NIGERIA NEWS
Presidency Clarifies Controversy Over Alleged Discrepancies In New Tax Laws
The Presidency has clarified reports of discrepancies in the new tax reform laws scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026, insisting that claims circulating in the media were based on misinformation.
This followed growing criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, lawmakers, and several civil society groups, who called for a suspension of the implementation of the laws.
The controversy was triggered by claims from Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives, who alleged that the versions of the tax laws gazetted by the government differed from those debated and approved by the National Assembly. Dasuki argued that such discrepancies amounted to a breach of lawmakers’ legislative rights.
However, speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show, ‘The Morning Brief’ on Monday, the chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, said the allegations were unfounded.
“Before you can say there is a difference between what was gazetted and what was passed, we have what has not been gazetted. We don’t have what was passed,” Oyedele explained.
“The official harmonised bills certified by the clerk, which the National Assembly sent to the President, we don’t have a copy to compare. Only the lawmakers can say authoritatively what we sent.”
He added that even his committee did not possess the certified version of the harmonised bills, noting that only the National Assembly can clarify the final contents.
Oyedele further revealed that he had contacted the House Committee on Finance concerning a contentious provision under Section 41(8), which reportedly requires taxpayers to make a 20 per cent deposit before pursuing certain appeals.
“I know that particular provision is not in the final gazette, but it was in the draft gazette. Some people decided to write the report of the committee before the committee had met, and it circulated everywhere,” he said.
“What is out there in the media did not come from the committee set up by the House of Representatives. I think we should allow them to do the investigation.”
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had recently signed four major tax reform bills into law — the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act which will operate under a unified body known as the Nigeria Revenue Service.
According to the Federal Government, the reforms represent the most significant overhaul of the country’s tax system in decades and are designed to simplify compliance, expand the tax base, eliminate overlapping taxes, and modernise revenue collection at all tiers of government.
Ogun State House of Assembly, through its Committee on Finance and Appropriations chaired by Musefiu Lamidi, has directed the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, to immediately address the indiscriminate parking of vehicles beneath the Kuto Flyover in Abeokuta and enforce compliance with traffic regulations to restore order around the Kuto Roundabout, thereby enhancing public safety and traffic flow in the area.
The committee issued the directive during the ongoing 2026 budget defence by ministries, departments and agencies, while engaging the Ministry of Transportation at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Monday.
The committee chairman attributed the persistent gridlock at the location to factors including driving against traffic and the indiscriminate loading and offloading of passengers by commercial vehicles, among others.
The committee also charged the Ministry of Transportation to align the development of the Gateway Airport with the state’s economic agenda, in order to ensure that the project fulfils its mandate of boosting investment, connectivity and revenue generation.
Defending the ministry’s budget proposals, the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Olugbenga Dairo, disclosed that, aside from the partnership with ValueJet Airline, plans were underway to establish a state-owned airline. He further assured that the state would commence cargo flight operations and establish an aircraft maintenance and repair facility at the Gateway Airport from the next fiscal year.
Other heads of agencies under the Ministry who appeared before the House Committee to defend their budget proposals included TRACE, led by its acting commander, Elias Omonayajo; the Gateway Airport, headed by Dapo Olumide; and the Vehicle Inspection Office, led by Ademeyin Olugboyega.
Other agencies that took turns to defend their 2026 budget proposals before the House Committee were the State Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, led by its commissioner, Ademola Balogun; the Ministry of Rural Development, led by Mrs Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan; the State House of Assembly, represented by the Clerk and Head of Legislative Service, Sakiru Adebakin; the Assembly Service Commission, chaired by Suraj Adekunbi; the Auditor-General for the state, Akorede Lateef Balogun; and his local government counterpart.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has introduced mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all applicants seeking positions in the public service.
Naija News reports that this is part of the government’s efforts to combat rising drug abuse and its impacts on national security and productivity.
A service-wide circular issued on Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) directs Permanent Secretaries and heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), as well as extra-ministerial departments and parastatals, to incorporate drug screening into their recruitment processes.
MDAs are required to partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct the tests, ensuring compliance with established standards.
