Alhaji Lai Mohammed appears confused over the corruption fight

Lai Mohammed

 Alhaji Lai Mohammed the Minister for Information in Nigeria seems to be confused over what he has described as government's clear strategy for fighting corruption. The question on the minds of most Nigerians is: Is government's anti-corruption policy geared towards deterring people from stealing money, or is it programmed towards recovering as much stolen money as possible?
The Minister said government strategy has proven to be effective since it has led to, the recovery of 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from one former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office.
He said the federal government is not just fixated on prosecution alone, but is also taking preventive measures to make corruption unattractive.
Alhaji Mohammed listed the strict enforcement of the Treasury Singles Account (TSA), which has largely reduced the diversion of government funds into various secret accounts, and the constant fishing out of ghost workers in the public service, which many states are now adopting, as some of the preventive measures against corruption.
He however said some other measures have been perfected to strengthen the anti-corruption fight, adding that the measures include the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery and the Asset Tracing Committee; the setting up of an Asset Register, and the Whistle Blower Policy.
The Minister also announced the plan by the government – working through the Code of Conduct Bureau – to commence, starting in 2017, a trial run of electronic asset declaration to facilitate compliance.
But the minister appears to have contradicted himself. Since the fight against corruption begun government has not been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that those brought before the courts under allegations of corruption are really guilty. No conviction has been obtained and a lot of secrecy surrounds many of those who are returning the money they have stolen. The plea bargain has constantly been used by people who have been caught and charged with corruption. The belief appears to be anyone who has stolen money who can return same would be let off the hook with no charges to answer to.
Observers believe that this approach would rather encourage corruption rather than deter it.

Trading threats is not helping Rivers State development.

Governor  Nyesom Wike

 Watching the exchange between Governor Nyesom Wike and his political opponents, members of the All Progressive Congress in Rivers State could be quite unpalatable. Every time the chief executive of the state mounts the podium, he seizes the opportunity to send a diatribe to APC. Members of the APC are not relenting in their equally violent replies to the governor and the what should be on the minds of people in the state is why do these people keep fighting? The elections that they were battling over have been held and have passed. Why is Rivers State so controversial?
See the latest drama that unfolded in Rivers:
Wike said:“They said they will blow the plane that I will board. You are plotting, do you know whether God will blow your own plane before that time?” the governor said, adding that the state was under constant assault by the leaders of the opposition party.
Reacting to this the publicity secretary of the APC in Rivers state said:

 “Governor Wike’s accusation that the APC is planning to bomb his plane simply underscores the extent the governor has become hysterically frightened of his own shadows and his past iniquities.

“It is quite unfortunate that Governor Wike has become helpless in dealing with the outcome of his past actions, but constantly suffering psychological relapses.

 The debate goes on between the governor and the opposition in the state. One thing remains constant: Rivers State would continue to be in a state of conflict if the two parties do not bury the hatchet. Under such heated debates how does Wike attract investors to the state, how does he make people feel safe in the state? 

The utterances of the governor alleging death threats that cannot be proven and those of the opposition leave much to be desired. If there is tension in the state then those who are trading threats in the media ought to be blamed.

Adeboye to Fayose at the Ewi of Ado Ekiti's Palace:

"We thank God for your courage, for your boldness, we thank God for your being willing to take risks so that your people can be protected.
You have been a governor who knows when to say enough is enough in defence of his people. And I’m sure you know what I’m talking about and I am sure the world knows.

I don’t want to say more than that but be assured that we are praying for you and you will succeed in Jesus name.
IF THIS IS ALL PASTOR ADEBOYE SAID ITS A SHAME FOR PEOPLE TO SAY THAT HE WAS BRIBED BY THE GOVERNOR! ANYONE WHO READS BETWEEN THE LINES SHOULD KNOW THAT THE REFERENCE WAS ABOUT HERDSMEN. OUR JOURNALISTS SOMETIMES WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SELL A STORY, ANALYST ARE ANALYZING WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW!

El Rufai's tricky peace process for Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has said his government has traced some violent,  aggrieved Fulani to their countries and paid them to stop the killings of Southern Kaduna natives and the destruction of their communities saying that the renewed violence is carried out by bandits. El-Rufai made this known while fielding questions from some select Journalists in his office in Kaduna recently. Since this proclamation that came from the governor himself many observers of the political terrain in Northern Nigeria have wondered if the governor is actually on the right track to restoring peace in Kaduna. 
El Rufai's strategies have drawn a lot of criticism from members of the public. Right from the clash between Shite Muslims onto the killing of Shite members by the military and the outlawing of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, the governor's solutions have appeared only to lead to more violence in the state. Presently a dusk till dawn curfew has been imposed on parts of Southern Kaduna by the governor in a bid to maintain peace.

