The Southern Caucus of the House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the controversial tax reform bills initiated by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.
Led by Hon. Nicholas Mutu, the caucus, at a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, maintained that the proposed tax reform bills are in the best interest of the country.
However, the caucus expressed willingness to dialogue with their colleagues from the northern part of the country, who have expressed reservations about the proposed tax reforms.
“We have met, and the Southern Caucus welcomes the bills, and we are open to dialogue. This is just the first process. Receive the bill,” Mutu noted.
“We in the Southern Caucus of the House of Representatives have met, and we welcome the tax reform bills with so much excitement. We are open to dialogue. The bill is good for Nigeria and is a people-oriented bill. And we are happy to have the bill.”
The caucus faulted the notion that they are at war with their Southern counterparts over the proposed tax reform bills.
Shedding light on the position of the caucus, Babajimi Benson (APC: Lagos) remarked that the House is working in sync with its Senate counterparts to ensure the passage of the proposed legislation.
“What the Southern Caucus is saying is that we are ready to take up our official responsibility of making laws for the nation. And so we welcome the bill, and as we process it, inputs are made from our various states and constituencies.
“We are in constant touch with our constituents and the states that we represent. And so we are ready to work together to ensure that we give Nigerians a better tax law. That’s what we are interested in. It’s not to play to the gallery. There’s nothing about being southern or northern divide.
“The National Assembly’s responsibility is to make laws for this country. And the essence of making laws is to receive proposals. When you receive proposals, you put them through the processes of lawmaking. At the end of the day, amendments and innovations will be brought into that proposal. And it will be passed by both houses and then the president will assent to whatever we agree upon.”
