A heated altercation erupted in Nigeria’s House of Representatives over the controversial tax reform bills initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after House spokesperson Akintunde Rotimi Jr. publicly expressed his support for the bills.

Rotimi Jr., representing Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) constituency, sparked the tension when he revealed that the Ekiti State caucus in the National Assembly had unanimously endorsed the tax reform bills.

While presenting a report on a bill from the Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring, he stated, “I am from Ekiti State, the very first state in the National Assembly caucus to unanimously endorse the tax bill.”

This statement quickly provoked strong reactions from members, particularly those from the northern region of Nigeria, leading to a disruption of proceedings for over five minutes as they shouted in opposition.

Speaker Tajudeen Abass intervened, urging lawmakers to calm down and pointing out that Rotimi Jr. was merely expressing a personal opinion on the matter.

Despite the intervention, Rotimi Jr. was pressured to withdraw his statement, with the Speaker advising him to focus solely on presenting the report.

The uproar continued when Rotimi Jr. attempted to resume his presentation of the Nigerian Content Development Board report, but he was once again shouted down by the opponents of the tax reforms.

One of the vocal critics, Dr. Ghali Mustafa Tijjani, a representative from Gaya/Albasu/Ajingi Federal Constituency of Kano State, spoke out against the proposed tax reforms. Tijjani, from the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), argued that the bills would disproportionately affect the poor, making life even harder for Nigerians.

He warned that the reforms were capitalist in nature and would worsen the financial strain on ordinary citizens.

Tijjani emphasized that the government should explore other means of raising revenue, such as addressing revenue leakages and utilizing the country’s abundant mineral resources.

He also criticized the government’s focus on large infrastructure projects, like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, instead of prioritizing investments that would benefit ordinary Nigerians, such as supporting small and medium businesses.

According to Tijjani, the proposed tax increases, particularly the planned rise in VAT from 7.5% to 15% by 2030, would ultimately be passed on to the consumer, further burdening the public.

Tijjani’s concerns echoed the position of the Northern Governors Forum, calling for tax holidays for small businesses and a focus on employment generation.

He pointed out the harsh economic conditions facing Nigerians, with rising inflation, job losses, and government agencies laying off workers.

He added that the timing of the tax reform bills was wrong, given the current economic challenges, and advocated for more support for small-scale businesses to stimulate the economy and provide jobs.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is set to officially launch the construction of four new roads, staff housing for the Nigerian Law School, and several other key infrastructure projects in the Territory.

According to a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and New Media, six major projects will be launched between this week and next.

These initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to enhance infrastructure in the FCT.

The projects to be inaugurated include the construction of the Kabusa-Takushara Access Road, the Kabusa-Ketti Access Road, and an access road to the new EFCC Academy in Giri District.

Additionally, work will begin on the design, construction, and furnishing of an office complex for the Body of Benchers.

The FCT Minister’s office also announced the construction of 10 staff quarters for the Nigerian Law School in Bwari Area Council, and a 15km road linking A2 Junction on the Abuja-Lokoja Road to Pia in Kwali Area Council.

Furthermore, Wike’s office confirmed that new vehicles will be distributed to security agencies to bolster their operational capacity.

In recent weeks, Minister Wike has visited over 10 project sites across Abuja and its surrounding areas to assess ongoing development.

These include the construction of the Saburi-Dei Dei Road, the rehabilitation of the 5km Dutse-Usuma Dam Road, and upgrades to roads around the War College/Army Checkpoint in the Bwari Area Council.

Wike also inspected several other infrastructure projects, such as the reconstruction of the 25km Kwaita/Yebu Road in Kwali, the construction of an 11km road linking Yangoji-Sukuku-Ebo, and the rehabilitation of the Old Ushafa-LUD Road by Abdul Val Limited.

Additionally, the minister reviewed the ongoing 11km Kuje Road project, the 4km Obafemi Awolowo Road development from Life Camp to Ring Road III, and the construction of the Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road II to Ring Road III, which will feature two interchanges.

Further projects include an 11.3km access road to the Judges Quarters in Katampe, as well as the construction of 40 housing units for the quarters and the development of internal roads within the district.

His Royal Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, has called on Nigeria’s political leaders to place the nation’s interest above personal ambitions, warning that the country’s future is at risk due to rampant corruption.

