President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again reassured Nigerians that the proposed tax reform bills before both chambers of the National Assembly are not skewed against any section of the country.
The Senator representing Niger East and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, restated President Tinubu’s assurance on Monday while speaking at the public hearings on the contentious bills.
The bills, which have since scaled the second reading in both chambers, include:
(i) The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024,
(ii) The Nigerian Tax Administration Bill 2024,
(iii) The Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill 2024, and
(iv) The Joint Revenue Board Bill 2024.
Senator Musa, who revealed details of his discussion with President Tinubu during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, said the President only asked the Parliament to provide him with workable and effective legislation.
He said:
“I met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) two days ago regarding the tax reform bills, and he told me: ‘Mr. Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, go and do the needful.
“Give me a law that is workable from the tax reform bills I forwarded to the Senate and the House of Representatives in October last year.’
“That request by Mr. President came at a very auspicious time during this public hearing on the tax reform bills, which are not meant to add a burden to any section of the country or give undue advantage to any region.”
Indications at the public hearing on Monday revealed that the Presidency has secured the buy-in of stakeholders, particularly from the North.
At the session, held at the National Assembly complex, the Convener of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, debunked the insinuation that the Northern part of the country was against the proposed laws.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune