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Kwara State Government has approved the constitution of a Stakeholders Committee to review and harmonise all taxes, levies, rates, and charges being paid as revenue in the state.

Speaking during the grand finale of the 2025 KW-IRS Tax Club Quiz Competition in Ilorin on Thursday, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Shade Omoniyi, said that the state is also set to align state tax laws with the newly enacted national tax framework and the proposed Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Bill 2025.

She explained that the move is aimed at strengthening the legal and operational framework of the state’s tax system, ensuring fairness, and fostering citizens’ confidence in tax administration.

Omoniyi, who said that the KW-IRS is committed to building fair, transparent, and efficient tax system, added that such move will promote compliance and public trust.

She appreciated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his consistent investment in education and fiscal reforms, describing the governor’s leadership as visionary and results-driven.

She noted that under the current administration, Kwara has recorded significant progress in fiscal performance.

She cited the BudgIT 2025 State of States Report which ranked the state 3rd nationwide in subnational fiscal performance from 10th in 2021 and 4th in 2023.

The revenue agency boss said that Kwara also achieved a 36 per cent year-on-year growth in internally generated revenue between 2023 and 2024, and is now the 5th least dependent state on federally distributed revenue.

‘These feats are clear reflections of His Excellency’s visionary leadership and prudent management style, which continue to inspire our collective drive for growth and accountability in public service’, she said.

The KW-IRS boss lauded the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development for its partnership in promoting tax education and civic responsibility among students, describing the initiative as vital to nurturing a tax-conscious generation.

Omoniyi urged students to remain focused and diligent, adding that the initiative is part of efforts to build a disciplined and tax-conscious generation ready to contribute to national development.

Head Corporate Affairs and Convener of the Tax Club Committee, Mrs Funmilola Oguntunbi, said the quiz competition is part of the agency’s broader effort to promote financial literacy and awareness about taxation among young people.

She described the competition as one of the agency’s proudest initiatives for building civic awareness among youths.

‘The competition is not just about winning but about understanding how taxes fund national development. Through this, we are raising informed citizens who can meaningfully contribute to governance,’ she said.

She disclosed that the 2025 edition introduced computer-based testing, which improved participation across schools.

Shepherd School, Lafiagi, emerged as the overall winner with 20 points, followed by Government Secondary School, Lafiagi, and St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin, which came second and third respectively.

?2.5 million, ?1.5 million, and ?1 million were awarded to the first, second, and third positions respectively, with consolation prizes for other participants.

Representing the Commissioner for Education, a director from the ministry, Mr Adeshina Salami, lauded the initiative and urged students to imbibe the culture of tax compliance and responsible citizenship.

Traditional rulers and education stakeholders were present at the event, which featured 99 participating schools drawn from across the state.

After rigorous preliminary and semi-final stages, six schools emerged for the grand finale.

The competition, organised under the agency’s 5-Es Community Impact Programmes Enterprise, Energy, Education, Empowerment, and Environment.

The ancient city of Ibadan is bubbling with excitement as multiple award-winning Afrobeats superstar Davido storms the Oyo State capital this weekend for his much-anticipated ‘5ive Concert.’

The mega show, expected to draw over 20,000 music lovers from across the southwest, promises to be a night of glitz, thrills, and high-octane performances. Fans are already in countdown mode as the global hitmaker prepares to light up the stage with his chart-topping songs.

Adding spice to the evening, Davido will share the stage with some of Ibadan’s most talented home-grown acts, including Keanzo, Fabulous Pizzy, Dele Omo Woli, and Sade Blaq, who are all set to thrill the crowd with energetic performances.

According to the organisers, the concert is not just about entertainment but also about promoting local talent and projecting Ibadan as a vibrant entertainment destination.

In a statement, the organisers noted that the government’s involvement underscores its growing support for the creative industry as a driver of youth engagement and tourism.

Already, the city’s hospitality sector is feeling the buzz as thousands of fans troop in from all parts of the southwest for the concert.

From all indications, Ibadan is set for an unforgettable weekend, one filled with lights, music, and pure Afrobeats magic as Davido brings his signature energy to the city.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the platform of the PDP Like-Mind Group, staged a peaceful protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja on Thursday, calling for international intervention to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy from what they described as an emerging one-party state.

Led by Mr. Moses Aliu, the protesters also visited the European Union (EU) mission, the Ministry of Justice, and the Inspector-General of Police, where they submitted protest letters urging global partners to act swiftly to protect Nigeria’s democratic institutions and uphold judicial independence.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Save Nigeria’s Democracy’ and ‘Stop Political Persecution’, the demonstrators accused the ruling party of using intimidation, corruption, and institutional capture to silence opposition voices and consolidate power.

