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By Tunde Olusunle Rest assured of convivial reception whenever you stop by his address in Abuja or back home in Umulenso, Umuahia, Abia State. Kolanuts, bitter kola, *añara,* (egg plants), and *ose oji,* (groundnut and pepper paste), receive you as is standard *Igbo* cultural practice. You savour the best of beverages, subject to your choice. The finest of *Cognac XOs and VSOPs* were preferences in years past. Properly *aged whiskeys* have become more fashionable as we all age and manage our wellness parameters. Wine connoisseurs and subscribers to softer liquids will also have their fill. Undoubtedly, he is a man of style. His sitting room typically snowballs into a theatre of vibrant discourse and robust conversations. The subject could be anything: Economy, politics, international affairs, sports and more. Get set to engage this pseudo-encyclopaedia. You will be amazed at the sharpness of his memory, the width of his insights and the depth of his interventions. He makes sure to congratulate me whenever my favourite team in the English Premier League, (EPL), Arsenal, excels. He also sympathises with me when the outcome of a game is dampening and I wear a long face. He is that perspicacious. For his humongous attainments in life and the reverence he commands, Onyema Ugochukwu is a very humble, sober, maybe shy, temperate personality. He bestrode the corridors of the pristine *Daily Times of Nigeria Plc* with his towering frame. But he is a most amiable gentleman, an intuitive economist, a thorough-bred journalist, a painstaking administrator and thrifty personality. He is a diligent and loving husband, a caring and concerned father and a doting and grateful grandfather. He cherishes his quietude and abhors noise making. But he “loses” the battle when his grandchildren, predominantly boys for now, come visiting like they did on his recent 80th birthday. They wholly and effectively took over his house, spontaneously converting into a functional “amusement park!” But you could discern from his face the joy of grandfather-hood as he and his wife of 45 years, Joyce Ugochukwu, a veteran medical practitioner, try to moderate the energetic enthusiasm of the toddlers. Regular callers like us, those we call *ama’la* in Igbo, home boys that is, knew Ugochukwu would commemorate his ascent to the octogenarian hierarchies this year. I have been associated with him for about 35 years now since the charismatic media revolutionary, Yemi Ogunbiyi gave me a job in the Daily Times in 1990. I was adopted by both paragons and I have never been far from them. I have a fair idea of milestones close to their hearts. Ugochukwu’s Abuja home underwent a tangible makeover which he always complained to me upset his equilibrium while the process was on. Just in case he thought the lawn in front of his house where a number of family events took place in the past would suffice for his 80th, however, his children, select kinsmen and friends had other plans. Ugochukwu’s trajectory commands thanksgiving in every way. He was the third of seven children. Except for his immediate younger sister, Chinyere Achinivu, all the others are no longer with us. More touching is the fact that none of his siblings attained the age of 70, nay 80. There was therefore no shying away from celebrating the goodness of God. From New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, Warri, family members, relatives, in-laws, friends, former colleagues were already streaming into Abuja days before the programme. Boisterousness and festivity enveloped the air, setting the stage for a memorable event. A thanksgiving service was held at the Methodist Church Nigeria, Cathedral of Unity, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, Saturday November 9, 2024, the very date of Ugochukwu’s milestone and was attended by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Flagbearer of Labour Party, (LP) during the 2023 elections, Peter Obi and former Permanent Secretary and Ambassador at various times, Godknows Igali and his wife, were also present. Obasanjo used the opportunity to pay tribute to Ugochukwu who was his Director of Publicity back in 1998, when he, Obasanjo, first dabbled into partisan politics. He acknowledged the name-calling Ugochukwu endured from his kinsmen at the time. They could not fathom why he chose to work for Obasanjo, when former Vice President Alex Ekwueme also from the Igbo country, was contesting the same election. He celebrated Ugochukwu for his multisectoral contributions to national development. He lauded him in particular for emplacing a sustainable road map for implementation by the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), as foundation Chairman, over two decades ago. *Rainbow Marquee and Event Centre* in Garki, Abuja was the venue of the reception. Days before, Ugochukwu was apprehensive about the cavernous size of the auditorium, noting it might just be half empty with the kind of restrictions placed on attendance. By the time he and his family joined his guests straight from church, however, Ugochukwu was astounded. He barely could believe what his “eyes were telling him.” The marquee was brimming and bustling. His guests by the way were not from the mass of those admonished by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to *eat wherever they found food!