By Matthew Denis, Abuja
The President, Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Assembly to revise proposed tax bills following public criticism and growing concerns from various quarters. The move comes in response to debates and fears that the reforms could negatively impact certain regions or worsen economic hardships for Nigerians.
Recall that the bills submitted by President Tinubu to the National Assembly, have sparked a wave of opposition, particularly from governors in the northern region. Critics argue that the proposals might unfairly target some regions or exacerbate poverty.
To address these worries, Tinubu has called for collaboration between the Justice Ministry and the National Assembly to adjust the bills and resolve contentious issues.
The Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, in a statement released Tuesday, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency.
He clarified that the government welcomes constructive feedback, stating, “It is pertinent to state that the government has nothing sinister to warrant the suggestion that the process is being rushed. In line with the established legislative procedure, the Federal General welcomes meaningful inputs that can address whatever grey areas there may be in the bill.”
“In this vein, President Tinubu has already directed the Federal Ministry of Justice and relevant officials who worked on the drafts to work closely with the National Assembly to ensure that all genuine concerns have been addressed before the bills are passed.”
According to him, the president is committed to accountability to the Nigerian people and described the debates generated by the bills as “welcomed, and commendable.”
“It is very inspiring to see Nigerians from all walks of life coming out to express their views and opinions on these matters of critical national importance,” he said. “This is the very essence and meaning of democracy.”
“In the spirit of democratic engagement, there should be no room for name-calling, or for the injection of unnecessary ethnic and regional slurs into this important national conversation,” the minister said.
Although some of the arguments against the bills are that they were targeted at impoverishing some states, the minister has dismissed the claim which he labeled as “fake news” and “misinformation.”
“The fiscal reforms will not impoverish any State or region of the country, nor will they lead to the scrapping or weakening of any federal agencies,” the Minister added.