Hundreds of irate youths protesting the frequent attacks and killings in Southern Kaduna communities, have pelted the convoy of the  Governor with stones. El Rufai has visited the areas affected by the attacks five times. The recent visit was said to have been prompted by rising tension in Kafanchan after a 24 hour curfew was imposed by the council chairman last Monday.The governor, however, assured the people of the area that everything was being done to put an end to the killings.Speaking when he visited the Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isah Muhammadu, and the Chief of Kagoro, Ufoi Bonet and Chief of Marwa, Tagwai Sambo, in their palaces, el-Rufai urged all aggrieved parties to sheath their swords and embrace peace.

He said the state government was working very hard to ensure that necessary security measures were put in place to protect lives and property and maintain law and order.
“I and the deputy governor took oath of office to protect lives and property of all citizens, and we are committed to ensuring that this is achieved,” he said.

He appealed to the people to avoid taking laws into their hands in the event of any crisis and urged traditional rulers to talk to their subjects against taking vengeance each time there was problem between or among the persons.

The governor commended the Emir of Jema’a for taking prompt action to stop his subjects from crisis that could have erupted during   protests in Kafanchan, stating that   government was left with no option than to impose the 24-hour curfew in the area.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/weve-paid-fulani-stop-killings-southern-kaduna-el-rufai/

Mrs Rochas Okorocha deserves Nobel Peace Prize!

Nkechi Okorocha

Nkechi Okorocha the wife of the governor of Imo State is possibly the most powerful governor's wife in recent times. Revelations have it that the woman heads four ministries in Imo State The governor,  Chief Rochas Okorocha who made the statement, through the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. George Etche, who represented him as the correspondents chapel in the state honoured his wife, listed the ministries controlled by his wife to include Women Affairs, Works, Health and office of the SSG. The correspondents chapel had honoured the governor’s wife with the Most Outstanding Governor’s Wife Award in Owerri at the weekend. The SSG also confirmed the statement made by the lawmaker representing Onuimo state constituency, Chinedu Offor, who said the governor’s wife deserved to be honoured with the award of “Nobel peace prize.” Nkechi Okorocha He said:  “We should thank God Almighty for giving us Owelle Rochas Okorocha who has offered us free education at all levels. We should also thank God for giving us his wife, Nkechi Okorocha, for putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the state. The question of course is: Isn't the state government suppposed to work for its citizens? Why would anyone want to give her the Nobel because she is playing a role in the state? These are strange times.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/imo-it-is-an-aberration-for-govs-wife-to-oversee-4-ministries-igbo-national-council/

LAKE Rice is for registered Lagosians alone!

Governors Ambode and Governor Bagudu

Why must our leaders politicize everything? When Governor Akinwunmi Ambode announced the sale of LAKE Rice at various locations in Lagos state, it looked like a good initiative. The cost of rice, a staple food in Nigeria, has become a source of concern to many Nigerians. A bag hit the way out price of N24,000 this year. But Ambode's launch on national television did not tell Lagosians that there is a lot of bureaucracy involved in the purchase of a N12.000 bag of LAKE Rice!
A purchaser needs a LASRRA ID card  which would be used to collect an allocation form, the allocation form would be taken to the bank where payment would be made. The bank would issue a teller which would qualify the person to purchase the rice. 
A few things here: If I do not have a LASRRA ID you are not entitled to buy LAKE Rice. LASRRA is the LAGOS STATE RESIDENTS REGISTRATION AGENCY. The agency was launched for the development of accurate and updatable database necessary for effective planning and resource development, the former  Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) launched the Cards of the agency during his time in Lagos state. Ambode who was known for frowning at many of the policies of his predecessor has finally found a use for the card. What this means is anyone who does not have a LASRRA card cannot buy LAKE Rice in Lagos State. Meanwhile as at 22nd of December,2016, many residents of Lagos were looking for the rice to buy but it was not available at the various locations that the governor pin pointed on national television. LAKE Rice is an initiative of the Lagos and Kebbi Governments, the product came from an Memorandum of Understanding signed between both state governments in March, 2016.
The 50kg bag will sell for N12,000; 25kg, N6,000; 10kg, N2,500. He added that for now, an individual would only be allowed to purchase a bag so it can go round. 
The questions arise: why make it seem that the rice is available to the general public when its only for Lagos residents? Why pinpoint locations where it would be sold when its not in those locations?

