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Tax Ombud: Key Reform Pillar Of Tinubu’s Administration – Information Minister, Mohammed Idris

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Mohammed Idris

Tax Ombud: Key Reform Pillar Of Tinubu’s Administration – Information Minister, Mohammed Idris

The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the Office of the Tax Ombud as a major institutional reform initiative of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s tax system.

The Minister stated this during a courtesy visit on Tuesday with the leadership of the Office of the Tax Ombud and heads of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja.

According to the Minister, the Office of the Tax Ombud represents the Federal Government’s commitment to building trust between taxpayers and tax authorities through mediation, fairness, and public accountability. “Tax administration is a very essential component of national development. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu established the Office of the Tax Ombud to ensure fairness, equity, and justice in the administration of taxes in Nigeria,” the Minister said.

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He noted that the Ministry convened the meeting to strengthen collaboration and raise public awareness of the Tax Ombud’s role. “We need to bring awareness to Nigerians about what the Office of the Tax Ombud is supposed to do and the contribution it will make towards national development. That is why we brought together the heads of our key agencies to support this public enlightenment effort,” he stated.

The Minister explained that misconceptions about tax reforms initially led to resistance because many critics did not fully understand the policies. “When the tax reform initiative was introduced, there was a lot of misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and even outright mischief because many people criticising the reforms had not even seen the documents. That is why public enlightenment is very important,” he said.

Speaking on the broader economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, the Minister said the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms had already begun yielding measurable results across the country.

“When President Tinubu took office, many states struggled to pay salaries, and infrastructure investment was almost at a standstill. Today, states have more resources to meet obligations, invest in development, and support their people because of these reforms,” he said.

The Minister also highlighted improvements in investor confidence and Nigeria’s international economic standing under the current administration. “For the first time in over 13 years, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have crossed the 50 billion dollar mark.

International rating agencies are now looking at Nigeria positively, investors are returning, and the country has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list. These are clear signs that the reforms are working,” he added.

He assured the Office of the Tax Ombud of the Ministry’s full support through its agencies, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

“As a Ministry, our duty is to connect government policies with Nigerians so they can understand the benefits of those policies. We will continue to work with the Office of the Tax Ombud to ensure Nigerians understand its mandate and how it protects both taxpayers and government institutions,” the Minister said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive of the Office of the Tax Ombud, Dr John .C. Nwabueze, said the office was established to strengthen fairness, accountability, and transparency within Nigeria’s tax administration system.

“The Office of the Tax Ombud serves as an independent mechanism for resolving taxpayers’ complaints, protecting taxpayers’ rights, and promoting trust between tax authorities and citizens.

We believe taxpayer education and public enlightenment are essential to improving voluntary tax compliance and strengthening confidence in government institutions,” he said.

Dr Nwabueze said the office was seeking to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation to drive sustained public awareness campaigns across traditional media, digital platforms, and community outreach programmes.

Mohammed Idris

Mohammed Idris

He added that the office’s work aligns closely with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in institutional reforms, economic governance, accountability, and improved service delivery.

Those present at the meeting included the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu; Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos; Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Muhammad Ali; Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama; Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, and other senior government officials.

Rabiu Ibrahim
Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation. Tueasday, May 19, 2026

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NAF Advances Operational Competence Through Specialised Warfare And Targeting Training

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NAF Advances Operational Competence Through Specialised Warfare And Targeting Training

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC), has advanced its drive towards a more capable and mission-ready force with the graduation of participants from two specialised operational competence courses.
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The training, which concluded on 3 July 2026, strengthened participants’ expertise in force sustainment, operational planning and precision targeting, reinforcing the NAF’s commitment to developing highly skilled personnel capable of responding effectively to contemporary security challenges.

By enhancing targeting proficiency and collateral damage estimation, the training further equips personnel to deliver purposeful and decisive air power against terrorist and criminal elements while safeguarding civilian lives and property.

Representing the Chief of Logistics, Headquarters NAF, at the graduation ceremony, the Director of the Nigerian Air Force Museum and Hall of Fame, Air Vice Marshal U Ariahu, congratulated the participants on the successful completion of the courses and urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to improve operational effectiveness across their respective units.

He emphasised that continuous professional development remains indispensable to sustaining the Nigerian Air Force’s operational readiness and mission success in support of national security objectives.

The Commandant of the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre, Air Vice Marshal GI Jibia, represented by the Director of Coordination, Air Commodore I Suleiman, noted that the courses reflect the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment to developing a highly professional and mission-focused force.

NAF

NAF

This aligns with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, who has consistently emphasised that “mission success begins with a highly trained and mission-ready force.”

