Author: straightnewsng.com

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance, has called for the designation of tax malpractices by multinational corporations in Nigeria and other developing countries as foreign corrupt practices. Adeosun made the call at the Platform for Collaboration on Tax, PCT conference in New York, which rounded off over the weekend. The PCT is an initiative of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, IMF and United Nations. The minister explained that Nigeria was doubly affected by illicit financial flows as a result of corruption and tax evasion. She requested global organisations such as the OECD,…

Mr. Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been queried and given 48 hours to explain why the agency filed corruption charges against chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Mr. Danladi Umar. In the query dated February 16, with reference no. DPP/ADV:368/15, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said the clarification was necessitated by the fact that EFCC under Magu had on two occasions, cleared the CCT boss of complicity in the N10 million bribery allegation upon which the charge was based. Malami…

The Federal Government intends to replicate the Songhai farm model in Akwa Ibom State. Mr. Bassey Nkposong, the Managing Director of Cross Basin Development Authority, explained that the government would rather partner the land donor communities in the state through the integrated farming model with a view to adding value to such property. Nkposong stated this when he in company of other members of his management team paid a courtesy visit on the paramount ruler of Onna, Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang and other chiefs in the area. He said the policies and programmes of the River Basin Development Authorities were…

Pregnancy is like breakable plate. As such, it must be delicately handled. Pregnant women are too be treated and handled delicately as they carry their unborn babies. There are certain things they have to avoid. (A) Smoking: It is harmful to the developing baby. It can lead to premature birth and low birth weight, and it increases the risk of cot death. (B) Raw or undercooked meat: It is not advisable for pregnant women to eat raw or uncooked meat. This is to prevent infection with toxoplasmosis, a parasite that can be found in meat. In some countries, pregnant women…

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd, former Military President, has counselled the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to give Nigerians a better alternative in the interest of the nation. Babangida, who spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital, weekend, while receiving members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP, led by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, also expressed satisfaction with the repositioning effort of the party, ahead of the 2019 general poll. “I am happy at your assurances that there will be no imposition in all your primary elections. It is all about choice…

The House of Representatives is irked over a paltry remittance of about N700 million annually as taxes by 21 licensed operators to the federal government since the inception of the industry 11 years ago. Consequently, the law makers have resolved to probe the licensed operators and stakeholders in the sector, Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission and Lottery Trust Funds. While considering a motion enitled “Need to Investigate licensed Lottery Operators for defaulting in their financial obligation to Federal government of Nigeria”, the House empowered its Committee on Governmental Affairs to conduct the investigation. Addressing a section of the House of Representatives…

Tension is mounting in Imo State following alleged plots by the government to impeach Prince Eze Madumere, the state Deputy Governor. Investigations by Vanguard Saturday revealed that a coalition of youth groups of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, has planned to stage protest to the Imo House of Assembly over the alleged plot by Governor Rochas Okorocha to coerce members of the state House of Assembly into initiating impeachment proceedings against Madumere over issues relating to his governorship ambition. However, Okorocha through Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, his Chief Press Secretary has denied plots to impeach the deputy, Madumere.…

National Chairman of the Patriots, Prof Ben Nwabueze, has said that President Muhammadu Buharis alleged islamisation agenda for Nigeria was beclouding his ability to rule the country as a sovereign nation. In a statement entitled, The quit notice, hate speeches and President Buhari’s Northernisation/Islamisation Agenda, issued in Enugu Saturday evening, Nwabueze said that Buhari was more interested in the unity of the Northern Nigeria than that of the Nigerian Republic, adding that this was why he was running a one-sided administration against the Southern part of the country. He said that the President’s undisguised, unabashed favouritism and solicitude for a united…

The stake is raised for the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) to re-brand its electioneering campaign promises and its “presidential product” in order to warm itself again into the hearts of Nigerians. The dateline: February 2019. The possibility of using the same party that came in a phenomenal manner to convince most Nigerians that its second coming would fare better is a story for another day. Nigerians could be tolerant. At times, they could also be impatient.  Take the case of a football national coach or a leader said to have goofed or performed below expectation, those Nigerians easily lose…

Investigations are ongoing to uncover more frauds perpetrated by some staffers of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) totaling N145 million in seven offices of the federation. The board had adopted sale of forms by scratch cards to intending applicants years ago and changed it to an online registration seen to be fraud-proof two years ago to stem the fraudulent practices by its staffers. Our correspondent gathered on Friday that while the board was investigating N31m misappropriated revenue in Edo and N20m in Kano, it was quizzing officials in Plateau and Gombe over N15m and N10m mismanaged in the…