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FAAC Distributes N2.225tn August Revenue to FG, States, and LGs — Up 11.2% from July

ABUJA | September 18, 2025 — The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has announced the distribution of N2.225 trillion in revenue to the Federal Government, states, and Local Government Councils for August 2025 — marking an 11.2% increase from July’s N2.001 trillion. This was disclosed in a statement released Wednesday by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, following the monthly FAAC meeting held in Abuja. According to the statement, the August revenue allocation includes: The PUNCH reports that this is the third consecutive month of increased allocations, a trend driven largely by higher VAT and other non-oil revenue sources. Revenue Breakdown From the N1.478 trillion statutory revenue: From the N672.903 billion VAT revenue: From the N32.338 billion EMTL: From the N41.284 billion Exchange Difference: Gross Revenue and Deductions Total gross revenue for August stood at N3.635 trillion, down from N3.757 trillion in July. Deductions for collection costs amounted to N124.839 billion, while N1.285 trillion was set aside for transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings. The report noted a decline in statutory gross revenue from N3.070 trillion in July to N2.838 trillion in August, a decrease of N231.913 billion. However, VAT collections rose to N722.619 billion, an increase of N34.679 billion from the previous month. While oil and gas royalties, VAT, and Common External Tariff (CET) levies recorded growth, revenues from Petroleum Profit Tax, Import Duty, Companies Income Tax, Excise Duty, and EMTL saw declines. Earlier this month, President Bola Tinubu announced that Nigeria had achieved its 2025 revenue target in August, attributing the milestone to increased earnings from the non-oil sector.

Online Voter Registration Hits 4.44Million

Fola Badmus3 days ago3 days ago02 mins

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has recorded more than 4.44 million online registrations and 509,929 physical registrations in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR). INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja. He said that as of Sunday, September 14, a total of 4,445,505 Nigerians had pre-registered online within four weeks of the exercise, which began on August 18. According to the breakdown, 48.17 percent (2,141,294) of those who registered online are male, while 51.83 percent (2,304,211) are female. By age group, young people between 18 and 34 years make up the majority with 2,924,643 registrants (65.79 percent), while 1,112,344 (25.02 percent) are students. Olumekun added that of the 509,929 physical registrations completed as of September 12, 45.06 percent (229,758) were male and 54.94 percent (280,171) were female. Similarly, 74.15 percent (378,132) of the registrants were aged 18 to 34, and 38.54 percent (196,529) were students. He noted that the detailed distribution of registrations by state, gender, age, occupation, and disability status has been uploaded to INEC’s website and official platforms for public access. INEC also announced that online pre-registration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ended on Monday, September 15. Physical registration will continue at designated venues for the next two weeks, before being devolved to all 62 wards in the FCT from September 29 to October 8.

National Ordinance Day: NOA Charges Nigerians to Honour National Symbols

Fola Badmus3 days ago3 days ago02 mins

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has called on Nigerians to show greater respect and commitment to the country’s national symbols as the nation commemorates National Ordinance Day 2025. Speaking in Abuja, the DG reminded citizens that the National Flag, Coat of Arms, National Anthem, Pledge, Constitution, and other emblems of sovereignty represent the unity, dignity, and identity of Nigeria. He stressed that giving proper recognition to these symbols is both a civic duty and a mark of patriotism. “Respect for our national symbols is respect for Nigeria itself. Each time we hoist the flag correctly, recite the pledge sincerely, or sing the anthem with pride, we affirm our loyalty and commitment to the ideals of our nation,” Issa-Onilu said. The DG noted that September 16 is set aside annually as National Ordinance Day to commemorate the handover of Nigeria’s national symbols at independence. He urged Nigerians to use the day as a reminder to live out the values of unity, discipline, and service embedded in the ordinances. Issa-Onilu further encouraged schools, communities, organizations, and government institutions to consciously integrate respect for national symbols into their daily practices, saying this will help deepen national identity and strengthen social cohesion. The NOA reaffirmed its commitment to continuous nationwide sensitization and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure that every Nigerian understands and upholds the dignity of the country’s symbols.

Atiku Slams Tinubu Over Insecurity Accuses President of Indifference Amid Rising Violence

Pervasive Hunger, Poverty in Nigeria Unacceptable -Atiku

Fola Badmus4 days ago4 days ago04 mins

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has decried the increasing spate of hunger currently ravaging the country, especially the underprivileged poor and downtrodden. He remarked that whereas the primary objective of any government is the security and welfare of its citizens, the masses of Nigerians are progressively wallowing in misery and poverty under the watch of the Tinubu-led APC administration. According to Atiku, the current situation does not give cause for cheers as it engenders an increasingly progressive propensity for criminalities in form of high-wire fraud, terrorism, kidnapping, cultism, drug addiction and ritual sacrifice, among others. The Waziri Adamawa recalls that the most violent socio-political eruptions and revolutions all over the world had often been powered by pervasive hunger and unbearable material conditions – especially the paradox of squalor amidst plenty in our land. Counselling that the current unacceptable situation offers an opportunity for reflection, the former Vice President cited the French Revolution, the 1917 Russian Revolution and the Arab Spring in which a young man caught in the maelstrom of unbearable frustration set himself ablaze in a development which occasioned violent socio-political eruptions starting out from Tunisia to engulf the Middle-East and North Africa. “Back home here in Nigeria, it may not be out of place to argue that even the “ENDSARS” protest was fuelled by the traumatising frustration of hunger and insensitivity on the part of the government.” He also lamented that two years after assuming the reins of government, there are still no manifest signs that this government is capable of addressing the grim issue of severe hunger staring the poor in the face. “Whatever reform the Tinubu government might claim to be undertaking, the point remains that food insecurity is a daily occurrence nationwide. There is no government worth its salt that does not place priority on the welfare and security of the people.” He stressed further that since reforms are made for citizens and not the other way round, the reforms of this administration should have a human face. “Whether the present powers accept it or not, the reality of our existence is that the poor are increasingly dying of hunger while the majority of the living poor exists at the mercy of the ill-advised policies of this government.”

