President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared his resolve to ensure the controversial tax reform efforts by his administration see the light of the day.
The President on Monday during his maiden media chat in Ikoyi, Lagos, noted that the reform has come to stay.
“Tax reform is here to stay. We cannot just continue to do what we do in yesteryears in today’s economy,” he said
“he reform is pro-poor and it is to widen the tax net, so we can have more people paying.
“The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it ought to be done.”
When asked about his plans to manage the pushback from the Northern leaders, especially over proposed changes in sharing of Value Added Tax (VAT) following the introduction of the tax reform bills, he said “Tax matters are subject of debate, and negotiations until you reach concessions. I don’t mind cutting edges. I will.”
Recall that the bills, which caused uproar in sections of the country, including on the floors of the National Assembly, have passed second reading at the Senate.
Meanwhile, former Senate Chip Whip and Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, in a statement on Sunday, insisted that the tax reform bills should be withdrawn for more consultations, noting the bills are not only against the northern part but the entire nation.
According to Ndume, his opposition to the bills was not borne out of sentiment but the need to review certain sections of the bills, adding that the North is never a liability to any region but an asset to the country.