* Sometimes in life, we never know the depth of veneration we command in people’s hearts, until we are privileged to be honoured at events like Ugochukwu’s. What could have been more gratifying than having former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Ali and his wife Marian and former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, topping your guest list? Senator representing Ugochukwu’s Abia Central Zone, Austin Akobundu, who chaired the programme, and the Member Representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Obi Aguocha, were in attendance. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator for Abia South Zone, was represented by his wife, Florence Nwamaka, while former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Oko Chukwu Ude, also graced the occasion. So did former Health Minister, Professor Alphonsus Nwosu and his wife; former Senators representing Abia Central, Chris Adighije and Nkechi Nwogu, and running mate to Ugochukwu during his gubernatorial quest in 2006/2007, Chinwe Nwanganga and his wife. Other dignitaries at the event included Olusegun Runsewe, former Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, (NCAC); Nebolisa Emodi, retired Permanent Secretary, State House Administration and Reverend Benson Ezem, Chairman of *Cosmo Base Group* and his wife. Uba Agadaga, former Member of the National Assembly Service Commission, (NASC); Nonso Ogbunamiri, a Lagos-based *multipreneur;* Umeh Kalu, SAN, former Attorney-General, Abia State and Handel Okoli, also a renowned attorney and adviser in the Obasanjo/Atiku government, made it to the event. Segun Ilori, Legal Adviser, Green Energy Ltd, and Tivlumun Nyitse, Professor and former Chief of Staff in Benue State, honoured the programme. Emeritus Librarian, the septuagenarian Tunji Okegbola; adviser to the former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Nwosu and his wife; long-serving media adviser to Babatunde Fashola, SAN, former Lagos State Governor, who was also Works Minister, Hakeem Bello, topped the *Daily Times alumni* who celebrated their senior colleague. Paul Mumeh, media aide to former President of the Senate, David Mark; Joe Ibekwe, Convener of the FLED International Leadership Institute, and longtime Ugochukwu photographer, Tumo Ojelabi, all of them *Timesmen,* showed up for their former boss. From the NDDC family, “ancient and modern,” came former Managing Director who was also pioneer Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Timi Alaibe. There was also the former NDDC Commissioner for Cross River State, Professor Eyong Nyong; the recently retired legal adviser to the Commission, Steve Igbomuaye and former protocol head, now multibillionaire entrepreneur, Julius Rone representing the old era. Incumbent Chairman of the Commission, Chiedu Ebie; Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Boma Iyaye, topped the present generation of the NDDC leadership. Not forgetting the Corporate Affairs Director of the organisation, Seledi Wakama. The NDDC solidarity was as remarkable in numbers as it was in goodwill. They supported the production of two books to commemorate the event. Obasanjo wrote the Foreword to one of the books, *Galvanising Development in the Niger Delta: Selected Engagements by Onyema Ugochukwu,* jointly edited by this writer and the eminent journalist, John Araka. The second publication, a dedicated anthology of tributes to Ugochukwu, titled *Testaments and Testimonials: Celebrating Onyema Ugochukwu at 80,* was edited by Tunde Olusunle. The work is an anthology of about 90 attestations to Ugochukwu, predominantly by professional colleagues, old and young. Hakeem Bello one of the contributors to the volume, fittingly describes it as a “collector’s item.” What better way to profile an anthology with contributors from the media like: Yemi Ogunbiyi; Dan Agbese; Tola Adeniyi; Felix Adenaike; Lade Bonuola; Olu Obafemi; Chidi Amuta; Godini Gabriel Darah; Ben Obi; Dare Babarinsa and Ayo Akinkuotu? Tributes from Solomon Odemwingie; Emma Agu; Lanre Idowu; Omar Farouk Ibrahim; Lanre Idowu; Ohi Alegbe; Nduka Nwosu; Gbenga Adefaye; Eniola Bello; Idang Alibi; Gboyega Okegbenro; Olusegun Adeniyi; Segun Ayobolu; Segun Ilori; Lizzy Ikem, Angela Agoawike and