The graduation therefore underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s sustained investment in building the operational competence required to deliver precise, responsible and decisive air power in defence of Nigeria and its people.
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Invasive Fish Can Breathe Air, Cross Land, Survive 4 Days Out Of Water, And Produce Up To 50,000 Eggs

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Invasive Fish

Invasive Fish Can Breathe Air, Cross Land, Survive 4 Days Out Of Water, And Produce Up To 50,000 Eggs

Native to parts of Asia, this predatory fish has spread into waterways across the United States and become one of the most closely watched invasive species in the country. What makes it so unusual is its ability to breathe air.
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A specialized organ located near its gills allows the fish to absorb oxygen directly from the atmosphere. As long as its body stays moist, it can survive out of water for several days. And it does not just survive. It moves.

Using its fins and body, the snakehead can travel across wet ground, mud, and other surfaces to reach new ponds, lakes, and streams.

Once established, the species becomes a powerful predator. It feeds on fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals. A single mature female can produce tens of thousands of eggs, helping populations expand rapidly.

Invasive Fish

Invasive Fish

Because of the ecological risks, wildlife agencies across the United States closely monitor snakehead populations and urge anglers not to release captured fish back into the wild.

Its appearance may resemble an ordinary fish. But its ability to breathe air, move across land, and thrive in new habitats has made the Northern Snakehead one of the most remarkable invasive species in North America.
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Why Rep Seeks Suspension Of Proposed NYSC Reforms

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Why Rep Seeks Suspension Of Proposed NYSC Reforms

A House of Representatives member, Philip Agbese, has urged President Bola Tinubu to suspend proposed reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) pending a comprehensive review by a broader committee.

Mr Agbese, deputy spokesman for the lower legislative chamber, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday, warning that the reforms could undermine the scheme’s original purpose.

The lawmaker, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, said modernising the NYSC was desirable but should not weaken its national integration mandate.

The reforms were proposed by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, as part of plans to reposition the scheme.

Among the proposals is splitting the orientation camp into three phases to provide more structured activities and improve participants’ overall experience during service.

The reforms also propose introducing 11 specialised career streams from which prospective corps members would choose during registration based on career interests and aspirations.

Other proposals include strengthening skills acquisition programmes, replacing the traditional khaki uniform with locally made attire and appointing a civilian instead of a military officer to head the scheme.

Mr Agbese cautioned against transforming the NYSC into what he described as merely a skills acquisition and vocational training centre.

He stated, “NYSC should not be reduced to a skill acquisition/training centre. That is not healthy for our national life.”

The member of the house committee on youth argued that some proposed changes could erode the scheme’s core objectives and weaken Nigeria’s broader national defence policy.

According to him, the NYSC remains a strategic national institution whose primary responsibility extends beyond youth development to promoting unity and national cohesion.

He stated, “The NYSC scheme is a national institution that has played a critical role in fostering national unity and should not be restructured in a manner that compromises its founding ideals.”

Mr Agbese also defended the scheme’s longstanding military orientation, arguing that it promotes discipline, patriotism and preparedness among young graduates serving the nation.

He opposed appointing a civilian to lead the organisation, insisting the military tradition remains central to achieving the scheme’s objectives.

The lawmaker said the NYSC had consistently supported national development by deploying corps members to education, healthcare, electoral duties and other emergency response operations nationwide.

According to him, the contributions demonstrate that the scheme remains an important national asset deserving careful and inclusive policy consideration before significant structural changes are introduced.

He said, “I urge President Bola Tinubu to establish an expanded committee comprising security experts, lawmakers, former NYSC officials, youth groups and other critical stakeholders.”

He said the proposed committee should undertake a more extensive review before any reforms are implemented to ensure the scheme’s foundational objectives remain protected.

Mr Agbese recalled that the NYSC was established on May 22, 1973, by Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd) following the Nigerian Civil War to promote reconciliation and national unity.

He noted that for more than five decades, graduates had been posted outside their states of origin, encouraging cultural exchange and addressing manpower shortages across critical sectors.

According to him, the scheme has also strengthened inter-ethnic understanding, supported community development projects and contributed to government health campaigns, elections and emergency interventions.

NYSC

NYSC

He observed that though previous administrations had introduced adjustments, the current proposals represented the most extensive restructuring since the NYSC’s establishment.

“While successive administrations have introduced policy adjustments to improve the scheme, the current proposals represent the most far-reaching restructuring effort since the NYSC’s creation,” Mr Agbese said.

He added that the significance of the proposals made careful consultation imperative because the future direction of the NYSC would have lasting implications for national unity and development.
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