Victor Ezeja
Former Speaker, Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on northerners to remove the cap of regionalism, sectionalism and religion and embrace President Bola Tinubu government’s tax reforms.
President Tinubu had sent four tax reform bills to the National Assembly, but they have been greeted with controversies mostly by northern political leaders who argue that certain provisions in the bills are against the interest of the region.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAspects Of The Bills
- The Nigeria Tax Bill – this seeks to streamline taxes and eliminate multiple taxation.
- Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) – This focuses on harmonising tax processes across all levels of government;
- Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill – seeks to rename the Federal Inland Revenue Service to Nigeria Revenue Service; and
- Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill – which is for creation of a joint revenue board to streamline tax administration.
The bills generally are set to transform the nation’s tax sector, making it more efficient and aligned with global best practices.
Opposition to the bills
The Northern Governors Forum had expressed rejection of the bills. This was followed by the National Economic Council chaired by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, which advised the president to withdraw the bills for wider consultation across the country.
While some critics of the bills have juxtaposed some of the provisions with the current economic hardship, stating that the timing is wrong, others have said there was inadequate consultation over the bills.
However, speaking at a town hall meeting organised by Channels Television on Monday, to address issues about the tax reform bills, Dogara said the northern leaders and other critics of the bills should remove sentiments and consider the merits in terms of what is right for the economic development of the country and welfare of people across the states.
READ ALSO: Tax Reform Bills Will Reduce Burden For Businesses; Presidency
He contended that the reasons being advanced by those calling for rejection of the bills were insufficient. He urged them to dispassionately assess the provisions and come to reality.
On timing, Dogara said there is no specific time to do what is right. He said: “Time is always rife to do the right thing. Leaders that will make impact bother about doing what is right. If it is popular, excellent, if it is not, just do what is right.
“In leadership, when you talk about timing, the way I have heard them talk about is a tragic misconception of the notion of time itself because there’s nothing like the future, there’s nothing like the past.
“All we have is now. It is what you are doing now that will become your past. It is what you are doing now that will affect your future.”
“I don’t even care if it was part of the president’s agenda. All I am bothered with as a leader is: is it the right thing?,” he added.
According to him, all contentious issues raised about certain provisions of the bills can be discussed and amended and not to out rightly stop them from being passed into law.
The former speaker observed that the reforms embarked on by Tinubu’s administration offers opportunities for wealth creation and urged northerners to embrace it.
“We, as northerners, should better embrace this opportunity to create wealth, to build our people, so that we can generate wealth and ensure prosperity for our people. I know that it is difficult, but it was what John Huntsman reminded us, that humans have seldom created anything of lasting value if they were not tired or hurting. So if this will get us tired to do something else and not look hurting, to begin to look inward so that we can generate wealth, so be it,” he stated.
He recalled that the northern region once had great wealth made from groundnut pyramids, and livestock among others such that at some point, the federal government even borrowed money from the northern region. “Why can’t we repeat this?” he queried.
READ ALSO: How Tax Reform Bills Stir Controversies, Further Divide Citizens
The 13th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019, further said this is not the time for northerners to begin to condemn the president. According to him, the Livestock Ministry recently created by the president could enable them generate more wealth. He said the global market size of diaries and beef would rise to about $2.5 trillion in the next three years. “So if in the north, we’re able to organize ourselves in such a way that we can only get just 5% of this global market size of diaries and beef that gives us $250 billion. We don’t need VAT from any state in Nigeria to survive. The North can survive.”
Dogara said the region is equally blessed with solid mineral resources such that when properly exploited, can lead to greater economic prosperity.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
