The chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has rejected claims that Nigeria’s newly enacted tax reform laws were altered after their passage by the National Assembly, saying materials circulating in the media are false and based on documents that are not authoritative.

The dispute erupted after a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, alleged discrepancies between the tax laws passed by lawmakers and the versions later gazetted and released to the public.

Civil society groups and opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, subsequently called for the suspension of the laws, which are scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2026.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, Mr Oyedele said the controversy rests on a fundamental problem, which is the absence of the officially certified harmonised bill passed by the National Assembly.

“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,” he said.

He explained that it is the only document that can authoritatively confirm what lawmakers approved is the harmonised version certified by the clerk of the National Assembly and transmitted to the president for assent.

According to him, that version is not publicly available, making comparisons with the gazetted law unreliable.

“The official harmonised bills certified by the clerk, which the National Assembly sent to the President, we don’t have a copy to compare,” Mr Oyedele said.

He added that neither the House of Representatives’ version nor the Senate’s version can be treated as final on their own, stressing that only lawmakers involved in the harmonisation process can confirm what was sent to the president.

He also addressed claims relating to a supposed provision requiring a 20 per cent deposit under Section 41(8), which has featured prominently in circulating reports.

Mr Oyedele said that provision appeared in an earlier draft but does not exist in the final gazetted law. He said enquiries he made showed that a document being circulated as a committee report did not originate from the House committee set up to review the issue.

“What is out there in the media did not come from the committee set up by the House of Representatives,” he said.

Beyond the immediate controversy, Mr Oyedele said the episode exposed deeper weaknesses in Nigeria’s legislative process, particularly around quality control and document security.

He warned that legislation is too important to be left vulnerable to confusion arising from multiple versions of the same law, noting that similar problems had occurred in the past with major laws such as the Petroleum Industry Bill and the Companies and Allied Matters Act.

President Bola Tinubu recently signed four tax reform bills into law, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, which are designed to operate under a single authority, the Nigeria Revenue Service.

READ ALSO: Tax Reforms: CISLAC expresses concern about alleged alteration of assented law

The federal government has described the reforms as the most significant overhaul of the country’s tax system in decades.

The laws, which faced resistance from some federal lawmakers, particularly from the northern part of the country, are intended to simplify tax compliance, expand the tax base, remove overlapping taxes and modernise revenue collection across federal, state and local governments.

For now, Mr Oyedele said the appropriate step is to allow lawmakers to conclude their investigation into the matter, after which any confirmed issues can be addressed based on the facts rather than speculation.

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December 22, 2025December 22, 2025

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In a gesture reflecting the spirit of the Christmas season, the Senior Special Assistant to the Executive Governor of Kogi State on Electronic Media in the Office of the First Lady, Hon. Janet Samuel, has carried out a Christmas outreach programme to support vulnerable women in Okehi Local Government Area of the state.

The outreach, which took place ahead of the yuletide at Uboro/Omavie/Ohuepe Ward, benefitted more than 100 women drawn from different segments of the community, including widows, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The initiative was aimed at easing the effects of economic hardship and ensuring that beneficiaries celebrate the festive season with dignity.

Both Christian and Muslim women participated in the programme, receiving 5kg bags of rice, food ingredients and cash support. The gesture underscored the inclusive nature of the intervention and promoted unity and compassion among residents of the area.

Addressing the gathering, Hon. Janet said the outreach was part of her personal commitment to giving back to society and supporting the people-centred vision of the Renewed Hope agenda being championed in Kogi State by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and his wife, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo.

She commended Governor Ododo for what she described as people-friendly policies, highlighting the prompt payment of salaries, infrastructural development and good governance initiatives that continue to positively impact citizens across the state.

Hon. Janet also praised the wife of the Governor for her consistent dedication to the welfare of women and vulnerable groups through empowerment programmes and humanitarian interventions.

According to her, the First Lady has ensured that women at the grassroots are continually reached through her aides, stressing that the wife of the Governor believes “no woman should go hungry or be left behind.”

She assured the beneficiaries of more dividends of democracy, while urging women at the grassroots to continue praying for the success of the present administration and for the re-election of Governor Ododo in 2027.

