser than Nigeria earned in 2014 and thereby show that we can achieve more with less revenue with prudency and sincerity of purpose,” he said.

    Osinbajo also commended Gov. Ibikunle Amosun for the transformation that his administration had brought to Ogun.

    He acknowledged that Ogun remains the industrial hub of Nigeria and encouraged it to explore increased collaboration with neighbouring Lagos State.

  • Paris Club Refund: How firm plagiarised to receive N1.2 billion – EFCC

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday deferred judgment in an application filled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of N1.2 billion (N1,222,384,857.84) recovered from the account of Melrose General Services Company Limited as well as another N220 million recovered from two other companies.

    Justice Olatoregun had, on October 13, 2017, ordered an interim forfeiture of the money, following a motion ex parte filed by the EFCC.

    The judge had also ordered the temporary forfeiture of the N220 million recovered from two other companies namely Wasp Networks Limited and Thebe Wellness Services.

    In granting the EFCC prayers, Justice Olatoregun had ordered anyone interested in the money to appear before the court within 14 days to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The judge had also directed the commission to publish in any newspaper for anyone who is interested in the money to appear before the court to show cause why the order for the final forfeiture should not be granted.

    At Friday’s sitting, Olawale Akoni, counsel to Melrose Services Limited, moved a motion seeking to set aside an earlier order given by the court for the interim forfeiture of N1.2 billion to the federal government.

    Mr. Akoni informed the court that the money belongs to Melrose Services Limited and was paid into its account on December 14, 2016.

    He further stated that it was the payment for the reconciliation of accounts of the Nigeria Governor Forum (NGF) it did for Biz Plus.

    However, counsel to the prosecution, Ekele Iheanacho, argued that it was conspiracy with others to obtain the money from the NGF.

    He also stated that a letter was sent from the EFCC and a response was received from the NGF that the job was carried out by a consortium of consultants known as GSCL Biz Plus.

    Mr. Iheanacho said the report was submitted to the NGF on August 31, 2016, and forwarded as the final reconciliation of the over-deduction on foreign loan account of the states to the Ministry of Finance.

    He said the NGF consequently wrote to the Ministry of Finance to pay them the agreed 5 per cent consultancy fees that all states’ governors had signed.

    The prosecution counsel added that upon approval by the presidency, the Ministry of Finance wrote to the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay the sum of $86,546,526.65 and N 18,635,427,311.54 to the NGF.

    He added: “In the cause of investigation, the EFCC recovered a bundle of document in possession of Melrose Services Limited, where it had earlier claimed it did the job.

    “The said document was a re-copy of the work of Biz Plus. It was lifted out paragraph by paragraph from the work of Biz plus. But Melrose signed it as its own job.

    “This document was never presented to the court.

    “However, it was after the Interim order was made that Melrose presented another document to the court instead of the one recovered.”

    Mr. Iheanacho also told the court that after the order for the interim forfeiture was granted and published, one Godwin Udemaduka, through his lawyer, laid claim of interest to the money.

    “Udemaduka claimed to have done a consultancy job for Zamfara State Government and has not been paid.

    “He is not entitled to the money, but he has aligned with others to steal the money.

    “His claim is to Zamfara State Government and the claim before the court is not for debt recovery. The money in question doesn’t belong to only Zamfara State Government.

    “He is, therefore, not entitled to any claim,” he further argued.

    Consequently, the judge deferred ruling on the final forfeiture order.

  • Paris Club Refund: Dickson releases N5.6bn to clear workers’ salaries

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Friday ordered the release of N5.6billion out of N14.8billion Paris Club Refund he received in December last year for the payment of one- and- half month salary arrears owed workers during the economic recession of 2016.

    It was gathered that the governor called a meeting of top government officials, labour leaders and their representatives in Yenagoa where a decision was taken to pay one- and -half month workers’ salaries.

    A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said the state government received N14.8billion from the Federal Government.

    The breakdown showed the state received N13.5billion while the local government councils received N1.37billion

    Dickson said the outstanding arrears were a balance of half salaries he paid for seven months during the recession in 2016.

    The governor thanked the workers for displaying understanding during the period of the recession.

    He lamented that while most of the older states in the country had lower wage bills, Bayelsa wage bill was over N6billion because of the “criminal activities of some fraudulent characters.”

  • Paris Club refund: Fayose confirms receipt of 4.47bn, promises to offset salaries, allowances on Thursday

    Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on Monday confirmed the receipt of the state’s N4.76bn share of the final tranche of the Paris Club refund.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President Muhammadu Buhari had on Saturday approved the release of the Paris Club refund to 27 state governments.

