Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, said that he was not opposed to the tax reforms but only presented the reservations raised by the governors to the press.
Makinde explained that the 36 state governors demanded wider consultation on President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills in order to carry the entire nation along, given the far-reaching implications of the reforms.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde made this clarification during a media chat on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State on Saturday.
It would be recalled that on 3 October 2024, President Bola Tinubu transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly: the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
These bills have sparked controversy, with many stakeholders opposing certain sections proposed by the government.
Makinde, who had briefed the media on the position of the National Economic Council regarding the bills, explained that the NEC unanimously agreed that the bills should be withdrawn from the National Assembly to allow for wider consultation.
“At the NEC meeting, we asked the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force about the status of the bills, and he confirmed they were already at the National Assembly”, Makinde said. “I asked, ‘If that’s the case, why are you just coming to us for approval?’ It amounted to putting the cart before the horse”.
He continued: “We agreed that the bills should be withdrawn, enabling broader consultations with stakeholders. This could lead to alignment, whether in their original form or with necessary adjustments based on stakeholder feedback”.
Addressing criticisms that he was opposed to the reforms, Makinde stated: “I was asked to explain our decision to withdraw the bills for consultation, but some people chose to focus on the messenger rather than the message”.
Credit- western post