‘We appeal to the international community to help save Nigeria from descending into a one-party state,’ said Aliu, who led the march. ‘We are deeply concerned about the rising wave of political persecution and the erosion of democratic values.’

The group urged the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to resist political interference and stand firm in defending the rule of law and the rights of citizens.

The protest comes amid worsening internal strife within the PDP, which has been mired in a leadership crisis for over two years. The conflict escalated last weekend when National Chairman Umar Damagum announced the suspension of National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, and several others.

In a swift counter-move, Anyanwu’s faction suspended Damagum, National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, and four senior officials, deepening the party’s internal turmoil.

On Monday, the Anyanwu-led faction, through its acting National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, took control of the PDP National Secretariat, while Damagum and his loyalists were notably absent.

In a protest letter dated November 4, 2025, and addressed to the U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Richard M. Mills Jr., the group, through its South-South Coordinator, Ebiowel Amakiri, warned of what it called the ‘imminent collapse’ of Nigeria’s democracy.

‘The ongoing actions of the ruling party, in collaboration with elements within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and segments of the judiciary, have created an atmosphere of fear, suppression, and injustice,’ the letter read.

‘There is a coordinated pattern of political intimidation, manipulation of electoral processes, and judicial rascality aimed at silencing opposition voices and dismantling the balance of power essential for a free democracy.’

The group appealed to the United States and other democratic allies to use their diplomatic influence and partnership platforms to protect Nigeria’s democratic values.

‘Your moral voice and proactive engagement can serve as a stabilising force,’ the letter continued. ‘We believe that a timely intervention from the United States will send a strong message that the international community is watching and will not stand by while Nigeria’s democracy is destroyed from within.’

The group reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, transparent, and truly democratic Nigeria.

The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has reaffirmed its commitment to improve the standard of every project executed in the country.

Speaking on Thursday while celebrating the International Project Management Day in Abuja, the Registrar General of CIPMN, Mr Henry Mbadiwe, acknowledged the vital role project managers play in developing the economy of the nation.

He said ‘this year’s celebration is themed ‘The Power Trio: Project, Leadership, and Agile’, noting that the theme emphasises the dynamic relationship between effective project management, visionary leadership and the agility required to adapt in an ever-revolving world.

‘It challenges institutions, project professionals, and policymakers to build synergy between structure and flexibility, ensuring that leadership decisions translate into impactful project outcomes.

‘This is a time to identify and honour both men and women who promote development through the efficient management of projects. It’s also a moment for governments, institutions, and professionals from around the world to reflect on how project management contributes to economic growth, national development, and societal well-being.

‘The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria was established by Act No. 3 of 2018 of Gazette No. 15, Vol. 105, and it remains the Federal Government’s regulatory body responsible for regulating, certifying, licensing, and supervising the practice of project management across all sectors of the economy.

‘This means that our role is to ensure that every project executed within Nigeria, whether public or private, adheres to national and international standards of quality, transparency, and sustainability.

‘It is in this way that we work to make certain that project execution provides real value to the people of Nigeria.

‘Celebration reminds us that behind every successful development initiative, there is first and foremost a well-managed project: be it infrastructure, education, healthcare, or technology, each such successful outcome has a project team driving it with structure, strategy, and discipline.

‘At CIPMN, we believe that it is the strength of the project management systems that will ensure development in Nigeria; hence, we foster professionalism, ethical standards, and institutional accountability at all levels.’

Mbadiwe therefore called on citizens, public institutions, and private organisations to recognise the indispensable role that project management plays in national development.

‘Projects are not only about structures and buildings; they also change lives, improve service delivery, and build lasting systems.

‘This involves, among other best practices for public institutions, the setup of project management offices, training, certification, and ensuring that all officers involved in the execution of projects are licensed under CIPMN standards.

The Registrar General, therefore, called for continued efforts in pushing ahead with initiatives that will make project management not just professional in Nigeria but also competitive in a global sense through competence and accountability.

‘We also collaborate with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the setup of project management offices for them, which ensures close and continuous oversight and quality assurance.

‘This is quite important to avoid such challenges that have been hindering Nigeria’s infrastructural progress, like delays, cost overruns, and substandard delivery’ he emphasised.

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has addressed an open letter to US President Donald Trump, asserting that the alleged ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria has spread into the South-East region, directly targeting the Igbo people.

