Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Governance

  • FAAC review flags weak responses from firms in road tax credit scrutiny

    FAAC review flags weak responses from firms in road tax credit scrutiny

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    In an update published by Punch, FAAC’s post-mortem sub-committee reviewing the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme reportedly received responses from only three of seven companies contacted, raising fresh questions around transparency and project accountability.

    The scheme allows companies to build eligible roads and offset costs against future tax liabilities, making it a large fiscal lever that directly affects distributable revenue.

    The central issue now is governance: whether project valuation, scope, and delivery milestones align with tax credits claimed across participating firms.

    ThisDay reports that “a combined $577.6 million and N822.3 billion were utilised under the scheme,” while ARISE News says the panel is probing “the scale of deductions, transparency of project execution and accountability.”

    Echotitbits take: Tax-credit infrastructure can be smart—if procurement and monitoring are airtight. If not, it becomes a quiet drain on FAAC. Watch for the committee’s recommendations and whether disclosure rules get tougher.

    Source: The Punch — December 29, 2025 (https://punchng.com/faac-flags-poor-responses-in-road-tax-scheme/)
    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Reps constitution review: new push to tighten how state electoral commissions are appointed

    Reps constitution review: new push to tighten how state electoral commissions are appointed

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    Reporting by PUNCH indicates the House of Representatives is advancing constitutional changes aimed at strengthening State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), focusing on clearer appointment criteria and expanded operational powers.

    Supporters argue the changes could improve credibility of local and state elections, while critics caution that reforms must also address funding independence and enforcement capacity.

    The move fits into a wider constitutional review agenda that lawmakers say targets governance and electoral reforms before the next cycle.

    AllAfrica, citing Leadership, listed proposed bills to “provide the criteria for appointing members of the State Independent Electoral Commission” and to “grant the commission additional powers.”

    Echotitbits take: If appointment rules tighten but funding remains politically controlled, SIECs may still struggle. Watch whether reforms include financial autonomy and penalties for electoral offences at the state level.

    Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/reps-move-to-strengthen-state-electoral-commission/)

    The Punch December 28, 2025
    https://punchng.com/reps-move-to-strengthen-state-electoral-commission/

  • National Assembly moves to publish certified copies of tax reform laws amid alteration claims

    National Assembly moves to publish certified copies of tax reform laws amid alteration claims

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-27 06:00:00

    In an update published by Punch, the National Assembly reportedly directed its administrative leadership to provide Certified True Copies of recently passed tax laws to the public and key stakeholders.

    The move follows claims that versions circulating in public space do not perfectly reflect what lawmakers passed, and it is framed as a step to protect the integrity of the legislative record.

    Policy analysts say publishing verified copies quickly can reduce uncertainty for businesses and taxpayers, especially ahead of implementation deadlines and compliance planning.

    Echotitbits take:
    Transparency here is not cosmetic—it’s market‑relevant. Watch how quickly the certified versions are released, whether agencies align their guidance to the same text, and how courts may treat any disputes over “which version” applies.

    Source: The Punch— December 26, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nassembly-directs-provision-of-tax-laws-ctc/)
    The Punch December 26, 2025

  • Malaysia’s Najib convicted in fresh fraud case as courts revisit the 1MDB era

    Malaysia’s Najib convicted in fresh fraud case as courts revisit the 1MDB era

    Photo Credit: France 24

    2025-12-27 06:00:00

    According to Punch, a Malaysian court found former prime minister Najib Razak guilty in a fraud case tied to the long‑running fallout from the 1MDB corruption saga.

    The report said the verdict adds another layer to Malaysia’s anti‑corruption narrative, where legal outcomes have become intertwined with political realignments and public trust in institutions.

    Analysts say international investors watch these cases closely because they influence perceptions of rule‑of‑law stability, enforcement risk, and governance standards in emerging markets.

    Echotitbits take:
    High‑profile convictions matter, but what counts is consistency: whether enforcement is even‑handed across parties and eras. Watch sentencing, appeal processes, and whether the case triggers broader reforms in procurement and oversight.