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/ambode-bagudu-launch-lake-rice-lagos-2/

Atiku for president in Nigeria in 2019? Those for and against.

 Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar intends to vie for president in Nigeria come 2019 and this is sure by the way he has been carrying on in public in recent times. Whoever is advising Atiku seems to have got it right. The former number two has been attending functions in the eastern part of Nigeria, allegedly courting the easterners to support him as well.
On Wednesday, 16 November he was at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as chairman of the annual Zik Lecture Series, where he delivered an address titled “Crisis, Education and Africa’s Recovery”. It  focused on the roles of government and private sector in providing world class education in Nigeria.
 He said “I could not have gone to school if my parents were required to pay for it. That and the importance of education to nation building is the reason why I strongly believe that primary and secondary education should be free and compulsory in our country and indeed across Africa. That way every child gets to acquire basic education to help them improve their lives and help us produce an enlightened citizenry. That is how it is in the countries that we look up to as models of development.” Atiku has been speaking on a variety of issues across Nigeria. Education is just one. He has be speaking about restructuring the country along economic and resource basis and has been a champion of security, especially in North East Nigeria where he hails from. At the public presentation of a book titled "We are all Biafrans" early in the year he said in his speech:

"When I was invited to Chair this occasion, I immediately understood that the title of the book is a metaphor for the legitimate feelings of marginalization by diverse segments of Nigerians that cut across the country. Agitations by many right thinking Nigerians call for a restructuring and renewal of our federation to make it less centralized, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities.

As some of you may know, I have for a long time advocated the need to restructure our federation. Our current structure and the practices it has encouraged have been a major impediment to the economic and political development of our country. In short it has not served Nigeria well, and at the risk of reproach it has not served my part of the country, the North, well. A lot of people are against Atiku's candidacy. The Afenifere has announced its intention to create a new mega party with people from the old the Peoples Democratic Party and aggrieved people of the ruling All Progressives Congress But a lot people are willing to throw spanner in the works if Atiku is made the candidate of the party. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has said he will support a new mega party as long as Atiku is not the presidential candidate! A lot of people in the political space have murmured about Atiku's candidacy but the issues is if people don't want him who will they vote for in 2019? There is no other candidate on the horizon now and Atiku has loads of cash, connections and some good will across ethnic lines. Wont he capitalize on this? Atiku's connections reach far and wide within Nigeria old loyalties to the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) which dates back to the Babangida years could give him some prominence in the race. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a former governor of Lagos state and an influential member of the APC has said he will not abandon the party he helped to build but with old loyalties and Atiku at stake who knows whether he will change his mind?   

FG can't pay salaries but Chris Ngige insists on pay rise!

Dr. Chris Ngige is a person respected by quite a number of people: his term as governor or Anambra state is story to behold any day but as Minister for Labor and productivity Ngige may well lose that respect if care is not taken.  Recently he told the public that the government of Muhammadu Buhari will raise the minimum wage of salaries paid to workers in Nigeria. His pronouncement comes at a period when the Federal Government in Nigeria is finding it hard to pay salaries of workers which attracts a wage bill of over N165billion monthly!Ngige seems to have joined the ranks of Abuja politicians who do not know that Nigeria is in a recession and that people are really suffering to make ends meet.

Oil prices have come up slightly but there is no guaranteeing that  the rise in price will last till the new year 2017! One is tempted to ask on what does the diminutive medical doctor base his analysis?
The Minister said, “minimum wage is a constitutional issue and is in the exclusive list.
“The Nigerian workers are entitled to a review of their pay under the constitution of the Federal  Republic of Nigeria.
“The various committees handling this matter are all working hard to realise the objective. Some are at the final stages of their work.”
He said the kind of minimum wage being worked out by the Buhari administration, would be enforceable by workers in both private and public sectors.
Ngige said that the new minimum wage would be couched  in such a way that any employer of Labour in the country who would pay his workers below the minimum wage would be held liable.
Ngige has not been without controversy at his position. He told financial institutions in Nigeria not lay off workers but the banks in the country have laid off thousands of people months after the pronouncement. The country goes into a festivities this year with many people on the unemployment market which is not really good for the reputation of the Buhari Administration. 

Goodluck Jonathan and John Mahama similarities across the board.