     

    Fayose revealed this on Monday in a tweet from his officialhandle @GovAyodeleFayose on Monday. The Governor assured Ekiti workers that the money will be shared between the state and the Local Governments next week.

    He also assured the workers of the payment of all bonuses and salaries lastest on Thursday.

    His tweets: I have received N4.76bn Paris Club Refund. It will be shared between the state and LG next week.

    Civil Servants will get their Xmas bonus latest Thursday. Salary will come, leave bonus will come, Xmas bonus will come, Everything will come.

  • Paris Club refund: Delta, Ogun, Adamawa, six other states on waiting list

    …as

    …27 states collect theirs
    …ECA swells to $2.317bn
    …FG, States, LGs share N609.959 billion for November

    Nine states including Delta, Ogun and Adamawa are currently on the waiting list of the collection of the third and final tranche of the Paris Club refunds released on Saturday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    However, 27 other states have collected their dues in what promises to be a rosy Christmas and New Year seasons for public servants in the benefitting states.

    Much of the funds is expected to be utilized to offset arrears of workers’ salaries and pensions.

    The release of the refunds to the states is in keeping with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that the states should get the money before Christmas to enable them pay workers and pensioners.

    The Director of Home Finance in the Finance Ministry, Mrs. Olubunmi Siyanbola, confirmed the payment yesterday at the end of the November 2017, Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja.

    But she declined to name the states that were paid and those that are to wait.

    A total N609.959 billion was shared by the three tiers of government at the FAAC meeting which was shifted from Friday to yesterday.

    This is N77.25 billion more than what they shared in October.

    The Nation gathered that there are some technical challenges and reconciliation matters to be resolved before the nine non-benefitting states can access their own refunds.

    Some of the states are actually expected to refund excess cash previously paid to them.

    But some oil producing states may get more than others having been short paid in the past.

    Investigation showed that Delta, Ogun, Adamawa, and six others have some issues to clarify before drawing the final tranche of the refunds.

    While a consultant has secured a court order in August to freeze the bank account where Delta’s share of the refunds was domiciled, Ogun and Adamawa are said to have been paid in excess of their dues and might need to reconcile their accounts.

    A Federal Capital Territory High Court had frozen Delta account following an application by Mauritz Walton Nigeria over failure to pay consultancy fees.

    The court mandated Zenith Bank to “create an escrow account for the frozen cash.”

    A top source, privy to the controversy on the London-Paris Club said:” Some of the nine states have not met the requirements to qualify them for the drawing of the refunds. One of the key criteria is the reconciliation of the actual amount deducted and what such states deserve as refunds.

    “Some of the states cannot even trace records much less reconciliation of records. The Federal Government is not a Father Christmas, they must come clean with their books.

    “Some states have defaulted in paying the consultants they hired. Instead of paying these consultants the 5% in the agreement, they paid them about 2% to 2.5%. They are now forcing these consultants to go to court.

    “Some of the state governors were embarrassed by the agreements entered into by their predecessors on London-Paris Club refunds.

    “For instance, Abia, Kogi, Adamawa, Taraba , Delta and Zamfara opted to pay 10% of their refunds to consultants. But the states now see this rate as being on the high side.

    A few other states offered between 12 and 20 per cent to their consultants. The breakdown is as follows: Ondo (12%); Niger, Enugu, Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi (15%); and Edo, Bayelsa, and Oyo( 20%).

    Another source said: “Some states, like Ogun and Adamawa, are expected to make refunds following alleged excess payments made to them. But these states have disputed getting excess.

    “The reconciliation of records will determine the truth or otherwise of the debit status of some of these states.”

    Asked to shed light on why nine states were excluded from payment of the third tranche of the refunds, Siyanbola said it was only “a matter of process that is holding” them back and stressed that they would get theirs as soon as the processes were completed.

    Another issue that was raised at the FAAC meeting was the accruals into the Excess Crude Account (ECA) which now stands at $2.317 billion as against $2.308 billion last month.

    Commenting on the development, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Ahmed Idris attributed the marginal increase in the ECA “to interests that have to continue accruing for keeping the money for the future.”

    When asked if the $1 billion the state governors approved for withdrawal from the ECA to fight Boko Haram had been deducted, Ahmed Idris stated:”it is one thing for requests to be made, there is a process for money be taken out of an account.”

    Idris noted that the state governors as part owners of the ECA were perfectly in order to request that part of the money be used to secure the country.

    Regarding Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state’s objection to the withdrawal of $1 billion from the ECA, Idris said Governor Fayose should have made his objections known to the Governors Forum instead of the press.”

    The AGF also explained why the meeting had to take place yesterday , stressing that because of Christmas activities, it was decided to hold the meeting mid-month (December) as against 20-25 of the month so that money would be available for workers to celebrate Christmas.

