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We Won’t Over-Burden Our People With Taxes, Levies, Fubara Tells JTB
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that his administration will not over-burden the people, residents and businesses with excess taxes and levies.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he declared open the 156th Joint Tax Board Meeting with the theme: “Opportunities and Strategies For Improved Taxation of High Net-Worth Individuals In Nigeria”, in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
The Governor also said that the most tenable solution that will strengthen the capacity of State Governments to continue to deliver public services and development to their citizens will be to maximize tax revenue collection at all levels and across sectors.
If such is done, Governor Fubara asserted that the burden from a struggling national economy as experienced in Nigeria, which is buffeted by high inflation, will be minimized on State Governments.
The Governor bemoaned the increasing lack of adequate resources available to State Governments to deliver their development commitments to the citizens, adding: “Tax is a tool for the government to deploy to advance several positive objectives. First, it enables the government to collect public revenue to provide public services and ensure the continuous functioning of the public sector.
“Second, it can also be used to make society more equitable by redistributing resources to benefit the most vulnerable members. Consequently, the tax system is a matter of great interest to all Nigerians because, without adequate revenues, it will be difficult for the government to meet its obligations to provide public services and advance the collective security and prosperity of citizens”.
Governor Fubara explained the modest success achieved so far by his administration in effective collection and utilisation of revenue it has continued to collect from tax paying public.
He said: “In Rivers State, our approach is not to impose more taxes on our people but to broaden our tax base without increasing the rates, which has enabled us to generate more internal revenues as evident in the increasing collection figures on a month-by-month basis.
“Apart from keeping us above water, we are responsibly using the much-improved tax collections to fund critical infrastructure, including roads, schools, security, and healthcare across the State.”
Governor Fubara listed the Trans-Kalabari Road, Elele-Egbeda-Omuku dual carriageway, Zonal Hospitals at Degema, Bori, Ahoada, and Omoku towns as areas the revenue has been deployed.
The Governor said that the new Rumuigbo General Hospital, and the new Psychiatric Hospital also at Rumuigbo, are among the numerous projects that are fully funded with internally generated tax funds.
He pointed to the resolve of his administration to cooperate with the Joint Tax Board to streamline its tax system, broaden the tax base and strengthen the State’s Internal Revenue Service in order to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in collecting legitimate taxes and levies without over-burdening the people.
Governor Fubara stated that: “The purpose of a tax system is not to stifle society but rather to enable it to develop and prosper by putting those who create wealth in the best conditions where they can be encouraged to continue to produce and create more wealth.
“Furthermore, a responsible tax system must impose nothing more than a fair amount that serves the public interest and is attractive to businesses and investors.”
Governor Fubara stated that the Joint Tax Board has been at the forefront of effective tax administration in Nigeria and their input and efforts at promoting tax harmonization has been remarkable.
He said as an institution, the Board should continue to address itself to efforts at repealing obsolete policies, promotion of cooperation among tax authorities across the country, and provision of training, peer review, and best practices for State Revenue Agencies.
Governor Fubara, therefore, challenged them to use the occasion to focus on exploring opportunities and strategies that will improve the taxation of high net-worth individuals in Nigeria, and also urged them to come up with policy measures that will encourage the super-rich to pay fair taxes voluntarily while channelling their excess resources into productive economic building investments.
He said, “This is the way to build a stronger, broader tax revenue-based economy for our country; one that encourages the production of more wealth, shared economic growth, opportunities, and prosperity for everyone.”
In his welcome address, Executive Chairman, Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Dr Chibeoso Aholu, said the State is delighted to host, for the first time, the Joint Tax Board Meeting, and thanked Governor Fubara for his support towards its success, while expressing the hope that the meeting will streamline policy suggestions and strategies to help governments at all levels to improve their revenues.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.
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