₦airaland Forum

The Presidency has dismissed claims that the proposed tax reform bills before the National Assembly would impoverish northern Nigeria or disproportionately benefit Lagos and Rivers states.

In a statement issued on Monday, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said the reforms aim to improve the quality of life for all Nigerians, particularly the disadvantaged, and streamline tax administration to foster a better business environment.


The statement followed concerns raised by Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, who claimed that the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing model might favour Lagos and Rivers states.

Onanuga, however, described such reactions as unfounded and based on misinformation.


“The tax reform bills will not make Lagos or Rivers states more affluent than others, nor will they impoverish any region,” Onanuga stated, urging Nigerians to reject attempts to polarise the nation over the bills.

He clarified that the bills do not propose scrapping agencies like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), or the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

These agencies will continue to operate and receive funding through budgetary allocations, he added.

The spokesperson added that President Bola Tinubu’s tax and fiscal policy reforms are intended to simplify tax collection, alleviate the burden on businesses, and support national development.

Meanwhile, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on Northern leaders to approach the ongoing tax reform bills before the National Assembly with pragmatism rather than sentiments.

Speaking during a Channels Television town hall on the reforms in Abuja on Monday, Dogara emphasised the need for leadership that prioritises the region’s future development over ethnic or religious biases.


“We Northern leaders should remove the cap of ethnicity and religious sentiments and put on the cap of leadership to face the reality, which the bills will bring,” Dogara stated.

He criticised senators who claimed insufficient consultation on the bills, questioning their own practices in lawmaking.

“How many people do they consult when making laws? Some state laws are written in the living rooms of governors,” he said, dismissing arguments that the bills’ popularity is more important than its impact.

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, clarified that the bills aim to empower subnational governments to enhance revenue generation and achieve self-sufficiency.

Arobaga:
Why the so much attention and responses about the North on this issue



Na North be the only region in Nigeria?



How about other bills that has been passed in the past that affected other regions



Anyways I no surprise because Tinubu has always been so foolish

richeeyo:
Its not just going to be FREE MONEY as usual

Creamypie:
Hisbah will be ordered to immediately stop destroying booze. Infact northern governor go immediately ask their people to booze to stupor. Who be mumu?

Stevenson20:
Oil from South is Nigeria's oil
Gold from North is Northern Gold.
Alcohol is Haram
Collecting VAT from the proceeds of alcohol is not Haram.



MAKE UNA PASS THE TAX REFORM BILL JARE, LET EVERY STATE DOUBLE THEIR HUSTLE

Stevenson20:
Oil from South is Nigeria's oil
Gold from North is Northern Gold.
Alcohol is Haram
Collecting VAT from the proceeds of alcohol is not Haram.



MAKE UNA PASS THE TAX REFORM BILL JARE, LET EVERY STATE DOUBLE THEIR HUSTLE

Augustine2244:
Tinubu should go ahead and fully implement the TRB without delay.
The bloody parasites in the North are only complaining because it would cut off the parasitic suckers, haustellum, proboscis,lancet,of these parasites from the blood and food nutrients in the system of the South, which they buried deep therein for years.
Many parts of the North can't survive without FA( Federal Allocation).