Author: Editor
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Internal Revenue (ESIRS), has warned impostors against issuance of fake receipts to tax payers in the state saying that impersonation was a criminal offence. Mr Emmanuel Nnamani, the Executive Chairman, ESIRS, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Enugu. Nnamani said the printed notice for Capital Gains Tax dated July 2, requesting tax payers to pay into personal accounts was not an official communication from the organisation. The chairman disclosed that the plot was aimed at defrauding tax payers in Enugu State by impersonation of the organisation. According to him, the statement became necessary to…
By Stephen Obidike Africa is a richly endowed continent. No Nation in Africa should be complaining of poverty in any form, but the reality is different. The common denominator is bad leadership. While our leaders, politicians and the elite are busy stealing the resources of the continent and taking it mostly to foreign lands, they make deals allowing their foreign cronies to come take some pieces of the pie meant for their people and unborn generation. I wonder who steals from the future generation? Our leaders do. Kenya is a point in question. Kenya has been going through one of…
By Zainab Suleiman Okino UK Labour vs. Nigerian LP A day after the UK election, results were announced, and the Labour Party gained the majority. The government transition moved swiftly. Ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took responsibility for the Conservative Party’s devastating blow, moved out of 10 Downing Street, and that same day, Keir Starmer, the new leader, moved in. Both visited King Charles for ceremonial blessings, as tradition demands. There was no drama, no committees, no dissenting voices, no daggers drawn, no open expressions of blame, and no threat of legal battles. Such an elegant and simple system based on…
By Obioma Okonkwo On Monday, July 8, 2024, Blueprint newspaper published an editorial titled “Akume’s riot act on official secrets,” in which it sought to justify the threat by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. George Akume, that government officials who disclose information without authorization would be jailed and railed against the criticism of that threat by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) as “misleading and mischievous.” As a newspaper established and owned by the current Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, some would say it is inevitable and, perhaps, understandable that Blueprint newspaper would allow itself…
By Azu Ishiekwene Ten years ago, this article appeared under a different title, “The Debt I Owe.” Professor Olatunji Dare was 70 at the time. Ten years later, on Dare’s 80th birthday on July 17, I’m republishing the article with minor changes. Without this man, I might have turned out to be a literary plumber or perhaps a motor park journalist, but nothing near the second-eleven of a craft that I owe so much. I have also attached a fairly comprehensive file record of Dare in case my updated article is deficient – as I’m sure it is: I met…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Some Legal Practitioners and analysts in Enugu State have hailed Supreme Court Ruling granting Financial Autonomy to Local Government Councils in the country. Speaking in Enugu, in reaction to the ruling on Thursday, they said it was a step towards true democracy. A legal practitioner, John Nwobodo, said that financial autonomy to the local governments was a gradual movement to the attainment of full democracy in Nigeria. “It is a right step in the right direction; if it is well implemented, it may lead to true democracy. “At least now, we know who to hold responsible if…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Tenants numbering over one hundred including students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, have escaped death following the collapse of another building in Awka, Anambra State. The building collapsed on Wednesday night barely six days after Ikengaonline reported that Anambra State Government through the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), forcefully evacuated occupants of the dilapidated building after noticing severe signs of distress with parts of the it already cracking. An eyewitness said “the building collapsed at about 10:15 pm yesterday. I was sleeping in my house close by when the thing happened. “I immediately came out and started…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Supreme Court, on Thursday, ruled unconstitutional, the withholding of the funds meant for the local governments by state governors. The apex court also barred governors from dissolving democratically elected Local Government councils in the country. In a landmark judgement on Thursday, the Supreme Court said doing so, would amount to breaching of the 1999 Constitution. Justice Emmanuel Agim in the lead judgment, noted that the state governments’ refusal of financial autonomy for local governments has gone on for over two decades. He said local governments have since stopped receiving the money meant for them from the…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Government has said it had embarked on an audacious education reform project. Governor Peter Mbah stated this when he inspected some dilapidated buildings at the Government Technical College (GTC) Enugu. The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Ndubueze Mbah, said his administration had commenced the establishment of eight brand new Science, Technical and Vocational Schools (STVS), for Senior Secondary 1 to Senior Secondary 3 students across the eight Federal Constituencies in the state. He noted that work had already started at the premises of GTC for the construction of the first…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka ZIKORA MEDIA and Arts, a media production company, is set to commence campaign to educate the public and celebrate the rich tapestry of indigenous and local beauty and customs of Africa. A statement signed by the Company’s Management, said the campaign was deemed necessary to disrupt the increasing dominance of Western Standards promoted through pop culture and the global beauty industry. “Decolonising Beauty seeks to challenge narrow perceptions and showcase the multifaceted historic beauty traditions in Africa’s diverse cultures,” it said. The firm stated that the campaign will utilise a multi-platform approach to reach a broad audience…