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GOVERNORS’ FORUM TEAM VISITS LAGOS TO UNDERSTUDY IGR TEMPLATE   

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In order to address the decline in distributable revenue from the Federation Account to governments at all levels, a 30-team from the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the Federal Ministry of Finance has visited the Lagos State Ministry of Finance to understudy the State’s Internally Generated Revenue template and exchange ideas on how to ameliorate the present economic meltdown in the country.

Welcoming the NGF team to the State, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, explained that the State Government had introduced a lot of innovation to drive its cashless revenue collection policy, adding that the State’s financial system has been fully automated, giving no room for cash transactions in any government financial deal.

Olowo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Yemi Ayoola, stated that Lagos had standardised its revenue collection system, through the introduction of different modes such as Point of Purchase System (POS), Single Treasury Account (TSA), different bank-payment opportunities and application of standard sharing formula between the State and local governments, to eliminate multiple taxation in respect of revenue from Land Use Charge.

While stressing that the State needs huge revenue to meet the infrastructure requirements of its teeming population, Olowo told the visiting team that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration has not only put in place a very strong financial management system that is technology-driven but has also engaged financial risk managers. He maintained that the administrative ingenuity and perfect accounting system made it possible for the State Government to pay its workforce every month without fail.

“Technology has helped us a lot, every transaction is done through an electronic tax system. We have blocked possible leakages with the introduction of revenue codes while all revenue is traceable due to a single treasury account. We have committed professional accountants handling all the Ministry’s activities both in revenue data collation and full implementation of the budgetary system”, the Commissioner said.

Also speaking, Mr. Abayomi Yusuf, the Ministry’s Head of Revenue and Taxation Department, disclosed that the State has an application for the enumeration and capturing of property, adding that the government has five consultants working as field officers for the enumeration of property while the Ministry handles the administrative aspects.

On the legal backing to the State revenue generation system, Mrs. Olayemi Oni, the Head of Legal Department, told the visiting team that the LUC is a child of the law and its operations are wholly and entirely guided by its dictates.

“We are constantly working to bridge the lacuna and every three years, we review the law. We also have an Appeal Tribunal to resolve all complaints made by Lagosians”, she said.

Responding, the leader of the 30-man NGF delegation, Mr. Olanrewaju Ajogbasile, noted that the visit funded by the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance is aimed at exchanging ideas as well as learning how the Lagos State Government drives its economy and the strategies adopted to grow its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), despite the global economic meltdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the destructive #EndSARS protest.

“We are here in Lagos to learn from the innovative strategies of the Lagos State Government. We have come to learn, adopt and follow Lagos State template in revenue generation because it is the best template in the country today”, he stated.

While commending the State Government for adopting technology in its revenue drive, Ajogbasile stated that Lagos IGR technique should be a standard template for achieving sustainable economic growth for the country, saying “The decision to visit Lagos was informed by the giant strides Lagos State is making in growing its Internally Generated Revenue despite the corrosive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy”.

He said it was highly inspiring to note that Lagos still grossed a total of  N418.99 billion, which accounted for  32.1 per cent of the total N1.33 trillion IGR recorded by the 36 states in Y2020, despite various challenges faced by the State last year.

Representatives of State Governors from six Geo-Political zones, namely Gombe, Nasarawa, Delta, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Ekiti States were present during the team’s visit.

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FRSC Lacks Authority To Seize Drivers’ Licences And Vehicles – Appeal Court

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The Court of Appeal in Owerri, Imo State, has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) does not have the legal authority to seize drivers’ licenses, vehicles, or related documents without lawful justification.

This decision was made in Appeal No: CA/OW/199/2022, which was filed by the FRSC, the Corps Marshal, and an officer identified by Uniform No. COSS 35 (referred to as the 1st to 3rd Appellants), against Dr. Emmanuel Ugochukwu Shebbs (the Respondent).

The appellate court upheld the earlier judgment of the High Court of Abia State, which had determined that such seizures violate fundamental human rights.

Delivering a unanimous judgment, Justices Amina Audi Wambai, M. Lawal Abubakar, and Ntong F. Ntong confirmed the FRSC’s liability for the rights violation. However, the court reduced the damages awarded to the respondent from N30 million to N10 million, which included both general and exemplary damages.

The case originated from an incident in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, when FRSC officers stopped Shebbs along Bende Road in Umuahia. He reported that, after inspecting his car and finding no faults, the officers demanded a bribe. When he refused, they conducted another inspection, claimed that his tire was worn out, and subsequently confiscated his driver’s license while issuing a N3,000 ticket.

Rather than pay the fine, Shebbs sought redress in the High Court in Abia, arguing that the unlawful seizure of his license violated his fundamental rights

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NYSC Publishes 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Deployment List

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The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has released the deployment list for the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I prospective corps members.

The announcement was made on Monday via the scheme’s official Facebook page.

All Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) are advised to log in to the NYSC portal to confirm their deployment status. They must also print and sign the Addendum, which is a mandatory document required for registration at the Orientation Camp.

The NYSC issued a safety advisory urging PCMs not to undertake night travels to their assigned orientation camps to ensure their safety during transit.

According to the scheme, some corps members assigned to Lagos State will undergo their Orientation Course in camps located in Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, and Osun States. Those deployed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are required to report to orientation camps in either Nasarawa or Kaduna States.

“Prospective Corps Members are advised to print and sign the Addendum, which must be submitted during registration at the Orientation Camp. PCMs are also strongly advised against night travel,” the statement emphasised.

The 21-day orientation program, which marks the official commencement of the mandatory one-year national service, is expected to begin soon.

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INEC Sets To Strengthen Electoral Process, Implements Key Post-Election Reforms

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INEC Logo and Chairman,, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to implement critical post-election recommendations aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s electoral system.

Yakubu gave this assurance on Monday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a strategic meeting with the Post-Election Follow-Up and Needs Assessment Mission from the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC).

The ECONEC delegation, which is in Nigeria to review progress made since the 2023 general election, was led by Mrs. Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, Chairperson of Liberia’s National Elections Commission, and Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman of Ghana’s Electoral Commission.

Speaking at the session, Professor Yakubu disclosed that of the 37 recommendations presented by the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM), 13 were directed specifically at INEC. He noted that the Commission had already addressed these through administrative measures, while the remaining 24 recommendations—targeted at institutions such as the National Assembly, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), civil society groups, and political parties—were still pending action.

“The Commission has acted on all recommendations within its purview and awaits the conclusion of legislative reviews for those outside its administrative control,” Yakubu said.

He added that INEC had not only considered these recommendations but also published a comprehensive response document, aligning many of them with the Commission’s broader electoral reform plan, which includes 142 proposals derived from consultations with various stakeholders.

“These reports and documents have been made available to the ECONEC delegation in both digital and hard copies,” Yakubu noted, emphasising that the follow-up mission serves as an important mechanism for reinforcing electoral credibility within the West African sub-region.

He praised ECONEC’s consistent engagement with member states and described INEC’s participation in similar missions, including one to The Gambia earlier in the year, as part of a mutual commitment to regional democratic development.

The ECONEC team is also scheduled to meet with other relevant institutions, including the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as part of its mission.

Professor Yakubu also acknowledged the contributions of international partners such as the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), International IDEA, and the German development agency GIZ, all of whom had representatives in the ECONEC team.

He commended the ECONEC Secretariat for its professionalism and expressed optimism about the outcome of the meeting.

“We anticipate a fruitful engagement that will advance the cause of credible elections and democratic consolidation in Nigeria and across the region,” he concluded.

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