Metro

Kwali: AEIG takes anti-SGBV awareness to students at GSS Yangoji

By Stanley Onyekwere

ANon-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls(AEIG), yesterday took anti Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) sensitisation campaign to students of Government Secondary School (GSS) in Yangoji community, in Kwali Area Council of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in order to further strengthen efforts at mitigating the menace in the Territory. In particular, the NGO during the programme tagged: “SGBV awareness programme in high schools in Abuja”, sensitised no fewer than 200 students on the various forms of SGBV and how to effectively assist tackle SGBV cases emanating from the learning environment or their homes.

Explaining the awareness initiative, AEIG Project Officer, Josephine Emeghoghena, who represented the Founder of the NGO, Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, said it aims at curbing school related sexual and genderbased violence and raising anti-GBV Ambassadors.

Emeghoghena added that the GSS Yangoji, is part of the 6 schools approved by the FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) for the NGO to cover across the six area councils, as part of AEIG’s empowerment project for the promotion of the rights FCT Original Inhabitants, which started in 2022, is being powered by the MacArthur Foundation, through Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED).

According to her, it is very necessary to sensitise students on SGBV, so as to help them know their rights and the importance of speaking up against the menace.

On her part, the school Principal, A. Rukayyat, commended the NGO for bringing the sensitisation campaign to the students within their learning environment, as it will no doubt empower and reposition them to help combat the menace.

Highlight of the event was the nomination and inauguration of five students as the NGO’s Anti-GBV Ambassadors in the school.

Rice production: Investors visit farms in Yaba community

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Director, Department of Agric Services of the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mrs. Francisca Ihekandu has lead a team of private investors from G-Consulting International ltd, interested in rice production to Yaba community, in Abaji Area Council of the FCT.

According to a statement from Deputy Director, Information & Communications, ARDS, Zakari Aliyu, the visit to Yaba which is blessed with abundant water bodies and suitable for rice production is to give the investors an opportunity to have a first-hand assessment with the view of adding value to rice production.

The statement read: “Part of the responsibilities of the Committee is to showcase our potentials to attract potential investors and we have brought the team from G- Consulting in order for them to see for themselves what we have on ground here in Yaba.

“And I want to assure you that with the support of well-meaning investors, FCT will be able to meet its food and nutrition needs and even beyond the FCT.

“At the moment we have began the process of collecting a database of rice farmers not just here in Yaba, but all the Area Councils to give us an idea of the specific areas of need of the farmers”.

It added that Ihekandu commended the ARDS Secretary, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, for conceiving the idea of setting up the Committee which she noted will reach out to Donor Agencies, Development Partners, NonGovernmental Organizations and other stakeholders to develop FCT irrigation potentials. “Hon. Minister of State, FCT Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu assisted by Secretary, Agriculture & Rural Development Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim at an event to distribute inputs to farmers in FCT.

“In rounding up the assessment visit, the committed along with the team from G Consult paid a visit to the Etsu of Yaba, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu who thanked the Honourable Minister of State FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu for the various Agric developmental programmes that she has put in place through the Agric Secretariat.

“He pledged support of the Yaba community to ensure the success of the work of the Committee”, the statement added.

AEIG Project Officer, Josephine Emeghoghena, who represented the Founder of the NGO, Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, sensitising students of Government Secondary School (GSS) in Yangoji community, in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, on tackling the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in learning environment

Taxation: No extension of deadline for annual returns - FCT-IRS warns

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory- Internal Revenue Service (FCTIRS) has warned that there is no plan for extension of January 31, 2023 deadline for taxpayers particularly employers or agents in the FCT to file their annual returns.

To this end, the FCT-IRS said it will not hesitate to apply the laws where necessary to penalise or punish any organisations, employers or agents who fail to meet up and file within this stipulated period.

In a statement from Head, Corporate communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila, yesterday, the Service explained that the exercise is in compliance with Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011 (as amended) provides that all employers of labour in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are required to file annual returns of income from All sources for the year ended, (31st December, 2022) on or before the 31st of January 2023 using the prescribed forms i.e Form G and Form H1 respectively.

It reads: “Sections 94, 95 and 96 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) stipulate penalties for non-filing, incorrect or false declaration and late submission.

“Copies of the forms (Form G and Form H1) can be obtained from any of the FCT-IRS Tax Offices across the territory or downloaded from the website at https://www.fctirs.gov.ng/downloads”.