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Tax disputes: 20 percent of households, firms wait over a month for resolution -Survey

About one in five households and businesses that sought to resolve tax-related issues in Nigeria waited more than a month for a resolution or said their complaints were rarely resolved, highlighting persistent delays in the country’s tax administration system.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Tax Perception Survey Report 2026 found that while 60.5 percent of households and 53.6 percent of firms reported that their tax-related issues were resolved on the same day or within a few days, a significant proportion continued to experience prolonged delays.

The report, which examined institutional capacity and taxpayer experience, also identified gaps in the clarity of tax information, the consistency of officials’ explanations and taxpayers’ understanding of amounts owed.

According to the survey, 47.4 percent of households gave positive assessments of the ease of completing tax processes. However, only about 30 percent rated tax officials’ explanations, consistency and clarity on tax liabilities positively.

The findings suggest that although some aspects of tax administration are relatively easy to navigate, taxpayers may still struggle to understand their obligations and obtain clear, consistent information from officials.

The survey also highlighted concerns about informal levies and the cost of dealing with tax-related demands. It found that 67.2 percent of households had encountered informal, non-state levies at least once, while 13.9 percent of firms said they had been required to pay a fee they considered illegal.

Such experiences could undermine public confidence in the tax system and weaken efforts to improve voluntary compliance, particularly as the Federal Government implements reforms aimed at expanding domestic revenue and improving tax administration.

The report also drew attention to operational challenges confronting tax officials, including shortages of personnel, vehicles and equipment, particularly in local offices. Security risks during fieldwork were identified as another constraint affecting tax administration.

The findings come as Nigeria implements the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which took effect in January 2026. The reform is designed to modernise and consolidate the country’s tax framework, broaden the revenue base, simplify tax provisions, improve administrative efficiency and strengthen fairness and transparency.

However, the NESG noted that the success of the reform would depend not only on the legal provisions but also on taxpayers’ ability to understand their obligations, access effective complaint-resolution mechanisms and trust the institutions responsible for collecting taxes.

The survey was commissioned by the NESG with support from the United Kingdom Government to assess how households, businesses and tax officials understand and experience the tax system during the early implementation of the new framework.

Fieldwork was conducted between July and September 2026, covering 18,000 working adults, with one respondent selected per household, and 9,097 firms across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Six states-Abia, Bauchi, Kano, Nasarawa, Ogun and Rivers-were oversampled to increase the number of observations. The study also conducted focus group discussions with households and firms, alongside interviews with tax officials in those states.

The NESG said the report was a diagnostic study of taxpayers’ perceptions and experiences, rather than an audit or ranking of tax administrations.

It provides an early baseline for identifying implementation bottlenecks, improving taxpayer services and strengthening confidence in the tax system as the reforms take effect

PHOTOS: Tinubu granted access to pray inside Ka’abah

The Custodian of the Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has granted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a rare privilege of leading Nigeria’s delegation to pray inside the Holy Ka’abah.

The president was led into Ka’abah by Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram.

Tinubu thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for granting him and members of his Nigerian delegation the opportunity to enter the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah and offer prayers to Almighty Allah.

The President described the honour as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual experience, reflecting the longstanding bonds of friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

President Tinubu said faith in Allah had strengthened his conviction that his emergence as Nigeria’s leader was an extraordinary blessing that must be matched with dedicated service to the country.

Aquino family, visitors remember Ninoy, Cory, Noynoy on All Souls’ Day

Members of the Aquino family and other Filipinos visited the Aquino family mausoleum at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City on Monday, All Souls’ Day.

Civil society leader Kiko Aquino Dee, with his parents, Viel Aquino Dee and Richard Dee, lit yellow candles and offered prayers at the mausoleum to remember the late former senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., and former presidents Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino and Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Kiko thanked Filipinos who took time to visit and remember his relatives.

‘Alam po namin na mahalagang panahon po yung Undas para sa maraming Pilipino kaya talagang naha-humble po kami na may nakakahanap pa rin ng oras na bumisita po dito kahit na talagang dapat naman talaga inuuna po yung mga pamilya natin sa panahon na ito, so thank you po talaga,’ he said.

(‘We know that Undas is an important occasion for many Filipinos, so we are truly humbled that people still make time to visit here, even though this is a time when they should really be prioritizing their own families, so we are truly grateful.’)

Asked what legacy he hoped visitors would remember when they visit the Aquino family mausoleum, Kiko recalled how his grandfather Ninoy, grandmother Cory, and uncle Noynoy, along with other Filipino heroes, stood up when they saw something wrong in society.

‘Marami rin naman po yung lumalaban sa kasalukuyang panahon. Sana yung mga yumao at pati na rin yung mga lumalaban po ngayon, sana ay suportahan po natin sila,’ he said.

(‘There are still many people fighting for what is right today. I hope we continue to support both those who have passed away and those who continue to fight in the present.’)

Members of the religious community

Among the other visitors were brothers Martin Angelo Ansano and Sean Zaluaga, seminarians from the University of Sto. Tomas.

