Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Habitat Abdulmumin Jibrin from Kano State yesterday declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills will be passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Jibrin’s assertion came barely 24 hours after the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) called on federal lawmakers from the region to kick against the bills.
Jibrin gave the assurance while featuring as guest on national television monitored in Lagos.
He said that President Tinubu, through the tax reform bills and other economic policies, is giving his today for Nigerians’ tomorrow.
He said: “I have never had any doubt about the consideration and passage of the Tax Reform Bills. We will pass the tax reform bills.”
Jibrin added that though wrong perception about the reform bills is very strong in the North where he comes from but sensitization on the merits and necessity for the reforms is being done to correct the wrong notions.
He said: “For those of us who have read through the bills very thoroughly, the aggregate of their advantages, far surpassed 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 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 pass through the required legislative processes which would pave the way for 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.”
The lawmaker added that the fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira carried out by President Tinubu last year and the proposed tax reform, will transform the nation’s economy despite the hardships and pains being experienced by 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.
