The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stressed the importance of the ongoing public debates on the Tax Reform Bills, describing them as essential to democratic governance. He noted that policy formulation and debates are interdependent and crucial for improving government initiatives.
Idris made these comments on Tuesday in Abuja when he received the management of the Progressives Institute, led by the Director General, Dr. Lanre Adedayo, during a courtesy visit to his office. The Minister emphasized that engaging with stakeholders and the public on government policies ensures that these policies align with the needs and aspirations of the citizens.
Referring to the ongoing debates about the Tax Reform Bills, Idris disagreed with those who see the discussions as opposition to government policy or the President. He called these debates healthy, as they provide an opportunity to improve the bills for the benefit of all Nigerians. He clarified that debate and policy formulation are not mutually exclusive, and that open dialogue is essential for refining government initiatives.
Idris reassured the public that the Tax Reform proposed by President Bola Tinubu is designed to promote inclusive growth and stimulate economic activity nationwide, rather than to disadvantage any region of the country. He encouraged Nigerians to actively participate in discussions on government policies, noting that such contributions strengthen the country’s democratic process.
The Minister also acknowledged that the reforms introduced by President Tinubu may be challenging but are necessary for fulfilling his campaign promise of promoting progress and prosperity for all Nigerians. He expressed confidence that, if followed through, the reforms will deliver positive results, citing recent favorable economic performance data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
Idris also commended the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for establishing the Progressives Institute, which he described as a vital intellectual resource for the party and the government. The Institute, he said, plays a key role in researching policies and programs that are being or will be implemented by the administration.
Dr. Adedayo, the Director General of the Progressives Institute, highlighted that the Institute is the first of its kind in Nigerian political history, designed to provide intellectual support for capacity building, leadership recruitment, and policy research. He also sought the Minister’s support for an upcoming conference organized by the Institute, focused on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and addressing developmental challenges in Nigeria.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Adedayo commended Minister Idris for his strategic and effective communication of the policies and programs of the Tinubu administration, noting that his approach is neither combative nor reactionary.
“There will always be the opportunity to have a healthy debate so that whatever government puts forward, can be made better. In any case, this is being done for the benefit of all Nigerians. Therefore, Nigerians have the democratic right to interrogate government policies, provided the commentaries are healthy and are geared towards making the policies better,”
“Reforms are usually tough, usually hard, but once they are followed through, they deliver extraordinary results and we know that the direction that this government is going, we are extremely confident that all the reform processes that Mr. President has instituted, will take us to the desired destination,” he stated
