Edo IGR Set to Soar As Govt Deploys Tech-Based Revenue Collection Scheme

The Edo State Government has deployed its innovative technology-based revenue administration scheme which automates the entire process of revenue administration from capture, profiling, assessment generation and notification through to cashless settlement and is set to boost internally generated revenue in the state by expanding the tax net and enhancing payment convenience for citizens.

The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, explained that the new scheme will eliminate man-made barriers and other extraneous variables that interfere with the revenue collection process.

According to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Mr Igbinidu Inneh, the innovative solution christened Edo Revenue Administration System (ERAS), "is being delivered as part of the strategic institutional transformation of the EIRS and feeds off the Governor's objective to transform Edo State into an innovation hub.

Inneh explained that "The ERAS solution is a distributed revenue administration system which seeks to solve the challenges faced by revenue authorities in Nigeria for Edo State."

Tagged Project Dobberman, ERAS according to the technology partners, "in every sense has been delivered in an unprecedented record time in less than 18 months from conceptualisation, partner selection to development and integration.

"This is significantly ahead on time for the deployment of most Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems anywhere in the world."

The EIRS boss noted that "the current tax base which grew within weeks of testing ERAS from just about 190,000 to over 250,000, will double within the first six months of operations and to one million within two years."

The visibly elated EIRS boss further said that "This accomplishment is truly one legacy Edo State will bequeath to the Nigerian Revenue Administration process and indeed other emerging economies of Africa.

On the project name 'Dobbermann', Mr. Inneh explained that it took its root from tax history and the strategy of Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, who first bred the Doberman Pincher dog breed in the town of Apolda, Germany, around 1890 as the local tax collector. He ran the Apolda dog pound and aimed to create a breed that would be ideal for protecting him during his collections, which took him through many dangerous, bandit-infested areas.

"It is simple to see that ERAS has been conceived, conceptualised and developed as the technological, modern day watch dog of government revenues."

He added: "The following revenue streams, Personal Income Taxes (PAYE and Direct Assessment), Withholding Tax, Land Use Charges, Consumption Tax, Vehicle Administration, Vehicle Insurance Policy Assurance, Business Premises (Regulations, Management and Control), Lottery Regulations, Stamp duties and other MDA services will be administered by the system.

"And has payment solutions that cater for cashless and seamless transaction processing for both formal and informal sectors with online and offline features."

Courtesy: All Africa

I’m Still Rivers APC Governorship Candidate, Says Abe

Senator Magnus Abe has declared that he remains the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Rivers State contrary to reports that he had backed off.

Abe was elected by his faction of the party in the state through direct primary while the faction loyal to Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, elected Tonye Cole through an indirect primary.

But there were media reports that he had backed off his governorship ambition and was negotiating with Amaechi for a chance to return to the senate.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, Abe’s spokesman, Parry Benson, described the report as unfounded, stressing that there was never such a meeting.

Benson said, “the said report by a self-styled media outfit said in attendance at the meeting were Senator Abe himself; Amaechi; National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole and select members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

“We hereby state that this trending story is another deliberate misinformation and mischief aimed at diverting public attention from the real issues and the reality on the ground.
“Let it be on record that Senator Magnus Abe remains the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State following the mandate freely given to him by members of the APC during last Sunday’s gubernatorial primary election in the state.”

He emphasised that there was no such meeting, adding that such a meeting ever held, Abe was not privy to it and nobody could be in such a meeting in his stead.

“The one thing presently occupying the mind of Senator Abe is to actualise his ambition as Governor of Rivers State through a peaceful, acceptable and constitutional means come 2019 in order to deliver democratic dividend to Rivers people and transform the state into an enviable haven of industrialisation and attract real investment.

“Senator Abe is resolute and firm to the mandate of the people of Rivers State and nothing less.”

He recalled that in his twitter handle Wednesday morning, Abe said, “As a Christian, my knees are exclusively for the Almighty God. Those who fear God cannot kneel before man. Our struggle is based on our faith in God and His promise of freedom for the oppressed.

“I bought the form for governor, and I am running for the office of governor. Relax ladies and gentlemen, keep faith and work hard. Our struggle has just begun and our day of Glory shall surely come”.

Courtesy: This Day

Sanwo-Olu Thanks Tinubu, Ambode

Sanwo-Olu in a speech yesterday appreciated Ambode for his sportsmanship and for providing the conducive environment for the primary to hold.

He also thanked Tinubu and said his fatherly role would not be taken for granted even as he saluted the leaders of the party at the state and national level and promised not to let them down.
Ambode pledged that if he is elected governor, he would make integrity his watchword.

He said, “Fellow Nigerians, I want to thank us, thank all of you for the numerous support I have received from everyone, I should seize this opportunity to thank everyone. But first I need to thank the Almighty God who has kept all of us, Lagosians, Nigerians, up until this very moment; all glory, honour and adoration goes to the Almighty God.
“I think it’s appropriate I thank our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has provided the platform for all of us, so many of us that have looked up to him, the fatherly role, a political landscape that one cannot take for granted.

