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NCS Bemoans Unproductive Consumption, Digital Exclusion

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In reflections on 2014 and aspirations for 2015, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has decried the persisting climate of unproductive consumption and digital exclusion in the Nigerian society.

According to NCS, although the IT Industry and Profession, in 2014, witnessed increased presence of IT in various sectors of the economy and society, however, a significant challenge is the persisting climate of unproductive consumption and digital exclusion in rural/urban, gender, among other trajectories.

In this light, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the nation’s foremost network of IT practitioners and stakeholders, said that it will be organizing its 12th international conference in July, 2015 based on the theme “Information Technology for Inclusive Development”.

Speaking on ssing IT to address Nigeria’s developmental challenges and strengthening the local IT sector, Professor David Adewumi, president of NCS, said these are strategic initiatives for global competitiveness.

He declared that 2015 is the year of Innovative and Inclusive Development, “in line with NCS’s advocacy role of ensuring that the nation receives the very best in processes, technologies and people”.

The telecommunications industry, he continued, still witnessed tremendous growth, while attracting investment in 2014. “However, while teledensity has improved significantly, quality of service, affordability, broadband penetration and last mile connectivity to the consumer are barriers that need to be addressed in 2015. The National Broadband Plan, if faithfully implemented, appears promising. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in particular has a major role to play and needs to speed up process of licensing of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) that will rollout broadband infrastructure nationwide. Also there must be bite in the Smart States initiative”.

To address some of the challenges, he said that a solid foundation in education is required to lead the IT revolution.

Adewumi said, “Just as in previous years, quite a few private, social and governmental initiatives in capacity building for IT were undertaken in 2014 to close the IT skills gap.

“However, human capital in IT is still massively below requirements, especially in research. Though there is improved access in education, there is an urgent need to ensure the entire education system embraces the 21st century knowledge culture that promotes and supports innovation.

NCS also gave Analyses on issues bugging the sector in Nigeria:

Online Sphere:

“The online sphere is home to considerable progress – online stores, business and social networks. Most outstanding in terms of investments attracted, jobs created and societal changes have been the e-payment/e-commerce landscape. In 2015, the space should be widened for existing players and new entrants. In addition, support issues as well as growth in mobile money uptake need to addressed.

Policies:

Policy and advocacy has been an area of growth through the efforts of professional and industry groups such as NCS, ATCON, ISPON, etc. NCS has been extremely fortunate to have members and partners who understand that advocacy efforts require resources.

They supported the IT Research workshops, Scholarship awards, the NCS 2014 conference and the 2014 National IT Merit Award (NITMA) and advocacy organization. In 2015 their continued support will further advance IT development in Nigeria.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (FMCT) has been coordinating national IT activities, and needs to keep providing visionary leadership in 2015. Multistakeholder policy review and development are essential to ensure policies are relevant and effective. FMCT and NITDA should also as a matter of urgency work with stakeholders to fast track the enactment of draft bills that will accelerate IT development in Nigeria.

Cyberthreats

Greater availability of computing and internet facilities (laptops, PCs, mobile and wireless devices) drives up cyber threats and increased the need for information security. Indeed because of the impact of cyberspace on the nation’s social and economic life, national security now encompasses the digital environment.

It is imperative that stakeholders such as NITDA, the Information Technology Systems and Security Professionals (ITSSP) group of NCS, security agencies and other Infosecurity entities work together to put information security strategies, policies, legislation and culture in place.

Improved overall cybersecurity awareness and capacity should be a national strategic goal in 2015. Better application of IT to fight terrorism and other national security threats, as well as the resolution of the National database issue should also be priority targets in 2015.

Recognition Of IT Professionals

Though quite a number of government agencies are now IT driven, it is disturbing to note that IT professionals are not actively involved at the board level in top level decision making and policy formulation/evaluation for most of such organizations.

The absence of IT professionals on the boards of MDAs questions the nation’s desire to be part of the 21st century. It is pertinent to note that the IT industry and profession was not represented at the 2014 National conference.

Even with improved access to IT and the Internet, activity in the IT space is largely foreign driven and dominated. The prevailing funding and patronage scenario puts the local industry at an extreme disadvantage. The birth of the IT innovation fund is a good start requiring sustainability.

Addressing local content development and IT research and development is a strategic imperative for 2015.

