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Nigeria’s 25% tax rate trails African peers

Nigeria’s new 25 percent personal income tax rate has sparked debate over whether workers will pay more or less tax under the revised system, following Senator Ireti Kingibe’s claim that drew a rebuttal from the Senate.

The disagreement raises a broader question about how Nigeria’s tax structure compares with those of other African economies and whether headline rates tell the full story of what workers actually pay.

Adekunle Ishola, a human resources manager and payroll expert, said the reduction became visible when employers processed January salaries under the revised tax bands.

‘More than 65 percent of our workforce paid less tax in January compared with December,’ Ishola said.

He said employers initially faced technical challenges adjusting payroll systems to the new structure but resolved them after consulting tax advisers, enabling implementation within the first month.

The experience offers a more immediate way to assess the reforms than comparing tax rates alone. While Nigeria’s top personal income tax rate is 25 percent, below the maximum rates in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, what matters to workers is how the rules affect the amount reaching their bank accounts.

Melville Ogbeama, a human resource specialist, said the changes were designed to reduce the tax burden on low- and middle-income earners and increase disposable income. He said the relief could support household consumption as workers deal with elevated living costs.

Under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which took effect on January 1, 2026, the first N800,000 of chargeable income is taxed at zero percent. The next N2.2 million attracts 15 percent, followed by rates of 18, 21 and 23 percent. The top rate of 25 percent applies to chargeable income above N50 million.

Ayo Akinduyite, a tax and regulatory thought leader, said the new structure raised the threshold at which the highest rate applies compared with the previous regime.

‘The old 24 percent top rate began biting at just N3.2 million, capturing middle-income professionals. The new 25 percent top rate is genuinely a rate on the wealthy,’ Akinduyite said in a LinkedIn post.

The law also provides rent relief of 20 percent of annual rent paid, capped at N500,000, alongside eligible deductions such as pension contributions and life insurance premiums. Employees earning the national minimum wage are exempt from personal income tax.

These provisions mean that a headline rate does not tell workers how much tax they will pay. The tax bands apply progressively to chargeable income after eligible deductions and reliefs, so the final liability depends on an individual’s circumstances.

Nigeria’s top rate is lower than South Africa’s 45 percent, Kenya’s 35 percent, and Uganda’s 40 percent for resident individuals. However, the comparison does not automatically mean Nigerian workers pay less tax, because each country has different thresholds, income bands, and deductions.

The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee said that about 98 percent of workers in the public and private sectors were expected to pay less or no PAYE or personal income tax under the new laws. The claim was a projection, while Ishola’s account provides an example of the reported experience within one workforce. It does not establish the reforms’ national impact.

The implications extend to state finances. States and the Federal Capital Territory collected N2.64 trillion in Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) in 2025, up from N1.88 trillion in 2024, according to figures attributed to the National Bureau of Statistics. PAYE accounted for about 69.5 percent of state tax revenue of N3.79 trillion and roughly 51 percent of total internally generated revenue of N5.15 trillion.

Those figures predate the new tax regime, so they cannot show how the reforms will affect future collections. But they underline the importance of balancing workers’ tax burdens with governments’ need for reliable revenue.

Opeyemi Ajetunmobi, a capital markets strategist, said tax collection should be considered alongside the economy’s capacity to generate productive businesses and well-paid jobs.

‘Higher collections matter, but their long-term value depends partly on what they enable governments and businesses to achieve,’ Ajetunmobi said in an October post.

With PAYE generating N2.64 trillion for states and the FCT in 2025, the reform has implications beyond workers’ monthly salaries. If the new rules reduce tax bills for many earners, the challenge for state governments will be to maintain revenue without placing a heavier burden on those who earn less.

Hydropower is ready; where is the capital?

The Department of Energy has finally said out loud what the country’s energy planners have whispered for years: the Philippines is sitting on 25,000 megawatts of untapped hydropower, and it intends to do something about it. That is a welcome admission. It is also the easy partDOE’s pitch rests on a familiar set of carrots. There is the P6.9282 per kilowatt-hour feed-in tariff for run-of-river hydro, locked in for 20 years-a rate that, as the agency’s own officials concede, beats most bilateral contracts on the market. There is the promise of an even richer price in Green Energy Auction 7, with 175 MW targeted for delivery between 2028 and 2030, terms of reference due by late October or early November, and bidder registration opening in December. On paper, the incentive architecture is sound.

But incentives are not capital. At roughly P200 million per megawatt, a 25,000 MW build-out is not a tariff problem-it is a balance-sheet problem. A 20-year FIT tells a developer what he will earn. It does not tell him where the equity, the debt, and the transmission capacity will come from. Until the DOE pairs its auction schedule with a credible financing roadmap-sovereign co-investment, concessional lending, clear grid-connection guarantees-the trillion-peso figure remains a slide in a presentation.

