The Peoples Democratic Party National Vice Chairman, North Central Zone, Alhaji Yusuf A. Ayitogo has enjoined all aspirants in the forth coming local government election in Nasarawa state to be law abiding and peaceful in the course of their campaign.

Alhaji Ayitogo stated this while speaking to newsmen in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, last week.

He urged all aspirants to play the game according to the rules and regulations contained in the party’s guidelines with respect to the party’s primary election.

He advised the state chapter o the party (PDP) to be fair and just in organisnig the party’s primary elections, urging the party and the aspirants to have a common understanding among themselves in order to produce useful results.

Alhaji Ayitogo who is the immediate past chairman of the party in Nasarawa state said efforts were being made to strengthen the party by reconciling all aggrieved members of the party.

He said, branches of the party in all states of the federation have been directed to woo back their founding members who had left the party because of some reasons.

According to him, the party would soon set up a committee that would monitor the implementation of the party’s manifesto so that the electorate would feel the impact of the PDP government.

He also stated that the party’s officers would be allowed to undergo certain trainings like seminars, workshop and induction courses to enable them operate strictly in accordance with the party constitution.

Niger assembly probes board of internal revenue

The Niger State Assembly has set up a committee to investigate the activities of the state revenue board.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly also suspended the operations of the tax consultant in the state. The investigation was sequel to a motion by Mohammed Dada of the Public Account Committee of the House that the board's activities be investigated.

Dada said that the engagement of a tax consultant by the state government was contrary to Section 85(b) sub-section 3, paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Personal Income Tax Act. ``In view of the foregoing, all contract agreement between the state government and the tax consultant to that extent are void and therefore of no effect.

``This House should constituted an adhoc committee to investigate the entire system of tax collection in the state," he told the assembly.

According to him, the board has well-trained staff in tax administration and management that are capable of collecting tax, but the state government engaged a tax collector to do the job, which is contrary to the constitution.

Dada stressed that the Act limits the services of a tax consultant to the extent of training, public enlightenment, seminars and workshops and does not include tax assessment, collection and accounts.

He said that the state government ought to have funded the board to upgrade its facilities, train its staff and give incentives, instead of paying a tax consultant between 10 and 13 per cent of the revenue collected.

The Minority Whip, Afiniki Dauda seconded the motion, while Usman Magaji, the House chairman on Rules and Business, moved for the adoption of the motion.

He said adoption of the motion would go a long way in improving the revenue collection of the state, so that the government's plan of making the state the third best economy by 2020 would be attained.

The House subsequently adopted the motion and the Speaker, Mohammad Alkali, appointed nine members to serve on the ad hoc committee. (NAN)