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FG Spends N3.5m Monthly To Feed El-Zakzaky – Lai Mohammed

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Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed says the Federal Government spends N3.5 million monthly to feed the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife.

The minister, who was giving an update on the whereabouts and safety of the Shi’ites leader and his wife, made this comment while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

“The issue about where he is, I think let’s keep it off record,” Mohammed said when asked about the whereabouts of Sheikh El-Zakzaky.

Speaking further, Mohammed said: “That he is in a residence, eating and I mean, it costs the government about N3.5 million every month to feed him,” Mohammed said to the amusement of the reports as they responded with laughter.

Responding to the reactions of the reporters, the minister said: “honestly these are the facts,” stressing that “I asked” in reference to the feeding fee of the Shi’ites leader.

The minister furthered that the issue of the IMN leader is a “very sensitive matter” adding that the“Islamic Movement in Nigeria are a different cattle of fish.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Gideon Kurada, denied El-Zakzaky and his wife bail. The presiding judge said the accused had not shown any substantial medical evidence to be granted bail.

Justice Kurada ordered that the two accused should remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) throughout the period of their trial. The presiding judge thereafter adjourned the matter to January 22, 2019.

The Shi’ite leader and his wife have been in detention since December 2015 when his followers clashed with troops of the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna state.

El-Zakzaky is facing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace.

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GAC’s Endorses New Lagos Speaker, Meranda

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GAC’s Endorses New Lagos Speaker, Meranda

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The newly sworn-in Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda on Tuesday, received the endorsement of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC August24news.com can authoritatively reveal.

The leadership of GAC, gave the endorsement on Tuesday, at a closed door meeting with Meranda and some key principal officers, held at Lagos House, Marina.

Meranda, it was gathered sought the cooperation and understanding of the council members to in the discharge of her duty as speaker.

President Bola Tinubu, APC National leader then, created the GAC, which is the highest decision making body of the party in the state.

Fielding questions from the media after the meeting, the Speaker, said, “We briefed the GAC about what happened at the state House of Assembly and to seek their blessings which we have gotten.”

Meanwhile, the GAC, led by Tajudeen Olusi, declined to make any comment on the meeting.

It was however, gathered that the State Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, left Nigeria on Monday night for an official event.

Recall that former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who is currently abroad, was impeached by members of the House of Assembly on Monday over various allegations of misconducts and financial misappropriations.

Meranda, was immediately elected and sworn-in, replacing Obasa. 

Also, the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko was removed, while all standing committees of the House dissolved.

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Quick Facts About Rt Hon. Mojisola Meranda

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Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda was born on the 16th day of August, 1980, to the family of late Ojora of Lagos, T. A Lawal Akapo and Princess M. A. Lawal-Akapo of the royal families of Ojora, Aromire, Onitana, Oloto, and Oniru. (Her late father was a legislator at the local level before becoming the Ojora of Lagos).

She attended Anglican Girls Grammar School and later Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School, earning her West African Senior Certificate (WASC) in 1998.


Meranda obtained a Certificate in Software Development (Network Engineering) from NIIT in 2005.


Between 2007 and 2008, she worked in the oil and gas industry as a procurement manager at Cirrus Nigeria Limited.

She began her political journey in 2008, first serving as Senior Special Assistant on Intervention and Intergovernmental Affairs to the then Chairman of Apapa Local Government, Ayodeji Joseph, and later as Supervisory Councillor for Health.

In 2013, Meranda earned a B.Sc. in Public Administration from Lagos State University (LASU) and went on to obtain a Master’s in Public and International Affairs (MPIA) from the University of Lagos in 2020.

In 2015, she was elected as a member of the House of Assembly, representing Apapa Constituency I.


In 2023, she was elected the Deputy Speaker in 2023 Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Public Sector Management at the University of York, UK.

As an advocate for gender equality, Meranda has consistently called for greater representation of women, particularly in political spaces, championing their rights to fair and equal opportunities.

Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim is the Publisher of August24news.com and a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondent known as (LAHACA)

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LIRS Sets January 31 Deadline for Annual Tax Returns Filing by Employers

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LIRS Sets January 31 Deadline for Annual Tax Returns Filing by Employers

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has issued a reminder to all employers in Lagos State to fulfill their statutory obligation to file annual tax returns for the 2024 financial year on or before January 31, 2025. This requirement is in line with the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) Cap P8 LFN 2004 (as amended).

In an official statement, the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Dr. Ayodele Subair, emphasized that meeting this deadline is a legal obligation. He warned that failure to comply will result in statutory sanctions, including penalties, as prescribed by law.

Section 81 of PITA mandates employers to submit comprehensive annual returns detailing all emoluments paid to employees, including taxes deducted and remitted to relevant tax authorities. These returns must be filed no later than January 31 each year and cover the income and taxes paid during the preceding year (2024).

Dr. Subair stressed, “Employers must prioritize the timely filing of their annual income tax returns to avoid penalties. Submitting returns on or before the deadline ensures compliance with the law and supports accurate revenue tracking, which is essential for Lagos State’s fiscal planning and sustainability.”

To simplify the process, LIRS has transitioned to a fully digital filing system. Employers must file their annual tax returns exclusively through the LIRS e-Tax portal at https://etax.lirs.net. Manual submissions are no longer accepted. Mr. Subair described the e-Tax platform as secure, user-friendly, and designed to provide employers with a convenient way to manage their tax obligations.

Employers are reminded to include the Payer ID of all employees in their returns. Employees without a Taxpayer ID are advised to generate one immediately on the e-Tax platform to prevent disruptions during the filing process.

To assist employers, LIRS has deployed staff across its offices to provide guidance on using the e-Tax portal and addressing related concerns. Employers are encouraged to act promptly to meet the deadline and ensure compliance with tax laws.

For further information or assistance, employers and taxpayers can use the following support channels:

            •           Website: www.lirs.gov.ng

            •           Social Media:

            •           Facebook and LinkedIn: Lagos State Internal Revenue Service

            •           Instagram and YouTube: @lirsgovng

            •           X (formerly Twitter): @lirs_govng

            •           Email: etaxinfo@lirs.net

            •           Customer Care Hotline: 0700-CALL-LIRS (0700-2255-5477).

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