    Source: France 24 — December 26, 2025 (https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20251226-former-malaysian-pm-najib-guilty-of-money-laundering-1mdb-corruption-case)

    France 24 December 26, 2025

  • House Panel Fast-Tracks Probe Into Alleged “Gazette” Tax-Law Discrepancies

    House Panel Fast-Tracks Probe Into Alleged “Gazette” Tax-Law Discrepancies

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-25 10:00:00

    Reporting by Punch indicates Nigeria’s House of Representatives panel investigating alleged inconsistencies between tax laws passed by lawmakers and versions later gazetted has promised to finish quickly and submit a report without delay.

    The panel, chaired by Muktar Betara, was constituted after lawmakers raised concerns that provisions in the gazetted laws may differ materially from what the National Assembly approved—raising questions about legislative integrity and the reliability of statutes being implemented.

    The controversy has also drawn political pressure, with Senator Ali Ndume urging President Bola Tinubu to pause implementation of disputed tax reform measures slated for January until independent verification is completed.

    Elsewhere, The Guardian reported that the committee pledged to submit its findings once work is concluded, while quoting Taiwo Oyedele calling for patience: “let’s wait for the investigation to establish what indeed happened.” BusinessDay similarly reported the House set up a seven-member committee to investigate “alleged discrepancies” between gazetted tax laws and the versions passed by the National Assembly.

    Echotitbits take: This is becoming a credibility test for Nigeria’s fiscal reform push. If the “gazette vs passed copy” gap isn’t resolved transparently, enforcement will face legitimacy challenges, litigation risk, and compliance pushback. Watch for whether the panel publishes a side-by-side reconciliation of disputed clauses—and whether implementation timelines shift.

    Source: The Punch — December 25, 2025 (https://punchng.com/house-begins-tax-law-probe-ndume-pushes-for-suspension/?utm_medium=web&utm_source=top-story)

    The Punch 2025-12-25

  • ICPC scorecard: no federal MDA achieves full ethics compliance in 2025

    ICPC scorecard: no federal MDA achieves full ethics compliance in 2025

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-24 08:17:00

    As reported by PUNCH, the ICPC says no federal Ministry, Department or Agency achieved full compliance in its 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, pointing to widespread weaknesses in internal ethics systems.

    The assessment covered 344 MDAs, with only a minority rated substantially compliant while many fell into partial, poor, or non-compliance categories.

    The scorecard is intended to strengthen preventive anti-corruption reforms—meaning implementation after publication is as important as the ranking itself.

    Premium Times reported the findings, stating: “No MDA achieved full compliance in the 2025 assessment.” Daily Post likewise noted: “The Commission said no MDA achieved full ethical compliance…”

    Echotitbits take: Publishing rankings is step one; consequences and remediation are step two. Watch for whether compliance becomes tied to leadership performance reviews, procurement controls, and budget releases for repeat defaulters.

    Source: The Punch — December 23, 2025 (https://punchng.com/no-federal-mda-achieved-full-ethics-compliance-in-2025-icpc/)
    The Punch 2025-12-23

  • Experts say Lagos could unlock ₦1tn yearly from property tax—if data gets fixed

    Experts say Lagos could unlock ₦1tn yearly from property tax—if data gets fixed

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-24 07:33:00

    Figures cited by PUNCH show that Lagos could generate as much as ₦1 trillion annually from property tax if the state builds credible property registers, accurate valuations, and transparent enforcement systems.

    Speakers at a tax reform summit argued that property tax is one of the most stable revenue anchors because it grows with urban development and is harder to evade when the register is accurate.

    The policy push is shifting from rhetoric to implementation—enumeration, valuation, harmonisation, and building trust that revenue collected translates into visible public services.

    Taiwo Oyedele said: “Property taxation is one of the most underutilised yet stable revenue sources available to states and local governments.” Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu added: “Taxation is ultimately a social contract. People comply willingly when they trust that the government is responsible, accountable, and responsive.”

    Echotitbits take: The upside is huge, but the politics are delicate. Watch for a transparent register, clear rates, dispute-resolution for valuations, and visible reinvestment in services—otherwise compliance will be resisted.

