“… there’s nothing wrong with pursuing it” -Peter Obi
‘…it will unduly penalize other states’ -Atiku
By Ime Silas
Former Vice President and 2023 Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi have commented on the ongoing Tax Reforms debate, with each opposing the other on context.
It would be recalled that Peter Obi was Running mate to Atiku on the PDP platform during the 2019 presidential election which was won by the then incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku and Obi parted ways in 2023 with each flying the presidential flags of their parties. While the current President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who ran on the APC platform emerged winner, Atiku and Obi came second and third, respectively.
President Tinubu who had ‘Renewed Hope’ as his campaign mantra, removed fuel subsidy during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023. The fuel subsidy removal caused the price of fuel which was between N180 and N190 per litre on the eve of his swearing in, to rise to as much as N1,700 and N2,000 per litre, depending on locations in the country.
With the takeoff of Dangote Refinery in Lagos penultimate month, the price of fuel started dropping to the current price of between N1115/litre to N12000/litre. The Premium Motor Spirit populary known as petrol is the major source of energy for motorists and Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, a hike in price of which has thrown the entire country into untold hardship.
President Tinubu has repeatedly asked Nigerians to be patient as according to him, his reforms would lead to huge socioeconomic gains.
One of such reforms is the somewhat controversial Tax Reforms, a Bill of which is currently at the National Assembly for debates.
Analysts, pundits and governors mostly, from the northern part of Nigeria have come up to oppose the tax reforms, while other Nigerians have described it as the way forward for economic turnaround.
Speaking on the matter in a release he personally signed and tagged “Tax reform is a critical issue, and there is nothing wrong with pursuing it”, Peter Obi, a former Anambra governor said:
“However, such reform must be subject to robust and informed public debate. A public hearing on tax reform is essential, allowing Nigerians from all walks of life to engage meaningfully. This is how we build public trust and ensure inclusivity in policymaking.
Matters of this magnitude require extensive deliberation and careful consideration—they should never be rushed.
Public hearings must be conducted to allow for diverse opinions and inputs.
Such public hearing would also enable the broadest spectrum of public opinion to be reflected in public policy.
When considering tax reforms and similar issues, it is insufficient to focus solely on the benefits to the government, particularly in terms of increasing revenue collection.
We must also take into account the overall impact on the nation and the sustainability of all its regions.
Furthermore, the government must sensitize the people and secure their buy-in for any policy changes.
Trust and legitimacy are the foundation of effective governance, and without them, even the best-intended reforms may fail.
Let us prioritize transparency, deliberation, and public engagement in charting the path forward. This is how we build a truly participatory democracy. A new Nigeria is POssible!”.
On his part, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had few days ago, in a veiled presentation of his call for the suspension of the Tax Reforms Bill, advised that the National Assembly should make public the resolutions of the National Economic Council (NEC) on the matter.
Recall that the NEC, which is headed by the current Vice President, Sen Kashim Shettima, a northerner, had in October, asked for withdrawal of the Tax Reforms Bill.
The NEC had, during the 145th meeting of the Council held in October, 2024 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, called for withdrawal of the Tax Reforms Bill.
The VP Shettima-led Economic Council’s resolution as captured in the opening paragraph of a State House Press Release signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), read:
“The National Economic Council (NEC) has recommended the withdrawal of the current Tax Reform Bill from the National Assembly in order to pave the way for more comprehensive consultation and consensus-building among key stakeholders.
Making the recommendation in response to a presentation by the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, the Council called for more extensive consultation with stakeholders to align on the far-reaching impacts of the proposed tax reforms.
“…“I must admit that the tax reforms initiated at the onset of this administration by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have opened avenues to address stakeholders’ concerns, particularly regarding VAT reform and its implications for sub-national revenues…”
Commenting, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a northerner said:
“I have followed the intense public discourse on the Tax Reform Bills with keen interest.
Nigerians are united in their call for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity. They are loud and clear that the fiscal system we seek to promote must not exacerbate the uneven development of the federating units by enhancing the status of a few states while unduly penalising others.
“I call for objectivity and transparency in the conduct of the public hearing being organised by our representatives in the National Assembly. As a concerned stakeholder, I firmly believe that transparency and objectivity are essential for promoting accountability, good governance, and public trust in policy-making. The public hearing process must facilitate open and inclusive participation by all stakeholders, including Civil Society Organizations, traditional institutions, politicians, public officials, and subject matter experts.
In this wise, I call on the NASS to revisit and make public the resolutions of the National Economic Council, a key stakeholder and an important organ of the state with the constitutional power to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation.
The NASS must be appropriately guided and ensure that in the final analysis, the contents of the Bills align with the interests of the vast majority of Nigerians”.