Martins Oloja also feature. Gbenga Ayeni; Tunde Rahman; Al Bishak; Salisu Na’inna Dambatta; Lawal Ogienagbon and Dan Akpovwa, equally celebrate Ugochukwu in this volume. Ugochukwu’s globality resonates from the pages of this book. You find a man who is Igbo by birth and origin, but pan-Nigerian in thought and outlook. Ugochukwu’s colleagues, friends and associates come from all over. Tunde Ipinmisho, an Emeritus Editor who served under Ugochukwu in *Daily Times* always remarks about Ugochukwu’s politeness and culturedness: “He tells you “thank you” for whatever you do for him, no matter how little,” Ipinmisho says. The *319-page* innovative assemblage of tributes, is indeed a treasure trove. The two books presented at the programme were published by the rising Ibadan-based *Kraft Books Ltd* and reviewed by Gbenga Ibileye, Professor of English at the Federal University Lokoja, (FUL). They were formally presented at the reception and handed over to guests for free, consistent with the desire of the honoree. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar noted at the event, that at the height of his famous acrimony with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ugochukwu refused to take sides. According to him, Ugochukwu was a conciliator who tried as much as he could, to mediate between both sides. He described Ugochukwu as an “extremely dedicated and passionate Nigerian, a credible and perfect gentleman.” Turning to Mrs Ugochukwu on the table they all sat, Atiku said: “Madam, you are very fortunate to have him.” He prayed for good health and many more years for Ugochukwu. Akobundu expressed utmost delight at the rare honour of chairing Ugochukwu’s landmark, a legend he defers to as *Dee,* (elder in Igbo) and leader.” The revelry flowed over to the home of the Ugochukwus, late into the night, with still a lot to savour. • Olusunle, PhD, Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (FANA), teaches Creative Writing at the University of AbujaRichard Cytowic is a neurologist, neuropsychologist, and textbook writer. He specializes in metacognition. He is a professor of Neurology at George Washington University. His New York Times Magazine cover story about the Presidential Press Secretary James Brady received a 1982 Pulitzer Prize nomination. Human brains are products of the Stone Age, and the sensory overload of Digital Age life threatens the natural, optimal functioning of that fundamental biology. Richard Cytowic, an award-winning neurologist, explains why our brains struggle to thrive amid the mass of new addictive technologies and how our modern screen habits are of incredible detriment to happiness and performance. Fortunately, science holds the possibility of how to break the curse digital devices have cast over our lives. Below, Cytowic shares five key insights from his new book, Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age . Listen to the audio version—read by Cytowic himself—in the Next Big Idea App. 1. The brain operates within fixed energy limits. I use the term “Stone–Age” because modern brains are no different from those of our distant ancestors. They have not evolved, whereas technology has grown exponentially. I focus on digital distractions and the detrimental effects of phones and screens on our minds. Attention spans have gone to hell. People say, “I’m addicted to my phone,” then spend hours scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, unable to cut back no matter how much they say they want to. People wrongly look at the issue as a matter of external forces rather than from the brain’s perspective. | I also think in engineering terms: What does it cost in energy to perform a certain action or think a certain thing? No amount of diet, exercise, or Sudoku puzzles can increase available energy. Willpower and a pot of coffee are, likewise, useless. If we can’t overcome the brain’s inherent energy limits, then we need to work with what we have. The idea that planks and Pilates can boost brain power is a fantasy. The biological brain is an energy hog. It accounts for only 2% of body weight yet consumes 20% of the daily calories we burn. Most go towards maintaining physical structures by pumping sodium and potassium ions across membranes. There is precious little left over for mental work. That’s why we’re so awful at multitasking and coping with sensory overload. An overload of working memory is the reason behind the Oscar fiasco in which presenters were handed the wrong envelope for Best Picture. The culprit was tweeting about Emma Stone at the very moment he should have been cueing up the next envelope. Your attention cannot hold two things at once. 2. People’s appetite for mental garbage. People obsess over what they put in their bodies: organic, vegan, gluten-free, no artificial colorings. Why aren’t