Forgeries, taxations and the reign of Rehoboam

By UGO ONUOHA “A profligate regime should not expect Nigerians to willingly submit to a new tax regime that looks like an exercise in extortion. The administration gets its priorities wrong. At a time that virtually all federal highways have collapsed and become deathtraps, this government prioritises the construction of a N15 trillion coastal highway from Lagos to Calabar.” A little over three months into the presidency of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on September 5, 2023, I wrote an opinion piece titled “100 days of Rehoboam” in this space and elsewhere. Rehoboam was a king of the divided kingdom of ancient Israel. He was the son of King Solomon and the grandson of King David, both of whom were also past rulers of a united Israel. Rehoboam caused Israel to be divided through policies that inflicted pains on his people. He was reckless. He was proud. He was unfeeling. He took counsel from his scatter head fellow young men. He told the Israelites that the privations they suffered under his father should be regarded as a child’s play. And that while his predecessors chastised them with a whip, he would chastise them with a scorpion. And he verily proceeded to do so. Rehoboam and Tinubu share similarities and dissimilarities. Rehoboam was a monarch. Tinubu is not a king in spite of his pretending to be one. Rehoboam was born into royalty. Tinubu was not. Indeed Tinubu’s birth and early years are still subjects of conjectures and controversies. Rehoboam was a young man when he ascended the throne of his fathers, and so could be excused on account of youthful exuberance. Tinubu was an old man when he was installed as president of Nigeria though his true age is only known to himself and himself alone. There’s no verifiable evidence of when he was born and where. Unlike Rehoboam, Tinubu takes no counsel from anyone. He said this much himself when, without consultations and without a Cabinet, he unilaterally removed the so-called petrol subsidy. Tinubu at 100 days in office] has been like that proverbial bird that perched on a tree branch—the branch has remained unsettled and the bird can’t stop dancing to unheard sounds. Since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, exacerbated hopelessness has been the lot of Nigerians. Tinubu himself can only pretend to have peace of mind…” On September 5, 2023, I wrote this about Tinubu and Rehoboam. “[Tinubu at 100 days in office] has been like that proverbial bird that perched on a tree branch – the tree branch has remained unsettled and the bird can’t stop dancing to unheard sounds. Since his inauguration [as president] on May 29 [2023], exacerbated hopelessness has been the lot of Nigerians and Tinubu himself can only pretend to have had peace of mind. If he has had the presence and prescience of mind, he would not have been enmeshed in serial fumbling from one policy somersault to another from the removal of the so-called petrol subsidy, [devaluation of the Naira], student loan and [the] proposed payment of N8,000 per month for six months to a specified number of poor Nigerian families, and planning to lead the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS] to war on Niger Republic [when the military in that country seized political power]”… In Igbo Tinubu is a classical case of ‘akwu rere ere n’ikwo puru epu’ which transliteration in English language will roughly read: rotten palm fruits being pounded inside a decayed mortar. The finished product is better left to the imagination…” When Rehoboam became the king, the older advisers in the palace pleaded with him “to heed the cry of the people and lighten the heavy load of labour and taxes that Solomon had laid on them, but the younger elements who had grown up with the new king counselled otherwise. He took the counsel of his mates. The consequences of the actions of the new and rash King Rehoboam are well documented in the chronicles of the kings of Israel in the Holy Bible book of 1Kings. In Tinubu’s rash and irrational decisions [on] the first day and [subsequent] weeks of his reign, he appears to have borrowed a leaf from the wicked and unthinking  King Rehoboam”. One of the undoings of Rehoboam was that he insensitively raised taxes on his people and so lost more than half of his kingdom. The northern part of Israel split away, taking its own path separate from the southern kingdom of Judah. But Nigeria is not a monarchy and bears no resemblance to the old kingdom of Israel. Does that mean that Nigeria splitting is unthinkable? With the new tax laws set to come into effect in a matter of days, Tinubu who rules like a monarch may yet be treading the path of King Rehoboam. Rehoboam raised taxes on his people at a time they were already complaining of privations and pains, Tinubu is poised to also raise taxes on Nigerians at a time the people are groaning under the weight of a multiplicity of harsh economic policies of the regime. And he appears not to be bothered. He is irritated by wise counsel that he steps on the brakes and allows Nigerians to breathe. Instead, he empowers the relevant agency of government to execute a secret contract with a so-called tax consultant in France which may lead to handing over Nigeria’s tax data to a foreign company. Tax data is a national security issue that should not be traded as a favour to a friend. Tinubu and the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, are known to be buddies. The frequent ‘working visits’ of our president since he assumed office a little over two years ago had been to Paris, France, unlike his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who made London his tourism and medical destination, and the former archbishop of Canterbury his bosom friend. And a go-to man. A profligate regime should not expect Nigerians to willingly submit to a new tax regime that looks

UNICEF says Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara need $15m to give quality life

