Senate President Godswill Akpabio has slammed social media criticism of the tax reform bills, stating that not more than 30 per cent of Nigerians pay taxes to the Federal Government, yet many expect the government to provide the best in infrastructure, education, security, and other critical sectors.
Speaking on Monday while declaring open the public hearing on tax reform bills forwarded to both chambers on October 3, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu, Akpabio emphasised the necessity of the reforms, asserting that the nation cannot continue to follow the same approach repeatedly.
According to him, once the bills are passed, the National Assembly will enhance its oversight functions to ensure that government resources are utilised judiciously.
“The public hearing should be used to think of a better Nigeria,” Akpabio said. He also expressed his commitment to the process, stating that he would stay for two days and participate fully, adding that he was tired of social media criticism. He reiterated that many leaders in the country had not even reviewed the content of the bills before criticising them.
Akpabio urged participants and Nigerians to obtain copies of the bills and scrutinise them properly rather than relying on social media interpretations.
Among the attendees were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji; and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), noted that discussions on the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill and the Nigerian Revenue Services Bill would soon follow.
According to Musa, the committee has invited 71 different groups of stakeholders for the public hearing. He added, “Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have done the second reading on the reform bills and are ready for the public hearing.”
“The bills have been read by all members of the committee with a better understanding of their objectives, particularly in the areas of tax administration, collection, and operations in Nigeria.
“The main purpose of the reform bills is to see how the government will generate more revenue so that we’ll be able to put our country on the pedestal of advanced economies where infrastructure, education, the agricultural sector, and virtually every sector that revolves around the ecosystem of the economy will be adequately taken care of,” Musa said.
The tax reform bills under review include:
1. The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024
2. The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024
3. The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024
4. The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill 2024
These bills were passed for a second reading in the Senate on November 28, 2024, and forwarded to the Committee on Finance for further legislative input through Monday’s public hearing.
