Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has explained why the 36 state governors are demanding wider consultations over the Tax Reform Bills.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju on Sunday, Makinde said it was to carry the entire country along given the bills’ far-reaching implications.
He also stated that he was not against the bills but only expressed the reservations raised by the governors to journalists.
Makinde explained that the National Economic Council unanimously agreed that the bills should be withdrawn from the National Assembly to allow for wider consultation.
“At the NEC meeting, we asked the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force about the status of the bills, and he confirmed they were already at the National Assembly.
“I asked, ‘If that’s the case, why are you just coming to us for approval?’ It amounted to putting the cart before the horse.
“We agreed that the bills should be withdrawn, enabling broader consultations with stakeholders.
“This could lead to alignment, whether in their original form or with necessary adjustments based on stakeholder feedback.
“I was asked to explain our decision to withdraw the bills for consultation, but some people chose to focus on the messenger rather than the message,” he stated.
