The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called for constructive dialogue with the Federal Government regarding the Tax Reform Bill, especially its implications for the workforce across the nation.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made this call at the weekend during the unveiling of CNG buses for the Southwest chapters of the Union in Ibadan

Ajaero stressed the urgency of addressing critical concerns within the Bill.

“Collaboration with the government is essential to clarify and resolve certain issues outlined in the Bill. For instance, the Bill proposes zero taxation for workers earning below N800,000 annually.

“However, it’s important to note that many in the public service earn above the levels that fall under this threshold.

“If we consider a baseline of N70,000 per month, there are hardly any worker on Level 1, Step 1 who earns this amount. This suggests that virtually all workers in Nigeria could be affected by the proposed tax structure. We need clarity on these matters, and a dialogue is necessary to highlight where the concerns lie,” Ajaero stated.

Contributing to the discussion, a tax expert from Lead City University Ibadan, Professor Godwin Oyedokun, acknowledged the importance of taxes in societal development, warning against imposing taxes on those who cannot afford to pay, a practice he termed taxing poverty.

According to him, the new tax initiatives should focus on individuals with luxurious lifestyles, ensuring they contribute fairly to the system.

He underscored the significance of reforming tax policies to capture revenue from informal sectors and digital businesses.

The tax expert also encouraged the NLC to pursue constructive negotiations with the government, rather than outright opposition to the reforms, suggesting that resistance might stem from self-interest.

After hours of towing, a German maritime emergency team brought the oil tanker Eventin to safety off a Baltic seaport. The vessel, part of Russia’s aging “shadow fleet,” suffered a full blackout late Friday.

The stricken oil tanker Eventin, which had run adrift in the Baltic Sea north of the German island of Rügen, arrived at a safe position off the coast of the harbor of the German port Sassnitz early on Sunday.

The tanker — with around 99,000 tons of oil and said to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet of vessels used to skirt Western sanctions — is to remain in place until a decision is reached on how to proceed.

What we know about the operation

The Eventin is being held in position by two tugboats in a roadstead around five kilometers (around three miles) off the coast, said a spokesman for the maritime emergency command. A roadstead is an anchorage where ships can wait safely at anchor outside a port.

It is still unclear when and where the 274-meter-long (about 900-foot) tanker with 24 crew members will be repaired.

The ship suffered a total system failure, a so-called blackout, in the night heading into Friday and drifted without control on the Baltic Sea for hours.

Rescue teams managed to set up tow connections to the tanker on Friday afternoon.

A specially trained team of experts was lowered onto the stricken vessel from a helicopter. They were tasked with ensuring that the ship’s load was evenly distributed among the tugs.

A spokeswoman for the emergency command said the ship was watertight and that there was no danger to the environment. Several tugs towed the ship from early Saturday morning, initially towards a sea area northeast of Rügen.

However, with numerous wind turbines in the sea near the original destination, the plan was changed to a position further around the island near Sassnitz.

Already showing technical defects

The environmental organization Greenpeace has the “Eventin” on its list of the Russian shadow fleet. It said the almost 19-year-old ship, which sails under the Panamanian flag, had technical defects even before the blackout and was inadequately insured.

According to the organization, this meant that in the event of a serious accident such as an oil spill, the taxpayer would likely have to bear the costs.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Friday criticized Russia’s reliance on rundown tankers in its “shadow fleet,” warning it was a threat to European security.

“By ruthlessly deploying a fleet of rusty tankers, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is not only circumventing the sanctions but is also willingly accepting that tourism on the Baltic Sea will come to a standstill” in the event of an accident, Baerbock said, describing the tankers as “dilapidated.”

rc/ab (dpa, AFP)

Tragedy struck in Gumki village, Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, when suspected Lakurawa terrorists launched a brutal attack, killing three Airtel staff and one local resident.

The peaceful border community, nestled between Nigeria and Niger Republic, became a scene of horror as the attackers targeted a telecommunication project in the area.

The terrorists reportedly stormed the village upon discovering that Airtel Communication Nigeria Ltd was installing a surveillance mast in partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Their deadly raid, which occurred late on January 10th, left a trail of grief and shattered lives.

The Kebbi State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the harrowing incident, stating that four lives were lost in the assault.

In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M. Sani, swiftly led a security team to the site.

The corpses of the victims were evacuated to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, while additional tactical units were deployed to bolster security in the region.

CP Sani, in collaboration with the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kebbi State Command, CIS Muhammad Bashir Lawali, also met with key stakeholders, urging them to provide timely intelligence to aid security operations.