The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills will be passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Jibrin’s statement comes a day after the Northern Elders Forum urged federal lawmakers from the region to oppose the bills.
Speaking on a national television programme monitored in Lagos, Jibrin expressed confidence in the legislative process, describing the reforms as essential for Nigeria’s economic future.
“I have never had any doubt about the consideration and passage of the Tax Reform Bills. We will pass the tax reform bills,” Jibrin declared.
Acknowledging the strong opposition to the bills in the North, Jibrin explained that efforts are underway to sensitise the public on their importance.
He said, “For those of us who have read through the bills very thoroughly, the aggregate of their advantages far surpasses whatever perceived disadvantages by anybody or part of the country.
“President Tinubu is not out for a battle on the bills, 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 to pass through the required legislative processes, which would pave the way for the amendment of 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 reeled out by some other people.”
Jibrin further defended Tinubu’s broader economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, as bold steps aimed at transforming the economy despite the immediate hardships they impose on Nigerians.
“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 said.
The proposed tax reforms are designed to increase revenue generation and ensure a more equitable distribution of resources, aligning with Tinubu’s vision for the nation’s economic recovery. Despite resistance, Jibrin remains optimistic that these measures will ultimately benefit all Nigerians.
