The Nigerian House of Representatives has announced plans to consult with tax experts regarding the implications of the Tax Reform Bills currently before the National Assembly.
Mr. Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesman of the House, revealed this in an exclusive interview with *The PUNCH* in Abuja on Wednesday.
President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council recently introduced four executive bills aimed at simplifying tax processes, establishing a unified revenue service, and easing financial obligations for both businesses and citizens. These reforms follow a months-long review of the country’s existing tax laws, led by the Taiwo Oyedele committee, which was inaugurated in August 2023. The committee’s recommendations were incorporated into the four executive bills, which were submitted to the National Assembly in September 2024.
However, last week, all 36 state governors requested the withdrawal of the bills to allow for further consultations. This followed earlier opposition from 19 state governors who argued that the bills contradicted the interests of the North and state governments.
Despite the governors’ stance, the Presidency has maintained that the bills should be debated in Parliament, leaving room for potential amendments by lawmakers.
Agbese emphasized the House’s commitment to engaging with the public on the bills through Town Hall meetings. “We will bring in experts to examine the bills line by line and gauge what Nigerians think about them,” Agbese said. “As the People’s House, under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abass, we will ensure that the citizens’ input is central to our decision-making process.”
House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda also commented on the matter, revealing that the Minority Caucus had already started work on the bills before the position of the 36 governors was made public. He explained that the caucus had formed a team led by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Iduma Igariwey, to develop a position paper. This will be discussed within the caucus ahead of the second reading of the bills.
Chinda assured that the Minority Caucus’s stance would prioritize the national interest. “We do not oppose citizens paying taxes, but we believe in avoiding excessive taxation, which could harm the economy. We advocate for reducing public sector overhead costs and improving welfare for the lower class to bridge the economic gap,” he said.
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