Published 19th November,2024.
By Chinwendu Eugene
Members of the House of Representatives from the northern part of the country have raised fresh concerns over the four tax reform bills currently under consideration in the National Assembly.
They spoke at an interactive session organised by the House of Representatives with the members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms on Monday.
The bills, particularly the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, have sparked widespread debate.
The bills are: The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country; and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.
The others are: the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
The National Economic Council (NEC) and state governors have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the bills for further consultations.
Also, northern leaders, including traditional rulers and lawmakers, have expressed their opposition, saying the proposed reforms are skewed against the region.
Despite this, President Tinubu has maintained that the legislative process should proceed, emphasising that ongoing deliberations allow for inputs and amendments without the need to withdraw the bills.
During the session yesterday, lawmakers, including Rep. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau), Rep. Ahmed Jaha Babawo (APC, Borno), Rep. Zainab Gimba (APC, Borno), and Rep. Zakariah Dauda Nyampah (PDP, Adamawa), expressed concerns about the bills’ potential impacts on the North.
They argued that the region’s economy, already weakened by insecurity and poor productivity, could suffer further under the proposed amendments.
But the presidential tax reform team allayed the fears, saying the current VAT distribution favours few states and is unfair to others.