Also speaking at the event, former APC Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Hon. Dauda Momohjimoh, expressed gratitude to the Governor for the ongoing construction of roads linking several villages in the community, describing the development as long overdue.

He further appreciated the wife of the Governor for extending support to women in the ward through Hon. Janet and appealed to the state government to address the community’s need for clean and potable water.

In her opening remarks, the Ward Special Assistant to the Governor, Hon. Hajara Achi, thanked Governor Ododo and the First Lady for their continued support and offered prayers for divine guidance for the administration.

She described the food distribution as timely, noting that it would help cushion the effects of prevailing economic challenges in the area. She also commended Hon. Janet for her representation at the state level and prayed for greater success in her political career.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Asmau Umar, a widow, expressed excitement over the outreach, describing it as unprecedented in the history of the community.

“This is the first time we are receiving rice in this quantity,” she said, while offering prayers for the Governor, the First Lady and the organisers, wishing them success ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Christmas outreach further underscores the importance of grassroots-driven humanitarian initiatives in fostering social cohesion and strengthening the connection between governance and the people of Kogi State.

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• A Nigerian pastor has shared a post on the X app about his experience with popular Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
• In the viral post, he talked about what he has known about Pastor Chris for over the years and what he has observed about him
• Social media users who came across the post, shared via the man’s official X handle, had different reactions in the comments

A Nigerian pastor has recounted his long-standing observations of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome in a post shared on the X platform.

The tweet, which quickly went viral, disclosed the writer’s personal experiences and opinions regarding the renowned cleric, particularly in relation to healing ministries he claimed to have witnessed over the years.

Pastor says he watched Chris Oyakhilome firsthand performing miracles.
Photo credit: @pfemiolaleye/X.
Source: Twitter

Pastor says Chris Oyakhilome performs miracles

The pastor identified as @Olaleye Oluwafemi, who served as the lead pastor of Oikia Christian Center, presented himself as someone who had followed Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s ministry for a long period.

Read also

Nigerians react as fresh video from Pastor Chris Okafor’s wedding trends: “The bride is so beautiful”

He stated that his perspective was not based on hearsay but on what he personally observed during encounters linked to the ministry.

The pastor noted that the healings associated with Pastor Chris were, in his view, consistent and genuine rather than temporary or staged.

He explained that what stood out to him most was the manner in which healings reportedly occurred.

He described them as intense, frequent and extraordinary, indicating that he believed God was actively at work through Pastor Chris.

In his words:

“Pastor Chris doesn’t do go and come back miracles o. God uses him in healing like mad! I am an eye witness. As in healings like crazy o! Glory to God!”Pastor recounts watching Chris Oyakhilome performing miracles.
Photo credit: @Christ Embassy.
Source: UGC

Reactions as man speaks about Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Nigerians had different things to say in the comments section.

Ojima said:

“Normals. This igbenedion sef suppose come give testimony publicly. As he has experienced the healing power of God, he shouldn’t be sitting while people are dragging us for fake miracles.”

Lincoln said:

“Glory to God. Not just Pastor Chris. TB Joshua and others God use them. God is still using unknown people to do miracles. Miracles id for the unbelieving to believe in God.”

Read also

Controversy as Pastor Bolaji Idowu recognises Tiwa Savage, son Jamil during service, prays for them

Mr Edu said:

“Psalm 111:9 KJV. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. The name of the Lord is Reverend. Remove that title from your name please. Most people are committing this fatal error unknowingly.”

Daily Uplift added:

“Thank you Jesus for this gift of miracles.”

Cilu_burk7 said:

“I was reminded of the entrance of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, acclaimed by the crowd. At that time, some children or disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were shouting: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of God!’ The Pharisees drew Jesus’ attention, saying: ‘Teacher (to the Pharisees, Jesus was just a teacher, not the Lord), rebuke your disciples!’ In other words, they knew that this entrance and those acclamations were due only to a King.”

See the post below:

Pastor Chris lashes out at gospel singers

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Nigerian Pastor Chris Oyakhilome lashed out at the viral controversy brewing in the Christian music sector.

