Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has called for caution over the Tax Reform Bills, asking Nigerians to digest the content before passing judgement on them.
President Bola Tinubu’s transmission of the bills to the National Assembly has elicited heated debates among Nigerians.
The northern region has been the most vocal in its criticism of the bills which have pitted some governors and lawmakers against the Federal Government.
But speaking at the Government House in Owerri, Imo State on Thursday, Uzodimma said some of those against the bills have not studied their provisions.
“Many of us who are criticising the bills have not taken time to study the bills to understand the merits or otherwise of the bills that have been presented,” the governor said.
“I would therefore want to call on all of us to take time and study the bills and identify those areas that think that they are not desirable to enable us to criticize it. Otherwise, I think that it is an economic bill that is meant to raise more money for the government and is also meant to harmonize our tax system, and also bring some kind of prudence and decorum to the taxation regime in the country.”
Controversy has continued to greet the introduction of the bills. Critics especially from the country’s northern region claim they are mapped out to cripple the region. Others argue that the move would further throw more Nigerians into poverty, claims Uzodimma said should not be the case.
“I’m of the view that people should not subject the bills to politics or blackmail. They should just look at the bills, go through them, and then see how far they can criticize or support the bills.
“I think it’s a document that has been crafted in a well-articulated manner and deserves to be given proper attention, particularly given that this is an executive bill from the president and shouldn’t be trivialized,” the Imo governor said.
According to him, when passed, the bills would help tackle several issues with taxation.
“One thing I have seen that this bill intends to achieve is to have a harmonized position where different types of taxes can be paid through a single window,” Uzodimma, who is the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum said.
“For me, it is an advanced method of cutting taxes all over the world. If there are some of the taxes, anybody thinks that is not going to go down well with the public, let us understand which of those taxes, and then we will reason together and then find a solution.”
The bills have already passed the second reading in the Senate. The lawmakers also set up a committee to review it with the office of the Attorney General of the Federation’s office.
Despite calls for their withdrawal, Senate President Godswill Akpabio insisted that the lawmakers will not be intimidated.
He said the bills have not been withdrawn contrary to speculations in some quarters.
“We have not suspended or withdrawn deliberations on the tax reform bills. Any attempt to intimidate the Senate is undemocratic,” he said. “These bills are executive communications, and only the executive arm can withdraw them. We remain steadfast in our legislative responsibilities.”