There has been appreciation of knowledge, merit and IT enabled innovation through the national honours platform for IT achievers –the annual National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) and the NITDA e-governance awards held during the 2014 e-Nigeria conference. However, it is quite amazing that despite the manner in which IT is radically reshaping Nigerian society, the yearly composition of the National honours list does not recognize or appreciate the impact IT is making in the country.

Software Development

Software development, entrepreneurship and research initiatives addressing issues of funding and patronage should be encouraged and promoted. FMCT and NITDA must be commended for initiating some remarkable projects with such a focus.

Scaling up of promising interventions require strategic partnerships for faster, sustainable results. Nigerian content development in ICT, youth empowerment, digital gender mainstreaming and research are all top agenda items.

Critical to Nigeria’s digital future is support of innovative ideas in IT and harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s youth. However, in order to better serve the purpose and yield the benefit for which they were established, it is absolutely essential that FMCT, NITDA and NCC do more to support stakeholder driven initiatives in an inclusive manner.

A much needed, in fact overdue, area of critical focus for these government bodies is to work with stakeholders such as NCS to establish IT parks that will facilitate the achievement of identified priorities.

Mobile Technology

Mobile technology should be embraced at all levels to leverage on Nigeria’s improving teledensity for strong growth, financial and digital inclusion and to address Nigeria’s developmental issues.

The mainstreaming of mobile into development will reflect through the development of feasible and sustainable mobile initiatives relating to mobile money, mEducation, mHealth, mAgriculture, etc.

INEC And 2015 Elections

The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) employed information technologies to conduct to conduct governorship elections last year.

INEC is expected to continue in this vein in the conduct of national elections in 2015. It is imperative that the electoral body works more closely with stakeholders such as NCS to enhance IT adoption in election management and processes in Nigeria.

It is about building a prosperous, modern and democratic nation that meets the aspirations of the Nigerian people.

IT For National Development

IT development is a national matter and priority that has immense impact on the future of Nigeria.

The vision, leadership and commitment of key actors in the social, political and economic spheres are desired.

Though there are exceptions, the political class as a whole still appears to underestimate the potential of the IT sector. In view of upcoming elections in 2015, it is absolutely essential that Nigerians support and encourage credible politicians at all levels (local, state and national) that have an appreciation of the glaring need to incorporate and prioritize the role of the ICT sector in all sectors.

Those who must lead at this time must be those who are committed to ensuring the game changing nature and ability of IT is used to drive development.

 


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Lassa Fever, Others Claimed 952 Lives in 2024 – NCDC

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No fewer than 952 Nigerians have been killed by Lassa fever, cholera, measles, diphtheria, and yellow fever in 2024.

Lassa Fever, Others Claimed 952 Lives in 2024 – NCDC

This is according to data from the National Public Health Institute, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

A breakdown of the data showed that as of week 52, the country recorded 9,685 suspected cases of Lassa fever, 1,187 confirmed cases, and 191 deaths across 28 states, and 138 local government areas.

As of October, the centre recorded 14,237 suspected cases of cholera, 378 deaths in 36 states, and 339 LGAs.

The centre also recorded 18,187 suspected cases of measles, 9,330 confirmed cases, and 73 deaths in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory across 751 LGAs as of October 2024.

Comparatively, suspected cases of cholera in the current year increased by 220 per cent compared to what was reported as of week 39 in 2023. Likewise, cumulative deaths recorded have increased by 239 per cent in 2024.

As of September, the NCDC recorded 12,085 suspected cases of diphtheria, 7,784 confirmed cases, and 309 deaths in 21 states across 170 LGAs.

The NCDC also recorded 1,484 suspected cases of Mpox, 124 confirmed cases, across 28 states, and the FCT as of November 3, 2024.

As of September, the country recorded 2,248 suspected cases of yellow fever, 18 confirmed cases, from 592 LGAs in 36 states and the FCT, and one death.

 

 

 

 


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90 Percent of Workers to Pay Lower Taxes in Tax Reforms-  PACFTR

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Taiwo Oyedele, chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform (PACFTR) has said that contrary to speculations, individuals earning about N1.7 million or less per month will pay lower Pay as You Earn (PAYE) tax under the proposed Tax Amendment Bills before the National Assembly.

90 Percent of Workers to Pay Lower Taxes in Tax Reforms-  PACFTR

Besides, workers earning the new minimum wage and slightly more will also be fully exempted from tax obligations.

