This backlash has prompted lawmakers to launch consultations to address concerns. The bills in question aim to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system and include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The proposed tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly have sparked intense debate and opposition, particularly from Northern leaders.
This backlash has prompted lawmakers to launch consultations to address concerns. The bills in question aim to overhaul Nigeria’s tax system and include the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
These bills are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to modernise Nigeria’s tax system and increase the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio.
Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to implementing tax reforms, despite facing opposition from state governors and other stakeholders.
The President is determined to push through with the reforms, which aim to enhance revenue generation, ensure compliance, and foster a business-friendly environment.
In a live broadcast on Channels TV on Thursday, the Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule said the President has addressed all his concerns regarding the proposed tax reforms.
Governor Sule President Tinubu already gave the 36 state governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum the permission to amend the ongoing tax reforms bills to reflect their desires and observations.
He said: “Congratulations to Nigerians because at the end of the day, we have achieved something through consultations. First, congratulations to Mr President for guiding us through the process.
“When we met with the Mr President recently, he said that most of these observations you have, you can actually go ahead and amend them without necessarily withdrawing the bills.
“You remember the contagious issue that we have as far as the bills is concerned is one: the VAT. The VAT is the combination of so many issues. Two is the aspect of saying that TETFUD is actually going to be phased out. We are a bit concerned about those areas,” the governor added.
Governor Sule’s statement aligns with the recent position of the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala.
Bwala had hinted that his principal might eventually agree to some conditions and terms of state governors concerning tax reform bills.
Bwala said: “The tax reform bills have come for good and it will be passed. And I know the politics of the north and of course, you know I am a northerner.
“So let me react to that, they are very good in politics of negotiation. Just like in America, when you bring partisan laws, you will see that it passes without stress. When you bring a law that maybe Democrats will benefit more than Republicans, you will see that the Republicans will try to pose a threat so to speak until there is a concession.
“So with the continuous conversations in this field, I see a situation where there will be a position by the governors that may be acceptable to the federal government. The federal government may need to concede in some areas while the state government may also need to concede in some areas and at the end of the day, the bill will be passed.”
Leave a Reply