Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Lokoja

  • Resident doctors warn of January 12 shutdown as welfare talks stall

    Resident doctors warn of January 12 shutdown as welfare talks stall

    In an update published by The Nation, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) says it will resume a suspended nationwide industrial action on January 12 unless key demands are fully implemented.

    The association says the action plan—tagged TICS 2.0—will include service withdrawal and protests, with doctors insisting unresolved allowances, arrears, and administrative issues are undermining morale and patient care.

    THISDAY also reported that NARD plans to resume TICS 2.0 nationwide from January 12, noting it will commence “at exactly 12:00 am on Monday, January 12, 2026,” while The Nation states NARD “is set to resume its suspended nationwide industrial action on January 12.”

    The stakes are immediate: if both sides don’t close gaps quickly, teaching hospitals and major public facilities could see a fresh disruption in services.

    Echotitbits take: The stakes are immediate: if both sides don’t close gaps quickly, teaching hospitals and major public facilities could see a fresh disruption in services.

    Source: The Nation — January 4, 2026 (https://thenationonlineng.net/resident-doctors-set-to-resume-indefinite-strike-january-12/)

    The Nation January 4, 2026

    Photo Credit: The Nation

  • Kogi signs two revenue bills to align state collections with Nigeria’s new tax reform direction

    Kogi signs two revenue bills to align state collections with Nigeria’s new tax reform direction

    2026-01-02 09:00:00
    Figures cited by Punch show Kogi State has signed into law two revenue-related bills intended to strengthen tax administration and align with the Federal Government’s broader tax reform agenda.

    The measures include a state internal revenue service establishment framework and a harmonised approach to collecting taxes and levies, presented as a way to boost transparency and reduce leakages.

    Officials argue that clearer rules can improve compliance and expand the revenue base beyond a narrow set of collection points, if the rollout avoids harassment and multiple taxation traps.

    Validation: The Guardian reported Kogi “signed into law two key revenue bills” aligned with the federal reform direction. PM News echoed the expected impact, quoting a government statement that the move is “expected to boost state revenue, enhance transparency, and promote economic growth.”

    Echotitbits take: Tax reform succeeds or fails in execution. Watch for whether Kogi digitises collections, curbs informal levies at local levels and sets a credible appeals process—business confidence depends on predictability, not just new laws.

    Source: The Punch — 2026-01-02 (https://punchng.com/kogi-gov-signs-tax-reform-laws/)
    The Punch 2026-01-02

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Kogi: Security Agencies Uncover Large Arms Cache as Governor Ododo Vows No Deals With Criminals

    Kogi: Security Agencies Uncover Large Arms Cache as Governor Ododo Vows No Deals With Criminals

    Photo Credit: Punch

    2025-12-17

    According to *The Punch*, Kogi State authorities announced the discovery of a large arms and ammunition cache after a coordinated, intelligence-led operation involving multiple security agencies.

    The reported haul—ranging from rifles and magazines to large volumes of ammunition—adds to rising concerns about weapons circulation and criminal hideouts across Nigeria’s middle belt corridor.

    Officials say the operation followed sustained surveillance, and the state is urging residents to share actionable intelligence as security forces widen the dragnet.

    Other reporting on the same development includes:
    – Daily Trust: “Analysts warn that arms trafficking is deepening insecurity across key transit states.”
    – Channels TV: “Security officials say intelligence coordination is improving, but arrests and prosecutions must follow.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Recoveries matter, but arrests matter more. Watch for follow-up raids, named suspects, and whether recovered weapons are traced to supply networks—otherwise the cycle restarts with new stockpiles.

    Source: The Punch — December 17, 2025 (https://punchng.com/massive-arms-cache-uncovered-in-kogi/)