The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Tax Reform Bills into laws.
The United States Chapter of the group emphasized that the bills aim to alleviate the suffering of the poorest and most vulnerable in the country, contrary to widespread misconceptions.
In a statement signed by Dr. Akindutire Durojaiye, President of the North America branch, Afenifere expressed concern over the potential dangers of delaying the passage of the bills for partisan reasons.
The group has been closely following the ongoing debates on the proposed Tax Reform bills at the National Assembly.
Afenifere noted that the bills seek to introduce standardized tax administration rules across the three tiers of government, putting an end to the burden of multiple taxations.
The bills also propose reorganizing and renaming the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) to reflect the synergy needed for efficient tax collections and services.
The group commended the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and his team for their efforts. Afenifere also praised Channels Television for conducting a Townhall meeting to discuss the proposed bills in detail.
Afenifere urged Nigerians to ignore divisive rhetoric aimed at giving the proposed bills regional and tribal colorations. Instead, the group encouraged citizens to persuade their representatives at the National Assembly to pass the bills into laws.
The passage of the Tax Reform Bills is expected to be a significant achievement for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, following the resuscitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery. Afenifere appealed to state governors, National Assembly members, political office holders, and party chieftains opposed to the bills to reconsider their stance and support the proposed legislation.
As the National Assembly continues to debate the Tax Reform Bills, Afenifere’s call for swift passage underscores the importance of these bills in addressing the plight of the most vulnerable Nigerians.