John Dramani Mahama and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan now have more in common than just the sound of one of their names. They both spent six years in office after taking the presidency while holding the position of vice president; the incumbents died, John Atta Mills and Umaru Musa Ya’ardua both died in office leaving two years of their term for their vice presidents to complete.  Both Mahama, born November 29, 1958 (age 58 years) in Damongo, Ghana and Johnathan born November 20, 1957 (age 59 years) in Ogbia, Nigeria are minorities in their countries who political pundits would never give a chance to win the presidency under “normal” circumstances. Jonathan served as president from 2010 to 2015. He served as Vice-President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. Mahama served as the Vice President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012, and took office as President on 24 July 2012 following the death of his predecessor he would leave office in January, 2017.   

Beyond near birthday and near age similarities, Mahama have served under economic circumstances that are not too encouraging to say the least. Oil prices have fallen on their watch and massive pressure has come upon their country currencies which have dipped mainly because of an over reliance on importation.  Both countries produce oil in commercial quantities but the black gold appears to have been more of a curse than a blessing. The new president has served as both foreign minister and attorney general in a previous NPP government, but twice narrowly lost in  earlier electoral battles for the presidency. Buhari who contested against Goodluck Jonathan and won was a former military head of state and a one time minister for petroleum.

Oppositions mounted against the presidencies of both gentlemen have used the economy as major campaign talking point. Ghana accepted a $918 million bailout from the International Monetary Fund under Mahama. The government of President Buhari is trying to convince parliament to endorse a $29.9 billion loan from the West and while Ghana is considered to be one of the most stable democracies in Africa, the people of Nigeria consider Goodluck Jonathan a hero for conceding defeat in an election in which he lost. Mahama conceded defeat with little controversy involved.

Both Mahama and Jonathan have been accused in their countries media of being associated with corrupt individuals in their governments. Publications state that there has been a misuse of public funds during their presidencies but nothing has been proven beyond doubt yet. Mahama is the fourth John to be president in Ghana, those before him have been John Jerry Rawlings, John Kufuor and John Atta Mills. Nana Akufo Addo’s inauguration would end the reign of the Johns for now. Mahama joined a delegation to the West Africa country of Gambia where he is expected to negotiate a smooth transition for a incumbent who recently lost an election but is reluctant to step down.

Adebayo Ogunlesi from Gatwick to Trump adviser

 Adebayo Ogunlesi, a Nigerian business mogul who has majority stake in London Gatwick airport, will be advising Donald Trump, the US president-elect, on the economy.
Trump picked Ogunlesi to join a host of chief executives “who know what it takes to create jobs and drive economic growth” in an advisory council.

SON OF FIRST NIGERIAN PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE

According to his profile on Wikipedia, Ogunlesi is the son of TO Ogunlesi of Makun, Sagamu Ogun state, who is the first Nigerian professor of medicine.
The 63-year-old businessman attended King’s College, Lagos, after which he received his bachelor of arts degree with first class honours in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University, his jurist doctor, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his master in business administration from the Harvard Business School.

INFORMAL ADVISER TO NIGERIAN GOVERNMENTS

Ogunlesi has served as an adviser, though informally, to Nigerian governments. He was an informal adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on privatisation. Despite having lived in the US for decades, he still maintains ties with his homeland.
Ogunlesi, who is the chairman and managing partner of Global Infrastructure Partners, a joint venture whose initial investors included Credit Suisse and General Electric, is also a member of the board of directors of Goldman Sachs.He was named lead director on July 24 2014.
Prior to his current role, he was executive vice chairman and chief client officer of Credit Suisse, based in New York.
Ogunlesi also served as a member of Credit Suisse’s executive board and management council and chaired the chairman’s board. Previously, he was the global head of investment banking at Credit Suisse.
Since joining Credit Suisse in 1983, he has advised clients on transactions and financings and has worked on transactions in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In 2009, Global Infrastructure Partners acquired the majority share in London Gatwick Airport in a deal worth £1.455 billion.
Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Ogunlesi was an attorney in the corporate practice group of the New York law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. From 1980-81 he served as a law clerk to Thurgood Marshall, associate justice of the United States supreme court.
He is a member of the district of Columbia Bar Association. He was a lecturer at Harvard Law School and the Yale School of Organisation and Management, where he taught a course on transnational investment projects in emerging countries.

