In spite of the stiff opposition mounted by northern leaders, President Bola Tinubu Monday said that the tax reforms embarked on by his administration were here to stay.
The President made this known during his maiden media chat, saying while the reforms might not be embraced by everybody, there was no going back on it.
The tax reform bills which have unsettled the polity are: Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2024, and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2024.
His words: “The tax reform is here to stay. The reform is pro-poor and it is to widen the tax net, so we can have more people paying.
“The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it ought to be done. Tax matters are subjects of debates and negotiations. I don’t mind cutting edges. I will.”
The President also added that he had no regret removing the fuel subsidy, stressing that Nigeria cannot continue to be Father Christmas to the neighbouring countries.
He stated “Why should you have expenditure that you don’t have revenue to take care of. I don’t want to question people that drive nimosins on the road. We should teach management in all our programmes.
“There is no way we would give out fuel and allow all the entire neighbouring countries as father Christmas (to have our fuel). I don’t have any regret whatsoever removing the subsidy.”
On recent stampedes that occured in Abuja, Anambra and Oyo state, the President said those giving out palliative to vulnerable Nigerians should not publicise it if they don’t have enough to go round.
He said: “It is good to give. I have been giving out foodstuff commodities including envelopes in Bourdilion in the last 25 years. I have never experienced this kind of incident because we are organised, and disciplined. If you know you don’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to or even publish it.
“Every society, even in America, they have food banks, they have hungry people. In Britain, they have food banks, they have warehouses. But they are organised, they always be in line and take turns to collect (free foods).”