This came after singer Timi Dakolo and Pastor Femi Lazarus’ disagreement on whether gospel singers should charge for their services.

Source: Legit.ng

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A key member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dele Momodu, on Monday disclosed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may become the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria in 2027, if God permits.

Momodu insisted that Atiku stands a strong chance of becoming Nigeria’s president in 2027.

He spoke while fielding questions from participants of an X Space session titled “Avrilsspace: The Electoral Mathematics for 2027.”

Atiku has been contesting for the presidency since 1993, when he stepped down for MKO Abiola under the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Jos, Plateau State.

In the 2023 presidential election, Atiku lost to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ahead of the 2027 election, there are indications that he might once again vie for the presidency.

Momodu said: “There is no conflict of interest anywhere, Atiku has been running since 1993 and if God favours him, he may likely become the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria, I leave that to God.

“Like I said, I’m never a desperate supporter of any candidate, I’m a realist but I believe that he stands the best chance today. He’s in good health, his business is thriving, and his family is adorable.

“He has conducted his lifestyle in a very simple and straightforward manner; despite the occasional skirmishes with his then boss, Obasanjo, he has never uttered any insult against him.”

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Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has intensified consultations ahead of the 2027 general election with separate meetings held with former presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida.

The closed-door meetings, which took place on Monday, were part of Olawepo-Hashim’s nationwide engagements with elder statesmen and key national figures on Nigeria’s future direction.

According to a statement issued in Kaduna, Olawepo-Hashim told the former leaders that he has the capacity to address Nigeria’s security challenges, rebuild national unity, stabilise the polity and restore economic prosperity.

He was quoted as saying Nigeria urgently requires purposeful, inclusive and unifying leadership to prevent deeper national fractures.

The statement said Olawepo-Hashim arrived at Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta at about 11am and left roughly an hour later.

He subsequently travelled to Minna, where he met Babangida.

During the Minna meeting, Olawepo-Hashim reportedly appealed to Babangida’s role in preserving Nigeria’s unity, referencing sacrifices made during the civil war.

“General, you still carry in your body the wounds of the war fought to keep Nigeria one, and if Nigeria is allowed to disintegrate today through incompetent leadership, then the sacrifices of patriots like you would have been wasted,” he was quoted as saying.

He warned that the 2027 election must focus on national rescue, adding that continued leadership failure could further threaten the country’s cohesion and stability.

The statement added that Olawepo-Hashim was accompanied by the chairman of the North Central Renaissance Movement, Professor Nghargbu Ketso, and other aides.

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The United States has intensified its security watch on Nigeria following recent threats by US President Donald Trump.

New intelligence flights have reportedly been conducted over different parts of the country, raising fresh attention around Nigeria’s worsening security situation and Washington’s growing concern.

The surveillance activities reportedly began in late November. The flights are believed to be part of broader intelligence-gathering efforts linked to terrorism, kidnappings, and religious violence in Nigeria.

Although the exact objectives of the missions have not been officially disclosed, the timing has drawn strong interest due to Trump’s earlier warning of possible military action.

Trump had accused the Nigerian government of failing to stop violence against Christian communities. His comments sparked diplomatic reactions and renewed debate around religious attacks and insecurity across the country.

Available flight records indicate that the aircraft involved usually operates from Ghana. The planes reportedly fly over Nigerian airspace before returning to Accra.

The operator has been identified as Tenax Aerospace, a US-based company known for providing special mission aircraft linked to American military operations.

Security analysts say the choice of Ghana as an operating base is strategic. Accra is widely regarded as a major logistics hub for US military activities in Africa.

Experts believe the operations suggest a rebuilding of American intelligence capacity in West Africa after Niger recently pushed US forces out and strengthened ties with Russia.

Observers also link the renewed surveillance to militant threats in the region. Armed groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province remain active in northern Nigeria. Intelligence flights are believed to focus on tracking their movements and monitoring potential cross-border threats.

US officials have quietly confirmed that surveillance flights are taking place but declined to share details. They cited diplomatic sensitivity and security concerns. Some officials said the missions also support efforts to track a kidnapped American pilot taken earlier in the region.

