PDP opposes Buhari’s decision to increase VAT

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has opposed President Muhammadu Buhari and his officials’ decision to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5% to 7.2%, saying Nigerians cannot bear such burden under the prevailing economic situation in the country.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said the decision is anti-people, suppressive and further confirmed the Buhari Presidency as “extremely exploitative, inconsiderate and absolutely insensitive” to the suffering of Nigerians.

The PDP insisted that the decision to increase VAT on already impoverished citizens was in bad faith and cannot be justified under any guise.

The opposition party urged the National Assembly to protect Nigerians and save the nation from collapse by rejecting the decision.

“Indeed, only an administration that does not have the mandate of the people can seek to adopt such oppressive stance against its citizens.

“President Buhari ought to be aware that an increase in VAT will worsen our decrepit economy and put more pressure on families and business as it will result in increase in costs of goods and services that have direct bearing on the welfare of the people.

“Our party charges the Buhari Presidency not to further punish Nigerians by imposing harsh tax regime to make up for its crass incompetence and lack of capacity to effectively harness and manage our resources to create wealth for the benefit of the people.

“It is even more painful that the Buhari Presidency cannot give account of the huge resources at its disposal, including the taxes it has been collecting in the last four years, most of which are frittered to service the wasteful lifestyle of the cabal at the Presidency and APC chieftains.

“Instead of foisting more tax burden on Nigerians, the PDP charges President Buhari to account for and recover the over N14 trillion oil money established to have been stolen under his watch in the last four years.

“It is disheartening that at the time Nigerians ought to be enjoying the economic recovery and empowerment blueprint set out by Atiku Abubakar, which included slash in taxes and levies, they are rather faced with an unjustifiable and indefensible tax increase,” the party said.