The Trump Council

Other members of Trump’s advisory council are Stephen A Schwarzman (forum chairman), chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Blackstone; Paul Atkins, CEO, Patomak Global Partners, LLC, former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Mary Barra, chairman and CEO, General Motors; Toby Cosgrove, CEO, Cleveland Clinic; Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co; and Larry Fink, chairman and CEO, BlackRock.
Others are Bob Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company; Rich Lesser, president and CEO, Boston Consulting Group; Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Jim McNerney, former chairman, president, and CEO, Boeing; Ginni Rometty, chairman, president, and CEO, IBM; Kevin Warsh, Shepard Family Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Economics, Hoover Institute, former member of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System; Mark Weinberger, Global Chairman and CEO, EY; Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO, General Electric; and Daniel Yergin, Pulitzer Prize-winner, vice chairman of IHS Markit
The Cable.com

Why Fayose and Dalung love to dress like soldiers.

Solomon Dalung and Ayo Fayose seem to share one thing their love for dressing military style even though they are civilians. Barrister Solomon Dalung was born on the 26^th of September 1964 in the town of Sabon Gida within the then Resettlement Area which was a creation of the colonial masters to resettle and rehabilitate war veterans of World War II. Dalung chose to join the Nigerian Prisons Service in the early eighties. In 1991 while still in the Prisons Service, he enrolled to study Law at the Law Faculty of the University of Jos. The unpredictable academic calendar that characterized the Nigerian University atmosphere at that period saw him spending a whole nine years before bagging an LLB. He is currently the minister for youth and sports in Nigeria and has shown very little understanding of the role he should play. He how ever loves to dress in Khaki and beret at state functions. 
Ayo Fayose on the other hand has no ties with paramilitary organizations whatsoever. Peter Ayodele Fayose (born 15 November 1960) is the current governor of Ekiti State in Nigeria . He was also governor from 29 May 2003 to 16 October 2006.Fayose became the second executive governor of Ekiti on 29 May 2003 after defeating the then incumbent Governor Niyi Adebayo in the Ekiti State governorship elections. Fayose could not complete his tenure as a result of an impeachment on 16 October 2006.

During the 2014 Governorship election in Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose was again the PDP flag bearer. He won the election and was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission the new Governor, Ekiti State; he was inaugurated on 16 Oct 2014.

Fayose who now boast of been the only Nigerian to defeat an incumbent two times historically returned to office 8 years after his impeachment, on the same date. Perhaps its Fayose's love for controversy that makes him dress in military fatigues, a face cap and boots to state functions. 

NCC, Ministry of communications coup on internet data users!

The minister for Communications  Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu born 23 March 1953 is a minister from Oyo State, Nigeria. He  is a lawyer and a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly. Recently he shocked Nigerians right before the National Assembly when he said he is unaware of a planned tariff hike by the National Communications Commission(NCC) a regulatory body under his purview! The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC,  Umar Garba Danbatta, who was at the same briefing with the National Assembly began a winding explanation of what the NCC intends to do. Danbatta  Born in Danbatta Local Government Council of Kano State, Prof. Danbatta obtained his BEng, MSc degrees from the Technical University of Wroclaw in Poland and his PhD from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) UK respectively.
He has served as a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technology of Bayero University Kano for 28 years, where he taught courses in telecommunications engineering and electronics and held academic positions of Dean of the Faculty and Head of Department at different times.  The NCC which he heads is proposing a price floor on data which is focused on protecting smaller companies that sell data, but users will pay more!
The uproar among data subscribers is all about paying more. Already fuel hikes and electricity outage has eaten into their livelihoods and with the latest developments, thousands of businesses would be affected if the tariff goes up. Danbatta and Shittu have failed to address the issue of higher tariffs, hiding behind saving the businesses of small data providers to convince Nigerians that what the NCC intends to do is for their own good. But Nigerians know better. Another look at the situations makes observers believe its simply an avenue to tax data dealers more. Unfortunately the tax is being passed to the final consumer.

Akufo-Addo challenges Mahama for Ghana Presidency!

 I have always regarded Ghana as my second home having spent several years working and consulting for several organizations. Naturally the elections interest me a lot as I have met some of the candidates and have actually related with them in the past.

Ghana goes to the polls for presidential and parliamentary elections on 7 December for its seventh multi-party ballot since the end of military rule in 1992. The presidential race is expected to be a closely fought contest between incumbent President John Dramani Mahama and opposition challenger Nana Akufo-Addo. Ghana is frequently described as one of the most stable democracies in West Africa and has witnessed several peaceful transfers of power.

Incumbent Mahama assumed the presidency in July 2012 following the death of former president John Atta Mills. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) party flag bearer then went on to win the December 2012 election beating Akufo-Addo with 50.7 per cent of the vote. Mahama is a son of a minister and member of parilament of Ghana.

