Tax Reform Bill not against northerners – Presidency

Tax Reform Bill not against northerners – Presidency

The Presidency on Thursday stated that the proposed Tax Reform bill is aimed at revamping and simplifying Nigeria’s tax collection processes to bolster economic growth.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known while defending the bill which has received pushback in certain part of the country.

Recall that the Federal Executive Council, which Tinubu presided, recently endorsed new policy initiatives aimed at streamlining Nigeria’s tax administration processes, enhancing efficiency and cutting out redundancies across the nation’s tax operations.

But the governors of 19 Northern States, under the platform of the Northern Governors’ Forum, at their meeting recently, faulted the new derivation-based model for Value-Added Tax (VAT) distribution in the new tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

Chairman of the Forum, Governor Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State presided over the meeting where the northern elites opposed the policy.

Onanuga while reacting on behalf of the President, explained that the reforms are not aimed at undermining or giving undue advantage to any part of the country

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He disclosed that the reforms were a product of an extensive review of existing tax laws.

He noted that the National Assembly is considering four executive bills designed to transform and modernise Nigeria’s tax landscape.

“First is the Nigeria Tax Bill, which aims to eliminate unintended multiple taxation and make Nigeria’s economy more competitive by simplifying tax obligations for businesses and individuals nationwide.

“The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) proposes new rules governing the administration of all taxes in the country.

“Its objective is to harmonise tax administrative processes across federal, state and local jurisdictions for ease of compliance for taxpayers in all parts of the country.

“The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill seeks to rename the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to better reflect the mandate of the Service as the revenue agency for the entire federation, not just the Federal Government,” Onanuga stated.

He explained that the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill proposes the creation of a Joint Revenue Board to replace the Joint Tax Board, covering federal and all states’ tax authorities.

According to him, the bill also suggests establishing the Office of Tax Ombudsman under the Joint Revenue Board, which would serve as a complaint resolution body for taxpayers

Tax Reform Bill not against northerners – Presidency