Kanu’s letter follows President Trump’s recent declaration on October 31, 2025, that the United States was ‘prepared to act’ militarily and cut aid if Nigeria fails to adequately protect its Christian population-a move that saw Nigeria redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

In the letter, Mazi Kanu, who identifies as a practicing Jew and leader of a self-determination movement, claimed the threat is no longer confined to northern Nigeria but has ‘metastasized into the Igbo heartland,’ where he says Judeo-Christians are being ‘systematically exterminated under the guise of counter-terrorism.’

He alleged that the same extremist forces condemned in the North-such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani militias-are operating with ‘state complicity’ in the South-East, adding that the Nigerian military itself is the ‘primary perpetrator’ in the region, shielded by a ‘false narrative that blames victims.’

Kanu provided data, referencing a report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) which he claims documented the killing of over 2,000 Igbo youths in ‘counter-terrorism’ operations between 2021 and 2025.

Kanu further accused the Nigerian government of weaponising insecurity to demonise his organisation.

He stated that since his ‘illegal rendition’ from Kenya in June 2021, the government has: declared IPOB a ‘terrorist organisation,’ despite what he argues is zero evidence of violence and contradicts findings by the US State Department in 2021; and has orchestrated ‘unknown gunmen’ attacks using state-backed militias, then wrongly attributed the violence to IPOB.

The IPOB leader drew a parallel to the Rwandan genocide, stating the method is a ‘playbook: create chaos, blame the victim, justify extermination.’

Kanu detailed his own experiences with the Nigerian state, claiming he survived four documented assassination attempts since 2015 and recounted his forced abduction (extraordinary rendition) from Kenya, an act a Kenyan High Court later condemned as violating international law.

Kanu stated he remains in solitary detention in Abuja without a valid subsisting charge, alleging his ‘sole crime’ is defending his people’s right to life and self-determination.

The letter serves as a direct appeal to President Trump to use the leverage of the CPC designation and the threat of military and economic action to intervene in the escalating conflict in the South-East region of Nigeria.

The Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Edo State has been thrown into mourning following the death of seminarian Emmanuel Alabi, one of the three students abducted during the July 10, 2025, attack on the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivianokpodi, Agenebode, by armed kidnappers.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Director of Social Communications for the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Linus Imoedemhe, recalled that the three abducted seminarians were identified as Japhet Jesse, Joshua Aleobua, and Emmanuel Alabi.

He said the attackers invaded the seminary at night, abducting the trio and leaving the community in distress.

Rev. Fr. Imoedemhe expressed gratitude to God for the safe release of two of the victims – Japhet Jesse, who was freed earlier, and Joshua Aleobua, who regained his freedom on November 4, 2025.

However, he announced with deep sorrow that the third abductee, Emmanuel Alabi, died in captivity.

Reacting to the development, the Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Most Rev. Gabriel G. Dunia, described Alabi’s death as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, which continues to claim innocent lives across the country.

‘The Church mourns the tragic loss of one of her young seminarians whose life was cut short by evil.

‘We call on security agencies to redouble efforts to protect lives and property. Political leaders must place citizens’ safety above personal and political ambitions, especially as the 2027 general elections approach,’ the Bishop said.

The Diocese called on all faithful and people of goodwill to pray for the repose of Alabi’s soul and for lasting peace, healing, and security in Nigeria.

It reaffirmed the Church’s unwavering commitment to the values of faith, peace, and justice, while entrusting comfort to God for the bereaved family, the seminary community, and all who have been affected by the tragedy.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday, withdrew the N400 million fraud charge he filed against Senator Andy Uba and his co-defendant, Benjamin Etu, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

When the matter was called for arraignment of the defendants, counsel to the IGP, Aminu Abdullahi, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance following an amicable settlement of the issue by the parties.

He told the court that the notice of discontinuance was filed pursuant to Section 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and urged the court to terminate any further proceedings in the case forthwith.

According to the IGP’s lawyer, the defendants and the nominal complainant have amicably resolved and settled all disputes, claims and liabilities arising from or connected with the transaction.

He told the court that Uba, the former Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District

and his co-defendant have paid the sum of N400 million involved in the charge to the nominal complainant.

Responding, Counsel to the defendants, C.F. Odiniru, said his clients are not opposed to the notice of discontinuance by the Police boss but have, however, filed and served an affidavit of facts informing the court of the amicable settlement as well as persuading the court to dismiss the suit instead of striking it out.

The 2nd defendant, Benjamin Etu, averred in the affidavit of facts filed on November 5 that the nominal complainant, Dr George Uboh, has received and acknowledged payment of the total sum of N400 million as a full refund of the said amount in dispute, as evidenced by a duly executed settlement agreement annexed and marked as Exhibit A.

