The lawmaker representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, has assured Nigerians that there is no cause for alarm regarding the tax reform bills currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
He emphasized that these bills are aimed at strengthening the country’s fiscal institutions and advancing President Bola Tinubu’s comprehensive development plans.
The bills, which were submitted by President Tinubu to the National Assembly in October 2024, have sparked public outcry and widespread debates across the country. However, Senator Umeh, a prominent member of the Labour Party, believes that the public’s negative reaction could be addressed through proper communication and awareness about the intent and benefits of the reforms.
Umeh acknowledged that Nigerians have lost confidence in governance due to previous mismanagement of resources, which has led to a reluctance to pay taxes. He stressed that to regain public trust, the government must clearly explain the content of the tax reforms and demonstrate how the revenue will be used for the public good.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora Matters and Non-Governmental Organizations further stated that reforms are a necessary part of the country’s growth. He explained that while no one enjoys paying taxes, an effective system would gain the trust of citizens, making them more willing to contribute. Umeh emphasized that taxes should not be collected by force, but through voluntary compliance, which can be achieved by showing citizens that their contributions are being used to improve infrastructure and services.
He also noted that the current wave of opposition to the tax bills is largely due to misinformation, with many people relying on social media to form their opinions without fully reading the proposed legislation. Umeh reassured that after reading the bills himself, he found nothing particularly harmful that would warrant total rejection, urging the government to engage in a better public relations campaign to clarify the purpose and benefits of the reforms.
Also, Umeh called on government officials to lead by example, showing Nigerians that their contributions will not be misused for personal luxuries but will instead be directed toward national development. He emphasized the need for leadership to rebuild public trust and foster a cooperative approach to taxation.
“Globally what people don’t like to do is to pay tax. Nobody likes to pay money. But a system that has worked effectively would have the confidence of its citizens to pay tax.
“When you charge tax that people will not be willing to pay, and then you use force to get the tax, it is not a good tax. Any tax that you use force to get is not a good tax.
“If they know that the money they are paying, government is using it to provide infrastructure and services, people will be more persuaded to pay tax.
“But Nigeria at this state, we are in a situation where Nigerian people have lost faith in governance. So, any action that is geared towards taxing the citizens will receive immediate rejections. And that is what we are seeing with the tax bills.
“People have not been able to read the bills. They have continued to rely on social media posts to condemn the proposed tax reforms. I have read the tax reform bills.
“And I can tell that in as much as we will be doing consultation, I have not seen anything that is very harmful in the bills, that should warrant a total rejection.
“What we need to do is to explain and ensure that people understand the purpose and the intent of the bills. So, government has a lot of work to do to market its objectives to the Nigerian people, and do things that will promote confidence on the part of Nigerians.
“The drivers of the government should be able to show that they are ready to be like ordinary people. So that when you are asking Nigerians to pay money, they will know that they are not paying this money for you to go and buy luxuries for yourself and your family,” Umeh stated.
