The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, on Thursday, cautioned Nigerians against politicising the tax reform bills.
On 3rd October, President Bola Tinubu presented the four bills to the National Assembly for deliberation and passage. Since then, the bills have created tension between some state governors and the Nigerian Government, with the governors demanding their withdrawal to allow for further consultation.
The bills include 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.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Osifo expressed his support for the bills, emphasising that the concerns raised are natural in such processes.
“Those undertones are clearly there. It started from the Northern Governors’ Forum, evolved into the General Governors’ Forum, and extended into the National Economic Council.
“At this stage of our development, we need to be cautious. We shouldn’t politicise everything. Bringing in tribal or ethnic sentiments is not the right approach,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Senators from the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria have expressed their support for the Tax Reform Bills presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
The lawmakers, under the aegis of the South-South Senators’ Forum, highlighted the importance of tax reforms in enhancing national revenue and fostering economic stability.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Forum’s Chairman, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), the Senators affirmed their commitment to thoroughly evaluating the bills to ensure they align with national interests, particularly benefiting the South-South region.
They also urged South-South governors to collaborate with lawmakers to refine the bills for mutual benefit.
The Senators, representing Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers States, passed a vote of confidence in Senate President Godswill Akpabio, commending his leadership in fulfilling the Senate’s constitutional responsibilities.
The Forum further called on stakeholders to avoid injecting regional, ethnic, or tribal sentiments into the national discourse, advocating for constructive dialogue and consultations in the legislative process.