Connect with us

News

South Africa President, Zuma signs 10 bills into law.

Published

on

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma of South Africa on Wednesday, 11 January 2017, signed the following ten (10) Bills into law.

Taxation Laws Amendment Act:

The main purpose of the Bill is to amend certain provisions of various Acts related to the Taxations Laws Amendment Act including, amongst others, Transfer Duty Act, 1949; Estate Duty Act, 1955; Customs and Excise Act, 1964; Value-Added Tax Act, 1991; Skills Development Levies Act, 1999, Unemployment Contributions Act, 2002; Securities Transfer Tax Act, 2007; Mineral and Petroleum Resources Royalty Act, 2008; Employment Tax Incentive Act, 2013 as well as Taxation Laws Amendment Acts, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The Bill seeks to amend these laws in order to bring them in line with the new Taxation Laws Amendment Act.

Finance Act, 2016 : 

The Finance Act, 2016 (Act No.7 of 2016) seeks to provide provisions for the approval of unauthorised expenditure, recovery of unauthorised expenditure and provide for matters connected therewith.

Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws (Administration) Act, 2016:

The Act aims to provide for administrative matters in respect of additional relief under the voluntary disclosure programme and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Act, 2016:

The Act aims to fix the rates of normal tax; to amend the Transfer Duty Act, 1949, so as to amend the rates of transfer duty and monetary threshold; to amend the Income Tax Act, 1962, so to amend rates of tax and monetary amounts as well as to amend Customs and Excise Act, 1964, so as to amend rates of duty in Schedule 1 to that Act.

The Act further seeks to provide for additional relief under the voluntary disclosure programme and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Tax Administration Laws Amendment Act, 2016:

The main purpose of the Bill is to amend Income Tax Act, 1962, to provide for delegation of power to disclose certain information and to remove an obligation to submit a return for a dividend derived from a tax free investment, amongst others. The Bill further seeks to amend Customs and Excise Act, 1964, so as to narrow the scope of provisions relating to Special Economic Zones and to align terminology with terminology used in the Special Economic Zones Act, 2014.

The Bill also seeks to amend certain provisions of Value-Added Tax Act, 1991; Mineral and Petroleum Resources Royalty (Administration) Act, 2008 as well as Tax Administration Act, 2011.

Adjustments Appropriation Act, 2016:

The Bill seeks to effect adjustments to the appropriation of money from the National Revenue Fund for the requirements if the State in respect of the 2016/17 financial year and to provide for matters incidental thereto.

Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act, 2016:

The main purpose of the Bill is to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001, so as to provide for the extension of the unemployment insurance benefits to learners who are undergoing learnership training and civil servants and also, amongst other things, to adjust the accrual rate of contributor’s entitlement to unemployment insurance benefits and to provide for the process of application for maternity benefits.

The Bill further seek to empower the Unemployment Insurance Board to provide its constitution for the functions of regional appeals committees and to amend Scheduled 2 to the  Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001, so as to provide for adjustment of the Income Replacement Rate and to provide matters connected therewith.

Children’s Amendment Act, 2016:

The Bill seek to amend the Children’s Act, 2005, so as to insert certain definitions and to provide, amongst other things, that a person convicted of certain offences be deemed unsuitable to work with children and to afford a child offender an opportunity to make representations as to why a finding of unsuitability to work with children should not be made.

Children’s Second Amendment Act, 2016:

The Bill seek to amend the Children’s Act, 2005, so as to insert certain definitions and to provide, amongst other things, that the removal of a child temporary safe care without a court order be placed before the children’s court for review before the expiry date of the next court day. The Bill further seek to provide that an application for a child to remain in alternative care beyond the age of 18 years, must be submitted before end if the year in which the relevant child reaches the age of 18 years and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Performing Animals Protection Amendment Act, 2016:

The Bill seek to amend the Performing Animals Protection Act, 1935 and to provide for a procedure for the application for a license to exhibit and train performing animals or use of animals for safeguarding as well as to provide for the issuance of license and for an appeals process and to provide for matters connected therewith.

President Zuma is confident that these new amended laws will enhance government service delivery programmes and also improve the good work that has been done by departments and institutions who are custodians of these laws.