After listening to submissions of counsel to parties in the matter, the trial Judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, in a short ruling, granted the notice of discontinuance as prayed, struck out the charges and discharged Andy Uba and his co-defendant.

The judge had, on September 24, threatened to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Uba if he failed to appear in court to stand his trial.

The development followed an application by Abdullahi that a bench warrant be issued against Uba in line with Section 394 of ACJA 2015, following his continuous absence in court.

Abdullahi had said that Uba’s consistent absence had shown disrespect to the court, which had equally stalled his trial, adding that, since the charge was filed in 2024, Uba had never appeared in court.

Odiniru, however, pleaded for more time to allow his client to present himself in court, saying that, reason for Uba’s absence was on the grounds of ill-health.

The judge, while adjourning the matter at the last proceedings, gave Uba the last opportunity to make himself available to take his plea in the charges.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had, on July 7, given the IGP permission to prosecute Uba and Etu.

The prosecution had, on March 5, amended a two-count charge filed against Uba and his co-defendant before the former trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo.

The police had earlier named Uba and two others in the first charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/538/2024.

Uba’s co-defendants, in the two-count charge filed October 10, 2024, by Abdulrashid Sidi in the Legal/Prosecution Section at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, were Crystal Uba and Benjamin Etu as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.

But in the amended charge filed March 4 by Sidi, Uba and Etu are listed as 1st and 2nd defendants, while Crystal Uba’s name had been dropped from the charge.

In count one, Uba, Etu and Hajiya Fatima, now at large, sometimes in 2022, were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to commit the offence.

Uba and others were accused of obtaining by false pretence, by making a presentation to Dr George Uboh that they had perfected ways for the appointment of the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to any interested persons who could afford N400 million.

‘A presentation which you know is not true and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.’

The offence, the prosecution said, is contrary to Section 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006,’ the count read in part.

Uboh, in a letter dated April 5, 2023, and addressed to the IGP said the petition was based on documentary and voice recording and that the evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable.

As reactions continue to trail US President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene in the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, the Country Director of Linkway Outreach Africa (LOA), Pastor Daniel Ibiloma Adejo, on Thursday, urged Nigerians to unite against incessant killings in the country

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Pastor Adejo said that it was not time to ‘trade blame game’, but life is sacred and it shouldn’t be taken arbitrarily under any guise, noting that killing is prohibited under international convention and treaties as well as various domestic laws of nations.

He stated that Nigerians must come to terms with the fact that killing has been taking place across the country for decades and notwithstanding the fact that government has been doing its best to tackle the menace, the situation has not abated, hence, the world has begun to express concern over the happening in Nigeria.

According to him, ‘As Linkway Outreach Africa works tirelessly, providing social services across communities in States in Nigeria, we encourage government to ‘do a better than the best’ to stop killing of citizens irrespective of religious or political affiliations.

The Country Director opined that Nigeria must strengthen its foreign policies to effectively engage well advanced countries in combat against terrorism, noting that terrorists’ activity is active in substantial number of states in Nigeria.

According to him, ‘We note that in reality, terrorism is ravaging several nations of the world, Nigeria must therefore, work with other countries to wipe out terrorists and criminal elements responsible for killings in the country.

‘The call for international collaboration has become necessary because, no country can defeat terrorists within its terrotary without working in synergy with other countries as terrorism has international connection.

‘President Trump’s statement may be an opportunity for the government of Nigeria to get the United States authority involved in combat against terrorism and being an advanced country which is well experienced in tackling terrorists, it would not be out place to work in collaboration with the United States.

Adejoh stressed that the recent replacement of Service Chiefs by President Bola Tinubu may be a step forward in tackling insecurity in Nigeria, advising the Security Chiefs to tackle insider collaborators with the security architecture, given that there has been growing suspicion that some elements within the security circle are profiting from crimes.

Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former special adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has expressed worry over President Bola Tinubu’s silence as a result of the United States’ recent resolute stance towards the country.

Baba-Ahmed expressed his concern in a post on his verified Facebook account on Thursday.

‘If President Tinubu truly has competent advisers and understands the weight of leadership, he should have addressed the nation by now, This is not the time for ministers or aides to speak on his behalf. The President himself should calm the people, explain our position, and tell us what steps he intends to take,’ he stated.

He warned that Tinubu’s silence ‘makes the country appear weak, as though we have no voice or direction.’