The Kalayaan pumped-storage plant is the tell. It is the country’s established operating facility of its kind, and it now sits inside a 797 MW complex turned over this year to a consortium led by Aboitiz Renewables. The DOE deserves credit for getting a policy framework on paper-Circular 04-006-2025 on optimal utilization, plus supplemental dispatch rules for Kalayaan and future pumped-storage bidders. But handing the crown jewel to private hands means the state’s institutional learning curve now runs through a corporate balance sheet. That can work. It can also mean the public pays tuition.

There is a subtler caution buried in the news. Philhydro wants the DOE to exploit El Niño’s low water levels to accelerate construction-a smart scheduling idea, but a reminder that hydro is only as reliable as the rain. Run-of-river plants and pumped-storage facilities are not interchangeable assets; one rides the river, the other stores the peak. Policymakers must resist lumping them together under a single headline number.

None of this argues against the push. Hydro is the backbone the grid has neglected, and pumped storage is precisely the tool a renewable-heavy system needs to survive the evening peak. The DOE is right to move, and right to move now.

But ambition is judged in execution, not intent. Issue the GEA 7 terms on time. Run a clean, transparent auction. And above all, show the country where P5 trillion actually comes from.

If the agency can answer that question, hydropower stops being a slogan and becomes the spine of a serious energy system. If it cannot, 25,000 megawatts will sit in the river for another decade-counted, praised, and unbuilt.

Why we’re strengthening support for sexual violence survivors in Benue – Foundation

The Samuel Ioron Foundation (SIF) has launched Whistleblower Nigeria: Reporting Sexual Violence in Displacement Settings, an initiative designed to help survivors in Benue State report sexual violence safely and access essential support services.

Speaking at the launch, the Foundation’s Executive and Project Director, Ngunan Ioron Aloho, said the initiative would strengthen community reporting channels and improve coordination among key service providers, including healthcare facilities, legal aid organisations, the police and social welfare agencies.

‘The aim is to ensure that when someone reports abuse, they can get practical help, with their safety and confidentiality protected,’ Aloho said.

She explained that knowing where to report abuse was only one part of the challenge facing survivors, adding that access to medical care, counselling, legal assistance and protection after a report was equally important.

According to her, the Foundation would work directly with communities and service providers to strengthen referral systems and support survivors through the process while respecting their choices and protecting their confidentiality.

The initiative follows SIF’s participation in Nigeria’s National Preparatory Session on Ending Violence Against Children, held ahead of the Global Ministerial Conference in Manila, Philippines.

At the session, the Foundation shared experiences from communities in Benue to contribute to discussions on translating national child protection commitments into accessible and timely support for children and families.

The Foundation noted that children living in displacement camps and host communities could face violence in different settings, including homes, communities and temporary settlements.

It added that children’s experiences and concerns needed to be reflected in policy discussions and decisions concerning their protection and welfare.

‘Policies can promise protection, but for children living in displaced or humanitarian contexts, the real question is often much simpler: Who can I tell when something happens to me, and will anyone actually help?’ Aloho said.

She said the Whistleblower Nigeria initiative seeks to address this concern by helping community members recognise and safely report sexual violence, connecting survivors with appropriate support services and following up on referrals.

Aloho added that the Foundation’s work in Benue had provided insights into the challenges children and families faced when seeking assistance, as well as areas where reporting channels and support services required improvement.

She called for sustained funding, stronger coordination among service providers and the meaningful involvement of children, survivors and communities in decisions affecting their safety and welfare.

According to her, the initiative’s success would ultimately depend on whether people seeking help could access appropriate support safely and promptly.

The Foundation is inviting companies, civil society organisations and service providers to partner with it on the initiative.

Potential partners can contribute funding, technology, professional expertise and referral services to strengthen safe reporting channels and improve survivors’ access to healthcare, protection and legal assistance across Benue State.

Senate seeks explanation from Lalamove founder

The Senate committee on public services will issue a show-cause order to Lalamove founder and CEO Shing Chow, who failed to attend, for the third straight time, the ongoing hearing on operational regulations for digital labor platforms.

‘Send a show-cause order for why they shouldn’t be cited in contempt because this is the third time. People from Lalamove always snub this hearing,’ committee chair Sen. Raffy Tulfo instructed the committee secretary on Wednesday.

‘I don’t know what they’re thinking, why they are snubbing these hearings three times in a row. So, I want a subpoena sent, as soon as possible … If they still don’t attend, then issue a warrant of arrest for the very owner himself,’ Tulfo said.

