Northern Islamic Prof Mansur Ibrahim said it is sad that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pressing ahead with the controbersial Tax reform Bills despite is rejections by Nigerians.
President Tinubu recently sent four bills – the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 -SB.583; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024- SB.584; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024-SB.585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 – SB.586 – to the NASS for passage.
The cleric who spoke at the weekend in Sokoto state during the Friday Jumaat service said the bill does not bode well for the country, that is why it has been widely rejected by groups and prominent individual.
Prof Ibrahim said it is wrong that President Tinubu has insisted on the passage of the bills by the national assembly despite its rejection by the National Executive Council, NEC, Nigeria’s Governors Forum, NGF, among others that it’s not good for the country.
The magazine reports that serious controversies have trailed the bills since President Tinubu sent it to the National Assembly for passage. The Tax Reform Bill passed the First and second Reading in the Senate, last week amidst apparent divisions among lawmakers.
For instance, Deputy Senate President and Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the Senate had clashed during plenary, following accusation by Ndume that the bill was being rushed for passage.
Speaking, prof Ibrahim said the president decided to go ahead with the bill, which he said will worsen the plight of many Nigerians. The cleric accused President Tinubu of being insensitive to the feelings of the North which has pointedly rejected the bill, saying that the suffering in the country will get worse if Nigerians are made to pay VAT on basic life’s necessity such as ‘Maggi, used by many in the country to season their food.
While the tax bills favours ‘Lagos’ it will be very detrimental to the interest of the north, he said, adding that there’s more than meets the eye considering the manner in which the bill is being rushed for passage in NASS.
He called for its immediate suspension in line with the agitations of many Nigerians.
Prof Ibrahim said, “Enacting a law is a long process which allows all concerned parties to contribute to its development, and the lawmakers have to deliberate on it; make consultation, debate, and public hearings have to take place before approval, but this particular law, they are using force to actualise it within the shortest period”, the cleric told his congregation on Friday.
“The president’s insistence on the tax reform bill is either he is not aware of the hardship Nigerians are going through, or he lacks empathy by planning to add more tax burden on Nigerians, especially on VAT which is why they are gradually withdrawing cash in circulation. With this, any transaction, including buying Maggie cube, you have to pay tax.
“He is not fair and just to other Nigerian states who voted for him, especially the north, and we are still aware that Lagos was won by the Labour Party, not APC. Despite this, the president is giving them preferential treatment”, the cleric said.
“We are calling on you to fear God and suspend the tax reform bills as suggested by the National Economic Council”, the cleric stated.
The bills sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele in the Senate, few days ago, has stoked serious divisions among Nigerians, the main opposition to it came from the North which said it will be shortchanged if it is allowed to pass.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