UNICEF says Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States will need $15 million to upscale the quality of  life of their citizenry. The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms Christian Munduate, said this at a news briefing in Gusau on Wednesday shortly after holding an interactive session with stakeholders from Gidanwada Model Primary School in Bungudu Local Government Area. Munduate said that the governors of the three states needed to provide the matching grants to address the socio-economic challenges and provide quality life for their citizens. She regretted the prevalence of malnourished children and nursing mothers in the three states. She identified open defecation as a major cause of diseases capable of reversing polio epidemic to the states. According to her, children, mothers and other Nigerians deserve quality education, healthcare and nutrition, among other critical needs. Munduate urged the three states to collaborate with partners and stakeholders  to tackle the challenges and improve the living condition of their people. She further solicited for a strong partnership with all the stakeholders to address the needs of children, mothers and the entire people of the three states and other Nigerians. Boko Haram attack in Borno, petrol vehicles, tanks destroyed Good is required to end terrorism – CDS President Tinubu mourns soldiers killed in Borno She said that available record shows that there were at least 5.5million severe and acute malnourished children in Northern Nigeria. She further disclosed that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians practice open defecation that constituted major causes of diseases outbreaks. UNICEF, she said, had supported 50 Primary Healthcare Centers, in collaboration with the Federal and  Zamfara Government. “All the PHCs are functional. We believe that they can maintain them to serve the people’s needs ”We will be around to provide technical support to ensure sustainability,” Munduate said.

Akwa Ibom fights hunger, malnutrition

The Akwa Ibom House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has taken the campaigns on combating malnutrition to the 31 Local Government Areas of the State. Media reports indicate that the committee will work in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners to ensure good nutrition especially for children and adolescents. The Chairman, House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in the Assembly, Mr Moses Essien, on Tuesday urged the 31 LGAs legislative arms to domesticate nutrition and food security committees in the third tier of government. Essien, who is also the member, representing Ibiono Ibom state constituency in the House of Assembly, said there was need for all stakeholders across the state to get involved and eradicate malnutrition from the state. READ ALSO: NULGE Express frustration over delay in LG financial autonomy He said since the inauguration of the committee by the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly, there was need to have the same committee at the local government legislative council. The committee chairman noted that the National Demographic Health Survey 2023/2024 statistics showed that 24.1 per cent of children in Akwa Ibom are stunted and 22.6 per cent are underweight. Essien, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Health, said that there was need for collaboration among key stakeholders and development partners to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in the state and country. “According to the National Demographic Health Survey carried out in 2023/2024, 24.1 per cent of children in Akwa Ibom State are stunted, 11.8 per cent are wasted while 22.6 per cent are underweight. “These indicators show the level of malnutrition in the state that calls for serious concern among critical stakeholders. “This is because malnutrition has severe consequences on the child’s health leading to infant mortality. “It was the resolution by the National Assembly that combating malnutrition and food insecurity cannot be left in the hands of executive alone. “Hence, the establishment of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security. “It is our belief that each legislative council in the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State must also domesticate nutrition and food security committees at the third tier of government. “Leaders of local government legislative councils should appoint chairmen and members of nutrition and food security committees and ensure their inauguration,” Essien said. READ ALSO: Africa has what it takes to develop itself – Tinubu Essien disclosed that a workshop will soon be organised in collaboration with some development partners to enhance capacity building for members of the committee. In her remarks, Dr Idongesit Umo, Akwa Ibom Nutritionist Officer, urged the house committee to ensure that the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security were released on time for implementation of activities to combat malnutrition. Umoh added that combating malnutrition in the state and country should be everybody’s business and not left for the executive alone. “When we talk of nutrition we look at the most vulnerable, we look at children under five years and pregnant women and the adolescents. “We urge the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security to ensure that the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security are released promptly to enhance proper implementation of activities to combat malnutrition. I’m sure if we do this, the next time the demographic survey will be released, the issue of Akwa Ibom having 24.1 per cent stunted and 22.6 per cent in terms of children who are under weight will change for better,” Umoh said. Speaking on behalf of the Council Chairmen, Mr Utibe Nwoko, Chairman, Ika Local  Government Area, assured that all the chairmen of councils would partner the committee in combating malnutrition in the state. Nwoko urged everyone to return to farm, stressing that the genesis of malnutrition and the consequences are mostly as a result of lack of farming. 

Canada Pledges $18m For Poverty, Humanitarian Responses In Nigeria

The Canadian Government will support humanitarian and poverty alleviation in Nigeria with 18 million dollars. The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Jamie Christoff, made this known when he visited the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu in her office in Abuja. Christoff said Canada has already committed to spend a total of one hundred and fifty-two million dollars to support various programmes in Nigeria. According to him, part of the money is the eighteen million dollars earmarked for Humanitarian response. “The main portion of the funds will be spent in programmes focusing on the vulnerable women and young girls across the country. The Canadian envoy lauded the establishment of the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund. “I am here with my team to register our support to the mandate of the President in his efforts to alleviate poverty and reduce humanitarian crises in Nigeria through your ministry” he said. In her response, Edu, commended the Canadian High Commissioner visiting her, as well as supporting the ministry’s efforts in humanitarian response. Edu expressed delight that the Canadian government has confidence in President Bola Tinubu Administration to drive Nigeria’s poverty alleviation and humanitarian response. She assured the ambassador of the federal government’s desire to deepens mutual working relationship with the Canadian government. According to her, the Tinubu Administration is determined to tackle Nigeria’s multi-dimensional poverty and humanitarian crises in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She assured the Canadian Envoy that the Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund will be used to address humanitarian emergencies. She said, there will be transparency in the application of the fund. Edu therefore urged all stakeholders to re-evaluate their contributions to Nigeria and work towards providing durable solutions to ‘our country’ need. She advocated for a change in approach of partners to enable the people who need help the most truly get it with less duplication and wastage.