Lalamove, an on-demand delivery platform, is being asked to explain driver welfare and compensation issues, among others.

Masari awards scholarship to over 300 Katsina medical students

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Political Matters, Hon. Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, has awarded scholarships to over 300 Katsina State indigenes studying medicine and other health-related courses in universities across Nigeria, with plans to extend the scheme to other disciplines in the next academic session to reach more beneficiaries.

Masari said the scholarship initiative was inspired by the plight of a young girl who lost her father and faced financial difficulties that threatened her education.

Moved by her circumstances, Masari extended the intervention to other students from Katsina State to support their academic pursuits and ease the financial burden on their families.

At the scholarship presentation held on Thursday, at Mahmud Tukur Theatre, Old Campus, Bayero University, Kano (BUk), selected beneficiaries received ?500,000 each, while all students present at the hall were given ?100,000 each.

Speaking at the occasion, Masari said the gesture was motivated by his desire to assist the needy and support individuals facing difficult circumstances.

Drawing inspiration from the Holy Qur’an, he emphasised the importance of helping others and urged the beneficiaries to remain focused on their studies, become productive members of society and contribute meaningfully to national development.

He disclosed that the scholarship scheme would be expanded in the next academic session to cover other courses, thereby extending educational support to more students from Katsina State across diverse fields of human endeavour.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma, commended Masari for his philanthropic activities, describing him as a God-given individual to the people of Katsina State and Nigeria.

He noted that the scholarship would help disadvantaged students overcome financial barriers and pursue their educational ambitions, while encouraging other well-meaning individuals to support initiatives that promote education and human development.

The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Haruna Musa, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Ahmad Muhammad Tsauni, also praised Masari for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that would ease the financial burden on students and support their academic pursuits.

Prof. Tsauni emphasised the importance of partnerships between universities, philanthropists and other stakeholders in ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent capable students from completing their education, particularly in critical fields such as medicine and other health-related disciplines.

He noted that support from individuals and organisations could complement institutional and government efforts to expand access to higher education, strengthen human capital development and prepare young people for meaningful contributions to society.

Some of the beneficiaries could not hold back tears of joy and excitement.

They expressed delight and profound appreciation for the gesture, describing it as a significant relief that would help them concentrate on their studies.

They also prayed for Masari and expressed hope that they, too, would one day be in a position to support others in need.

The Director of Public Affairs, BUK, Lamara Garba, noted that: ‘The scholarship initiative is expected to provide relief to beneficiaries and their families while contributing to human capital development and the training of skilled professionals for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.’

President calls on Turkey, Turkish Cypriot side to give information on missing persons

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has called on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to respond ‘meaningfully’ to requests for information held by the Turkish army and to grant access to possible burial sites, in a written statement marking Cyprus Missing Persons Day.

‘Today, we renew our promise that we will not come to terms with oblivion and will not accept inaction,’ President Christodoulides said, noting that the truth about every missing person ‘is an essential prerequisite for justice, reconciliation and lasting peace in our country’.

Today’s Missing Persons Day, he said, ‘is a day of remembrance and national responsibility’, as well as a day to honour all those who remain missing because of the 1974 Turkish invasion, along with those who went missing during the 1963-1964 period of intercommunal violence.

‘We stand in solidarity with their families, who have endured the anguish of uncertainty for decades and rightly expect answers about their loved ones,’ he said.

For the Republic of Cyprus, the issue of missing persons ‘is primarily a humanitarian matter, and our efforts will continue until the fate of every last missing person is established,’ he noted.

Within this framework, the President said, ‘we provide substantial support for the work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), offering every form of institutional, technical and financial assistance’. At the same time, he added, efforts were being stepped up to collect, assess and make use of testimonies and archives, accelerate exhumations and identifications, and ensure that families were kept properly informed.

He also said that, at international level, the Government raises the issue of missing persons ‘as a matter of priority’, and that it is discussed at every meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leadership, Turkey, the United Nations, the European Union and the international community.

‘Our position is clear and specific: full and unconditional access to the archives of the Turkish army and every other competent service, the disclosure of all information concerning burial sites, the movement of remains and military operations, the facilitation of investigations and exhumations in military zones and other areas where access is currently restricted, and meaningful cooperation with the CMP and the relevant international organisations,’ President Christodoulides stressed.

At the same time, he said, support for the families of missing persons ‘remains an ongoing obligation’. He added that the state would continue to address with care and consistency the social, financial and other challenges they face, through targeted policies and ongoing dialogue with their organisations.

