Tax Reform Bills: Lawmakers Stand Firm, Rejecting Presidency’s Influence

Tax Reform Bills: Lawmakers Stand Firm, Rejecting Presidency’s Influence

Despite claims of heavy lobbying by the Presidency, several lawmakers in the National Assembly have reaffirmed their stance against the Tax Reform Bills presented by President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the interests of their constituents will take precedence over external pressures. The bills,…READ MORE…

which propose significant changes to Nigeria’s tax system, have sparked widespread debate, with many critics arguing that the reforms could disproportionately affect certain regions.

In an interview with ireporteronline on Sunday, Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) emphasized that his loyalty lies with his constituents. He stated, “I am not aware of any pressure. As I mentioned last week, we are carefully reviewing the bill, engaging with our constituents and stakeholders to gauge their opinions. It is ultimately the will of the people that will prevail.”

Rep. Kwamoti Bitrus Laori (Demsa/Lamurde/Numan Federal Constituency, Adamawa) echoed this sentiment, reaffirming that his primary responsibility is to represent his constituents. “I was elected to represent my people, and that’s what matters most. Our position on the bill will be based on the feedback we get from our constituencies,” he said. “The pressure from outside is irrelevant—my constituents are the ones who matter.”

Rep. Bappah Aliyu Misau (Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency, Bauchi) also voiced strong opposition to the tax reforms, aligning himself with his governor and stating that lawmakers from Bauchi State would not support the bills. He added that northern lawmakers were united in their opposition, as the proposed changes did not benefit their constituents.

“The Presidency cannot pressure us; they didn’t elect us,” Misau remarked. “This is about protecting the interests of the average person in Bauchi. No member from Bauchi will support this bill.” He also criticized lawmakers advocating for the reforms, claiming that they were out of touch with their constituencies.

Another anonymous lawmaker pointed out that if the Presidency wanted to gain the support of northern leaders, it would need to provide a clear breakdown of how the VAT sharing formula would work, particularly regarding the Derivation Clause. “They need to provide a detailed template on how the new formula will affect VAT distribution. We need more transparency than simply claiming that only three states benefit from the current system,” the lawmaker added.

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