DG NOA Advocates Strong Family Values for National Security

Fola Badmus4 days ago4 days ago02 mins

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, has called for the reinforcement of strong family values as a foundation for national security, stressing that the stability of the home directly influences the stability of the nation. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Haske Biyu 2025 in Jaji, Kaduna state, Onilu described the family as the first school of citizenship where values, discipline, empathy, and responsibility are first instilled. He noted that when families are grounded in love and structure, they nurture responsible citizens who contribute positively to the nation. He warned that the breakdown of family systems often leads to societal instability, with consequences such as youth delinquency, drug abuse, cultism, and even recruitment into extremist groups. According to him, moral neglect, poverty, and lack of parental guidance can become a breeding ground for insecurity if not addressed from the home. The event in jaji drew the participation of critical security stakeholders from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), reflecting a broad-based commitment to strengthening national security.

Tinubu Ends Vacation, Returns to Abuja on Tuesday

Fola Badmus4 days ago4 days ago01 mins

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has concluded his work vacation ahead of schedule and will return to Abuja on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, to resume official duties. The President departed for France on September 4, 2025, to spend part of his annual holiday and was initially scheduled to divide the period between France and the United Kingdom. Last week in Paris, President Tinubu held a private luncheon with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace. Both leaders reviewed key areas of cooperation between Nigeria and France and agreed to deepen the partnership for mutual prosperity and global stability.

Resident Doctors Suspend Warning Strike, Give FG Two-Week Deadline

Fola Badmus5 days ago5 days ago03 mins

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced the suspension of its five-day warning strike, effective 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2025, following talks with the Federal Government. In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by NARD Publicity Secretary, Dr. Amobi Omoha, the association said the decision was made to ease the burden on Nigerians dealing with health challenges and to allow the government a two-week window to meet its demands. “Following the commitment of the Federal Government to address the issues outlined in our strike communiqué, as well as the commencement of payment of the 2025 MRTF to members who were hitherto owed, the Association convened a virtual Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting on the 13th of September,” the statement read. The strike, which began on September 12, was intended to press home demands including the release of Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF), welfare improvements, and implementation of previous agreements. Ultimatum to Oyo State Government NARD also issued a strong call to the Oyo State Government to resolve the ongoing issues at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, in line with a 15-day ultimatum already given by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo branch. “Failure to do so will compel the NOC of NARD to direct all members within Oyo State to embark on an indefinite solidarity strike,” the statement warned. State-Level Actions to Continue In addition, NARD directed members in state-owned tertiary hospitals to continue industrial action in states where governments have not shown a “genuine commitment” to resolving welfare challenges. Strike Suspended, But Not Over While the nationwide strike is being paused, NARD made it clear that this is a temporary suspension, and failure to meet the outlined demands within two weeks could result in further action. “NARD remains committed to working with all levels of government to ensure a healthy Nigeria for all,” the statement concluded. The Federal Government is yet to issue a formal response to the doctors’ conditions or timeline as of the time of reporting.

Tax ID not mandatory for ordinary Nigerians to open bank accounts – FG

Fola Badmus6 days ago6 days ago04 mins

The Federal Government has moved to calm public anxiety over reports that every Nigerian must obtain a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) before opening or maintaining a bank account. Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, clarified that the new policy applies only to taxable persons and businesses — not to ordinary citizens without taxable income. In a statement posted on his official X handle, Oyedele said the recently enacted Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) simply consolidates existing provisions and does not impose fresh obligations on low-income Nigerians. He stated that banks and financial institutions are required to request a Tax ID from taxable persons. However, individuals who do not earn income and are not taxable are not required to obtain one. The NTAA builds on the Finance Act of 2019, which first introduced the requirement for businesses to present a Tax Identification Number when opening accounts. According to Oyedele, the NTAA now replaces multiple identifiers with a single, harmonised Tax ID to reduce duplication and loopholes. He explained that individuals’ National Identification Number (NIN) and companies’ Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration numbers will automatically serve as their Tax IDs. Existing TINs remain valid, while new applicants can obtain theirs online or at tax offices free of charge. Oyedele emphasised that the Tax ID is not a physical card but a unique number linked to your identity, cautioning Nigerians to avoid touts or unofficial agents claiming to issue Tax ID cards. The law also covers non-resident companies doing business in Nigeria, as well as government-owned enterprises and agencies. Nigerians in the diaspora may also obtain a Tax ID using their NIN for banking or investment purposes. From January 1, 2026, taxable persons who fail to register may find themselves unable to operate bank accounts, insurance policies, pension accounts, or investment portfolios. Penalties will also apply under the NTAA for non-compliance. He added that for most ordinary Nigerians, there is no extra burden because their NIN or CAC number will serve as their Tax ID. The goal is to ensure that those who earn taxable income contribute their fair share while low-income citizens remain protected. The committee advised citizens to rely strictly on official government channels for updates on the new tax laws to avoid misinformation and exploitation. The Federal Government hopes the new system will improve compliance and transparency, while protecting citizens outside the tax net from unnecessary bureaucracy.