On Feb 25, 2019, Dr Bukola Saraki became one of the major casualties of the 2019 general elections as he lost his bid to return to the Senate.
He lost the Kwara Central Senatorial District to the APC candidate, Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe in what election observers described as a major upset.
As everyone knew, he was more focused on helping former vice-president Atiku Abubakar win the presidency. We all know that Saraki's candidate lost, but that's not really what I'm here to discuss now.
I want to explore some changes that have been made since Sen. Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan became the senate president.
• Attempt to pass hate speech bill
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, a lawmaker of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) sponsored a bill which will make it possible to sentence to death by hanging anybody convicted of spreading hate speech.The hate speech bill has been condemned by so many people including the PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar.
On whether the bill will stand, we're yet to find out but the senate president has asked Nigerians to mobilise against the proposed hate speech bill if they do not want it.
• Introducing POS charges
I shared how one of our authors who decided to do a test withdrawal of ₦1,000 in a local POS was charged ₦1,100 (₦50 was for the withdrawal and ₦50 was for the stamp duty).
Nigerian merchants have started including the ₦50 stamp duty in their POS machines automatically after the a CBN’s directive to banks to charge ₦50 Stamp Duty on individual transactions, rather than merchants’ accounts.
• Border closure
This is another trending issue that I need to address. I know (or at least them made us believe) that the border would positively impact the Nigerian economy, it's effect on the individual Nigerians is also worth talking about. At least, the price of rice in the local market can confirm it.Good a thing, fg have announced that they may be opening the borders by January 2020. Let's keep our hands folded while watching the ogas.
• Renovation of the national assembly with ₦37 billion
My God, since renovation costs so much, why don't they just build a new house? At least, they never announced that they'd be building another Eiffel tower in Nigeria.But who am I to complain? Since the president has approved it, so be it!
• Increasing VAT from 5% to 7.5%
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) on Wednesday, 11 September 2019, approved a 50% increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate applicable on supply of goods and services in Nigeria, from 5% to 7.5%. The new rate is expected to take effect in 2020 after due consultations with relevant stakeholders.PDP, through its publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan has urged the Senate to assert its independence by refusing to pass the Value Added Tax increase bill which it described as as toxic and insensitive.
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