Speaking at the public presentation of Bold Leap, a book written by Senator Chris Anyanwu, in Abuja, the Obi likened the country’s situation to a cow being continually milked without replenishment—saying the cow would eventually die if the corrupt practices continued.

He lamented the greed and lack of accountability within the political class, stressing that Nigeria’s progress could only be ensured if leaders prioritized the country’s welfare over personal and sectional interests.

“If we continue milking the cow, it will eventually die,” the Obi warned. “We’ve been talking about this issue for years, but now is the time for action. We have two choices: either we keep exploiting the country until it collapses or we choose to place Nigeria’s interest above everything else.”

He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that time was running out. “We have the opportunity to either accelerate the country’s decline or turn things around quickly,” he stated.

The event, which marked the launch of Senator Anyanwu’s autobiography, Bold Leap, was attended by numerous dignitaries, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as other political figures, traditional rulers, and captains of industry.

The book is divided into three parts, spanning 600 pages and 19 chapters.

President Bola Tinubu was represented by the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zaphaniah Jisalo. Former Senate Presidents, former governors, and influential leaders, such as the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Peter Obi, also graced the occasion.

During a panel discussion on “How Do We Fix Nigeria: System, Structure, Institutions, and Leadership?”, former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, sharply criticized Nigeria’s current political system, describing it as “electoralism” rather than true democracy.

He argued that the system’s failures were compounded by a lack of national vision and a failure to forge a national consensus.

Fayemi stressed the need for a clear direction, saying, “Every nation that seeks development starts with a national vision. We need to ask ourselves: who are we? What do we want for Nigeria in 10, 20, or 50 years?”

Briggs, another panelist, echoed the call for political restructuring, pointing out flaws in the electoral process. She criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its failures, especially in ensuring voter participation and fair representation.

“INEC has let us down,” Briggs said. “When people have voter cards but cannot vote, they are not truly choosing their leaders. It’s a fundamental problem. If the people can’t select their leaders, then those in power owe them nothing.”

She also lamented the lack of genuine patriotism in the country, saying, “Patriotism isn’t just about singing the national anthem. It’s about what you do for your country and what your country does for you.”

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe joined the discussion, calling attention to the failure of Nigeria’s institutions.

He cited a recent case where a public official who embezzled N23.2 billion was lightly punished by the court, highlighting the weakness of the judicial system in holding corrupt individuals accountable.

“We can’t build strong institutions if we don’t have the right people in positions of power,” Abaribe remarked, criticizing the leniency shown to those guilty of corruption.

Dr. Aminu Gamana also addressed the need for a cultural shift, stressing that the country needed a fundamental reorientation in its values.

He warned that until Nigerians began to demand more from their leaders and actively participate in the political process, elections would remain a mere formality with little to no real change.

“We need to re-educate ourselves as a society. If this continues, people will keep voting for leaders who offer them small handouts like indomie and spaghetti, instead of those who truly care for their future,” Gamana said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the claims made by an alleged splinter group, Team New Nigeria (TNN), asserting that the individuals involved are not members of the party.

TNN announced on Sunday that its members were leaving the APC to form a new political party aimed at rescuing Nigeria from poverty, hunger, insecurity, and mismanagement.

The group’s National President, Modibbo Farakwai, declared at the inauguration of the Kano State harmonization committee that they were targeting at least 26 million voters nationwide.

Farakwai also emphasized that the formation of the “New Nigeria” party would provide a solution to misgovernance, selfish leadership, and corrupt political officeholders.

In response, the APC’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, expressed surprise over the development, stating that the members of the group were not recognized as card-carrying members of the APC.

Duru also remarked that the group’s name and its president were unfamiliar to him.

He noted that genuine members of the APC would be aware of the party’s internal mechanisms for resolving grievances, rather than resorting to forming a new political party.

“If they are truly members of the APC, they would understand that there is a constitutional process for addressing leadership concerns within the party,” Duru explained.

Duru further suggested that the group’s actions revealed they were either not party members or lacked an understanding of the APC’s constitution.

He urged the group to explore the proper channels within the party’s constitution before making such drastic moves.

When asked about the potential impact of this splinter group on President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, Duru laughed off the concern, saying, “They are welcome to try and defeat the APC in 2027. Variety is the spice of life. Those wishing to form coalitions or join other parties are free to do so, as long as they act within the bounds of the law.”