The social responsibility vehicle of Globacom, Glo Foundation last week initiated the fulfilment of its pledge to the Management of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to empower workers of the agency as it commenced the first phase of its Skillbridge programme to train workers of the agency.

The goal of the program is to give LAWMA employees soft skills so they can bridge income gaps and have additional revenue streams.

The Glo Foundation recently announced plans for an empowerment and skills acquisition programme for the sweepers at a special day celebrating LAWMA workers and sweepers in Lagos. These consist of several vocational trainings, such as digital skills, baking, beadwork, and fashion design.

About 150 chosen sweepers are receiving instructions in fashion, bead making, baking, and digital skills at partner training centres across Lagos last week, marking the start of the program. Some program participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity that was made available to them.

In a statement issued in Lagos, the Glo Foundation said it was pleased with the trainees’ progress and commended them for their commitment to seizing the chance to learn new skills that would enable them to create additional sources of income.

Last week, the LAWMA trainees were observed learning the techniques in a friendly environment at the Fashion and Bead Making course, which was held at Yetroslane, Atunrase Estate, Gbagada, Lagos. By the third training day, most of those undergoing training in bead making were already wearing the beads they had created.

Amusat Mopelola Airat, one of the trainees for bead making, lauded Glo Foundation and her employers, LAWMA, for giving her the opportunity. The same sentiment was echoed by another trainee, Liadi Fatimoh.

Similarly, the atmosphere at the Bakery Initiatives, Yaba, Lagos location for the Baking training programme was very lively. Mrs Busari Adebanke Busayo, a supervisor, said she and other trainees were enjoying learning under friendly trainers and making rapid progress. “It will be of huge benefit to me and my family. I’ve learnt how to measure and weigh flour for various baking products and a lot of other things”.

Mr Williams Oladipupo, who is based in Ikorodu, commended Glo Foundation for putting in place the digital skills training at ALX, Costain, Lagos. He said this would boost his personal business and also help him in bringing up his children who were already learning coding.

Miss Udoh Blessing Endurance Francis, a 22-year-old sweeper who is also attending the digital skills training classes, appreciated Glo and its partners for putting in place the initiative. She noted that the world is going digital and only those who are prepared will be able to cope.

The four-week intensive training programme will end in July.

President Bola Tinubu has signed the four Tax Reform Bills  into law, after it was recently passed by the National Assembly.

The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.

The ceremony was witnessed by top government officials including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas the Senate and House Majority Leaders, as well as chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Finance.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara state go governor, Abdulrazaq AbdulRahman, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

The four bills —the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill —were passed by the National Assembly after extensive consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.

Designed to overhaul Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue administration framework, the laws have been described as a major leap in the nation’s economic reform drive.

President Tinubu said the bills reflect his administration’s resolve to create a modern, transparent, and efficient tax system capable of supporting national development, promoting investment, and reducing the burden of multiple taxation on citizens and businesses.

The Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business) consolidates Nigeria’s fragmented tax statutes into a unified legal framework. It seeks to reduce tax duplication, enhance clarity, and ease compliance for taxpayers.

The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill provides a harmonized legal and operational structure for tax administration at the federal, state, and local government levels, aiming to foster efficiency and uniformity in tax collection.

The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill repeals the existing Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act, paving the way for the establishment of a new, performance-driven Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) with expanded responsibilities, including non-tax revenue collection. The bill also introduces strong mechanisms for accountability and transparency.

The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill sets up a national governance structure to coordinate tax efforts across all tiers of government.

It also introduces a Tax Appeal Tribunal and an Office of the Tax Ombudsman, enhancing taxpayer rights and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Many have described the development as a bold step toward boosting Nigeria’s revenue base, reducing investor uncertainty, and deepening the fiscal decentralization agenda.

The reforms are expected to spur job creation, improve public service delivery, and build public confidence in the nation’s tax system.

State House officials say this latest move comes as part of President Tinubu’s broader economic reform package aimed at achieving macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth.

Earlier on Thursday, President Tinubu had explained that the laws would be unifying Nigeria’s fragmented tax system, remove redundant overlaps, boost investor confidence, enhance transparency, and promote coordinated efforts across all levels.

He also described the legislation as a clear departure from previous policies, emphasising that the reforms are designed to ease the burden on working families, small businesses, and low-income earners while eliminating inefficiencies that have long plagued Nigeria’s fiscal structure.

On his verified X handle @officialABAT, the President had said that the new tax laws form the groundwork for the Nigeria of tomorrow, focused on unlocking opportunities for all.

“We are also building a framework for the Nigeria of tomorrow-leaner, fairer and laser focused on unlocking opportunities for all.”

The president explained that with the new tax reform laws, the Bola Tinubu led administration is now laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.

“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet.

“For too long, our tax system has been a patchwork-complex, inequitable, and burdensome. It has weighed down the vulnerable and shielded inefficiency. That era ends today.

“We are laying a foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria. A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he said.

The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan, as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, to immortalize late scholar and former Oyo governor, Dr. Victor Olunloyo, as he is laid to rest.

Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer principal of the polytechnic, while he also served as governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.

The governor announced this on Thursday at the state interdenominational funeral service held in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.

“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo,” the governor said.

“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”