Business

FG’s Gazette Gives Rivers More Tax Windows

Published

10 years ago

September 4, 2015

The Rivers State Internal
Revenue Service (RIRS) is poised for increased revenue henceforth following the release of a Federal Government Official Gazette covering approved taxes and levies at all levels of government.
The Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria NO.77 Vol 102 is dated May 23, 2015 but was released on June 9, 2015. The Gazette is an Extraordinary Government Notice (No.76) which is an adjustment to the Schedule to the Taxes and levies (Approved list for Collection) Act Cap. T2, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.
The adjustment added some new taxable subheads such as the National Information Technology DeVelopment levy, land Use Charge, Hotel, Restaurant or Event Centre Consumption Tax, Entertainment Tax, Wharf landing Charge, and some others.
The Law has also removed the ceiling on Business Premises Registration and Renewal fees in urban and rural areas and left it in the hands of each State.
The tax law made available to The Tide indicate that an entirely new section (Part IV) has been added to deal with “Harmonised Taxesand Levies” which emphasises that the collection of the taxes and levies listed in the law are harmonised between the State and Local Governments. Such harmonised taxes and levies indude Inter-State Road Taxes Sticker designed by the Joint Tax Board, Single Haulage Fee, Wharf Landing Charge, etc.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, the RIRS noted that by this development, the Service and other revenue agencies of States have been given clear mandate by law to collect taxes and levies on more subheads and thereby increase the locally generated income of the states.
The Tide gathered that 14 new tax subheads have been added for the States to collect, including land use charge; hotel, restaurant or event centre consumption tax; entertainment tax; environmental (ecoloqical) fee; mining, milling and quarry fees; animal trade tax; produce sales tax; slaughter or abattoir fee (where State Finance is involved); infrastructure maintenance charge; fire service charge; property tax; economic development levy; social services contribution levy; and signage and mobile advertisement jointly collected by states and local governments.
These are aside existing subheads collectible by the States such as personal income tax in respect of Pay-As-You-Eam (PAYEE); and direct taxation (self-assessment). There is the withholding tax (individuals only); capital gains tax (individuals only); stamp duties on instruments executed by individuals; pools betting and lotteries, gaming and casino taxes; and road taxes.
A major amendment to States’ list may be the removal of the limit to the amount a State or Local government could impose on business premises. Before now, the maximum was N10,000 per year with renewal at N5,000.
Now that States look deeper inwards for increased internally generated revenue (IGR), it is expected that tax payers would obey the law and pay their taxes at the appropriate time as the RIRS says it is now poised to ensure the effective collection of all taxes due the State.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

6 hours ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

7 hours ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

7 hours ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu