Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, has counselled objectivity in the handling the proposed tax reform bills by President Bola Tinubu.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in last year’s general election in a statement released on Sunday, harped on the need for a fiscal system that promotes justice, fairness, and equity.
He also said the public hearing on the bill by the National Assembly should be done objectively and transparently.
Atiku also advised the National Assembly to revisit and make public the resolutions of the National Economic Council, which had earlier called for the withdrawal of the bill.
“I have followed the intense public discourse on the Tax Reform Bills with keen interest,” he said.
“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.”
Despite the opposition of some members the Senate recently passed the bills for second reading, and referred it to the Committee on Finance, with a mandate to submit it’s report within six weeks.
