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VAT COLLECTION: PDP GOOFS AGAIN, SAYS IMO GOVT.

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Imo state government has berated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for its ignorance in the dynamics of Value Added Tax in the economy of the state.

The government noted that contrary to the “mischievous and ignorant ” submission of the PDP, VAT is a consumption tax collected by the federal government that has no correlation with the economic growth or productivity of any state.

The PDP had accused Gov Hope Uzodimma of not doing enough to shore up the economy of the state, blaming him for lack of roads, non-payment of minimum wage, and insecurity in the state.

But the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba dismissed the characterization by PDP, saying the state chapter has goofed again with the aim of deceiving the public with false and misleading information.

The government described PDP’s claims as the height of economic illiteracy, noting that if a state economy was measured by VAT earnings, then Imo State’s GDP could not have been the fourth highest out of the 36 states of the federation.

“Apart from displaying its crass ignorance in the economic dynamics of Value Added Tax, which is a consumptive, federal tax not based on production, PDP flew off the handle to whip up sentiments based on absolute falsehood “, the Commissioner averred.

According to Emelumba, the low rate of VAT Collection in the state is as a result of factors independent of the economic and infrastructural policies of the state.

He noted that while the government has no control over businesses and their operational capability, including how much they remit as VAT, it has created the enabling environment to attract them to the state, adding that that was why the state economy was growing faster than that of many states.

“We have an automated civil service which has received the applause of the World Bank because it has perfected the ease of doing business. The State recently won the World Bank’s trophy under the States Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) and was rewarded with Four Million United States Dollars, “he submitted.

Emelumba also disclosed that contrary to the jaundiced infrastructure assessment by PDP, Gov. Hope Uzodimma has constructed and reconstructed more than 120 solid roads across the state.

According to him, “except they are blind, the PDP and their sponsors have been using these solid roads. These are verifiable achievements that everyone can see and testify to. I don’t understand why they should lie. ”

The Commissioner disclosed that even those just passing through Imo to other parts of the country have confirmed that the road infrastructure remains the best by any administration in the last 15 years.

On the payment of minimum wage to workers, which PDP claimed was stagnated at N30, 000 and responsible for slow pace of the economy, the Commissioner dismissed as a lie from hell.

“As soon as the fuel subsidy was removed by the federal government, His Excellency approved a wage increase to N40,000 for workers even when no state had done so. The workers had been receiving that amount until last month when His Excellency also approved the implementation of the national minimum wage of N70, 000.”

Emelumba said PDP should hide their faces in shame because the gratuities and regular pensions they could not pay to workers for 13 years are now being paid by Uzodimma.

Said he, “in terms of boosting the economy of the state, Uzodimma is giving it his best shot, which I must say is yielding results. Currently, he is dredging the Orashi River to Atlantic Ocean to stimulate economic activities not only in Imo state but the entire South East. In the next couple of weeks, there will be an uninterrupted power supply in the entire state. All these are geared towards attracting investments to the state”

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Politics

Putin Hails Trump On Inauguration As US President For Second Time, Says Russia Willing To End War

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January 22, 2025

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Russia President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump as he is being inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States.

Putin on Monday, 20th of January 2025 revealed he was open to dialogue with the new U.S. administration on Ukraine and nuclear arms. He also indicated that Moscow was ready to discuss nuclear arms control and wider security issues.

In a video broadcast, Putin noted that he was interested in a long-lasting peace in Ukraine rather than a short-term ceasefire with the country.

He made the comments during the Russia’s Security Council meeting that was shown on state TV. According to him, “We see the statements by the newly elected president of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia,” said Putin.

“We also hear his statement about the need to do everything possible to prevent World War Three. We of course welcome this attitude and congratulate the elected president of the United States of America on taking office. “As for the resolution of the situation (in Ukraine) itself, I would like to emphasise that the goal should not be a brief ceasefire, not some kind of period of respite that would allow a regrouping and rearmament of forces, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people and all peoples who live in the region.”

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Court remands suspect over alleged assassination attempt on Lokpobiri

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14 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Yenagoa—A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Susaine Morgan, over an alleged assassination attempt on the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri on new year day.

The suspect is also facing charges of unlawful possession of two assault rifles (AK-47).
He was reportedly apprehended at the minister’s residence in Ekeremor town, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The remand warrant, issued by the state Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, and filed by Police Prosecutor, Stella Jerry-Friday, was approved to allow the suspect’s detention for 30 days at Okaka prison.

This is to enable the investigating team of the police to track and arrest six others now at large.
The charge sheet read: “The defendant was arrested on January 1, 2025, at Senator Lokpobiri’s residence for conspiring with others to commit armed robbery, attempted kidnapping, and for being in possession of two AK-47 rifles.”

The police prosecutor explained that the request for suspect remand was necessary due to the limited power of the police to detain the suspect without a court order.

“The suspect’s detention will prevent interference with the ongoing investigation, especially as six other suspects remain at large,” a police source said.

According to security report, seven of the suspects gained access into the residence of the minister by mingling with the crowd of visitors who came to pay homage.

But information got to the military personnel stationed at the residence of the presence of armed persons among the visitors.

“Due to the large crowd, the soldiers could not open fire but ordered everyone to lie down. It was only the arrested suspect, who was with the bag conveying the weapon, that got arrested. Others mingled with the crowd and escaped,” the source stated.

The other suspects reportedly fired shots as they fled the community, attacked a filling station and carted away N400,000.

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42 Executive Orders By Trump On the First Day

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23 hours ago

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January 21, 2025

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Here is the list of all 42 Executive Orders, Memoranda, and Proclamations Signed by President Donald Trump

1.Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border

2.Designating Mexican Drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

3.Reinstating the ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy
4.Ending Birthright Citizenship for Children of Illegal Immigrants

5.Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism

6.Eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs in Federal Agencies

7.Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement

8.Declaring a National Energy Emergency

9.Reversing Electric Vehicle Mandates

10.Implementing ‘Schedule F’ for Federal Employees

11.Relocating U.S. Space Command Headquarters to Alabama

12.Pardoning Individuals Convicted in Relation to January 6 Events

13.Halting Federal Funding for Abortion Services

14.Suspending Security Clearances for Officials Linked to Hunter Biden Scandal

15.Establishing a Federal Bitcoin Reserve

16.Releasing Classified Documents on JFK, RFK, and MLK Assassinations

17.Reversing AI Regulation Policies

18.Imposing Tariffs on Imports from China, Mexico, and Canada

19.Reinstating the Ban on Transgender Military Service

20.Prohibiting Transgender Women from Participating in Women’s Sports

21.Halting Government Offshore Wind Leases

22.Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America

23.Reverting Mount Denali to Mount McKinley

24.Freezing Federal Workforce Hiring

25.Easing Regulations on Oil and Gas Production

26.Pausing Congress’ TikTok Ban to Seek a U.S. Buyer

27.Reversing Biden-Era Immigration Policies

28.Pulling Out of the World Health
organisations

29.Eliminating Federal Funding for DEI Programs

30.Establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

31.Reinstating the ‘Muslim Ban

32.Ending Birthright Citizenship

33.Reforming the Criminal Justice System

34.Banning Critical Race Theory in Federal Agencies

35.Demanding Increased NATO Contributions

36.Confronting China on Trade Practices

37.Ending the War in Ukraine

38.Supporting Law Enforcement

39.Promoting School Choice

40.Restricting Refugee Admissions

41.Increasing Federal Focus on Fentanyl Trafficking

42.Launching a National Infrastructure Plan.

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