It was within this framework, he noted, that the Council of Ministers had decided to provide care for the parents and spouses of missing persons and fallen servicemen without applying financial criteria.

‘On this occasion, I once again call on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to respond meaningfully to requests for information held by the Turkish army and to grant access to possible burial sites,’ he said.

Until substantiated answers are provided for everyone, efforts will continue unabated, he added.

‘We owe it to the children and to the parents and relatives of missing persons who are still alive. Above all, however, we owe it to the mothers and fathers who passed away carrying the pain of their children’s absence,’ he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.

A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.

According to statistical data published on the CMP website by September 30, 2026 out of 2002 missing persons 1,721 were exhumed and 1,085 were identified. Out of 1,510 Greek Cypriot missing persons 765 were identified and 745 are still missing. Out of 492 Turkish Cypriot missing persons 320 were identified and 172 are still missing.

Over 600 performances recorded as Arewa Poetry Challenge advances to Abuja finals

The MPS Media Poetry Challenge 2026 – Arewa Edition has concluded its zonal stages across the North-East, North-West and North-Central, recording 637 performances and producing 81 contestants for the Abuja Regional Finals.

The competition, which promotes youth empowerment, cultural preservation and peacebuilding through poetry, will proceed to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand finale in November 2026.

The North-West recorded the highest number of performances with 302, followed by the North-East with 198 and North-Central with 137, a statement by the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MPS Media and Initiator of the MPS Media Poetry Challenge, Prof. Ahmed Adamu said.

The performances comprised 313 blind auditions, 138 battle-round performances and 186 knockout-stage performances.

The 81 qualified contestants will compete in Abuja, with the field expected to narrow to 10 finalists who will battle for the titles of Grand Champion and Poet of the Year.

Participants explored themes including peace, unity, cultural identity, governance, youth empowerment, climate awareness and social responsibility.

‘But the numbers tell only part of the story,’ said Adamu. ‘Behind every performance is a young person who has dared to speak, to be heard, to express an idea and to believe that their voice matters.’

He said: ‘We are building more than a competition. We are building a family, a network of young creatives, and a platform for mentorship, confidence, courage, leadership and opportunity. We want these young people to understand that their stories can become the beginning of something greater.’

The MPS media founder also said the initiative was designed to go beyond competition by helping young people discover their talents and use their voices to promote peace and preserve cultural values.

Adamu expressed appreciation to previous partners and called for additional support from corporate organisations, foundations, development institutions, philanthropists and media organisations to expand opportunities for young creatives.

He added that the platform sought to present a positive narrative about Arewa by showcasing the creativity, resilience and potential of young people in Northern Nigeria.

The MPS Media Poetry Challenge 2026 – Arewa Edition is a youth-focused initiative designed to discover and nurture poetic talent while promoting cultural identity, positive values and social change through artistic expression.

ADC-PCC disowns purported campaign timetable

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has disowned a campaign timetable in circulation, purportedly from the ADC is false and not from the party.

Director, Media and Publicity, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan in a statement also clarified that ‘the document did not emanate from the Council or its campaign office.’

While asking party members, leaders and other stakeholders not be take the alleged timetable serious, the Campaign council asked them to wait for the official direction from the party.

Ologbondiyan said the ADC – PCC has disowned an ‘unsigned campaign timetable currently in circulation, clarifying that the document did not emanate from the Council or its campaign office’.

He said the Council wishes to inform Nigerians, ADC members, leaders and other stakeholders that the purported timetable is unauthorised and should not be regarded as an official campaign schedule.

Accordingly, ‘all members and stakeholders are urged to disregard the document and await official communications from the ADC-PCC on campaign activities and schedules.’

San Juan edges Caloocan in overtime, meets Abra in MPBL North Finals

San Juan bested Caloocan Batang Kankaloo, 82-78, in overtime on Wednesday to advance into the North Division Finals against Abra in the SportsPlus MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) 2026 Season at the Ynares Center Montalban, Rizal Province.

The defending champions Abra Solid North Weavers beat the Pasay Voyagers, 77-69, earlier to sweep their semifinal series.

Michael Calisaan delivered six points, while James Kwekuteye and Royce Alforque also contributed in the extension as the San Juan Knights repeated their 73-71 overtime victory over the Batang Kankaloo on October 24 and swept the best-of-three semifinal series.

Alforque scored on a follow-up, and after a triple by Kymani Ladi put Caloocan to within 78-79, Kwekuteye stripped the ball from Jeff Manday, then blocked Kean Baclaan’s drive in the last two seconds to secure the win.

