- President Bola Tinubu requested the national assembly to pass four tax reform bills on October 13, 2024.
- The governors also supported continuing the legislative process to eventually pass the tax reform bills.
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for unanimously endorsing the proposed tax reform bills.
The proposed legislations are the Nigeria tax bill, Nigeria tax administration bill, Nigeria Revenue Service establishment bill, and the Joint Revenue Board establishment bill.
The bills had earlier suffered pushbacks from different quarters, especially northern stakeholders, who also vehemently opposed the tax bills, describing them as anti-north and pro-south.
On Thursday, the NGF threw its weight behind the proposed tax legislation before the national assembly.
The forum in a statement issued after its meeting with the presidential tax reform committee, proposed an “equitable” sharing formula for value-added tax (VAT).
The governors recommended that there should be no terminal clause for TETFUND, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in the sharing of development levies in the bills.
They also supported the continuation of the legislative process at the national assembly that will culminate in the eventual passage of the bills.
In a statement on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu asked the national assembly to expedite the legislative process for crucial bills.
The president commended governors for their bold leadership and commitment to fostering national unity, transcending regional and ethnic barriers.
Onanuga quoted Tinubu as saying Thursday’s productive consultation between the NGF and the presidential committee on tax reform is a commendable example of cooperation between the federal and state governments.
The president also lauded AbdulRahmon AbdulRazaq, the NGF chairman, for rallying support among governors for transformative tax bills and other groups for resolving the controversy.
“He also commends the Progressive Governors Forum, the Northern Governors Forum, and all other groups that made the bipartisan resolution of the controversy stirred by the tax bills possible,” Onanuga said.
“President Tinubu underscores that the primary aim of the Tax Reform Bills, which is pro-poor, is to promote national interests, improve the competitiveness of Nigeria’s economy, and attract both local and foreign investments.
“He said updating the country’s outdated tax laws is essential to this endeavour.
“The President notes that the dialogue between the NGF and the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reform highlights the power of constructive conversation in resolving differences.
“President Tinubu regards the governors as vital contributors to nation-building and affirms his commitment to partnering with them to promote economic growth, national harmony, peace, and stability.
“He also encourages other stakeholders with ideas and suggestions for refining the Tax Bills to engage with the ongoing legislative process at the National Assembly.”
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