- Kalu clarified that President Tinubu has no plans to introduce Alpha Beta as Nigeria’s tax consultant.
- He added that Nigeria’s tax laws are outdated and require revision for national progress.
The senator representing Abia north, Orji Kalu, has slammed the federal government for excluding crucial stakeholders from tax reform bill discussions.
The former Abia governor made this statement during an interview with Arise Television on Monday.
In October, President Bola Tinubu requested the national assembly to review and pass four tax reform bills.
These bills comprise the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The Northern States Governors Forum opposed the bills, while the national economic council requested Tinubu to withdraw them for further discussion.
Kalu stated that the federal government erred by not involving NEC, governor’s forum, and council of state in tax bill discussions.
He noted that the bills are “very progressive” and would restore “fiscal federalism” in Nigeria.
“As I told you before, the bill is very progressive. It will bring back fiscal federalism. Many senators have not been briefed,” Kalu said.
“I think the federal government made a mistake. The initiators of the bills could have briefed the National Economic Council, Governors’ forum and Council of state.”
Kalu emphasized the need for politicians like Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, who speak out on national issues.
Ndume has been vocal against the bills and threatened to leave the All Progressives Congress over the tax reform bills.
“We need senators like Ndume who will raise our conscience. I respect Senator Ndume very well,” Kalu said.
“Those who tell Senator Ndume to shut up are not being kind to democracy, democracy is not about one voice but about multiple voices.
“It is the government being guided by the majority of the people and Ndume is one of them. “He is a strong voice, the senate president didn’t shut him up”.
Kalu clarified that President Tinubu has no plans to introduce Alpha Beta as Nigeria’s tax consultant.
He added that Nigeria’s tax laws are outdated and require revision for national progress.
“One of my friends called me and said the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wants to put another Alphabeta in Nigeria like he did in Lagos State; that is not the issue,” he said.
“The issue is that we need to make amendments to our laws. I support that our laws, not only the tax bills, are obsolete.”
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