With San Juan ahead, 70-68, in regulation play, Caloocan got a lease on life after Dom Escobar, who muffed his first free throw with 2.6 seconds left, intentionally missed the second, grabbed the rebound, and canned a jumper to force extra time.

Harold Alarcon, whose jumper with 6.8 seconds to go pushed San Juan ahead, 70-68, was chosen the Best Player with six points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

AC Soberano top-scored for the Knights, the 2019 MPBL champions, with 15, followed by Calisaan with 13 points plus six rebounds; Dexter Maiquez with 10 points; and Kwekuteye with eight points, six rebounds and three steals.

Alarcon said they need to play better in the finals since they will be up against the strong and intact Weavers.

San Juan is likely to miss Terrence Fortea, who was stretchered out with a likely knee injury, in the best-of-five series, while skipper Orlan Wamar is on the watch list following a sprain.

Caloocan drew 21 points, seven rebounds and two assists from Ladi; 17 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals from Chris Bitoon; 15 points, five assists and three rebounds from Baclaan; and 15 rebounds, nine points, four assists and two steals from Manday.

Showing why he’s the reigning MVP, Dave Ildefonso scored seven of Abra’s last eight points, highlighted by a one-handed slam, to foil Pasay’s final rally.

Abra beat Pasay in Game 1, 81-71.

Ildefonso posted 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals to capture his second straight Best Player honors.

Filipino-American DJ Fenner supported with 12 points, two rebounds and two assists; followed by Tucker Molina, with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals; and Jake Figueroa, with nine points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Pasay, which crawled to within 67-69 in the last 3:33, got 12 points and four rebounds from Christian Fajarito; and 11 points each from Kriss Gurtiza, Lennard Santiago and Edmund Dela Cruz.

Enjoying height and heft advantage, the Weavers ruled the boards, 45-28, and led by as many as 62-48 to rev up their drive to a second straight North crown.

Abra swept Pangasinan, 3-0, in the 2025 North Finals before the Heatwaves took a leave of absence this year.

NCC takes device compliance campaign beyond Kano with industry sensitisation

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is expanding its device compliance campaign beyond Kano State through industry sensitisation, dealer licensing and digital verification tools aimed at curbing counterfeit, cloned and unauthorised mobile devices in Nigeria.

Tunji Jimoh, zonal controller at the NCC, disclosed this on Thursday while representing Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Commission, at a media briefing on the NCC Device Checker Platform held in Lagos.

Jimoh said the Commission had streamlined its licensing and regularisation process, enabling a significant number of device dealers in Kano to obtain licences. It had also conducted sensitisation engagements with importers and other industry participants in Lagos and other parts of the country to improve awareness of type approval requirements and obligations under the device checker framework.

The campaign signals a broader regulatory effort to address compliance gaps across the mobile device supply chain, from manufacturers and importers to distributors and retailers. By engaging industry participants and simplifying verification procedures, the NCC is seeking to make compliance easier while strengthening accountability for devices entering and circulating in the Nigerian market.

The initiative comes as Nigeria’s digital economy expands and mobile devices remain central to telecommunications, financial services and digital commerce. The circulation of counterfeit, cloned and non-compliant devices raises concerns about consumer protection, regulatory compliance and the integrity of communications networks.

To support the campaign, the Commission has developed a Device Checker application that allows authorised stakeholders to scan International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and upload device information directly to the platform. The tool is intended to improve the speed and efficiency of device verification and help industry participants identify potential compliance problems.

Consumers can also check a device’s status before purchase through the NCC’s online portal by entering its IMEI number. The Commission has published guidance for manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers outlining their responsibilities under the type approval and device verification framework.

Type approval is the regulatory process through which telecommunications equipment is assessed against applicable technical requirements before being marketed or used within the relevant regulatory framework. The NCC’s device checker is designed to help verify approval status and identify devices that may require further scrutiny.

The Commission is also encouraging consumers to buy from reputable and licensed dealers and to use its online resources before purchasing mobile devices. Consumers requiring assistance with device verification can contact the NCC through its 315 toll-free consumer line.

However, the effectiveness of the campaign will depend on the extent to which dealers, importers and distributors adopt the system and whether the Commission can consistently enforce compliance across the supply chain.

The Commission has also sought to address privacy concerns, stressing that the device checker is not a surveillance tool and does not access personal information, messages, photographs, contacts, financial information or other private content stored on users’ devices. Its function is limited to device identification and regulatory compliance verification.

The NCC said it remained committed to protecting consumers, promoting fair competition and strengthening network integrity, while urging industry stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the published requirements and comply with the Commission’s type approval rules.

The expansion of sensitisation beyond Kano suggests that the regulator is pursuing both administrative and technology-based approaches to device compliance.