.Direct NASS members to oppose amendments to VAT sharing formula
.’It can jeopardise the well-being of our people’.
.Urge urgent action on blackout
.We ‘ll restore electricity to the North within 5 days –Adelabu
.As Tinubu expresses concern
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Governors and traditional rulers from the 19 Northern States on Monday rose from a meeting in Kaduna rejecting the proposed Tax Reform Bill recently submitted to the National Assembly by the Federal Government.
Consequently they directed all senators and members of the House of Representatives from the region to oppose amendments to the legislation vehemently particularly the one seeking to review the Value Added Tax, VAT, sharing formula.
This was contained in a 11-point communique signed by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state who is also the Chairman Northern States Governors’ Forum at the end of a meeting between the governors and Chairmen Council of Emirs and Chiefs from the region.
According to the communique: “A joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Northern Traditional Ruler’ Council (Emirs and Chiefs) was held today, Monday 28 October, 2024. The meeting was also briefed on the security challenges in the north by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. The meeting deliberated extensively on matters of common interest and resolved to issue the following communique:
“Forum extends its deepest sympathies to the victims of the recent flood disasters in Maiduguri and other parts of the North, as well as to the families affected by the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State. The Forum equally commiserates with other victims of terrorism, banditry and similar criminal activities in the North and Nigeria at large and stand in solidarity with them during these difficult times. We agreed to continue to work with the Federal Government and relevant agencies to provide the necessary support and relief to those affected.
“Forum emphasises that Traditional Institutions are critical in the quest for lasting peace and security in the region. Forum also acknowledged their commitment in bridging the gap between the Government and the people. Forum advocates for increased roles for the Traditional Institutions to maximize cooperation with security agencies in the fight against kidnap for ransom, banditry, cattle rustling, communal clashes, farmers/herder clashes and other forms of criminality.
“Forum acknowledges the recent gains made against criminals, especially the elimination of bandits and terror leaders. However, we resolved to sustain these gains in order to ensure lasting peace and stability in the sub-region. Forum commend the Federal Government and security agencies for their commitment in ensuring that our communities are safe and secure. Particularly we commend the untiring commitment of the Chief of Defence Staff General C. J Musa whose professionalism and innovative approach has made difference in security architecture of the Country at large. Nevertheless more need to be done to address pockets of challenges that abound in the Northern Region.
“With the recent “End Bad Governance” protests that took place in August, the Forum resolved to scale up efforts to tackle the root causes of youth restiveness by investing in education, skills development, job creation and pathways for the youth to chanel their energy into productive ventures, thereby reducing their vulnerability to crime and social vices.
“Forum resolves to call on the Federal Government and relevant Agencies to urgently address the current electricity power blackout affecting most of the Northern States due to vandalization of electricity transmission infrastructure. This matter not only underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, but also the need to build aalitional transmission lines and diversify our energy supply so as to better connect our region and improve our energy resilience.
“Forum agrees that Northern Nigeria holds immense agricultural potentials, which, if fully harnessed, can significantly alleviate hunger and boost economic growth. To achieve this, we resolved to provide adequate support to our farmers, including access to financing, modern farming techniques and infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems. Agriculture should not only be seen as a means to feed our people but also as a catalyst for industrialization and job creation across the region. That can be achieved through re-industrialisation of the North especially by reviving the textile value chain and development of other agro-allied industries.
“Forum commends His Excellency, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the reform initiative in the livestock sub-sector and agreed to provide the necessary political will and commitment to ensure the success of the Federal Government livestock development initiatives. The Forum also agreed to sustain engagement and cross-fertilization of ideas with the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee to achieve greater results.
“Forum acknowledges the fact that climate change has greatly affected our environment resulting in the recent flood incidents in many parts of the North and therefore resolved to partner with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to build irrigation infrastructure like canals and waterways to divert excess water and channel them towards irrigation activities, thus enhancing rural livelihoods and safeguarding food security.
“Forum agrees to support and key-in to any initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of out-of-school-children and improving educational outcomes in the sub-region.
“Forum notes with dismay the content of the recent Tax Reform Bill that was forwarded to the National Assembly. The contents of the Bill are against the interests of the north and other sub-nationals especially the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) to Derivation-based Model. This is because companies remit VAT using location of their headquarters and tax office and not wnere the services and goods are consumed. In view of the foregoing, the Forum unanimously rejects the proposed Tax Amendments and calls on members of National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardise the well-being of our people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Northern Governor’ Forum is not averse to any policies or programmes that will ensure the growth and development of the Country. However, the Forum calls for equity and farness in the implementation of all national policies and programmes so as to ensure that no geopolitical zone is short-changed or marginalised.
“On the present economic hardship affecting the Country, the Forum is appealing to all citizens to remain calm, as the states and Federal Government are working hard to implement measures that will cushion effects of the hardship”
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday expressed concern over the blackout in the northern region of Nigeria in the last week.
He is now leading efforts to end the disruption that has paralysed social and economic activities, summoning the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The President has directed the Minister of Power and relevant agencies to speed up the pace of work to restore electricity to all the affected states in the North.
This was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
It read in part that: “President Tinubu is saddened by the reports of vandalism and wilful destruction of power infrastructure and other public assets that caused the unfortunate blackout.
“In a meeting with the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, who briefed on efforts made by the Transmission Company of Nigeria to repair the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines, the President directed a long-term solution to the problem.
“President Tinubu charged TCN engineers not to relent in bringing immediate relief to the people who need electricity to sustain their social and economic activities.
“To ensure that restoration work continues unhindered, President Tinubu also directed the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to work with the Army and Air Force to deploy adequate security personnel, including aerial cover, to protect the engineers who are fixing the damaged transmission line.
“President Tinubu implores traditional rulers, community leaders, and other leaders of thought to work with security agencies to protect public assets and infrastructure.
“He said the government will no longer condone deliberate sabotage and destruction of public utilities”.
.We ‘ll restore electricity to the North within 5 days –Adelabu
Mr Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, on Monday, said electricity would be restored to the 17 northern states that had suffered blackout due vandalisation of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line.
Adelabu said this while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
He said the disruption of electricity supply to the northern part of the country was due to vandalisation of Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, the major line that supplied electricity to the north.
He, however, said the transmission line would be repaired within three to five days.
“Mr President has instructed the National Security Adviser (NSA), the chief of defense staff, the chief of Army staff, Chief of Air Staff, to provide the required security for the people that will fix the demolished line.
“With the provision of full security, the TCN staff will have the confidence, together with the contractors, to go to the field and fix it.
“So, I’m just appealing to our northern brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, to bear with us that very soon, light will be restored, and we must all collectively protect our national grid to avoid further vandalisation,” said the minister.
He added that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had earlier given approval for the ministry of power to upgrade the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, one of the oldest transmission lines in Nigeria.
He said once the upgrade was done, the north would enjoy more stable electricity than what was being experienced now.
He promised to convene a meeting with the chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and all the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to ensure that customers in the north were not billed during the period they suffered blackout.
Adelabu explained that the national grid collapsed twice in recent times due to explosion of the transformer at Jeba plant.
He said before the explosion, the last disturbance on the grid was about four months ago.
“Let me tell you the truth of the matter is we have old infrastructure. We have a national grid that is more than 50 years old.
“We have national grid whose transmission lines are weak, the towers are falling, and the substations, the transformers are old.
“In fact, the transformer that actually exploded in Jeba was 47 years old. We’ve been trying to revamp this, to change them, but they cannot all be changed overnight,” he said.
He said the ministry would continue to manage the grid to prevent frequent disturbances, until it was completely overhauled.
