Gist Arena

A fter my secondary education, I wanted to become a doctor. Biology, mathematics where some of my favourite subjects. I enjoyed drawing the digestive system- I still remember how to, till today so instinctively, I concluded that I was going to be in the medical field.  Growing up in Uyo, and being the youngest in a family of seven, I had little or no control over my choice of University so I was only going to the school my parents decided upon, unfortunately the school I applied to was yet to have the medicine department accredited as a course, after waiting for a semester doing another course with the hopes to transfer once the medicine department was accredited, my family advised me to continue with the course I was already studying so I ended up graduating in Microbiology. It was one of those situations where I had to listen and obey. Besides, there was little or no wriggle room. I remember telling a friend of mine in the lab that I wasn't going to work a 9-5 jo...

T he Lagos state government has just announced the figures of the recently reduced Land Use Charge. The state government a few hours ago, announced that it has resolved to reduce the land use fee after so many pressure arising from the publics and stakeholders. The reviewed land fee has it that payment of LUC can be done installmentally claiming it would relieve house owners the burden of paying the amount once. The state government announced 50% discount for commercial property owners while private property owners and ones used for industrial activities were given 25% increase. “Commercial Property Owner, who are undoubtedly the stakeholders mostly impacted by this amended Law will be granted 50% discount. This means a commercial property valued at N20M which was earlier billed N91,200.00 will now pay N45,600.00 per annum.” “Property Occupied by Owner and Third Party & Property Used for Industrial and Manufacturing Purposes: These categories of property ...

T he Senate has resolved to write the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to expressed their reservations about the judgment by a Federal High Court stopping the National Assembly from overriding President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on the amended Electoral Act. The Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, moved a motion at the plenary on Thursday to state that the judgment amounted to “an abuse of the principle of separation of powers.” He prayed that the Senate writes the CJN on the matter, which was unanimously granted.

T he administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, has reduced the rates of the land use charge. The government had reviewed the rates upward, charging property solely occupied by the owner for residential purpose at the rate of 0.076 percent per annum; property occupied by the owner and tenant(s) or third parties at 0.256 percent per annum; while investment property fully occupied by tenants or third party(ies) for revenue generation at 0.76 percent per annum. It also threatened to penalise those who do not make payment after receiving notice. Failure to pay between 45 and 75 days attracted 50 percent increase; after 105 days, a 100 percent increase. The law prescribed that a property shall be liable to enforcement if payment is not made after 135 days of notice. But at a press conference in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, Akinyemi Ashade, commissioner of finance, said commercial property owners would get 50 percent discount. Owner-occupier 25 percent, w...

W elcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:54am. EXECUTIVE SESSION Senate moved into an executive session at 11:04am and resumed from its executive session at 11:35am. Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki reported that at the executive session the Senate deliberated on the workings of the Nigerian Senate, National Assembly in general and CBN. Senator John Enoh moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 8th March, 2018. Senator Gilbert Nnaji seconded. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki read a letter from Mr. President on his decision to decline Presidential Assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly. Some of my reasons include the following: A. The am...

P resident Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the amendment to the Electoral Act, which intended to change the country's elections sequence, Daily Trust has learned. The president, it was gathered, gave three reasons for withholding assent to the bill, which was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly. Sources told Daily Trust that the president has yesterday communicated his decision to the federal legislature in two separate letters addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara. The two presiding officers are expected to read the letters to their colleagues at plenary between today and Thursday.

T he Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has angered a number of his colleagues for lifting the veil on the N13.5million illegal allowances members of the upper legislative chambers receive each month in addition to their legitimate salaries and allowances. Some lawmakers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES but asked not to be named said the revelation by Mr. Sani has damaged the reputation of the federal legislature while possibly pitting constituents against their representatives. The aggrieved senators and members of the House of Representatives said some of their colleagues were already discreetly working out modalities to deal with the Kaduna lawmaker. Mr. Sani had in an interview with TheNews revealed that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly as “running cost”, aside a N700,000monthly consolidated salary and allowances which they also receive. Mr. Sani’s revelation is the first by a lawmaker from the Senate since the clamour by Nigerians ...