Ghanaian lawmakers exchange blows over mobile money tax – Newstrends
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Ghanaian lawmakers exchange blows over mobile money tax

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Ghanaian lawmakers have violently disagreed on the introduction of an electronic transaction levy.

The disagreement on Monday led to a fight in the parliament with some lawmakers exchanging blows during voting for the bill.

The fight reportedly broke out after Joe Osei-Owusu, the speaker, left his chair to cast his vote in favour of the bill — a decision that was said to have angered the minority in the house.

The parliamentarians reportedly tried to prevent the speaker from casting his vote, arguing that based on the house’s standing order, he was supposed to be neutral.

In a viral video, while the house was taking a vote to decide if the e-levy bill should be treated under certificate of urgency, the aggrieved lawmakers climbed the podium and were seen trying to prevent the speaker from going to cast his vote.

The parliamentarians were seen exchanging blows while some officials tried to protect the speaker’s seat and the mace from being taken.

The Ghanaian government, in November, had said it was introducing an electronic transaction levy (e-levy) in the 2022 budget. The government had said the e-levy was introduced as part of measures to widen the country’s tax net.

The proposed levy is a charge of 1.75% of the value of electronic transactions and is expected to come into effect in February 2022.

The levy will cover mobile money payments, bank transfers, merchant payments, and inward remittances. The originator of the transactions will bear the charge except for inward remittances, which will be borne by the recipient.

However, the introduction of the said tax had generated mixed feelings in the country with people expressing their concerns that it will bring more hardship on the people.

The finance committee of the parliament had agreed to resend the e-levy bill before the house for further deliberations under a certificate of urgency. This was after the bill was approved by a majority decision at the committee level.

The 12 National Democratic Congress (NDC) members on the committee had voted against the bill while the 12 New Patriotic Party (NPP) members, excluding the chairman of the committee, had voted in its favour.

But the minority in the parliament had said they were going to fight the bill and ensure that it was withdrawn.

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Nigeria has become a warfront, expect no new investors – Danjuma

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Former Minister of Defence General Theophilus Danjuma

Nigeria has become a warfront, expect no new investors – Danjuma

The former Minister of Defence General Theophilus Danjuma has described Nigeria as a total disgrace and laughing stock to the rest of the world.

Danjuma said this on Friday in Nwonyo village in Ibi Local government area of Taraba State during his speech as the Chairman of annual Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural festival.

The elder statesman said that Nigeria is regrettably a war front and theatre of absurdities that leaves a sour taste in the minds of people in every sane society.

He maintained that it is imperative for Nigerians and Nigeria as a country to put it’s house in order and put a check on the glaring insecurity and other vices that are bedeviling the country.

According to Danjuma, “the festival stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Taraba State that we cherish and celebrate with great pride. It showcases our cultural values and serves as symbol of our unity. Let us take a moment to reflect on the significance of the occasion. It is a symbol of resilience a d determination of our people in the face of daunting challenges.

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“Let us renew our commitment to promoting peace, harmony and celebrate the bonds that unite us as one family. May this occasion be a reminder of who we are and the strength that lies in our unity.

“We must put our own house in order and have peace in our state and throughout the country if we want this to be truly an international festival. There is no sane foreigner who will come to celebrate with us if we continue to disgrace ourselves as we do.

“As we are today in Nigeria, we are a disgrace to the whole world. The whole country is a war front of our people killing our people. We are a laughing stock to the rear of the whole world. We must put our house in order. We must make our roads safe and stop kidnapping people. We must learn to live together as a country and as a people”.

In his remarks, the Taraba State Governor Dr Agbu Kefas and his remarks said that his government is committed to ensuring justice and peace so that development can take its rightful course.

Kefas maintained that Taraba State, as a nature’s gift to the nation, must be showcased to the rest of the world so that the enormous potentials of the state could be fully utilised.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Governor of Adamawa State Governor Ummaru Fintiri commended the Taraba State government for reviving the festival after Ten years of negligence and urged the people to use the occasion to unite and live harmoniously.

Nigeria has become a warfront, expect no new investors – Danjuma

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Police say Nigerians’ hatred for cops fueling security crisis

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Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun

Police say Nigerians’ hatred for cops fueling security crisis

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has said Nigerians’ deep-seated resentment for officers is affecting security in the country.

The PCRC disclosed that the hatred towards police by Nigerians mitigates against tackling the perennial security crisis that plagues the nation, saying the situation is unsettling.

The National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mogaji Olaniyan made this known while addressing newsmen during the 40th celebration ceremony of the Committee held in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Olaniyan bemoaned the widespread hatred, saying the PCRC is enhancing a permanent relationship between members of the community and the police in order to end the ugly narrative.

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He emphasized that this pent-up disdain must be tackled to build a healthy and cordial relationship between the people and the police, ultimately enhancing security across the nation.

He explained that parents instil the hatred of police in their children at an early as the police are used as instrument of fear to control children.

Olaniyan said “We are calling that people should love the Nigeria Police, this is what they lack right from childhood we have created enmity between our children and the Nigeria Police.

“This hatred starts from our home. For instance if parents want to scold their children they will say ‘I will call the police for you. This is why our children grow up with hatred for the police and that is why we are trying to stop this narrative.”

Olaniyan, however, called for an urgent need to address what he called widespread hatred towards the officers of the Nigeria Police.

Police say Nigerians’ hatred for cops fueling security crisis

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Yahya Bello: Kogi lawmakers face pressure to impeach Gov Ododo

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Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo

Yahya Bello: Kogi lawmakers face pressure to impeach Gov Ododo

Fresh trouble may be brewing in Kogi State due to a move to impeach the Governor, Usman Ododo.

This is as a human rights lawyer, Deji Ajare, has urged the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Umar Yusuf, to begin impeachment proceedings against Governor Ododo over allegations of misconduct and abuse of office.

Ajare conveyed his call in a letter addressed to the speaker, submitted through the clerk of the House on Friday.

Regarding the governor’s use of his motorcade to transport the embattled former governor, Yahaya Bello, Ajare deemed it harboring a fugitive, obstructing justice, and misusing state resources.

“In the light of the above allegations and the inherent potential breaches of statutory duties imposed by the Constitution and other relevant laws of our country, these actions, if proven true, amount to gross misconduct and warrant immediate investigation and commencement of impeachment proceedings.

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“I hereby call on the Kogi State House of Assembly under your leadership to initiate a thorough inquiry into these allegations by Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, to ascertain the truth and to hold Governor Usman Ododo accountable if the allegations are found to be true.

“I also urge the Kogi State House of Assembly to cooperate with national law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, to ensure all individuals involved are available for questioning and to facilitate a smooth investigation”, he said.

Ajare implored swift and decisive action from the House of Assembly, emphasizing the detrimental effects of the alleged misgovernance on the people of the state.

Responding, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mohammed Yabagi, stated that neither the Clerk nor the Speaker had received such a letter.

Yabagi added that the House had not seen valid reasons to initiate impeachment processes against the governor, asserting that there was no evidence of the governor preventing security agencies from arresting Yahaya Bello.

“As far as the Assembly is concerned, the Assembly supports all constitutionally recognized security agencies. We have not seen any reason why the House should commence any impeachment processes,” he said.

Yahya Bello: Kogi lawmakers face pressure to impeach Gov Ododo

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