Metro
SERVICOM Boss Lauds FIRS for Service Delivery

Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, the National Coordinator/CEO of the Service Compact with all Nigerians (SERVICOM), has commended services rendered by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to its customers across the country.
Akajemeli gave the commendation when she presented SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation (SCE) reports to the Chairman of the Agency at its Head Office in Abuja.
While making the presentation, Akajemeli highlighted that the SERVICOM team visited 15 FIRS office locations across geo-political zones to carry out its routine work before the final assessment.
“This is to assess the quality of services receive by citizens and report back to the government how well these services make impact in the lives of Nigerians.
“According to her, the overall objective of the SCE is to ensure Citizen Focused Service Delivery in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“The specific objective includes identifying gaps in service delivery and making recommendations to FIRS to improve customer satisfaction and accountability.”
Akajemeli expressed satisfaction in FIRS services in area of huge sensitisation awareness in tax payments, the introduction of reforms such as automation of tax payment systems e-registration, e- tax clearance certificate, e-Stamp Duty, e-Receipt for example in Owerri State office.
“This has increased voluntary compliance of tax payers and also made tax payment easier.
“The Federal Inland Revenue Service has provided a variety of ways for tax payments such as internet banking, Remita, inter-switch and others. This has allowed taxpayers to pay their taxes from the comfort of their homes, ” Akajemeli said.
The introduction of Tax Pro-Max which is used for registration, filling and payment of VAT, processing/ issuance of tax clearance certificate in Niger State office according to her, has helped in promoting the ease of doing business, paying taxes from the comfort of customers’ homes/ offices.
Akajemeli, nevertheless, pointed out some weaknesses and made recommendations to improve upon in some offices.
According to her, interaction with stakeholders revealed that there is lack of synergy between the Government Business Tax Office (GBTO) and the Stamp Duty Office in the area of monitoring compliance level of MDAs.
This, she said could hamper effective monitoring of compliance, adding that it was observed that the stamp duty office does not have enough professional staff such as Accountants to carry out revenue collection and other activities in the Lagos office for instance.
She made further recommendations which included creating more awareness on taxes for the benefit of its customer for easy compliance, efforts should be made to reduce downtime on the Tax Pro-Max to hasten tax clearance processes and save time.
The SERVICOM boss also made observation on provision of more work tools including upgrading of internet services by FIRS management to carry out activities in some state offices to enhance effective/efficient service delivery to its customers.
Responding, Mr Muhammad Nami, Executive Chairman FIRS, thanked SERVICOM management for the impressive assessment.
Highlighting the success of FIRS, Nami said the current management of the agency do not take issues of service delivery lightly as it was ready to execute the agency’s mandates as given by the government.
“Last year, we hosted a very elaborate global customers service week and where we launched FIRS Service Charter.
“Let me also mention that recently, the International Monetary Fund revisited the service to conduct a Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment on FIRS, our Service Charter was actually a high point of the assessment.
“And this gave the service kudos from the multilateral organisation, ” he said. (NAN)
Metro
First Lady Urges Nigerians to Embrace Cultural Diversity, Promote Unity

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to embrace their cultural diversity and promote unity and respect within the diverse nation.
The first lady made the call in her message on Wednesday in commemoration of the 2025 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
“The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, highlights the profound strength that lies our differences and the shared humanity that connects us all.
”There is indeed strength and unity in diversity.
“Nigeria for example is blessed with over 250 ethnic groups, each speaking a different language, but it is through our dialogue, our interactions, and our mutual respect that we find true identity and unity.
“On this day, I encourage every Nigerian to celebrate our cultural richness, to listen with empathy, and to lead with understanding.
“Let us embrace this journey together and shape a brighter future for Nigeria and the world,” Mrs Tinubu said.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is celebrated every year on May 21, to raise awareness on the role of Culture in sustainable socio-economic growth and development. (NAN)
Metro
FCTA Approves Contract For Construction Of Access Roads, others

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Executive Committee has approved the award of contract for the construction of access roads in Durumi and Mabushi Districts and other infrastructural projects.
Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, while briefing journalists after the 14th committee’s meeting, chaired by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Dauda said that a contract was approved for the construction of access roads in Durumi District.
He explained that the contract would involve the construction of several access roads, drainages and culverts totalling about 1.7-kilometres in Durumi, around the Apostolic Church.
He added that the committee also approved the provision of access roads and infrastructure to parts of Mabushi District, particularly the Kez Udezue street, and other roads in the area.
He said that the scope of that project involves the provision of access roads, underground drainage services, street lighting, and other facilities like water and sewage collectors.
Also approved, according to the acting FCDA boss, is an emergency contract for erosion control affecting water pipelines.
He explained that the erosion affected a major water pipeline from Lower Usuma Dam through Kubwa to Airport Road and down to Gwagwalada.
“Erosion had taken place on the major pipeline feeding the various tanks up to Gwagwalada and it was a threat to the major water supply to all these areas.
“So, a Chinese company, CGC Nigeria Ltd. was invited to carry out the emergency work on the sites and the approval at the committee’s meeting was to finalise the emergency repair,” he said.
Dauda also said that the committee equally approved the award of contract for the complete renovation, furnishing and technical installations at the Department of State Security Headquarters.
“Another memo was for the construction of one block of a Magistrate Court in Jabi,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mr Chidi Amadi, explained that 13 memos were submitted for consideration, out of which nine were examined and approved.
Amadi added that the nine memos were approved to deepen the infrastructural development and upgrade of the capital city and its environment. (NAN)
Metro
Infrastructure: We Have Renovated, Furnished 60 Schools in FCT – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration has renovated and furnished more than 60 public schools across the territory.
Wike stated this after inspecting some ongoing projects in Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils of the territory on Friday.
He explained that beyond road projects, the FCT Administration had invested hugely in improving critical infrastructure in the health and education sectors among others.
According to him, every sector will receive the needed attention, and no one will be left behind.
“We have done a lot of work in schools. The schools we have renovated and furnished are more than 60 so far.
“I can tell you that no sector would be left abandoned, every sector will be focused on.”
The minister, however, pointed out that “good road network is what brings development.
“When there are no roads, which school will you go to?
“When there are no roads, which hospital will you go to?
“So first of all, the key thing that drives development is a good road network all over the world.
“If you’re talking about agriculture, how will you go and harvest your produce when there is no road?”
Wike said that the farming communities along the A2 to Pai road would be happy that they now have a road network to take their farm produce to the city and markets to sell.
He added that good road networks also impacted positively in reducing insecurity.
He explained that when people commit offences and there was no road to chase them, it would become a problem.
“But when you see this kind of road with streetlights, you will have to think twice before you commit any offence,” the minister said. (NAN)