they as picky about what they take in through the senses? The mental garbage we ingest is arguably more harmful than an occasional cheeseburger and fries. Some individuals fast for health or religious reasons. What if it were possible to indulge in a sensory fast for a day—or even an hour—free from texts, tweets, videos, emails, and other digital junk food? Our brains did not evolve to crave constant stimulation; they crave face–to–face social engagement. To a baby, nothing is more fascinating than a human face. They lock onto it, follow it, and smile as their pupils dilate. Every parent and grandparent knows this. So why do we block our real faces from one another with mediated images on phones and tablets? Thousands of likes, follows, and online acquaintances are nothing compared to an intimate connection with the person sitting next to us. We’ve all seen people gathered around, each staring alone into their cellphones, failing to engage with the person a foot away. Is it any wonder why there is an epidemic of loneliness? 3. Screens induce virtual autism. Virtual autism is the development of autistic-like behaviors in otherwise normal youngsters who are exposed to heavy amounts of screen media, especially gaming. The term “virtual autism” was introduced in 2018 by psychiatrist Marius Teodor Zamfir, who studied children exposed to prolonged screen time. Though behaviors mimic those of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—avoiding eye contact, social withdrawal, delayed language, and reduced imaginative play—these children typically recover once screen time is drastically reduced or eliminated. Young brains are malleable and molded by whatever environment they are exposed to. Critical windows, particularly during the first two years of life, are essential for growing connections in brain areas responsible for vision, language, and social cognition. Screens interfere with this natural development by reinforcing pathways that prioritize sensory gratification—such as rapid sequences of sights and sounds—at the expense of those for social and emotional intelligence, empathy, and imagination. 4. Screens act like secondhand smoke. Just as we learned to shield ourselves from cigarette fumes, we can guard against unwanted screen exposure. Monitors play cooking shows while you’re on the treadmill. Advertisements beckon in subway stations and bus shelters. Can you remember when those used to be quiet spaces where you could be alone with your thoughts? You probably can’t. Trying not to look is hard if not impossible. You may have an hour to kill at the airport, but a monitor in the lounge blasts out the latest news as if the updates on the bottom crawl were something you couldn’t live without knowing right now . It seizes your attention like a moth to a flame and holds it. Screens demand to be looked at. We can reclaim our attention, but it takes effort. Screens will always be proliferating. We can learn, however, to coexist with them by establishing screen-free zones and socializing face–to–face more often with others. We can set boundaries for when and where we use our devices, who we let text us, and what companies we allow to send us push notifications. It is easier said than done, but you must begin somewhere. The strongest thing you can do is begin and keep at it. 5. iPads are the worst babysitter and a form of child abuse. We once lived in a slow-paced, natural world of green environments. Resources our ancestors once fought for now overwhelm us. Today’s technology, promised to enrich our lives, has been crafted to hold users’ attention as long as possible. There are only 1,440 minutes in a day, and tech companies fight ruthlessly for our eyeballs, making it hard to disengage. Hook an infant on an iPad, and you have a customer for life. Exasperated parents may say they’re the only thing that keeps kids quiet, but the iPad is the worst babysitter ever. Shoving one in front of a youngster or dangling it over a bassinet is a form of child abuse, in my opinion, because doing so blocks the development of their central vision. Normal vision is 20/20; a newborn’s acuity is 20/400. Color vision becomes functional around four to six months, as do other networks for decoding the perceptual complexity of movement. Despite their underdeveloped vision, newborns are astute social creatures: locking onto an adult’s dilated pupils is a common sign of interest and pleasure that makes them smile. iPads interfere with this natural development. Screen characters don’t talk with a child but rather at them. They provide none of the emotional, social, and linguistic cues that pour forth when a child interacts with a real parent or grandparent. Critical windows within the first two years exist for the growth of brain areas responsible for vision, language, and emotional intelligence, including Theory of Mind, which entails learning how to read others—a skill that develops long before we learn to speak. Screens interfere with the natural maturation sequence by reinforcing pathways that prioritize immediate sensory gratification over pathways destined for this kind of emotional intelligence. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
