Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, and Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Madaki Gini, have pledged to rally their colleagues in opposition to the proposed tax reform bills currently under consideration in the parliament.
Their pledge followed a recommendation from the National Economic Council (NEC), which is chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, along with governors from the 19 northern states and key traditional leaders, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the bills for further consultation due to the controversies they have sparked.
Despite the calls, President Tinubu has maintained that the legislative process should continue as planned.
He said the legislative process, which has already begun, provides an opportunity for inputs and necessary changes without withdrawing the bills from the National Assembly.
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Madaki and Ndume, in separate interviews with BBC Hausa, expressed grave concerns about the potential impact of the bills on the northern region’s economic situation.
They warned that if passed, the bills would exacerbate poverty and economic hardship.
Madaki stated, “If allowed, the bill would further plunge the entire northern region into misery, poverty, and economic woes. As representatives of the people, we will mobilise, God willing, to defeat the bill.”
Ndume echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for the voices of the people to be respected in a democratic society.
He emphasised the disparity in Nigeria’s tax system compared to Ghana, which has reduced its tax rate significantly.
Ndume criticised current leadership for adopting prescriptions from the IMF and World Bank that he believes are not conducive to Nigeria’s economic well-being.
He vowed to lead the campaign against the tax reform bills to protect the interests of the northern region and its constituents.
President Tinubu had on September 3 transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration.
The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.
The others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
The federal government had said the proposed legislations were meant to enhance efficiency and eliminate redundancies across the nation’s tax operations.
It said the current tax administration lacks coordination among federal, state, and local tax authorities, and often results in overlapping responsibilities, confusion, and inefficiency.
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