Zaluaga recalled how some of his former formators at the UST Central Seminary participated in the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution after hearing the call of then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin.

Their stories, he said, gave him a deeper appreciation of the Church’s role in promoting peace and standing with the community during crucial moments in Philippine history.

‘Hindi tayo pwedeng tahimik when there’s corruption. Hindi tayo pwedeng tahimik talaga,’ Zaluaga said.

(We cannot remain silent in the face of corruption. We really cannot afford to stay silent,)

Also, Ruben Bergonia, a safety officer working for a private company in Las Piñas City who hails from Cagayan Valley also offered prayers for the three.

Bergonia, who wore a yellow shirt and stayed at the mausoleum from 8 a.m. until past 10 a.m., said it had long been his dream to visit the Aquino family because of their contributions to Philippine history and society.

Europe protests, it’s a political crisis. When Africa protests, is it a governance crisis?

From France to Italy, Spain, and Portugal, citizens are taking to the streets over rising living costs, housing shortages, economic inequality, and government policies. Students, workers, and trade unions are demanding change. Some demonstrations have resulted in violent confrontations, arrests, injuries, and destruction of property.

These scenes are familiar to Africans. Kenya’s Gen Z demonstrations against taxation and corruption, Nigeria’s protests over economic hardship, and Tanzania’s election-related unrest reflect concerns not entirely different from those troubling European citizens. But something interesting happens when we examine how governments are judged for responding to such unrest.

When protests erupt in Europe, international discussions frequently centre on economic grievances, policing and political dissatisfaction. When similar events occur in Africa, the language may shift towards democratic failure, human rights violations, political legitimacy, and possible international sanctions.

Why? Are these differences always justified by circumstances, or does a country’s international standing influence the judgement?

We frequently discuss inequality between rich and poor, between social classes and between the Global North and Global South. But what about inequality within the international system itself? The international order is founded upon principles of sovereignty, human rights, and equality among nations.

Yet equality in principle does not necessarily translate into equality in practice.

Consider the United Nations. Its Charter recognises the sovereign equality of member States, yet five permanent members of the Security Council possess veto powers unavailable to other countries.

Consider France, where recent demonstrations have involved serious confrontations between protesters and security forces. Allegations of excessive police force, including injuries to young demonstrators, have prompted criticism and investigations.

Now consider Kenya’s 2024 demonstrations against the Finance Bill, during which protesters were killed, and serious allegations of unlawful police conduct emerged. Both situations raise legitimate questions about citizens’ rights and the appropriate use of State force.

Yet France is a major economic power and permanent member of the Security Council. Kenya occupies a very different position within international economic and diplomatic relationships. Does this difference influence the international consequences of domestic unrest?

Historian Tariq Ali recently compared contemporary unrest with the worldwide upheavals of 1968, when students and workers challenged established authority across Europe, America, and Asia. Interestingly, this occurred when several African and Asian countries had recently achieved independence. But political independence did not automatically produce equality within the international system. Newly independent nations entered international financial, diplomatic, and security arrangements largely established before they acquired political sovereignty. Nearly 60 years later, how much has changed?

There is also a lesson for African governments and political movements seeking external alliances to resolve domestic disagreements. International partnerships may be useful, but powerful countries pursue their own interests. Africa must, therefore, strengthen its capacity to resolve political differences internally, protect citizens’ rights, and negotiate international relationships without excessive dependency.

This interrogation neither condemns European governments nor excuses African governments. But if justice, accountability, and human dignity are universal principles, should their application depend upon a country’s economic or geopolitical influence?

Perhaps contemporary demonstrations offer an opportunity to examine not only how individual countries are governed but also how the world itself is governed. When Europe protests, it is a political crisis. When Africa protests, is it a governance crisis? If the principles are universal, should the standards not be universal, too?

Over 9,000 passengers monitored in S. Tagalog ports on Nov. 2 – PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has monitored 9,643 passengers at ports across the Southern Tagalog provinces during a six-hour period on Monday, All Souls’ Day, as authorities maintained heightened security during the Undas season.

The Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog recorded 6,750 outbound passengers and 2,893 inbound passengers from 6 a.m. to noon on Monday.

During the same period, PCG personnel inspected 52 vessels, including 39 roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels, and 24 motorized bancas.

The monitoring was conducted under Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2026, the Department of Transportation’s initiative to ensure safe and orderly travel during the annual observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

The PCG placed its districts, stations and substations under heightened alert from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3 to strengthen maritime safety and security measures amid increased passenger movement.

QC sanitation department cleans Bagbag, Novaliches cemeteries

The Quezon City’s Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works conducted cleanup operations at the Bagbag Cemetery and Novaliches Public Cemetery on Monday, Nov. 2, as people continued to visit the graves of their departed loved ones on All Souls’ Day.

In a Facebook post, the local government said the cleanup drive aims to keep the cemeteries clean and orderly for visitors paying their respects to their departed loved ones.

Thousands of people flocked to the two cemeteries on Sunday, Nov. 1, for this year’s Undas observance. However, authorities said visitors continued to visit the burial grounds on Monday.