Addressing various tax issues on X, formerly Twitter, Oyedele said these thresholds will result in over 90 per cent of workers in the public and private sectors paying lower taxes while high income earners will pay slightly more in a progressive manner up to 25 per cent for the ultra-high net worth individuals.

His explanation came against the backdrop of general concerns that workers might pay more under the proposed tax reform initiatives of the federal government.

According to him, planned changes to the current tax table of personal income brackets and rates was to discourage arbitrage in some cases between the two income tax regimes.

He said the current tax table was introduced in 2011, stating that due to high inflation and lack of review, the structure has resulted in “fiscal drag” where many low income earners have been pushed to the top tax bracket over time.

This, he said, meant that an individual earning just N400,000 a month was paying the same top marginal income tax rate as a wealthy individual earning about N20 million per month.

“Therefore, the tax table has become regressive rather than progressive, as it was originally designed.

“Also, the current personal income tax regime does not encourage formalisation given that the effective top tax rate on companies is nearly double that of enterprises, which also encourages arbitrage in some cases between the two income tax regimes.

“Hence, the proposed changes seek to address these issues and simplify the system by incorporating current reliefs and allowances into the bands and rates to achieve an overall lower effective tax rate for the majority of workers,” Oyedele said.

Further addressing concerns over taxation of workers’ income in the proposed regulation, he  clarified that apart from the N800,000 per annum, which was exempted from tax, there was a rent relief of up to N200,000 per annum, which together will exempt individuals earning up to N1 million per annum (about N83,000 per month).

He said: “This is particularly beneficial to low income earners. Also, the new tax bands and rates have been designed to avoid a situation where individuals earning slightly more than the exemption threshold are taxed to an extent that makes them worse off than a person whose income is within the exemption threshold.

“For example, a person earning N30,000 per month is exempt from tax while a person earning N30,001 per month will pay about N500 leaving the latter with a net of N29,500 which is N500 worse than the person earning N30,000.

“Under the tax bills, this problem has been addressed, as everyone will be eligible to the first tax-free bracket.”

He also revealed that  statutory deductions, including pension and National Housing Fund contributions, were still applicable under the new tax bills.

According to him, “These are contributions under the National Housing Fund, National Health Insurance Scheme, Pension Reform Act, interest on loans for developing an owner-occupied residential house, annuity or premium paid for life insurance, and rent relief up to N200,000 per annum.”

He said while part of the objectives of tax reforms was simplification, the impact of the Consolidated Relief Allowance (CRA) and Personal Relief had been incorporated into the tax table such that the overall goal of exempting low income earners and reducing taxes for middle income earners was achieved.

Addressing worries over the removal of CRA and personal relief, which seemingly amounted to giving a relief with one hand and taking it back with the other, Oyedele pointed out, “By integrating the reliefs into the tax brackets and rates, many taxpayers with basic education would be able to calculate their taxes with little or no assistance thereby achieving the dual objectives of lower tax burden and tax simplification.”

On suggestions that the tax rate for the second band seemed quite steep, moving from zero per cent to 15 per cent, he said, “By comparison, the second band under the bills, which is to be taxed at 15 per cent, is currently being taxed at a marginal rate of 21 per cent even after all reliefs and allowances.

“So, while the 15 per cent may appear steep from zero per cent for the first band, it is lower compared to the current tax table.

“The real impact for a person earning about N3 million per annum equivalent to the aggregate of the first and second brackets is a lower effective tax rate of 10 per cent compared to about 12 per cent under the current tax table.”

 

 

 


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FG Plans New Firm Expand Credit Access to Nigerians

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Federal government will establish a national credit guarantee company in May to lend to businesses and individuals, according to President Bola Tinubu.

FG Plans New Firm Expand Credit Access to Nigerians

Bola Tinubu

Tinubu in an speech on Wednesday, said that “To achieve this, the federal government will establish the National Credit Guarantee Company to expand risk-sharing instruments for financial institutions and enterprises.

He said the company would partner with government institutions such as the Bank of Industry, Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Agency, and Ministry of Finance Incorporated, as well as the private sector and multilateral institutions.

“This initiative will strengthen the confidence of the financial system, expand credit access, and support under-served groups such as women and youth. It will drive growth, re-industrialisation, and better living standards for our people,” Tinubu said.

Eight months ago, Tinubu launched the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, to enhance access to credit to employed Nigerians.

The implementation of the programme was planned in stages, beginning with Federal civil service employees and now the general public.


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