    Because of the change in date, Idris noted that “institutions found themselves inundated with reconciling figures at short notices and some FAAC officials were at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) till 9pm and the documents needed got to stakeholders this morning (Saturday) thus prompting today’s (yesterday) meeting so that Nigerians can have better Christmas and New Year celebrations”

    Of the N609.959 billion shared by the three tiers of governments the federal government got N248.227 billion, while the states received N125.904 billion and the local governments N97.067 billion.

    The oil producing states got an additional N43.215 billion as 13% derivation requirements while the balance of N15.120 billion went for cost of collection and FIRS refund.

    On Value Added Tax (VAT) disbursements, Idris revealed that the total sum of N80.426 billion was shared, with the federal government receiving N11.581 billion, state governments N38.605 billion, local governments N27.023 billion while the balance of N3.217 billion went as cost of collection and FIRS refund.

    In his address, the chairman of Commissioners Forum, Alhaji Mahmoud Yunusa said the “Saturday’s figures were higher now but they can be better off. The states are happy that workers will be paid before Christmas.”

     

     

  • Paris Club Refunds: Senate queries Buhari’s approval of funds to governors

    Paris Club Refunds: Senate queries Buhari’s approval of funds to governors

    The Senate on Thursday resolved to probe how the Paris Club Refunds and other bailout funds to state governors by President Muhammadu Buhari were approved.

    The Senate’s decision followed a point of order raised by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (PDP- Imo) during plenary, who afterwards, sought the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the matter during the next legislative day.

    He queried the legality of the funds given to governors by Buhari.

    The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, sought and got the leave of his colleagues and approved that the proper motion be brought by Anyanwu, to the floor on another legislative day.

    The Federal Government had released the breakdown of payments to the 36 states as refund of “over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts on the accounts of States and Local Governments (1995-2002).”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the latest payment was the second tranche of the refunds to the states with a total of N243.8 billion released to the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory.

    Buhari, while releasing the N243.80 billion as second tranche of Paris Club refund to states, urged the governors to use a major part of the funds to offset salaries, pensions and other allowances of workers.

    However, President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting with the governors on Wednesday in Abuja expressed sadness over the backlog of salary arrears in the states despite.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the governors have started mounting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to release the last tranche of the funds to them.

     

  • ‘We are not begging FG for money, Paris Club refund is our entitlement,’ says Gov Abubakar

    Bauchi State governor, Mohammed Abubakar said yesterday, that they are not begging the Federal Government for money, considering they are asking for the Paris Club refund – as it is their entitlement.

    Abubakar said, “Don’t forget, this is money that belongs to us. We are not begging for anything, but demanding what belongs to us and that it should be paid to us.”

    Abubakar, who addressed reporters after a meeting of some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors with the National Working Committee (NWC) added, “I was at the meeting with the President. Mr President, in his usual fashion, expressed his concern for the plight of workers and the downtrodden. He did not direct any accusation at the governors because the governors have actually utilised most of the intervention fund from the Federal Government for payment of salaries – and pensions.

    “Take Bauchi State, for example, my salary bill is N5.1 billion (states and local government). If you count the number of months that I came to FAAC and collect anything above N5 billion, it will not be more than five months in my two and half years in office.

    “But because of the intervention today, I am proud to say that I am not owing a single kobo salary or pension. We have in the main, utilised this intervention towards payment.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari told a delegation of governors on Tuesday that he was concerned about the agitation for salaries. “How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid salaries for months,” Buhari said.

    On why Southwest governors were absent, the Bauchi governor said, “There is no communication gap. Two other deputy governors sent word that their flights were cancelled because of weather problem. The same thing applied to the Sokoto State Governor who sent word that his flight was cancelled due to difficulty in weather.

    “So, there is no communication gap whatsoever. In the past, the governors were attending. Governors are very busy people and it is always very difficult for us to have time to be on the field in addition to running our states.Paris

  • Okorocha, Bello, Dickson, 7 other govs owing workers’ salaries despite FG’s release of Paris Club refund – NLC

    …says 10 defaulting governors must give account of Paris Club refund spendings

    …kicks against increase in electricity tariff

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday made good its intention to name state governors who mismanaged the first and second tranches of the Paris Club refund released to them by the Federal Government.

    The congress also warned the government against approving another increase in electricity tariff, saying it will mobilise its affiliates, social partners and other Nigerians to resist any further increase when Nigerians were yet to get a good service foe the previous increase, which has been declared illegal by the court.

    This was revealed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba.

    Wabba who spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja, said six of the 10 states were in a terrible situation, pointing out that the congress had directed all states chapters whose members are owed more than three months salaries to declare an industrial action.