The policy stems from concerns over the “alarming rate” of substance abuse, particularly among Nigeria’s youth, which the government says threatens public health, socio-economic development, workplace efficiency, and national security.
Signed by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, the statement underscored the administration’s commitment to protecting the workforce from drug-related issues.
This move aligns with ongoing anti-drug initiatives, including recent policies for mandatory testing in universities and other sectors.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the 2025 budget proposal presented to the National Assembly on Friday by President Bola Tinubu as “A consolidation of the fiscal recklessness and renewed wishful thinking,” which it stated has become the hallmark of the Tinubu administration.
ADC, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, added that if approved, the only thing the budget is capable of sharing is more debts and greater misery to Nigerians in the years ahead.
The party stated that a review of the budget by a team of its economists revealed that the 2026 budget proposal only copied the templates of the 2024 and 2025 budgets, which it noted were unimplemented, and “will most likely end up in the same way, with the bulk of its implementation pushed to another year.”
ADC said the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government is presenting a new fiscal framework at a time when the 2025 budget has only just been repealed, describing it as a display of administrative incompetence.
“Truth is, Nigeria is caught in a fiscal mess.
“But rather than confront the problems, the Tinubu administration has continued to kick the can down the streets, believing that they can continue to hide the yawning cracks under mountains of unsustainable debts that mortgage the future generation, while they continue to indulge in financial profligacy,” the party said.
It stated that Tinubu’s administration failed to understand a fundamental economic truth, that no amount of monetary tinkering or central bank intervention can rescue an economy if the government refuses to embrace fiscal discipline and budget credibility.
“What we have seen under this Tinubu APC administration is a chaotic attempt to implement more than four budgets simultaneously because it lacks the basic competence to close out previous cycles and adhere to its own timelines.
“Governments may extend the budget implementation period or manage multiple supplementary budgets, but operating three or more national budgets simultaneously is President Tinubu’s original contribution to fiscal chaos. It has never happened before in this country,” ADC said.
It added that while revenues were pushed to N20 trillion in 2024, as a result of currency devaluation, the government had the audacity to double its projections to N40 trillion for 2025 and even raised it to N58.57 trillion in 2026.
“This is not vision; it is fantasy,” ADC stated.
The party noted the 2026 budget has embarked on another unsustainable expansion built on a foundation of quicksand, stating that at a period when oil projections are sliding and global prices dipping as a result of tensions in Europe, the Federal Government has set oil benchmark at $64 per barrel.
Instead of adopting a conservative posture to shield the nation from global volatility, ADC said, the APC government has set a revenue target of N34 trillion, adding that it showed that the administration is disconnected from reality.
“This administration behaves as if after them, there would be no Nigeria anymore.
“A budget that plans to generate N34 trillion in revenue while borrowing N24 trillion is an admission of fiscal insolvency.
“In no sane or functional fiscal system would a deficit-to-revenue ratio of 70% be considered acceptable or even be contemplated at all,” the ADC stated.
The party said the document presented before the National Assembly on December 19 is a debt trap masquerading as a budget.
It stated that the government claims it will spend N25.68tn on capital expenditure, “yet with a projected deficit of N23.85tn, it is clear that almost every single bridge, road, or project is being funded by high-interest debts.”
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The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for prospective applicants into the Nigerian Public Service.
The move is part of broader efforts to address the growing challenge of illicit drug use and its impact on national development and security, authorities said.
The directive was conveyed in a service-wide circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.
Under the new policy, permanent secretaries and heads of MDAs are required to make drug testing a core condition for the recruitment of new personnel.
MDAs have also been directed to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in accordance with established standards and procedures.
According to the statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the SGF’s office, Segun Imohiosen, the measure aligns with the current administration’s determination to decisively tackle drug and substance abuse and to safeguard the integrity of the national workforce.
The Federal Government noted that the policy is driven by concerns over the alarming rate of drug and substance abuse in the country, particularly among young people.
It warned that the trend poses serious risks to public health, workplace productivity, socio-economic development and national security.
