Tinubu Tasks National Assembly On Workable Tax Laws

…Says Security Agencies Strengthened To Meet Challenges

President Bola Tinubu on Mon­day asked the National Assembly to dig into the Tax Reform Bills he submitted to it in 2024, and pro­duce working tax laws.

The president’s request comes as both chambers began a two-day retreat aimed at fine-tuning grey areas in the legislation.

Conveying the president’s request to the gathering of stake­holders at the National Assembly, Chairman of the Senate Com­mittee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (Niger North), said, “I met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) two days ago on the tax reform bills and he told me that Mr. Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, go and do the needful.

“Give me a law that is work­able from the tax reform bills I forwarded to the Senate and the House of Representatives in Oc­tober last year.

“That request by Mr. President came at a very auspicious time of this public hearing on the tax re­form bills which are not meant to add burden to any section of the country or give undue advantage to any section as well.”

President Tinubu’s request for workable laws from the bills, which are (i) The Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, (ii) Nigerian Tax Adminis­tration Bill 2024, (iii) Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill 2024 and (iv) Joint Revenue Board Bill 2024, was disclosed by the Chairman of the Senate Com­mittee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (Niger East) in his remarks at the public hearing.

At the hearing, stakeholders supported the legislation with the Arewa Think Tank led by the con­vener, Muhammad Alhaji Yaku­bu, debunking insinuation that the Northern part of the country was against the proposed laws.

It would be recalled that stri­dent oppositions against the bills were raised by various groups last year which made it difficult for the House of Representatives to pass it for second reading while the Senate managed to do so on November 28, last year.

However, at the public hearing declared open by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Ak­pabio, all oppositions against the bills melted out as stakeholders one after the other threw their weights behind the proposed laws.

First to make submission was the Minister of Finance and Co­ordinating Minister of the Econ­omy, Mr. Wale Edun, who said the proposed laws are not aimed at taxing poverty but prosperity.

“The tax reform bills as re­peatedly explained at different fora since their introduction last year are for modernisation of our archaic tax laws towards affecting efficiency, equity and economic growth,” he said.

Making a similar submission, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian Nation­al Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, said the entire oil and gas industry is well disposed to the reform.

 “The proposed tax reform bills to us in NNPCL are very neces­sary enhancement of growth of the economy through more effi­cient and effective tax collection mechanism.

“As the largest taxpayer in Nigeria, NNPCL has studied the reform bills, and found the proposals to be reasonable and necessary”, he said.

Towing similar lines in his own presentation, the Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allo­cation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu, made a U-turn from earlier stance on the bills, by supporting them 100%.

He said: “RMAFC is in support of the proposed tax reform but wants adjustments in the area of Value Added Tax (VAT) distribu­tion to sub-nationals.

“We hope that the proposed reform will address the issue of endless revenue remittance reconciliation with NNPCL and others”.

The Chairman of Fiscal Re­sponsibility Commission, Victor Muruako, also supported the proposed reform bills by declar­ing that they are in tandem with the spirit and letters of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

In their separate presenta­tions, the convener of Arewa Think Thank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, and represen­tative of President of Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, Prof. Mohammed Bello Dogar­awa, debunked the insinuation that the North was against the reform bills.

Specifically, the Convener of Arewa Think Tank said, “It is not true that the North is against the tax reform bills. We have seen the benefits and sensitised our people in the North on them.”

Earlier in his remarks before declaring the public hearing open, the President of the Senate said: “The challenge before us tran­scends the simple act of passing new laws; it is about constructing a tax system that inspires confi­dence, promotes development, and fuels national growth. We cannot afford to be fragmented in our approach to revenue gen­eration. Instead, we must come together—Federal, State, and Lo­cal Governments, alongside the private sector and civil society— to create a tax system that truly works for all.”

Other critical stakeholders like the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Ser­vice (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji; the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso; the Comptroller-Generals of Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Im­migration Service will remark at the session today.

We’ve Strengthened Security Agen­cies To Meet Challenges— Tinubu

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has said that his adminis­tration has embarked on strength­ening the nation’s security appa­ratus to enable it effectively tackle the emerging security challenges confronting the country.

The president stated this while declaring open the 5th edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARS­PO), held at the H3 Event Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

His administration, President Tinubu affirmed, recognises the importance of security in the socio-economic development of a nation and therefore strength­ens its operational capabilities by providing adequate equipment to confront emergencies and effec­tively combat crime.

The president, who was repre­sented by Vice Kashim Shettima, called on the people to actively col­laborate with the police to foster a safer society, adding that policing could not succeed without the co­operation of the people.

He said: “While the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to maintain internal security, protect lives and property, and uphold public order, it is es­sential to recognise that security is a shared responsibility; commu­nities and citizens must actively collaborate with the police to fos­ter a safer society.

“No matter how funded, no matter how well equipped, it cannot succeed without the co­operation of the people it serves. Public engagement and trust are central to the process of inclusive policing.”

The president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhancing the institutional capacity of the Nigeria Police Force by ensuring that it is more effective and well-positioned to fulfill its constitutional mandate as the lead agency in internal security.

Also speaking, the Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, described security as the corner­stone of any thriving environ­ment, adding that a secure soci­ety is a place where everyone feels safe and protected.

While adding that inclusive policing is about understanding the unique needs of the people, Governor Abiodun noted that a policing system that actively en­gages with local communities, upholds human rights, and pri­oritises transparency is essential in combating crime and ensuring lasting peace.

Earlier in his remarks, the In­spector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, noted that as the coun­try continues to confront com­plex threats like violent crimes, cyber-related offenses, terrorism, and transnational organised crimes, it is important that intel­ligence-led policing must remain at the core of its operations.