The story so far: On International Diabetes Day (November 14), a paper published in The Lancet , based on a global study, recorded over 800 million adults living with diabetes , with more than half not receiving treatment. According to the study, the total number of adults living with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes in the world has surpassed 800 million — over four times the total number in 1990. Of this, over a quarter (212 million) live in India, with another 148 million in China. The estimate came as a bit of a shock, because the last scientific countrywide estimate by the Indian Council of Medical Research-INDIAB study last year had pegged the number at slightly over 100 million. Why is there a discrepancy in numbers? The nub of it is in the means used to measure blood sugar, experts have pointed out. The Lancet study, conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), along with the World Health Organization (WHO), used data from over 140 million people (18+ years) culled from more than 1,000 studies in different countries. They estimated trends from 1990 to 2022 in diabetes prevalence and treatment for 200 countries and territories. As such they had to use what was available as data in these nations — picking fasting glucose or HbA1C or a three-month glycated haemoglobin average. The ICMR study, however, used a fasting measure and a two-hour post prandial value to come up with the number of people who have elevated blood sugar levels. It is the use of differing measures to estimate diabetes that has led to the variation. V. Mohan, chairman, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, who was part of the ICMR-INDIAB study says, while a number of countries have moved to measuring HbA1C, India still sticks to the measure of the fasting and two-hour post prandial readings with an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) as the gold standard. “If they had taken the OGTT values alone, then the number would be half of what was recorded,” he says. “Using HbA1c, they preferred a single cut-off point to determine diabetes — 6.5 %. Even in those with normal glucose, a small percentage will spill over into the 6.5% HbA1c value, depending on whether individuals are ‘fast’ or ‘normal glycators’. Glycation is influenced by many things, including anaemia, and advancing age. Someone who is nondiabetic too, but is older, may have a high A1C value. In some earlier studies, when we used HbA1C, we found a doubling of the figures,” he adds, reasoning out why the OGTT figures are considered the gold standard. However, he adds that a global study the size of what was attempted as part of this exercise would have to use the information already available in countries, and not all nations have OGTT fasting and post prandial values. Anoop Mishra, chairperson, Fortis CDOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, adds that sources of data are multiple here, thereby giving rise to apparent differences in total numbers. Also, he adds that Type 1 diabetics are a small proportion of the total diabetes cases in India, and it is Type 2 diabetes that poses problems for the future. What are the areas of concern? Whether 100 million or 200 million, the fact remains that India already has a large number of people requiring treatment for their diabetes, and who, as a consequence are prone to several life-threatening complications involving the heart, eyes, kidneys, and peripheral nervous system. Quibbling over numbers apart, the Lancet study must be seen as yet another reminder that in India, diabetes has grown — and is growing — across populations, and efforts should be made on a warfooting to both prevent diabetes and treat persons with the condition. Another aspect that the study highlighted was the lack of access to treatment for people with diabetes. Senior author of the paper, Majid Ezzati, of the Imperial College, London, says: “Our study highlights widening global inequalities in diabetes, with treatment rates stagnating in many low-and middle-income countries, where numbers of adults with diabetes are drastically increasing. This is especially concerning as people with diabetes tend to be younger in low-income countries, and in the absence of effective treatment, are at risk of life-long complications, including amputation, heart disease, kidney damage or vision loss, or in some cases, premature death.” No country in the world can afford to treat