READ ALSO: NDLEA arrests female drug kingpin, intercepts 23.50kg cocaine in Lagos
While the government views the policy as a preventive step to promote a disciplined and productive public service, it is expected to draw attention to issues around implementation, including cost, transparency of testing procedures and the protection of applicants’ rights.
Observers say clear guidelines and adherence to due process will be critical to ensuring that the policy achieves its objectives without abuse.
The new requirement on drug testing is expected to take effect across MDAs as recruitment processes are updated in line with the circular dated 22 December 2025.
By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
The Federal Government has declared December 25, 2025, December 26, 2025, and January 1, 2026, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations, respectively, according to a statement from Dr Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, extended warm Christmas and New Year wishes to Nigerians, urging Christians to reflect on values like love, peace, and humility, promoting unity and harmony.
The Minister called on Nigerians to pray for peace, security, and progress, supporting the government’s development efforts. He emphasized the festive season as an opportunity to strengthen unity and compassion.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also urged citizens to remain law-abiding and security-conscious, cooperating with agencies for a peaceful celebration.
The declaration aims to promote national cohesion and development.
- A young Nigerian man got many people talking on social media after he mistakenly transferred a large sum of money to the wrong account.
- He shared a screenshot of the transaction and asked his followers online for help on how to recover the money
- Shortly after posting, he explained the steps he took to get the money back almost immediately after realizing his mistake
A young Nigerian man got many people talking as he mistakenly sent a huge amount of 800k to the wrong account via his OPay.
The young man shared the story online, mentioning that he had recently visited a place in Ijebu Ode days ago to buy food. While trying to make a transfer to an individual, he mistakenly sent the money to the account of the food vendor in Ijebu Ode.
Nigerian man turns to social media after sending money to wrong account. Photo Source: Twitter/ifedayo_johnson
Source: Twitter
Man sends money to wrong account
His story caught the attention of many as he shared screenshots showing the amount he sent.
Read also
Man expecting big Christmas bonus displays items Canada company gave him, generates buzz online
The young man, @ifedayo_johnson, later shared an update with his followers about the amount he sent to the wrong account.
Speaking about the money, he said:
“I have just made an 800k transfer to a wrong account from my OPay.””I erroneously sent it to Mos Restaurant in Ijebu Ode Moniepoint account as I bought food from them a few days ago.””I’d appreciate it if there is anyone around Mos in Ijebu who can help pop in there tonight. Thanks so much.”
Man seeks help online after transferring money to wrong account. Photo Source: Twitter/ifedayo_johnson
Source: Twitter
How did OPay refund his 800k transfer?
Sharing an update later on how he got the money back, he said: “OPay has refunded it almost immediately, before I even made this tweet but I didn’t notice.”
He continued in the viral post:
“I logged it as a transfer made in error on the OPay app and they acted almost immediately. Commendable. “”Thank you @OPay_NG. I’m very impressed with this!”
Reactions as man recovers money
@realhighthee stressed:
“I think you should report to opay. They will reverse it. With proof.”
Read also
“I Paid Him N20k”: Man Who Followed Ibadan House Agent To Inspect Room Shares What He Saw
@Oresanyaolumid1 shared:
“Bro my did a mistake yesterday sef moniepoint to zenith bank 533,000 . She refunded a customer their money . Then some hours later she mistakenly transferred to that same account and we don’t know the customer. We Dey wait till Monday like this.”
@marvellbaby noted:
“Thank God it was returned. It happened to one of my colleague they did not return her money they said she should rather use it to buy something maybe because the money was 5400 though.”
skjunior_001 said:
“How did you do yours. My friend sent 500k, reported and spoke to customer care they are asking for court order.”
@oyesinasalimon added:
“I’d like to know on what basis they reversed it; was there a court order or they asked for the consent to reverse it from the other acc? Cos if they just reversed it without any of these, then it’s very wrong, as pple can just buy something & get it reversed when they get home.”
Read also
“It’s obvious”: Man notices one thing many people missed in Remi Tinubu, Gov. Adeleke viral video
@FramesPhcity said:
“You’re lucky, if this was @ZenithBank You’ll have yourself to blame. No wonder I’m using opay and never looking back to those guys and their dotage services.”
