News
Orji Kalu Denies Alphabeta Rumors and Supports Tinubu’s Tax Reforms
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North in the National Assembly, has debunked rumors suggesting that President Bola Tinubu plans to introduce Alphabeta, a consulting firm, into the country’s tax system through the Federal Government’s new tax reform bills.
Kalu addressed these concerns during an interview with Arise Television on Monday, shedding light on the essence of the reforms.
Alphabeta, which has been linked to Tinubu from his tenure as governor of Lagos State, has sparked speculations among some Nigerians who fear its involvement could resurface at a national level.
Critics argue that Alphabeta’s role in Lagos was controversial due to its monopoly on tax revenue collection, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
However, Kalu dismissed such fears, insisting that the tax reform efforts are entirely unrelated to Alphabeta or any similar entity.
He emphasized that the reforms aim to modernize Nigeria’s outdated tax laws, which he believes are a major obstacle to the nation’s economic development.
“One of my friends called me with concerns, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu plans to introduce another Alphabeta in Nigeria, just as he did in Lagos.
But that’s not the issue,” Kalu clarified. “The real matter is that Nigeria’s tax laws, alongside many of our other laws, are obsolete and need urgent updates.”
Kalu, who served as governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007, is a seasoned politician with firsthand knowledge of governance and legislative processes.
He voiced strong support for the tax reform bills, describing them as a step in the right direction for the country’s financial system.
According to him, a modernized tax framework is essential for fostering economic growth, attracting investments, and reducing reliance on borrowing.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been pushing for reforms across various sectors, with tax reforms taking center stage in its agenda.
The Federal Government recently proposed a series of bills aimed at restructuring the tax system to enhance efficiency and revenue generation.
These reforms are expected to address loopholes in the current tax regime while ensuring that the system is fair and equitable for all Nigerians.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
Judge Tells Duane Davis He Must Face Justice for Tupac’s Murder
Timini Egbuson Reflects on Embracing YouTube Movies in Nollywood