patients when the complications of diabetes set in, explains Dr. Mohan. “Even if we assume we have 100 million people with diabetes and 20% of them move to kidney failure, then that is 20 million people who will need a kidney transplant. How are we going to help all those people?” Dr. Mishra invokes a war metaphor, to stress the urgency of the fight ahead for challenges that might seem, like the labours of Hercules, impossible to achieve and yet only require near superhuman effort. “Unless war-like efforts, using mass media for raising awareness on nutrition, physical activity, are put in, and more legal provisions to cut down carbs and sugar-sweetened beverages, it will be a tall order to keep the numbers from rising,” he says. Speaking ahead of World Diabetes Day, International Diabetes Federation Peter Schwarz spoke about prevention as the primary, crucial aspect in this game: “My heart is beating for prevention. And then the next step is prevention, and then prevention again.” Dr. Mishra adds that nations such as India have a duty to focus on the vulnerable, lower middle class, semi-urban and rural people. “We have to majorly educate women since they are prone to obesity post pregnancy and have a heightened risk at menopause. We need to cut off the rising trend of obesity, [Abdominal obesity has been identified as one of the key causes of diabetes among Indians] with all these efforts. A long-term vision for about 10 years is required,” he explains. What can individuals do? The Lancet paper identifies obesity and poor diets as important drivers of the rise in Type 2 diabetes rates. Diabetes rate was either already high or increased more in some of the regions where obesity was or became prevalent between 1990 and 2022, compared to many high-income countries, especially those in the Pacific and western Europe, where, in general, obesity and diabetes rates did not rise or rose by a relatively small amount. The writing is on the wall: a measure of mindful eating and exercising have a proven effect in preventing diabetes, and controlling blood sugar levels. The challenge for governments, however, is to make it possible for people to exercise these healthy choices, and for people to demand it of their rulers. As Anjana Ranjit, a collaborator on the ICMR-INDIAB study, says: “We need to see more ambitious policies that restrict unhealthy foods, make healthy foods affordable. Opportunities to exercise must be ensured, besides promoting safe places for walking and exercising, including access to public parks and fitness centres, subsidies provided for healthy foods and free, healthy school meals.” Published - November 24, 2024 04:20 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit health / diabetes / The Hindu Explains
Qatar tribune The first round of presidential elections has begun in Romania, with voters choosing a replacement for the outgoing President Klaus Iohannis. Romanians were choosing between 13 candidates on Sunday, with the top two moving on to a second round of voting on December 8 if no single candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round. That second presidential vote may be between current Social Democratic Party (PSD) Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the far-right leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion. By 12:00 GMT, Romania’s central election bureau said the voter turnout was 27 percent. Romanians had until 19:00 GMT to cast their votes. Ciolacu has been leading in the polls with 25 percent compared with Simion, who according to opinion polls holds the support of 15 to 19 percent of the country. Romanian political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu said that the AUR party could get a boost in the parliamentary election slated for December 1 if Simion performs well in the presidential vote, and other right-leaning voters could coalesce around Simion if he reaches the run-off. Copy 25/11/2024 10First treatment in 50 years for serious asthma attacks is ‘game-changer’Daniel Bwala , Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has defended the controversial tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly, stating that they are in line with the President’s manifesto and campaign promises. Speaking on the matter, Bwala emphasized that the reforms, including the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, reflect Tinubu’s vision for a more equitable tax system in Nigeria. The bills are: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country; and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes. Others include: the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman. Speaking on Trust Tv’s Sunday Politics programme, Bwala said that it was not an obsession, but actually part of the mandate of the president. Bwala said, “Remember