Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno) and Shehu Sani have differed on President Bola Tinubu’s proposed Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly.

In a statement in Abuja on Monday, Mr Ndume, a former Senate chief whip, described the bills as “ill-timed”, given the economic challenges Nigerians face.

“The general thing is that Nigerians are not willing to talk, hear or pay any tax now considering the situation we have faced, because this is the government of the people.

“Right now, people can’t even afford what to eat. People are struggling to survive. Let people live first before you start asking them for tax,” Mr Ndume said.

For Mr Sani, who represented Kaduna Central senatorial district from 2015 to 2019, the bills were not inimical to the well-being of Nigerians.

“For instance, there is a provision where companies are to pay value-added tax to the host state instead of sending it to a single account that would be shared among the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

“It’s, in fact, economically beneficial and fair to all parts. People should keep aside sentiments and read the bills carefully. It’s a comprehensive and bold move to harmonise and simplify tax administration and streamline its operations and enforcement.

“The bill will actually generate and safeguard more revenue for the country and the states. It will also combat the corruption in the so-called tax waivers granted to business cabals. There is nowhere in the document where any region will be short-changed, taxes will be increased, or jobs will be lost,” he said.

Mr Sani, a civil rights activist, said the reform would create a paradigm shift from the outdated tax system to a robust way of generating revenue for the nation.

Mr Tinubu had forwarded an executive bill to the National Assembly in October, urging lawmakers to consider and pass four tax reform bills.

They include the Nigeria tax bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, the Tax Administration Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment bills.

(NAN)