    Source: The Punch— December 24, 2025 (https://punchng.com/lagos-can-generate-n1tn-yearly-from-property-tax-oyedele/)
    The Punch 2025-12-24

  • Nigeria and World Bank roll out $500m HOPE-GOV programme for schools and PHC

    Nigeria and World Bank roll out $500m HOPE-GOV programme for schools and PHC

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-24 06:48:00

    Figures cited by Punch show Nigeria and the World Bank are implementing a $500 million programme—HOPE-Governance—targeting system improvements in basic education and primary healthcare, with emphasis on financing, transparency, and workforce management.

    Officials say the design aims to strengthen budgeting and accountability in the two sectors, while also addressing staffing and performance management problems that keep outcomes weak even when funds are budgeted.

    The broader pitch is that “inputs” (money, staff) must translate into measurable outcomes: better teaching coverage and stronger primary health services—especially at the state level where delivery performance varies sharply.

    Government sources describe the programme as a structured, multi-year reform push rather than a one-off cash injection.

    A federal ministry statement noted the facility would “increase the availability and effectiveness for financing for basic education and primary health care,” while describing the World Bank support as a “Five Hundred Million Dollar loan facility” for HOPE.

    Echotitbits take: The money is the easy part; execution is the fight. Watch for state-level transparency rules, public reporting of results, and whether teacher/PHC staffing reforms survive local politics. If outcomes are tied to disbursement, states may finally take performance management seriously.

    Source: The Punch — December 24, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-wbank-partner-on-500m-human-capital-reforms/#:~:text=The%20Federal%20Government%2C%20in%20partnership,primary%20healthcare%20across%20the%20country.)
    The Punch 2025-12-24

  • NBA and Atiku demand a halt to new tax laws over alleged ‘gazette’ alterations

    NBA and Atiku demand a halt to new tax laws over alleged ‘gazette’ alterations

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-24 06:24:00

    In an update published by Punch, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are calling for an immediate suspension of Nigeria’s newly signed tax reform laws, citing allegations that the gazetted text differs from what lawmakers passed.

    The NBA’s concern is procedural legitimacy: if a law’s final text was altered after legislative passage, then implementation becomes legally risky—especially for businesses planning compliance, pricing, and payroll systems around the new regime.

    Atiku’s position is more politically charged, urging investigation and framing the controversy as a major governance breach that could undermine democratic lawmaking.

    The dispute has also opened a second front: whether the executive should proceed with the planned January 1, 2026 implementation date while lawmakers investigate.

    Vanguard reported Atiku asked EFCC to probe the “illegal and unauthorised alterations,” while also quoting the NBA’s call that “all plans for implementation… should be immediately suspended.”

    Echotitbits take: If this isn’t resolved fast, you risk a compliance freeze—companies won’t know which text to obey, and investors hate legal ambiguity. The smart move is a rapid, transparent harmonisation process (and publication of the verified final text) before January 1.

    Source: The Punch — December 24, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nba-atiku-demand-new-tax-law-suspension/)
    The Punch 2025-12-24

  • Presidency, Lawmakers Trade Claims Over “Different” Gazetted Tax Text

    Presidency, Lawmakers Trade Claims Over “Different” Gazetted Tax Text

    Photo Credit: Vanguard
    2025-12-23 09:00:00

    According to Vanguard, the Federal Government says it did not tamper with Nigeria’s newly passed tax reform laws, even as lawmakers raise questions about what was eventually gazetted for public consumption.

    Officials argue that the executive transmitted a single set of harmonised documents to the National Assembly, and that what came out of the legislative process should be treated as the authoritative reference pending any verified comparison.

    On the other side, legislators pushing the controversy say the version in circulation needs scrutiny to confirm it matches what both chambers passed and forwarded for presidential assent.

    The dispute has now shifted toward formal verification, with expectations that the legislature’s internal certification process and “final harmonised copy” will settle the matter.

    Validation: TheCable quoted Information Minister Mohammed Idris saying, “there is only one version of that tax document.” Separately, TheCable also quoted Taiwo Oyedele urging caution: “Let’s wait for the findings of the lawmakers. If, indeed, there were alterations,” he said.

    Echotitbits take: This is less about politics and more about process integrity. Watch the committee’s findings, but also watch for how Nigeria upgrades legislative “quality assurance” so gazetted laws can’t be disputed after passage.

    Source: Vanguard — December 23, 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/gazette-furore-we-didnt-alter-tax-laws-fg/)
    Vanguard 2025-12-23