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Ahead of National Assembly sessions on the pending Tax Reforms Bills before both chambers of Parliament, a prominent federal lawmaker from Kano state, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said neither the Northern Elders Forum nor the Arewa Consultative Forum would dictate the position of the lawmakers from the region.
Honourable Jibrin who incidentally is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat made the declaration on Sunday night while speaking on a Channels TV live monitored Politics Today.
Checks revealed that aside from the opposition from the NEF, the Forum of 19 governors from the North has equally vowed to reject the Tax Reforms Bills.
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Honourable Jibrin maintained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration meant well for the region and the proposed Bills not inimical to the north economic interest.
He said:” I ‘have never had any doubt about the consideration and passage of the tax reform bills. We will pass the tax reform bills.”
“For those of us who have read through the bills very thoroughly, the aggregate of their advantages far surpassed whatever perceived disadvantages perceived by anybody or part of the country.
“President Tinubu is not out for a battle on the bill, just like the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), but for understanding their objectives and goals, which are all geared towards better revenue generation and distribution for the economic survival of the country.
“Yes, there may be contentious clauses in the bills, but that should not mean that they should be thrown away or not considered by the National Assembly.
“Since the bills are already with us, the onus lies with both chambers to allow them pass through the required legislative processes which would pave way for amendment of any contentious clauses since they are not cast in stone in the first place.
“As I said a couple of days ago in a similar programme like this, many of those kicking against the bills, have not read them but are just listening to wrong narratives being churned out by some other people.”
Amidst the sustained criticisms trailing the removal of fuel Subsidy and the floating of the Naira, the lawmaker insisted that the economic policies of the present administration along with the controversial tax reforms will transform the Nigeria economy despite the hardships and pains being experienced by Nigerians now.
“President Tinubu to me, is giving his today for Nigerians’ tomorrow through the courageous and long-term result-oriented reforms being carried out now “, he stressed.
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