    In his words: “Out of the 36 states, we have 10 bad case scenario and out of this 10, we have six terrible ones. We have promised to name and shame them. Those states include Imo that has been paying workers salaries in percentage and has not declared utilisation of the bail out fund and Paris Club refund. It is part of the states that ICPC has mentioned in fund diversion.

    “They paid 40 percent pension to their pensioners without their consent and provided a form for them to sign under duress. That is not allowed in law. We have Bayelsa, which has between five to 10 months arrears. Ondo is owing between four and six, Ekiti (five to eight), Benue (five to eight) and Kogi, which is the worst case scenario.

    “We have three categories of workers in Kogi. We have 40 per cent that are being paid up to date, we have 25 per cent that has not been paid between eight and 16 months and another 25 per cent that has not been paid between eight and 21 months. In all, the sectors, they have categorised the workers into three categories.

    “We also have the case of Osun which is also paying in percentage, but is up to date. Ebonyi, unilaterally, without discussion with the union tried to reduce the salaries by certain percentage and have also not made available records of utilisation of the Paris Club refund.

    “We have the case of Zamfara, which is the only state that has not implemented the minimum wage and all attempt (including agreements they have signed) to get them to make available records of utilisation of those funds have failed. The last one is, Abia which has a problem with the parastatals. On the average, other states are above board.

    The NLC chief went on: “As I speak to you, both Zamfara and Benue are on strike and I am aware that Kogi has issued a notice, which is in conformity with the decision we took at our last NEC meeting that any state with liability of more than three months should start an action and we will be there to support them.”

    Speaking on the statement credited to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power that one of the problem in the power sector was low electricity tariff, Wabba said workers will not accept any further increase in tariff.

    He said: “A few days ago, I received a letter from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission informing us that they want to hold town hall meetings where they want consumers and other stakeholder to contribute. What immediately came to my mind is an attempt again to increase tariff when we have not been able to get out of the one they illegally increased by 45 percent.

    “The twin issue of fuel price increase and electricity tariff has made nonsense of the minimum wage. We have not been able to justify that 45 percent increase, but now, they are coming again. Let me say emphatically that NLC as an organisation and all our affiliates will resist any attempt to increase the electricity tariff again.

    “We have gone to court to challenge their action and the court made pronouncement that the process they followed to effect the last increase was illegal and, therefore, set it aside. Here we are; even to respect that court order has become a problem. We must continue to respect the rule of law. We are still on that issue because no court of law has set aside that judgement.

    “Let us warn those people again because, for them, they must continue to feast on us. If this happens, it means more industries will close and it also means more darkness because the more they increase the tariff, the more darkness we have and more burden on the Nigerian worker. Therefore, we must situate our policies within the context of how it can improve the life of ordinary Nigerian.”

    Speaking on the economic challenge facing the nation, Wabba said: “There is no doubt that our country is passing through very difficult challenges and I think those challenges are to strengthen us, give us hope and make us to think more and be able to respond to issues that affect us. Economies do bubble and burst. Therefore we must not be lamenting that we are in recession or getting out of recession.

    “What matters is how do we put food on the table of the ordinary Nigerian; how do we drive our processes to ensure that industries are working? Once industries don’t work and we don’t produce, but continue to import, the situation will continue because there will always be crave for foreign exchange for us to import and because we don’t export anything, that issue will continue.

    “Our focus must be that our economic model is anchored around the people and around the issues of social justice. Once we don’t do that, then the problem will continue. That is why we have continuously engage the process, including options that are going to work.

    “For instance, the issue of taxation. It is only workers today that pay the correct tax while those that have more than enough, including those with stolen funds, don’t pay tax. Why should you continue to overburden the worker that is already paying the correct tax with more taxation?

    “If I am paying correct tax through pay as you earn, if means that I am paying correct tax and to introduce more tax means double jeopardy. If we are able to access the stamp duty alone, we will be able to generate over two trillion naira per annum. These are issues that we need to address. You cannot continue to rob the poor to make sure that the rich continue to live large.”

    Earlier in his address, NASU National President Comrade Chris Ani said the agitation for restructuring and fiscal federalism were attempts to divert attention from misgovernance and ineptitude the nation has been going through, adding that Nigerians should not be distracted by elements that have actively participated in the looting and mismanagement of our economy and can be found in the two major political parties.

    Ani said what workers needed at this point was time is not whether more power should be given to states, but to know how they have managed the power at their disposal.

    Congratulating the government and its officials for bringing the economy out of recession, Ani said the union will only join the celebration when workers’ “welfare improves; jobs are secured; salaries are paid in full as and when due; wage increase is de-frozen and other withheld benefits are paid”.