Read the post below:
In a similar story, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian lawyer shared his experience on social media after mistakenly sending ₦20,000 to the wrong account. The lawyer explained that a POS vendor identified the error, confirmed the transaction, and returned the money.
Nigerian man loses N100k to wrong account
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that a Nigerian man shared his distress on social media after accidentally sending N100,000 to the wrong Opay account. Despite reaching out to the recipient and even offering to let him keep half the money, the man reportedly refused to return it.
The money was intended for a house wiring project in Oyo, and the man explained that losing it would significantly affect his work.
Source: Legit.ng
Nigerian skit maker and live streamer Carter Efe has shared an unpleasant experience involving Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy during a recent public outing.
The entertainer said the incident happened when he sighted the Afro-fusion star in person and attempted to approach him.
Carter Efe narrates encounter during livestream
Speaking during a livestream with fans, Carter Efe claimed Burna Boy noticed him and appeared to be staring in his direction.
“Do you know I saw Burna Boy yesterday? I saw Burna Boy yesterday and he kept staring at me,” Carter Efe said.
He explained that the situation changed when he moved closer to greet the singer.
Security intervention sparks disappointment
According to Carter Efe, Burna Boy’s security aides stopped him abruptly from getting close to the artiste.
“But his bouncers bounced me when I tried to approach him,” he added.
The skit maker blamed the incident on what he described as extremely tight security around the Grammy winner.
“Their security is too tight,” he said, stressing that access was nearly impossible.
Mixed reactions trail online discussion
Reacting emotionally, Carter Efe admitted the encounter left him hurt.
“Ah God, I felt bad,” he concluded.
The story has since generated mixed reactions online, with some fans sympathising, while others cited celebrity security and public safety concerns.
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bisi Akande, has disclosed that late former President Muhammadu Buhari informed him that he never instigated ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest against now President Bola Tinubu in 2022.
During the APC primary election in 2022, Tinubu emerged as the party’s flagbearer while Osinbajo came a distant third.
Osinbajo is widely believed to be a political protege of Tinubu after he served under him as Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General while the now President was governor of Lagos State.
There are speculations that Tinubu was instrumental in Osinbajo’s emergence as Vice President to Buhari.
However, Akande while featuring on Edmund Obilo’s podcast, State Affairs, said Osinbajo never stepped down for Tinubu because it was his right to contest in the primary election.
Akande said: “I wanted everybody to be free to contest the election but I don’t want bitterness, I wanted them to talk on issues and not one to destroy another because I wanted one of them to emerge in the end, I wanted a Yoruba President.”
On convincing Osinbajo to step down for Tinubu, he said, “After several meetings, I told them we want only one and I want any of you to voluntarily step down.
“On the evening of the primary, some came to me that they were going to step down and they stepped down, it wasn’t too late.
“Osinbajo did not step down and I didn’t discuss it with Tinubu thereafter. Osinbajo has every right to contest and he did and I don’t blame anybody for contesting elections.”
On if Buhari was against Tinubu, Akande said: “He (Buhari) didn’t tell me so because I put many questions to him, he wanted me to see that he was not the one who instigated Osinbajo to contest against Tinubu and he made it clear that in his own culture when your mentor is interested in one position, you don’t contest with him but when Osinbajo came he was surprised and only wished him well.”
Akande’s claim is contrary to claims in Buhari’s biography, ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammad Buhari’, authored by Dr Charles Omole, that the late former president didn’t support Osinbajo’s presidential ambition.
The book quoted Buhari as saying he never supported Osinbajo’s ambition in 2022 because he never knew him.
Buhari was said to have stated that he knew the ex-Vice President through Tinubu.
Key stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress APC in Oyo state have mobilised party members in Oyo Federal Constituency for the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate of the Party in the 2027 general elections.
The mobilisation followed a stakeholders’ meeting led by the State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Olayide Moshood Abas, in Ibadan, which stated that open endorsement meetings would be organised in each of the state’s 14 federal constituencies to garner grassroots support for Tinubu.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu at the event which held on Monday in Oyo Town, assured party faithful that the current atmosphere of peace and unity within the party in the state would be sustained.
