Bill to bar tax dodgers from elective office gets support to clean up political system
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Both the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party have expressed support for the proposed bill seeking to stop politicians who evade tax from running for elective office.
The endorsement comes in the wake of the announcement on April 26 by Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee Chairman Taiwo Oyedele that the executive bill is scheduled to be passed in the National Assembly (NASS).
Oyedele said an amendment to the existing tax law will also be forwarded to the NASS to ensure tax compliance by the political class.
The economist made the disclosures at the 2024 retreat for the Joint Tax Board (JTB) staff where he added the government plans to set up a national tax amnesty programme.
Tax and party membership dues come up for debate during major elections as candidates seek to outwit one another.
Oyedele admitted the argument hardly holds water since the Constitution does not explicitly list tax compliance as part of qualification for elective office.
APC Deputy National Organising Secretary Chidi Duru welcomed the bill, saying it will help clean up the political system.
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Tax payment, a civic responsibility
“In any clime, this is not something that should be up for discussion. It is a civic responsibility. If you pay tax, you are now in a position to demand that the government use it for the betterment of the citizens and the improvement of infrastructure and facilities,” Duru told The PUNCH.
“Tax evasion is one of the highest crimes in this part of the world. This is just one of those measures being considered to ensure citizens don’t inculcate the habit of being accountable and holding the state accountable. It is another way of ensuring that people are prevented from taking advantage of the state as it is happening in the country today.
“The highest crime you can commit against a state is not to pay your tax. So it should not just be about people going for elective office.”
Yunusa Tanko, Chief Spokesman of the Labour Party Campaign Organisation, also applauded the plan.
Said he: “The need to bar politicians who are found wanting are things we need to do in our recruitment process. Even before it is presented to the National Assembly, it has already been established as a fact. After all, the law says if you have been convicted, you cannot stand for election.
“The only thing we have not been able to do is to enforce it. This is because anybody can come and raise a bill on anything. But we often fail to enforce that particular law.
“What we need actually is enforcement of the law so that at the end of it all, we are left with clean people who can run for election.”