Commenting on reports that the President might consider visiting the US, he said, ‘At this critical moment, Tinubu should not even think of travelling to America to meet Donald Trump. Doing so would only worsen Nigeria’s image. It would be like receiving a slap and then smiling in return.’

He also faulted the administration’s failure to appoint ambassadors more than a year into office.

‘We have said it over and over again, appoint ambassadors! Right now, many countries barely engage with Nigeria because we lack official diplomatic representation. A country without ambassadors is practically invisible in global affairs,’ he added.

Baba Ahmed ended his speech with a direct message to the President: ‘If Tinubu truly cares about this nation, he must take immediate action by appointing ambassadors, restoring Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, and speaking directly to the people he governs.’

The management of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, on Wednesday said it discontinued the ‘two days off’ policy hitherto in place because it ‘disrupted service delivery, delayed essential processes, and undermined institutional efficiency.’

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions of OOU protested at the gate of the institution on Tuesday against what they called ‘unilateral cancellation’ of the off-duty arrangement.

The arrangement was put in place by the state government in September, 2024 as part of the palliative measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

The two unions accused the vice chancellor of manipulating the university laws, insisting that the cancellation ‘is illegal,’ and unilateral, as they were not consulted by management before the decision was taken.

But addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the vice chancellor, Professor Ayodeji Agboola, said not only was the arrangement no longer justifiable; the decision to cancel it was also not taken ‘unilaterally’ as alleged.

According to him, at its 219th meeting held on Tuesday, 27th September 2025, the Governing Council reviewed university operations, including the two-days-off arrangement for non-academic staff, and noted that though well-intentioned, it had adversely affected productivity and workflow across several units.

It subsequently approved its cancellation – but appealed to for the understanding and cooperation of all staff.

Professor Agboola revealed that, indeed, the university management invited all four unions – Academic Staff Union of Universities, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT -to a meeting to discuss Council’s decision.

‘While ASUU and NAAT attended, SSANU and NASU declined,’ he said, adding that the two unions were invited to a meeting with the management three times, and they shunned the invitation the three times.

Professor Agboola further noted that a special transport allowance initially introduced to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal had already addressed the hardship that led to the off-duty policy, and so there was no longer any justification to continue it.

‘It is worth emphasizing that all senior staff – academic and non-academic -receive salaries on the same consolidated salary structure, which already ranks higher than that of federal universities. The insistence on two-days off therefore lacks any economic justification,’ he said.

On the welfare and benefits enjoyed by OOU’s non-teaching staff, he said: ‘The non-teaching staff of OOU already enjoys superior conditions of service compared to civil servants in the state. For example, Ogun State civil servants have 30 working days of annual leave. OOU grants 30 days to junior staff, 42 days to senior non-teaching staff, and academic staff enjoy 30 days of annual leave plus 26 days of research leave.

‘Despite these privileges and the special allowances in place, SSANU and NASU’s demand to work for only 14 days per month is unrealistic and detrimental to institutional integrity.’

Still debunking the two unions’ allegation that the management took the decision unilaterally, the vice chancellor said the unions once escalated their grievance to the education ministry.

According to him, despite Council’s appeals, SSANU and NASU escalated their protest to the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology – which reaffirmed that the governing council of each institution is ‘duly empowered to take appropriate decisions in the light of its peculiar circumstances, operational realities, and institutional sustainability imperatives.’

‘This directive was communicated to the unions, yet they continue to misrepresent the decision as management’s unilateral action.’

Addressing the allegation that the management under him had been putting staff under constant threat of sack, the vice chancellor challenged them to provide details of those that had been sacked since he took office.

‘I would have loved that they tell you how many people I’ve sacked in the last three years. No single person has been sacked by me in the last three years,’ he said.

He added that being a former union leader who had fought against such retrenchment in the past, he would not be the one to now indulge in such practices as the university’s chief executive.

Professor Agboola said he believed that the union leaders have their personal grievances against him and were merely hiding behind unionism to foment trouble.

According to him, the current agitation by these union leaders does not have the support of majority of members of the unions.

Nigerian Tribune recalls that on Wednesday morning before the media parley, the vice chancellor had a meeting with the workers to discuss the current development in the university – which was well attended, including by members of all the university unions.

‘If what they are doing is popular, would you see majority of them seated here (at Wednesday’s meeting) today? Majority of their members spoke here today, that they were hearing all these for the first time.

‘They have their personal agenda they are pursuing; nobody harassed them. I would be the last person to harass any staffer,’ he said.

Professor Agboola, however, said he is open to dialogue anytime, if the feuding union leaders want such engagement.