Washington has maintained that it is working closely with Nigerian authorities to address terrorism and religious violence. US officials have stressed that cooperation with Nigeria remains ongoing, even as concerns over insecurity continue to rise.

Nigeria, however, has pushed back against claims of targeted Christian persecution. Government and military officials insist that armed groups attack both Muslims and Christians. They argue that the crisis is complex and driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminal networks rather than religion alone.

A Nigerian security source disclosed that both countries agreed on intelligence cooperation during a high-level security meeting in November. The agreement reportedly included the deployment of air assets to support intelligence gathering.

The surveillance aircraft involved is said to be a modified Gulfstream V jet. Such aircraft are commonly used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions due to their long-range capabilities.

This development comes at a time when Nigeria is facing increasing security challenges. Deadly attacks, mass kidnappings, and school abductions have continued in several northern states.

In response, President Bola Tinubu recently declared a security emergency and ordered large-scale recruitment into the armed forces and police.

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The Federal Government has approved mandatory pre-employment drug testing for applicants seeking entry into the federal public service.

The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The policy applies to recruitment across all federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including extra-ministerial departments and parastatals.

What the FG is saying 

According to the Federal Government, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of extra-ministerial departments and parastatals have been directed to make drug testing a compulsory requirement in all federal recruitment exercises.

The directive was issued through a service-wide circular addressed to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a requirement for prospective applicants into the Public Service, being part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences on national development and security,” the statement read in part.

The statement noted that MDAs are to collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in conducting the tests, in line with established standards and procedures. This is intended to ensure consistency, credibility, and compliance across the public service.

Rationale behind the directive 

The statement noted that the directive was prompted by concerns over the rising rate of drug and substance abuse in the country, especially among young people.

It warned that the trend threatens public health, workplace productivity, socio-economic development, and national security.

The government added that compulsory pre-employment drug testing aims to shield the federal workforce from unwholesome practices.

It also seeks to strengthen discipline, accountability, and professionalism within public institutions.

What you should know  

About 14.3 million Nigerians are affected by drug abuse, according to Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Before this directive was extended to federal public service recruitment, the government had already implemented initiatives to test and monitor drug use among youths and other key groups.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently introduced drug integrity tests for corps members, prospective couples, and other youth groups to curb substance abuse and enable early intervention.

Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA Chairman, emphasized that the tests are not punitive but form part of a broader strategy to reduce drug demand and protect families and communities from its harmful effects.

Some months ago, the Federal Government announced plans to introduce compulsory drug testing for university students and revise the secondary school curriculum to include drug education.

This initiative involves collaboration between the NDLEA and the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate drug education into secondary schools and enforce mandatory drug testing in tertiary institutions.

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The Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced a new policy requiring mandatory pre-employment drug testing for all candidates seeking positions in the public service.

The initiative is designed to address rising concerns over drug abuse and its impact on national security, workplace productivity, and public health.

Drug Screening to Be Integrated in Recruitment

A circular issued on Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) mandates that Permanent Secretaries and heads of Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), extra-ministerial departments, and parastatals incorporate drug screening into their recruitment procedures.

The directive instructs MDAs to collaborate closely with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to ensure all tests comply with established standards and scientific protocols.

The government emphasized that only candidates who pass the screening would be eligible for employment.

Addressing Youth Substance Abuse and National Security Concerns

The FG highlighted the “alarming rate” of substance abuse, particularly among Nigerian youth, as a major threat to public health, socio-economic development, and workplace efficiency.

Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, stressed the importance of the new policy:

“This policy reflects the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the workforce from drug-related issues.”

Officials noted that the policy is part of a wider effort to curb drug abuse nationwide, signaling a proactive approach to preventing substance abuse from infiltrating key sectors of governance.

Complementing Ongoing Anti-Drug Efforts

The introduction of mandatory drug testing in the civil service complements existing initiatives, including policies requiring drug screening in universities and other critical sectors.

Authorities believe that this integrated approach will enhance national security, improve productivity, and promote a healthier workforce across Nigeria.

