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FG directs banks to deduct 0.375% stamp duty charges on all loans

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The Federal Government has directed commercial banks in the country to henceforth deduct and remit 0.375% on all loans disbursed by them.

The deduction is to be made on the principal loan amount, according to a message sent to customers by banks.

This comes as the government expands the net on transactions covered by the stamp duty charges from regular bank transfers to foreign transactions and now loans.

Recall that banks were also in January this year directed to deduct stamp duty on old foreign transactions between January 2021 to December 2023 by January 31, 2024. Before that, the electronic money transfer levy was only applicable to accounts receiving electronic deposits of N10,000 and above or its equivalent.

In a message sent to their customers on Wednesday notifying them of the deduction, one of the banks wrote:

“Dear Valued Customer,

“We write to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria has directed that all banks remit stamp duty on all loans.

“In line with this directive, 0.375% on every principal loan amount disbursed will be debited and remitted to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“However, all existing approved loans remain unchanged and are to be fully repaid in line with the terms and conditions. We are committed to offering you exceptional service every step of the way.”

According to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Stamp Duty is an indirect tax in Nigeria governed by the Stamp Duties Act (SDA), CAP S8 LFN 2004 (as amended).

It is a tax charged for a stamp or seal applied on a written or electronic document which if executed, makes it a legal document and will be admissible in any court of law.

Last year, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that the total revenue collected as stamp duty on behalf of the Federal Government in 6 years, between 2016 and 2022, stood at N370.686 billion.

The disclosure came amid allegations by a member of the House of Representatives, Muhammed Kazaure, who claimed that a humongous sum of N89 trillion collected as stamp duty had been allegedly stolen.

Business

31m users exposed as Wayback Machine suffers data breach

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The details of 31 million users have been exposed after Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine suffered a hack.

Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library that offers millions of free books, movies, audio files, and billions of saved web pages in the Wayback Machine that would have been lost or deleted.

An illicit pop-up on the Internet Archive on Wednesday announced that the site had suffered a major data breach.

“Have you ever felt like the Internet Archive runs on sticks and is constantly on the verge of suffering a catastrophic security breach? It just happened. See 31 million of you on HIBP!” users reported seeing on the landing page after the hack.

HIBP, an acronym for Have I Been Pwned, is a tool that confirms if email addresses previously suffered a data breach.

Troy Hunt, HIPB creator, confirmed that the breach was legitimate.

According to Brewster Kahle, Internet Archive founder, the organisation fended off a DDOS attack.

Kahle said the library also disabled the JS library after hackers defaced the website via the portal, scrubbed systems, and upgraded security.

“Will share more as we know it,” Kahle tweeted.

A pop-up on the Wayback Machine urged users to ask publishers to restore access.

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Business

FG launches portal for vehicle owners to convert to CNG and pay later

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The federal government has launched a website that allows users to convert their petrol-powered vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) and pay later.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) announced the new initiative on its X handle in a statement on Tuesday.

“Switching to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is now more accessible than ever,” NOA said.

“With flexible payment plans tailored to fit your budget, transitioning from petrol to CNG has never been smoother or more affordable.

“These payment options allow you to convert your vehicle now and pay later with affordable monthly instalments at competitive rates.”

The agency said with an easy online application and quick approval process, beneficiaries would be supported every step of the way, to ensure a hassle-free experience.

“Visit: gocng.ng to get started,” NOA said.

According to the agency, the benefits of CNG include cost savings, environmental impact, enhanced engine life, safety and reliability, as well as proven technology with a track record of safety and dependable performance.

On October 7, the federal government launched a portal that would allow youths to access CNG-powered tricycles.

In his remarks, Michael Oluwagbemi, project director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the presidential CNG initiative (P-CNGi) said the initiative would enhance the economic well-being of Nigerians by reducing dependence on petrol.

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Business

Nigerian Air Force direct short-service application opens October 14 (Apply Here)

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says applications for the direct short-service cadets (DSSC) programme will open on October 14.

In a post on X on Wednesday, NAF said online registration will end on November 26.

The NAF said the enlistment is for graduates and postgraduates, who must be of Nigerian origin by birth.

“Applicants must not be less than 1.66 and 1.63 metres tall for male and female candidates, respectively,” the post reads.

“Applicants must be medically, physically, and psychologically fit; applicants must be free of any criminal conviction by the court of law.

“Applicants must be between the ages of 20 and 30 — but the age requirement for medical consultants is between 25 and 40 years.

“All applicants must possess a minimum of second-class upper division with five credits in a related course of study: a discharge certificate/letter of exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a certificate of full registration with their respective statutory professional bodies in Nigeria.

“All candidates are expected to possess a LGA attestation, a passport photograph, and means of identification, such as a driver’s license, national identification number, or international passport.

“Applicants are advised to print out acknowledgement slips and LGA attestation forms after completing the application.”

NAF noted that the online registration is free of charge, adding that computer literacy will be an advantage.

It added that successful applicants will be invited for selection board interview exercises through the registration portal.

Interested applicants are to apply online at https://airforce.mil.ng/.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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