The Presidency has labeled recent comments by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum on the Tax Reform Bills as “backward thinking.”
Recall that AFRIPOST reported how Governor Zulum had joined other northern leaders in rejecting the bills, arguing that they would deepen poverty in the region and questioning the urgency of their passage.
Citing the prolonged debate over the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which took 20 years to become law, Zulum suggested that the Federal Government’s push for swift approval of the Tax Reform Bills lacked sufficient deliberation.
However, Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, dismissed Zulum’s concerns, calling his argument unfounded and harmful to progress.
Ajayi emphasized that the delay in passing the PIB had cost Nigeria billions in revenue, investment, and jobs in the oil and gas sector—a mistake the country cannot afford to repeat.
“It is disingenuous to claim that the Tax Reform Bills, which are the product of 14 months of detailed work by over 80 professionals from every state and sector of the economy, are being rushed through the National Assembly,” Ajayi said.
“The suggestion that we wait as long as we did with the PIB reflects backward thinking. We lost too much during that period. We cannot delay another critical reform for 20 years when it is clear that these bills will benefit the country,” he added.
Ajayi also shared details of the extensive consultation process undertaken by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, which engaged stakeholders across the nation before drafting the legislation.
The Tax Reform Bills have been a source of heated debate, with opposition primarily from northern governors and lawmakers. The bills aim to streamline tax administration across Nigeria, eliminate double taxation, and create an enabling environment for private sector investment in key industries.
Despite the controversy, the Presidency insists that the reforms are vital for economic growth and equity in revenue generation, urging all stakeholders to prioritize national progress over regional politics.