FIC Report (Kaduna State) – The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu’s decision on the tax reform was not to undermine democracy.
Idris said this while giving an address at the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR 2024 Annual Public Lecture/AGM and Awards ceremony in Kaduna.
According to the Mohammed, worldwide, effective taxation was a source of financial power to the government to provide social services to its citizens, this is just as he emphasised that the nation’s tax administration system was long overdue for reforms on account of design and implementation flows.
He added that President Tinubu has made it clear that the executive would listen to and work with all the stakeholders to ensure that all concerns are duly and comprehensively addressed.
Idris explained that even with our keenness for fundamental reforms of Nigeria’s tax system, Tinubu’s administration will never do anything to undermine the ideals of participatory democracy.
Minister said Tinubu has always upheld the interest of all Nigerians wherever they are in this reform agenda that he has embarked upon.
Mohammed emphasis that we will continue to ensure open lines of communication and engagement with the national assembly, as Tinubu always says.
The minister said as the president continues to implement a physical reforms agenda for the country that would divulge more resources to the Nigerian states, citizens’ engagement would continue to take place.
Idris commended Nigerians for expressing their opinions on the tax reform which is of critical national importance, adding that it was a display of what democracy should be.
The executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, said that the tax reforms were to streamline the nation’s fiscal framework and improve operational efficiency.
Mr Adedeji doubles as the chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee.
Mr Adedeji, represented by Kehinde Kajesomo, deputy director, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, said the Federal Government’s introduction of the reforms seek to correct structural imbalances.
He said, This is particularly an over-dependence on oil revenues, which has resulted in fiscal challenges, encouraged corruption, stirred regional tensions, and fostered an inefficient rentier economy amid in soaring debts.
Signed:
Muhammad Gwani
HOC Kaduna (FIRC).
