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UN condemns killing of Eswatini lawyer

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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Monday, called on authorities in Eswatini to launch a probe into the killing of a prominent human rights lawyer gunned down this past weekend.

Thulani Maseko, a pro-democracy activist, was shot dead in his home in Mbabane on Saturday.

“Thulani Maseko was a stalwart of human rights who, at great risk to himself, spoke up for many who couldn’t speak up for themselves,” he said in a statement. “His cold-blooded killing has deprived Eswatini, Southern Africa and the world of a true champion and advocate for peace, democracy and human rights.”

The UN rights chief extended his condolences to Maseko’s family, friends, and colleagues.

“I call on the authorities in the Kingdom of Eswatini to ensure a prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigation is held into his killing, in accordance with Eswatini’s constitution and international human rights law, and to hold all those responsible to account in fair trials,” he said.

Mr Maseko was the chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum, an umbrella association of civil society organisations, business and trade unions, political parties, as well as faith-based and women’s organisations.

The group advocates for a peaceful transition to multi-party democracy in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.

At the time of his death, Mr Maseko was a legal representative for two members of parliament facing trial for offences allegedly committed during the civil unrest in 2021.

In 2015, he was acquitted on appeal and released from a year in detention for allegedly criticising the judicial system.

FIRS says it netted N10.1 trillion in tax collections

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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced that it collected over N10 trillion in tax revenue in the year 2022, the highest tax collection ever recorded in its history.

The Service made this known in its “FIRS 2022 Performance Update,” report signed by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, and released to the public on Monday, after his briefing with President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The FIRS, in the year 2022 collected a total of N10.1 trillion in both oil (N4.09 trillion) and non-oil (N5.96 trillion) revenues as against a target of N10.44 trillion.

“Companies Income Tax contributed N2.83 trillion; Value Added Tax (VAT)- N2.51 trillion; Electronic Money Transfer Levy – N125.67 billion and Earmarked Taxes – N353.69 billion.

“Non-oil taxes contributed 59 per cent of the total collection in the year, while oil tax collection stood at 41 per cent of total collection,” the report noted.

It is the first time that the FIRS will cross the 10-trillion Naira mark in tax revenue collection.

The Performance Update Report further clarified that included in the total revenue sum is the sum of N146.27 billion which is the total value of certificates issued by the Service to private investors and NNPC for road infrastructure under the Road Infrastructure Development Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme created by Executive Order No. 007 of 2019.

The report also stated that the N10.1 trillion is exclusive of tax waived on account of various tax incentives granted under the respective laws, which amounted to N1,805,040,163,008.

Providing perspective to this unprecedented tax collection, the FIRS noted in the Performance Update that the Muhammad Nami-led management upon assumption of office came up with a four-point focus, namely: administrative and operational restructuring; making the service customer-focused; creating a data-centric institution; and automation of administrative and operational processes.

It further noted that over the period of 2020 to 2022, the management had introduced reforms bordering around these four-point focus which were producing results.

“The reforms introduced at different times from 2020 are gradually yielding fruits.By the close of 2022, the Service had fully restructured the administration of the Service for maximum efficiency and achieved internal cohesion such that all functional units are working in unison towards the achievement of set goals.

“As a result of conducive environment created for staff, officers of the Service are pulling their weight on the global stage with international recognitions and awards.

“The Service had also automated most of the administrative and operational processes. A major leap was the full deployment of the TaxPro Max for end-to-end administration of taxes in June 2021. The module for the automated TCC went live 1st January 2023 while taxpayers had already downloaded over 1,000 TCCs this year without having to visit FIRS office,” the report read.

It also noted that the Service had operationalised its data mining and analysis system thereby allowing for data-backed taxpayer profiling.

Other reforms the Service introduced in this period focused on the detoxification of the tax environment by ridding it of mutual mistrust, negative tax morale, and tax evasion, through effective taxpayer education, open engagement with stakeholders and improved services.

It noted that it is courtesy these reforms, framed around the four-focus points that the Service was able to achieve this collection.

Executive Chairman of the FIRS,Mr. Muhammad Nami commenting on the N10.1 trillion record tax collection achieved under his leadership stated that this was made possible through “dogged implementation of strategic reforms over the past two years; a renewed commitment by officers of the Service, accompanied with a boosted morale; as well as the innovative deployment of technology for automation of both tax administration and operational processes.

“This collection was possible through collaboration with our stakeholders, from our colleagues at the Executive branch of government, to the members of the judiciary, to our brothers and sisters at the National Assembly, as well as the tax advisory committee, professional bodies, unions, and most crucially our taxpayers.”

Speaking on the outlook for 2023, Mr. Nami stated that the Service would build on the current reforms, achieve full automation and continue to establish a resilient Service that would continue to provide sustainable tax revenue to fund the government.

“We intend to maintain, and even improve on the momentum in 2023,” he stated.

