Starrays
By Moses Duke-(NASS -Abuja)
The Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, Sen Mohammed Sani Musa has disclosed to the public that Nigerians have agreed to the need for reforms in our tax administration in this country, going by the outcome of the contributions from individuals, groups, professional bodies, and non- governmental organisations, who were only concerned with amendments of certain sections and clauses of the bills rather than calling for total condemnation.
Sen Musa made this disclosure while fielding questions from the press at National Assembly, Abuja immediately after public hearing organised by the Senate to give Nigerians the opportunity to speak for or against, the reforms as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
According to the Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, the presentations evidently proved that Nigerians are ready to move on willingly. Adding that the reforms are not about taxation only but about the whole economic prosperity of Nigeria. The vibrant Senator Musa also said the Public hearing was transparent, giving every stakeholder the opportunity to address the grey areas as directed by Mr. President, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sen. Musa also stated that Nigeria’s tax policies as a country have to adhere to international best practices. Stressing the need for a review of our obsolete tax laws in place before independence to be in tune with the emerging technology which he proposed a tax policy that is inclusive from crypto to online businesses are fully taxed. In his words,”Just to recap that, today’s presentation has shown that Nigerians are willing and ready to move on.
” Because the reform is not just about tax only, it’s about the economic prosperity of this country.
“And you can recall that when Mr. President presented this last year in his speech, His Excellency, the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu made it clear that, look, there should be dialogue. Continuous dialogue, consultations and to make sure that all grey areas are fixed;and that we have done.
” We have had consultations with so many agencies, so many organisations. The Press, non-governmental organisations have made their presentations and you can see what happened today. It was almost like a seamless public hearing. There were not so many counter-agitations.
“No section of this country has come out to say, oh, we are for or we are against. Everyone is looking at the sections and clauses of those bills to see where there should be amends.
” Bills. especially when you are talking about the economy. So I think as journalists it is always good to see it yourself and you have all witnessed it. And you saw how transparent, how open we have been with this public hearing. And now we’ll continue to work.
“The takeaway is that Nigerians have agreed that look, there must be reforms in our tax administration in this country.
“We have to catch up with the best practices like it’s been done elsewhere. International best practices must be adhered to also in our tax administration in this country.
“We have also agreed that we need to review some of the active laws that we have. Some of these laws have been there before 1959. That is even before the independence of this country. So we have to bring them to terms.
“And you know technology has taken the space today. So we have to also consider making laws that will also include technology. So that from crypto to online businesses will be taxed”, he explained.
