In today’s edition of Nigeria in Brief: FG denies N89trn stamp duty scam, Soludo signs a 260Billion Naira budget, and other trending news in Nigeria
The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo has signed a N260 billion Naira 2023 budget into law. The former central bank governor noted that the budget covers all the critical sectors of the state’s economy and will be a priority in his administration. He stated that essential sectors including security, law and order, social agenda, health, education, human capital development, power, technology, industrial parks, agriculture, and commerce are his priorities in the budget. He added that the state has appropriated N2 billion for the repair and construction of some dilapidated federal roads in the state. Soludo noted that, though the roads are the responsibility of the Federal Government, they could no longer be tolerated as they have remained in deplorable conditions causing the Anambra people untold hardship.
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The Nigerian Police Force has promised to arrest and prosecute politicians procuring Permanent Voters Cards with the intention of committing electoral malpractices during the 2023 general elections. Recall the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC had issued a similar warning that anyone caught in such activities will be prosecuted. Recently, Nigerians have raised alarm from many parts of the country alleging that some political players are engaged in buying PVCs and bribing Voters to procure their Voters Identification Numbers VIN. The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of INEC, Rotimi Oyekanmi, on Tuesday, warned political players that the 2023 elections would not be “business as usual.” He added that the introduction of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System will not allow for rigging and other electoral crimes and assured Nigerians of a free, fair, and credible election.
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The Federal Government has debunked the claim that N89.09tn was allegedly siphoned from stamp duty charges. This was following the allegation by the Presidential Committee on the Reconciliation and Recovery of All Stamp Duties that some government agencies are sabotaging the committee’s efforts. Recall that on Monday, the committee had alleged that N89.09tn had so far been realised from deductions by banks but these had not made it to the FG’s coffers. In a statement signed by the President’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, he said the allegation is false, stating that the entire banking industry deposits in Nigeria did not amount to half N89trn. Part of the statement reads, “It is now evident that the consultants and petitioners’ claims of a missing N89tn from stamp duty appears false… if the Federal Government can find N89tn Naira, it can pay off all its debt, both foreign and local currency and all state government debts and still have over N10tn left.”