General News
NIA Reiterates Opposition to Workmen’s Compensation Bill
The proposed bill on employee compensation presently pending in the National Assembly has continued to generate intense oppositions from professionals, especially the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA). According to the pulse of the insurance professionals, allowing the bill to succeed would amount to compounding the problems of employees in the area of taxation. Defending its opposition to the Bill proposed by the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the NIA stated that under section 34, sub-section 1 of the proposed bill, “every employer shall make a minimum monthly contribution of 1.0 percent of the total monthly payroll into the Fund.” The argument of the insurers’organ is that workers would be subjected to multiple taxation which is already a big burden on the workers. It stated that employees are already chocked with the lack of infrastructural amenities such as electricity and water even as they are paying other forms of taxes under different names. The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) in a presentation to the two relevant committees of the National Assembly said the proposed bill, if passed in its present form, would create a huge tax burden on employees. According to the NIA, the biting taxation under which employees were currently engrossed include the National Health Insurance Scheme, the National Housing Fund, Retirement Savings Account deductions in Pension Reform Act 2004, Company tax, Education tax as well as other multiple taxes by states and local governments.
The insurer’s umbrella body which vowed to resist every attempt to further impoverish the employees stated that if the NSITF was allowed to run away with the benefit of the workmen’s compensation, amounted to creating a body which would become untamable in future, particularly in arbitrary fixing of rates against the wishes of the workers. In the words of David Iyasere, Corporate Affairs manager, the NIA is equally vexed by the fact that the proposed Bill gives NSITF the power to invade companies’ premises at will to cart away vital documents in its bid to enforce the law, especially if the NSITF acts in line with Section 42 of the proposed bill. Under the enforcement powers of the bill, a "public officer may, for the purpose of carrying out his or her duties under this Act and any regulations made there under or pursuant to any enactment or law shall – enter in any workplace at any time with or without warrant or notice."
NIA reiterated that under the proposed bill, it could require the production of any licence, document, record or report, inspect, and examine a copy of same, remove any licence, document, record or report inspected or examined for the purpose of making copies or extracts and that any inspection, examination or inquiry, shall be accompanied and assisted by a police officer or other person or persons having special, expert or professional knowledge of any matter in respect of which inspection is being carried out. The insurance professionals organ opined that it the provisions of the proposed bill was in its entirety, inimical to the well-being of the people, in a country where the deeply committed to encouraging investments, both locally and internationally.
General News
House of Reps Releases Certified Copies of Tax Reform Acts amid Gazette Discrepancy Claims
House of Representatives has released certified true copies of the four tax reform Acts signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, addressing public concerns over alleged discrepancies between legislative versions and circulated gazetted documents.
Tax Reform Acts
House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the immediate publication of the Acts—including endorsement and presidential assent pages—for public verification, in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The move followed allegations raised by Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki on the House floor, highlighting inconsistencies between Bills passed by the National Assembly and executive gazetted versions, which he warned could erode legislative integrity and public trust.
Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Rep. Aliyu Betara, with members including Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi and Babajimi Benson, to investigate the alleged alterations, unauthorised circulation and preventive measures.
The committee’s mandate includes probing circumstances around the discrepancies, while Abbas ordered internal verification and public release of certified copies to dispel doubts and safeguard legislative records. Legal experts, tax professionals and civil society had demanded clarification and implementation suspension amid heated debates triggered by Dasuki’s intervention.
The released laws comprise the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025, described as foundational to modernising Nigeria’s tax system.
These reforms aim to enhance compliance, curb inefficiencies, eliminate overlaps and bolster fiscal coordination across federal, state and local tiers, following extensive stakeholder consultations, committee reviews and plenary debates under Abbas’s leadership.
Rotimi reassured Nigerians: “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway.”
He emphasised that only National Assembly-certified versions hold authority, urging the public, institutions and stakeholders to disregard all other circulating documents as unofficial.
MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, has retained the distribution rights to 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels following the signing of a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement between CANAL+ Group and Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership.
MultiChoice
The new deal, which spans several regions across Africa and Europe, covers the distribution of HBO Max as well as the renewal of selected Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels. It represents a major milestone in the companies’ international collaboration and strengthens content offerings across MultiChoice Group territories.
MultiChoice disclosed that this agreement builds on earlier partnerships concluded in Europe. “It builds on the landmark agreements concluded in France in 2024,including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films just six months after their theatrical release in France and the integration of HBO Max within select CANAL+ group offers – as well as in Poland in 2025, with the renewal of the distribution agreement for 22 thematic channels (including TVN 24 and Eurosport) and 4 free-to-air channels (including TVN).”
Under the renewed arrangement, MultiChoice Group will continue to distribute 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across its territories, with some channels offered on an exclusive basis. CNN International and Cartoon Network will remain exclusive to South Africa while being distributed non-exclusively in other markets. Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive in Angola and Mozambique and non-exclusive elsewhere. Other channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, TNT Africa, Travel, ID and Cartoonito will be offered on a non-exclusive basis.
According to the partners, the deal reinforces CANAL+ Group’s channel portfolio on the continent. “This agreement enables CANAL+ Group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offerings in African markets.”
The agreement is also expected to improve access for CANAL+ Group subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium content through HBO Max and selected channels, including globally recognised series and films, further extending the studio’s international reach while consolidating MultiChoice’s content offering in key markets.
Nigeria Police Force has suspended nationwide enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy, hours before its scheduled rollout, in compliance with a Delta State High Court order.
Tinted glass permit
The policy, set for January 2, 2026, aimed to curb vehicle-related crimes but faced legal challenge from a private citizen against the Inspector-General of Police, the force, and Delta Police Commissioner.
An ex parte injunction issued in December 2025 restrained enforcement pending suit determination, prompting the hold announced by spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin on January 1.
Police entered appearance, filed preliminary objections, and sought injunction vacation; hearing adjourned to January 20, 2026.
The Nigerian Bar Association condemned initial police plans as “executive recklessness,” accusing disregard for rule of law, while police insisted no permanent bar existed on statutory duties.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun reiterated adherence to law while prioritising public safety via intelligence-led strategies during proceedings.
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