Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms (PCFPTR), says that 90% of Nigerians support the tax reform bills introduced by the Tinubu administration.

OyedeLe said this while speaking at a special town hall meeting organized for the bills which was aired on Channels TV on Monday, December 2. While speaking, Oyedele shared insights from a survey conducted by his team involving over 3,000 participants, both online and offline. According to him, the survey showed that many Nigerians loved the bill and were in support of it.

“Among those who attended in person, the approval rate was 100%. For those who engaged online or watched recorded sessions, approval was at 92%. Even among those who only followed updates without participating directly, approval reached 76%. Overall, support for the reforms exceeds 90%,” Oyedele explained.

He emphasized that the reform bills contain over 200 transformative provisions aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential and charting a path to prosperity.

“We should not let one or two controversial provisions that can be discussed and resolved derail this process,” he said

In September, President Bola Tinubu submitted Four tax reform bills to the National Assembly based on recommendations from the PCFPTR. These include: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024; Establishing a fiscal framework for taxation in the country and the Tax Administration Bill which will provide a streamlined legal framework for tax administration and reducing disputes.

Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, to replace the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act to create the Nigeria Revenue Service and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, to create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.

The bills have however been met with stiff criticism from some state governors who argue that the bills will only benefit states like Lagos and Rivers states. Northern governors who are against the bill have called for it to be withdrawn.

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of Police (IGP), has confirmed that 113 foreign nationals are being prosecuted following their arrest by the Police National Cybercrime Center (NCCC) for their involvement in cybercrime activities.

The arrests were made on November 3, 2024, in Jahi, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The arrested suspects were found with a range of digital equipment believed to be used in their cybercriminal operations.

Items seized include a Black Toyota Tundra vehicle, multiple laptops, smartphones, tablets, desktops, routers from MTN, Huawei, Airtel, D-Link, and Starlink, gaming consoles such as a Sony PlayStation 5, as well as high-capacity servers, drones, and specialized cybercrime equipment. Also recovered were international passports, identity cards, SIM cards from various service providers, and travel documents.

“These assets are suspected to have been used for unauthorized data breaches, marketing scams, and other illegal activities within the cybercrime ecosystem,” the IGP stated.

He emphasized the growing global threat posed by cybercriminal syndicates that operate across borders, noting the scale and sophistication of the operation.

In a statement by ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, Force public relations officer, it was confirmed that the suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, facing charges such as computer-related fraud, unlawful data access, marketing scams, money laundering, conspiracy, and illegal immigration.

The IGP further commended the NCCC, as well as the Police operatives attached to Zone 7 Command, for their role in dismantling this international cybercrime ring, which is also linked to human trafficking networks.

He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to collaborating with international law enforcement agencies and embassies to track down cybercriminals and bring them to justice.

“We will continue to combat cybercrime and other forms of transnational criminal activity, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable under Nigerian law,” Egbetokun added.

The operation marks a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to safeguard its cyber space and prosecute those who expl

Musa Aliyu, chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has revealed that 70 percent of Nigerians approached for a bribe in 2023 refused to comply.

Aliyu made this statement on Monday during an ICPC roundtable with state attorneys-general in the north-west region, held in Kano, aimed at strengthening the commission’s capacity for corruption prevention.

The ICPC chairman noted that the ‘2023 corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed significant bribery prevalence in the north-west region and trends across Nigeria.

“Bribery is most common in public utilities, law enforcement, and administrative services,” he said.

“However, despite these challenges, the positive news is that 70 percent of Nigerians approached for a bribe in 2023 refused to comply on at least one occasion.

“In the north-west, 76 percent of individuals who encountered bribery requests resisted—the highest refusal rate among Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, indicating growing resistance to bribery in the region.”

The ICPC chairman noted that the state and federal governments have shared responsibility in tackling corruption.

He stated that this collaboration provides an opportunity to ensure that systems are accountable and transparent.

“In this regard, I call on the attorneys-general of the north-west to collaborate closely with ICPC to fortify systems of accountability and transparency that serve the people,” he said.

“Under section 6 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission Act, ICPC is empowered to investigate and prosecute corruption across all sectors of public service, but your support and the local knowledge you bring are essential to making this effort more effective.”

He called for continuous encouragement of the people of the north-west to resist bribery demands.

“As chairman of the ICPC, I am committed to ensuring that the commission uses its law enforcement powers and preventive measures, which include enlisting and fostering public support in combating corruption in Nigeria within the confines of the law,” he said.

Aliyu added that pillar five of Nigeria’s national anti-corruption strategy (NACS II), collaboration and partnerships, remain a cornerstone of the fight against corruption.