Some northern politicians have advised President Bola Tinubu to respect the position of the National Economic Council on the controversial tax reform Bills.
Recall that President Tinubu declared last Monday that the tax reforms had come to stay, ruling out the possibility of withdrawing them from the 10th National Assembly as the governors had demanded.
However, Northern members of the 10th NASS, the League of Northern Democrats, (LND), and the Northern Elders’ Forum, (NEF), have expressed dismay with President’s insistence that there will be no reversal on the controversial tax reform Bills.
According to them, Tinubu’s ‘no-going back’ disposition was devoid of inclusive consultations.
In it’s reaction, the League of Northern Democrats (LND) cautioned the President against rigidity on issues affecting the general welfare of citizens. Spokesperson for former cice-president Namadi Sambo and a LND pioneer member, Umar Sani, said: “We know that the country requires tax reform. One of the reasons for tax reform is to fight corruption. Corruption is very high, because people don’t pay taxes. If people pay taxes, the rate of corruption will be lower; because you know the larger part of the money you steal will go to the Government.
“But there are areas we want the Government to review, such as the inheritance tax, which is against religion, and some other incidentals. There are areas we agree with the Bills; and we have given suggestions on areas we don’t agree with. In summary, our position is not against the Bills.
“The President has offended the sensibilities of many Nigerians, particularly those of our leaders, with his declaration, and it shows the level of independence of our National Assembly. The President should not be rigid in decision-making”.
Also commenting on the controversies about the Bills, the Northern Elders’ Forum said Tinubu’s declaration that the “tax reform bills are here to stay” contradicted the principle of democracy.
Its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, cautioned Tinubu against causing a crisis between the Executive and Legislative arms of Government. He said, “President Tinubu’s declaration raises concerns. The potential for bypassing the legislative process, inherent in his strong assertion, undermines the principles of democratic governance.
“By pre-emptively declaring the Bills’ passage, the President risks alienating lawmakers and potentially creating unnecessary political friction”.
Similarly, a former ACF Secretary-General, Anthony Sani, said contrary to claims in some quarters, President Tinubu was willing to listen to opposing views about the reform initiatives.
Sani also corrected the impression that the opposition to the bills came only from the northern region, saying: “The President said he was not averse to discussions on the aspect of VAT that is disagreeable to some people. The National Economic Council, (NEC), comprising all the 36 State governors, and the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), advised the Presidency to withdraw the Bills for further consultations/discussions.
“It is therefore wrong to suggest cleavages of the nation along regional lines on the tax Bills. It is not all the four Bills that are disagreeable”, he stressed, and urged the President to heed the voices of the State governors, and NEC, which is a Constitutional platform.
Sani maintained that although Tinubu’s insistency on the tax reform was not politically good for his second-term ambition, the Bill has nothing to do with 2027 politics.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, on his part, said Tinubu’s re-election will suffer a huge setback because of his insistence on the tax reform Bills. In a published interview in Abuja yesterday, Yerima warned of serious electoral consequences in the 2027 election should President Tinubu stick with his stance on the Bills.
Recall that on September 3, 2024, Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration, following the recommendations of the Taiwo Oyedele-led Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms.
The Bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which aims 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.
Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, expected to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, as well as the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