“I want to also use this opportunity to thank the national chairman of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, His Excellency Adams Oshiomhole and the national working committee for giving us tremendous support, for encouraging us and for letting true democracy reflect, for sustaining this direct primary and for letting it be the true test of what it should be.

“In Lagos State, I think it is appropriate to thank the entire leadership of our party from the GAC, our numerous fathers, our uncles who have held on to this journey, who have demonstrated leadership to the highest level, who have demonstrated impeccable integrity at all levels, I think I owe them deep level of appreciation, I thank you.
“I want to thank the entire structure that we have in APC, from our national assembly members, distinguished senators from Lagos State, members of the House of Representatives, especially the majority leader and his entire team, the speaker and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I want to thank all the 57 chairmen and all our 57 local government areas. I want to thank all our ward chairmen, our councillors.”

Promising an inclusive government, Sanwo-Olu said, “Lagosians, I think with what you have done for me, I cannot take you for granted, I cannot take this mandate and this confidence for granted, I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life but more importantly, like I’ve always said, I’ll remain committed, I’ll keep an inclusive government, I’ll be responsible, integrity will not run far from me and I will not do things that in any form would make you to begin to doubt my capacity or capability.”
He urged the electorate to come out en masse and vote for him during the 2019 elections in order to “realise a Lagos of our dream".

Courtesy: This Day

Tambuwal EXPOSED What He Discussed With Obasanjo Ahead Of 2019 Elections

Latest report as Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Wednesday night held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his Abeokuta residence.

According to NAN, Aminu who addressed journalists after the meeting, said he was in Abeokuta to consult with Obasanjo in respect of the 2019 poll.

“Obasanjo is one of the critical leaders of the country and it is necessary for me to consult with him concerning the 2019 polls, particularly on my aspiration to contest for the presidency of Nigeria,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that Nigeria could still attain greater and enviable height particularly if the citizens vote rightly in the 2019 polls.

He advised that every component part of the nation should be given an opportunity and sense of belonging in the Nigerian context.

Tambuwal also urged political gladiators not to make the 2019 election a matter of “do or die”.He described the clamour by the youths for increased participation in the governance process in Nigeria as “justified”, considering the high percentage of their population in the country.

Tambuwal called on the present leadership to accord them more opportunities to participate in governance process.

Courtesy: My Nation News

FG to Ban Use of Tobacco in Nigeria

Following the high mortality rate of tobacco users in the country, the federal government said yesterday it had concluded plans to ban tobacco use in Nigeria.

The decision, it said, was part of the implementation of the Tobacco Control Act of 2015 which is the national law domesticating the World Health Organisation Framework on Tobaco Control (FCTC).

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made the disclosure while addressing the 8th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8), to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

He noted that through multi-sectoral engagement involving government and civil society organisations, the federal government had began mass awareness campaigns on the provisions of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, to create the enabling environment for enforcement.

“Government had reviewed the standard for cigarettes to include the complete ban on cigarettes with characterising flavour, including menthol.
“Government of Nigeria had ratified the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products, adding that the instrument of accession would be finalised and deposited at the United Nations Headquarters”, the minister said in a statement issued in Abuja.

The minister pointed out that “tobacco farming leads to deforestation due to land clearing and curing of tobacco leaves, it also increases land and water contamination due to extensive pesticide use, among other factors”
To this end, the minister congratulated the Head of the Convention Secretariat, Dr. Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, for leading a high-level discussion and also expressed support for further collaboration and partnership with member states.
“The convention is a milestone in the promotion of public health,” he said.

“It is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of people to the highest standard of health, provides legal dimensions for international health cooperation and sets high standards for compliance,” he added.
The Conference of the Parties of the WHO FCTC is the governing body of the Convention.

The 2018 reporting cycle for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) were conducted in accordance with decision FCTC/COP4(16), using an internet-based reporting instrument.

Data collection for the 2018 reporting cycle was carried out from 1 January to 31 March 2018. Of all 181 Parties to the Convention, 142 (78%) formally submitted their 2018 implementation reports, while most of the remaining parties updated some of their information in the reporting database.

Courtesy: This Day

BREAKING: Herdsmen storm another Plateau village, murder 19 people in their sleep

Nineteen people are feared killed in Ariri Village, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected herdsmen.

Channels reported Thursday morning that the herdsmen attacked the village on Wednesday night and shot the victims while they were asleep.

According to residents of the village, security operatives are yet to arrive at the scene of the incident and the corpses of the victims are still scattered across the compounds where the attacks occurred.

DAILY POST recalls that thirteen persons were confirmed killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in an attack in Jol village of Riyom Local Government of Plateau State.

The Management Committee Chairman of Riyom Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Danboyi Jugu said the attack took place on Tuesday night.

According to him, the victims have been given a mass burial.

“10 persons, including women and children, have been given mass burial, three other bodies have just been discovered”, he explained.

Courtesy: Daily Post