Shehu Sani also accused Senator Ndume of attempting to deny Nigerians the advantages inherent in the bill
By Kehinde Okeowo
Human rights activist and former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani has queried the decision of senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume to oppose President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform proposal even before studying it.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the president in October forwarded an executive bill to the National Assembly urging lawmakers to consider and pass four tax reform bills which include the Nigeria tax bill, the tax administration bill, and the joint revenue board establishment bills.
After the bill was presented to the legislators, northerners, particularly governors, elite and some lawmakers in the upper and lower legislative chambers of the National Assembly expressed misgivings that the bill would be injurious to the northern interest if it is allowed to see the light of the day.
Also speaking on the bill at different fora and through a statement which he personally signed, Senator Ndume opposed the bill and described it as ‘ill-timed’ given that Nigerians are currently in economic crisis.
According to him, it does not make ‘political sense’ presenting the tax reform bills to the lawmakers for now.
“I can tell you that it will be dead on arrival. We don’t need to study the bill,” he said.
“The general thing is that Nigerians are not willing to talk, hear or pay any tax now considering the situation we have faced because this is the government of the people.
“Right now, people can’t even afford what to eat. People are struggling to survive. Let people live first before you start asking them for tax.” Ndume added.
Reacting to the position of senator, Shehu Sani, called him a lazy lawmaker, who has not read a copy of the bill, but has blindly opposed it.
He also accused him of attempting to deny Nigerians the advantages inherent in the bill.
Sani said there are six geopolitical zones and four regions of the country, wondering what are those issues in the bill that the North should fear.
ALSO READ: Charging hungry children with treason makes Tinubu like Abacha, says Falana
He added that the North should be ready to confront its fears and conquer them.
He insisted that the tax reform bills were not inimical to the north as being portrayed by Ndume and his likes rather the North stands at advantage in the reform proposal that would place the Value Added Tax (VAT), right in the hands of each state to control.
For instance, “there is a provision where companies are to pay value added tax to the host State instead of sending it to a single account.
“It’s in fact economically beneficial and fair to all parts. People should keep aside sentiments and read the Bill carefully.
“It’s a comprehensive and bold move to harmonise and simplify tax administration and streamline its operations and enforcement.
“The Bill will actually generate and safeguard more revenue for the country and the States.
“It will also combat the corruption in the so-called tax waivers granted to business cabals.
“There is nowhere in the document where any region will be shortchanged or taxes will be increased or jobs will be lost.”
Sani insisted that the reform could create a paradigm shift from the past and outdated tax system to a robust way of generating revenue which it takes a courageous president to do, particularly, as it will address business cabals who could do anything to evade tax remittances and seek unnecessary tax waivers.
He warned that the economy would be taken aback if the tax reform bills were truncated, condemning Northern State Governors’ rejection of the reform.
He advised the State governors to engage consultants to study the bill if they had no time to do it themselves.
As reactions continue to trail the proposed tax reform bill before the National Assembly, Sani is of the belief that the reform would serve the interest of the Northern region better than what is being insinuated.
