Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated plans to exempt baby products, locally manufactured sanitary towels, pads, and tampons from Value Added Tax (VAT). This proposal is part of a comprehensive bill aimed at consolidating the country’s tax framework. The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions and Instruments, and Related Matters,” was presented to the National Assembly on October 4, 2024. It outlines the government’s tax strategy and its approach to fund…

Daud Olatunji The 2024 federal budget has sparked controversy as food and catering allocations for the State House, including the offices of the President and Vice President, soared to N845.07 million, marking a significant 20% increase from previous years. This revelation has raised concerns over government expenditure amidst Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges. A breakdown of the budget shows that the State House administration allocated N253.27m, the office of the President earmarked N254.27m, and the office of the Vice President set aside N337.52m for food and catering in 2024. In comparison, the 2022 and 2023 allocations for food remained static at…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has addressed speculations regarding his 2027 presidential ambition, stating that he’s old enough to declare his intentions when the time comes. Mr Makinde made this known to reporters at Fashola Farm in Ibadan on Saturday after the Peoples Democratic Party retreat. The governor stressed that nobody could push his political agenda, adding that he would announce his intentions explicitly. He recalled his 2019 governorship election where he was considered an outsider without political experience, stating that the people of Oyo State gave him a chance. He highlighted his infrastructural projects and declared that he had…

The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has urged President Bola Tinubu to exercise caution in adopting the World Bank’s recommendations on economic reforms, warning of potential adverse effects on Nigerians. The warning was issued on Saturday in Ibadan by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, as the group expressed concern over recent advice from the global financial institution. Afenifere’s caution follows the World Bank’s recommendation to reduce government spending on social services, which the group fears could lead to further hardship for the populace. The statement comes in response to the World Bank’s call for Nigeria to sustain economic reforms over…

Daud Olatunji The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed strong disapproval over the religious imbalance in the selection of candidates for chairmanship positions in the upcoming local government elections in Ogun State. MURIC, through its Ogun State chapter, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of marginalizing the Muslim community by favoring Christian candidates. In a statement issued on Thursday, October 16, 2024, and signed by its chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Tajudeen Alao, MURIC revealed that out of the 20 candidates selected for the chairmanship elections, 16 are reportedly Christians, primarily affiliated with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG),…

The federal government, on Friday, said that it had expanded healthcare access to more than 2.4 million vulnerable Nigerians in the past year through the Vulnerable Groups Fund. The minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pat, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja. Mr Pate spoke during a ministerial oversight committee for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), a quarterly meeting of the ministry. He said that the initiative was aimed at reducing maternal mortality and improving child health outcomes. According to him, it highlights the government’s ongoing commitment to providing affordable healthcare, particularly for the poor and…

. The UK Metropolitan Police have released an image of a man, Anthony Chieke, following a spate of burglaries at mosques around the country. Mr Chieke is 55 years old. Large amounts of cash have allegedly been stolen from eight mosques, including one in Manor Park, Newham, east London, over the last year, according to a statement by the Met. Mr Chieke is described as being around six feet, eight inches tall, with a shaved, balding head and stubble, and goes by several names, including Abraham Jakoboits. Mr Chieke was last seen in Mitcham, south London, in May. He is…

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has asserted that the future of Nigerian youths does not lie abroad but within Nigeria’s own borders. Adesina said this at a public lecture commemorating the 90th birthday of former military head of state Yakubu Gowon. He emphasized the urgent need for the nation to address the factors driving the significant outflow of its talented youth, particularly in the wake of the prevailing “Japa syndrome,” a term that captures the trend of young Nigerians seeking opportunities outside the country. Speaking to an audience gathered on Friday, Adesina pointed out that a…

In a significant move to address economic challenges faced by civil servants, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a new minimum wage of N85,000 for workers in the state. This development marks a substantial increase above the national minimum wage of N70,000 recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting between the governor, labour leaders, and senior government officials. The Head of Service of Rivers State, George Nwaeke, confirmed the decision, stating that the new wage policy would be implemented immediately. “He (Fubara) has announced a figure that is higher than…

SERAP Rejects N5 Billion Def InvasionThe Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has vehemently rejected a defamation lawsuit filed against it by the Department of State Services (DSS), following what it describes as an unlawful invasion of its Abuja office. The civil society organization, which has been at the forefront of advocating for accountability and human rights, made its stance known through a post on its official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Friday. In the statement, SERAP asserted, “We reject the baseless defamation lawsuit brought against us by the DSS, following the invasion of our Abuja office. We’re talking to…