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At least 28 travellers were abducted by gunmen on Sunday night in Zak community, Bashar District, in Wase local government area of Plateau State.

A youth leader in Wase, Sapi’i Sambo, confirmed the abduction to newsmen in a telephone interview, saying that the victims included men, women, and children.

Another resident of Bashar town, Ibrahim Musa, also confirmed the incident, explaining that the whereabouts of the victims were still unknown.

According to the youth leader, the victims were abducted while on their way from Zak village to Sabon Layi community to attend a Maulud event scheduled to hold on Sunday.

Sambo explained that two princes and a religious leader leading the journey were among the victims.

He said, “The incident happened around 8pm when they were heading to Sabon Layi for the event. When the gunmen ambushed the victims’ vehicle at the outskirt of the community, they took away all the travellers, including the children, and abandoned the vehicle.

“It was on Monday morning that people travelling on the road saw the vehicle, which belongs to the Zak community leader, abandoned on the road. So, in the course of investigation, the community discovered it was the vehicle that was carrying the travellers that was abandoned,” Sambo explained.

The youth leader said all efforts to locate the the victims were unsuccessful, adding that security forces had been informed about the situation.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, when contacted, said they were investigating the report of the incident.

LEADERSHIP reports that kidnapping, banditry, and cattle rustling have been rampant in Wase LGA generally, and residents have called on security agencies to flush out criminal elements terrorising the area.

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Kidnapped Nigerian Catholic school pupils

Some 130 Nigerian Catholic school pupils were handed over to state authorities Monday, a day after the government said it had secured their release a month after one of the country’s worst mass abductions.

Kidnappings for ransom are a common way for armed groups to make quick cash in the conflict-hit west African nation of some 230 million, but a spate of attacks in November put an uncomfortable international spotlight on Nigeria’s grim security situation.

Six vans of children were escorted by security forces in armoured vehicles to the Niger State Government House, an AFP reporter in the state capital Minna saw Monday.

Authorities said the children, along with seven teachers and support staff, were the last batch of those taken by gunmen in the late November mass abduction at the St. Mary’s co-educational boarding school in north-central Nigeria.

“Thank God for the mercy he has shown us, because if you look at these children and imagine the torment they went through, it is unbearable,” Niger state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said at the reception ceremony.

The children were between four and 10 years old, one of the teachers told AFP at the scene.

Scores of children, including young boys sporting brightly-coloured football jerseys and others wearing traditional Nigerian clothes, posed for photos at the state government office where they were handed over by security forces.

The attack on St. Mary’s — reminiscent of the infamous 2014 kidnapping of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Chibok — was part of a series of mass abductions that rocked the west African country last month.

Nigeria suffers from multiple interlinked security concerns, from jihadists in the northeast to armed “bandit” gangs in the northwest.

It has not been publicly disclosed who abducted the children and teachers from St. Mary’s, or how the government secured their release.

Analysts have said that based on past rescues, it is likely the government paid a ransom, which is technically prohibited by law.

– Questions over security –

The exact number taken from St Mary’s has been unclear throughout the ordeal.

Initially, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 315 students and staff were unaccounted for after the attack in the rural hamlet of Papiri.

Around 50 of them escaped immediately afterwards, and on December 7 the government secured the release of around 100.

That would leave about 165 thought to be still in captivity before Sunday’s announcement that 130 were rescued.

But a UN source told AFP over the weekend that all those taken appeared to have been released — as dozens thought to have been kidnapped had in fact managed to run off during the attack, and make their way home.

“We’ll have to still do final verification,” Daniel Atori, a spokesman for CAN in Niger state, told AFP on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters in the capital Abuja on Monday, Nigeria’s information minister, Mohammed Idris, was pressed on why so many Nigerian schools remain easy targets for gunmen despite millions of dollars allocated for school security in the past decade.

“We should be optimistic,” he said, adding that “there is so much that government is doing to see that that has abated,” he said.

One of the first mass kidnappings that drew international attention was in 2014, when nearly 300 girls were snatched from their boarding school in the northeastern town of Chibok by Boko Haram jihadists.

A decade later, Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom crisis has “consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry” that raised some $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.

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