when he went on campaign, he campaigned on those promises. And it is encapsulated in his manifesto, actually. So he is trying to make good his promise to the Nigerian people. And so there is no obsession there. It is passion to deliver on good governance. “And the reason why you hear the outcry and the belief that the tax bill is against the North is because some stakeholders in the North lend their voice in that regard. In other words, people peddle the politicization of the bill because quite frankly, a lot of them have not looked at the bill. I mean, some of the proponents of the bill are Northerners. “If you carefully look at that bill, actually, it is the harmonization of all the tax laws in the country to deliver efficient tax administration in Nigeria. Let me just tell you a few things about that. It is classified into four different enactments. You have the Nigerian tax bill, which is, of course, the model or the grown-up of all the tax administration. “So it is, apart from the tax bill, you have the Nigerian tax administration bill. We have the revenue service establishment bill. We also have the joint revenue board establishment bill. “In the tax bill, Nigerians will benefits a lot. For instance, the exemption of individuals earning below N800,000 from paying tax. Isn’t it wonderful? Because before now, even if you’re earning N800,000 or you’re earning below N800,000, you will have to pay certain tax. “But in this tax administration, if your earning per annum is less than N800,000, you are not required to pay tax. And that has nothing to do with the north or the south. And those earning N50m, for example, will pay 25% of their income rate. “But under the current law, even if it is N3.2m, you will still be required to pay tax. That is the exemption of business from paying income tax. If the business’s annual income is less than N50m, you also have the reduction of company income tax rate from 30 to 25.” The presidential aide also listed some of the benefits of the harmonization of the tax bill. “First, private citizens. Secondly, income earners, people who work, were working class. And the third one, those who do small-scale business, like the SMEs, because we need to encourage small and medium-scale businesses. “And the fourth one, of course, companies that are either small or big in their own right. And then, of course, the coordination of tax, so that we do not have all these tax embellished in different laws that at the end of the day, the implementation or administration of the tax becomes incumbent on the Nigerian people,” Bwala said.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson has been ruled out for the Colts' big game at the New York Giants on Sunday. Richardson missed practice on Thursday and Friday because of back and foot injuries. He was listed as questionable before he was downgraded to out on Saturday. Indianapolis (7-8) has a slim chance of making the playoffs. The Colts need to win out and get some help. Richardson's absence likely means Joe Flacco will start against New York. Flacco, a New Jersey native who turns 40 on Jan. 16, has passed for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns in six games this season, including four starts. He also has thrown five interceptions. The 22-year-old Richardson was selected by Indianapolis with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft. He has passed for 1,814 yards and eight touchdowns with 12 interceptions this year. Injury update: QB Anthony Richardson (Back/Foot) has been downgraded to out for #INDvsNYG . CB JuJu Brents (Knee) remains on the injured reserve list and has been downgraded to out. https://t.co/TlOnzJzBOQ
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Notre Dame forward Danny Nelson scored twice, Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky made 25 saves and the defending champion United States beat Latvia 5-1 on Saturday in the world junior hockey championship. The United States improved to 2-0 in Group A play, while Latvia dropped to 1-1 a day after stunning Canada with a 3-2 victory in a shootout. Boston College’s Ryan Leonard, Denver’s Zeev Buium and Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante also scored for the Americans. They will be back in action Sunday at Canadian Tire Centre against Finland, then close group play Tuesday night against Canada. Davids Livsics scored for Latvia. Linards Feldbergs stopped 36 shots after making 55 saves against Canada and stopping all eight attempts in the shootout. In the only other game of the day, Czechia beat Kazakhstan 14-2 at TD Place. Czechia and Sweden are both 2-0 in Group B. Matej Mastalirsky, Vojtech Hradec and Jakub Stancl had hat tricks, with Hradec and Stancl also each assisting on two goals. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports Advertisement