By Kolawole Ojebisi
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, defended his four tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly.
This is as Tinubu explained how the bills will enhance equitable resoure allocation among the major geopolitical zones in the country.
He also noted that the bills are aimed at boosting the nation’s revenue.Tinubu emphasised the need for collaboration and not confrontation between the executive and the legislative arms of government to move the nation forward.
Represented by the Director General of the Nigeria Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Joseph Ochoku, the President spoke on Monday in Ibadan at the 7th annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi roundtable and 75th posthumous birthday of the late former governor of Oyo State, held at the University of Ibadan.
“These reforms, when enacted, promise to streamline tax administration, enhance revenue generation, and promote equitable resource allocation.
“They are pivotal to our mission of building an inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable Nigeria and making our country competitive to attract foreign direct investment.”
Tinubu said his administration was working to insulate the constitutional roles of each arm of government from primordial sentiments as he expressed belief in press freedom.
“We also believe in press freedom and in holding government accountable. Thus, in our drive to deepen and consolidate the culture of democratic governance, we have been working assiduously to insulate the constitutional roles and functions of each arm of government from primordial sentiments, lack of engagement, and the dissemination of fake news and hate speeches,” he said.
Tinubu lauded the late Ajimobi for leaving a legacy of infrastructural rejuvenation, healthcare delivery, quality education, mechanised agriculture, peace and security as a two-term governor of the state.
“He was a committed party man, with whom we formed the All Progressives Congress in 2013 to pursue people-centric economic growth and development, good governance, transparency, openness, accountability, and inclusivity.
“After serving in the legislative and executive arms of government, Ajimobi served briefly as the acting chairman of the APC before he succumbed to death on June 25, 2020,” he said.
The tax reform bills before the National Assembly have become a subject of heated debates with the North particularly rejecting them.
