Senator Orji Kalu, representing Abia North, identified flaws in the tax reform bills during an interview on Arise Television.
He stated that the federal government made a mistake by excluding key stakeholders from the tax reform process.
Kalu pointed out that the National Executive Council, Governors’ Forum, and Council of State should have been consulted on the reforms.
He emphasized that the tax reform bills are progressive and would restore fiscal federalism to Nigeria’s governance structure. Kalu criticized the initiators of the bills for failing to engage relevant stakeholders, such as governors and national councils.
The tax reform bills, including the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and the Tax Administration Bill, were sent to the National Assembly in October. Last week, the bills passed their second-reading stage in the Senate, despite significant opposition from various groups.
The Northern Governor’s Forum and the National Economic Council have openly called for the bills’ withdrawal. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, provided explanations for the controversies surrounding the tax reform bills earlier.