“We have peaked, but this is not certainly our peak. In fact, my hope is that this would be the least sum the Service would ever collect going forward.

“Our goal is to identify more areas where we can improve on in the delivery and efficiency of our collection; and plug loopholes, while deploying innovative reforms in data and artificial intelligence.

“Ultimately, we believe that the FIRS can shoulder the responsibility of providing revenue needed for the governments across the Federation to cater for the needs of the Nigerian people through taxes.

“This is feasible once we get the much-desired support from the three tiers and arms of government, as well as all stakeholders.”

The FIRS appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his support, as well as the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of State, Mr. Clem Agba.

“FIRS Management uses this medium to commend all patriotic taxpayers who paid their taxes correctly, stakeholders for their support, and officers of the Service for their dedication to duty.

“The Service equally owes its achievements in 2022 to effective leadership of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning – Mrs Zainab Ahmed, her brother, the Minister of State – Mr Clem Agba, members of the National Assembly and the fatherly support of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari.”

This is the second consecutive year that the Service will be recording unprecedented tax collection.

In 2021, the Service achieved a record tax collection of N6.405 trillion, being over hundred per cent of its collection target for the year, as well as the first time that the Service will cross the six trillion mark.

In 2022, building on the success of the preceding year, the Service achieved a record collection of N10.1 trillion, being over 96 per cent of its collection target for the year, and the first time the Service will cross the 10 trillion mark.

This collection represents an over one hundred per cent leap from the tax collected by the Service in 2020—the first year of the current management of the Service.

Voltalia begins construction of 148 MW solar plant in South Africa

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Independent Power Producer (IPP), Voltalia, has started construction on a 148 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Bolobedu, in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, with completion expected by 2024.

Having signed a 20-year private offtaker power purchase agreement with mineral sands producer Richards Bay Minerals – a subsidiary of global mining group Rio Tinto – in October 2022, the Bolobedu solar plant will supply approximately 300 GWh of renewables per year to the mining firm’s production facilities.

The solar PV plant is expected to mitigate up to 237,000 tons of CO2 emissions equivalent, roughly the equivalent of removing 50,000 combustion engine cars from the road, while serving to create 700 jobs during the construction phase with at least 53 permanent jobs estimated for availability in operation and maintenance.

The power plant will enable Richards Bay Minerals to reduce its energy spending and source alternative electrical supply as scheduled rolling blackouts in South Africa – load shedding – continues to hamper productivity.

Buhari to attend Dakar agriculture conference

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President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Lagos for Senegal on Tuesday where he will attend the 2nd edition of Dakar International Conference on Agriculture.
The high-level Dakar 2 Summit hosted by President Macky Sall of Senegal and the Chairperson of the African Union is holding under the theme “Feeding Africa: Food Sovereignty and Resilience.”
The conference, which seeks to create favourable conditions toward achieving food security in Africa, is convened jointly by the government of Senegal and the African Development Bank.
There will also be side meetings to discuss agreements on the delivery of food and agricultural products in some countries, including Nigeria.
With Africa accounting for 249 million or a third of the 828 million hungry people in the world, the Summit, to be attended by African Heads of State and Government, Ministers of finance and agriculture, as well as several global development partners, is expected to make commitments on eradicating hunger in Africa by 2030.
The President’s delegation is made up of Ministers and top government officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, National Security Adviser, Mohammed Babagana Monguno and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
President Buhari is expected back in the country on Wednesday, January 25.

EFCC says it detained Tompolo’s man over alleged fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed Captain Warredi Enisuoh, who works for Tompolo, is under investigation.

However, the agency said his detention was not related to oil pipeline security or his role as the Head of Operations of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL).

The company is owned by Tompolo, real name Government Ekpemupolo).

The former militant leader got a N48billion government security contract in 2022.

A statement on Monday by EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren said Enisuoh is facing a probe for alleged money laundering.

The case involves the “criminal dissipation of funds in an account held by him”.

Uwujaren said being a Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) official, Enisuoh is in court alongside ex-Director General, Patrick Akpobolokemi.

The duo are accused of “fraudulent conversion of various sums of money” belonging to NIMASA.

“In the course of that investigation, over $420,000, suspected proceeds of illicit activities, was traced to an account held by him”, Uwujaren disclosed.

EFCC said it earlier obtained a court order to freeze the account and preserve the funds, but Enisuoh in 2018 secured a Court of Appeal order to lift the freeze.

“The Court of Appeal did not find in favour of Enisouh that the funds in issue were not proceeds of unlawful activities.”

The commission recalled receiving intelligence that the Captain dissipated the funds suspected to be the proceeds of his “unlawful activities” within three days in May 2018.

The EFCC said Enisouh was on the EFCC watchlist until January 19, 2023, when he was taken into custody.

“A remand notice was duly filed to keep him, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“He is cooperating with the investigation, and has already returned $100,000 to the account”, the statement added.