- Directs Justice Ministry, NASS To Address ‘Concerns’
- Bills Could End Elites’ Financial Recklessness, Says Bishop Kukah
- Reps In Rowdy Session, Shout Down Spokesperson
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly to work on concerns raised over the tax bills.
The Matrix reports that opposition has greeted Tinubu’s transmission of the Tax Reform Bills to the National Assembly.
Some critics believe the bills are against the northern region while others argue that they would further impoverish Nigerians.
However, to address these concerns, President Tinubu has mandated the Justice Ministry to investigate and work with the National Assembly’s leadership to fine-tune the bills’ rough edges.
Idris made this known in a statement on Tuesday noting that Tinubu is committed to tax accountability.
He said the development is the very “essence and meaning of democracy,” describing the debates generated by the bills as “welcomed and commendable”.
READ ALSO: Fresh Uproar Greets Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills
“I call on all commentators and groups to keep up the spirit of informed engagement and to strive to be respectful and understanding at all times despite the diversity of opinions,” the minister said.
“In the spirit of democratic engagement, there should be no room for name-calling or for the injection of unnecessary ethnic and regional slurs into this important national conversation.
“Similarly, it is important to be aware that there is a lot of misinformation and fake news circulating around the tax bills and the overall reform agenda of the Tinubu administration.
“The fiscal reforms will not impoverish any state or region of the country, nor will they lead to the scrapping or weakening of any federal agencies.
“Instead, they will bring relief to tens of millions of hardworking Nigerians across the country and empower and position our states and the 774 local governments for sustainable growth and development.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is implementing an ambitious fiscal reform agenda that will devolve more resources to Nigeria’s state and local governments, and ultimately to the Nigerian people, in the spirit of harnessing democracy that works for the people.
“It is pertinent to state that the government has nothing sinister to warrant the suggestion that the process is being rushed. In line with the established legislative procedure, the federal government welcomes meaningful inputs that can address whatever grey areas there may be in the bill.
“In this vein, President Tinubu has already directed the federal ministry of justice and relevant officials who worked on the drafts to work closely with the national assembly to ensure that all genuine concerns have been addressed before the bills are passed.
“We are indeed witnessing, at this moment in the history of Nigeria, the most far-reaching, impactful, and beneficial set of fiscal reforms that Nigeria has seen in decades.
“In addition to the four tax bills being debated and deliberated upon, there is also the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on financial autonomy for local governments, which will significantly empower the tier of government that is closest to the Nigerian people.
“In all, these reforms will not only facilitate increased revenues (without imposing additional tax burdens on the people), they will also make it possible for citizens to demand and enjoy greater accountability in the management of public resources at all levels of government.”
Idris reiterated that the Tinubu administration will continue to champion policies that close the loopholes and gaps through which Nigeria’s public resources have been frittered away for decades.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives was thrown into a rowdy session on Tuesday after Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the Green Chamber, referenced the tax reform bills.
Rotimi had risen to move a motion for the consideration of two reports on behalf of Boma Goodhead, a lawmaker from Rivers State, who was absent at plenary.
The report was on a bill for an act to repeal the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act 2010, and enact the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act.
“My name is Akin Rotimi Jr. I represent the people of Ekiti North, comprising Ikole and Oye local governments. Mr Speaker, I am from Ekiti state, the first state, whose national assembly caucus, has unanimously endorsed the tax bills,” he said.
Rotimi was still speaking when he was boisterously interrupted by his colleagues.
READ ALSO: PENGASSAN Joins Outcry Against Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills
Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker, who presided over the session, attempted to restore calm, saying Rotimi was expressing his personal opinion.
“He was just talking on a lighter note. Let us not take it seriously,” Abbas said.
The lawmakers remained unappeased, repeatedly shouting, “no, no, no”.
At this point, Rotimi apologised and withdrew his comment on the tax reform bills.
“Mr Speaker, I withdraw the introduction. I will introduce myself properly. Mr Speaker, can I have the opportunity to speak? Colleagues, I would like to withdraw that introduction and restrict myself to the Order Paper,” Rotimi said.
The speaker responded, advising Rotimi to issues relevant to the subject matter.
“Mr Rotimi, you know this is a controversial issue. I don’t want you to be mentioning things that are not relevant to the subject matter. On your behalf, I withdraw that statement that you have made,” Abbas said.
Rotimi reintroduced the report, but it was not seconded as lawmakers continued to protest, prompting him to withdraw it.
On his part, Bishop Mathew Kukah, founder of The Kukah Centre, has expressed optimism that the tax reform bills proposed by the Bola Tinubu administration could address financial mismanagement by Nigeria’s elites and lead to the country’s development.
READ ALSO: Tax Reform Bills: North Won’t Be Impoverished, Presidency Opens Up
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Kukah emphasised the need for effective communication and strategic engagement to ensure the success of ongoing reforms.
“Any form of reform at all must get this thoroughly dysfunctional country working again,” he said. “I am excited because hopefully, we can take the time to listen to the conversation about how to avoid and end this financial recklessness, and the irony of Nigerians living by the seaside and washing their faces with saliva.”
Kukah criticised the elite for their role in mismanaging the country’s abundant resources. He described the reforms as an opportunity to address Nigeria’s long standing economic inefficiencies.
“The reforms should end the narrative of Nigerians living in a country that is so richly endowed but are spectators to the rascality and irresponsibility of the elites who continue to mismanage our resources. So I’m hopeful that this is the beginning of a very long journey of fiscal management and efficiency that can lead to the growth and development of the kind of country that we envision,” Kukah stated.
When asked to assess the Tinubu administration, Kukah noted that while the government appears to have good intentions, its lack of effective communication strategies has hindered public trust.
“This government must respond urgently to the issues of the day. They are issues of massive impoverishment in Nigeria. You can see the frustration on the faces of people—husbands, wives, and children.
“I am convinced that this government has lofty ideas, but there is a total absence of a constructive strategy of engagement. The Nigerian government needs to convince Nigerians that there is light at the end of the tunnel and encourage them to be a little patient,” he said.