Comments

News

IGP Steps In: FCID to Investigate Death of Man Detained Over N220,000 Debt

Published

on

By

IGP Kayode Egbetokun during his visit to the family of late Jimoh Abdulquadri in Kwara

 

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 35-year-old man, Jimoh Abdulquadri, who passed away in police custody in the early hours of Friday.

 

Abdulquadri, who was arrested on December 19, 2024, reportedly died under controversial circumstances, with his family accusing police operatives of subjecting him to brutal treatment during his detention. Reports indicate that the deceased had been detained over an alleged debt of N220,000 owed to an individual identified as Peter.

 

In response to the incident, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to immediately take over the case. A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed that the IGP also visited Kwara State to meet with the bereaved family.

 

During the visit, the IGP was received by the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku Fulani, who represented the family. The IGP expressed his condolences and assured them of a thorough investigation.

 

“The IGP expressed his profound condolences and assured the family that no stone would be left unturned in uncovering the circumstances that led to the tragic incident. He has ordered the FCID to handle the case with utmost diligence and ensure a conclusive and impartial investigation,” the statement read.

 

The IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to upholding accountability, professionalism, and respect for human rights. He further called on all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the due process of law to take its course.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

News

FG Lifts Five-Year Ban on Mining in Zamfara, Eyes Economic Boost

Published

on

By

The Federal Government has officially lifted the five-year ban on mining activities in Zamfara State, citing improved security and the potential for economic growth in the mineral-rich region.

The announcement was made on Sunday by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, through his representative, Segun Tomori, during a press briefing in Abuja.

“The Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State, citing significant improvements in the security situation across the state,” the minister said in a statement.

Security Gains and Economic Promise

The ban, imposed in 2019 due to escalating insecurity and illegal mining, was described by Alake as a necessary but temporary measure to protect lives and resources. However, he noted that the ban inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners, leading to resource plundering.

Alake praised recent security advancements under the Tinubu administration, highlighting the neutralization of notorious bandit commanders and other strategic wins, including the capture of Halilu Sububu, one of the state’s most wanted criminals.

“The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity,” Alake said.

He added that with the restoration of mining activities, Zamfara’s mineral wealth—ranging from gold and lithium to copper—could now be harnessed under strict regulation to contribute significantly to national revenue.

Boosting Regulation and Combating Illegal Mining

The minister emphasized that lifting the ban would pave the way for better regulation and monitoring of mining activities. This, he said, would enable authorities to tackle illegal mining more effectively and ensure Nigeria benefits fully from Zamfara’s mineral resources.

“By reopening this sector, we are prioritizing not only revenue generation but also intelligence gathering to curb illegal mining,” he said.

Addressing Controversies

Alake also addressed concerns surrounding Nigeria’s recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France, which had sparked controversy. He clarified that the agreement focused solely on capacity building and technical support for the mining sector.

“The high point of the MOU is on training and capacity building for our mining professionals. Similar agreements have been signed with Germany and Australia. Misinformation about ceding control over our mineral resources is uncalled for,” Alake said.

Press as Partners in Progress

Commending the media for their role in promoting reforms in the mining sector, Alake urged continued collaboration to drive transparency and attract foreign investments.

 

 

Continue Reading

News

NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Claims: Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational

Published

on

By

 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed media reports suggesting that the recently resuscitated old Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down, labeling such claims as baseless and misleading.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that the refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, is “fully operational.”

The facility resumed operations two months ago after years of inactivity.

“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false, as the refinery is fully operational, as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC,” Soneye said.

He added that preparations for the day’s loading operation are currently underway, emphasizing that the public should disregard the claims.

“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip off Nigerians,” Soneye stated.

The old Port Harcourt refinery is part of the country’s efforts to revive its local refining capacity. Three years ago, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the plant, which was initially shut down in 2019 due to operational challenges.

Despite being one of the largest oil producers globally, Nigeria has long relied on fuel imports to meet its domestic needs, swapping crude oil for petrol and other refined products. This dependency, coupled with government subsidies, has strained the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.

The recent return of the Port Harcourt refinery to operation follows the commissioning of the Dangote refinery, which began petrol production in September 2024. These developments are expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports and address long-standing issues in the petroleum sector.

 

Continue Reading

Trending