The local government also reminded cemeterygoers to refrain from littering and leaving their waste in public spaces.

‘Always dispose of your trash properly in designated waste bins or garbage containers,’ it said.

Turn Nigeria’s diversity into prosperity, Tinubu tells citizens

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to embrace unity, peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and cultural differences.

Tinubu made the appeal on Sunday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, while hosting members of his delegation to a dinner.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to transform Nigeria’s diversity into a source of prosperity, unity, peace and sustainable development.

‘May Almighty Allah bless Nigeria, convert our diversity into prosperity as a country,’ he said.

The President also sought divine guidance for the country’s leaders and protection for Nigerians at home and abroad.

He called for stronger bonds of brotherhood, patriotism and compassion, expressing confidence in the ability of Nigerians to overcome the country’s challenges through collective efforts.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources, coupled with the talents and enterprise of its diverse population, provided a strong foundation for inclusive growth.

Speaking at the dinner, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commended Tinubu’s commitment to national development.

He pledged the governors’ continued prayers for the President and Nigeria, seeking divine guidance and strength for the administration.

‘Only Allah can reward you; we will continue to pray for you daily and pray for Nigeria that you lead.

‘May Allah continue to strengthen you in making the right decisions, strengthen your wisdom, your boldness, your audacity and your courage.

‘May Allah lead you to the right path,’ AbdulRazaq said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also prayed for divine strength for Tinubu.

He sought Allah’s guidance to enable the President to deliver justice and good governance to all Nigerians.

130,000 Children To Receive Fresh Polio Vaccination In Adamawa

The Adamawa State Government, in partnership with development partners, will conduct a special polio vaccination exercise in two local government areas, targeting a total of 130,000 children.

Director, Disease Control and Immunisation of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ADSPHCDA), Dr James Jacob Vassumu, disclosed the position at a media dialogue on Friday in Yola.

He stressed that the Agency, in conjunction with its development partners, has scheduled the special vaccination for November 5th to 12th, targeting 130,000 children in Gombi and Fufore LGAs.

Dr Vassumu stated that the proposed exercise was carefully planned to strengthen immunity in the targeted communities of the two local councils as part of activities for the November 2026 National Plus Days Immunization Campaign.

Vassumu said that the history of polio virus circulation, disease surveillance records, and assessment of immunisation coverage informed the choice of the exercise in Gombi and Fufore councils.

He explained that the vaccination exercise will focus on children from zero to 59 months of age, with special emphasis on those living in hard-to-reach communities where routine immunisation coverage remains inadequate.

Awujale: Interregnum council members transition into Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council

Members of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council (AIAC) have resolved to step down from their existing positions and transition into the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council, as part of efforts to establish a traditional administrative structure for Ijebu-Ode pending the emergence of a new Awujale.

The decision was reached at a meeting involving the Ilamurem, Pampa, the Odi and other chiefs of Ijebu-Ode.

The resolution, contained in a letter sighted by Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, was signed by Olo’rgun, Dr Sonny Kuku, Chairman of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

The development followed deliberations on the administrative arrangements for Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum occasioned by the demise of the immediate past Awujale of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

In the resolution, the chiefs observed that the Ogun State Chiefs Law of 2021 does not expressly establish an Awujale Regency Council or stipulate a general procedure for the appointment of a Regent.

They, however, noted that the Chiefs Law and the 1957 Declaration provide an existing framework for customary declarations and recognition, including the traditional institution of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

Consequently, a motion was moved and unanimously adopted for members of the AIAC to relinquish their existing positions and transition into the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

Under the proposed arrangement, the council is expected to take responsibility for the administration of Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum, exercising, on an interim basis, such administrative powers and functions as may be necessary in the absence of the Awujale.

The resolution, however, states that the exercise of such powers would remain subject to applicable laws, customs and traditions.

The 14-member council is made up of Olo’rgun Dr Sonny Kuku, Ogbeni Oja; Chief Rasheed Adesanya, Olisa; Chief O. B. Okuboyejo, Obasewa; Chief Chris Funmilola Okunowo, Bobasuwa; and Chief Professor Jide Ajayi, Jagun Aso.

Others are Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso, Olootu Olowa; Chief Jimi Lawal, Olotu Ifore; Chief Kunle Ogunade, Apebi; Chief Mrs B. O. Osibogun, Iyalode; Chief Adegoke Balogun, Jaginrin; Chief Agboola Alausa, Balogun; Chief Abimbola Okenla, Kakanfo; Chief Adebisi Adaran, Ogbeni Odi Awujale; and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja, Lapoekun.

The chiefs explained that the council would serve as the traditional administrative body responsible for managing the affairs of Ijebu-Ode in accordance with existing laws, customary practices and the established traditions of Ijebuland.

They added that the arrangement was designed to guarantee continuity, stability and an orderly traditional administrative system during the period preceding the emergence and installation of a substantive Awujale.

The resolution further maintained that the steps taken were consistent with the customs, culture and traditions of the Ijebu people, over whom the Awujale remains the paramount ruler.