“There was no alternative to love, unity and togetherness of the collective goals of leaders and members would be realised.
“We have all learned from the errors of the past, and we shall all work together this time in the interest of our great Party and the people of the state.”
In her remarks, former Oyo State First Lady and Ambassador-designate, Dr Florence Ajimobi, stated that the re-election of President Tinubu, as well as the victory of all the APC candidates in 2027, was a task that must be accomplished.
Ajimobi expressed her delight at the success of several reconciliation efforts undertaken by stakeholders since the completion of the last general elections in 2023.
For his part, Renewed Hope Ambassador for the state and former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, emphasised that all hands must be on deck to support Tinubu in his mission to reposition the country and deliver on his electioneering campaign promises.
He likened the current socio-economic situation in the country to the healing stage of a broken leg.
“In reality, there is no political party as vibrant and formidable as the APC in Nigeria today, and anybody parading himself or herself as an opposition to the broom party is wasting his or her time.
“All the discerning minds in the PDP and other opposition parties across the country are joining the APC in droves on a daily basis, and the task before us in Oyo State is that we must get ready to give President Tinubu the highest number of victory votes in 2027,” Folarin said.
Earlier in his welcome address, a chieftain of the party, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, told party faithful to leverage on the peace initiative of the gladiators and unite for the purpose of achieving an unprecedented electoral victory for the APC in the 2027 polls.
Other notable APC chieftains at the APC mobilisation in Oyo include Chief Moses Adeyemo, Senators Abdulfatai Buhari, Sarafadeen Alli, Yunus Akintunde, and Hosea Agboola.
Also at the event were Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, Engr. Idris Adeoye, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, Dr Kazeem Raji, Dr Abisoye Fagade, Hon. Olaide Mohammed and four serving members of the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sworn in Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa as the substantive Chairman of Agege Local Government, marking a new phase in the council’s leadership.
The inauguration took place on Monday at Lagos House, Ikeja, where the governor also swore in Toyin Adejimiwa as a Permanent Secretary. The event drew senior government officials, party leaders and retired top civil servants.
During the ceremony, Sanwo-Olu charged the new council chairman to lead with fairness and restraint. He warned against actions that could divide residents, stressing that local government leadership must unite people at the grassroots.
The governor described local councils as the closest level of government to the people. He said chairmen must remain accessible, compassionate and responsive to community needs. According to him, development at that level should be people-focused and measurable.
Sanwo-Olu urged Obasa to avoid policies that could create tension in Agege. He advised him to focus on inclusive governance, teamwork and service delivery that directly improves the lives of residents.
The governor also reminded public office holders that discipline and performance remain key factors for growth within the Lagos State public service. He noted that leadership is judged by results, not position or background.
Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa is the son of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudasiru Obasa. Before his formal inauguration, he had been serving as acting chairman of the council.
Sanwo-Olu also recognised retired permanent secretaries present at the event. He described them as dedicated public servants whose records of service continue to shape and inspire the state’s civil service.
Obasa’s emergence as chairman follows the resignation of former council boss, Hon. Tunde Azeez, who stepped down after taking medical leave shortly after assuming office. His exit paved the way for Obasa, then vice chairman, to fully assume leadership.
Explaining the decision at the time, the media aide to the former chairman said, “Tunde Azeez has been long sick and his decision to resign and devote his attention to his health rather than being weighed down by the responsibility of that office is the wise decision any sane person should take.”
He added, “The beneficiary of that excellent decision, Abdulganiyu Vinod Obasa is a visionary young man who in the last few months of Azeez’s absence has demonstrated uncommon capacity. I think Agege is lucky to have both guys.”
Despite these explanations, the transition has continued to attract criticism. Opposition parties have described the development as a “carefully scripted succession,” raising concerns over internal party processes.
They argue that resistance from some stakeholders during the local government election period suggested deep divisions within the ruling party at the council level.
Supporters of the new chairman, however, insist the process was lawful and driven purely by health considerations. They maintain that leadership passed from “a sick man who chose recovery over politics” to “a young leader prepared to serve.”