Akufo-Addo, head of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is making his third attempt at the country's top job having lost in his bid for the presidency in 2008 and 2012. He served as foreign minister under President John Kufuor from 2003 to 2007 and trained as a lawyer before becoming a politician.Akufo Addo is the son of  a former  ceremonial president of Ghana Edward Akufo Addo.

The economy has emerged as one of the main issues in election campaigning - "people are really having to deal with a terrible economy in terms of high inflation and high unemployment, according to Kofi Bentil from of the Imani think-tank.

Last year Ghana was forced to take an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout for almost one billion dollars. Inflation was more than 17 per cent in 2015, according to the IMF, while economic growth was less than 4 per cent.

Recently a story leaked that former president of Nigeria had openly accused Mahama of harassing Nigerian companies in Ghana to make contributions to his campaign. The accusation degenerated into an open argument. 

It would be interesting to see who would win, Mahama or Akufo-Addo.  

Fayose takes on Buhari over increased tax

  You might not like Ayo Fayose's politics but you can't help but admit that he has consistently spoken the minds of a majority of  the people of this country as it concerns Fulani killer herdsmen and now taxation!  Fayose's law on tax and his subsequent plan to introduce cattle patrols for Ekiti state brought the herdsmen to the negotiation table in his domain. Right now Plateau state government is studying the Ekiti law and might introduce a similar legislation to the state. 
Recently, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State faulted the Federal Government’s decision to increase the workers’ Pay As You Earn, PAYE, tax, pension and National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions, which were applied on gross salary, making some of the workers to have as much 30 per cent reduction in salary. He described the policy as obnoxious and capable of impoverishing the workers, especially now that the country is in an economic recession.  Fayose said it was wicked and inhuman for any government to increase taxes on workers salary  in a  period of economic recession when “workers take home can no longer take them home: he said “The Federal Government should stop believing that the only way it can take Nigeria out of recession is to impose obnoxious taxes that will further impoverish the people.” He also said“If government does not have capacity to increase workers salary at this trying period, it should not also increase taxes that will cause decrement in what they earn.” Salary of Federal Government workers was reportedly reduced through increment in PAYE tax, pension, National Housing Fund, NHF, formerly based on consolidated, which were applied on gross salary. Some of the workers had as much as 30 per cent pay cut. Fayose also noted that “Buhari’s government increased petrol price from N87 to N145 per litre, kerosene; diesel and gas price was increased, electricity tariff was increased, N50 stamp duty was imposed on bank customers, N65 levy was imposed on every withdrawal on ATM, various bank charges introduced, custom duties increased and now workers’ PAYE tax has been increased.

Babatunde Fowler's tax strategy

Federal Inland Revenue  Service has spurred some controversy with the new regulation that requests people to show tax clearance before they can renew or register for a passport. Newly-appointed chairman of   FIRS, Babatunde Fowler when he assumed office had pledged to build a strong partnership with the "relevant industry players" to shore-up Nigeria’s tax revenue and improve on the country’s tax administration. Fowler said the change in leadership at the revenue agency was as a result of the presidency’s drive for maximum increase of tax revenues as the era of absolute dependency on oil proceeds was over.
The hesitation among industry workers spans from relevant industry players that were mentioned in Fowler's strategy statement. So far he has coopted the immigration service into the tax drag net perhaps customers, FRSC and even health administration would follow. These are not bad ideas since FIRS bane has been the inability to get the informal sector in Nigeria into the tax drag net.  If anyone can do it Fowler is certainly the man. His antecedents are sound as he helped shore up the tax revenue in Lagos state. 
Born 12 August 1956 Fowler has a reputation of increasing revenues via tax.  a Nigerian public officer, tax administrator and social reformer. He was the Executive Chairman Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue and Chief Executive Officer Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.
Data from the 36 States Internal Revenue Service (SIRS) as at November 2016 shows that only 13,034,222 million individuals and enterprises pay taxes regularly.  Fowler made this disclosure in Abuja recently.He said Lagos State tops the list with 4,088,128 million taxpayers, while Gombe State, the lowest, has 33,000. Breakdown of the data reveals that 8,550,643 million individuals pay taxes as well as 4,483,579 million enterprises.The FIRS boss gave the details in a presentation entitled: ‘An Appraisal of Collaboration between the Federal Inland Revenue Service and States Internal Revenue Service to the 136th Meeting of the Joint Tax Board’. Most economy watchers believe that the increased drive for tax could further burden people of the country who are still suffering from the challenging circumstances of earning a living in a recession.